Blues, dance and all that jazz Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center kicks off 15th season with big lineup
Vol.84, No. 2/9/15/10/Free
Read the story on Page 5
‘Hurst webmail migrates to mymail Page 2
Women’s hockey coach hospitalized Assistant coach Kristen Cameron, seen at right during the 2010 Frozen Four in Minneapolis, was injured Sunday night in a hit-and-run bicycle accident in Summit Township. She remains in serious condition at Hamot Medical Center.
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NEWS
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September 15, 2010
Mercyhurst webmail migrates to mymail By Kelly Luoma Managing editor
Mercyhurst College has made many online changes recently with the creation of the My.Mercyhurst portal and the Career Development Center’s CareerConnect Web site. By the end of next week, students’ e-mail accounts will change as well with the migration from webmail to mymail.mercyhurst.edu. With the creation of the mymail account, e-mails will change from user@mercyhurst.edu to user@ lakers.mercyhurst.edu. “We think it’s going to be an improvement for students,” System/Domain Administrator Lorraine Frownfelter said. Frownfelter discussed the ben-
efits of the switch to mymail. The new e-mail system “offers instant messenger and all of the resources of Windows Live,” Frownfelter said. The new account will hold 10 GB of e-mail rather than the 100 MB that the Mercyhurst e-mail account currently holds. Students will be able to send an e-mail with about 250 attachments as compared to the three-item limit which is the case with the current e-mail account. Not only will students be able to store more e-mail, they will receive less spam while actually receiving the mail they do want because it will not go through Mercyhurst filters, Frownfelter said. “I think it’s going to be a really good thing for the students,” Frownfelter said. “It offers them things we can’t give them.”
Besides the benefits that the Microsoft Outlook Live offers, students will benefit from the email change because they will have access to their mymail account after graduation. Before the e-mail switch, students had the same e-mail account from their freshman year to one year after they graduated. If they wanted a Mercyhurst e-mail account after this time period, they could obtain an alumni e-mail account. “By going to Live mail, basically the e-mail is lifetime,” Network Administrator Guy Di Pietro said. Not only will students not lose their e-mail accounts after graduation, they won’t lose their e-mail during the switch. Students’ e-mail folders migrate to their mymail account, and email sent to a user@mercyhurst.
edu address will be delivered to the user@lakers.mercyhurst.edu account. The deleted items and junk e-mail folders will not be moved. Students are not the only ones to benefit from the e-mail switch. Mercyhurst IT employees benefit because their workload will be simplified since they will have less accounts to administer, Di Pietro said. The migration for Mercyhurst Main campus will occur between Monday, Sept. 20, and Wednesday, Sept. 22. Last names beginning with the letters A-G will migrate on Monday, letters H-M on Tuesday and N-Z on Wednesday. Mercyhurst North East campus migrates on Tuesday, Sept. 28. “We don’t anticipate any major problems,” Di Pietro said. If the freshmen’s smooth transi-
tion to the new e-mail system is any indicator, students should not need to worry about the migration. Frownfelter said she did not receive any complaints from freshmen regarding problems accessing or using their mymail accounts. Students should have full access to their webmail accounts while their mail is being migrated, but there is a possibility of one day without email, according to Frownfelter. To access their accounts the first time, students will need to go to mymail.mercyhurst.edu and login with their full e-mail address. They will then need to answer security questions and set their default language. Students who experience problems during the migration can contact the HelpDesk or access help 24/7 from Windows Live.
Students find jobs Hockey team stunned by news of coach’s injury with CareerConnect By Tori Pepicello Contributing writer
Kristen Cameron, an assistant coach for the Mercyhurst women’s hockey team, remains at Hamot Medical Center after a hit-and-run accident Sunday evening left her with serious injuries. The accident occurred at 7 p.m. on Route 19 south of Interstate 90 in Summit Township. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Allen Francis Peters, 49, struck Cameron while she was riding her bicycle. Police said that Peters pulled over after the accident, checked the damage to his vehicle and fled the scene. Shortly after, police reported, a witness followed him to his home in Waterford Township and reported his location. He was later charged with 14 violations ranging from aggravated assault while driving under the influence to driving without an inspection sticker, police said. Cameron, a responsible athlete, was wearing a bike helmet at the time of the crash. Peters was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. A second year graduate student in the Organizational Leadership program at Mercyhurst, Cameron, 25, is a graduate assistant in the college’s anthropology department. She is a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada. She volunteered as the assistant hockey coach. Head Coach Michael Sisti sat the team down together Monday to break the news.
Since then, the team has not had any official practices. The women have been running their own practices and working off the ice as well, Sisti said. Cameron’s accident has come at a crucial time for the team. Mercyhurst will be hosting the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four in March and the team has a great shot at winning the national title at home. Since the accident, the team’s focus has shifted from becoming champions to championing for Cameron to get back on her feet as soon as possible. Sisti made it clear Tuesday that Cameron’s full recovery is both his and the team’s number one priority. Cameron is “such a great person,” Sisti said during a telephone interview. There are a lot of people pulling for her, praying and just hoping for the best, he said. The ’Hurst women’s hockey team was recognized nationally when the women played in the Frozen Four last spring and Cameron was very influential in making that happen, Sisti said. “The women are sad and shaken by what has happened and they realize Cameron’s recovery is going to take time,” Sisti said. People from all over are responding to news of Cameron’s accident, which was reported throughout collegiate hockey circles and publications. Sisti said he has received many phone calls, e-mails and text messages not only from members of the local and Mercyhurst communities, but from across the U.S. and Canada as well. “Kristen is a huge part of what we do here. It’s unfortunate that she was trying to be athletic and healthy and this had to happen,” said Sisti.
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By Alicia Cagle Staff writer
“How would you feel if you missed out on a great internship or job simply because you ignored a simple e-mail message?” Students received an e-mail last week that began with this question from Associate Director of Mercyhurst College Career Development Center Frank Rizzone. This e-mail informed students that the Career Development Center (CDC) launched their new Web site CareerConnect. CareerConnect is a way for students to interact with the CDC 24/7, according to Executive Director of Mercyhurst College Career Development Center Dr. Kyle Foust. Career Development Counselor Kristy Ciccarelli said that this Web site is a “one stop shop” where students can conduct job searches, upload resumes and be recruited for jobs. Senior Alex Falatovich has used the site to search for jobs. “One thing I am concerned about is how useful it will actually be at finding potential jobs as the search engine for job postings appears somewhat limited,” Falatovich said. “If it isn’t more comprehensive, it
won’t work as it’s just as easy to use LinkedIn, Monster or some other site. Overall, it’s a positive step forward and has potential.” The CDC is constantly finding new ways to make CareerConnect better for students. “It’s like a Christmas tree, and every morning we get a new gift,” Foust said. The driving force behind CareerConnect is for students to have a better way of being notified about internships, Foust said. This service is not just for upperclassmen. Freshmen and alumni can even access all the site has to offer, Ciccarelli said. The site includes videos about topics such as dressing for success and how to prepare for career fairs. In the month CareerConnect has been live, over 320 students have activated their accounts. Senior Toni Novello is one such student. “I love that as a student I can search for an internship or job opportunity in different cities and states within my discipline,” Novello said. To activate a CareerConnect account, log into myinterfase.com/ mercyhurst/student. From there, students can edit their profile, upload their resume and begin their job search.
September 15, 2010
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Textbooks listed online to save students money By Kelly Luoma Managing editor
Tyler Stauffer photo
Students have a greater opportunity to compare Mercyhurst Bookstore prices to online textbook prices with the online book list.
College students now have a greater opportunity to save money by comparing prices online before purchasing their textbooks. As part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, all colleges are required to post a list of the books required for every class. This law took effect on July 1. The book list for Mercyhurst College can be accessed by logging on to my.mercyhurst.edu and clicking on the Bookstore and Coffee Shop tab, which can be found under Campus Life. Once on the Bookstore and Coffee Shop tab, the book list is located on the left hand side of the page under Erie Book List. The information on the list includes the title of the book, the author, edition, ISBN, new price and used price. According to General Manager of the Mercyhurst College Bookstore Dan Cullen, the new law was created as a way to help students with cost.
“Book prices were getting out of control,” Cullen said. “What we try to do, the teachers try to do and Congress was trying to do is make things cheaper for the students.” Junior Amanda Kocent said, “I usually buy my books from the bookstore.” Now that she knows the book list is available, she said she plans to compare book prices online before deciding where to purchase her textbooks. Despite students having more of an opportunity to purchase textbooks from retailers other than the Mercyhurst Bookstore, Cullen doesn’t seem too worried about future sales. “Is it going to hurt sales?” Cullen asked. “I think it might temporarily,” he said. He added that students don’t always purchase their books from the Mercyhurst Bookstore and that students have been “swapping books for years.” Cullen then discussed ways in which he thinks will help get students to buy textbooks from Mercyhurst. Cullen said he thinks adding a checkout button online will steer
students to buy their books from Mercyhurst College if they can’t find them somewhere else. An online checkout button will allow students to add the books they want to purchase from the bookstore to an online shopping cart, and then they will be able to pick up the books they ordered at the bookstore. “We are trying to keep the prices down as best we can,” Cullen said. “We’re all about helping out the students.” One way Cullen plans on helping students is by not posting the book list too early. Due to staff changes, changes in the courses offered and teachers changing their mind about which books to use, Cullen said, “I’m trying to help out the students by not posting it too early. It just changes so often.” Even once the list is posted online, Cullen still advises students to wait as long as possible to purchase books. Aside from waiting to purchase books, Cullen warns students to be cautious about where they purchase their books from.
According to Cullen, a downside to the new law is that purchasing books online could make it difficult to return and the student can never be sure what condition their books will be in when they purchase them. Despite Cullen’s warnings about purchasing books online, students will most likely purchase their books from wherever they can get them the cheapest. Junior Meghan Hess said, “I used the bookstore list. I thought it was awesome I was able to compare prices online to see what’s cheaper.” After factoring in shipping costs to the prices of the books, Hess discovered her books were cheapest from the Mercyhurst College Bookstore.
Online Articles Webinar ‘takes the fear’ out of job searching Founder of school system begins yearlong event merciad.mercyhurst.edu/news
FEATURES
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September 15, 2010
An Erieite appetite: Raj Mahal’s Indian cuisine By Faye Clark Staff writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Price: Moderate Anyone who has gone through Mercyhurst’s Welcome Week has had the core values of the college drilled into their brains. We are told to be socially merciful, globally responsible, compassionately hospitable, intellectually creative, reflectively aware ambassadors of service. We are put on buses and sent across Erie to donate our time all over the community. We are encouraged to continue volunteering, and some of our classes require it. Service is an important part of that mission, but it isn’t the entire mission. At its core, we’re supposed to learn about not just the world we live in, but the community we are part of. We can’t help anyone if we don’t know who to help, and we can’t be responsible if we aren’t sure what we’re supposed to be responsible for. Traveling around the city of Erie and knowing what it has to offer, or just seeing the world beyond the window of your dorm room – all of that is essential to the college experience. Eating out is one way to achieve that goal. It gets you off campus and into the community. Raj Mahal on West 12th Street just off of I-79 is a small, buffet
style restaurant that serves authentic Indian food. Driving in, I was surprised by how full the parking lot was. The building itself is not showy, but it is still easy to spot on the right, heading west on 12th Street. Even though the place was busy, we were seated quickly and were able to go to the buffet right away. They served a type of flat bread called naan, and several varieties of chicken cooked with different sauces and dessert. It was not a gigantic buffet, but there was enough variety there to serve varying tastes. I have never been to an Indian restaurant before, and so I tried a little bit of everything. The chicken and vegetables were good, familiar and a little spicy. Chickpeas have an odd taste and texture to them,
something that takes a little getting used to. If you are sensitive to textures like guacamole or cottage cheese, I do not recommend them. Gulab jamun looks a little bit like doughnut holes that have been soaking in sugar water. I had no idea what they were, so I scooped up a few and stuck them on my plate, and they were delicious. They were very sugary and rich. I was not able to identify the spices in them at first, so the only way I could describe them was to say they tasted like Christmas. Later, we realized the spice was chai. For the adventurous or people who just want to try something new, Raj Mahal at 2740 West 12th Street is a great place to sit down and enjoy a meal with family or friends.
Quick facts about Mercyhurst Relay for Life: This year Mercyhurst is planning to complete a 24-hour relay. • Last year our goal was to raise $5,000. We raised $22,000. • Last year we were the second largest relay in Erie County. • This year we hope to do an International fundraiser and walk between the Mercyhurst campus and Dungarvan, Ireland.
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There is an information and sign-up meeting on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in Hirt 207 for those interested.
Teacher feature: Ms. Penny Hanes By Jennifer McCurdy Staff writer
Faye Clark photo
Though Raj Mahal looks very plain on the outside, the food proved to be a delicious, authentic Indian meal.
On Friday, Sept. 10, Ms. Penny Hanes celebrated her birthday by teaching classes. As the associate professor of business enters her 23rd year of teaching, she jokes, “I started at the age of 12.” Hanes spent half of her high school career on the first floor of Old Main, but for higher education she studied at Gannon University, earning her bachelor’s degree and MBA in accounting. She then worked in public accounting for three years and earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. She eventually returned to Mercyhurst. “When I came here, it was like coming home,” she said. Hanes teaches Principles of Accounting and Intermediate Accounting II and III. When asked about the future of accounting, Hanes said, “The United States is going to start using international standards.” She went on to explain that the U.S. currently uses a set of rules for accounting known as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This system differs from the more widely-used International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which makes comparing finances with other countries rather difficult. The change from GAAP to IFRS is controversial, and the changeover has already been delayed several times. However, the Walker School of Business has started to teach the system to accounting majors. Hanes would like students to know that accounting is not “as boring as they think it is.” She believes that many people think of it as black and white bookkeeping, but the field also consists of many gray areas and decisionmaking. The types of accounting jobs are also diverse. “When I graduated from college, I had six job offers,” Hanes said, “and they were all entirely different.” She chose a job that allowed her to travel across the United States. Now, however, she can remain stationary. “I just love it. I drive up that driveway every day, and I just smile.” Hanes’s greatest achievement of her career is the role she played in starting Christmas on Campus. She helped students to organize an annual event that helps deliver holiday cheer to underprivileged children in the Erie community.
September 15, 2010
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAC celebrates 15th anniversary By Kathleen Vogtle Staff writer
The history of Mercyhurst College is a multi-faceted entity; it can be felt through our affinity with the Sisters of Mercy, in the development of our curriculum and sports, to the evolution from female to coed and the widening expanse of our campus. This year, our history is felt particularly keenly through the arts, as the Mercyhurst Performing Arts aenter (PAC) celebrates its 15th Anniversary. “It has been a very long journey,” says PAC director Michael Fuhrman, “and there are great moments to remember.” Fuhrman describes the PAC as having mostly classical beginnings, although it did show some films and Irish music, which celebrated the roots and spirit of the college, while also being fun and traditional. Eventually, the focus moved away from a traditional repertoire to bring in more of the public. Fuhrman says this was the primary reason the PAC was built, so that the college and the community could connect. But what does this mean for the students, the PAC’s primary audience? Fuhrman describes the center as an “opportunity for students to see who they are and what excites [them] about life.”
The center’s role is to bring the world and all its cultures to the college; it is a great part of students’ educational experience. Aside from being a superior venue for students to experience the arts, the PAC is also one of the largest work study employers on campus, providing jobs for as many as 100 students. As ushers, these students attend the events. “They’re forced to experience things they’ve never experienced before,” Fuhrman says. The PAC is also actively reaching out to faculty, encouraging them to use performances as supplements to the classroom. This is a topic of particular importance. Fuhrman says, “the center is not only a tool that brings recognition on a national level, but also a vehicle to transform the student.” This year is testament to this goal. The season opens with Wynton Marsalis, a nine-time Grammy Award winner and a huge name in jazz internationally. In November, the PAC receives the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, a group which Fuhrman says is “just great fun.” The group plays everything from Nirvana to The Who, and has a type of “underground following.” But the extraordinary points is that they’re only playing three shows – here for the first time, Toronto, and then Carnegie Hall, which sold out in two days. In March is Complexions, a group which combines athlet-
ics, movement and dance in a way that is utterly spellbinding. In May, arrives the sensational Spanish Harlem Orchestra. This event is especially unique in that a ticket includes a pre-performance Gala, featuring Hispanic and Latin food, Latino music, and the PAC lobby lavishly decorated to the nines. And these are just the highlights. What’s coming up in the future? Fuhrman says they want to continue “to bring the very best artists from around the world,” and also structure greater relationships with the faculty so students can see what’s available. He also says the PAC would like to tap into the Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG). Fourteen to 15 years ago, a Beetles cover band performed homecoming weekend, in addition to the football game. Fuhrman called it a win-win situation, combining sports and entertainment, and allowing parents and students to enjoy and experience both sides of the community. For 15 years, the PAC has continued to evolve and prosper, providing unforgettable experiences for students, faculty and the Erie community. The excitement, dedication and passion of everyone involved, from the staff in the PAC offices to the performers themselves, is infectious and cannot be adequately described in words. You’ll just have to come experience it for yourself.
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Book details Facebook’s cloudy history By Alaina Rydzewski Staff writer
How many times have you checked your Facebook today? This week? Can you even put a number on the amount of times you have logged in only to find you have no new notifications because it’s the third, fourth or even fifth time you’ve logged in that day? In the week it took me to read, “The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal” by Ben Mezrich, I estimated I logged into my Facebook account approximately 50 times. Founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin never imagined that their “dorm-room creation” would ever get this far, according to the portrayal provided by Mezrich, a Harvard graduate who is also the author of “Bringing Down the House,” better known as the movie “21.” Valued today at over $15 billion, far surpassing its annual income of 150 million, Facebook had small beginnings, most of which is public knowledge. However, in this new release and soon-to-be motion picture, Mezrich strives to reveal a different side of the story, one which Zuckerberg himself refuses to comment on.
Facebook’s disputed cofounder, Eduardo Saverin, is the former best friend of Zuckerberg. “The Accidental Billionaires” traces the lives of Zuckerberg and Saverin from their minute beginnings to their scandalous ending, which involves Saverin suing Facebook and Zuckerberg after being ousted in 2008 in a lawsuit that is still raging today. Although many of the lesserknown details and people surrounding the start of Facebook are interesting, Mezrich’s informal and immature style of writing greatly detract from the wealth of information that he struggles to share. This results in a sometimes boring and slow moving plot. Nonetheless, this makes sense because this book seems to be a perfect fit for a movie, which releases Oct. 10. So if you’re looking for an entertaining and light book to read or movie to watch, this is a pick for you. The fact that Mezrich is a Harvard graduate does add to his credibility, as the descriptions of Harvard campus throughout the book are from a real student’s eyes and perspective. Hopefully it will provoke more appreciation for Facebook, as it took hard work and a couple of broken friendships along the way to get the site to where it is now.
PAC tickets give golden opportunity To help promote their 15th Anniversary, the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center have paired with Romalo Chocloates to create 1,000 unique chocolate bars. The real excitement though, is that in 15 of these bars have been placed golden tickets, redeemable for one free ticket to every PAC
event for the rest of the year. In this spirit, the PAC is also showing “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” starring Gene Wilder on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. The movie-inspired chocolate bars may be purchased for $3 at the box office, and at Romalo Chocolates.
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OPINION
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September3, 15,2008 2010 September
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Money allocation upsets upperclassman By Kathleen Vogtle A&E editor
Think back to your junior year of high school, or more specifically, that time when you were searching for colleges. I think I can say with absolute certainty that one of the foremost concerns on everybody’s mind, one with the power to make or break your final decision, was money: How in God’s name am I going to afford this? While at Mercyhurst, money never ceases to be a problem, and it probably becomes this insurmountable thing which seems impossible to conquer. I got here, but how am I going to afford to live here? ‘Affording’ now becomes not only monetary, but tangible as well. In paying tuition to Mercyhurst College, there are certain things we come to expect. These could be anything from a certain standard of
living to expectations of our teachers. Taking these expenses into consideration, I’m concerned when it feels as though this institution isn’t prioritizing its funds effectively. Take, for example, Warde Hall and the gates. Both projects were meant to further Mercyhurst’s goal of a higher freshman enrollment rate. However, did both of them need to be completed within a year of each other? I know a lot of upperclassmen were kicking and screaming last year after Warde was built, wanting to know why the freshmen – no offense meant – were living in a hotel-like environment. On the other hand, many of the returning students were falling sick because of mold in their apartments or unable to sleep because of bed bugs. The revamping of the gates also caused an uproar – they have been standing on campus since 1950, and even before this summer’s proj-
ect, they were still one of the most memorable features of campus. In my opinion, the gate project should have been postponed another year and the money used on more improvements in the upperclassmen living area. I know that much was done over the summer in terms of living conditions – the blue wall in our apartment is testament to that. However, there are still complaints of leaking faucets, broken stoves, doors that won’t close all the way, and the like. Improving freshman application numbers is important, but retention must be equally so, and I think many upperclassmen feel overlooked. What’s my advice? Ask students what they feel needs improved before the budget is planned, or at least make more transparent where the money is going and, more importantly, why it’s going there. At the very least, this will help ease some concern over money matters.
Political beliefs remain strong By Devin Ruic Staff writer
Last Saturday, our country remembered and mourned the loss of 3,000 countrymen and women. No one among us cannot remember where they were, who they were with, and what they felt that day. However, with nine years separating us from the tragedy of Sept. 11, we have become separated. Two presidential elections, two wars, and new political power players have set up boundaries between what makes each American like another – some on purpose, some by accident. There are the political labels that are often thrown around, but who looks into the actual meanings of these labels? ‘Conservative’ and ‘liberal’ mean different things for everyone that hears them. If you have read the Merciad for the last couple years, you likely know that I am considered the con-
servative writer. However, with all the different facets and degrees of political leaning, it makes little sense for me to uphold every conservative ideal. I believe in America – we are the land of the free, home of the brave, we strive to provide an equal opportunity to all of our countrymen and women, and we, as a country, keep working to improve the quality of life for ourselves as well as the world’s population. These are not simply ideals to me, but goals that are attainable and real. The words that became the basis for our society and our government are part of the soul of our country, and they should not be twisted for the benefit of any single group. Instead, they should allow for progress when an individual or group wishes to progress. Equality is equality for all, no more or less for the wealthy, poor, or middle class, and the protection of the Constitution is for all Americans. I have supported the invasion of both Afghanistan and Iraq, and
I still do. I believe that any man or woman who wishes to enlist in the military to protect our country should be able to, should they be physically and mentally capable. I think bailouts for corporations and banks are bad ideas no matter which president implements them, and they do not help us. I know that religious freedom and free speech are both guaranteed by the First Amendment, and a Burlington Coat Factory can be renovated into a chapel, Temple, Mosque or Cultural Center. I know just as firmly that the right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment, for law-abiding citizens, of course. I have an American flag in my bedroom, and I wake up every morning knowing that we can improve as a country. Feel free to disagree, and I welcome all debate – there are too many places where that would not be allowed. Welcome to, or back to, Mercyhurst College. My name is Devin Ruic, and I have my own political beliefs. You should too.
More Online... OPINION -- Stepping outside comfort zone Victoria Gricks talks about being adventurous in life.
OPINION -- Sports unite fans Mary Nolte explains why it is important to enjoy watching sports with family and friends.
MULTIMEDIA -- Farmer’s Market (video) Visit The Merciad online to see a video of what happens at Mercyhurst West’s Garden Project.
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If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen. Editors Ethan Magoc Kelly Luoma Alex Stacey Victoria Gricks Nick Glasier Kathleen Vogtle Samantha Williams Tyler Stauffer Ethan Johns Chrissy Mihalic Max Rivera Bill Welch Brian Sheridan
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The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. 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 e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
September 15, 2010
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Sports
September 15, 2010
Travis Rearick: the man behind the signs By D.J. Haurin Staff writer
In every sport, players and coaches are forced to find a way to communicate with one another, without the other team knowing what is happening. After careful consideration, many coaches chose to use signs as the primary way to communicate throughout the course of a game. Mercyhurst College football is no different. Looking on the sidelines during a Lakers offensive series, fans can see number 14 giving obscure signs to the offense. Is there a rhyme or reason to these signs, or are they just there to confuse the other team, and who is this number 14? This number 14 is redshirt junior Travis Rearick. Rearick has served his team as the back-up quarterback the last three seasons. He also aids his team as the play caller, giving signs during every
Ethan Magoc photo
Mercyhurst College football player junior Travis Rearick is the man behind the signs for the Laker offense. offensive series. After sitting down with Rearick, one can see exactly why and how
these signs come about. “The signs I give in the game are useful because they are quick and
meaningful,” Rearick said. This allows senior quarterback Garrett Kinsey to give the play to the offense in a quick manner in order to avoid a penalty. Although most of the signs are efficient, Rearick still finds some time to have some fun with them. “We love having fun with the signs, so sometimes we take what is convenient like making an L with my hand for left, or sometimes it’ll be funnier like giving myself wolf ears and lifting up my leg as if to pee for our sign for wolf formation,” said Rearick. ”I personally think that some things have to be funny in order to commit them to memory faster.” If anyone has seen a Mercyhurst football game in the last three years, funny is an understatement. Just look at the sidelines during an offensive series the next time you are at a game and you can see number 14 giving signs and having fun. Rearick’s not limited to play calling, he also helps out the team in
any facet he can. After each series, he has a one-on-one with Kinsey to help him make better reads or to point out something that he may have noticed. “After a series, Garrett will usually come off and talk to coach (Marty Schaetzle) and then to me to try and see if he missed any open routes, or maybe what the backside of a play looked like,” Rearick said. Perseverance and dedication to his teammates convinced Rearick to stick around the last four years, always being the backup. “I felt a loyalty to my friends and teammates here at the ‘Hurst. Transferring wouldn’t have solved anything,” Rearick said. Saturday, the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season to Kutztown University 35-14. Rearick continues his act on Homecoming Weekend, Saturday, Sept. 25, against Lock Haven University. Be sure to check out the sidelines for number 14 when Mercyhurst has the ball.
Field hockey stays optimistic despite losses By Nick Glasier Sports editor
The Mercyhurst College field hockey team started off the season on a low note, with a 1-4 start. The Lakers recently went win-less in their first two-game home stand, falling to Millersville University 4-2, and Bellarmine University 2-1. Despite the results, the Lakers have been looking at the little successes from each game and are seeking to improve. “We are on track for success,” said head coach Stacey Gaudette, “We have a set list of goals for ourselves this year and everyone is working to improve.” The Lakers have various objectives for themselves this year, such as scoring a goal in each game and having a certain amount of corners per game. “From someone looking at us from the outside they may not see it, but we feel that we are improving in a number of different areas,” Gaudette said.
Junior Serena Slattery has certainly bought into this positive attitude. “I feel like we are right on track to accomplishing our goals. We are getting there a little bit at a time but we are really building up to being good,” Slattery said. Despite some of the struggles there have been some early bright spots on the field hockey team. One of these positives has been freshman Meghan Smith. Smith scored the lone goal on a breathtaking arching shot, which landed right behind the goalie, for the Lakers in their 2-1 defeat Monday at the hands of Bellarmine. More impressive was that the play was specifically designed for Smith, already showcasing her immense talent. If the Lakers look to turn their season around, they will need to continue to keep their positive attitude and hope these flashes of young talent are more than aberrations.The Lakers next play Sept. 18 at Shippensburg University.
Ethan Magoc photo
Freshman defenseman Kellie Avery passes the ball up the field in the Lakers’ 4-2 loss to Millersville University.