The Merciad, April 25, 2012

’Hurst veterans advocate for more support

Vatican deems U.S. nuns’ group out of line

Women’s rowing takes home gold

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’Hurst veterans advocate for more support

By Alicia Cagle Staff writer

While Mercyhurst University assists former military members, many student veterans are explaining that it is not enough.

What they say they need at Mercyhurst is a college administrator dedicated to working with veterans.

Donelle Davey, associate director in the Office of Adult Admissions and Enrollment Services, with the help of Admissions Assistant Katherine Lyden, works with veterans through the admissions process and other various steps to begin college.

Davey explained how many people work to help veterans receive higher education at Mercyhurst.

Registrar Sister Pat Whalen oversees transferring military credits; Associate Director of Student Financial Services Antoinette Jelinek serves as the veteran’s representative and helps with benefits; Davey, Lyden and Residence Life Administrative Assistant Anita Higgins coordinate housing; department chairs help with registration and admissions; and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Chris Coons is a resource and advocate for veterans.

Even though the help is appreciated, veterans would like to see a more efficient type of help.

Senior and Marine Corps veteran Tim Hudak explained that the transition into college is not an easy one and that he had a lot of hoops to jump through.

“There is no one person who actually knows what’s going on with the veteran program,” Hudak said.

Senior and United States Army veteran Bill DeMauri added that veterans are dealing with many issues and college can be a difficult adjustment.

“I think that for some veterans, coming to college can be intimidating because of age differences and because they haven’t sat in a classroom for a long time,” said DeMauri. “It’s just a different environment for them so when you’re used to an institution like the mili-

tary, coming to college can be very intimidating.”

With veterans such as Hudak and DeMauri collaborating and the newly established Mercyhurst Veterans Association (MVA), the push for a veteran’s counselor and a private space is underway.

“This veteran’s representative would kind of help coordinate information and help people stay in the loop,” Hudak said. “Edinboro and Gannon both have a dedicated veteran’s representative who are all former military. Edinboro had achieved the rank of a veteran friendly campus, and ideally, I’d like to see that happen at Mercyhurst one day.”

Senior and Marine Corps veteran James Oefelein added that the veterans appreciate Jelinek, the current representative, but they are not receiving some help because of how busy she is.

“She’s swamped and has to deal with Veteran Affairs (VA),” said Oefelein. “She does her best, but there needs to be a dedicated person for this.”

MVA also hopes to get a private space for veterans next year. This would be an area veterans can register, find information about campus and VA benefits and would include a microwave and refrigerator.

Hudak explained the importance of a room like this.

“It’s a necessity because many aren’t willing to discuss or bring up (issues or personal information) in a public room,” he said. “It’s very hard for some people to open up.

They want to be independent and not feel like a burden to anybody.”

MVA has received support from many members of faculty, staff and administration and is working on making these improvements a reality.

By making these improvements for veterans, DeMauri sees it as a benefit to the university.

“If veterans feel comfortable and positive about an experience, they will relay that to other friends,” he said. “If Mercyhurst at least had that opportunity where veterans could seek guidance and answers, it will help recruit more students as far as veterans are concerned.”

NEWS

April 25, 2012

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NEWS

April 25, 2012

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Students show ‘Spring Masquerade’ style

By Kayla Kelly Staff writer

A class of Fashion Merchandising students is collaborating to put on a fashion show at Mercyhurst University.

Erin Magorien, a part-time faculty member in the fashion merchandising department, teaches Fashion Promotion. This class requires students to fully organize all aspects of a fashion show.

This is Magorien’s third fashion show to oversee, but the fashion merchandising department has had this tradition for the past 10 to 15 years.

The purpose of the assignment is for the students to “gain handson experience of all aspects of running a fully-functioning fashion show. They are completely responsible for everything from coming up with the theme to deciding what food to serve,” Magorien said.

The Fashion Promotion students collaborated on a central theme of a masquerade, deciding on a final name for the show titled “Spring Masquerade.”

To promote the masquerade

theme of the fashion show, the class is hosting a mask-making event on Thursday, April 26, at 6 p.m. in Old Main Room 312. They will provide refreshments and all the materials needed to create a mask. All students are welcome to help create masks for the show.

The students who are enrolled in the class were divided into committees ranging from three to four students in each group.

Senior Angelina Viveralli is one of the three merchandise coordinators for the fashion show.

“We all loved the idea of having a fashion show with a theatrical element. After we chose the theme, we decided that the benefactor for the show would be the Erie Playhouse’s Youtheatre,” Viveralli said.

Senior Courtney Lemmo is a merchandise coordinator as well.

“Working on the show is exciting and fun but also requires a lot of work and is time consuming,” Lemmo said.

Lemmo’s job, with the help of her other group members, is deciding how to mesh the clothing with the theme. They are responsible for obtaining the clothing, caring for it and returning it as needed.

The clothing comes from sev-

eral places that allow the students to borrow the garments and return them in the same condition after the show. So far, they have received merchandise from Bridal Elegance, The Sassy Peacock and Macy’s, but they are not limited to relying on these sources.

Students also borrowed from family, friends and faculty. On occasion they purchased some items from Goodwill or other thrift stores to complete a look.

“I have learned that organizing a fashion show takes a lot of collaboration and there are numerous elements such as catering, which initially one might not think of when they think of having a fashion show,” Lemmo said.

Viveralli explained that despite any obstacles, they have worked hard to make the fashion show successful.

“When we, the merchandise coordinators set up all of our dates for gathering, organizing and fitting our garments, we were planning under the impression that nothing would go wrong, which has hardly been the case. However, I am confident all of our hard work will pay off in the end,” Viveralli said.

Another group in charge of making sure the show runs smoothly

Lecturer calls for action

By Brady Greenawalt Staff writer

This year the annual Sister Maura Smith Earth Day Lecture was given at Taylor Little Theatre this Monday, April 23, by Lois Marie Gibbs, a known environmental activist.

Gibbs has been an environmental activist since 1979, when she helped to rally for environmental justice in her hometown, Niagara Falls, N.Y. The people in the town, including her children, were experiencing severe health problems as a result of the overly polluted Love Canal that was located in the center of town.

Gibbs is now the executive director of Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), a grassroots organization that helps smaller community groups fight for the environment. She has written multiple books about her experiences with Love Canal as well as

other environmental issues.

Her lecture, titled “From Silent Spring to Empowered Citizens: The Legacies of Love Canal,” touched on many of her personal experiences from living near Love Canal, including living with the poor health of her young children that was directly caused by the severe pollution in the canal.

Gibbs wanted her audience to know that her experience at Love Canal was not the end of the environmental crisis.

“We thought we’ll never let that happen again, we’ve learned our lesson, we’re done injecting chemicals into the ground,” she said. “But we haven’t learned anything; it’s still happening.”

She mentioned hydraulic fracturing as a serious environmental threat as well as the frequency of PVC plastic being used in common consumer materials.

“Throughout history all major social revolutions start with young people as the spark,” Gibbs said.

At the end of the lecture, Gibbs took questions from the audience, and the questions quickly turned toward the tires-to-energy plant that failed to take shape in Erie. A group from Allegheny College in Meadville Pa., was in attendance to ask Gibbs questions about gaining community support for getting the tires-to-energy plant out of Crawford County.

Senior Justin Desaro was inspired

by Gibbs’ lecture.

“Gibbs really had an excellent grasp of the subject matter,” he said. “She really made the subject seem like it was worth our time. I think I’d like to work against the tires-to-energy plant.”

Senior Matt Teleha saw the importance of Gibbs’ overall message.

“Not enough people understand the environmental issues that are threatening our future, and the less we understand, the faster things get out of hand,” said Teleha. “She really touched on this problem.”

is the model coordinators. They are responsible for securing models for the show who are not students in the class. On average, they need between 20 and 25 models. The models then work closely with the merchandising coordinators to find clothing that works well with each individual for the show.

Advertising and promotion coordinators are in charge of carrying out the theme. This is accomplished through promotional activities, such as flyers, tickets and advertising in local media and on campus.

Lighting and audio coordinators select music that is appropriate and carries out the theme. They work closely with the models and merchandising coordinators to ensure that there is proper execution of their masquerade theme.

Catering and display coordinators search for local companies that are willing to sponsor the show through donations or reduced prices of items to give to the audience during intermission. They also provide food for the end of the show.

In addition to their duties for the fashion show, they will throw an after party for the students in the class and those who helped with the show.

The stage managers set up the area

for the show in terms of seating and stage arrangements. They also have to clean up props after the show.

These responsibilities are just some of the things these students must complete to assure that the fashion show is a success. Each group member must be prepared to take on other duties and to assist each other when needed.

Some of these students may work in a career that requires them to plan an event similar to their “Spring Masquerade” fashion show, so this is a great way to learn what it takes to make it in the real world.

“Creating the fashion show teaches the students to work together in a real-life situation,” Magorien said.

Lemmo agreed with this.

“Overall it is a valuable experience and lesson in collaboration, communication, the importance of being organized and meeting deadlines. The things I have learned will be helpful for whichever career path I choose in the future,” Lemmo said.

The “Spring Masquerade” fashion show will take place Thursday, May 3, at 7 p.m. in the Herrmann Student Union Great Room. Admission for students is $2 and for adults, $3 for adults. Proceeds go to the Erie Playhouse Youtheatre.

News Brief

Freshmen compete in energy challenge Freshmen in Frances Warde Hall, McAuley Hall and Baldwin Hall are competing against each other for the Laker Energy Challenge.

Mercyhurst University’s Sustainability office is piloting the competition from Sunday, April 22, to Saturday, May 5.

The purpose of the challenge is to save energy in residence halls and money for the school.

The Sustainability Office will calculate the percentage decrease from each building’s initial energy usage to determine which building did the best.

The office will use this year’s competition as a test run to see how successful it is and determine what incentives it can offer in the future.

Tips to conserve energy include turning off the lights, washing and drying full loads of laundry, using cold water when washing clothes, cleaning dryer lint filters, unplugging phone chargers when not in use and plugging game consoles into a power strip and turning the strip off when it is not in use.

For more information, email Allison Elick at aelick@mercyhurst.edu.

NEWS

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April 25, 2012

New building offers new opportunities

By Alicia Cagle Staff writer

Blueprints and plans overflow the tables in a room that marks the walkway entrance in the Hammermill Library. A future classroom serves as a makeshift break room filled with picnic tables and lunch boxes.

Music plays on every floor over the sounds of saws and machinery.

Men on raised platforms work on the ceiling of the first floor atrium while others tile walls on the lower level. Some men throw their hardhats on backward and start insulating portions of the building.

It doesn’t look much like an academic building yet, but it will be soon. More than 100 men are working on what will soon be offices, kitchens, lounges and classrooms in Mercyhurst University’s new Center for Academic Engagement.

Beginning the process This building was discussed for years and was expected to cost approximately $9 million. The Center for Academic Engagement became possible when former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell provided $3.5 million of state funds to the university. The additional funds came from building reserves and the university’s Engage. Enrich.

Envision capital fund-raising campaign.

Once funded, the process to create this building began with finding an architect. Many were interviewed, but once Mercyhurst University administration had it narrowed down to three, Erie architect Shelley Buehler of Buehler and Associates was selected to design the building.

Buehler worked with Mercyhurst University four years ago when she designed Frances Warde Hall.

Between her previous experience and working with administration, she made sure the new building’s design fit in with the rest of campus.

Mercyhurst University President Tom Gamble, Ph.D., “asked us to complement Old Main,” said Buehler. “So that’s where you see the brick work and gothic inspiration and stone appearance.”

Transparency in education

Building progress

The administration asked Buehler to base the design around the theme of transparency in education.

To achieve this, the architect team met with faculty and students.

According to David Livingston, Ph.D., Vice President for Advancement, they desired a design where “people weren’t blocked off from one another.”

Faculty and administration wanted to avoid the sense of everyone being separated.

“It is an overarching design of hands-on education,” Livingston said. “(Transparency in education) is both a design and sense of how learning will happen in the future.”

He continued to explain that it is the interaction, reflection and mixing of disciplines.

This theme will be put into practice through various areas of study and institutes located in the building, as well as the use of external windows and corridors.

This showcase can be seen through the transparency as well.

Livingston stressed that the large windows are so people on the outside can view the students learning.

Those passing through the halls within the building will see it too.

Livingston and Buehler agreed that there have been very few difficulties during construction. The only minor challenges have been taking down the maintenance building, which had a gas tank underground, and designing the building on a slope.

“The hurdles have been pretty minor, and we are moving forward smoothly,” Livingston said.

Even so, Buehler is at the construction site at least once a week, but usually closer to three times a week, so she can check out the progress and answer any of the contractor’s questions.

“The work is going exceptionally well, in part due to weather,” Livingston said.

This year’s mild winter contributed to the fluid progress, and the building is currently a couple weeks ahead of schedule.

By the end of July, most of the building will be complete and furniture will be moved in. The building will be ready in mid-August for a new school year. Dedication is planned for Friday, August 17.

“It’s a thrill to work with Mercyhurst,” said Buehler. “It has been a great experience; it is always a thrill to see the building come out of the ground and being built.”

Many students look forward to seeing the new building and view it as a new addition to Mercyhurst’s history.

Sophomore Alex Yaple is excited to see the finished product of the new building and all it has to offer.

“It has been really remarkable how fast they are working on it,” said Yaple. “One day they have all steel beams and then the next brick walls and windows. It will be interesting to see just how popular the study rooms will be and to finally be able to watch the spring storms over Lake Erie through the big windows.”

Senior Lindsay Cox echoed Yaple’s enthusiasm and sees the building’s potential.

“The hands-on opportunities being made available through the building will be great for students to learn more and have a greater access to needed facilities,” Cox said.

“This is a great new addition to the campus and a great way to kick off becoming a university,” Susko added. “I think that the school is taking steps in the right direction.”

Academic features The Center for Academic Engagement will house the intelligence studies department, the hospitality management program, the Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society and the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics.

The two “anchor tenants” of the building are hospitality management and intelligence studies. Livingston explained they will have top of the line teaching equipment.

“We want a liberal arts education rooted in doing,” Livingston said.

The bottom floor of the center will house the hospitality management program. Amenities include freezers, coolers, a prep kitchen, a café, a patio, delivery area and a private elevator that brings them to the banquet area.

The first floor will be the main entrance that leads to a two-story atrium. The walls will be primarily glass and used for a lounge area and banquets that can seat 250 guests.

The Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics will also be located on this level.

Staff photo

Students will be able to look out over Erie when sitting in the walkway study area.

The second floor looks down into the main entrance. The focus of this floor is on the intelligence studies program. There will a production room and a reception area to interview students, classrooms and collaborative spaces.

The third floor has the Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society, offices, a kitchenette and a tiered conference room where Mercyhurst Board of Trustees will meet as well as and other events will take place.

“

We want a liberal arts education rooted in doing.

David Livingston, Ph.D.

students to have to work,” she said.

Junior Max Susko is impressed with the features in the building.

“The styling of the new academic building is very student and faculty friendly,” said Susko. “It will be very comfortable, open and inviting to students to come for class or to study.”

The building will have extended hours; however, the walkway will be open the same hours as the library.

Intelligence studies majors will have afterhours access to the building with their student ID cards.

Environmental features

”

Some additional features include white board walls students can write on anywhere and a walkway connecting the Center for Academic Engagement to the Hammermill Library. The walkway will have a study area with WiFi that can seat 25 students.

Buehler explained that the goal was to have a usable area for students and faculty that was not so institutional.

“We wanted to make it student and user friendly, being that we wanted to have enough places for

Buehler also made sure to add numerous environmentally-friendly features to the building. These features will match Mercyhurst’s sustainability model and meet strict standards for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or Gold rating.

Features include 95 percent recycled steel, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, low water flow fixtures with automatic controls, occupancy sensors for lighting and recycled materials. On the exterior of the building, they used best management practices such as two rain gardens. These gardens will help storm water flow back into its natural setting within the environment.

FEATURES

April 25, 2012

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Ministry challenges students Outdoor Adventure Club organizes book drive event

By Brady Greenawalt Staff writer

How much does it cost for you to eat for one day? Chances are it costs you more than $1.50, but for 1.4 billion people in the world, that is all they have to spend for meals daily.

On Monday, April 23, in the Laker Inn, Mercyhurst University students were offered an opportunity to try a meal for $1.50 and make it last all day.

The event, the Campus Fasting Challenge, was organized by the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Christine Brotherson with help from Robert Scott, the director of food service, and Eileen Zinchiak of the Mercyhurst Institute for Public Health.

The event was intended as a way to start Earth Week, which began on Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, and

continues until Sunday, April 29.

The challenge is an attempt to get people to think about over-consumption.

“In countries where there is extreme poverty, they eat to stay alive. It’s an entirely different way of life,” Brotherson said.

All week, 12 pictures will hang up on campus, with six in the Hammermill Library and six in Campus Ministry. The pictures show families from countries throughout the world with all of the food they regularly eat in a week.

The American family is shown with bags of chips, cans of soup and boxes of pizza covering the cupboards, while in opposition, the Nicaraguan family is shown with a few assorted fruits and vegetables and a bag full of grain.

Brotherson hopes that making the fasting challenge part of Earth Week will make people think about how their food choices affect others

as well as the environment.

“We need to expand our vision of what this is about to see the impact we have environment and how that environment effects others, like the impoverished who rely mostly on the on-the-ground natural resources for their food supplies and their living conditions,” Brotherson said.

As part of the Fasting Challenge, Campus Ministry is asking students to sign The St. Francis Pledge. The pledge is a Catholic pledge to be more environmentally aware and less wasteful.

“You don’t have to be Catholic to sign this,” said Brotherson, “We are saying that we are willing to change our behaviors.”

Students participated in the Campus Fasting Challenge on Monday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., but if you missed that, you can still sign the St. Francis pledge by going to catholicclimatecovenant.org/the-st-francis-pledge.

’Hurst students walk for Relay for Life

By Brianna Carle Contributing writer

Cancer can affect everyone in some way. Most people in the world know or once knew someone who has suffered from cancer. Relay for Life is an organization that raises money and awareness for those affected by the awful, life-threatening demon.

Sophomore Jennie Politano, co-chair to this year’s Relay for Life at Mercyhurst University, put forth a lot of hard work to make this year a success. Even with more than 200 participants, Politano does not want to stop there. She hopes as the event takes place more people will decide to participate.

Her ideal goal for Relay at Mercyhurst one day would be “for the whole school to come, including faculty and administration, but that is a work in progress,” Politano said.

Being Mercyhurst University’s third annual Relay for Life, those in charge decided to change the previously 12-hour walk to a 24-hour walk, simply because Relay for Life originated as a 24-hour walk.

With just a $10 donation to register, students can participate in a list of free activities. Entertainment will be provided with a performance by The Romantic Era. Participants can also receive free food such as pizza, subs, popcorn, s’mores, hot dogs and hamburg-

ers, along with a bouncy bounce, bon fire, glow sticks, tie-dye and more.

For Politano, the overall importance for Relay for Life is “about coming together as a school and raising money for research and one day being able to prevent cancer,” she said.

“One in three men and women will develop cancer at least once within his or her lifetime,” Politano said.

This makes Relay for Life a very important event that takes place all over the United States.

Not only does this year’s event raise money to help find a cure, but proceeds will also be donated to Hope Lodge, which is a place where cancer patients can stay and receive treatment for free.

A Mercyhurst student currently battling leukemia is staying at the facility.

Encouraging students and faculty to come and participate, Politano said, “It’s one night of walking to come together with friends and family to raise money for there to be more birthdays and to remember those we have lost. Even if you come for an hour, it is making a difference in someone’s life.”

Politano is very passionate about this event along with many others on campus. Cancer hurts, but we as a community can help.

Relay for Life will begin on Friday, April 27, at 12 p.m. and will last until Saturday, April 28, at 12 p.m.

Take the time to come by and be a part of something that matters.

By Kayla Kelly Staff writer

Do you have books lying around, that you’re not using? If so, you can donate these to Mercyhurst’s Outdoor Adventure Club’s (OAC) book drive.

The book drive is an opportunity for students to get rid of their old books and donate them to people who will put them to good use.

The drive accepts all books that are in reasonable condition. If you have any books that you could not sell back to the bookstore or have read and no longer need, you can donate them to this cause.

Sophomore Brooke Miller, treasurer of OAC, said, “The book drive is to promote literacy and is an alternate way to help out the environment, which isn’t always considered.”

OAC is working with The Worldwide Book Drive, a charity that recognized not only the environmental danger of thrown out, used books, but also the opportunity of literacy the books will provide for others.

Every year, millions of pounds of books are sent to landfills or storage units and go unused and rot.

In addition, this organization creates jobs for disabled adults and helps the environment by recycling books.

“While a book Contributed photo drive may not exactly fit the ‘image’ of The Outdoor Adventure Club placed drop Outdoor Adventure boxes around campus for books.

Club, we saw it as a definite way that we could help the larger community by promoting literacy and care for the environment at the same time,” Miller said.

Junior Emily Mashuda, secretary of OAC, said, “As outdoor adventurers, we would like to have a healthy environment to adventure in.”

The donated books can be dropped off in boxes that are located in the lobbies of the Herrmann Student Union, Zurn and Old Main. The boxes will continue to be around campus until Friday, May 11.

OAC is dedicated to getting outside and having fun.

The club is constantly looking for environmentally friendly activities to help conserve the environment, and the book drive is a great way to contribute.

OAC also participates in a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking to snow tubing and hopes to expand its list of events in upcoming years.

Sophomore Chris Gaertner, vice president of OAC, said, “We all have unwanted books from terms past that we will never use again. You could let them accumulate dust in your dorm, or you could donate them and get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped a person in need. Please drop off your books; it goes to a great cause.”

The book drive will run through Friday, May 11, and everyone is encouraged to gather some books and donate.

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FEATURES

April 25, 2012

Summer course offers DIY College style: opportunities for students Crafty refurbished T-shirt pillows

By Anna Foll

Contributing writer Taos, N.M., is a place many probably have never heard of, but at Mercyhurst University, there is an opportunity to take a three-week, pre-summer course with a week of it housed in New Mexico. However, at publication time, with few students interested for 2012, the course will be postponed until presummer 2013.

This course gives students the chance to look with new perspectives on the world, in the ways of religious diversity in the U.S. Students will do many activities while in Taos that allow self-reflection through lectures, field trips, guest speakers and service they are providing with other community members.

Colin Hurley, director of Service Learning, explains that the cost of the course (including the trip) is $1,800 and accounts for airfare, food, lodging and transportation.

The class starts after graduation into the second week of June. For students who go on this trip, it will be the equivalent of a 3-credit class upon

On her blog, Lavender’s Blue, senior Alex Stacey writes about her daily adventures, crafting and classical music. To check out her blog, visit lavendersbluee.blogspot.com.

This is a fun, sustainable craft that anyone can do.

My boyfriend has given me many T-shirts over the years. They are mostly from big events in his life, but they always seem to be a size too small. He claims that he doesn’t want to offend me by getting a big size, but I assure him that I would rather have a shirt that fits, than one that makes me feel too big for it.

Contributed photo

Students could enjoy New Mexico’s beauty while on the trip. approval by the Registrar’s Office.

Those going on the trip would essentially take the elective of RLST 320: American Religious Thought taught

by Verna Ehret, Ph.D. “Students will be expected to take a test on the material studied prior to going to New Mexico,” Ehret said, “Then they will, through interviews and informal conversations, conduct research on enculturation and ethical practice in Taos. Finally,

students will write a 10-12 page research paper based on both the experience in Taos and academic research on their topics.”

This class will open up the students’ minds to various faith traditions such as Catholicism, Pueblo/Native American, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, for example. Many times, these hands-on experiences can erase stereotypes and encourage a positive dialogue among various groups.

In recent trips to Taos, students engaged in an enjarre project for several days. Enjarre is a project where people of the St. Francis de Asis parish take two weeks in June to apply new adobe mud to the exterior of their church, quite an historic structure and one of the most photographed of its kind in the world.

In the past few years, Mercyhurst as well as Southern Methodist University (SMU) students have joined the local church members in this yearly tradition and celebration of community.

Taos is located near SMU’s branch campus at Fort Burgwin, a recent partner campus for the Mercyhurst Archeology Institute’s field school.

Unfortunately, there has only been one student who has signed up for this 2012 pre-summer course. Therefore, the trip will be postponed until May 2013 unless a few more students show immediate interest. A maximum of 10 students can sign up for the trip.

Students who are interested in the trip can email Hurley at churley@mercyhurst.edu.

I have wanted to do something with these shirts for a while now, but I could not decide on what to make. Finally I chose to make some pillows for him for Christmas. I thought that those wouldn’t be too girly, and he could use them for his bachelor apartment.

Here is what you do: 1. Cut the shirts into squares that would fit the pillow forms.

2. Sew them into a three-sided box.

3. I had to hand stitch the bottom, so that the pillow would fit in.

This was my first sewing project, and I have to say I am pretty proud of how they turned out. I am looking forward to sewing tons of stuff in the future.

DIY College Style is a weekly column featuring two college students’ blogs on quick and easy tips about crafts and food.

April 25, 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Turkish pianist Fazil Say performs at PAC

By Marika Koch

Contributing writer There is something to be said for eccentricity, in all its forms. There are instances in which it seems inappropriate, and times when it is used for the sake of being different.

More often, however when presented to and audience, it charms and interests.

This latter point was certainly the case at the magnificent piano performance given by Fazil Say at the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 19.

Fazil Say is a Turkish pianist and composer with an impressive appearance on paper. His great credentials include such things as performing with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the Tokyo Symphony.

During his time visiting the United States, Say only had two performances, one of which we were fortunate enough to have in Erie.

The stage at the beginning of the evening was set interestingly, with pink and blue lights providing a bright background of color to the shining black piano before them. Say made an impression from the first moment he walked out on stage; with the velvet coat and long hair, one could very easily make a comparison to Oscar Wilde, appearance-wise.

The first movement of the first piece, a Piano Sonata by Leos Janacek, began in a pensive, lan-

guorous manner with rolling chords and what seemed to be pining sustains, followed by an anguished, weeping dissonance.

It eventually came to a blissful major repose—a welcome rest after the tension of the remainder of the piece. This first work also introduced listeners to some of the curious idiosyncrasies of Say, which included varied techniques such as humming and making long, languid gestures at the keyboard as if to emphasize the poignancy of his phrases.

He seemed to be asking rather than telling the piano to sing for him, and it worked very well, aesthetically, though one has to wonder what the artist’s intention was in doing such things to begin with.

The second movement of Janacek’s piece began with ironic delicacy for something called “Death,” but quickly crashed into a fiery dissonance, as though the subject is beginning to fight for life, but can do no more than be afraid in life.

It eventually returned to a sort of lonely felicity before it closed, much like the prior movement. The second piece on the program— Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat Major,

by Sergei Prokofiev—continued the theme of the first piece, in that there was a great deal of dissonance and tumultuous emotion.

This carried on to the second half of the program, as well, with Say’s original works, and seemed to be an

pac.mercyhurst.edu photo

World famous pianist Fazil Say shows his virtuosity on the piano for audiences in the Performing Arts Center. overarching theme that was played throughout the night. In each, there was a loud, atonal catharsis at some point, and emotions shifting passionately from one to the next with breathtaking precision.

There was something more jocular in this piece, overall, however, which dwelled in the realm of brighter feelings that one doesn’t often hear in atonality type music.

The second half of the program featured Say’s original works, all of which were very interesting, and which included myriad influences, from jazz to what sounded much like popular music.

Freshman Rachel Masters said she “really liked the second half; the pieces he composed were the best.”

Indeed, Say was right to perform

these last, as they evoked a clear emotional reaction from the audience.

During this part of the performance, Say pulled out an extended playing technique with the piano, in which he placed his fingers on the strings and played the notes at the same time, forcing the piano to sound even more like a tuned percussive instrument than it already does. Although he used extended technique a great deal throughout his pieces, it did add a certain depth of interest that may not have otherwise been present.

The last of the works he played that was listed, Istanbul, was especially moving, for its use of winding harmonic minor melodies and pensive tempo. To call the reaction of the audience “appreciative” would

be akin to calling water wet: It describes a quality, but it doesn’t do it real justice, nor evoke the feelings that first-hand experience provides.

The audience was thrilled to a first standing ovation, after which it was rewarded with an encore; a second standing ovation prompted a second encore, and the audience likely would have remained requesting more as long as they could, had it not been rather late by that point.

Students were excited by Say’s performance. Freshman Matt Bourne said that Say was “very eccentric,” and his playing “extremely skillful.”

Professors as well as students were thrilled by Say’s performance.

Nathan Barber, adjunct instructor in the Mercyhurst music department, said, “Having only heard him as a recording artist, it was magnificent to witness him as a performing artist. I thought it was a treat, and something I needed.”

While Say was undoubtedly very interesting, there were those that found something a bit outlandish about his eccentricity. Sophomore Katie Kaiser said, “I thought he was a talented performer, but some of his techniques were over the top.

His feet sounded and looked like I was watching a racehorse.”

Whatever one thought about Say’s undoubtedly different manner of playing, one can say that he made brilliantly beautiful music and one can only hope that Mercyhurst will have such great musicians as him perform again.

‘Chevelle’ continues to stun a decade later

By Aaron Ullman Staff writer

In the past decade one has been hard pressed to find a truly unique hard rock band that rises above mediocrity.

Too often bands seem to recycle and borrow the same sound with little creativity.

Chevelle is surely one of the exceptions, staying true to their unique vocals, hard guitars and meaningful lyrics with every album

released in the past 10 years.

While each of their albums has their own distinct feel, “Wonder What’s Next” is the most well rounded of all of them. Released in 2002, the album rocks hard from top to bottom.

At the time, brothers Pete, Sam and Joe Loeffler were all that comprised the band.

While the lyrics tend to be abstract, many of the tracks are born from the turbid moments in their personal lives.

For instance, the opening song “Family System” likely alludes to

struggles brought on by an unstable home. The lyrics deal with the pain and hurt associated with relational issues and divorce: “Endless pain we never quit/ the fight within that pride’s begun/ Saying it’s too late/ what a man got he’ll learn to hate.”

Combined with a haunting opening build and powerful chord combo, there is no better way to lead off the album.

“The Red” contains a similar theme—one of the inward anger accumulated from contentions with others.

The angry build in the song is

accentuated by the barking guitars and finds its climax in the repeated “Seeing red again!” lyrics.

While every song is more than deserving of high praise, a few more tracks stand out as well. “Comfortable Liar,” “Send the Pain Below” and “Forfeit” are all strong points on the disc.

All contain themes of betrayal and hurt concurrent with broken relationships.

The collective angst is aptly summed up in “Send the Pain Below” with the key lyric “Much like suffocating”—showcasing the

feeling of being smothered by the weight of problems.

“Wonder What’s Next” is the perfect rock album in many respects. It is more than the typical angry band, hopelessly butchering their instruments.

There is a certain musical poetry in the way they put the struggles of life into powerful, driving guitar chords, rhythmic drums and wellplaced screams.

The emotion can be felt in every note and lyric from the first song to the last. It is truly a wonderful listen.

Page 8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

April 25, 2012

‘Almost, Maine’ proves a success despite audience size

By Alexandra Stacey A&E Editor

Mercyhurst PAC photo

“Living Downstream” tells the story of a woman who is not only dealing with her own bouts with cancer, but also helping others in her situation.

‘Living Downstream’ tells story of woman battling cancer and helping others

By Emma Rishel Staff writer

“Living Downstream” is this week’s Maria J. Langer series film at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC). The film is Based on Sandra Steingraber’s book “Living Downstream: An Ecologist’s Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment” where Steingraber documents one year in her life as she travels across North America on a mission to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.

Steingraber’s book takes a different view on cancer, and she presents it as a human rights issue. The book was the first of its kind to bring together data on toxic releases with data from U.S. cancer registries.

“Living Downstream” was adapted for film in 2010 by The People’s Picture Company of Toronto. Described as an eloquent and cinematic documentary, it takes viewers through two intimate journeys with Steingraber.

The first being her personal

struggle with cancer and the second being her public attempt to bring attention to the human rights issue of cancer prevention.

Another issue is that some of the invisible toxins migrate to some of the most beautiful places in North America, which are the same chemicals Steingraber is fighting against.

The film reveals how those chemicals enter our bodies and once inside, scientists believe they may be working to cause cancer.

Making cameo appearances in the film are several highly-respected experts in toxicology and cancer research.

They emphasize the importance of atrazine, one of the most common herbicides in the world and polychlorinated biphenyls, industrial compounds.

Their discoveries stress the importance of the tie between a healthy environment and human health, which is one of the main points in Steingraber’s book.

The film received nothing but praise from critics. Ann Hornday of The Washington Post says, “Steingraber’s scientific cool and

unflagging sense of mission make for an arresting portrait of a selfstyled modern-day Rachel Carson.”

Ali Gadbow of Missoula Independent said it’s “a convincing and necessary documentary.

“It’s also, despite its daunting subject matter, a movie you’ll want to watch ... A few pitch-perfect moments provide all the emotional force you would expect from a ‘cancer movie,’ minus the unpleasant tang of emotional manipulation.”

Steingraber describes her journey with cancer as a walk upstream, the beginning of a completely unplanned journey, claiming we do not have to put a happy face on cancer; it is a serial killer.

Her personal struggle in combination with her scientific exploration is a powerful reminder of the intimate connection between the health of our bodies and the health of our environment.

The film will be shown at the PAC on Wednesday, April 25, at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and free for Mercyhurst students.

Love can take many forms.

There are many different stages of love, and sometimes one can fall in and out.

Last weekend, the Mercyhurst Theatre Program presented a group of beautiful and funny vignettes about love.

The short scenes depicted new love, reconciled love and love lost.

“Almost, Maine” is a play by John Cariani, which touches on the different faces of love through nine short scenes. The action all takes place in the fictional town of Almost, Maine.

Students made up the cast of the vignettes, with each actor playing multiple roles. The students involved are some of the most active in the Theatre Program.

Though students each played more than one part, it was clear that each character was very different.

The actors played each scene extremely well and made sure that the audience was aware of the personalities of each character.

Despite the talent of the actors on stage, as well as the caliber of the production in general, audiences were lacking for all three performances.

This is a relatively new show, having only premiered in 2004. The show may have been underappreciated due to the name unfamiliar name, as many other campus performances are.

Regardless of the size of audience in attendance, “Almost, Maine” was spectacular.

The students portrayed honest, full characters, which left those in attendance both laughing and crying.

Upcoming events at the PAC: “Viva la Danse” Saturday, May 5, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m.

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” Wednesday, May 9, at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m.

Kurt Elling Friday, May 11, at 8 p.m.

“Iron Lady” Wednesday, May 16, at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m.

April 25, 2012

OPINION

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.

Vatican deems nuns’ group out of line American nuns reprimanded for alleged radical agenda

By Caitlin Handerhan Opinion editor

The Catholic Church is not always known to be the most liberal organization.

However, the one billion plus followers faithful to Rome span the political spectrum and do not always adhere to a conservative Catholic tradition or doctrine.

As a young woman raised Catholic, I have always been interested in the intersection of my faith and my political beliefs, especially at times when they do not agree.

My views on issues such as contraception use, abortion and samesex marriage prove to be in conflict with the doctrine expressed by the Vatican.

My internal conflict between my faith and my beliefs has been mirrored in the news headlines recently.

Last week Rome reprimanded the largest organization of Catholic nuns in the United States for promoting an agenda too feminist, too radical, and too liberal.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) was chastised by Pope Benedict XVI

for promoting values that are not in line with Catholic doctrine and were too progressive.

“

To limit discourse is not only offensive, but outright oppressive.

”

- Caitlin Handerhan

As the Vatican battles to stay relevant to younger generations of Catholics, this latest move comes as a blow to progressive movements.

New updates from Facebook, Instagram not worth the stress

By Jaslyne Halter Staff writer

People get a sick pleasure in whining about everything Facebook does and have practically sent themselves into therapy over Timeline. Now it’s Instagram. Nobody has died. A natural disaster did not befall our fine land.

If there’s any constant with Facebook, it’s change. Without these changes, you wouldn’t be in touch with your hot ex-boyfriend from high school, your BFF from when you were six or have your mother discover when your friends post Fbombs on your wall.

Perhaps Facebook bought Instagram to take over the Internet, then the world and finally the universe, in order to control everything and everyone.

Probably not. I think people need to grow up and forget about the Facebook Apocalypse and think about it from a business standpoint.

NH Marketing Solutions sums it up perfectly: “I have read a couple of theories ranging from a strategy

to keep the mobile platform out of Google’s hands to Instagram being Facebook’s biggest threat. Both of these ideas may have some bearing on the purchase, especially since Instagram was only valued at $500 million, yet Facebook purchased the company for twice the amount: a heavenly $1 billion.

“The fact is, Facebook is the biggest social media platform online, while Instagram is the biggest social media platform on mobile devices.

Facebook is used on your mobile phone, but that mobile platform isn’t its main function. Facebook was built upon a platform for computer browsing, while Instagram was built for mobile use. Join them together, and you have a ‘Tour de France’ of the two biggest social media sharing platforms for computer and mobile use. It was a nobrainer.”

I mean think about it. How many people whined and complained when Instagram spread its wings and expanded to an Android platform? How many people declared that they were going to delete their Instagram accounts? It was just as annoying on Facebook as it was on

Twitter. Looking back to the Tweets about the Facebook acquisition, it truly amazes me how immature adults can be.

If you find the need to continue to post about it a few weeks later, you have an even bigger problem.

Lastly, if you went as far as to delete your Instagram account, I don’t have the credentials to diagnose your problem.

The bottom line is, you still get to share your photos, so why bother complaining? Why continue with the never-ending speculation of how this will “ruin” Instagram? A shout out to the people who post 25 pictures in a row of food and nature. I’m fairly certain you will still get to do that.

And to those people who are completely narcissistic and post more photos of their faces and other body parts, you’re safe too.

To the ones that pose half naked in pictures just to get a million likes on your photos, you will still get a million likes on your crappy photos and remain the subject of ridicule until you find a sense of maturity.

So Facebook bought Instagram - what has changed?

Appointing a bishop — male — to oversee LCWR last week, the Vatican hopes to rein in those crazy progressives over here in the United States. To the women of LCWR: Ladies, I applaud you.

Confrontations to established doctrine foster a healthy discussion and debate of issues such as the alleged “radicalism” of American nuns. A main charge leveled against LCWR was “airing discussions” about issues deemed taboo by Catholic doctrine, such as ordaining women and questions of same-sex marriage.

For the Vatican to be offended

by discussions of morally and pressing political issues is absolutely absurd. To limit discourse is not only offensive, but outright oppressive.

I have always viewed my faith as something to explore, learn and think critically about. I am not comfortable accepting a black and white doctrine as morally superior without further examination and question.

Clearly the Vatican does not extend this courtesy to the thousands of women devoting their lives to the Catholic faith.

If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.

Editors Kelly Luoma Alaina Rydzewski Liz Zurasky Caitlin Handerhan Spencer Hunt Alex Stacey Chrissy Mihalic Kaitlin Badger Jill Barrile Ethan Johns Max Rivera Bill Welch

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Page 10

OPINION

April3,25, 2012 September 2008

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.

Campaign advice for Mitt Romney Student offers insight into possible VP selections

By Zainab Javed

Despite the stunning acting in “Almost, Maine,” audience members remained scarce.

While the weather seems to be taking a turn for the better, the spring term snow storm that came to campus on Sunday and Monday was quite disheartening. With three weeks left in the term and a mild winter behind us, at this rate students will need to prepare for snow on graduation day.

Staff writer

Unless the ghost of Ronald Reagan swoops in to clinch the Republican nomination for president, it’s inevitable that Mitt Romney’s name is going to be on the ballot come November.

So the question now is, “who ya gon’ pick for Veep, Mittens?”

Allow me, a lowly Democrat, to reach across the aisle and offer Romney some tips of the trade on picking his vice presidential nominee.

I may disagree with him on most, if not all, issues, but I’m starting to feel really bad for Romney, so I’ll try to help him out.

If I could pick a nominee for him, it would be Jon Huntsman.

It doesn’t matter if he was The Invisible Man of the primary process; he is the Republican who attracts the independents (and even some incredibly left-wing Democrats like me) with his all-American charms, moderate positions on the issues and hey, who didn’t swoon when he spoke Mandarin in the New Hampshire GOP Debate?

He believes in evolution and global warming.

He’s perfect for Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch strategy for the general election.

Romney tried to reach the far right in the primary and alienated plenty of independents.

Huntsman would bring them back.

Only downside? I’m afraid the general American electorate won’t accept a double-Mormon ticket when PEW reports that “many Americans continue to see the Mormon faith as unfamiliar and different.”

So who else is left in the running to be Amer-

Online

Senior Keith Whittingham was named Pennsylvania Sate Athletic Conference men’s tennis player of the year. He has a 12-1 record this season.

ica’s next top vice presidential pick? It’s easy to take the safe route and pick a clean-cut WASP as a running mate. However, there are not many establishment picks that can raise excitement.

Romney shouldn’t even think about choosing anyone even remotely tied to the Tea Party. Their approval ratings are at a low. Most will never be able to woo the independents.

Santorum, our fearless leader in the war on pornography? Seriously? How many moderates are going to vote for a man who compares samesex marriage to bestiality and pedophilia?

“

I may disagree with him on most, if not all, issues, but I am starting to feel really bad for Romney, so I’ll try to help him out.

”

- Zainab Javed Forget about people like Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia? He’s at the center of a controversial Virginian law that requires transvaginal ultrasounds before abortions.

Republicans want to win back the female electorate their party is alienating. Cut these guys from the shortlist immediately.

What Romney needs is someone different.

The public jumps at game changers.

Remember the (short-lived) boost in ratings Sarah Palin brought to McCain’s ticket? The

Student questions MSG representation by Lucas Sageot

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political context has changed; the American electorate doesn’t want the safe bet anymore.

Romney, too, can capitalize on that excitement brought to a campaign by picking someone young and different.

Just make sure to conduct a thorough, careful screening so we don’t have any more Russian land-sightings from Alaskan front porches.

So who is this game changer? I’ll throw a couple of popular names out.

Marco Rubio is the man whose name is on everyone’s tongues and Twitter updates these days. He’s young, attractive and ethnic. His Cuban-American background has the potential to reach out to the Hispanic voters the Republican party has estranged with its stances on immigration. Maybe.

Bobby Jindal? Nikki Haley? Susana Martinez?

They are all popular, ethnic governors. They have executive experience, high approval ratings and for the most part reasonably clean character records.

I’d give them a chance. They would definitely attract some key minority votes.

But at the end of the day, Senator Olympia Snowe is Romney’s ticket to a fighting chance.

Not only is she one of the last moderate Republicans standing in the United States government, but she’s voted with the Democrats on key issues regarding women’s choice, LGBT rights and environmental protection.

If there’s anyone who will help him win back the female vote lost in the War on Women, it’s her.

You can trust me. I’ve seen enough episodes of The West Wing to be an expert on the subject.

merciad. mercyhurst.edu/ opinion Legitimizing Bieber by Zainab Javed and Carrie Gambino

Sports

April 25, 2012

Page 11

Latshaw helps to power baseball offense

By Spencer Hunt Sports editor

Sports Information photo

Senior Shane Latshaw has been one of the most consistent Lakers, hitting .371 and starting 96 of a possible 98 games the last two seasons.

Trying to pinpoint when athletes hit their prime is not an exact science. Despite analysts’ best efforts, it is really just an educated guess. For college athletes, their peak years are usually their junior and senior seasons.

This holds true for Mercyhurst baseball senior Shane Latshaw.

After transferring to Mercyhurst from Erie Community College for his junior season, Latshaw has been toward the top of every offensive category for the Lakers. Latshaw has hit for an average of .371 since joining the line-up.

This season, he has been most productive.

His average has gone up 14 points, currently at .379, which is second on the team. Latshaw also has the highest on-base percentage on the team at .456. These numbers are necessary to be successful as the second batter in the line-up.

While a few Lakers have had nagging injuries the last two seasons, Latshaw has started 96 games during his two seasons. That consistency provides stability for the line-up.

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“I think it’s from a lot of hard work in the off-season,” said Latshaw. “Also, I have been here before, so maturity is a part too.”

Latshaw’s hard work has added a new wrinkle to his game: home run power. He leads the team with nine home runs.

“I felt like I had the ability to put up the numbers,” Latshaw said.

The crowning moment of Latshaw’s season so far was his last two home runs.

In game one of a doubleheader against Clarion, the score was even at seven in the bottom of the seventh inning. Latshaw came to the plate with the bases loaded.

“I didn’t realize it went out at first until the first baseman said it did,” Latshaw said.

Just trying to put the ball in play, Latshaw ended the game with a walk-off grand slam.

“It was smiles all over,” Latshaw said.

Following up his game one walk-off, Latshaw added a two-run shot in game two to help the Lakers sweep with a 4-1 win.

It is unexpected to have a leading home run hitter bat second, but Latshaw provides protection to the rest of the line-up. With the all-time career home run leader in Ethan Santora batting behind him, Latshaw sees good pitches almost every at-bat.

“I think it all evens out. When I get pitches

to hit, it means the guys behind me get good pitches too,” Latshaw said.

If Latshaw keeps hitting the way he is, the Lakers have a chance to again go deep in the postseason. He isn’t the most vocal on the team, but his play is certainly a good example of how to play the game.

“We have a lot of seniors who have been here before and know what we have to do,” Latshaw said.

The Lakers are in a tie for first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and third in the Atlantic Region.

“It would be a disappointment if we don’t get far in the playoffs,” said Latshaw. “We aren’t satisfied with just winning the division.”

So far, the team hasn’t disappointed. They have a 32-12 overall record.

Winning four of its last five, the team has momentum heading into the final weekend of the season.

“We have a lot of returners, our line-up and hitting will come around,” said Latshaw.

“I like our chances in the playoffs.”

Latshaw and the team will round out their season Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, with four games against rival Gannon.

Sports

Page 12

April 25, 2012

Softball has new faces playing major roles

By Lindsey Burke Staff writer

The underclassmen of the Mercyhurst University Softball Team have given the Lakers just the spark they needed this season.

Junior Molly McNamara, sophomore Megan Smith and freshmen Lauren Rossi and Annie Truelove have seen ample amounts of field time, filling in voids left by seniors from last year’s roster.

“Newcomers on our team this season have filled spots on the mound and in the outfield,” said senior Kristi Janoske. “They have also stepped up and filled in offensively.”

As a team, the Lakers have matched last season’s win total at 24. One more victory will secure back-to-back winning seasons, despite the number of underclassmen playing major roles.

Six-foot 2 inch Truelove has filled big shoes behind Janoske on the pitching staff. Truelove’s height shows a promising body type to be a powerhouse pitcher.

“Some of the most successful pitchers are above 6 feet tall.

Jennie Finch and Monica Abbott

Sports Information photo

Freshman Annie Truelove has the ability to be a four-year star for the softball team. She has the physical tools and now is just gaining the experience. are both around 6 foot 4 inches,” said Head Coach Sara Headley.

“Her long legs help her to push

off the mound further so when she releases the ball she is actually closer to the plate than a shorter

pitcher – giving the batter less time to react.”

Janoske agrees that Truelove’s

height, determination and drive will power her to become one of the best to wear the green and blue on the mound. She is currently third on the team in ERA at 5.12. Truelove also leads the team with nine complete games out of the 21 she has started.

“Annie is very enthusiastic about pitching, she is always working hard on and off the field,” said Janoske.

“She is a very vocal player, and steps up when the team needs it the most.”

Headley believes the best is yet to come for Truelove.

“Annie has a lot of raw talent with room to grow,” Headley said.

The Lakers’ offense has lead to most of the team’s success. Currently, the team is batting over .300 as a team. They have also slammed in 68 doubles and 35 home runs.

“Offensively we have been very consistent, our inconsistency has come on the mound,” said Headley.

With the playoffs up next, consistency will tell just how far the Lakers can go.

The Lakers have qualified for the PSAC playoffs and will travel to powerhouse Kutztown for a double-header on April 25.

Women’s rowing takes home gold at Knecht Cup

By Samantha Bante Contributing writer

The 2011-12 season has been a success for the Mercyhurst women’s rowing team, but it’s not over yet.

Last weekend the Lakers faced stiff competition against Div. I schools and captured the gold in the women’s four event. Mercyhurst was the only team to successfully finish under eight minutes with a time of 7:58.99.

The women’s four consisted of senior Holly Ansaldi, sophomore Kate Moran, freshman Pia Frascatore, sophomore Becca Herron and freshman Kristine Wright.

“Knecht Cup is generally one of the smaller regattas we attend,” Ansaldi said.

“This year it had more competitors than ever before. Yet, our women’s varsity four still managed to reclaim the gold. It’s a step in the right direction for our team, but

Sports Information photo

The women’s four took home gold at the Knecht Cup. They won the final race by 10 seconds and were the only boat under eight minutes. we hope to continue to make progress,” Ansaldi said.

With an addition of nine freshmen out of 19 rowers, the Lakers had to go through a lot of preparation to pull the team together and make this season memorable.

“We’ve made a lot of progress

this year as a team. Last year, we came into the season very young.

So with a little more experience under our belts, we’ve made major improvements from our previous season,” said Ansaldi.

“We also have a larger team this year allowing us to have greater

depth as we attempt to put out even faster boats as the season goes on.”

Currently the Lakers are ranked second in the latest Division II rankings according to the CRCA/ US Rowing Coaches Poll. The first regional rankings were also released with the Lakers claiming the top spot in the East Region.

“We haven’t really changed our practice much this year prior to previous years,” said Ansaldi. “The spring season we tend to back off on the lifting sessions and focus on the rowing though. Specifically, we do rowing technically and together on the boat. We train at Findley Lake in New York every morning as well as 2-3 afternoons a week.”

“With the intensity of our workouts, we believe we are preparing ourselves for whatever lies ahead for us this season,” Ansaldi said.

The Lakers have been quite lucky this year with having many rowers contributing with valuable roles on the team.

“Although at times it can be diffi-

cult to work together, at the end of the day, we are involved in rowing for the team not for our own individual success,” Ansaldi said.

The Lakers had two boats advance to the Grand Finals at the SIRA Regatta after their performances last Saturday. Unfortunately both boats weren’t able to capture the gold again.

The varsity four boat finished fifth with a time of 7:55.95, along with the varsity eight boat finishing last at 6:51.23.

“I believe that we are looking at having a very successful season.

We continue to improve the times for both women’s varsity eight and women’s varsity four, which are the two boats that would continue on to NCAAs,” Ansaldi said. “Other Div. II Schools have shown success as well, but I am confident that we have a strong team this season and will continue to perform.”

The Lakers next scheduled meet is the MACRA Regatta in Grand Rapids, Mich on Saturday, April 28.