The Merciad, Oct. 27, 2010

Why did they block Great addition. the road?

Support our athletes.

12%

16%

Bad decision.

Spend $250,000 elsewhere.

LakerNet’s demise looms in December Page 2

Senior shares his gift for music through education Page 5

47%

Great addition.

The Rec is too crowded.

24%

Online poll results:

How do you feel about the Ice Center weight room?

NEWS

Page 2

October 27, 2010

Portal phasing out LakerNet

By Kelly Luoma Managing editor

Admissions Department photo

The 10 Mercyhurst College student bloggers are members of the Ambassador Club Communications Committee.

Bloggers attract prospective students

By Jennifer McCurdy Staff writer

The admissions and public relations departments recently organized a collection of 10 student blogs to attract prospective students to Mercyhurst College.

The 10 bloggers are all members of the Ambassador Club Communications Committee who receive Ambassador service hours for blogging.

The bloggers come from various majors and class standings. The variety of majors helps to offer different viewpoints for prospective students.

According to junior Lindsay Cox, who is one of the bloggers, three freshmen Ambassador Club pledges will soon be added to the group of 10 bloggers.

This will allow the college to offer blogs from a freshman perspective.

The blogs allow students to share the reality of everyday life at Mercyhurst College.

“I think the blogs make a difference because they show what everyday life is like,” sophomore Paige Bosnyak said. “Essentially, that could be a deciding factor in whether a prospective student attends or not.”

Cox writes about life at Mercyhurst, and she takes this a step further by regularly uploading photographs to her blog.

“I know that when I was a senior in high school, I would have loved to look at pictures and see what it was like on an average day at a particular school,” she said. “The blogs allow prospective students to do just that.”

Aside from presenting the daily life of a Mercyhurst student, the blogs act as an extension of campus tours hosted by the Ambassador Club.

Many of the bloggers offer advice to future students.

Cox advises students to get involved on campus and to investigate the dining services of a potential college.

Student bloggers are required to update their blogs once a week.

They are permitted to write about any subject as long as their writing abides by the rules and standards of the Ambassador Club handbook.

Even though the bloggers want to present the best side of Mercyhurst, they do not lie about the negative aspects of daily life.

“I try to be realistic in my writing because at the end of the day, I know that I love Mercyhurst and the opportunities that it affords me, but if someone is not meant to be here then I don’t want to falsely draw them in here,” sophomore Joseph Pudlick said.

Visit mercyhurst.edu/admissions/student-blogs to read about fellow students’ thoughts about the college and their experiences here.

The Mercyhurst portal is a single login site that provides access to MyMail, WebAdvisor and other college sites.

The Mercyhurst College portal became available to employees in July and students in August.

The portal will replace LakerNet, a site which features campus calendars and the directory.

LakerNet has been in existence “as long as anyone can remember,” Web Programmer Matt Engel said.

There are LakerNet database entries dating back to 2001.

According to Engel, the goal is for LakerNet to be completely phased out by Dec. 31.

Before LakerNet will be gone for good, all of the critical data must be taken off the site so it is not lost.

In order for the portal to be ready by this time, information needs to be moved from LakerNet onto the portal for several departments.

In an attempt to get students and staff to use the portal instead of LakerNet, the content on LakerNet high-

lights the portal’s tools and features.

Administrative Assistant for Student Life Nadine Bower came up with the idea to advertise the portal on LakerNet. Bower thinks this is more effective than sending out campus-wide e-mails.

“We are not trying to overuse emails sent out by student life,” she said. “After awhile, people start to ignore them.”

Engel put the Alcohol Awareness Pledge and the 2011 declaration of graduation on the portal to give students a reason to visit the site.

“We are trying to aggregate online services into the portal and bring new students in,” Engel said.

Another strategy to try to get people to use the portal is to give it a more personal touch, Engel said.

This is being done by adding student spotlights, an athlete of the week and photographs to the portal.

“Students want to see themselves and their friends,” Bower said.

Sophomore Amanda Grim said she likes the different features the portal offers.

“I like the news feed that shows up on the homepage so you can see

what is going on,” she said.

Besides trying to get more students to use the portal, Engel is working to improve the site and fix all the kinks.

He wants to add Blackboard to the site so students can access it without clicking on the link and having to login again.

“We are definitely making progress,” Engel said. “We just need to get more people to use it.”

During the month of Sept. 4, through Oct. 4, 1,569 different people logged in to the portal. This number includes both students and employees.

One hundred and sixty-eight students logged in and took the alcohol awareness pledge, 107 declared graduation for 2011 through the portal and 365 students used the portal to request help with MyMail.

Engel will run the system again for the month of October to find out how many people accessed the site.

“Hopefully, we will see that 1,500 jump or increase,” he said.

Visit my.mercyhurst.edu to see what the portal has to offer and to get used to it before LakerNet is no longer around.

Board of trustees to vote on university status application

By Stacy Skiavo

Contributing writer Since 1926 when the gates of Mercyhurst opened, the school has been known as Mercyhurst College.

This will likely be changing soon.

A draft application for the college to shift to university status has been composed and is highly likely to be approved in May. The 102-page application was posted to the Mercyhurst portal about two weeks ago for students and staff to access and comment on.

The board of trustees will vote Thursday on whether or not to send the application for university status to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

If the trustees vote to submit the application, the document will be submitted to the PDE in late November for review.

The PDE will then advise Mercyhurst if any other issues need to be addressed.

Students have been encouraged to send their feedback regarding the application to Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Phillip Belfiore or Director of Assessment Amy Danzer, although for the most part only employees have shared their opinions.

Many opinions were voiced this fall about the issue, and student input is still encouraged at Council Meetings.

If and when the application is approved, it is highly probable the PDE will have several issues to address first.

“I believe the work and time invested by all the people involved will result in eventual approval,” Belfiore said.

Approval is expected after the PDE visits campus in February or March. The university name should be established and changed shortly after.

The discussion in acquiring university status began in spring 2009.

The college’s board of trustees then voted in support of the administration looking into university status requirements in January 2010, which led to a meeting with the PDE in March.

The PDE representatives responded positively and gave approval to create the application.

Soon after this consent, the trustees voted in June to prepare the application, and work toward completing the forms has continued since then.

The application was compiled by many people across campus, including President Dr. Thomas Gamble, Dr. Heidi Hosey and several other trustees.

“It could never have come about, however, without many, many people across all of our campuses and locations, in positions from maintenance to vice president, answering questions and providing information,” Danzer said.

NEWS

October 27, 2010

Page 3

Speaker discusses ethics behind evolutionary engineering

By Chelsee Callahan Staff writer

Dr. Maxwell J. Melman, a lawyer, professor and author came to Mercyhurst College to speak about evolutionary engineering.

Melman gave his presentation, titled “Extinction by Design: Can humans survive the evolutionary engineering,” on Thursday.

During his presentation, Melman explained transhumanism, an international movement that calls for a scientific approach to fix mental and physical flaws.

The goal of this movement is to create a state of pure health.

Scientists have been studying genetic engineering for many years, which is a part of transhumanism.

Scientists have already genetically engineered produce, which according to Melman, makes up 70 percent of all food sold in the U.S. Not only have plants been genet-

ically engineered, but animals have been as well. According to Melman, the Enviropig is a genetically engineered pig that can digest pollutants, which helps reduce pollution.

Not all genetically engineered experiments are successes.

Melman gave examples of different genetic experiments gone wrong, such as cloning Dolly, a sheep.

Melman then described how humans can be affected by genetic engineering. According to Melman, there are online companies that will test a person’s genes for different traits and diseases.

“While these tests can’t be validated completely, the idea of using a credit card and the World Wide Web to get gene testing done is astounding,” he said.

He described a Web site that matches a person to the right partner based on genes, which is essentially genetic love matches.

Melman discussed the ethics of

High-powered Four Loko drink causes concern on campuses From Staff Writers

Four Loko is an alcoholic energy drink that has been in the news recently for causing young drinkers to black out and end up in the hospital.

Mercyhurst College’s first incident with Four Loko occurred on Saturday.

A female student in Warde Hall passed out and was sent to the hospital, according to Lieutenant Matthew Platz.

Kuhn said the student had reportedly drunk two beers and one Four Loko before she passed out.

The 23.5 ounce can of Four Loko contains 12 percent alcohol.

Drinking one can of Four Loko is similar to drinking five cans of beer or one bottle of wine, Kuhn said.

“That stuff is bad news,” he said.

Kuhn said the mix of caffeine and alcohol in the drink causes problems because it affects the body in two different ways at the same time.

Kuhn expressed his concern that male students will try to take advantage of females while they are intoxicated.

“I’m just worried about guys having girls drink it at a party,” he said.

He wanted to remind students that intoxicated people cannot give legal consent. Therefore a man taking advantage of a woman while she is intoxicated would be considered rape.

Nine Central Washington University students were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko, a story now receiving national attention.

Currently, Four Loko is not widely available in Erie.

Employees at Wine & Spirits Stores, 737 E. 38th St., Grandview Beer 4 Less, 1303 E. Grandview Blvd., and Beer & Pop Discount Warehouse, 901 Peninsula Drive, each said they are not yet selling the beverage.

“We’ve been getting requests, more from college students than anyone else, I’d say,” said Zach Hathorn, an employee at Beer & Pop Discount Warehouse. “Whoever had it on your campus must have got it somewhere else.”

Tyler Stauffer photo

Dr. Maxwell J. Melman spoke to the Mercyhurst College community about evolutionary and genetic engineering. genetic engineering.

He supported evolutionary and genetic engineering by providing a response to those audience members who were curious about the

topic.

If a person believes “playing God” is wrong, “then those who cure with medicines are playing God,” Melman said.

He explained the benefits of genetic engineering to respond to those who believe the human lineage will be lost and that genetic engineering could be leading to the extinction of humans.

Melman explained how some form of genetic engineering exists through medicine and how the Human Genome Project, which is now ended, helped to determine how many and what genes the human body actually had.

“The Human Genome Project helped us find a gene a day or at least a week,” he said.

Sophomore Sacha Chadwick said, “If you were religious, this was not a good presentation to go to. However, from a science point of view it was amazing.”

Melman concluded his presentation by answering questions from the audience.

“This really made me think,” sophomore Molly Gavin said. “It was interesting.”

FEATURES

Page 4

October 27, 2010

Campus Ministry confronts hunger and homelessness

By Alex Stacey Features editor

According to the 2009 National Coalition for the Homeless, 3.5 million Americans will experience homelessness at some point in the year.

Approximately 39 percent of those people will be children.

To help make a difference in this

statistic, every year Campus Ministry holds Hunger and Homelessness week.

They participate in some major activities to not only raise awareness about hunger and homelessness in the U.S., but to make a difference in the lives of those that are struggling with these issues.

They will be hosting a food drive for the entire week. The drive has been an annual event

Contributed photo

This is the third year that Campus Ministry will participate in the Cardboard Village.

for Campus Ministry for about 10 years. Students can donate nonperishable food, or sign up to help collect food door-todoor.

All food donations will be sent to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Second Harvest Food Bank collects and distributes food to many local organizations, such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

If you have been on campus in the past, you may recognize the Cardboard Village in front of Zurn.

The Cardboard Village was first created during fall 2008, as a way to raise money and awareness for the poor living conditions that the homeless face every day.

Campus Ministry does not just limit it’s work with the homeless to this week.

Members spend all year in service at the Emmaus Soup Kitchen and in immersion experiences learning about hunger, homelessness and ways to solve hunger and homelessness.

The sociology department also does part to spread awareness of homeless and low income living conditions by staging “poverty

Center for Applied Politics launches first election poll

By Lynn Dula Staff writer

At the beginning of the school year, Mercyhurst College opened the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP), a new center for public opinion research.

Dr. Joseph Morris, the director, and Dr. Rolfe Peterson, the assistant director, each guide the center.

The project’s biggest tool is a state-of-the-art computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) facility , made up of sixteen soundprotected workstations located on the fourth floor of the Hammermill Library.

In September, the MCAP launched its inaugural poll, teaming up with the Erie Times-News.

The poll weighed public opinion among registered voters on the 2010 midterm elections, as well as

other issues.

The poll lasted from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5.

The information gathered was then processed using statistical data software. The results are available for viewing on the department’s Web site at polisci.mercyhurst.edu/ mcap.

After the successful completion of their first poll, the center already plans to launch more.

“Once we are under way,” Dr. Morris says, “we anticipate conducting a wide range of public opinion polls of interest not only to residents of our region, but to all Pennsylvanians. We’re already discussing plans for a series of statewide polls in advance of the 2012 presidential election.”

Perhaps the most interesting and beneficial part of the MCAP polling process is the high level of student involvement. Mercyhurst political science majors, trained as

research assistants by Dr. Morris and Dr. Peterson, staff the polling project.

Sean Fedorko, a senior political science and philosophy major, served as project manager for the inaugural poll. The position of project manager required particular skills in computer science, which was easy for Fedorko.

He is an experienced employee with the Geek Squad department at Best Buy, where he coordinates most of the in-store repair.

He also prepared for the project by interning with the college’s Information Technology department.

As project manager, Fedorko helped install the center’s computer hardware, software, phones and other technology.

To read an extended version of this article, visit: merciad.mercyhurst. edu/features.

Contributed photo

Students spend the night in the Cardboard Village to help raise money and awareness for homeless living. simulations” for students.

Students can also get involved in battling homelessness by joining Habitat for Humanity. They focus on addressing the issue of homelessness as well as sub-standard housing.

Mercyhurst provides students with local opportunities for Habitat

for Humanity as well as the spring break trips. This year the trips will be to North Carolina and New Mexico.

If you would like to learn more about service projects or trips, please visit the Service Learning section on the Mercyhurst portal.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 27, 2010

Page 5

Mercyhurst dancers interpret Stravinski

By Sarah Mastrocola Staff writer

Mercyhurst College dance students will present their fall performance, “A Stravinsky Celebration,” twice this Saturday.

The group will perform at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Performing Arts Center. A special discounted performance on Friday at 7 p.m. will also be available to the community.

The performance features different dance pieces set to the music of Igor Stravinsky. The evening opens with “Puchinella Suite,” a ballet choreographed by Dance Depart-

ment Chair and Artistic Director Tauna Hunter.

Next follows a modern take on the ballet “The Rite of Spring,” choreographed by Assistant Professor Mark Santillano, which puts the concept of human sacrifice into the context of college spring break.

Although not set to Stravinsky music, a performance of “Closing the Glass Door,” by guest artist Randy James, will also appear in the show. James taught a class and handed the piece to the Mercyhurst dancers in September. If it seems familiar, “Closing the Glass Door” was initially performed at Mercyhurst at the Parent’s Weekend show.

The concert will close with a

newly choreographed rendition of “Firebird” by Adjunct Professor Michael Gleason, with rehearsal assistance from Associate Professor C. Noelle Partusch.

A one-act story ballet, “Firebird” is based on a Russian folk tale about a prince and a magical glowing bird, and comes complete with princesses, monsters and plenty of fairy tale enchantment.

“Firebird” as a ballet is now celebrating its 100th year, which makes the Mercyhurst performance of this work especially appropriate.

“Our faculty has been talking about doing a Stravinsky evening for years,” said Hunter. “This 100-year anniversary of ‘Firebird’ finally pushed us into action, and

I’m thrilled to pay tribute to this composer’s musical gifts for the community. I encourage music and dance lovers alike to join us for this engaging program.”

As part of the celebration of Stravinsky and his contributions to both music and dance, Assistant Professor Christine Hay will present a lecture on “Igor Stravinsky: His Impact on Dance” before the Sunday performance. The lecture will begin at 1 p.m. in Zurn 114 and is free to the public.

“A presentation on Stravinsky is an opportunity for the dance, music and art communities to look back at the collaborative roots of 20th century ballet, the days of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes,” said Hay.

With the haunting sound of Stravinsky’s music paired with the eerie undertones of much of the dance being performed, “A Stravinsky Celebration” is a great way to celebrate Halloween through art.

“Stravinsky’s scores inspired works by noted choreographers such as Fokine, Nijinsky, Nijinska, Massine and Balanchine. It would be wonderful if the artistic community of the 21st century could build such a legacy for future generations,” Said Hays.

Tickets can be purchased for $2.50 with a Mercyhurst student ID and are available by calling 8243000 or by visiting the PAC box office. Visit http://pac.mercyhurst. edu for more information.

Senior Jeff Knell helps motivate future musicians

By Claire Hinde Staff writer

Jeff Knell recalls his beginnings in music as, “It was band day in fourth grade, and when I came home, my mom said, ‘I used to play clarinet. You should play clarinet.’”

Now a senior music education major, Knell is accomplished in many instruments and working hard to excite a new generation of youth to music as well.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Knell began playing at a young age, continuing on through high school. But when it came to applying for college, Knell had to do some deciding.

“I had always wanted to be a teacher, but I thought it would be for science or something,” Knell said. “But when it came time to apply, I decided to apply to music schools. Music had always been fun.

I wanted to do something fun.”

Knell chose to come to Mercyhurst after auditioning with the bassoon. While it was only a hobby

at the time, the bassoon is now Knell’s primary instrument. As a music education major, Knell is required to take classes in both the music department and the education department, which is quite a workload.

Part of the intense load includes student teaching this term, which Knell has completed at Harbor Creek Junior and Senior High School and Belle Valley Elementary School. He purposefully chose to do his student teaching during fall in order to work with marching bands. Although he loved both experiences, Knell’s ideal age group would be middle school.

“I worked the most with that age group and they really responded to me,” he said. “They cried the most on my last day. A lot of people shy away from that age group because there are so many changing emotions and ‘growing up’ issues.

“But I still act like a kid and so I can sympathize with them... Plus, they are really funny.”

Knell also aims to make the biggest difference in motivating kids of this age group.

LotUS Provides Explorations in Music Read the story at

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

Tyler Stauffer photo

Bassoonist Knell hopes to use his music education degree to teach middle-schoolers.

“There’s so much hit-and-miss at that time, so hopefully I can motivate them to stick with (music) for life,” he said.

Admittedly, student teaching has been a much different experience than he expected. Knell was confronted with issues that could have

never been foreseen or addressed in a theoretical classroom environment.

After graduation, Knell hopes to use his knowledge to go straight into teaching and hopefully pick up some postgraduate classes along the way.

“I’m not picky about where I end up, though,” he said.

Atop his normal workload, Knell takes part in many music-based extracurricular activities, including playing in the pit orchestras for Mercyhurst’s musicals such as Sweet Charity and Sweeney Todd.

Although he is aiming for a teaching position, Knell realizes that performance opportunities might arise in the future. He hopes these will include additional performance in a pit orchestra.

“It’s so fun. You get to play so many different instruments,” he

OPINION

Page 6

October3, 27,2008 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.

Defending the arts

By Kathleen Vogtle A&E editor

As I read last week’s article on the varsity athletes’ new weight room, I found myself flashing back to high school. At Our Lady of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y., the arts were considered unworthy, left to dwindle away as the sports teams received all the glory.

It didn’t seem to matter, for example, that the choirs, orchestra and band placed highly in their categories at local competitions.

As soon as one of the sports teams won a victory, the trophies that our ensembles had worked so hard to attain were moved to a cabinet that barely saw the light of day.

I do not wish to be misunderstood here – by no means are sports an unacceptable activity, nor should the hard work and dedication of our athletes be disputed in any way.

This is simply an argument for a reevaluation of priorities.

I have participated in and appreciated the arts all my life.

But I also competed in sports such as track and field throughout high school. I have seen both sides of this argument and have enough experience to speak with authority.

The arts, in my experience, have been seriously underestimated, misjudged and underfunded.

Sports are undeniably a test of physical strength and mental tenacity. They require hard work and dedication if an athlete wishes to be successful. What seems to be miscounted is the artist’s similar requirement of perseverance and devotion to be prosperous.

For example, my roommate, a violin performance major, wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning in order to be in the practice rooms by 6 a.m.

At minimum, she practices seven hours a day, in addition to classes and outside performances required by the music department. During my freshman year, I knew students who would sleep under the piano in their practice room in order to attain the desired amount of rehearsal.

These students are taking between 13 and 16 credits a term, combining both music and college graduation requirements. Outside

of academics, they devote hours to practice, attend recitals and performances and perform at least once a term.

After graduation, the struggle becomes harder as students apply to prestigious graduate schools or search for jobs in the field they’ve worked so hard for.

Mercyhurst represents a smaller picture of the larger trend, where sports take the glory and money, and the arts are pushed aside.

And yet these students are working just as hard as athletes. Music takes an incredible amount of personal strength and physical training in order to attain even satisfactory results, much like sports.

Still, most people think music is only about opening your mouth or pulling a bow across a string.

I urge a sincere examination of traditional policy – the building of this new training facility is only the tip of the iceberg.

Give our artists and athletes equal credit to help them achieve their goals, be this with attention, understanding or support.

Everyone involved would greatly appreciate it.

Ruined plans jeopardize night

By Victoria Gricks

Opinion editor When I was finished helping my roommates decide what to wear, I figured I should start going through my own closet.

I was still in sweatpants and a cutoff at that point, and I couldn’t go out looking like such a bum. I went through all of the clothes I own and chose what I considered to be a pretty decent ensemble.

Once I was dressed and my hair was styled just the way I like it, I added the finishing touch – makeup. Because I enjoy looking nice, I couldn’t leave my apartment without putting some on, especially after I hadn’t cared about it the past

week. And since it was a Saturday night, I even used my MAC eyeliner, which is something I only do on special occasions.

By this time, my roommates had left, and I was just making sure that I was completely ready – I’m the slowest of all of us. After looking myself over in the mirror once, I began turning lights and appliances off. While doing that, I received a text from my roommate, informing me that the plans for the night had been canceled.

I didn’t know what to do.

I was dressed to go out, but had nowhere to go. At first, I moped around for a bit, because I was looking forward to getting out of the apartment. I had been studying all week for tests, so having to stay home yet again did not appeal to me.

A few minutes later, however, I started to appreciate the opportunity to stay in and relax. I hadn’t done that in weeks, because I was always busy with something work or school related.

So I have a suggestion for you.

First of all, you should certainly go out with your friends whenever you can. You only get one college experience, so make the most of it.

Every once in a while, though, you should refrain from having a night out. Instead, stay at your place and have an evening to yourself or convince your roommates to stay in with you and watch TV all night.

Sure, it might sound lame, but I promise you it’s not.

If your plans ever get ruined, don’t fret. Just put on your pajamas, pop in a movie and relax. You’ll enjoy every second.

More Online...

Video: Army cadets prove their endurance Devin Ruic applauds the strength of members of the ROTC Battalion.

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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

Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Graphics photomerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Web Editor ejohns89 Copy Editor copymerciad Ad Manager admerciad Adviser wwelch Adviser bsheridan

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.

October 27, 2010

Page 7

Football team beats Cal for huge win

By D.J. Haurin Staff writer

Twenty-four. A normal number to some, but to the Mercyhurst College football team, it represents something greater.

On Saturday, the Lakers knocked off No. 3 California University of Pennsylvania, 31-21, breaking a 24game conference win streak for the Vulcans.

With the win, the Lakers earned the No. 24 spot in the American Football Coach’s Association (AFCA) poll, giving them a national ranking for the first time in the program’s history.

At the same time, Mercyhurst pushed Cal from No. 3 to 14 in this week’s poll.

Head coach Marty Schaetzle couldn’t be prouder of his team.

“It’s great recognition for what we have been doing,” Schaetzle said.

“We should be proud, but we just need to stay focused on the upcoming game against Slippery Rock.”

The Lakers’ win over the weekend came in a different fashion than the previous weeks, as they dominated the Vulcans from the first quarter, rather than waiting until the final drive.

Prior to the meeting with Mer-

cyhurst, Cal, five-time defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division champion, had rolled off 24 consecutive conference wins.

The last three weeks proved very exciting for the Lakers, who have turned in clutch performances to beat three quality teams – Indiana (IUP), Edinboro and Cal. However, this excitement has been focused on one thing.

Junior quarterback Travis Rearick put that into perspective.

“We had a goal to win the PSAC West,” Rearick said. “The past three weeks, we have just been fighting to keep the dream alive.”

Senior cornerback Julius McCormick took those words to heart.

“We always have a goal to win the west, and we can’t win the west by just beating Cal,” McCormick said. “We now have to beat Slippery Rock and Clarion, which forces us to focus harder.”

The Laker defense played a crucial role in the victory over the Vulcans. Cal quarterback Josh Portis was constantly under pressure and was sacked four times for a total loss of 39 yards.

“Our plan was to be aggressive the whole game,” senior linebacker Tim Herbener said. “Defensively, we always pride ourselves on being sound in our responsibilities

Ethan Magoc photo

Mercyhurst College junior Travis Rearick threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns against Cal. His performance earned him PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors. because when we all do our jobs collectively, no one can beat us.”

Building on each win, the past three weeks have been stepping stones for the defense.

“I think the games that we’ve played previously have kind of helped us out, even though they have been rather tough,” Schaetzle said. “It has really given us a new kind of confidence that we now

play with.”

Offensively, the Lakers threw for 299 yards, scoring four touchdowns.

For Rearick, this is nothing new.

Earning the starting job just three weeks ago, the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week has steadily improved, gaining confidence from his team and coaches.

And yet, the junior quarterback will be the first to tell you that he only played a small part in this game.

“It was a total team effort,” Rearick said. “Our special teams

gave our offense good field position, and our defense stepped up in every possible way by creating turnovers.”

The Lakers enter this Saturday’s noon’s home game against Slippery Rock with lofty goals for the season’s remainder.

They are now in position to win the PSAC West and even host the conference championship game.

“Any time you beat a top five team in the nation at any level,” Herbener says, “you are going to get some serious playoff considerations.”

Ethan Magoc photo

Mercyhurst College junior Trevor Kennedy hauls in a touchdown catch to seal the Lakers’ 31-21 victory.

Sports

October 27, 2010

Page 8

Women’s soccer player leads a double life

By Spencer Hunt Staff writer

For average freshman athletes, their focus is on one of two things: their sport or their studies. On top of schoolwork, many student-athletes have either early morning or late evening practices.

This doesn’t even include time away for games. For the average athlete, there isn’t much time for anything but school, sport, and sleep.

Mercyhurst College freshman Emily Adamski has taken on far more than the average.

Adamski is a freshman defender for the women’s soccer team. However, her path to Mercyhurst isn’t one of a normal player.

She was not recruited coming out of McDowell High School in Erie. She originally fell in love with the campus, and its proximity to her home. Once she was accepted and decided to join the class of 2014,

Contributed photo

Mercyhurst College freshman Emily Adamski won Miss Congeniality at the 2009 Miss Teen Pennsylvania pageant. she looked into the soccer program.

Adamski said of her desire to play soccer; “A good friend of mine, Gabrielle Catrabone, is on the team, and I played with her in high

school, so I thought why not try out for soccer?”

After speaking with head coach Keith Cammidge, she was on the team.

Most soccer players practice

heavily throughout the offseason, pageants have helped in her soccer career. “I think it has helped me to to prepare for the following fall. get the confidence as Emily tried something an individual that I can else out. She entered go up there get it.” the Miss Teen PennsylHer confidence vania 2009 pageant. remains high, even She got into the pagthough she does hear eant process when she her fair share of jokes got a package in the in the locker room. mail saying that someOther players imione had nominated her tate pageant walks; for Miss Teen Pennsyleven the trainer gets in vania. She says, “To this on the fun. Since she day I still do not know trains for both soccer who did that, but once and pageants, the I read about it, I begged Freshman Emily Adamski trainer insists its “all my parents to allow me soccer training.” But to do it and eventually Admaski sees it all in good fun. they said yes.”

Despite being Miss Congeniality, Once in the pageant, Adamski found success. Being her first pag- Cammidge describes Adamski “as eant, she was very happy with her one of the more aggressive players third place finish overall, and voted on the team.”

Even though Adamski is only a Miss Congeniality as well.

Adamski said pageants and soccer freshman, she is taking on a large are two completely different things. workload.

Adamski also has future plans to Soccer is obviously team-based, “participate in Miss Teen Pennsylwhile a pageant is purely solo.

Although there are differences, vania again this year too.”

Men’s soccer looks to rebound from first loss

By Billy Colton Staff writer

The Mercyhurst men’s soccer team’s impressive unbeaten streak came to an end this weekend.

After 15 games without a loss, Millersville University found a way to get by the Lakers, 1-0, in overtime.

Even with the loss, Mercyhurst still holds a striking record of 12-13 and remains ranked No. 1 in the region.

The Lakers will be looking to bounce back as quickly as possible when they face Slippery Rock in a conference match today.

“We need to bounce back by having quality practice sessions and then get on Slippery Rock early, which we haven’t done in the last few games,” said sophomore Nate Stern. “We have let our opponents hang around. We need to get in and

Ethan Magoc photo

Mercyhurst College senior Dean Atkins and the rest of the men’s soccer team plan to get back on track this week as they face cross-town Gannon University. get goals early.”

There has been a strong sense of togetherness and unity that has led

to the Lakers’ fine record this year, says Stern.

“We have a strong sense of unity

on and off the field. We’re very together with what we want to do.

Everyone is over-concerned about

the team morale,” said Stern.

Stern also admits the team is very honest with each other.

“Nothing lies beneath the surface,” he says. “We’re very open with each other and when something needs to be said, it gets said.

Nothing is left for interpretation.”

The team’s character will now be tested to see if they can bounce back from the tough loss to Millersville.

Stern, though, is confident Mercyhurst will find a way back.

“We need to continue to show our unity more than ever now that we have lost,” Stern said. “We are human. We’re going to make mistakes. It’s very hard to be perfect, so everything we have spoken about this year is going to be put to the test.”

The men’s soccer team will have to recover quickly as they host cross-town rival Gannon University Sunday at 2 p.m.