The Merciad F R E E
VOL. 86 No. 19 4 / 17 / 2013
Bob Woodward offers insight MORE INSIDE & ONLINE ‘One Day Without Shoes’
Corbin tests technology
Men’s rowing claims gold
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READ THE STORY ON PAGE 5
ONLINE POLL RESULTS Based on the Hunger Games themed posters for Kids N Sibs, what do you think the weekend will entail? Let's get real, nothing exciting. 43% Murder. 37% I don't know? But I'm going to win. 14% It's an easy way to get rid of my sibling. 6%
Total votes: 35
NEWS
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April 17, 2013
Students prepare for new curriculum By Abigail Robinson Staff writer
It’s that time of term again: advising. Students will begin advising for fall 2013 starting on Monday, April 22, although this time might be a little bit different. Fall 2013 is when Mercyhurst University will begin the 4-1-4 term system. This system will include two 14-week terms separated by a term in January called a J-term intended for study abroad, or more concentrated classes on campus. Students will be required to take 10 courses throughout the year, which means students may be taking up to 5 classes in the fall. With the transition to 4-1-4, classes will be shorter and are scheduled at various times throughout the day.
Current juniors, sophomores, freshman and incoming students will all be following the new core. Students graduating in the summer or in the fall of 2013 have the option to stay with the former core or transition to the new core. With any transition of this magnitude there are bound to be some issues, but the Office of Academic Affairs and the Registrar are working tirelessly to see that all issues are met with some sort of solution. The portal has a page dedicated to “core transition challenges” and adjustments that can be made toward those situations. For example, students may have taken classes that fit with the old core that are no longer being offered, or have taken a class that does not fit the new core criteria. If this is the case, there are two options. Category nine on the core cur-
Mercyhurst acquires DNA sequencer By Kierston Bromley Staff writer
Mercyhurst University recently received a DNA sequencing machine, a powerful device that is one of its kind in the Erie area. This was the result of two grants for advancement of scientific research at Mercyhurst University. One was through Alden Trust and the other was a collaboration with Erie Research Institute. “I think it is a huge step forward for Mercyhurst, a small private liberal arts university, to have technology that rivals that at many top tier universities,” said Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Amy Parente, Ph.D. The machine is one of its kind in terms of its ability to sequence DNA. According to Chair of the Biology Department Steve Mauro, this machine can sequence the DNA of any organism on the planet within a day. Other machines, if they could sequence the DNA at all, could take up to a year to do the same work. Students will be able to see how this machine works and use it for themselves in the lab. “For students, such as myself, being able to have experience on a sequencer will really work in our favor,” said
senior Drew Spacht. “This sequencer is just one more thing students can add to their CV’s when they graduate.” Mauro agrees, citing the machine as a great learning platform for students. The machine is not just important for students, though. Parente said that in her work only a few DNA molecules will have a sequence that allows them to perform the task that she and other researchers are interested in their work. Therefore, an inherent challenge for Parente is finding the DNA sequence for each molecule. “Previous technology required us to examine molecules one at a time, which is not very expensive each time it is performed, but is fairly labor intensive and can become cost–prohibitive if you need a lot of information,” said Parente. “By using the MiSeq next generation sequencer [the DNA sequencer], we will be able to obtain sequence information from up to 15 million DNA molecules in one single reaction.” According to Parente, the machine is not only important as a method for students to learn on the newest and best equipment, it is also a tool to forge relationships with faculty outside of Mercyhurst, who will be able to take advantage of this machine’s capability.
riculum is a “wildcard” option. If students have taken a class fitting with the old core standards and that class has moved categories or is not needed under new core standards, they can use it as their wildcard option. Students should meet with their
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Our primary goal is to help students to graduate on time.
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Sister Patricia Whalen
advisers to ensure the class can be used as a “wildcard.” Students also have the option of requesting an exception. This request form can be found on the portal and should also be discussed with your adviser. All exception requests will be
adjusted on your program evaluation this summer. There are many places you can receive information about the transition to a 4-1-4 term system. The portal is the place with the most information including a FAQ sheet, exception request forms, a list of the new core classes and a mapping tool which helps lay out your future terms here at Mercyhurst. Advisers, professors and academic counselors are available to help with any questions along with the office of Academic Affairs and the Registrar. Registrar Sister Patricia Whalen said, “All of these resources are made available, so that students aren’t taking classes they don’t need.” Whalen shares that the most important resource available to students is the Program Evaluation tool found on WebAdvisor. Program Evaluations have been updated to reflect
the changes made in the core, and should be used by all students and advisers when choosing classes for next term. “Our primary goal is to help students to graduate on time. If students follow their program evaluations and work with their academic adviser they should be able to do so in a timely manner,” Whalen said. All in all, student feedback has been mostly positive regarding the move to semesters. Freshman Rose McDonnell said, “It will be nice to be on break the same time as my friends at other schools, and of course the shorter classes will be enjoyable as well.”
NEWS
April 17, 2013
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Hospitality department receives grant By Kierston Bromley Staff writer
Mercyhurst’s Hospitality department had a dream to obtain their own space. With a grant thanks to the Statler Foundation, this dream is now a reality. Daryl Georger, Ph.D., hospitality management faculty and other faculty of the hospitality department worked together to write a grant with the assistance of Sheila Coon. “Without the assistance of hospitality faculty and Sheila Coon,” said Georger, “the grant would have been much more difficult to achieve.” The hospitality department initially asked for $1 million, which has been granted to Mercyhurst in installments annual. These installments have gone into newer and updated facilities such as new kitchens. The old kitchens, built in 1987, obviously had outdated equipment that has been replaced as a result of this grant. Also, previously the hospitality department took up a third of the café in Mercyhurst’s Center for Academic Excellence. “Space was limited,” said Georger, “but now the hospitality department has its own space and so does the café.”
Zach Dorsch photo
The hospitality department was able to acquire new appliances for their kitchen with the help of the Statler grant. The hospitality department is very grateful to Ellsworth Milton Statler, for whom the Statler Foundation is named, for this grant. Stalter built his first hotel in Buffalo in 1907. He is famed to have the first major hotel to have a private bath or shower and running water in every room. After his
News Brief
Library exchanges fines for donations The Hammermill Library is now accepting non-perishable food donations in exchange for fines. Bring the items to the circulation desk. Each item will take credit for $1 of the fine. Up to $20 worth of credit for fines may be exchanged. Items accepted: canned meat, canned fish, canned nuts, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, dried beans, cake mixes, dried cereal, oatmeal, rice, pasta, evaporated and powdered milk, canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned juices, canned soup, canned spaghetti, dried fruit, coffee, baby products, household supplies, paper products, and health and beauty aids. Items not accepted: home canned food, glass containers, unsealed or opened packages. Outdated or damaged items will not be accepted. Containers must be sealed and unopened. Individual items that appear to have been part of a package will not be accepted and the library reserves the right to deny a donation based on condition and safety of the item. Expired foods will not be accepted. Donations will count for library fines only. The items will be sent to the Second Harvest Food Bank and students are encouraged to donate regardless of fines.
death, his foundation was erected and became benefactor of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, N.Y. Among the things the Statler grant afforded Mercyhurst are $60-65,000 ovens, which allow a wider assortment of breads and other food to
be made. These ovens are not only expensive, thus difficult to purchase without the grant, but difficult to use in general. “Students at Mercyhurst will have an opportunity to use these ovens before they graduate. [This is an opportunity] that few other colleges
have,” Georger said. The hospitality kitchen is now more versatile than ever, boasting a new setup that allows the interchangeability of machines depending on what is needed at a particular time. Sanitation/dish washing services have been updated with digital interfaces as well as Mercyhurst’s ordering facilities. The new order taking system features the same computer equipment that major restaurants such as Applebees’ currently uses. Junior hospitality management major Laura Poweski is excited about the grant. “I think the grant has allowed the hospitality department to grow as a major,” said Poweski. “I believe this new facility makes students more enthusiastic to learn and be involved in the major.” Now the café will be better able to serve students, while at the same time future hospitality graduates can learn on state-of-the-art equipment and earn a better education at the same time.
Intel students receive great opportunity from class project By Daniel Tarr Staff writer
Most of the time undergraduate students do not get an opportunity to speak one-on-one with representatives from big name companies, but the opportunity came true for three lucky Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies students. Juniors Alex Edwards, Chris Robben and Ryan Knoll got to speak with Activision Blizzard Vice President of Sales Dave Freeman. Freeman spoke with the students after seeing a project that they did for their Competitive Intelligence class, which is taught by Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies Shelly Freyn. Freyn assigned a project where groups of students had to pick one of their favorite companies. They then had to look at the company’s competition, market trends, financial analysis and patent analysis. Students then had to take all of this information and make strategy
models using it. Freyn sends projects she feels are especially strong to the company the students chose. Freyn sent an email to Freeman on March 24, with the project attached. Two days later she received a call from Freeman. He said that he receives projects sometimes, but typically does not read them. However, he read this project, and said it was one of the best student projects he has ever received. He set up a conference call with the students and gave them a sneak peek of the industry. He gave students insight on the company. He also shared information with them that is not available to the public. “Industry is in a state on inflection and we are changing the value we deliver,” Freeman said. Edwards and Robben gave their reactions to this whole experience. “It was a great opportunity to get to speak with Mr. Freeman,” said Edwards. “Undergrads don’t get opportunities like
this very often, and I thought it was a good experience to get feedback and see how accurate our analysis was.” “I’m a pretty passionate gamer. I could talk about video games for hours. That I got to talk to someone like Dave about video games, not just as my favorite hobby, but also as a business, was extremely cool and frankly blows my mind,” said Robben. “He was also kind enough to provide our project with a fantastic letter of recommendation that I’m sure is going to really help me in my professional life when I start looking for jobs.” Freyn commented on the impact of these projects. “These projects that students do can really make an impression and impact on these companies,” said Freyn. “If you take some of these projects seriously, they can help you stand out in the crowd, especially if you pick the industries you are really interested in.” For more information, please contact Shelly Freyn at (814) 824-2465 or sfreyn@mercyhurst.edu.
NEWS
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April 17, 2013
TOMS club hosts ‘One ‘Hurst hosts 5k Day Without Shoes’ event across campus By Alison Hosko
Contributing editor
By Zach Dorsch Photo editor
Mercyhurst’s TOMS club helped spread awareness on the hazards that children without shoes experience daily by hosting the day-long event “One Day Without Shoes” on Tuesday, April 16. This event encourages students across the world to go a day without shoes. Both faculty and students participated in the event at Mercyhurst as a way to appreciate what children around the world must endure. The club kicked off the day by having faculty members paint the soles of their feet and press them on canvas to spell out TOMS. Students were then encouraged to place their own footprints around the border of the canvas. The event ended with a short video that featured the feet of many within the Mercyhurst Community, including the TOMS Mercyhurst Campus Club, cheerleaders, soccer team, the dance department and the archaeology department. TOMS Club President Adrianne LaGruth was pleased with the event’s largest turnout yet. “Despite the rain, it didn’t discourage both students and faculty from showing their support,” LaGruth said. TOMS Shoes provided pledge cards that listed facts about the importance of shoes for children, as well as the risks those without shoes face daily. Children across the world who are currently walking around without shoes are susceptible to injury, catch-
Zach Dorsch photo
Many students came out to show their support for the TOMS club’s One Day Without Shoes. ing soil-transmitted infections and parasites that can lead to death. This risk of injury is not the only problem for these children. Some areas require their students to have shoes in order to attend school; without shoes these kids cannot acquire an education. Senior TOMS Club member Larae Tymochko has participated in “One Day Without Shoes” for three years and is also passionate about the cause. “Events like these are extremely important not only to raise awareness for this cause,” said Tymochko, “but it also brings unity to the campus.” Events such as these help enforce the university’s rich history of service. “It is service that is the most important part of TOMS,” LaGruth said. “I don’t care about getting the shoes. It is the fact that someone else gets the shoes that need them.”
On Saturday, April 13, Mercyhurst and Gannon, two rival universities, worked together with Linked By Pink to raise money to help those fighting breast cancer. The 5K race began at 9 a.m. and featured a Chinese auction, race t-shirts, Pampered Chef, a DJ and a recognition wall where individuals could honor or recognize those who have or had breast cancer. The race was not only open to the general public, but to Mercyhurst and Gannon faculty and staff, some of whom helped to organize the event. Students that are in Gannon’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program must complete a community service project in order to graduate. In 2011, a group of these students decided to work with Linked By Pink for their project. This group also included a Mercyhurst sports medicine alumnus that had participated in 5K races, which gave the group the idea to host this year’s 5K race at Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst University Police & Safety
University. Mercyhurst’s Sports Medicine Student Association, or SSA, also joined in with Gannon to help further the cause. Every year since, four of Gannon’s physical therapy students, at least one a Mercyhurst University alumni, and SSA members team up to organize the annual Linked By Pink 5K race. Gannon students Kallie Balajthy, Tiffany Messner and Megan Pawlikowski, along with Kris Legters, the head of Gannon’s physical therapy department, were involved in the planning. Vicky George and Lyudmila Belousov, both Mercyhurst University 2012 sports medicine graduates, and Brad Jacobson, head of the Mercyhurst Sport Medicine Department, along with Tesa Ramsdell, Zach Jacobson, and other SSA members were also involved in organizing the event. This year, the Linked By Pink 5k Race had nearly 200 participants. “The race went really well,” Michelle Adams, an organizer of the event and a 2011 Mercyhurst sports medicine graduate, said. Donations are still being totaled but the current count is over $3,000.
Police Log
Thursday, April 11 Possession of Controlled Substance Warde Hall Resident Life incident Zach Dorsch photo
Vice President for Student Life Gerard Tobin leaves his mark on the TOMS banner.
Saturday, April 13 Liquor Law Violation Lewis Ave. Referred for discipline
Business Club hosts fashion show Mercyhurst’s Business Club will host its annual “Dress for Success” fashion show Thursday, April 25, at 8:15 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room. The show’s purpose is to show students how to dress professionally, yet stylish for future job interviews. The event is organized by junior Brianna Smail and Assistant Professor of Business Lee Anna Belovarac. Any questions about the event can be addressed to Smail at bsmail08@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.
Tuesday, April 16 Disorderly Conduct Lewis Ave. Referred for discipline
FEATURES
April 17, 2013
Corbin wins chance to test new technology
Hurst hears insights on D.C., media
By Garrett Erwin Staff writer
By Alicia Cagle Editor-in-Chief
“All good work is done in defiance of management,” author and investigative journalist Bob Woodward told students during his visit. Despite delay from the weather, causing his trip from Washington, D.C. to take approximately 11 hours, Woodward arrived Wednesday, April 10, to address the Mercyhurst and Erie communities. His visit to Mercyhurst began with a brief press conference, followed by a question and answer session with select students from the communication and political science departments, as well as several students from Johns Carroll University. Questions ranged from the current affairs around the world, to his favorite person to interview. His engaging personality and personal stories created an entertaining question-and-answer session for students. One story involved his interview with President Bill Clinton in 1994. “You go into the Oval Office and [Bill] Clinton drills you with this eye contact that almost creates a gravitational force -- he does not blink,” said Woodward. “And he slows time down just a little bit so it creates an atmosphere of intimacy.” While the interview appeared promising, the result was not what Woodward expected. “I’m thinking, ‘Wow, he realizes how brilliant my questions are,’” said Woodward. “And I’m thinking “Wow this is such good information,’ and he’s focused, answering [and] there’s nothing else in the world. I remember thinking when I left, this was just a great interview, I got all kinds of new information.” Woodward explained that he got the tape transcribed, read it without the sense of intimacy and realized it was “mush.” “He said nothing, but it sure felt good,” Woodward said. After the question-and-answer session and a private dinner with Mer-
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Zach Dorsch photo
Bob Woodward speaks to students about journalism and current events Wednesday at the CAE board room. cyhurst University President Tom Gamble, Ph.D., several faculty members and a couple students, Woodward presented his talk “Inside the White House: From Nixon to Obama with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.” Senior Aaron Loncki expressed his excitement for the event. “I was almost late to the Q and A,” said Loncki. “I rushed in and sat down. As I sat down, it dawned on me-- that’s Bob Woodward. There’s the guy who broke Watergate.” Senior Carrie Gambino’s excitement echoed Loncki’s. “I enjoyed his inside stories, especially about the Clintons,” said senior Carrie Gambino. “It definitely made me want to look into his written works.” Loncki added his thoughts on Woodward’s experience and influence in journalism.
“He’s from an older age of journalism,” said Loncki, one with more time for deep coverage, one concerned with the facts. It’s about reporting what’s affecting people and presenting the story as it is.” Communication Instructor Brian Sheridan organized the event and was pleased with how it turned out. “We were thankful that it was such a great event,” said Sheridan. “Personally, there is always a fear of meeting a person who you’ve idolized because they may not live up to expectations. Woodward exceeded all of the expectations I previously had of him.” For more information about Bob Woodward, visit http://bobwoodward.com/.
Using only 66 characters, Professor Meghan Corbin has won the once in a lifetime opportunity to test-drive Google’s latest technology, Google Glass. Corbin found the entry from someone that she follows on Twitter. Google held a competition, Glass Explorer Program, in which they asked for Twitter responses to the question, “What would you do with Glass?” After giving some thought about how students could use the product positively and negatively, Corbin’s answer was easy to present, “Engage students in discovering its potential in a higher education classroom.” Corbin, a communications professor, believes in Mercyhurst’s hands-on approach to education. After receiving a response from Google, she had to do a double take on whether it was truly going to happen. “I never win anything, so I thought it was a mistake,” said Corbin. “The news remained personal for about 15 minutes because I was just too excited.” Corbin is one of about 8,000 people to be given the opportunity to test drive what may be the next greatest technology to hit the market. Corbin is one of three winners from the Erie community. The other two include Erie Insurance’s Douglas Boldt and Cathedral Prep senior Mark Lyons. Google Glass is designed to perform many of the tasks that people see in their smartphones, but from the hands-free system of an eyeglass wear. With glass, the controls are within a simple touch of the sides of the eyewear or by saying the command. The spectacles are constructed to include a miniature camera and display on the right side. Corbin has already thought of different ways to use Glass in the classrooms in which she teaches at Merychurst. As many are, Corbin is anxious and excited to see how this new form of technology may impact the future education experience of students around the world. She has been anxiously awaiting to hear back soon about making a trip to New York City where she will join
Zach Dorsch photo
Meghan Corbin will test out a brand new Google device. other winners to learn more about Glass and the functionality behind it. Being chosen as one of the explorers to assist in making Glass possible comes with a $1,500 price tag, but the benefits of essentially assisting in the improvement of a product that may be the next step to the future of technology is an experience she may never receive again. Her plans are to test the use of video production and visual communication of a wide variety of information. “Students and I will be looking at its application in online advertising as well as its integration with new and existing tools like Google Maps and search,” said Corbin. “I will also be talking with other professors in other areas of the university to see how we can work together to research its uses and the impacts it could have in the classroom.” One of the main concerns that Corbin has is the typical technology issues and the contributions it may have towards student distractions. Corbin would also appreciate any ideas for testing from the student body and the public. To find out more information about Corbin’s adventure through test-driving Glass, or to submit any ideas for testing, follow her blog at glassinclass. blogspot.com.
FEATURES
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April 17, 2013
MacBride premieres movie ‘100’ By Kayla Kelly Features editor
Do you enjoy “paying it forward” to brighten someone’s day? Senior Caitlin MacBride was inspired several years ago by simple, kind gestures and incorporated them into the film, “100.” “I see so many people hurting and people don’t care,” said MacBride. “Something as small as a smile can really change someone’s life.” She came up with the idea and then decided to enter a script contest
to try to make her dream a reality. MacBride is passionate about filming and definitely foresees it in her future. She hopes to be a director, similar to writer and director Nora Ephron. Ephron was known for her movies “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail.” MacBride aspires to be like Ephron and wants people to be inspired by her movies and to feel some type of emotion. The contest awarded her $200 to work towards the production of her film. She was able to save most of the money because she didn’t use
Contributed photo
Junior Chris Gaertner and Mercyhurst Preparatory junior Katie Conti act out a scene in the cafeteria.
Contributed photo
Freshman Tonya Lenhart and sophomore Jeffrey Krull exchange a note to help pay it forward in “100.”
many props, didn’t have to pay for locations and all the participants were volunteers. She advertised the need for actors and actresses through posters, social media and word of mouth, with the help of her friends. The main character, junior Mikayla McNamara, approached MacBride at the bar and expressed how excited she was about the idea of the
Earth Week kicks off By Matthew Teleha Staff writer
Looking to get involved in making a positive impact on the environment? The 10-day Earth Week 2013 kicks off this Wednesday, April 17, with several events promoting environmental awareness and green initiatives. This year, Mercyhurst’s Earth Week theme will focus on “New Ways of Changing Erie’s Environment.” This theme envelops topics including public health, environmental connections, and access to healthy foods. It will begin on Wednesday with a screening of “The Island President.” This award-winning documentary tells the story of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives and his fight to save his country from global warming. This film will be screened in Zurn 114 at 7 p.m. Earth Day is Monday, April 22, and will be packed with several events leading up to a lecture by Nancy Hueh-
nergarth, author and public health advocate. Her speech, titled “Creating a Healthy Environment: Lessons from New York,” will be the first of a twonight lecture series in Taylor Little Theatre. Tuesday, April 23, will feature a lecture by author and national expert Rosalind Creasy. Creasy’s presentation will discuss “Transforming your Home and Health through Edible Landscaping,” a discussion about the various health and environmental benefits of gardening. Both lectures in the series start at 7 p.m. and are free and open to both students and the general public. Aside from these events, there will also be an off-campus volunteer project on Earth Day called “Clean-Up in Girard.” This project is funded by a $16,900 grant from the Erie Community Foundation, and focuses on repairing and enhancing recreational trails in the Girard, Pa., area. “Two trails were selected as the first phase of the project, one along Elk
Creek leading from Girard Borough Park to Mercyhurst-owned property,” Mercyhurst sustainability officer Brittany Prischak said. “The other is a trail on the Erie County Historical Society property behind the Battles Museum’s Yellow House.” Earth Day volunteers will be cleaning up the area around these trails and preparing them for repairs. Van transportation will be provided to students involved, and will leave campus at 9:15 a.m. The Student Sustainability Club will be hosting the final Earth Week 2013 event with the annual “Post Thaw Clean-Up” on Saturday, April 27. Starting in Garvey Park at 10 a.m., students can lend a hand in rejuvenating the campus outdoors from the effects of winter. For more information about this event or to get involved with the club, email greenteam@mercyhurst.edu. Contact Prischak at bprischak@ mercyhurst.edu or visit the Sustainability Office in Egan 305 to get involved with the green initiative.
movie. MacBride’s first question was whether or not the girl could fake cry. McNamara answered yes, and got the part of the leading role as Hannah. The film “100” is about a group of 100 high school seniors who are connected by a string of good deeds, which many of us know as “paying it forward.” The movie will premiere on
Sunday, April 28, in the Taylor Little Theatre. The event is free, black tie optional, and there will be a red carpet event at 2:30 p.m., prior to the showing of “100” at 3 p.m. A reception will follow the showing of the movie. For more information on the film “100” or the upcoming event, contact Caitlin Macbride at cmacbr51@ lakers.mercyhurst.edu.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
April 17, 2013
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Local Events Thursday, April 18: 8:15 p.m. William Kowalski Literary Festival Taylor Little Theatre Friday, April 19:
Contributed photo
Mercyhurst Dance Department students will be starring is SoMar Night’s Dream at Daftmark Studios.
SoMar combines artistic works By Garrett Erwin Staff Writer
Online
SoMar Dance Works presents a mid-SoMar Night’s Dream this upcoming weekend, April 20-21. SoMar Dance Works has been working to produce a concert that includes a collection of dances and interludes that express the realm of dreams. “SoMar never disappoints with its creative movements, awe-inspiring tricks, and entertaining dancing, and ‘A mid-SoMar Night’s Dream’ is no different,” said senior Eileen McDonnell. Co-directors, Solveig and Mark Santillano have created a concert that involves intricate movements in relation to music and poetry. The concert is not a reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s play. SoMar has pulled pieces of inspiration from a variety of musicians and works of poetry including Henri Mancini, Tom Waits, Sting and Felix Mendelssohn as well as Shel Silvestein, Langston Hughes and Edgar Allan Poe. Dreams have long been a source of creativity for artists, poets, playwrights and more. Using these particular studies, Santillano says they are very useful for special choreography. SoMar Dance Works premiered
in 1999 in Missouri, and relocated a year later to Erie. The studio features eight dancers, and talent is constantly being molded for the dancers to be creative and form their talents to their highest extent. McDonnell can vouch for the skills she has received over the last few years. “SoMar has allowed me to expand upon my movement vocabulary and become a much stronger and more versatile dancer,” said McDonnell. Over the years, SoMar has also earned seven Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts grants from ArtsErie and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Six dance majors from Mercyhurst University are performing in the concert taking place this weekend. Those dancers include Alexa Bradley, Kelsey Chamberlain, Elena Cvetkovich, Marchetta Genis, Eileen McDonnell, and Linea Stureson. This is the final production for senior Kelsey Chamberlain and she hopes to impress the audience with the talent that she and her fellow dancers have been working on. “I look forward to dancing with my fellow company members in my last SoMar show, and wowing the audience with our talent,” said Chamberlain. The concert is a family-friendly event.
Full list of events can be found on the PAC website
“This performance will definitely be showcasing some quirky and interesting pieces, and it will surely bring joy and delight to people of all ages,” said Chamberlain. SoMar Night’s Dream will be performed on Saturday, April 20, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m., at Daftmark Studios located at 1033 State Street, Erie.
Tickets for the concert are available at the door: Adults, $15, Students/Seniors, $10 and Children ten years old and younger, $5. SoMar is offering a 40 percent discount off of ticket prices to those who attend the show wearing their pajamas. For questions, contact SoMar Dance Works via telephone at (814) 824-2176.
La Fille Mal Gardée Friday, May 3 - 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 - 2-7 p.m. Sunday, May 5 - 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 20: 2 p.m. Hellbound? Taylor Little Theatre Sunday, April 21: 2 p.m. Classic Film Series: Dr. No Taylor Little Theatre Monday, April 22:
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center Adults - $15.50 Students / Seniors - $12.50 President’s Card Holders - $7.50 Youth (12 and under) - $5 Mercyhurst Students with ID - $3.50
For tickets: Call (814)-824-3000 or email miac.mercyhurst.edu
View upcoming performances: www.pac.mercyhurst.edu
6:35 p.m. Erie SeaWolves vs. Trenton Thunder Jerry Uht Park
10 a.m. TheatreWorksUSA Warner Theatre Tuesday, April 23: 7 p.m. Edible Landscaping Taylor Little Theatre
www.merciad.mercyhurst. edu/arts_entertainment
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
April 17, 2013
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
Contributed photo
The Postal Service celebrates their tenth year anniversary of creating interesting music selections.
The Postal Service celebrates 10 years By Zach Dorsch Photo editor
What seems like something small and insignificant, sometimes can lead to big results that you would never expect. This is exactly what happened to Death Cab for Cutie’s front man Ben Gibbard and electronic musician Jimmy Tamborello when they formed the Postal Service in 2001. The two met when Gibbard came to Los Angles to visit Tamborello’s roommate. At the time, Tamborello was working on a track that he thought was meant for Gibbard’s voice. The track came out sounding better than expected, and they agreed to record more together; thus, The Postal Service was born.
Released in 2003, their first and only album “Give Up” is record label Sub Pop’s second best selling record of all times, selling more than 1.07 million copies. The element that makes this record so great is how naturally electronic instruments mix with Ben’s soft, wispy voice and lyrics. This organic synthesis of sounds can best be heard in “Sleeping In.” The track starts off with soft, atmospheric production work that sounds like a drizzle on a spring morning. Gibbard’s voice slides in effortlessly as he speaks words of pure philosophy. “Where concerns about the world getting warmer, the people thought they were just being rewarded, for treating others as they’d like to be treated... Now we can swim any day in November,” over Tamborello’s fat, low end synth.
The opening track to the album, “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” is my favorite song on the album. The low droning synth keeps a steady beat through the song as string sections flutter over it. This, combined with the blended vocals of Gibbard and guest vocalist Jenny Kelly discussing a break up due to distance, creates something close to perfect. “This Place is a Prison” is about being trapped in a bar and being unable to leave the routine of going there to wash away sorrow. The thing that makes this song crushing is not Gibbard’s lyrics, but the slow heavy synths that weight heavy on you. It is sad to think that this album will be the only one the band will ever release, but at least they gave us this one.
Met HD Live:
Giulio Cesare by Handel Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center presents:
Wind Ensemble Concert Sunday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. The Mercyhurst University Wind Ensemble will give a stunning performance of their spring term repertoire in the PAC.
Layla Claire Cancellation
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
Due to personal issues, the scheduled performance of Layla Claire’s recital is cancelled.
Langer Film Series presents:
Margin Call Taylor Little Theatre Friday, May 3 at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
Approx. Runtime: 4 1/2 hours
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
OPINION
April 17, 2013
Page 9
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Harris-Perry’s education comments not accepted By Zach Yost Staff writer
Recently, controversy has been stirred up regarding an MSNBC commercial starring weekend host Melissa Harris-Perry. The commercial started a national debate concerning whose responsibility children are. Are they the parents’ and families’ responsibility or the community and collectives responsibility? I will let her words speak for themselves: “We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we’ve always had kind of a private notion of children: Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. “We haven’t had a very collective notion of these are our children. So
part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities. Once it’s everybody’s responsibility, and not just the household’s, then we start making better investments,” Harris-Perry said. When I first watched the promo in question, I was flabbergasted to say the least. It is far too reminiscent of Huxley’s Brave New World. To be fair, on her April 13 show, Harris-Perry responded to the controversy, stating that she believes that “families have first and primary responsibility for their children.” She also addresses the question of whether or not children “belong” to anyone. Yet, after seeming to say that actually children are their own person, she continues to talk about who they belong to.
It is not surprising that someone such as Harris-Perry is in favor of more public school funding and public school in general. The public school system is little more than a system to indoctrinate children to be good little citizens. Every morning starts off with a cult-like chanting of the pledge allegiance to an inanimate object. First graders have no idea what they are saying when they say the pledge of allegiance. Children are taught to revere government officials such as Abraham Lincoln without being exposed to both sides of that person’s history. (I suspect your second grade teacher didn’t tell you that among a great number of things good old honest Abe once issued an arrest warrant for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who disagreed with him. Look it up.) Stand in line. Don’t question author-
ity. Be a good citizen. Uphold one’s civic duty. These are the values instilled in children in public school. Free thinking is destroyed in the early years of school. It is instead replaced with a collective duty. I do not believe in public education. I think it is foolish, stupid and outright criminal. And here Harris-Perry is saying that the government extort more money from me to increase funding to an institution I do not believe in. Not only am I being forced to pay for something I do not believe in, but I am told that children are “the com-
munity’s” responsibility. As someone who does not particularly plan on having children, in part because I would take such a responsibility very seriously, I certainly do not want to be responsible for everyone else’s children. I have never signed nor agreed to this amorphous social contract that binds me to “the community,” whatever that is. I never agreed to be in any way responsible for random people’s children, and I most certainly never agreed to pay for other people’s children to be indoctrinated by the state.
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Macklemore saves rap industry Lyrics support ‘what matters’
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen. By Juan Mendez Staff writer
When you hear of Ben Haggerty, you usually have no clue about who this person is. However, you do know about Macklemore; your everyday skill set is programmed to be able to rap “Thrift Shop” from beginning to end on command. Haggerty and Macklemore are the same person. Unlike most rappers in the industry today, Haggerty does not rely on an alter ego or a character of sorts to write his lyrics, but rather uses his own self and his personal experiences to write. While you might say, “well, isn’t that what everyone else is writing about,” the difference lies on what Macklemore raps about. Macklemore isn’t telling you a story of drugs, designer brands and expensive cars.
Macklemore’s verses are filled with messages of anti-consumerism and the strive for equality, all while criticizing the music industry itself for not reinforcing these messages. Beneath the catchy hooks and the mesmerizing beats, Macklemore is not singing or talking. He is preaching. In “Thrift Shop,” he criticizes society for making consumerism a religion and obsessing over price tags and labels. If you take anything out of this song, let it be, “it’s not where you got it, but how you wore it,” because that’s what it’s about. “Same Love” works under the same concept of criticism, advocating marriage equality and the eradication of hatred in our minds, especially homophobia, comparing it to the hate that has sparked wars over race and religion. There are other rappers that support gay marriage: Jay-Z, A$AP Rocky. The list goes on.
They stand for it, but none of them are talking about it, which is why Macklemore’s message is so refreshing to our society. Somewhere in between the sexism and the drugs and the fancy clothes, the rap industry forgot about delivering a message. He did not. More than talk about it in an interview or two and give shallow statements about how he supports it, Macklemore stands for it, supports the cause and is willing to rap about it. That is what people know him for and that is precisely how he spreads the message. In our day and age, this strategy is crucial. We don’t need more artists rapping about the “fancy life” they lead; we need them to rap about what matters, the issues our generation has to face, because that’s what is relevant to us. Macklemore is not the most revolutionary musician, but he is the most humane of the bunch.
@mercyhurst.edu Editors Positions editormerciad Alicia Cagle Editor-in-Chief newsmerciad Stacy Skiavo News Editor featuremerciad Kayla Kelly Features Editor sportsmerciad Joe Chiodo Sports Editor entertainmentmerciad Mat Anderson A&E Editor copymerciad Chelsea Schermerhorn Copy Editor photomerciad Samantha Link Graphics photomerciad Zach Dorsch Photo Editor ejohns89 Ethan Johns Web Editor admerciad Will DeFeo Ad Manager wwelch Bill Welch Adviser
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.
OPINION
Page 10
April 17, 2013
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Winter’s source causes controversy By Alejandra Zeron Staff writer
Less than a minute before the explosioon, the mother of Mercyhurst student Kelsey Elliot crossed the finish line at the Boston marathon. Fortunately, both walked away unharmed.
As we understand it, part of the reason there is no printed schedule is because some faculty would not take 8 a.m. or end-of-the-day classes. Looks like students aren’t the only ones looking forward to some semester changes.
Fox News reporter Jana Winter faces jail time for doing her job a little too well. She’s been accused of protecting the identity of confidential sources while reporting on a major event in national history. The story began when the 32-yearold investigative journalist refused to disclose the names of two law enforcement officials she had quoted in an article released back on July 25. In the article, she reported that James Holmes, the author of the shooting in Aurora, Colo., kept a notebook filled with violent notes and
Student responds to Westboro Baptist Church post-bombs By Leann Krysiak Staff writer
The two bombs that went off 12 seconds apart during the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured 176. At least 10 people have had a limb amputated as a result. This is a tragedy and devastating to those directly and indirectly impacted. Watching the news and seeing the pictures was very upsetting to watch. However, Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), an anti-gay and anti-Semitic group, celebrated the bombings, tweeting, “God sent the Boston Marathon Bombs for the sin of Massachusetts passing same-sex marriage.” This is not the first time the group has caused controversy amid a tragic event. WBC has picketed at fallen soldiers’
Online
Some students and some faculty are not as prepared as expected for fall registration. Many offices on campus worked hard to prepare for the changes to the core and semester systems. It’s a shame more people on campus did not better prepare themselves with the material provided.
drawings that he sent to his psychiatrist a few days before the massacre. The report cited a confidential law enforcement official who described the notebook as “full of details about how he was going to kill people.” It also contained gun-wielding stick figures shooting other stick figures. Upon the publication of the article, Holmes’ attorneys claimed the revelations of the law enforcement officials violated a gag order put in place last summer after it was determined that pre-trial publicity alone could deprive a defendant of a fair trial. The defense team attempted to hunt down and punish the original sources. When their investigation failed to uncover the leak, they began pressuring Winter to reveal her sources.
funerals, funerals of those killed by a tornado in Joplin, Mo. and even threatened to picket at the funerals of Sandy Hook. I do not believe the bombs in Boston were an act of God. I believe this to be an act of an evil-minded person or persons. Some families have lost loved ones or sustained severe, life-changing injuries because of the bombings and for a group of people to celebrate the bombings is very disheartening. As a person who just gets to watch from afar, I would hope that people are keeping those affected in their thoughts and prayers. How can members of any church celebrate the loss of an 8-year-old boy? It is not WBC’s job to condemn anyone for any reason. It seems that WBC is just trying to spread hate and not God’s message of love, the opposite of what a church should do.
The case raises several key questions about freedom of press and potential First Amendment ramifications. Journalists should be forced to reveal their sources only in extraordinary and crucial circumstances, which this legal situation does not seem to warrant. After all, the court has recently unsealed private documents where it was disclosed that Holmes’ psychiatrist had warned the police a month before the shooting that he was a danger to the public. In this context, further pressing her to reveal her source, is really of no tangible use to the case itself. In fact, forcing her to testify will only jeopardize her career and set a precedent for future action.
She will be impaired from doing her job since the case will cause substantial damage to her reputation as a journalist and her relationship with her present and future sources. Furthermore, it would be a contradiction to the universal journalistic principle that investigative reporting cannot, by any means, be accomplished without confidential sources. According to Journalism Professor Len Ackland at University of Colorado, “An important way that journalists inform the public – their obligation as self-appointed, self-anointed public servants – is to have sources tell them what is really happening on matters of public interest. Such subpoenas clearly can keep journalists from doing their work as well as intimidating potential sources.”
Unity needed after Boston bombings By Alejandra Zeron Staff writer
An event that was initially meant to be a place of celebration, turned into a scene of tragedy. Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killing three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and injuring more than 100 bystanders. Although a White House official asserted the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism, it is still to be determined who would perpetrate an atrocious act of the magnitude and what statement was intended with such disregard for human life. At Massachusetts General Hospital, Alisdair Conn, chief of emergency services, said: “This is something I’ve never seen in my 25 years here ... this amount of carnage in the civilian population. This is what we expect from war.” These moments call for extraordi-
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nary courage, camaraderie and resolve, which no doubt the people of Boston and American citizens will accordingly portray. Following the attack, firefighters as well as other volunteers rushed to assist with the evacuation of uninjured civilians and provide medical care and comfort to the injured spectators. Yet, it is infuriating and wearying that the nation must bear the impact of a violent outbreak once more. It is truly appalling to think that someone would be filled with enough hatred as to set bombs off at the finish line of what is considered a patriotic celebration and a civic holiday for many. The awfulness of Monday’s events will take a while to process and analyze thoroughly. Certainly, the fear and justifiable paranoia will permeate for years. For now, we can unite in prayers and thoughts for the affected families and victims.
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SPORTS
April 17, 2013
Page 11 September 3, 2008
Baseball climbs to sixth in NCBWA poll
By Joe Chiodo Sports editor
After a solid performance over the weekend, the Lakers have boosted their record to an impressive 24-14. On Friday, April 12, Mercyhurst University men’s baseball crushed Slippery Rock at home. The following day, Tuesday, April 16, the Lakers traveled to Slippery Rock, Pa., for part two of the series, when the Lakers won one of two games against Slippery Rock. Additionally, the Lakers were ranked sixth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Regional poll on Monday, April 8. Senior pitcher Matthew Jimenez knows that the latest ranking is a great motivator for the tough road ahead of the Lakers. “Being ranked sixth in the latest regional rankings is great, but it just fuels our fire to get higher in the rankings,” said Jimenez. “With only two conference weekend series left, we have to go out and take at least three of the next four games in each series.” Sophomore outfielder Ryan Siegel views the latest rankings as an opportunity to improve and climb higher in the polls. “Our goals extend much higher than ninth,” said Siegel. “As a team, we will look for opportunities to grow
Sydney Cusicno photo
Senior Matthew Jimenez gets poised before unleashing a pitch. Mercyhurst University men’s baseball now holds a 9-6 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. for the rest of the season and improve to eventually be at the top, where we work to be.” Outstanding pitching work from
senior Ben Rawding and sophomore Jon Klein has helped immensely in the Lakers’ powerful season thus far. “Our pitching staff and defense has
kept us alive in a lot of games. When our bats have been quiet, our defense keeps us close and gives the hitters an opportunity to come through in the
clutch,” said Jimenez. “A lot of new and young players have stepped up in big situations.” Winning three of the four games against opponent Slippery Rock over the weekend keeps the Lakers’ conference record alive and thriving, at 9-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. “Taking three of four games against Slippery Rock was huge for our conference record,” said Jimenez. “Our defense only gave up five runs over the weekend, which was a major factor in us getting the victories. Two of the three wins were in walk-off fashion, adding a major confidence boost for us.” Siegel credits the team’s incredible dedication to the success the Lakers are having this season. “The baseball season is a grind, and everyone showing up to the ballpark with full-effort each day contributes to the success we have,” said Siegel. “Whether it’s rain or snow, we are always out practicing or playing, and it is as much as a grind mentally as it is physically. In the end, it’s the team who endures it the most who will succeed.” The Lakers will face Clarion University in a pair of doubleheaders on Friday, April 26, at Clarion University and Saturday, April 27, at the Mercyhurst baseball field at 1 p.m.
Men’s rowing claims gold in Knecht Cup By Joe Chiodo Sports editor
On Sunday, April 14, the men’s varsity rowing team won the gold medal in the Petite Final of the prestigious Knecht Cup in Cherry Hill, N.J. The victory came just two seconds ahead of competitor, Rutgers University. Senior David Cullmer was as
shocked as he was pleased to have done so well over the weekend. “Aside from exhilarating, winning the Petite Final was a bit of a surprise for us. We went into the race ranked twelfth overall,” said Cullmer. “To defy the expectations was an achievement that all of us are very proud of.” Going into the weekend with nothing to lose gave the Lakers all of the motivation and power they needed to
come out as gold medal winners. “The aspects that helped us win was the ability to feel and believe we had nothing to lose and everything to gain. We were in a heavyweight event, rowing as a lightweight crew,” said Cullmer. “We were at a disadvantage and it helped us push through. With doing well in the heat, we went into the race believing we were capable of qualifying and winning. We are connecting
as a crew and team, and each day has been better than the last. We left it all on the course and it paid off.” The Lakers’ next races come against Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday, April 20, in Ithaca, N.Y. “Next weekend will be a defining moment for our team. MIT and Cornell will be the biggest challenge that we have face this year, and we as a
crew team have high hopes of doing well and competing with the best in the country,” said Cullmer. “I am nervous, but very excited because I know no matter what we will do our best and work as hard as we can to win. We are very competitive athletes and I hope we’ll prove it next weekend.”
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SPORTS
Page 12
April 17, 2013
Golf places second in Spring Invitational By Samantha Bante Staff writer
After a successful weekend, receiving second place after one round of competition at the Mercyhurst Spring Invitational, the women’s golf team is making a name for itself on and off the course. This weekend the Lakers combined for a team 333 score for the first 18 holes. “The girls are doing well, considering the terrible weather we’ve had this spring. There has been very little outdoor practice,” said head coach Ron Coleman. “The team is very dedicated to working on their game and improving, with quite a few of them volunteering to have 6:30 a.m. practices at our indoor practice facility,” “Last week’s course was very difficult for us. It was our first tournament at Perry Park, and it had a deep, talented field of Division II teams. The team ended up placing 16th out of 24 teams,” said Coleman. With a roster of only 12 girls, the Lakers are working hard and turning things around through their Spring Invitational, some reaching top honors. This past Sunday, sophomore Andrea Novoa won first place at the Mercyhurst University Women’s Golf
Sydney Cuscino photo
The Lakers will finish their spring season at the Gannon Invitational, April 21-22. Spring Invitational. Novoa shot a tworound total of 154 to capture first. This
helped lead her team to a second place finish with a score of 654, behind Cal-
ifornia University who ended up with 639 after two rounds of play.
Finishing second on the team this weekend, junior Caitlin Kempton finished ninth overall and sophomore Gaelin Carrig finished third on the team and 13th overall. “The team is dedicated to improving their individual talents and becoming a team that can qualify for the PSAC Regionals.” said Coleman. With five new freshmen this year, the Lakers are adapting and challenging themselves to hopefully win more invitationals and qualify for the PSAC regionals. “We have five new freshmen, three of these freshmen are consistent starters and have adjusted well to college athletics and academics, and they have a good future ahead of them.” said Coleman. “What’s great is that this team is highly academic. It has one of the highest GPA’s of any women’s team at Mercyhurst. Their 3.6 team GPA was second in the PSAC Conference and junior Kristen Vidmar was last year’s PSAC Student Athlete Award Winner. The team is also very close and supportive of one another,” said Coleman. The lady Lakers will finish their spring season at the Gannon Invitational, April 21-22.
Men’s golf places fifth in IUP Invitational By RJ Niedzwiecki Contributing writer
Having a new coach could be a challenge for any collegiate team, but with the addition of Ron Coleman, the Mercyhurst men’s golf team is attempting to reach par to make the new adjustment a key to its success. Coach Coleman is an alumnus of Mercyhurst University in 1979, and brings to Mercyhurst a significant amount of experience, coaching nearly 20 years at the high school level. He was also inducted into the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. The Lakers finished fifth among fifteen teams at the Indiana (Pa.) Invitational on this Monday, April 16. They were able to finish both rounds with a combined score of 608. Junior Evan Watkins increased his score by one stroke, from the first
round to lead his team and capture 11th place with a combined score of 149. “If our team as a whole could consistently post lower scores, we would have a much better ranking in our region,” said Watkins. The Lakers traveled to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania invitational on April 14th. After day one the team was in second place. “If we had placed first or second in this event, it would make up a lot of ground we lost in the fall to other PSAC schools,” Watkins said. Additionally, the Lakers also participated in the Dr. Edwin B. Coltrell Invite at Penn Oaks Golf Club. The tournament was hosted by PSAC East member West Chester University on April 7, 2013. The team took fourth place in the tournament. The Lakers will host the Mercyhurst Invitational on April 20, at Downing Golf Course in Harborcreek, Pa.
The Lakers will host the Mercyhurst Invitational on April 20, at Downing Golf Course.
Sydney Cuscino photo