The Merciad, October 24, 2012 by The Merciad

The Merciad

No means no

PHOTOS BY ZACH DORSCH

ONLINE POLL RESULTS

One student tells her story Page 2

Sullivan speaks about rape Page 9

Domestic Violence Month Page 5

Pass me a sheet and call me a ghost. 27%

Whatever is in my closet will become a costume. 35%

I lack creativity, I’m buying one. 12%

I’m going provocative. 27% Total votes: 26

NEWS

Page 2

October 24, 2012

When she says ‘no’ and he says ‘yes’ What women should do when confronted with sexual violence By Alicia Cagle News editor

She tried every excuse, but he saw through them all. She felt like she had no choice but to go up to his room. He started to make moves on her. “No further,” she insisted. “No further.” But he didn’t listen. Mercyhurst student Jane Doe* was a victim of sexual coercion. One in four women on U.S. college campuses have had unwanted sexual intercourse, but it is frequently kept a secret, according to the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Mercyhurst University Counseling Center Social Worker Michelle Tobin explains that most victims of sexual violence don’t usually speak up about it because they think it is their fault. She said that approximately ﬁve people a year come in immediately after the incident and approximately 20 talk to the counselors about an incident happening at some point while a student at Mercyhurst. “Then there are the ones who don’t report it,” Tobin said. Doe is one person who was able to seek help.

Doe’s experience started as an average Friday night at the Cornerstone. She had some drinks, but not enough to get drunk. Doe saw a guy at the bar that she was acquainted with and decided to talk to him. They talked and after a while she decided to go home. He offered to walk her back to her apartment. Next thing she knew, she was outside his building on campus and being pressured to go see his place. She ran out of excuses and felt she had to go with him. “I told him that I didn’t want to have sex with him, but apparently that didn’t matter,” Doe said. She kept saying no, but he kept going further with her. He had his way and completed a sexual act. Eventually, she left his apartment. “He knew he could convince me after I said no,” said Doe. “He made me feel like I owed him something.” She explained that in the days that followed she at ﬁrst felt guilty and upset with herself, but after going to the Counseling Center she realized it wasn’t her fault, and she became angry that he went that far. “It’s not always going to be a guy with a knife,” said Doe. “It could be a friend who doesn’t know what ‘no’ means.” She reported her incident to a res-

ident assistant (RA) and she pursued her case, but nothing came of it.

Mercyhurst’s obligation Women in college – and at Mercyhurst – have options when something like Jane Doe’s incident occurs. According to Mercyhurst’s Compliance Ofﬁcer and Title IX Coordinator, attorney Meredith Bollheimer, when word of a sexual crime is reported, it is the university’s job to investigate.

“

It’s not always going to be a guy with a knife. It could be a friend who doesn’t know what “no”means

”

Jane Doe

Title IX is a piece of federal legislation that sets out rules that colleges and universities must follow when it comes to gender and sex discrimination on campus. One of these areas is focused on sexual violence. While Pennsylvania state law deﬁnes types of sexual violence and their punishments differently, under Title IX, Mercyhurst treats all types of sexual

violence the same. These types of sexual violence include rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion. Doe’s case is best described as sexual coercion. Bollheimer explained that the university only needs a “preponderance of the evidence” in order to reprimand the offender. Every case is done on a case-bycase basis, Bollheimer said, but the “presumptive sanction” for someone found guilty of any type of sexual violence is expulsion. If a victim wants to press charges, the case should go to Police & Safety or to Erie Police. Otherwise, according to Director of Residence Life Alice Agnew, if a case is to stay on campus it is the job of Residence Life to investigate it. If a victim drops the case, according to Title IX the university has an obligation to continue the investigation. Acknowledging a sexual assault is an important step for a victim. “Come in and talk to someone,” said Tobin. “It’s just like any other traumatic event.” She added that, like any other traumatic event, mental side effects can occur such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and acting out. “Don’t be responsible for ruining someone’s college experience,” said Tobin. “If she says ‘no’ one time, don’t

ask again.” In Doe’s case, nothing happened to the male even though college ofﬁcials did become aware of the incident through other sources. She didn’t pursue it because she was more afraid of what would happen if it got back to the male who caused the problem. “It does bother me a little bit,” said Doe. “I do warn my friends about it in case he or anyone else tries to pull something.” Name was changed to protect identity of innocent. Caitlin Handerhan contributed to this article.

If it happens to you, contact: • • • •

• •

Erie Police Department, (814) 870-1125 Your RA Police & Safety, (814) 8242304 Title IX Coordinator attorney Meredith Bollheimer, (814) 824-3363 Counseling Center, (814) 824-3650 A counselor is always on call even when the Counseling Center is closed

Defining Sexual Violence While Mercyhurst University treats all types of sexual violence the same, the Pennsylvania Criminal Code defines them differently. In a Pennsylvania Court, a perpetrator will be prosecuted differently depending on the offense.

Sexual assault Committed when a person engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a complainant without the complainant’s consent.

Rape Committed when a person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant: • By forcible compulsion, • By threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution, • Who is unconscious or where the person knows that complainant is unaware that the sexual intercourse is occurring, • Where the person has substantially impaired the complainant’s power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, drugs, intoxicants or other means for the purpose of preventing resistance, • Who suﬀers from a mental disability which renders the complainant incapable of consent.

The Pennsylvania Criminal Code does not define sexual battery or sexual coercion; however by other state governments they are defined as follows: Sexual battery Intentional touching of the anus or genitals of the victim by the offender using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the offender, or the touching of the anus or genitals of the offender by the victim using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the victim, when any of the following occur: • •

•

The offender acts without the consent of the victim. The act is consensual but the other person, who is not the spouse of the offender, has not yet attained fifteen years of age and is at least three years younger than the offender. The offender is seventeen years of age or older and

•

the following exist: The act is without consent of the victim, and the victim is prevented from resisting the act because either of the following conditions exist: The victim has paraplegia, quadriplegia, or is otherwise physically incapable of preventing the act due to a physical disability. Or the victim is incapable, through unsoundness of mind, of understanding the nature of the act, and the oﬀender knew or should have known of the victim’s incapacity.

Sexual coercion Act of using pressure, alcohol, drugs or force to have sexual contact with someone against his or her will. It’s persistent attempts to have sexual contact with someone who has already refused. Coercion includes: • Verbal pressure: Begging, ﬂattery, name calling, arguing, lying or misleading • Social pressure: Peer pressure or threat of social isolation • Emotional pressure: Taking advantage of trust or intimacy in a relationship, threatening the loss of the relationship, making one feel guilty

NEWS

October 24, 2012

Page 3

MSG forum discusses good, bad, ugly on campus By Juan Mendez Staff writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) presented the first of three forums planned for the school year, focused on the theme of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Students were given the opportunity to submit questions and concerns of any nature to the student government, who served as a panel for the forum. Although the event had a low student turnout, MSG helped answer the questions of those few in attendance, which tackled very important issues, ranging from difficulties with the LakerVapor wireless network to the condition of residential areas. Even though the transition to the 4-1-4 system was brought up, the executive board is preparing a forum during the winter term specifically to discuss the topic, given that there are still details that need to be worked on. MSG opened the forum for their elected senators to discuss what their committees are doing for the community. Such projects include increasing the students’ school spirit by hosting events, involving the students more in the execution of said events and other projects toward sustainability and improving the residence life experience.

Mercyhurst University Police & Safety

Kyle Briggs photo

MSG addressed students’ problems on campus at “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” forum. The executive board for the Student Activities Council (SAC) also attended to give updates on what they have planned for the upcoming weeks, as well as take suggestions from the students on what they can do next. A point that MSG emphasized on is the opportunity forums like these present to the students, as they “need to keep coming forward to the authority to get their voice heard.”

Police Log

Saturday, Oct. 13 Harassment 611 E. 38th St. State citation issued

Saturday, Oct. 20 Liquor law violation Lot #4 Referred for discipline Monday, Oct. 22 Possession of controlled substance 3808 Briggs Ave. Referred for discipline

MSG President Richard Molloy said, “Next forum, we are coming to the students instead, for the purpose of mass effect.” Ideas discussed include moving the forum to Egan Dining Hall, a more crowded scenario. “We hung posters up, we invited people via Facebook; I’m not sure if it’s apathy from the students or if there are better ways to communicate with them,” Molloy said. Vice President Brian Lombardo thinks that with the implementation of forums, students would take advantage of the chance to express their concerns. “The biggest thing is to make sure that the students have exposure, which is why we give them the opportunity to come talk to us about their concerns,” he said. Students were appreciative of the event, which gave them the chance to be heard. Sophomore Brendan Mortimer agreed. “Events like this give us the chance to be heard; it’s great that we have the opportunity to talk to MSG about what changes we want to see in the school,” he said. “People should take advantage of this, because most just complain about what goes on in school, but don’t tell anyone in power about it,” said Mortimer. “With events like this, they get the chance to say it to the student government instead.”

Students examine Presque Isle sucralose levels By Kierston Bromley Staff writer

Mercyhurst Assistant Professor of Chemistry Amy Parente, Ph.D., and several students are investigating levels of a chemical known as sucralose in water in the Great Lakes region at Presque Isle. Sucralose is used as an artiﬁcial sweetener in many products including diet soda and candy. It is similar enough to sucrose, or sugar, that the body treats it as sugar, but the three chlorine groups it contains makes the body unable to digest sucralose. This means that sucralose comes out of the body as it goes in and is released into the environment. According to research, sucralose does not seem to be harmful to humans as it does not build up in the human body. However, because it is released into the environment and particularly the water system, the effect there is less well known. One concern is that increasing sucralose levels in lake water at Presque Isle may affect foraging habits of the organisms that live there. “One concern about increasing sucralose levels in the lake water is that it can provide a false signal for nutrient availability,” said Parente. “This can result in (food-seeking) behavior by aquatic organisms that rely on taste to determine the amount of food in their environment which can have negative implications on their reproduction and ability to survive.” Parente and the students are con-

cerned that there has been too little study on the effects of sucralose in water levels. “In the spring we found approximately 150 parts per trillion in Lake Erie,” junior Gregg Robbins-Welty said. One of the main reasons they applied for a grant to continue testing waters at Presque Isle is that they have, as of yet, only tested beach water. “There are literally hundreds of substances that have limited negative impact from a human standpoint because they are eliminated from our bodies,” said Parente on the lack of research existing about the environmental effects of sucralose. “This means they are introduced into the environment without significant modification and are polluting our aquatic ecosystems.” The group is currently trying to find better techniques and methods for detecting sucralose and also expand their testing area. Parente wishes to look into water samples coming into treatment plants and samples going out into Lake Erie for presence of the chemical as well. “I am excited that my senior research project is one that may help preserve the environment locally,” senior Juliane Harmon said. Parente agrees with Harmon, citing a quote from Dr. Seuss. “Dr. Seuss summed it up best in saying: ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not,’” Parente said. The study is on-going as Parente and the students continue to test for sucralose and its potential negative effects on the environment at Presque Isle.

NEWS

Page 4

October 24, 2012

News Briefs

Exercise to test emergency response Police & Safety will be testing the campus’s emergency response Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning at 9 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. According to Chief of Police & Safety Robert Kuhn, this is a multi-agency emergency response drill that is a step forward from the table top exercises over the past couple of years. The Carolyn Herrmann Student Union and the Center for Academic Engagement will be used for the drill. This exercise will take place outside. Agencies involved in the exercise include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Erie Bureau of Police, Erie Fire Department, HazMat, Erie Country 911 Center, Erie International Airport Police bomb dog and handler. Volunteers from Residence Life will assist in the exercise. Police & Safety want students to be aware that this is just an exercise, but will look very real.

Sarah Hlusko photo

The ofﬁce of Mercyhurst University President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D., was used for the independent ﬁlm, “The Underground Railroad.”

Mercyhurst appears in independent ﬁlm By Jaslyne Halter Staff writer

Walking through the halls of Old Main or Warde Hall last week, you may have unknowingly encountered a film crew. This production company is a local company called About the Logo, Llc., and they are using Mercyhurst University as a part of the set. The production company is also using different locations in North East, Girard, Presque Isle and the Erie community. Inspiration for the film comes from the author/director, Tom Fox-Davies’ trip to Erie. Fox-Davies was an actor in About the Logo, Llc.’s first film, “Homecoming” and was then invited by the producers to visit Erie. As a native from England, he was inspired by this part of American history and wrote the film. Under the working title “The Underground Railroad,” the film takes place in modern day America, on a college campus.

A girl named Sam applies for an internship in a prestigious law firm; however, another student named Tarquin applies for the same internship and when Tarquin finds that out, he starts using his father’s influence and money to “buy” his way into the law firm. Sam issues a challenge to Tarquin by saying that she bets that she can make it to Canada using only ways of transportation that would have been available during times of the Underground Railroad, from 1840 on. She and her friend Jake set off for the journey while Tarquin uses social media to create hype and even offers $15,000 to any person who catches Sam. Erie native Tim Larson is executive producer of “The Underground Railroad.” “Erie has an interesting history with the Underground Railroad,” said Larson. “One of the first federal lawsuits that occurred to stop the Underground Railroad happened in Erie.” Larson said that he hopes for audiences to learn about the history of the Underground Railroad and of course

to entertain. “This is an ultra-low budget film; crews and actors are paid at a lower wage and are doing the film for the love of acting and the story,” Larson said. “I never liked the philosophy of going into a town and taking it over for filming, but Erie has been very supportive as a community,” said co-producer Phillip Matarrese. “Mercyhurst is beautiful and had the look fit the role of a fictional Ivy League campus.” “The Underground Railroad” is one of several films completed by About The Logo. Two of their films, “Best Friends Forever” and “Up Country” are currently on the festival circuit. The company’s first film, “Homecoming,” is scheduled for distribution in the near future. In recent years, About the Logo films have taken “Best Picture” and “Best Actress” awards at film festivals. The film is set to hit the independent film scene in late 2013 and early 2014.

Cell phone drive beneﬁts SafeNet The Criminal Justice Club and Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society, are holding a cell phone drive for SafeNet as a part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. SafeNet is a local agency that works to prevent domestic violence, programs old cell phones so they can dial 911 and provides them to its clients. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to donate broken, outdated or unused cell phones. Cell phones can be dropped off in collection boxes located in the registrar’s ofﬁce, the chapel foyer, Campus Ministry, Cohen Health Center, DocuCenter, Egan Dining Hall and Hammermill Library. Chargers and accessories should be rubber banded or bagged with the correct phone. SIM cards should be wiped or removed before donating. The cell phone drive will continue until the end of October. For more information, contact associate professor of criminal justice Maria Garase, Ph.D., at (814) 824-3675.

Community Blood Bank and Rotaract Club host blood drive The Community Blood Bank and Mercyhurst University Rotaract Club are hosting a blood drive Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union Great Room. Donors should be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Those interested in donating cannot have received a tattoo or piercing in the last 12 months. All who donate will receive coupons for free food from Tim Hortons located at 38th street and Pine Avenue. Donations beneﬁt local patients and accident victims. For more information or questions about eligibility, call the Community Blood Bank at (814) 456 4206. All information is conﬁdential.

FEATURES

October 24, 2012

Page 5

Mercyhurst brewing begins By Derek Smith

Contributing writer Like it or not, alcohol is an integral part of collegiate life. While many may see a negative connotation of drinking, not all of those who consume the drink are only interested in its effect. Drew Spacht is a brewer of beer, and is looking for beer enthusiasts for a Beer Appreciation club. The club would require aspiring members be at least 18 years old, and have an appreciation for the art of beer, not just the consumption. Spacht has a history in beer. His grandfather owned a beer distributor, and his father taught him how to brew the beverage. His father not only gave Spacht the skill of making the drink, but also his appreciation for it. “I learned [brewing] from my old man,” Spacht said. One of Spacht’s newest creations, the ’Hurst Pale Ale, is a Mercyhurst inspired American pale ale, with an Irish character to it. However, Spacht is not the only brewer on campus. In fact, senior

Sarah Hlusko photo

Spacht and his father work together to make their own beer. intelligence major Thomas Frank has entered his beer in several competitions, with most recent achievement placing second in the Southern New England Regional Competition. Frank taught himself how to brew by reading online and in books. Frank, however, was inspired by family visits to breweries around the country.

He is also trying to become a certiﬁed beer judge. How beer is judged at competitions is set by guidelines such as the style of beer, aroma and other characteristics. This allows for the beer to be judged fairly, attempting to cut out personal preference as much as possible. Spacht and Frank are working to create a club for people like them, those who have a more than just an interest for beer. Spacht gave his idea for candidates and said, “What I would really hope people have if they want to join this club is a respect, an appreciation and even so far as a passion for beer.” Members of the club would be involved in brewing beer, learning the history of beer and possibly the sharing of recipes. Mercyhurst would not be the ﬁrst university to have a club like this, schools such as Rutgers University and Richmond University in London have clubs of the same style. However, Spacht outlined some possible rules for the club. The legal age, as of the interview, to brew beer is 18; although members of the club while able to produce the

October sheds light on domestic violence By Danielle Vaccaro Contributing writer

Have you noticed the conspicuous purple footprints around campus? City Hall, Gannon, local high schools, and Mercyhurst placed these footprints for people to become aware of the Purple Footprints initiative, one of many programs SafeNet has started in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which runs through October. SafeNet, a local non-proﬁt organization, has been working throughout Erie to educate people and spread awareness on domestic violence. Though they work year-round providing counseling, education and care to victims, they have used this month to spread the word on the many programs and services they offer and shed light on a serious issue. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. It is consid-

ered one of the most underreported crimes in the country and can leave substantial impacts on a victim for the rest of their life. SafeNet’s programs provide many services for these victims of domestic violence who need assistance. The organization runs an emergency shelter for any woman, man and child escaping domestic violence, giving them 30 days to get back on their feet and benefit from counseling and other services provided. Additionally, SafeNet provides services for young moms between the ages of 16-21 through the TLC Program. Whether or not they are victims of domestic violence, this program provides services for these young mothers to earn a high school degree or work toward a program in a specific field of work. SafeNet also provides a Bridge Housing program, allowing those who need extra time to stay anywhere between one to two years while completing life skills programs that will benefit them after leaving. Rachel Brown, a graduate from the

class of 2012, has become actively involved with SafeNet since her time at Mercyhurst. Brown’s work with SafeNet began her freshman year at Mercyhurst, when she completed an internship with the organization for her social welfare minor. She decided that was where she wanted to be after graduation. As part of the outreach support staff, her duties include creating outreach events for Erie campuses and young adults, counseling, and organizing conferences and other events to raise awareness for domestic violence. “Working directly with survivors has shown me the huge difference that social services can make in people’s lives, helping them to get through life’s hardships and come out on the other end,” said Brown. For more information on SafeNet and their programs, please visit www. safeneterie.org. Students who need assistance for domestic violence can go to the Counseling Center or call the conﬁdential SafeNet Crisis Hotline at (814) 454-8161.

drink would not be able to consume what the club makes until they reach the legal alcohol consumption age. Spacht would also like for the club to be sustainable. This means the club would recycle any materials they can, trying to limit unnecessary cost. Another important issue is future leadership. While he is willing to lead the club in its ﬁrst year Spacht is graduating this

year, and needs future members to be willing to become leaders in the years after he leaves. While the founders have a clear vision of what they would like the club to be, they still need the support of the student body to make this a reality. Students and staff interested should email Spacht at dspacht93@lakers.mercyhurst.edu or contact him on Facebook.

Sarah Hlusko photo

Spacht poses with lastest batch of the ’Hurst Pale Ale.

FEATURES

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Business Club hosts event Get into graduate school By Abigail Robinson Staff writer

What options do you have upon graduation? You can get a job or go to graduate school. With the job market the way it is, many students are considering the latter option. Wednesday, Oct. 17, the Business Club at Mercyhurst put on a program to help students “Get Into Grad School.” What many students don’t know about Mercyhurst is it has “articulation agreements” with various graduate schools. If you take certain high level courses and receive a grade of ‘A’ or ‘B’ in the class, you can waive those credits upon admission to grad school. All of the graduate schools that have these articulation agreements with Mercyhurst allow you to waive up to 18 credits which means most students would be able to receive their master’s degree in one year. This is very helpful for many students who do not have the ﬁnancial means to put themselves through another two years of school, or for those who are just excited to be entering the workforce. Mercyhurst has had success with these articulation agreements, with many graduates choosing to complete

their master’s program at one of these schools. Representatives from Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Syracuse University and Penn State Behrend were at the event to offer insight into their various master’s programs. Also present that evening were representatives from Pennsylvania State University’s Behrend Campus Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and Mercyhurst University’s Organizational Leadership program, who offer an MBA program with concentrations in human resources and accounting. Mercyhurst’s Organizational Leadership Accounting programs prepare students to sit for their certiﬁed public account (CPA) exam and have a 100 percent pass rate, which is rare in MBA programs. This was the third year that the Business Club has hosted this event, and there were about 55 students in attendance. The representative from Penn State Behrend, who is also a Mercyhurst alum, Sam Lopez class of 2012, shared his application process, and pointed out that all of these schools give Mercyhurst students the advantage when reviewing applications, or even when looking at scholarships and graduate assistantships.

Sarah Hlusko photo

Lee Belovarac, Ph.D. speaks at the Oct. 17 Business Club event.

Lopez graduated from Mercyhurst with a bachelor degree in accounting and ﬁnance and will be completing his MBA at Behrend in one year, with a graduate assistant position in the graduate admission department. Kyle Foust, director of the Center for Career Development (CDC), provided information to students about creating a resume and portfolio, as well as information about taking the GMAT, GRE and LSAT exams. The Pre-Law society attended the event to give tips about applying to law school and taking the LSAT exam. Foust stressed that the CDC is a resource that should be utilized by all students for help with job placement, internship placement and more. “The purpose of this event is to inform our students about these agreements, since courses taken and grades earned are what will enable you to take advantage of our agreements,” said Lee Belovarac, Ph.D. assistant professor of business and adviser for the Business Club. To apply you must write a personal statement, provide your transcripts, take an entrance exam and list any extracurricular activities that you have been involved in. Many students are currently going through the application process and Belovarac has advice to deal with the stress. “These schools are looking for well rounded individuals,” Belovarac said. Belovarac and many of the school representatives stressed meeting with an admissions counselor, and having a personal interview so they can get to know more about you, rather than what they see on paper. The Business Club will be offering trips to some of these graduate schools during the spring term, where you can tour the campus and schedule an interview. In addition, the Business Club will be hosting an event on Monday, Dec. 3, about doing business internationally, with comments from our international students, followed by the annual Christmas party. If you missed this event talk to someone at the Center for Career Development for more information about graduate school.

October 24, 2012 September 3, 2008

Hurst to Haiti: Ice breakers and cultural differences Senior Caitlin Handerhan enjoyed blogging about her Haiti trip. My first few days interning with Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB) have been going quite well. A charming office staff and excellent leadership have made me feel right at home already, and I am very satisfied with the tasks I have been given. One of my first tasks to be completed before we depart for Haiti on June 4, is to organize a leadership seminar for female students. In Haiti, MBB does not run a school, but provides scholarships for top scoring girls to continue their education. Without the funding, few girls in developing nations are able to continue education past the sixth grade, if at all. Female empowerment in a patriarchal society is a mission of MBB, and one way to help combat female oppression is to educate the next generation of female leaders. While my knowledge and work with the culture in Haiti is limited as of now, I have Contributed photo come to realize the differences between Four hours north of the myself and the Haitian girls who are relacapital, Mercy Beyond tively the same age as me.

Borders funds girls to Even on such a small scale such as orga- continue their educanizing a leadership seminar, a task I thought tion.

was going to be very easy, must be culturally sensitive. When planning activities for the girls, I am realizing I cannot do ice breakers which would require the respondent to answer something like “What is your favorite movie?” or “What was the best vacation you took?” because these things are an impossibility in Haitian life. When assigned this as one of my tasks as an intern, I immediately thought back to the summer camps, group activities, orientations and training sessions I have attended that required the obligatory ice breaker session or two. Most activities I originally brainstormed to use have been deemed slightly too culturally “ﬁrst world” to be used. I haven’t even set foot in Haiti yet, and the reality check being delivered to me is immense. In recalling her previous visits to Haiti and South Sudan, Sister Marilyn conveyed to me a school system where learning is taught by the instructor writing on the board, with students reading the phrase aloud and copying into their notebooks. Her impression was that not much is done for “fun” and school days, while supremely valuable, are not geared toward exciting the students and inspiring their empowerment. The idea to run a week long leadership conference came from this assessment. It is Sister Marilyn’s experience that anything outside of the normal school day would be beyond thrilling for the girls. While I tend to dread the hand holding of the human knot or other ice breakers I am forced into, these girls respond with the utmost enthusiasm. Even though my ﬂight from Miami to Port-au-Prince will only be 60 minutes, I am just beginning to get a grasp of how much of a world away I will be. I am so excited to travel to Haiti and to experience, learn and appreciate a culture so different from our own. Stay tuned to learn more about Caitlin’s trip to Haiti in upcoming columns.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 24, 2012

Page 7

‘Eerie Halloween’ features ‘Hurst talent By Mathew Anderson A&E editor

The D’Angelo Opera Theatre at Mercyhurst University and the Erie Art Museum are combining their artistic resources to present “An Eerie Halloween,” a truly unique Halloween event celebrating music, art and the macabre. Designed to appeal as much to the opera aﬁcionado as the party animal, it debuts the evening of Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. with guided gallery tours at the Erie Art Museum (enter on E. 5th Street between State and French), with special attention to exhibits that include sculptures made of “strange” materials and works in a variety of media that fool the eye with powerful illusions. Guests are encouraged to arrive at the art museum in costume, for which prizes will be awarded later, and enjoy a reception with assorted sandwiches and Halloween-themed desserts provided by Mercyhurst’s hospitality stu-

dents. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Then at 8:30 p.m., the D’Angelo Opera Theatre will present Gian Carlo Menotti’s thriller-opera, “The Medium.” The story centers on Madame Flora (Lynn Dula), an alcoholic grifter who uses her children to perpetrate cons on vulnerable clients, including parents who have lost children. After a while, the woman herself begins to hear voices and other inexplicable sounds. Directed by D’Angelo Department of Music Chair Louisa Jonason, an opera singer and stage director with international credentials, “The Medium” also stars Devon Meddock as Madame Flora’s daughter and Adam Ferrari as the mute servant boy. The fully staged production with costumes, lighting and a small orchestral ensemble will unfold in the art museum’s beautiful performance space. Current students and graduates of the D’Angelo Department of Music will provide the vocals.

Upcoming arts events: Langer Film Series: The Intouchables Friday, Oct. 26 at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m. Beyond Words II Friday-Sunday, Oct. 26-28 $5 preview, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at 2 and 7 p.m. Oct. 28 2 p.m.

Online

Bob Woodward Lecture Monday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

Jonason said the goal of the collaboration is to introduce the art museum to those of the Erie community who may not have chosen to go without the enticement of a party and musical performance. Also, conversely, to expose museum-goers to an opera performance they may not have elected to see independently. “Mystery and illusion are regular highlights of art history,” said Art Museum Director John Vanco, “But so are superstition and fraud. Menotti’s little opera blends them all very enjoyably.” “An Eerie Halloween” is free and open to the public, although a $15 donation is suggested. Among the prizes for “best costume” will be a year’s membership to the museum, tickets to the Visiting Artists Series at Mercyhurst’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and a gift certiﬁcate from Glass Growers. For more information about the opera production, contact Jonason at 814-824-2365. For more information about the museum, call 814-459-5477.

Lumen now open for submissions

By Alejandra Zeron Staff writer

The Mercyhurst University English Department is resuming its annual tradition of the Lumen creative arts magazine by urging students to submit their own creative works. Lumen is a hard-copy publication composed of students’ poems and works of ﬁction and designed by student graphic artists. It includes an interactive CD-ROM compiling literary pieces, music and dance clips, full color art and moving graphics from the English, music, dance, art and graphic design departments. Over the winter break, the editorial board will choose the best

creative pieces to incorporate into the magazine. The Lumen reception will be held on Thursday, April 25, in Taylor Little Theater where the publication will be unveiled. Free copies will be distributed to the audience and cash prizes will be awarded for the best submissions. The ﬁrst place prize is $250, second place prize is $150 and third place is $100. Additionally, the winners will receive a framed certiﬁcate of the award. The unveiling ceremony is the capstone event for the Literary Festival, a three-event series intended to celebrate the talent and creativity of Mercyhurst students. The festival will feature speakers

View upcoming performances: www.pac.mercyhurst.edu

such as Chilean poet Marjorie Agosin and American-Canadian novelist William Kowalski. Co-founder and director of the Literary Festival and faculty adviser, Dr. Ken Schiff, said, “This is a great opportunity for students to share their creative talents with the rest of the Mercyhurst community.” This year, the Lumen has the fervid support of Marnie Sullivan, Ph.D., co-advisor, and Chelsea Schermerhorn, editor-in-chief. Students who are interested in becoming part of the 2013 edition of Lumen should submit their work in a Microsoft Word attachment to Lumen@Mercyhurst.edu. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Dec. 17.

www.merciad.mercyhurst. edu/arts_entertainment

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 24, 2012 September 3, 2008

With Metz, less is more By Zach Dorsch Photo editor

pac.mercyhurst.edu photo

Students from both the Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre and SoMar Dance Works will be presenting works that pay tribute to freedom of expression, creativity and movement.

‘Beyond Words II’ raises the bar at Mercyhurst By Mathew Anderson A&E editor

This weekend marks the start to the Mercyhurst Dance Department’s production of “Beyond Words II.” The theme for this academic year has been declared as “Freedom Season,” and this performance will certainly reﬂect on artistic, expressionistic, spiritual and creative ideals. “Beyond Words II” is an uncensored celebration of both classical and contemporary action and expression. The Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre will share the stage once again with SoMar Dance Works for performances Saturday, Oct. 27, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Lisa de Ribere, a guest choreographer for this production from York, Pennsylvania worked in residence with Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre (MBT). She worked in collaboration with the MBT to produce the world premiere “Eye of the Wind.” De Ribere has performed with New York City Ballet and also American Ballet Theatre. She has produced almost 80 choreographic pieces for ballet companies all over Europe and the United States, including San Francisco Ballet and

Pittsburgh Ballet. De Ribere has also gained four separate choreography fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Guest artist Justin Koertgen of Dayton Ballet will give a spectacular performance during “Beyond Words II.” He will be showcased in senior dance major Tess Sinke’s dramatic “Lord Look Down.” Also during the Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre section of the performance, world premiere dance works by Tauna Hunter and Michael Gleason will be exhibited. This section will include “…I Used to Know” choreographed by senior Jo Alspaugh and alumna Noelle Lelakus, as well as “Ave Maria” by Tauna Hunter. SoMar Dance Works will then perform a couple pieces to share with the audience. Choreographed by directors by Mark and Solveig Santillano, “Coral Eden” is a piece that was originally created 12 years ago and is set to music by Ray Castrey. This will be a particularly exciting section of the performance because not only was the music composed speciﬁcally for this dance work, but the composer will also be on hand to play his own music. SoMar will also be getting in the

Halloween spirit for this performance. Featuring Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein,” “It’s Alive” uses all nine of the SoMar dancers to portray a mad scientist and laboratory setting. Complete with a fumbling assistant and pack of zombies, the dancers will have the opportunity to bring the dead back to life, ﬁguratively, of course. The concert will also feature three world premiere performances. “O’er Land of the Free,” which gives insight to the quality of life in a world where the inhabitants are under constant, unwavering surveillance: a duet for Mark Santillano and Dr. Scott Meier of the D’Angelo Department of Music. This coordination of tap and saxophone will be performed to Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.” Also, a multimedia solo for Solveig Santillano titled “Somewhere Between Was and Will Be,” will be performed. The piece focuses on the ideas of aging in a world that focuses on the endeavors of young adults. Tickets for dance performances are $15.50 for adults and $12.50 for seniors and students. Mercyhurst students will be admitted for $3.50. A preview performance will also be offered on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with all tickets selling for $5 (balcony seating only). Tickets can be purchased by calling the PAC box ofﬁce at 824-3000.

It seems these days that bands have more members than your standard country club. Often it is even a challenge to ﬁgure out what some of the band members do. That is why when I saw that Metz was a three-member band I was intrigued by what they had to offer. Hailing from Canada, Metz is a hard band to pin a genre to. I can identify them as a post-hardcore punk band with some sludge aspect mixed in. They play fast paced music that sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder they purchased for a nickel. This may sound like the band is not a good one or that their music is less than perfect, but reality of it is the polar opposite. This recording style blending with the music genre combines to create this wonderfully grimy, hard-hitting, self-titled debut album. This album is deﬁnitely one that

has to grow on you. The first time you listen to it you are going to hate it on general principle. However, when you listen to it again, you are hooked. The thing I really liked about his album was the sound variety it had when you got into the really specific punk genres. It is normal to listen to an album and have a feeling that all the songs sounded the same. This is not the case with this album. Every song intro is different and inviting for you to listen to the rest of it. “Knife in the Water,” for example starts off with this really nice drum rhythm. It is ‘dancey’ in a way, but then the heavy distortion of the sliding power chords hits you. In addition, there is “Wet Blanket.” It is a good example of how big sound can be when achieved with only three people. Like I stated before, this album is not for everyone. However, if you are a fan of garage rock punk, or noise rock, this album is definitely worth a listen.

pac.mercyhurst.edu photo

Langer Film Series: The Intouchables An irreverent, uplifting comedy about friendship, trust and human possibility, The Intouchables depicts an unlikely camaraderie rooted in honesty and humor.

Taylor Little Theatre Friday Oct. 26, 2012 - 2:15 p.m. & 7:15 p.m. Language: French (with English subtitles)

OPINION

October 24, 2012

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.

Professor to students: ‘No means no’ English professor takes aim at date-rape culture By Marnie Sullivan, Ph.D. Contributing writer

In early September 1999 I volunteered at the local domestic violence shelter as a rape crisis counselor. For 7-10 days each month I carried a “rape beeper” and responded to sexual assault victims hospitalized after business hours and on weekends. During the five years I carried the rape beeper I saw many things I’d like to forget. There was the woman who was hiding from her abusive husband. He dragged her out of a grocery store by her hair in the middle of the day. He beat her senseless and she slipped away after dark. I remember a single mother who rented her own trailer, and the landlord regularly jimmied her lock and went through the family’s belongings. One night, he woke her and raped her while her daughter slept in the next room. I remember a 40-year-old woman with the intellect of a child who was walking back to her halfway house. She accepted a ride home from friendly strangers, and was driven for hours while dosing her with alcohol and abusing her. She could not cooperate with the ER staff; instead we watched her pull handfuls of her own hair out, alternating between wailing and weeping until she was committed to the psych ward. While I counseled many different kinds of assault victims, the victims of date rape were the most difficult to come to terms with. One morning, the rape beeper went off and I rose, dressed and drove through dark, silent streets bracing myself. When I got to the ER, I found an 18-year-old student from the local university. She was disoriented and incoherent. She’d gone to her first college party on the first Friday night of her freshman year. By the time I saw her, she was still too intoxicated to give consent for the rape kit examination, and we had to

wait until she was lucid. People who have not been through a rape kit do not understand how dehumanizing the experience is. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (aka SANE nurses) are well trained and compassionate. However, it may take as much as two hours and during that time, the victim’s clothes are taken and bagged. Hair is pulled from her head and pubis, ﬁnger nails are scraped and then cut, and samples are taken from her mouth, vagina and rectum. She will be given a round of antibiotics and tested for STDs. She will be counseled on follow-up care. There is no privacy for the victim, and throughout, she is questioned by nurses, police ofﬁcers, and people like me because any one of us can be called as witnesses. She cannot be released before a doctor examines her.

“

Sexual violence threatens our society because it reduces our humanity.

”

Marnie Sullivan, Ph.D.

Depending on the politics of the hospital she might or might not be offered a “morning after” drug to induce menstruation and thereby prevent pregnancy. If she has family or friends she’s willing to call, they wait outside. There was no one this young woman would call. Her family was 150 miles away, her new roommate did not have a car and she did not want the school to know. When she was ﬁnally released midmorning, I drove her back to the dorm in oversized, donated sweats and dropped her off. I never heard from her again and nothing ever came of her case. That’s not unusual. The woman from the grocery store returned to North Dakota with her husband. The single mother could not afford

to move, and was afraid to cause trouble for her landlord. The disabled woman could not even tell her own story. Rape, whether date-rape or the less common stranger rape, is not a “women’s issue.” It is too easy for both men and women to tune out “women’s issues” as special interests that are not relevant to our collective social well-being. This is short-sighted, dangerous, and simply not true. Sexual violence threatens our society because it reduces our humanity. Over the years I have thought about that young woman. She is in her early 30s now and is likely married or partnered. She may have children. I wonder what she shared with her family about what happened to her that night? Regardless, her life was profoundly and irrevocably altered that night. And what of the young man or men who participated in the assault? He is also likely to be in a relationship, likely to have children. It is not likely that he shared what happened with family members. He would not include it when sharing his history to future love interests. I wonder how he remembers that night, or did he block the whole experience from his conscious mind? His life, too, was deeply and permanently changed. The question that has plagued me the most is this: how did he explain to himself why it was okay to remove the clothes of an unconscious or nearly unconscious woman and penetrate her? Some of the men who perpetrate sexual assaults have been involved in other deviant or criminal behaviors; however, in many cases—and date rape in particular—the men involved are not delinquents or predators. They are ordinary men, members of families, neighborhoods, communities. They go to school, they work in business, they function as citizens. Date rape occurs often without a “sympathetic” victim and without an egregious offender. Sociologist Michael Kimmel, one

of the most important voices on men and masculinity in the world today, explains in “Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men” that dominant cultural messages about masculinity promotes a lack of empathy (“boys don’t cry”), encourages the subordination of social and moral conscience in favor of the enforcement of a code of masculinity (“bros before hos”), and is built upon the systematic denigration of women (“don’t be a pussy”). Date rape is a social problem that will not be solved without both men and woman—all of us. During my nine years at Mercyhurst, I have been approached three times by students interested in begin-

ning a White Ribbon Campaign, or Men against Rape group. One has yet to coalesce. Whether an RSCO is the best means for students to respond to the prevalence of date rape across the nation’s campuses or not, is up to you; however, please consider openly, directly, with courage and compassion your own response. Talk to your friends and family, honestly and without judgment about behaviors you’ve witnessed and about pressures you’ve felt. In closing, ponder this: Is it better for society to foster strong, moral young people, or bear the burden of healing broken adults?

If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen. @mercyhurst.edu Editors Positions editormerciad Stacy Skiavo Editor-in-Chief newsmerciad Alicia Cagle News Editor featuremerciad Kayla Kelly Features Editor opinionmerciad Caitlin Handerhan Opinion 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 Laura Fiegelist 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

October 17, 2012

Student laments the loss of theater Erie’s ‘dollar theater’ set to close By Caitlin MacBride Staff writer

The Mercyhurst University production of ‘Camelot’ was the talk of the town this weekend, ﬁlling the theater every night. Seniors Kirstan Orgel and Matthew Tolbert captivated audiences with their portrayal of Queen Guenevere and King Arthur, respectively.

The Parkhurst Culinary Cab is extremely popular with students, especially during the late-night hour. Too bad the overpriced food is almost too expensive for a college budget.

The trash cans on Briggs and Lewis are ﬁlling up with residents’ garbage bags that should be taken to the dumpsters. ‘This isn’t the place’ for overﬂowing garbage cans. Raccoons and skunks will appreciate it, though.

No offense to those from Erie, but the only thing going for you was Milcreek 6 or “the dollar theater.” People back home were always so jealous when I said I could go see a ‘nearly new’ movie for a dollar. Now, the dollar theater has closed and I am in a permanent state of mourning. The dollar theater, while disgusting and old, was a wonderful place to visit any day of the week. The movies played were late being released, but who really minded the wait? Now you are forced to pay $8 to go to Tinseltown instead of waiting for it to hit the dollar theater. Not only was the dollar theater

cheap, but I felt that it gave Erie the chance to play more movies. Since Millcreek 6 and Tinseltown were both Cinemark theaters, they could pair up to bring more independent movies to Erie.

“

No offense to those from Erie, but the only thing going for you was Millcreek 6...

”

- Caitlin MacBride

What many may not know is that Erie does not show many independent ﬁlms or must wait to receive them. When ‘The Artist’, ‘The Iron

Lady’, and ‘My Week with Marilyn’ were released they took time to show at Tinseltown, which gets all other movies on time. I cannot even conﬁrm that ‘My Week with Marilyn’ even played there. All of these titles received Oscar nominations, wins and included star studded casts. Movies come out so rapidly that theaters must continue to rotate them. Since the titles mentioned weren’t as well known when they were released, they were not sent to all theaters. Because of the dollar theater, Cinemark was able to play them longer at both theaters. Now that the dollar theater is gone, I fear that less independent movies will be shown in the area. I had to spend my whole fall break

contemplating when I would see ‘The Perks of Being a Wallﬂower’ because I knew it would never come to Erie theaters. Yet, that movie was much better than any Nicholas Sparks ﬂuff movie. I hope that the closing of the dollar theater will not cause Erie to stop playing what I feel are good movies. Thanks to the Langer Film Series and the Erie Film Series, we won’t be fully without them. Also, you couldn’t beat the atmosphere in the dollar theater. Yes, it was so gross that you had to shower immediately after, but it was fun. It was a classic theater, full of history. I am not from Erie, but I am sure those who spent numerous hours in that theater will be heartbroken.

‘Binders of women’ goes viral Women a focal point in Presidential debate By Jaslyne Halter Staff writer

Women were a speaking point in last Tuesday’s presidential debate, and both President Obama and Governor Romney had their opinions on the matter. Obama’s main point was that, “Women are increasingly the breadwinners in the family. These are not just women’s issues. These are family issues. These are economic issues. That’s been one of the hallmarks of my administration. I’m going to continue to push on this issue for the next four years.” However, it was Romney that took social media by storm. Romney boasted that as governor of Massachusetts, he was so frustrated by the lack of qualiﬁed female candidates for positions in his cabinet that he sent women’s groups out to actively recruit them.

“I went to a number of women’s groups and said, ‘Can you help us ﬁnd folks?’ and they brought us whole binders full of women,” he said. However, the “binder” of women’s résumés was prepared before the election by the Massachusetts Government Appointments Project, a coalition of nonpartisan women’s groups. When Romney won, the women -- not in binders -- gave him the résumés. This still didn’t even help him. A study by the University of Massachusetts and the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy shows that the percentage of women in senior positions during his tenure actually declined. It went from 30 percent when Romney took ofﬁce to 27 percent, and when he left, it went up to more than 33 percent after the new governor took over. Also, it perplexes me that throughout his long career in business,

Romney had not come across any qualiﬁed women he could appoint to his Cabinet, interesting. Is it not? Sometimes I wonder if he thinks before he opens his mouth. Sure, both sides need to watch what they say, and they both say some “what the heck did he just say

“

...Romney had not come across any qualiﬁed women he could appoint to this cabinet... - Jaslyne Halter

”

that for” things, but some of the things Romney said during this last debate literally blew my mind. The general discord when it comes to the governor and women went even further during the debate. Romney not only couldn’t answer

the question about women’ equality, but he could not even answer a question about out-lawing AK-47s without bringing up single mothers. He said he did not believe in changing gun laws, but he seemed to equate children raised by single parents with the “culture of violence.” First of all, think of all of the single mothers in our country. Secondly, think about whom you say those things to, especially when a single mother raised the president that you are standing next to. I may be wrong, but I don’t think that is a good strategy to get struggling single moms to vote for you. Nor is it a generally good way to get any woman to vote for you. I for one have a résumé that will eventually get me into my desired ﬁeld, but I will get there on my own, without being a part of “a binder ﬁlled with women.”

SPORTS

October 24, 2012

Page 11

Equestrian team gallops into ﬁrst place By Joe Chiodo Sports editor

This past weekend, 16 teams from colleges and universities from all over Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York congregated at West Virginia University to contend in a sport most people probably have no idea Mercyhurst University even competed in. There are no engines, handlebars, or seatbelts. There is only a focused rider and horse. This is equestrianism. They steer 1,500 pounds of sheer power and beauty around a challenging dirt track, gracefully navigating turns, and hurdling obstacles. With a helmet, gloves and boots, they don’t need much more. A strong connection to their ride, and a lot of dedicated practice has gotten them to the competition level. Sophomore Lindsey D’Andrea and freshman Sophia Damasceno both represented Mercyhurst University’s equestrian team this weekend at West Virginia University as part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). D’Andrea secured a first place finish in both her flat (non-jumping) and jumping class, while Damasceno placed fourth in her flat class. Addi-

Lindsey D’Andrea photo

Sophia Damasceno and Lindsey D’Andrea display their ribbons after their show at WVU. tionally, D’Andrea won “High Point Rider of the Show” for her performance. “Even though there were only two of us representing Mercyhurst, we held our own. I think it showed that, even though we are a very small team,

Football win streak ends By Dan Tarr

Contributing writer The Mercyhurst University football team was on an impressive six-game win streak going into their weekend game against the Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pennsylvania at George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 20. At first, things were looking good for the Laker football team. They were in the lead with 13-7 at the end of the first half. Unfortunately, the lead came to an end in the second half when the IUP Crimson Hawks scored 24 unanswered points. The Lakers ended the game with a 13-31 loss to the Crimson Hawks. Sophomore defensive back Colin Kimball can reflect on the loss as only a speed bump on the Lakers’ route to claim the West.

“It was a tough loss, but we all realize that we have to forget about it and focus on the next opponent. The team is just really excited to get back out there, have a good week of practice and get ready to play Edinboro,” Kimball said. Mercyhurst still remains in the postseason picture, despite the loss. The Lakers maintain a conference record of 4-1 going into their next game, against Edinboro University’s Fighting Scots, who currently have an all-time series lead over the Lakers, 5-3. “It should be a good game. Edinboro is a tough team, they always play hard, and so we have to be ready,” Kimball said. Read the full story online at merciad.mercyhurst.edu

we are deﬁnitely a force to be reckoned with,” D’Andrea said. D’Andrea has always been connected to horses, and has developed into a passionate equestrian. “I have been involved with horses my whole life. It all started when my

little sister got horse riding lessons for her birthday. She became involved in the sport, then before I knew it, my mom, older sister and myself were in riding lessons together,” said D’Andrea. “We then got our ﬁrst horse, named Dee Right Flight, when I was

about eight or nine years old.” The equestrian team practices weekly at their local barn, Brenrick Stables, located in Edinboro. Under the guidance of acclaimed instructor Halli Bidwell, the team practices a variety of the numerous techniques of equestrianism. Consistent practice is important, as being an equestrian requires a multitude of unique skills. “Some people think riding a horse is fairly simple, when it is in fact, quite the opposite. A horse responds to anything and everything you do when you are on them. One wrong move and you could end up being in a very dangerous situation,” said D’Andrea. “Telling a horse what to do involves various movements of the hands, heels and legs on each side of the horse’s body.” Mercyhurst’s equestrian team is always looking for new members, and has a lot in store for the year. “This year we are planning on trips and events that will be a blast for anyone who wishes to be involved with horses,” said D’Andrea. It’s a very addictive sport that allows you to bond with these incredible animals in a way I never thought was even possible.” The Mercyhurst equestrian team’s next show is scheduled for Nov. 11 at Stone Gate Stables in Fort Edward, NY.

Women’s hockey ranked ﬁfth By Joe Chiodo Sports editor

Although it is still the early stages of the season, Mercyhurst University’s women’s hockey has already made huge progress toward a successful year. After losing to ﬁfth ranked team, Clarkson University’s Golden Knights on Friday, Oct. 19, 3-0, the Lakers turned around and responded with an explosive performance on Saturday, Oct. 20, beating the Golden Knights 4-3. The split weekend resulted in the Lakers being ranked ﬁfth in the nation, up two spots from last week, with a record of 6-1-1. Junior Christine Bestland serves two roles on the ice: forward and assistant captain. Bestland’s dual responsibilities have given her a unique vantage point on the team’s season thus far. “A big aspect of our team that is proving successful is that we are the

hardest working team Mercyhurst has ever had,” said Bestland. “We have been working hard in practice and it is carrying over into our games.” The Lakers have a relatively young team this season, with nine freshmen recruits. The transition into Mercyhurst’s program can be a difﬁcult task for new teammates. “With such a young team this year, we were in need of as many upperclassman to step up right away and take the new comers under their wing,” said Bestland. “We needed everyone to step up and take on a leadership role, a responsibility which we have ﬁlled and is allowing us to be as successful as we have been.” Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa believes this leadership has been vital to the strong start to the Lakers’ season. “Hard work and good leadership have brought us together from the start. We have a lot of new people on the team that came excited and ready

to play,” Ciampa said. Ciampa plays a major role on the ice for the Lakers. As a goaltender, she is the last remaining defense against the opponent, and she does it well. In the game on Saturday, Ciampa stopped 24 shots on the net in the victory over the Golden Knights. Although ranked an impressive number two in the nation, Ciampa is modest about her performance. “Personal stats like that are misleading in a team game, because really it is a reﬂection of the hard working team in front of me,” said Ciampa. “I just focus on doing my job the best that I can, the same way everyone else is expected to do their job to help us be successful as a team, because that’s what really matters.” The Lakers’ last set of home games will take place this Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers will face-off against tenth-ranked team, Minnesota State.

Page 12

Sports

October 24, 2012