The Merciad, May 1, 2013 by The Merciad

NEWS

Page 2

May 1, 2013

‘Hurst celebrates Earth Day events

Movie screening and speeches kick off campus events By Kierston Bromley Staff editor

Earth Day, April 22, is a day to recognize the role our planet plays in human health and the ways humans affect the earth in turn. In honor of Earth Day, Mercyhurst has hosted several events around campus spread out over a few weeks. Wednesday, April 17, there was a screening of “The Island President” in Zurn 114. At Taylor Little Theatre on Monday, April 22, Nancy Huehnergarth, Director of the New York State Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Alliance, gave a speech about the built environment, or the environment that humans create, around New York and Erie in particular. Tuesday, April 23, Taylor Little Theatre saw keynote speaker Rosalind Creasy, National Pioneer of Integrated Food Gardens, speak on the

subject of edible landscaping. The events were planned as a coordination of three entities: Mercyhurst University Public Health Department, Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics & Society, and the Mercyhurst Sustainability Office. On Wednesday, May 17, the movie “The sland President” illuminated the story of the Maldives Island. At sea level, the island and its entire people are at risk of disappearing. Due to climate change and global warming, the area is being extremely flooded, so President Mohamed Nasheed has a lot on his hands to deal with. What this movie hopes to express to its audiences is raising concern over the important issue of climate change. After the movie there was a webinar for a ‘National Conversation on Democracy and Climate Change.’ “It is developed countries that have the greatest impact on our climate,” said Sustainability Officer Brittany

Prischak, “so climate change is an important issue.” Before Huehnergarth spoke on Monday, a panel of speakers gave an update on Erie’s healthy built environment and was interested to hear from Huehnergarth new ways to keep staying healthy. On this panel, moderated by Andy Glass, director of the Erie County Department of Health, were the following: Ben Pratt, Director of Research, Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership; Eric Brozell, Bike Erie, Lake Erie Bicycling Club; Kim Beers, Safe & Health Communities Coordinator, Erie County Department of Health; John Morgan, Erie County Department of Planning and Erie Metropolitan Planning Organization; and Brenda Sandberg, Director of the City of Erie Department of Community & Economic Development. Huehnergarth talked about the built environment, such as sidewalks,

‘Edible Landscaping’ brings fresh gardening ideas By Juan Mendez Staff writer

Rosalind Creasy, known for coining the term “edible landscaping,” paid a visit to Mercyhurst University on Tuesday, April 23, to bring ideas on the topic of using vegetables and fresh produce to spruce up their gardens. “Edible landscaping takes vegetable gardens from the traditional row patch and turns it into artwork. It’s planting produce to draw the eye, working with color and textures to make something beautiful,” sustainability ofﬁcer Brittany Prischak said. Creasy, who started off playing around with her garden and using the produce and plants in unconventional ways, began raising awareness of the movement after she realized how great this art was, as most of her neighborhood noticed her work and thoroughly enjoyed it. “It breaks out of the shell of vegetable gardens and makes them more fun,” Prischak said. The school hopes to promote the concept with two of their projects:

bike trails, parks and other man made creations. Her main points were about taking care of the Earth’s health by changing urban design for better sidewalks and other innovations such as veggie and fruit food vending carts. These suggestions have already been put into effect on a big stage — New York City. “Studies found that obesity rates dropped in a few years after efforts such as these [the veggie/fruit vending carts] were implemented in New York City,” said Eileen Zinchiak, Program Coordinator at Mercyhurst University for Public Health. Zinchiak cited these innovations as having more positive impact on people’s health than an individual trying to keep healthy on their own. On Tuesday, Creasy sold out Taylor Little Theatre. “There were no seats in Taylor Little Theatre on Tuesday,” said Prischak. “There was standing room only.”

Creasy encouraged people to grow their own fruit trees and veggie gardens in their own front yards. This would allow people to grow organic food for their family but also create a beautiful gathering area for neighbors. According to Zinchiak, the audience was excited to see Creasy’s examples. David J. Dausey, Ph.D. and Dean of the School of Health Professions and Public Health, was very pleased with the turnout to the events in honor of Earth Day. “It [the turnout] was above and beyond expectations,” said Dausey, “and it was great to learn about positive things going on in Erie and how we can continue to make more positive changes.” To learn more about the efforts the Sustainability Ofﬁce at Mercyhurst is doing to keep the earth and humans healthier, visit and like their page on Facebook.

News Briefs Student premieres ﬁlm

Aspiring director Caitlin MacBride took first place in the Communication Department’s annual scriptwriting contest for her screenplay ‘100.’ The film premiered on Sunday, April 28, at a special screening in Taylor Little Theatre. ‘100’ is set in a small-town high school, and deals with a class of 100 seniors who are connected by a string of good deeds. Most of the film was filmed at Mercyhurst Preparatory School. For more information on ‘100,’ please contact Caitlin MacBride at cmacbr51@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

North East farm sells shares of produce Taylor Rollins photo

Members of the Erie community sold out Taylor Little Theatre to see Rosalind Creasy’s lecture on edible landscaping. the greenhouse that is being built as part of the senior class gift, which brings gardening to the students of the Main campus. There are also plans to plant the Sister Maura Smith garden, which will combine perennial and native plants with berries and herbs to

bring life to the area near the Mercy Walkway. For more information on edible landscaping, visit http://www.rosalindcreasy.com.

The recently relocated Mercyhurst farm, now in the North East campus, is making shares of produce available to the public. Around 40 shares will be sold at $165, each of which include six biweekly shipments of fresh produce, starting in late July. Over the season, clients can expect a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which can be picked up from the Erie, North East or West locations. For more information and an application form, please visit https:// portal.mercyhurst.edu/CampusLife/Sustainability/Pages/MercyhurstWestFarm.aspx.

May 1, 2013

Colloquium set to impress By Garrett Erwin Staff writer

For the past few years, students have had the opportunity to conduct student research for real-world issues and to share that with the campus community. On Wednesday, May 1, students will come together to present their research in the Carolynn Hermann Student Union for the campus to engage in. The Student Research Committee, which is a section of the Faculty Senate Committee, supports this annual event. Over the past few years, the conference has changed and shifted, and according to committee chair, Jonathan Ivy, Ph.D., this year’s colloquium is set to impress. “I am in awe over the amount of work and the type of work that the students and my colleagues have put together to present for this year’s colloquium,” Ivy said. Not only is this a presentation of student research, Ivy describes it as a celebration of the scholarship that students possess at Mercyhurst. There are around 60 presenters with a broad range of topics in the social and economic ﬁelds. Presentations include studies conducted in various ﬁelds such as: chemistry, sports medicine, psychology and

Mercyhurst University Police & Safety

more. Presentations are in the form of posters and micro-presentations of PowerPoints in order to be viewer friendly. The colloquium gives students the opportunity to express their hard work that they have put into their ﬁelds of study. “Students will be located at different tables in the great room of the student union and visitors will be able to walk around and interact with the researchers,” said Ivy. “It is a way to view social issues and the global impact that they have in the world.” Ivy hopes that with this year’s colloquium, more students and the campus community will engage themselves in the future to view their peer’s work. Ivy extends a personal invitation to the entire campus to attend this event. “This is a wonderful opportunity to have scholarly conversation and to look at what students on campus are becoming involved in and what future research opportunities there may be,” Ivy said. The Student Research Colloquium is being held on Wednesday, May 1, from 1-5 p.m. in the Student Union, and is free and open to the entire campus community. Food and refreshments will be provided. For questions, contact Jonathan Ivy by phone at (814) 824-3371 or via email at jivy@mercyhurst.edu.

Police Log

Tuesday, April 23 Harassment by Communication, Criminal Trespass 3830 Briggs Ave. Referred for discipline

Sunday, April 28 Liquor Law, University Violation Campus grounds Referred for discipline

NEWS

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Michael Murphy photo

The psychology department has moved to Briggs Hall, located next to Warde Hall, which was previously occupied by the Interior Design department.

Psychology department moves to new building By Michael Murphy Contributing writer

Recently, the psychology department made a move to their new building on Briggs Avenue, located next to Warde Hall. Before their move to the new location, the Psychology Department was located in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center since the building’s construction in 2002. Many students have no idea where the psychology building is when asked. As this is a major problem, recognition for the building needed to be established. Student and Research Assistant Shannon Shaffer was happy with the department’s relocation. “I think the move was ﬁne, I think the fact that it isn’t known is the problem. We’ve had people call and email and say they don’t know where it is, so trying to explain where it is is hard. Police and Safety didn’t even know where it was,” Shaffer said. Over the past few years, the department has experienced an increase in declared majors and, as a result of the growing program, the department needed to grow as well. Along with the surge of new psychology students, there has been the

addition of Matt Weaver, Ph.D.. The new building provides both the students and the professors with a larger laboratory space for independent research. In the immediate future, the staff believes that this is a perfect ﬁt for their department. The psychology department was also eager to announce the new offering of a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Originally, this was an area of interest introduced to the department by Robert Hoff, Ph.D.. Those trained in the ﬁeld of ABA help people change

their behavior in desired ways; the purpose of these courses is to provide the trainee with a world certification. “It is very rare to be certified at the undergraduate level, but, with the ABA program, you can be,” Marilyn Livosky, Ph.D., head of the Psychology department, said. She also stressed that this program is not only limited to the education and psychology fields, but it can also be applied anywhere where there is a form of social interaction.

Michael Murphy photo

The relocation of the department allows it to accommodate the increase in its students.

NEWS

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May 1, 2013

LAKER MOMENT Students raise mental

health awareness By Stacy Skiavo News editor

Story and photo by Taylor Rollins

The steeple on top Queen’s Chapel, located off of the Christ The King Chapel in Old Main, is framed by magnolias.

Spring is here at last

Amid the occasional sighting of flurries and dreaded downpours, spring has finally arrived at Mercyhurst. The sun dares to shed its warmth upon us, despite the ever-present lake effect threat of precipitation. Students have become more adventurous in their outdoor activities, and as a result campus actually resembles a college filled with students rather than the ghost town of seasons past. The promise of summer is within our grasp, and we can nearly taste the sunshine-soaked freedom we long for. The vast migration of students into the various green spaces on campus from the cold-weather hide-aways of dorms and apartments not only signifies the advent of spring, but also the end of the school year. Both a blessing and a curse, as the frustration of registration and the inevitable end-of-term crunch often prove to be only slightly less than unbearable. Many succumb to agitation with an increased course load and intensified procrastination as third term dwindles to a close, punctuated by angered outbursts as we watch our hoped-for classes fill up seat by seat. Thus begins the countdown to the days in which we can forget about our inherent distaste for end of term responsibilities until next year. What if we took a step back from the complications of college life, and decided to breathe for a second – to just enjoy where we are and who we are at that present moment in time? As students, we occasionally lose sight of what is around us, what led us to Mercyhurst, and choose instead to immerse ourselves in the future. So enjoy this spring, admire the beauty that is campus bathed in sunshine and stop wishing away time. College will be over before we realize it.

Students joined together to decorate Garvey Park with t-shirts to create awareness for mental illness. 780 shirts were collected across campus to symbolize the number of college suicides per year. Aside from the Out of Darkness Walk at Presque Isle, the 1100 event is the only suicide awareness event held on campus. Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization that works to raise mental health awareness among young adults as they transition into adulthood. The national 1100 event is held Oct. 2, but Active Minds held their event in the spring on Monday, April 22, due to the weather and lack of time to raise the t-shirts. After the event the t-shirts were donated to homeless shelters across Erie. Last year, awareness was expressed with glow sticks, but this year the club decided t-shirts would be a better option that would also benefit others. “We needed something that created a powerful visual image,” said Vice President Emily Dietrich. “Last year we chose to do glow sticks, but we were left with 1100 broken glow sticks, so this year we wanted to do something with a benefit.” The shirts were hung in the park to symbolize those lost to suicide.

Caitlin Mininger photo

After the event took place at Garvey Park, the t-shirts were donated to homeless shelters across Erie. Dietrich continued that the shirts held multiple forms of symbolism. “It is also the size of the shirts, you can almost imagine a student standing there,” Dietrich said. The t-shirts were collected from across the country, but primarily came from the Erie community and Mercyhurst campus with help from club adviser Missi Berquist. “It truly meant a lot that Mercyhurst supported us, over half of the donated shirts were from our campus,” Dietrich said. In the future, the club hopes to

branch out the event by including other college campuses in the area. This extra involvement would include the collection of shirts as well as spreading the word past Mercyhurst campus. “Too many students suffer in silence with their stress and it only produces negative results. We only hope we can meet our goal of 1100 shirts, but if not, as long as someone who needs help realizes there are other choices,” Dietrich said.

FEATURES

May 1, 2013

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Students get ready for Spring Fest By Kayla Kelly Features editor

With the year coming to an end, everyone deserves a fun night of activities and free music. SAC and MSG are hosting the annual Spring Fest. In the past, Spring Fest has been a weekend of festivities, but this year they have decided to organize all events for Friday, May 3. This plan was due to the lack of student attendance at the Saturday freebies and games. Seniors Adam Borgman and Jenna Dascanio believe the new pre-concert events will be a good ﬂow into the night of music and a way to incorporate the whole campus community. Friday pre-concert activities begin at 3 p.m. with a photo booth, airbrush tattoos, spin art shutter shades, caricature artists, shirt cutting and freebies. The free “street food” will start at 4

p.m. In addition, DJ-Henry GQ will be providing the entertainment during the outdoor fun. Also, if you missed your chance at getting a neon hat, you will have another opportunity to gain this popular freebie. SAC and MSG will be handing out free hats prior to the concert, and to receive one you simply have to attend Friday’s 3 to 7 p.m. events, being held in Garvey Park. This years performers are The White Panda and Super Mash Bros. They are unique because they offer music mashups of the top 40 hits on the radio. SAC and MSG decided to pick this type of electro dance music to compete with the downtown bars and clubs. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” Borgman said. This will be a non-conventional concert that will provide students with a similar experience of the downtown Erie nightlife.

Although you might be expecting the atmosphere to mimic The Cell Block, SAC and MSG have invested a large portion of money into production. This is based on previous student survey results of what students want. Therefore, the production will include projections and effect lighting to contribute to the music vibe. “This will be a super fun event, that most students don’t remember is put on by students, who want everyone to have fun,” Dascanio said. SAC and MSG encourage everyone to attend the pre-concert events and concert because they have worked hard to put together the festivities and truly want to provide everyone an exciting Spring Fest. “Honestly, I don’t want people to miss out and regret it,” Borgman said. For more questions about the upcoming Spring Fest contact SAC or MSG.

www. twitter.com/thewhitepanda photo

The White Panda is one of two acts who will perform at SpringFest.

TOMS club video receives recognition By Brady Greenawalt Staff writer

This year, as a way to spread awareness of the TOMS One Day without Shoes, a large group of students got together and made history with the ﬁrst ever “foot dub” video. TOMS is a shoe company that has

Taylor Rollins photo

A collage of pictures shows off what TOMS is all about.

popularly adopted a “one for one” policy for their shoe sales. For every pair of shoes they sell, one pair is donated to people of need in Third World countries. The TOMS One Day Without Shoes is an event put on by TOMS every year to promote their cause and spread awareness of extreme poverty in the world. The video, created by Mercyhurst’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) president Joe Pudlick and senior Casey Krein, features over 70 Mercyhurst students from different clubs and organizations as well as various faculty and administration ofﬁcials, dancing in their bare feet to “We Come Running” by Youngblood Hawke. “We were thankful to get so many people involved to support the TOMS philosophy,” said Krein. “I think most departments were up to get involved because TOMS is not just promoting their products. They are also trying to raise awareness for citizens in underdeveloped countries that are below the poverty line lacking the ability to purchase shoes, which can affect health, education and even self-esteem.” Shortly after the video was released on the Internet it was noticed by the TOMS company itself, and it was included as part of their annual thank you video, thanking people and groups that made a signiﬁcant contribution to the Day Without Shoes. “The video being featured by TOMS was truly the ultimate goal,” said Pudlick. “This project was a full learning opportunity beginning with the challenges that came with creating the vision, orchestrating it, editing it

Taylor Rollins photo

TOMS paints a mural with a variety of colors to show off what it is all about. and publicizing it.” But the hard work paid off for Pudlick, the large crew involved in the video and for Mercyhurst University as a whole. “We are the only university in the world that was pulled out in the TOMS annual thank you video,“ Pudlick said. Mercyhurst TOMS club President,

Adrianne LaGruth, was excited to see the foot dub video featured on the thank you video. “I am ecstatic and overjoyed about our video reaching all the way to headquarters,” said LaGruth. “It means a lot to put Mercyhurst University’s TOMS Club on their map and radar. This success is such a big win for me

and for the club.” The TOMS One Day Without Shoes happens every year, and there’s no doubt that TOMS Club members are already thinking of ways to top this year’s video. Students interested in joining TOMS club can contact Adrianne LaGruth at alagru01@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

FEATURES

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May 1, 2013

Alums provide career insights By Daniel Tarr Staff writer

Every year, Mercyhurst alums come back to the school to talk to current students about their jobs, real-world experience, and how they are doing in general. Students in the Hospitality Management program were among those who listened to returning alums. Two guest lecturers, who are also alums of the hospitality management program at Mercyhurst, spoke in front of hospitality management Professor Dave Scypinski’s Convention and Tradeshow Management course.

The two guest speakers were Cleveland Convention Center Senior Director of Sales Tony Prusak and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Director of Sales and Marketing Eric Opron. Prusak spoke to the students in the classroom on Tuesday, March 12. Prusak was joined by a panel of other industry professionals. Among these industry professionals were Key Bank Meeting Planner Stacy Starnes, who is also a Mercyhurst alum, the meeting planner for Sherwin Williams and an executive director for a large medical association. While Prusak was physically in the classroom speaking with the students, the panel of other industry

Bradford pear trees give off troubling smell By Daniel Tarr Staff writer

As spring arises flowers bloom and trees blossom. Mercyhurst campus houses Bradford pear trees that are beginning to have a bad reputation. This particular tree gives off an unwelcoming stench of rotting flesh that has several students walking around in disgust. The scientific name for this tree is Pyrus calleryana. The tree was first brought to America from China in 1908. Today, it is seen in urban settings all over North America. This particular tree is known for its gorgeous white flowers that come out in the spring. Many refer to this tree as “easy on the eyes, not the nose.” In small doses many do not recognize the unusual scent, but in great

Zach Dorsch photo

The trees have students challenging each other to take a whiff.

Zach Dorsch photo

These are the ﬂowers that give off the troubling scent.

numbers, the smell is unbearable. The smell comes from the ﬂower of the tree that blossoms in early spring and dies in the fall time. Thankfully, the Mercyhurst community only is introduced to this stinky species for a short period of time before returning home for the summer break.

professionals was speaking to the class through video live from Cleveland. Prusak and the panel spoke about topics such as site selection, event destinations and fulﬁlling contractual obligations.

“

I think it is great to have alumni back in the classroom. Daryl Georger

”

Opron spoke to the hospitality management students on Tuesday, April 16. Opron talked to them

about strategies for convention setup and attracting customers to a resort property. He also talked about how hotel employees can supply the needs of various groups of people. These groups of people include businessmen, organizations and tourists who come to stay at the hotel. Hospitality Management Assistant Professor Daryl Georger suggested the alums should come back and speak to current students in the hospitality management program. “I think it is great to have alumni back in the classroom,” said Georger. “Not only that, but it is a great recruiting opportunity for students.” Scypinski thinks the two sessions

went very well because of the expertise of real-life alumni teaching what they learned in the classroom and applying it to what they do now. “Alumni have really bonded with the institution,” said Scypinski. “This is great for current students because it shows them real-life experience and provides possible recruiting efforts, job placements and internship placements for them.” If you would like to know more about the hospitality management program, please contact Daryl Georger at dgeorger@mercyhurst. edu or 814-824-2340. You can also contact Dave Scypinski at dscypinski@mercyhurst.edu or dave.scypinski@conferencedirect.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

May 1, 2013

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Fashion merchandising department Local Events prepares to display re-fashion By Juan Mendez Staff Writer

Sami Rapp photo

Students of the Fashion Merchandising Department will be presenting their annual fashion show.

On Thursday, May 2, the Fashion Merchandising Department will be unveiling their annual fashion show, with a theme that is set to upcycle the crowds: re-purposed garments and “trashion,” which uses everyday waste and turns it into wearable garments. The purpose of upcycling is to turn gently worn clothing into trendy pieces. Some of the garments include skirts made into scarves and button-down shirts turned into skirts. The students of the Fashion Promotion course at Mercyhurst have also designed runway looks made with materials such as newspapers and magazines. Junior Fashion Merchandising major Emily Isbell thinks that the idea of ‘going green’ is very ﬁtting for the times. “It’s something that everyone is into, regardless of their major or what they do. Recycling and going green have recently become important issues and we wanted to use that,” Isbell said. The show, put together by fashion

merchandising students and organized by fashion students, is a dramatic turn from the themes used in previous years, which were more geared towards the upscale, haute looks. The “trashion” theme, however, is a creative and very refreshing twist to the event. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Caring Closet, an Eriebased charity that provides clothing for needy families. There will also be a rafﬂe at the show, which students can partake in by purchasing tickets or donating garments for the organization. Prizes include gift cards to the Mercyhurst bookstore, Teresa’s Deli, Corner Stone Bar and Grill, Little Caesars, Dairy Queen and Nail Creations as well as jewelry pieces by Courtney Simmelkjaer. Tickets will be sold on Wednesday, May 1, at the Carolyn Hermann Student Union from 5 to 7 p.m. and on the day of the show. Prices are $3 for adults and $1 for students. Refreshments, repurposed garments, transformed t-shirts and local vendors’ products will be available for purchase after the show.

Best Coast plays with popular sounds By Zach Dorsch

Photography editor

Online

This week we will dive into the surf rock duo Best Coast in a continuing mission to create a soundtrack for the summer. Best Coast formed in 2009 after Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno kept meeting each other at various shows in Los Angeles. The band’s two full-length albums really show off Cosentino’s writing style. Her style focuses heavily on feelings of yearning and alienation from the world. These lyrics ﬁt perfectly within the band’s balmy, surfrock sound. Though some of the songs seem very similar and listening to a complete album by them may seem dull and unsatisfying to some, Best Coast

still has many great songs that will go great in your playlist. Did you ever have a feeling that the love of your life is dating the wrong person? Well, “Boyfriend” is the song for you. This relatively short track gets the message of “I wish he was my Boyfriend” across pretty well as Cosentino’s voice swells over fuzzed out guitar tones. “The Only Place” is much more upbeat and great for a road trip to your favorite place or hangout. This song discusses living in your favorite place because it has everything you would ever need to be happy. The last track, “Angsty,” is one of my all time favorites; gone is the balmy sound Best Coast does so well. Do not worry, though, because it is replaced with heavily reverberated guitar parts that feel radioactive as they decay away.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

Thursday, May 2:

12 p.m. National Day of Prayer Erie City Council Chambers 5 p.m. Come Fly With Me Art Fundraiser Erie Art Museum Friday, May 3: 4:30 p.m. La Fille Mal Gardée Special Preview Performing Arts Center Saturday, May 4: 8 p.m. Hot Chelle Rae McComb Fieldhouse Edinboro University Sunday, May 5: 2 p.m. Erie Explosion Playoff Game Erie Insurance Arena Wednesday, May 8:

www.windishagency.com

Best Coast uses a blend of music techniques to create an upcoming popular genre of Surf Rock. This song almost feels like a song from Heart’s discography. Surf rock is getting more popular each summer and this summer won’t

be any different. So before you leave for that big trip to the beach, grab some of their music, and make whatever sand you land on the Best Coast.

View upcoming performances: www.pac.mercyhurst.edu

5 p.m. Communications Trade Show Student Union

www.merciad.mercyhurst. edu/arts_entertainment

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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La Fille Mal Gardée expected to impress By Kayleigh Ferguson Staff Writer

For the ﬁrst time, the Mercyhurst Dance Department and the Mercyhurst Symphony Orchestra join collaborative forces to present the comedic ballet La Fille Mal Gardée, May 3-5, at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. The performances will run 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, through 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. A special preview concert will be held Friday, May 3, at 4:30 p.m., with balcony seating only. Premiered in 1879, La Fille Mal Gardée returns to Erie following a 19-year hiatus. Featuring choreography by esteemed choreographer Bruce Marks, the ballet is one of the highlights of Mercyhurst’s Freedom Season. Translated in English to mean “The Poorly Guarded Girl,” the story of this ballet revolves around a lovesick young lady, Lise, who is challenged by an arranged marriage to the rich but dimwitted, Alain. Lise’s mother, the Widow, tries her hardest to invoke this plan. This three-act comedic ballet offers laughs for families of all sorts while maintaining its dedication to the freedom of choice. Funding by ArtsErie supports this quality production staged by Samantha Dunster of the Hartt School in Connecticut. R. Scott Tomlison will conduct the Mercyhurst Symphony Orchestra. This quality production, staged by

May 1, 2013

Interior design students present thesis designs By Garrett Erwin Staff Writer

pac.mercyhurst.edu

La Fille Mal Gardée is opening this weekend in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Samantha Dunster of the Hartt School in Connecticut, is funded and supported by ArtsErie. Dunster took up residence during February and March to work with the Mercyhurst Dancers. R. Scott Tomlison will conduct the Mercyhurst Symphony Orchestra in accompanying the ballet. Cuban-trained and internationally acclaimed guest artist Eddie Tovar will perform the leading male role, Colas. Returning to Mercyhurst, courtesy of the Louisville Ballet, is alum Justin Michael Hogan (’09) to perform the role of Alain. Ashley Cook and Emily McAveney will share the leading role of Lise, while the role of the Widow Simone, usually played by a man, is a superb vehicle for the talents of William McNeil. “All of us have been laughing hysterically at Will’s antics,” said Tauna Hunter, dance department chairwoman and artistic director. “This is simply

one of the funniest ballets ever created, and the entire cast is having a ball with it. I’m sure the audience will laugh right along with us.” The Mercyhurst Dance faculty is working diligently with a cast of 50 dancers for this performance, which will feature new costumes and sets courtesy of Orlando Ballet. Following the Saturday and Sunday matinee performances, The Mercyhurst Dancers will host a “Talk Back,” where audience members will have an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the production. Ticket prices are $15.50 for adults, $12.50 for seniors and students, $7.50 for President’s Cardholders, $5 for youth 12 and under and $3.50 for Mercyhurst students who present their ID. Tickets for the preview concert are $5. All tickets are available by calling the box ofﬁce at 814-824-3000 or by visiting miac.mercyhurst.edu.

Interior Designers play a dramatic role in the life of not only room decorating but the entire design of a building, from picking out fabrics, chairs, curtains, rugs, accessories and other major design aspects. Major aspects reﬂect the purpose of the building in which they are being designed. The Interior Design show opens on Wednesday, May 1, and features the thesis works of graduating seniors. The exhibit highlights the ﬁnal projects under the study of Kathy Weidenboerner, the interior design department chair. The theme for the exhibit is Salvation by Imagination, which is taken from a quote by Frank Lloyd Wright: “An Idea is Salvation by Imagination.” With this theme in mind, the imaginative minds worked all year to design and present their concepts for the installment. “These projects are the culmination of a year-long research and design effort of the students,” said Weidenboerner. “It appeared that this year the projects were inspired by a social problem of our times.” Senior Aimee Plante used studies of the overuse of pain medication in the United States to express her abilities in her thesis work to create an interior

design for a therapy establishment. “For my project, I decided to design a physical therapy facility that incorporates elements from the natural environment to aid in pain management through the therapy process,” Plante said. The exhibit expresses design solutions that benefit a community in different ways, thus creating quality and visually interesting aspects of interior design. Other projects include full designs for buildings that are useful for people of all ages such as: rec centers, wineries, nightclubs, fire stations, green houses and other various designs. “I think we all hoped to express through our senior projects how interior design, when done properly, benefits people in positive ways,” Plante said. The senior Interior Design Show is in being held in the Cummings Art Gallery beginning on Wednesday, May 1, and extends until Tuesday, May 21. The opening reception is on Thursday, May 2, from 7-9 p.m. The Cummings Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 p.m. For more information, contact Kathy Weidenboerner at (814)-8242368, or the Cummings Art Gallery at (814)-824-2092.

Opera Scenes Program

Kathleen Reveille Junior Recital

Sunday, May 5 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 8 p.m.

Walker Recital Hall pac.mercyhurst.edu photo

Met HD Live:

Giulio Cesare

Walker Recital Hall

by Handel

Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center

Featured composers include:

Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 12 p.m.

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OPINION

May 1, 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.

Yost’s article: a ﬂawed argument Yost’s By Joseph DeFeo Contributing writer

Last week’s opinion article written by Zach Yost about the Boston Bombings sounds like propaganda straight out of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Mr. Yost claimed that the government, media, and public responses to the Boston Bombings were “by far the most embarrassing and ridiculous spectacles [he] has ever seen.” Yes, the government made some outrageous statements that I cannot speak for, but the false reports put out by the media and public can be defended. The public wants news as quickly as possible in situations like the Boston Bombing and the media did their best to deliver. The “ignorant Americans” that Mr. Yost says were mistaking Chechnya for the Czech Republic are the result of a ﬂawed educational system that was mention in his previous article. Mr. Yost stated in the April 17 issue of the Merciad that he does not

believe in public education and thinks it is “foolish, stupid, and outright criminal.” Mr. Yost, the reason people were mistaking Chechnya for the Czech Republic is because of people like you that do not support the educational system. With a lack of support and funds, the educational system cannot hire enough teachers which results in a decrease of learned information, like the difference between Chechnya and the Czech Republic. Mr. Yost also made statements about the bombers and their ability to put the entire city of Boston on lockdown and calls it “simply unthinkable.” He must not remember the 19 men that shut down every single airport in the United States on September 11, 2001. If those 19 men were able to shut down an area spanning 3.8 million mi2 (200,000mi2 per terrorist), then two men shutting down an area spanning 89.4 mi2 (44.7mi2 per terrorist) should be a relatively easy feat. The thing that disturbed me the

most about the article was when Mr. Yost asked, “How many millions of dollars did this cost?”

“

We do have some ﬂaws in our society, but. . . do not blame the entire bushel for the rotten apple.

”

Joseph DeFeo

It disturbs me that this is something he was worried about. Mr. Yost essentially said the loss of economic activity by shutting down Boston because of a terrorist attack was what the public should be concerned about. Apparently bringing in more police ofﬁcers, FBI agents and “gas guzzling trucks” to catch the two men responsible for the murder of 3 people, wounding over 100 others and striking fear into the American public is a bad thing.

Student stands up for America By Brianna Carle Contributing writer

Writing in regards to last week’s opinion article, “America’s behavior embarrasses,” I am hurt, offended and appalled at such an opinion. Our country and the people in it did their jobs to the fullest for the ﬁrst time in history. People have been attacking our country far too frequently in the past few years to think they can still get away with it. The citizens are tired of watching their loved ones get killed for no reason at all. The response the government, media and other citizens had towards the Boston Bombing is admirable. Terrorists will not be getting off easy in this country anymore. The government proved that this was the ﬁnal straw.

Instead of being embarrassed by the over-the-top reaction to the tragedy, those who feel this way should be embarrassed by their lack of compassion for others. Whether three individuals died or three-fourths of the country, we as a nation have the power, technology and union to ﬁght and work in a state of urgency when it is needed, and that is exactly what went on last week. People took a stand and showed they cared. As a citizen I am tired of not feeling safe because of shootings and bombings coming from our own citizens. It could be worse, as in several other countries, but that does not mean one should be desensitized to the horrors of the world. Instead, we need to ﬁght together and do whatever we can to help heal the wounded and put a stop to these

travesties. That is what America did last week, and that is what America should represent. Our ancestors ﬂed their homes to come and live the American dream, a melting pot and a safe haven for those with individual beliefs who wanted to be free. They all came here to work together and make this country and our forefathers would be heartbroken to see this country blow itself up because of a few angsty people and a country that is self-centered and inconsiderate of their suffering neighbors. Last week, despite the bombing, I was proud to be an American. Patriotism has been scarce for the last few years, and the people’s pull last week brought it right back to the hearts of every loving citizen out there.

Finally, I would like to point out how Mr. Yost claimed that the United States “is not the greatest nation on Earth, but is certainly in the running for being named the most ignorant and stupid.” I’m sure I speak for a lot of people, in a much nicer and less vulgar way, when I say, “You’re wrong, Mr. Yost.” Yes, we do have some ﬂaws in our society, but remember, do not blame the entire bushel for the rotten apple.

response By Zach Yost Staff writer

I am very happy that there has been a response to my article from last week. Any dialogue at all is an improvement over silence when it comes to such important issues. I can assure everyone that I stand by what I said, and that everything was said in a spirit of fostering honest dialogue and making people think on the matter.

More articles online about America’s response to the Boston Bombing. merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion

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

May 1, 2013

Career Development Center disappoints By Alicia Cagle & Danielle Vaccaro

Editor-in-Chief & Staff writer

Although the Center for Academic Engagement (CAE) is only in its ﬁrst year of habitation, complaints have popped up from students and professors alike, especially as temperatures rise. It seems that the second ﬂoor and only the second has the odor of dirty socks. The CAE is an academic building, not a locker room, right?

Students have noticed prices and additional charges popping up at The Laker. Sauce prices are 75 cents and Cantina de Laker chips cost extra with certain specials, causing quite a few students to be upset – pretty chipped off, even. With many prices already pushing the limit of unreasonable, how much can Parkhurst really squeeze out of the students?

To compliment a quality education, I would expect a solid source of guidance when preparing for the future. As seniors, we are anxiously planning for our futures and hope to come out with great job prospects and skills. While the Career Development Center (CDC) has helped people, there are many instances where students ﬁnd themselves worse off than when they ﬁrst sought out help. Problems students have complained about include poorly done resumes, lack of organization and misinformation.

“I considered transferring because I was using resources from other universities for my career search,” she said. “Most universities assist students in placements at Capitol Hill — we don’t have a program.” If it wasn’t for a professor’s guidance, she would still be lost. Junior Emma Capps didn’t receive help when ﬁnding an internship, stating that they constantly forgot to get paperwork and then would force her to go ﬁnd it. Capps’ roommate and junior Chelsea Zakostelecky had similar problems. Those in Career Development left out crucial information about her internship, including that she had to pay to do the internship. Additionally, much of her internship paperwork was

forgotten by the ofﬁce. Zakostelecky found that there were “more excuses than answers” when it came to asking for help. Many students end up expressing the same sentiment, Career Development doesn’t care if you are not intel or hospitality. Friends, acquaintances and both of us have found that we have been better off helping ourselves than receiving help from the CDC. We all used to seek career assistance, but now we rely on our own hard work, professors and our family to acheive our goals. Hopefully the department can clean up their act so future Mercyhurst graduates are able to receive quality assistance.

Student expresses views on politics, religion By Nathan Turner Staff writer

When I was about 14, my father gave me the first rule of polite conversation: “Son, never ask anyone about their religion or their politics.” When I pestered him as to why, he told me, “You just don’t do it.” I believe that the phrase “Don’t ask about politics and religion” is a euphemism for “do not speak of what a man believes” because politics and religion are the ways someone expresses his beliefs. It is a rule for avoiding conflict in conversation, and I have found it to be about as pointless as mud flaps on a rowboat. I’ve actually found quite the opposite to be true. Some of the best conversations I’ve had have been about personal beliefs, and they’ve often been with people who disagree with me. I was told not to speak of these things in polite society; I have found that I should because then I will find who is not polite at all. It is through discussing my Catholicism or my conservatism that I have found people who,

Online

With the academic year coming to an end, students will ﬁnd plenty of reasons to put off studying for ﬁnals. This procrastination is aided by Spring Fest weekend quickly approaching.

Resumes are not well done. We have both used the resume templates provided outside of the Career Development ofﬁces. When Vaccaro heard back from one of the academic counselors, she received a sloppy, bulleted list format with very little detail included. Cagle’s experience was slightly different. She used the resume format provided by the CDC for classes and had professors review them. The response was always the same: the resume was not in an acceptable format. The problems don’t end here though, and we aren’t alone. Sophomore Zainab Javed considered transferring simply because of the support she was not receiving.

while claiming to see the virtue in all things, choose only to see the vices of everyone’s view but their own. For this disease, I have one diagnosis: lack of sunlight. It is natural for individuals to have differing views of the Bible, and of the Constitution; just as it is natural to have differing views of The Great Gatsby and the New York Times. What is unnatural and ineffective is to discuss the latter pair of texts vehemently, while ignoring the former pair with all of our strength. It seems that we have become so worried about not insulting another man’s opinion that we have forgotten to nurture our own opinions. The best way to nurture viewpoints, as with plant life, is to shed some light on them. Beliefs are like seeds. They start small and require care to grow. Sometimes, they are misplaced, like a rose in sand, and wither. That doesn’t mean the idea is automatically faulty, but maybe that its foundation is poor. That’s why it must be exposed to light and open air. More than anything, the biggest crime of an educated and polite society is not to merely misunderstand ideas, but to misunderstand why others believe in them. To not merely misunderstand the

Read more at merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion

plant, but to even misunderstand the soil in which it’s planted. It is bad sense to say a subject is off-limits to prevent inadvertently saying someone’s idea is laughable. If it is laughable, it should be called so. Maybe people should laugh, and the believer should laugh loudest of all. It is no shame to call something laughable. A man can only laugh at something which seems secure and harmless to him, not something which is dangerous. A man can easily laugh at a skyscraper because it is ﬁrmly set in stone; he cannot laugh at the Sword of Damocles because it dangles by a thread. The believer should laugh loudest because he is the most secure of all; if he cannot laugh, he should run before he ﬁnds himself hurt. If a man cannot laugh at something, it is because he is afraid of it, and a man should never place something he fears in his personal creed. Fear implies a lack of faith, and a man should be faithful to his beliefs. They should be as close and as vital to him as his own heart, and just as deadly to remove. Beliefs are vital to a man, and he should be proud of them. He shouldn’t hide them, but willingly speak them

when asked. The phrase “no comment” is a politician’s answer because it says nothing. They don’t give straight answers because they don’t wish to alienate voters. We’ve chosen to never discuss our personal beliefs because we don’t wish to alienate anyone as well. It’s like we’re all running for political ofﬁce and trying to get everyone to vote for us. It’s a waste. You learn about a man when he actually answers a question, and even if you don’t agree with him, you can respect his honesty. Whether a man shouts his support of gay marriage in front of the Westboro Baptist Church, or shouts his dissent of abortion in the middle of Planned Parenthood convention, he states his beliefs and goes to the grave an honest man. Despise what he says, but never despise him. Voltaire once said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” and I agree with him. There are many opinions and beliefs, each one carrying varying degrees of validity. They should all be heard, but they never will be if manners and politeness decree that we can’t speak of “politics and religion.”

Write for The Merciad, email editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu

SPORTS

May 1, 2013

Page 11 September 3, 2008

Van der Veer named to All-PSAC team By Samantha Bante Staff writer

Finishing up a college career is a bittersweet moment for any collegiate athlete, but senior Jorn van der Veer is ending his career with a proud moment to say the least. Van der Veer was named an AllPSAC selection in singles as announced on Friday April, 26. The senior from Hoofddorp, Netherlands adds this honor to his PSAC Champion Scholar Award he won last week prior to the latest Mercyhurst match against Kutztown at the PSAC Championships. Van der Veer has also maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his career as well. “Making the list in singles this year is a nice way to ﬁnish my career. It is great to see that the hard work and my results are being recognized by the league” van der Veer said. Being one of two seniors leaving the team this year, van der Veer has made a strong impact on the team throughout his scholastic career.

David Leisering photo

Senior Jorn van der Veer went 9-7 in singles, and 8-5 in doubles this season. “The team has struggled ever since I got here, because of various reasons. Although tennis is more individual than most college sports, it has always

been hard to see the team struggle like that. But I feel like the team is on the right track now. This season we did a lot better as a team than last year” van

der Veer said. Playing at No. 1 singles, van der Veer went 9-7 in singles competition during his 2012-13 season, and a 8-5

record in dual matches. “The biggest moment in my college career would probably be during my first year here, being only one win away from making it to the national tournament in doubles. Leaving the league as the Champion Scholar-Athlete and a three-time All-PSAC selection is definitely something that I will always remember,” van der Veer said. Van der Veer is finishing his career at Mercyhurst with a 26-27 record in singles and a 36-21 mark in doubles. He also has received All-PSAC selection in doubles twice, but this was his first postseason honor in singles. “I started playing tennis when I was six years old, and competing in matches has been an important part of my life ever since. I’ll miss having the opportunity to go out and compete, being able to do what I practiced for my whole life,” van der Veer said. The Lakers are ending their season with a record of 6-11, with their last game being at Kutztown University on Saturday, April 20.

Women’s rowing competes in CarDuPitt Regatta By Joe Chiodo Sports editor

Mercyhurst University men’s and women’s rowing teams had a rewarding weekend while competing in the Mid-America Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich. over the weekend. All in all, the Lakers snagged two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals on April 27 and April 28. Men’s rowing earned a gold medal in the morning, a bronze in lightweight 8+ competition, and ended the day with a bronze ﬁnish behind Michigan and Grand Valley State in the lightweight 4+. Women’s rowing received a gold

medal in novice 4+ play, and a silver medal in the ﬁnals, placing behind Grand Valley State. Prior to the weekend’s races, the Lakers competed in the prestigious CarDuPitt Regatta on April 20 against crews hailing from University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne. Conditions were intense for the CarDuPitt Regatta, with headwinds nearing 20 mph causing a vigorous current in the direction of the race. “Racing at the CarDuPitt was quite the experience. Race conditions were a little less than spectacular with strong headwinds and waves, and it made for some tough competition,” said Erin Burns. “It was discombobulating, but we had spent time this season rowing at Presque Isle with

similar conditions, which in the end we were all grateful for the experience.” Senior Jordan Herbert learned that the team can preserver through anything if they could handle the turbulent currents they overcame during the CarDuPitt Regatta. “The wind was very rough, which created a lot of waves in the water. It was what I imagine rowing in an ocean feels like. Luckily our team was used to rougher conditions,” said Herbert. “Overall, the team learned that we can handle whatever the elements throw at us, and that we work very well together in the lineups our coaches had us in that weekend.” Women’s rowing varsity four boat came in third behind University of

Pittsburgh and Duquesne. Their novice four boat grabbed a second-place ﬁnish just behind Duquesne. To end the competition, the Laker’s varisty eight ﬁnished second overall with a time of 8:22.4. “Overall, the race was a learning experience for us all. It was a reminder to us to keep our heads cool and in the boat, and to work together as a team,” said freshman Erin Burns. “When the water gets rough, rowing can get very hard and sloppy if you don’t stay focused. We learned to deal with the weather because we cannot change it, and to trust our coxswain to keep us on course.” Coach Adrian Spracklen has kept the women’s rowing team on direction towards another chance in the NCAA

Championship. “The racing conditions in Pittsburgh were less than ideal; the water was very turbulent and actually sank the University of Pittsburgh varsity eight boat at the finish line,” said Spracklen. “We have been reshuffling the line-ups in the eight and four boats to see if we can find the speed needed to get to our sixth consecutive NCAA Championship.” The Mercyhurst University men’s and women’s rowing teams will next compete in the Dad Vail Regatta on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.

Interested in writing sports? Pays $10 per article. Contact: sportsMerciad@mercyhurst.edu

SPORTS

Page 12

May 1, 2013

Women’s water polo Women’s golf ends 2012-13 season in style headed to CWPA Championship

By Lindsey Burke Staff writer

By Joe Chiodo Sports editor

The Mercyhurst Women’s Golf Team ﬁnished its 2013 spring season with a third place ﬁnish at the Gannon Invitational. The Lakers shot a combined 681 for the 36 holes. Junior Caitlin Kempton tied for sixth. Kempton scored a 169 (83-86) in the two rounds. Sophomore Gaelin Carrig tied for eighth with a combined 170. Sophomore Andrea Novoa and freshman Megan Finley tied for tenth with totals of 171. Freshman Emily O’Donnell shot 185. The Lakers will only lose two seniors to graduation, Andrea Carneval and Breda Knott.

On Saturday, April 20, junior Cailin Jope and senior Lisett Calderon of Mercyhurst University women’s water polo were named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division II Easter All-Tournament Team. “It’s always nice to be named to a tournament team. It lets you know your hard work paid off,” Jope said. During the CWPA Division II East-

ern All-Tournament’s two games, Calderon notched three steals, three goals and two assists. Additionally, Jope went on to score three goals. At an impressive 14-14 on the season, the Lakers are headed to Michigan this weekend for the CWPA Eastern Championship where they will face Bucknell University. “We try to focus on being a close team, and part of that involves drinking chocolate milk,” said Jope. “Going into this weekend we just want to play our hardest and ﬁnish successfully.”

“

The changing of coaches gave us a little lift in spirit. Coach Coleman worked with us on our swing and short game techniques while incorporating mental games and course management skills.

”

Gaelin Carrig Carrig acknowledges work in the off-season as being crucial to their success. “Over the winter we practiced golf evolution twice a week and that really helped everyone improve their short game” Carrig said. “During this time, the freshmen were able to become comfortable with college tournament style play.” Additionally, the team went through a coaching change from the fall season

Dave Leisering photo

Junior Caitlin Kempton drives one down the fairway. to the spring season. “The changing of coaches gave us a little lift in spirit,” said Carrig. “Coach Coleman worked with us on our swing and short game techniques while incorporating mental games and course management skills.” Carrig expects next year’s team to be very successful as well.

“Our team is looking very promising for the fall,” said Carrig. “Only graduating two seniors, we have a lot of talent coming back and the addition of freshman can help us grow.”

Brian Vail photo

Senior Lisett Calderon recorded three steals, three goals, and two assists in CWPA Division II Eastern All-Tournament play on Saturday, April 20.

Interested in writing sports? Pays $10 per article. Contact: sportsMerciad@mercyhurst.edu