:Features On Page 3:
Arts & Entertainment On Page 5: :
MSG creates own ‘Humans of Mercyhurst’
Sports On Page 7:
MET Opera ‘Tannhouser’ to play in PAC
Jenna Dingeldein: an asset to women’s hockey
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The Merciad Mercyhurst university
Est. 1929 Vol. 89 No. 9
Wednesday, noveMber 11, 2015
Lakers bring 500th win to Coach Gotkin
Mercyhurst represented at TEDxErie event By Erin McGarrity Staff writer
Casey Blulel photo
Men’s hockey defeated Air Force Academy, 3-1, on Saturday, Nov. 7, giving head coach Rick Gotkin his 500th win, a record only 22 other coaches in any division has ever claimed. Full story on page 7.
Chipotle visionary imparts wisdom about branding to ’Hurst students By Mary Barnes Copy editor
Chipotle marketing visionary William Espey visited campus on Tuesday, Nov. 10, to discuss with students how to brand and market themselves in the professional world. He also talked about how Chipotle has expanded its stores and brand in the past two decades. Speaking in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center as a continuation of the fall portion of the Mercyhurst Student Government Speaker Series, Espey was brought to Mercyhurst by MSG Events Coordinator Garrett Erwin. The inspiration for inviting Espey, among other reasons, was the opening of Erie’s newest Chipotle location. Junior biology major Kelsey Davies thought Epsey was a very personable speaker. “He stressed that it is important to make personal connections and speak a sim-
Tung Vu photo
William Espey, the driving force behind the Chipotle Mexican Grill brand, gives a presentation to Mercyhurst students, courtesy of the Mercyhurst Student Government Speaker Series.
ilar language within the field you will be going into,” said Davies. “It is being self aware and that makes you better at advertising yourself, which is very applicable to applying for graduate schools.”
In addition to being open to students, many people from the Erie community were welcomed to attend this event. More than 400 people attended. One $50 gift card and two
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$25 gift cards were awarded to three lucky audience members.
The Erie Art Museum will host TEDxErie 2015: The Rising Tide, an independently organized TED event, on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 1:305:30 p.m. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a nonprofit meant to spread innovative ideas through short lectures and performances. Each “talk” lasts anywhere from five to 18 minutes. Local volunteer organizers helped organize and bring to life this year’s TEDxErie. Three of the 15 talks and performances at this year’s event will feature Mercyhurst students, alumni and employees. Brad McGarry, an Erie resident and the director of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst, will speak at TEDxErie about the “rise in the tide” of adults on the autism spectrum applying to college. “I heard that TEDx was coming through Erie, and I thought, ‘Hey I know that stuff,’” said McGarry. “I started thinking about what in my life I could share that would resemble that format of ‘The Rising Tide.’” The Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst began in 2008, and it offers a number of support services for students on the autism spectrum, including specialized housing, peer mentoring, individualized models to help with social functioning and a career program to help with vocational employment. To McGarry, whose own son is on the autism spectrum, the fact that his talk will take place on such a prominent stage is huge. “I do a lot of motivational speaking about my son and his disabilities, and I also speak a lot about Mercyhurst and the work we do here with the Initiative, so to be able to tie both of them together in the same speech is such an exciting opportunity,” McGarry said. As one of TEDxErie’s only three performances, four girls from the Mercyhurst Liturgical Dance Ensemble will dance three pieces at the conference. The group specializes in performing for masses on
campus, as well as performing outreach at local community groups, churches and senior retirement homes. The group’s faculty advisor is C. Noelle Partusch, an associate professor of Dance. She recalls being amazed at just how large the reach of this conference will be. “They called me and asked if the girls could dance because they were short on performance pieces. I didn’t even know what TEDx was,” said Partusch. “But, I hope people see it. It’s really kinda cool - for the ensemble, for this kind of work in general that it’s going to reach such a large audience.” The three dances — two trios and one solo — each hold a special meaning to Patrusch, which adds even more value to this experience for her. “The music is just beautiful and emotional. The meanings are close to my heart. You better believe I’m sending out the link to the livestream,” Partusch said. TEDxErie will also feature Nick Cianci, a native of Greenville, Pa., and a Mercyhurst alumna. He will speak about the “rising tide” of opportunities for Erie and its residents. “In my talk, I speak to the fact that the tide is already rising in many ways — we simply need to know how to catch the waves,” Cianci said. Cianci received dual bachelor’s of arts degrees from Mercyhurst, and he gave to the Erie community through service and ministry during his time here. He will speak at TEDxErie about the necessary celebration of the many great aspects of Erie. “I would like to see us reach a point in the Rust Belt where people no longer have to ask that question, ‘Why here?’” said Cianci. “It’s evident, it’s apparent that this is where people with skills and ambition come, work, learn, raise families, embrace culture and heritage, or whatever it may be. It’s a no-brainer.” The event at the Erie Art Museum is sold out, but Mercyhurst will host a live screening of TEDxErie in the Student Union Great Room on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
How do you feel about athletes having to move on campus?
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Let them eat cake... in their off campus houses. (43%) I think it is ridiculous. (37%) I’m not bothered. I’ll be closer to practice. (13%) Doesn’t matter to me. The most exercise I participate in is walking to class. (7%)
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Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: What are you doing over Thanksgiving break?
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November 11, 2015
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News
’Hurst takes 2nd place at Model UN conference By Melanie Todd Staff writer
Mercyhurst students took second place in the Lake Erie International Model United Nations Conference last weekend in Huron, Ohio. The International Organizations and Diplomacy class, taught by Lena Surzhko-Harned, Ph.D., as well as a select few students, participated in the conference, which lasted Thursday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 8. “The political science professor Dr. Surzhko-Harned, who is also my advisor, runs the program and told me about it, encouraging me to join it. However, this semester it was part of my Poli Sci class, International Organizations and Diplomacy,” Sergio Cortes, sophomore political science major said. Each student role-plays a specific country assigned to a particular international organization for the conference. “In my case, I represented Latvia in the European Union. I chose Latvia because I was most comfortable with the country from previous classes,” Thomas Matheson, a junior intelligence studies major said. Students are expected
to become experts in their respective countries as well as their organization. “As a committee we talked about tax evasion, EU defense policies, diversification of EU energy supplies and judicial cooperation in the union,” Matheson said. The conference is a culmination of the semester’s work. “I researched extensively on the themes my committee, The United Nations Security Council of 1973, was going to cover and the position France had on this issue, as well as researched about the ruling party in the French government to better understand my position. We also had two friendly skirmishes with other colleges and went over the rules and procedures in class,” Cortes said. The goals are to negotiate and reach an agreement among the countries. “For each of the those topics we had to create communiqués, which are basically resolutions,” Matheson said. In addition to research, there are other necessary skills practiced in class. “We prepared in class with public speaking exercises and general discussions on international organizations. We were fully responsible for the research of our countries,”
Matheson said. The conference simulates the policies and procedures used in international organizations. “It is expected that you master the foreign policy of the country you are representing and be able to represent them and debate them effectively. Also, you must be able to know the rules and procedures of the debate and if possible use them to your advantage,” Cortes said. Students are recognized for their preparation and hard work at the conference. “I won the excellency award on my committee. There are two awards, the excellency award and the supremacy award. In order to win an excellency award, I believe, you must be able to excel at the debate and be one of the delegates leading the debate and passing resolutions,” Cortes said. There is a lot of time and effort put into this unique experience, according to students. “It was a very demanding experience but at the same time it was very rewarding. That’s something I always look for in contrast to your typical lectures and notes for an hour and a half,” Matheson said.
Contributed photo
Mercyhurst’s Model UN team, composed of students in Lena Surzhko-Harned’s International Organizations and Dioplomacy class, celebrates their second place victory in Huron, Ohio.
Contributed photo
Eleven members of Mercyhurst Student Government will be taking the plunge, alongside 10 more of their fellow Lakers.
Students plunge into lake for Special Olympics cause By Adrian Monty Staff writer
Mercyhurst students will participate in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge on Presque Isle in order to raise money and bring awareness to the organization. Participants will jump into Lake Erie on Presque Isle Beach 7 on Saturday, Nov. 21, after raising at least $50 towards the cause as well as funding for the event. This year, Mercyhurst Student Government has created a Mercyhurst University Polar Bear Plunge team. Out of more than 30 groups across Pennsylvania participating in the event, the Mercyhurst team is currently in first place for money raised, with over $1,300 raised as of Tuesday, Nov. 10. They are also ranked highest in terms of number of participants on the team, with 21 members. “We want to keep encouraging people to register and donate,” Sam Lioi, junior business intelligence and political science student and member
of the planning committee for the event, said. Sophomore Lindsay Rowe serves alongside Lioi on the planning committee for this event. Senior Sophia Damasceno, Marketing and Management major and member of MSG, said she cannot wait for the event. “I am ecstatic that the polar plunge is coming to Erie but I’m even more excited to see the Mercyhurst community come together to support such a great cause,” said Damasceno. “I am really looking forward to plunging alongside fellow Lakers.” Along with MSG, Mercyhurst athletic teams are also raising money and forming groups for the cause, with the help of the Athletic Department. Those who wish to support the cause but are “too chicken” to take the plunge, there is a separate group of teams/participants who can participate in the fundraising event without taking a leap into the cold lake. Along with the main plunging event, there will be live music, free food, and other activities through-
out the afternoon. MSG will present awards to students who raise the most donations, including the “Golden Plunger” award, which will go to the student who raises the most money through donations and pledges.
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We want to show our Mercyhurst pride by helping these kids out. They deserve it.
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---Sam Lioi
“It’s a really good cause,” said Lioi. “We want to show our Mercyhurst pride by helping these kids out. They deserve it.” Registration for the event will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, and the plunge will take place at noon. Transportation to Presque Isle will be provided for Mercyhurst students who need it.
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New partnership yields Therapeutic Arts Initiative By Melanie Todd Staff writer
The Art Therapy program and Harborcreek Youth Services (HYS) forged a new relationship through music to help connect with the youth in the program and give them new ways of expressing and connecting with their emotions. “Harborcreek Youth Services and Mercyhurst have a long history of collaborations, especially with our Criminal Justice majors,” Craig Stevens, Merychurst’s music therapy director said. Now, Haborcreek is looking to extend its relationship with Mercyhurst beyond the Criminal Justice Department. “Recently, they have been looking into current research that supports working with trauma and abuse through the Expressive and Therapeutic Arts. HYS contacted both our Music and Art Therapy departments and we loved the idea,” Stevens said. The program is in its beginning stages, but hopes to expand over time.
“The overall goal of this initiative is to build and implement a Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Arts program that provides much needed therapy for the residents at Harborcreek Youth Services. Ideally, this will combine music, art, and movement therapies as well as counseling techniques in order to facilitate deeper emotional and creative expression for the residents,” Stevens said.
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Many of the students have behavioral problems and music therapy offers them an outlet that they seem to be fully embracing.
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-- Kevin Timko
The initiative includes Mercyhurst graduate and Board Certified Music Therapist Samuel Krahe and Music Therapy students Kevin Timko and Chris Tobin. The students and Krahe started
working with Harborcreek in early October. “I help plan sessions with Sam, Chris Tobin and our professor,” Timko said. There are many different ways the music can help an individual. “We have been working on songs together, rapping, singing and they have also been writing songs on their own. I play the instruments,” Tobin said. Art Therapy also helps vic-
tims of trauma, but in a different way than traditional therapy methods. “Creativity often allows us to access deeply rooted emotions a little easier, but it’s only through the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client that true change happens,” Stevens said. Harborcreek’s therapy techniques are not traditional to begin with. “Trauma-Informed Care sees trauma a little differently
from a traditional medical model. It doesn’t ask ‘what’s wrong with you’ but rather ‘what happened to you,’” Stevens said. In a short time period, the program has already produced results. “Fellow therapists, advisors, faculty, and aides have noticed a very positive difference within the students receiving music therapy in the very short time we have been there. Many of the students
have behavioral problems and music therapy offers them an outlet that they seem to be fully embracing,” Timko said. Art therapy students are required to do clinical rotations to complete their degrees and this program will help fulfill those requirements. “This is the first time I’ve ever gotten to do something like this. I’m very proud to be a part of the initiative at Harborcreek Youth Services,” Timko said.
Hurst Crime Log Incident
Date
Location
Theft
Nov. 4-5
McAuley Hall
Nov. 5-7
Lewis Ave.
Nov. 7-8
Briggs Ave.
Burglary, Criminal, Vandalism Public Intoxication, Harrassment
November 11, 2015
The Merciad
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Features
‘Humans of Mercyhurst’ exposes student diversity on campus By Phuong Nguyen Staff writer
To highlight the growing diversity on campus, the Multicultural Activity Council collaborated with Mercyhurst Student Government to start a blog called Humans of Mercyhurst. Humans of Mercyhurst will run through Instagram, mimicking the famous Facebook blog known as Humans of New York. MAC Chair Samantha Collier and MSG Public Relations Coordinator Shannon Holly are at the fore-
front of the newest initiative. The blog seeks to feature the stories of Mercyhurst’s culturally diverse student population. “We have such a diverse campus, whether it is different nationalities, heritages, races and social class backgrounds. But a lot of people don’t see that, too many people take it for granted. The fact is students from everywhere are feeling stressed, but people feel stress in different ways because they come from different lifestyles, societies and cultures. We want to show that Mercyhurst is unique,”
Sara Paschal photo
Samantha Collier and Shannon Holly are in charge of capturing the stories of Mercyhurst’s diverse student population.
Collier said. Most of the students approached were willing to share their stories and the team had their first spotlights done in just a few days. To get more unique stories that spotlight the diversity in the Mercyhurst community, the team had to search for and reach out to students from different cultural identities on campus. One of the difficulties the team faced when starting the blog was choosing the right people and asking the right questions. Sometimes, people do not want to share their stories. Collier found this to be a normal reaction. “It is not something easy to open up your thought and share it with everybody,” Collier said. Collier and Holly not only talked with students they knew personally, but also with students whom they normally would not come in contact with. They asked questions that were relatable to all students. Some of the questions were inspired by the original HONY blog. The questions could be as trivial as, “What kind of socks are you wearing?” While still having a meaningful intentions behind each question. “It’s hard to come up with the questions. You don’t want to ask really generic questions, because that’s not the point
Sara Paschal photo
The Humans of Mercyhurst stories will run in the MSG Instagram account. Each photo will feature student’s thoughts about society, culture and every day life.
of the blog. It is to show students’ real thoughts about society, culture and everyday life,” Collier said. The blog will run through MSG’s Instagram account. Although a lot of people are on Facebook, the team believes Instagram is a social media that suits the blog better. They plan on tagging pictures on other social media outlets, including Twitter and Facebook, but all pictures will originally be posted on the Instagram account. “I want everyone to like the blog and accept it. My biggest fear is that people will
Debt sends students to work By Rae Pollock Staff writer
A recent study from Georgetown University showed that more college kids are adding a job on top of their schedules as full-time students to start chipping away their debt, Mercyhurst students are not the exception. Sophomore political science major JJ Mackowski works at The Exchange, a used CD/ DVD/record/video game store.. Like thousands of students in the country, Mackowski works to ease the debt that is waiting after he graduates. “Come buy things from us,” Mackowski said. “I’ll get a raise.” Mackowski knows his paychecks will not cover all of his student debt. He tries to put away as much from his paycheck as he can, but it is not an easy job.
The study from Georgetown showed that students, like Mackowski know that they could not pay off their debt completely. Knowing this, college kids still want to get a head start and avoid debt as much as possible. “The more money I have saved when I graduate, the better off I’ll be,” Mackowski said. Mackowski went to Mercyhurst Preparatory School and came to Mercyhurst as an Art Education major and later decided to change his major to Political Science. “I didn’t want to do art education, because I couldn’t find meaning in them. So, I decided to go to law school,” Mackowski said. At the beginning of the semester, Mackowski was working up to 35 hours a week. Although he worked a lot,
Mackowski explained that he would try to force time for his social life. After evaluating the little time he had outside of work and classes, he decided to drop his hours at The Exchange to between 15-20 hours. “School got put on the backburner more than it should have,” said Mackowski.“It’s not easy to do 30 hours a week. It’s not fun and it doesn’t leave much time for relaxation or a social life,” Mackowski said. Having a job for even 20 hours a week added too much stress for Mackowski. “Having a job will be beneficial in the long run, I know that, but right now it kind of sucks. It’s not easy. It’s not fun. I’m starting to realize that I just kind of have to buckle down and do it,” Mackowski said. As nice as it is to have money, he does not think
having a job on top of classes is the smartest move. “I would suggest that college students just take classes. Adding a job is not worth it,” Mackowski said. “But, if you really want a job, then it’s important to get a job somewhere you like. Don’t get one that’s super strenuous and make sure it works with your schedule.” In an interview for CNBC, Anthony P. Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, said: “Today, almost every college student works, but you can’t work your way through college anymore. Even if you work, you have to take out loans and take on debt.”
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LAKER MOMENT
This past weekend, various Mercyhurst students travelled to McKeever Environmental Center in Sandy Lakes, Pa, as part of the CD5 retreat. Students enjoyed a stress-free weekend where they took a nature hike and participated in various group bonding activities.
take the blog as some kind of racial ploy. I want people to truly understand that we are highlighting the culture within the Mercyhurst community because every single student’s perspective and cultural experiences are important,” Collier said. The first blog post premiered last Monday, Nov. 9, on MSG’s Instagram account under the screenname MSGlakers. The first post was a picture of Zachary Abodalo, explaining his favorite memory from elementary school. Collier and Holly plan to continue the blog until the
end of the year, based on the responses received by students. Students who want to contribute stories or ideas for the blog can contact Collier at scolli16@lakers.mercyhurst. edu or find her at the MSG offices located on the lower level of the Student Union.
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Davis-Olwell shares her Ugandan study By Vivian Suazo
Contributing writer
Visiting professor of Public Health shares her research on breastfeeding patterns in Uganda. Paula Davis-Olwell is the new visiting assistant professor of the Public Health Department. She conducted an important study of infant feeding in Uganda. The study was done in order to gain insight on the issue of breastfeeding and how the employment of new mothers, who were currently breastfeeding played a role in the growth of their children. Davis-Olwell began working on her study in 1993, by investigating breastfeeding patterns and the work of the mothers. “When I was in graduate school, one of the problems in public health was that in the 1990s, many children were getting sick and dying,” Davis-Olwell said. She decided to conduct this study to learn more about why women chose to stop breastfeeding their infants. Economists at the time believed that women stopped breastfeeding because they were working outside their homes and did not have enough time to balance both. Davis-Olwell wanted to see if that was truly the case. Davis-Olwell focused her research on the types of work women were doing outside the household. She found that many of these women were actively working in the marketplace in order to obtain a steady income that would provide for their children. Davis-Olwell, however, found that the halt of breastfeeding
for infants was not directly correlated with women working outside their households. Nonetheless, her study found that breastfeeding was impacted by the type of housework these Ugandan women were performing. “My research study about infant feeding in Uganda proved that housework is what conflicted with women’s breastfeeding. Particularly by carrying water gallons at the top of their heads,” Davis-Olwell said. Davis-Olwell also found in her study that the supply of water in Uganda was very scarce and made it difficult for people to have clean water in their homes. This led many of women, including new mothers, to take new measures in obtaining their water. “Because there is no source of water, women have to carry gallons of water in a container in order to take them to their homes,” Davis-Olwell said. Davis-Olwell concluded that children were getting sick, because mothers were not able to breastfeed their newborns due to the extreme housework they had to perform. Carrying gallons of water was the primary constraint. Davis-Olwell, overall, found her experience and research in another country very fulfilling. “It was interesting being in Uganda at that time, because there was more research done and the infection rates were increasing,” Davis-Olwell said. Davis-Olwell still keeps an interest in looking for techniques to stop the malnutrition in Africa.
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November 11, 2015
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Features
Merciad how to: Internships By Brittany Smyth Staff writer
Mercyhurst students who complete an internship program are most like to succeed. According to the Mercyhurst internship program, Mercyhurst graduates who participated in experiential learning activities received double the number of job offers than those who did not. If that statistic is not strong enough to inspire students to begin looking for an internship, Mercyhurst graduates who completed an internship receive a higher salary than those who did not. According to a study conducted in 2012 by the Chronicle of Higher Education, a survey of 50,000 employers identified that the most important attribute they look for in a résumé was internship experience. A study done in 2015 by the Pew Research Center shows that 50 percent of students stated that doing an internship as an undergraduate would have helped them prepare for the job they wanted. At Mercyhurst, Kyle Foust, Ph. D, director of the internship program, helps students find internships in their field of study and further boost their
Marina Coletta photo
Fulfilling an internship is one of the most important activities a student can do. Mercyhurst offers various resources that can guide students in finding their ideal internship.
chances of obtaining their dream jobs. “Students should start looking for internships after their sophomore year of college. It will allow them to learn the basics of their major before interning at a company,” Foust said. Foust suggests that before beginning the internship search, you think about what it is that sparks a passion. This will be the first step in helping you choose an internship.
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Students should start looking for internships after their sophomore year of college. It will allow them to learn the basics of their major before interning at a company.
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Kyle Foust, Ph.D.
If students are having trouble deciding what that passion is, faculty and academic advisors are more than willing to offer you advice about the career path you are interested in. Once your passion has been determined, the next step is narrowing down options. Students need to ask themselves questions such as: “What is it that I really want to do? Is there a certain department I want to work in? A certain person I want to work for?
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Where would I want to do my internship; locally or nationally?” Although this is not as cut-and-dry of a response, it will help you narrow down choices. Once the options have been limited, you can begin the search. Mercyhurst has a pre-established website called Career Connect, which features over 1,000 internships. Be sure you sign-up to start searching for internship options and get in contact with the people who may have had an influence in your internship choice. Foust suggests using another search engine called Career Shift. After creating an account, you can upload résumés, cover letters and recommendation letters. Career Shift allows the you to run a customized search for an internship or job. Completing an internship gives students practical experience, makes them more competitive in the job market and helps to network and gives a stronger confirmation that a particular career or field is right for you. Another tip Foust gives students is joining LinkedIn. Employers are now using LinkedIn to find potential employees. Using LinkedIn to your advantage and look-
ing for jobs and internships available in the market gives a competitive advantage. Creating a profile allows employers to see your attributes prior to setting up an interview, so make sure the profile is professional. To students who use social media often, clean it up. Over 69 percent of employers have rejected a candidate based on content found on their social media sites. This could be due to poor communication skills, inappropriate photos or credentials do not match the LinkedIn profile. After an interview, 47 percent of employers look at social media sites after receiving an application. For more information about internships, contact your faculty advisor or Kyle Foust for more information. Please contact Kyle Foust during his office hours in Egan 214, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call ext. 2171 or email him at kfoust@mercyhurst.edu.
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November 11, 2015
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Page 5
Arts &
Entertainment
MET Opera ‘Tannhauser’ to play in PAC The emotional opera draws its content from real people By Naomi Greenstein Staff writer
This Saturday, Nov. 14, the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture will be giving a special presentation of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Tannhäuser.” Sung completely in German, “Tannhäuser” made its world premiere on the Dresden Court Opera in 1845. A revised version later appeared on the Paris Opera stage in 1861. The title character was a real 13th-century Minnesinger who inspired a legend that the composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner used as the basis for the opera. He added the character of Elisabeth, based on the historical Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, wife of the Landgrave of Thuringia. The opera’s score went
through several revisions after the original performances, most importantly when Wagner added the Venusberg ballet for the 1861 French premiere. “Tannhäuser” takes place in and around Wartburg Castle, Thuringia in central Germany and in the mythical grotto of Venus, the goddess of love. Wartburg was the setting of a possibly legendary 13th-century song contest, as well as the home of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, wife of the Landgrave of Thuringia. It would later become associated with Martin Luther, who translated the New Testament from Greek into German there. The pagan–Christian dichotomy expressed in the twofold setting is central to the opera’s dramatic core. James Levine conducts Wagner’s early masterpiece in its first return to the Met stage
in more than a decade. Today’s leading Wagnerian tenor, Johan Botha, takes on the daunting title role of the young knight caught between true love and passion. Eva-Maria Westbroek is Elisabeth, adding another Wagner heroine to her Met repertoire after her acclaimed “Sieglinde in the Ring” a few seasons ago. On the heels of his recent triumph in “Parsifal,” Peter Mattei sings Wolfram and Michelle DeYoung is the love goddess, Venus. This emotional opera will be shown on in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 12:55 p.m., with a total run time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, military and students, $10 for children and $7.50 for students with their Mercyhurst ID.
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On Saturday, Nov. 14, there will be a showing of the MET Opera, “Tannhauser,” which draws its emotional impact from its basis on the lives of real historical people.
Orchestra to perform in PAC ‘Southpaw’ to play in TLT By Jenny Sabliov Staff writer
The Mercyhurst University Symphony Orchestra has a performance this Friday, Nov. 13, at 8: p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. This will be the last performance as a symphony orchestra before the Music Department merges this ensemble into the Chamber Orchestra. The performance theme is
“Dance” because all of the pieces that will be performed are specific styles of dances that range from a dark tango, fitting for Friday the 13th, to a waltz to the renaissance. Get ready to feel the need to dance with the instruments. The pieces are strings only and not only will our very own Mercyhurst students be performing, but there will also be a number of professional musicians from the surrounding area to play alongside the student musicians. The conductor of this per-
formance is R. Scott Tomlison, Ph.D, who is an Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education here at Mercyhurst. Admission for this performance is $2 for Mercyhurst students and faculty, as well as for children ages 10 and under and $5 for general admission. Tickets will be available at the door and at the box office. This performance is not one to miss and will be a perfect fit for a Friday evening outing for yourself and families.
A book review of ‘Dark Places’ By Naomi Greenstein Staff writer
Online
In 2014, the world of readers went crazy when author Gillian Flynn released “Gone Girl,” the book that would soon earn its rightful place on the N.Y. Times Bestseller List. The psychological thriller went beyond gritty and into straight craziness as readers found themselves being intrigued, then horrified by the manipulative, sociopathic wife who was trying to frame her husband for her murder. The book was a complete shock, and the movie followed the original plot extremely well, only changing a few minor details. For those readers who loved “Gone Girl” and the grit-lit style that Gillian Flynn wrote in, you’ll all love “Dark Places,” though probably not as much. Though published originally in 2009 before “Gone Girl” even existed, “Dark Places” has not seen the amount of attention that “Gone Girl” received after it hit the shelves in 2014. It is the same gritty writing that Gillian Flynn is known for, though it is less thrilling. The book centers around Libby Day, a woman now in her 30s whose entire family was violently and tragically murdered in their home on Jan. 3, 1985.
By Rachel Sobina Staff writer
Has your whole world ever changed in the blink of an eye? Have you ever felt like there is only one way out of a situation? Billy Hope, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, comes face-toface with reality when tragedy hits his family. Known as the light heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world, Billy Hope seems to have everything--a successful career, a loving wife and a beautiful daughter. Disaster strikes though and Billy’s wife is killed in an accident. His daughter is taken into protective custody, and Billy feels as though the only way out is to fight. Unfortunately, though, Billy’s manager has another idea, and decides to leave Billy to solve his own problems. Without family or a friend in sight, Billy seeks refuge in
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The movie “Southpaw,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, follows the story of Billy Hope as he tries to get his daughter back after she is taken into protective custody.
the only place he can think of, the gym. While working out in a rundown old gym, Billy meets an unlikely hero. Tick Willis, an old trainer who works with the toughest amateurs, begins training Billy to get back in the ring again. Billy must re-enter the ring to prepare to battle for his
future. Will Billy have what it takes to get his daughter back or is there no hope? Come to the Taylor Little Theatre on Sunday, Nov.15, at 2 p.m. to find out. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for students and $1 with Mercyhurst ID.
‘Spectre’ is the best Bond yet movie42day. com photo
Grit-Lit author Gillian Flynn captures the dark psyche of Libby Day, a woman who saw her whole family murdered as a child in the novel “Dark Places.”
The only survivors of the heinous crime were Libby and her brother, fifteen-yearold Ben. At the mere age of 10, she helped to convict Ben with her famous testimony that landed him a life sentence in prison. Unable to function in the world as a result of her disturbing past, Libby finds herself out of money and out of luck, until she receives a letter from a man named Lyle willing to pay her for a peculiar favor. Lyle is a member of the Kill Club, an underground organization obsessed with solving famous crimes, one of which is the 1985 massacre of Libby’s family. The group offers her money in exchange for being allowed
Full list of events can be found on the PAC website
to pick her brain about what really happened the night of the murders, because they believe that Ben is innocent. Though Libby refuses to believe not only that Ben is innocent, but also that if he is she was responsible for his incarceration, she obliges in order to get the money. Soon she is completely involved in trying to solve the case, and once again finds herself being chased by a murderer. “Dark Places,” though not as satisfying as “Gone Girl,” is incredibly written, and earns at least four stars in my book. Just make sure you have lots of time before you start the book, because once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.
By David McDonald Cinema Club member
Daniel Craig’s most recent James Bond is not only the most expensive Bond film ever made, taking about $240,000,000 to create the picture, but also the most action packed. With the best start to a Bond movie yet, it sucks audiences in from the beginning and does not subside until its stunning conclusion. This time around, Bond has to face his most difficult challenge yet when he faces the elusive criminal organization “Spectre,” headed by Franz Oberhauser. “Spectre” as a film, is a close second to its predecessor “Skyfall,” but outshines “Quantum of Solace,” and “Casino Royale.” “Spectre” is unique because it provides answers to many
View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu
007. com photo
“Spectre” proves itself to be the best Bond film yet.
of the questions held from the previous films. Elements of the three previous films are woven together, along with this movie’s plot, in order to create a Bond film that will be a stunning conclusion to the Craig franchise. The action of “Spectre,”
along with the creative story lines, sexy romance scenes and beautiful settings are what make this movie so entertaining and action-packed. Yet, despite the film’s entertainment value, there were a few scenes that kept people wondering how Bond left unscathed. Some of it was unrealistic, but not blatant enough to ruin the film. Overall, “Spectre,” combined with its three predecessors, is enough to establish Craig as, arguably, the greatest Bond actor yet. With this film, in conjunction with the rest of the franchise, Craig not only created the most relatable and realistic Bond yet, but created what will likely be the three greatest Bond films ever with “Casino Royale,” “Skyfall,” and “Spectre.” I give this film 4 out 5 stars. @TheMerciad
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November 11, 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.
Res Life privacy policies are fundamentally flawed By Ryan Kushner Opinion editor
As Mercyhurst begins to slowly shift toward requiring all students to live on campus, it is important to recognize that Residence Life’s policies regarding student housing privacy are considerably flawed. According to the rules outlined at the bottom of the online Student Handbook, Residence Life employees currently reserve the right to “enter and search a residence any time it is deemed necessary.” It’s a rule strikingly similar to the contract between myself and my mother back home, except here I have to pay $600 a month, and instead of my mother, it is a bearded university staff member who comes in to kiss me goodnight (though occasionally a song will be sung). The vagueness of Residence Life’s privacy policies are critical, as they allow the reason for an employee (whom you may have never met) to key in and enter into your living space to be completely subjective. Now, it is of course impossible to list every possible scenario for needing to key into a student’s living space. However, the utter lack of clarity found in this seemingly thrown-together contract allows for far too much leeway when it comes to violating a resident’s right to a certain amount of privacy in the living space they are paying for (and will soon be required to pay for if they wish to attend the fine institution of Mercyhurst). The University’s semiannual
“Health and Safety” inspections are perhaps the inevitable result of this contractual and habitual violation of student privacy. For those unfamiliar with this practice, twice a year Residence Life and Maintenance staff members go around to every student dorm or apartment, knock three times, enter and proceed to look around at what is immediately visible in the space, searching for issues of health and safety. This occurs whether those who live there are present or not. No notification that the inspection has been performed is left for residents who are absent when it took place (unless of course they are found to be in violation of University policies, in which case they are sent an email). The official reason for these surprise little visits seems to be that they provide students an opportunity to report a problem or concern regarding their living area. However, because students are given no prior warning as to when exactly their inspection will take place, there is a decent chance that they will not be there to voice any concerns. Secondly, if students were experiencing an issue, why would they sit in their apartment waiting for the surprise inspections to come around twice a year instead of contacting maintenance directly? Well, the answer to these questions is becoming obvious: The University would much rather attempt to catch students with their pants down (sometimes quite literally) than treat them as actual residents in any kind of professional manner. This current structure cannot be conducive to particularly pleasant working
conditions for maintenance employees either. I would imagine that students in the bathroom or shower can make the unscheduled visit rather uncomfortable. I know that I personally lounge around my apartment in extremely revealing clothing and am often doing stretches. No one should have to walk in and see such a horrific sight. That being said, I do not have anything in particular to hide in terms of belongings. I consider myself an open book. My record is clean (not counting the time I illegally downloaded Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion online). However, it is like my grandfather always used to tell me: “Ryan, never give up on your rights to privacy, and never trust anyone. Now get me some cranberry juice, I’ve got a bladder infection.” During my three years at Mercyhurst, I have already seen housing privacy policies misused on multiple occasions. In one instance, after a cell phone was reported stolen last fall, Residence Life and Police and Safety tracked the WiFi signal to a building in which a friend of mine was living. My friend’s apartment was keyed into and she was told to wait outside while they searched through her room for the missing phone. The phone was of course not there, and they left without another word (apparently finding the phone later in an apartment on a different floor). After accusing my friend of theft and violating her and her roommate’s personal belongings, no apology was issued for the mistake, and the procedure was deemed to have been performed properly by the University.
What was to stop a Residence Life employee from planting a cell phone in the room and claiming it was stolen? My friend was told to leave the room, so how could she prove otherwise? Why should students afford Residence Life the trust that they clearly refuse to give to students? I do not accept the argument that “this is a private school and they can do what they want with their housing.” This holds no water for me, or even soda for that matter. Even if a private institution can get away with something legally (though, as I understand it, they are still situated in the U.S.), it does not mean that it should. Legal ability does not give them the right to disregard the dignity of the innocent students trying to make their way through four years of education. This of course does not mean that certain students have not been a part, if not the cause, of the problem. They have been, and some still are. There are students for which policies such as Residence Life’s are created. But does this mean that all students should be treated as guilty until proven innocent due to the behavior of a few? If Mercyhurst wants to integrate all students onto its campus, it needs to address these fundamental flaws in its understanding of student privacy, so that all of its students can live here with the comfortable and contractual certainty that they will be treated with both dignity and respect.
Good Mercyhurst’s student “Polar Plunge” team has so far managed to raise over $1,300 for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics this year. Wednesday, Nov. 11, is Veteran’s Day, so make sure to take the time to celebrate and thank Mercyhurst’s many student and faculty veterans.
Bad The soggy weather has given new life to mildew in the basements of several apartment buildings. The rain also causes the sidewalk next to the Volleyball court between Briggs and Lewis to form a massive puddle that students either have to carefully maneuver around or dive into and swim across.
Weird
The office near Taylor Little Theater in Weber Hall seems to be tired of being bothered and mistaken for admissions. A note posted on its door offers some vague redirections that seem equivalent to “Go bumble around lost somewhere else.”
@TheMerciad
On Christmas music: Thoughts from a student advocate of holiday cheer The Merciad By Maggy Urso Photo editor
Online
Halloween is officially over. You know what that means. It is time to spread cheer by “singing loud for all to hear.” If it were up to me, it would be socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music all year long. However, there are those who disagree. Many people believe that the proper time to start listening to Christmas music is after Thanksgiving. There are others who believe you should never listen to it. But the truth is, starting Nov. 1, it is completely acceptable to start listening to Christmas music. Listen up, Scrooges: Christmas cannot be stopped. Walk into your local Target or Walmart, and you will see that the most wonderful time of the year is on its way. Santa Claus is coming to
town, and there is no way to stop Rudolph’s nose from shining bright. If you can’t stand the music, put one foot in front of the other and keep on walking, because I am going to keep on blasting it. There is something about Christmas music that just makes people happy. The spirit of Christmas does not lie solely in the music, but it is a huge part of the holiday. Be honest, how can you turn on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You,” and not start singing and dancing? Erie is eventually going to become a winter wonderland, meaning you might as well enjoy the chestnuts roasting on an open fire and take a sleigh ride or two. We are all going to be dressed like Eskimos anyway. But, even while you are trudging your way through the snow, you can pretend you are in the land where palm trees sway and listen to “Mele Kalikimaka” (for a “bright Hawai-
ian Christmas Day”). Now if you are not a fan of music with lyrics, don’t fret. There are plenty of instrumental pieces for you to listen to, such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” a Christmas classic.
“
No matter what style of music is your favorite, there is some type of Christmas song
”
for you to enjoy. Maggy Urso There are also Christmas songs that include some form of rap or R&B, but please do not listen to anything having to do with Christmas by Justin Bieber, because that stuff is fake. Modern Christmas music is what you are looking for? Do not worry, Michael Buble is the answer. No matter what style of
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merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion
music is your favorite, there is some type of Christmas song for you to enjoy. While listening to Christmas music (because the inevitable will happen, and you will start hearing it everywhere), there is much more you can do to get ready for the season. Start decorating by making fake snowflakes and hang your Christmas lights—unless of course you live on campus, because that is a fire hazard. Feel free to wear red and green together. Oh, and be sure to always answer your phone by saying, “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?” Pretty soon, it is going to begin to look a lot like Christmas, so you might as well be prepared.
@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.
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November 11, 2015
Page 7
The Merciad
Sports Hockey coach earns 500th win By Haleigh Giebel Staff writer
The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team split their weekend series against Air Force Academy to give Head Coach Rick Gotkin quite the birthday gift. With their win on Saturday, Nov. 7, Gotkin recorded his 500th win, becoming only the 23rd hockey coach to do so across all college divisions. “He’s been the leader of our team, providing an environment where we can work hard and get better,” said senior Mychal Monteith. “He’s been at it a while and his hard work pays off.” After a tough 5-4 overtime loss on Friday night, the Lakers rallied to defeat Air Force 3-1 on Saturday.
During Friday’s game, Air Force opened the scoring just over a minute into the game before Mercyhurst recorded three unanswered goals. Redshirt sophomore Jack Riley, junior Kyle Dutra and sophomores Jonathan Charbonneau and Kane Elliot all recorded goals. Both Riley and Charbonneau’s goals were during a power play and Dutra’s was a shorthanded goal. Freshman Lester Lancaster, sophomores Brandon Wildung and Nathan Ferriero, junior Philippe Drouin and senior Anthony Mastrodicasa, had the assists for the night. The score was tied 4-4 going into overtime when Air Force scored 3 minutes and 44 seconds to give the Falcons a 5-4 win.
Casey Bleuel photo
In Saturday’s game against Air Force, Laker freshman Derek Barach (26) scored Mercyhurst’s first goal of the game, leading to a 3-1 victory. This was Barach’s fifth goal of the season.
On Saturday, Air Force struck first just 10 minutes into the game, ending the first
period at 1-0 Air Force. During the second and third period, the Lakers scored
three unanswered goals to defeat Air Force, splitting the weekend series and giving Gotkin his 500th win. “I have been the benefactor of being at the right place at the right time and I couldn’t have done it without all of these unbelievable players and assistant coaches,” said Gotkin. “At the end of the day for me, this always is, and always will be about our players and their experience here at Mercyhurst University.” Freshman Derek Barach started off the scoring spree at 8:22 with a goal assisted by Drouin and Charbonneau. Lancaster was next when he found the back of the net, with under 30 seconds to play in the second period. Freshman Taylor Best and Dutra had the assists on Lancaster’s
game winning goal. To seal the deal, Riley slapped the puck down the ice for an empty net goal, to end the game at 3-1 Lakers. “I’m glad it’s over, I’m glad that I was a part of it and really right now my biggest concern is 501,” Gotkin said. With the split their conference record improved to 5-1-0 and their overall record improved to 7-5-0. The Lakers have the weekend off before hitting the road for five straight away games. The men will not return to play at home again until January 2016. Every game left is conference play.
@TheMerciad
Women’s hockey’s dominant forward By Diego Himede Staff writer
Ice hockey is a competitive, rough and demanding sport in which determination plays an important role. Although talent and skills are also significant, determination is what really brings one further in this sport. Senior women’s hockey player Jenna Dingeldein proves this on the ice every game. With over more than 10 games played this season, Dingeldein has scored twice and has assisted three times, proving herself to be an important asset to the team. The Canadian player is always passionately trying to help her team succeed.
Although it has been an irregular season for the Lakers, they have shown a lot of personality in their last games, especially against Rochester Institute of Technology where Dingeldein led her team to victory with an overtime winning goal. “When I scored the winning goal, I was very excited as it was a big conference game for us and the win was very important,” Dingeldein said. After coming back from an early goal from RIT, Mercyhurst dominated the game with 32 shots, against 19 shots from them. Not giving up was another important element that led the team to victory that day. “I think the key to winning the game was making sure that
we didn’t give up when we were down. We stuck together as a team and continued to work together and battle back and were successful in the end,” Dingeldein said. In fact, according to Dingeldein, everyone has been stepping up throughout the season at different moments. The freshmen have also had an impact in the team, motivating each other to work harder. To Dingeldein, everyone is working well and that is a huge step toward success for them. Dingeldein knows that sacrifice and determination will be important in order to win the next games. “Our expectations for every game of the season are the same. We expect ourselves to
work hard, not give up, and put everything into winning. We want to go into every game playing how we know we can play and hopefully come out with wins.” With an undefeated record the past four games and many great players like Dingeldein on the team, the women’s ice hockey team is in position to begin an important winning streak, leading them to an overall great season. The women’s next games will be played at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. Saturday’s game will be in support of breast cancer awareness. @TheMerciad
Contributed photo
Senior Jenna Dingeldein (16) has two goals so far this season. One of these goals came in overtime during Mercyhurst’s victory over RIT.
Men’s basketball sets high expectations By Marco Cicchino Staff writer
The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team finished the most successful season in the program’s history during the 2014-15 season, finishing 17-5 in the PSAC competition and 20-7 overall, surviving Selection Sunday and advancing to their first-ever NCAA Division II tournament. Their second-place finish in the PSAC West is tied with the 2010-11 team for the highest in seven PSAC seasons. The team’s 20 total wins is the second time in the last five years they have reached that ranking. Reigning West Coach of the Year Gary Manchel holds that title for a reason. The team has made six consecutive postseason appearances and outperformed expectations numerous times last season. It was announced on Thursday, Oct. 29, that last year’s performance has the
Lakers topping the West preseason poll for this coming season. The Lakers’ overall records were good enough to earn them the second spot in the West Division, tied with Indiana but owning the tiebreaker, thanks to a 58-55 win over the then No. 16 ranked Crimson Hawks at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Wednesday, Feb. 11. They are the only team to defeat the Hawks in each of the last five years, beating a ranked Indiana twice and snatching a 65-62 road upset of the then fifth-ranked Hawks on Dec. 3 of last year. Indiana gained revenge on the Lakers in more important competition, the No. 24 team eliminating Manchel’s squad with a 67-59 victory in PSAC quarterfinal on March 3. The Lakers were then allocated into the fifth seed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional, but fell 68-63 to Fairmont State in their opening contest. “Everything we work for is
Sport
to be better on last year,” said senior Gerrae Williams. “We’ll just do that.” The Lakers posted their tenth consecutive winning season, a school record. They rattled off separate winning streaks of seven, six and five games, all but three within the conference. Their 12 home wins is the second time in three years they have reached that level and have double-digit wins at home in four of the last five years. They also went 8-5 on the road for the second straight season and third season in five years. On the court last season, the Lakers made great statistical improvements from the 2013-14 campaign. The team averaged 66.6 points per game while holding opponents to 62.2, the eighth-lowest mark in the nation. This is the second straight year their defense has been outstanding. In 2013-14 they were second with just 60.3 points allowed. The Lakers were even better
in PSAC play, limiting damage to just 59.8 points per game and held five opponents-Gannon, Seton Hill, Notre Dame (OH), Kutztown and Edinboro-to 53 points or below. Offensively, production was up 4.3 points per game, and the Lakers hit the 80-point mark seven times, including a 90-84 overtime win at Daemen College on Nov. 24. “We [have] to play more defense,” said Williams. “We have to compete every game. Work on it in practice and it will transfer over to the game. We play a lot of defense, and it leads to a lot of buckets.” Individual highlights were abound last season, an all-balanced attack and defense leading the way all year. As a junior, Williams led the team with 10.5 points per game en-route to an All-West Second Team selection, while junior Damon Jones scored at least 15 points on seven occasions and shot 50.5 percent from the field. Senior James Ewing led
the team with 5.4 rebounds per game and recorded the only two double-doubles last season, pulling off 12 and 13 with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, the latter in a 72-59 rout of West Chester on Dec. 16. Meanwhile, then-junior Jean Onana led the squad by shooting 39.1 percent from downtown and registering a .904 free-throw percentage, recorded a single-gamehigh 27 points in an 82-60 win over Mansfield on Jan. 7, and scored the game-winning triple with two seconds remaining in the second Indiana win. Senior Callon Dalley also settled in nicely in a supporting role, leading the team with 30.8 minutes per game, 66 assists and 39 steals. Williams is confident in his teammates, commenting, “I’m just leading my team, I have a good group of guys behind me, so I just lead them, work hard, set examples and we’ll get it done this year.”
Let’s go Lakers!
The Lakers enter the 201516 season with new and higher expectations after being selected fourth in the preseason poll and topping the preseason West poll for the first time since joining the conference in 2008. “Everything we work for is to be better on last year,” said Williams. “We’ll just do that. [It’s] just to come work hard every day, bring energy every day, and hopefully it’s contagious in my team.” Williams also told the fans to look out for the basketball team. “We have a lot of fun. It’s anxious, we’re ready to play…so we need an opponent. Friday [Nov. 13] is going to be good, and hopefully we’ll pull out the win.” The Lakers open the 201516 season with a four-game homestand, hosting Houghton College on Friday, Nov. 13 before opening PSAC play against IUP five days later.
Date
Time
Women’s Hockey
Friday, Nov. 13
6:00 pm
Men’s Basketball
Friday, Nov. 13
7:00 pm
Women’s Hockey
Saturday, Nov. 14
1:00 pm
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Page 8
The Merciad
Laker
November 11, 2015
Living
Historically Tory: History in the Making By Victoria Kreysar Ad manager
Have you ever looked back on a failed relationship and wonder how things got so bad? If you can pinpoint a time or event, congratulations. Most people have no clue how they got to where they are, they just know things are not working out. More often than not you do not need a roadmap to realize it was a lack of communication between both parties that led the relationship down the current path. Apes, chimps, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas— take your pick of primates, they all have ways of successfully communicating their various issues. But language—words, syntax and grammar—they are the dividing factor that separates us from our fellow
primates. Yet so many people face a fundamental lack in their ability to communicate. If the proper channels of communication are open and taken seriously, they can open up previously inaccessible and often necessary avenues. Without loud, opposing opinions, the founding fathers would have been rebels without a cause. They would not be rebels and there would be no cause. There would be no United States, no federal banking system nor society as we know it. Not every opinion is as revolutionary, but they keep things alive. Opinions, even wrong ones, can keep society progressing. I am not saying everyone should tear down houses like the Sons of Liberty, but voicing a discontent is not always a bad
thing. Why are people so afraid to speak up when they sense something wrong? Why is everyone afraid to rock the boat? If everyone just drank the Kool-aid, nothing would happen.
“
Do not just talk to someone, talk with them because in the end preaching to a brick wall is one of the most frustrating experiences. Learn to listen and learn to talk.
”
Victoria Kreysar
Nothing would grow or change—not for the better and not for the worse. I am a self-diagnosed hypochondriac with a case of foot-in-mouth syndrome, but sometimes you just shouldn’t stay quiet. I’m not saying I aim to
walk around campus with a spoon to stir the pot, but if I see a problem, I have an awful habit of voicing my opinion and trying to change it. We preach for a free-thinking culture of individuals, yet having a strong opinion seems to be treated like a horrible disease. Opinions become dangerous and wrong when they are based in hearsay and conjecture, when there are no facts to be seen. But logical, legitimate opinions with a sturdy foundation of factual, objective information are valid and vital. They are concrete proofs labeled as conjecture based on whose mouth they emerge from. We live in a culture where “everyone’s a winner” and we have lost the ability to take constructive criticism. I’m including myself in this
as well. Whenever I get a paper back with red marks all over it, I immediately jump to defend myself, defend my word choice or my arguments used. But sometimes you have to admit the other person may know better. Sometimes you have to accept that voices are not always from an opposing force; you do not have to build a barricade and prepare to wage war because comments are not always meant as an attack. In society today it’s commonplace to fall back upon easy forms of communication. Texting and emailing are easy; you get to choose your words carefully and you have proof of what someone said. Face to face conversation is a whole other ball game. You have a limited amount of socially acceptable time to form
Way back When... The Merciad presents articles from yesteryear in their original form, including headlines. This week, our blast from the past is from November 1940.
Our Pilgrim Fathers Vs. F. D. R. One of the problems with which we Americans are currently confronted, and which has been regarded as trivial and unnecessary by many, arises at an extremely appropriate time. The problem to which I refer is that of deciding when to observe Thanksgiving Day, whether on the last Thursday of November, following the custom originated by our Pilgrim fathers, or a week earlier, in accordance with our President’s proclamation. I describe this problem as arising at an appropriate time for the reason that, regardless of which day one chooses, he will, on both days, have his attention drawn to the significance of a Thanksgiving Day. And, indeed, in this chaotic year in the history of the world, we Americans must realize that significance. As a matter of fact, we have so much for which to be thankful that two days can hardly be said to be too many in which to have this fact impressed upon us. We, who are so engrossed in carrying out our respective duties, have discovered that by a mere twist of our radio dials and by devoting not more than a glance to certain sections of our newspapers, are able to live our lives a good deal apart from the present European conflict. But with talk of the conflict permeating the entire atmosphere, we are forced to realize the significance of tyranny and of war; consequently, we should welcome the opportunity afforded by a Thanksgiving Day to express our gratitude for all that with which we have been blessed. We are given an opportunity to express our thanks for the fact that we are still permitted to live our lives normally, free from tyranny forcing us to deeds totally in discord with our human nature, free from an environment of attack from all sides, of continual waste and ruin and horrible deaths, yes, even to express our thanks for the privilege of dying normally. In short, we must be thankful for the fact that our rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are still recognized, that we are not forced to descend to a position where we would feel more than thankful if only our lives were spared. Do not, then, make the problem established by a conflict between the custom of our Pilgrim Fathers and the plan of our President a vital one this year, but feel grateful on both November 21 and November 28 and on every other day that you are here, not over there. --Valma Blakey
Game Zone
your response. You don’t have the ability to hide behind print. Body language is more difficult to read than a text message. Small talk is outright terrifying. But conversing is necessary for survival. It’s necessary for a thriving culture, both on this campus and in general. So make an effort to listen. Try to assess the opposing viewpoints. Practice the proverbial “walking a mile in their shoes.” That is what conversations are: a back and forth game of voiced thoughts. Do not just talk to someone, talk with them because in the end preaching to a brick wall is one of the most frustrating experiences. Learn to listen and learn to talk.
@tory_krey