NEWS
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‘Hurst’s graduation rate 13th in nation By Stacy Skiavo Staff writer
Mercyhurst College is in the top 20 for best graduation rates among many colleges and universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education recently ranked Mercyhurst as tying for the 13th best graduation rates out of the 555 schools designated as master’s universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education used six years of federal information up to 2008 to compile the list. Mercyhurst’s graduation rate of 73 percent earned the school its top 13 spot. This graduation rate means that 73 percent of first-time students who enroll during fall term graduate with a degree from Mercyhurst within six years. Vice President of Enrollment Management Michael Lyden, Ed.D, explained why Mercyhurst is able to maintain a high rate. “The number one reason is the quality of our academic programs as well as the average financial aid package that out students receive,” he said. “Many students and parents feel that Mercyhurst represents an excellent value compared to many other colleges or universities.” The graduation rates of Mercyhurst’s athletes help the college’s
overall graduation rate. Lyden said the graduation rates of Mercyhurst athletes are much higher than almost any other Division II school. Not only are their graduation rates higher, but their grades are higher too. The women’s softball team at Mercyhurst has an average GPA of 3.6, the second highest Division II GPA in the country. The college’s location helps to attract students as well. Many students who live within a few hours are drawn to Erie. Erie is able to attract students from many major metropolitan areas, such as Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The distance from these areas is the right amount for students who want to get away from home but still be close enough for family to visit. “I love the beautiful campus and friendly faces here,” freshman Corvette Morrison said. “Mercyhurst is my home away from home.” Sophomore Kyle McIntyre likes the Mercyhurst campus for its living arrangements. “I like the school because we get to live in apartments starting at sophomore year up instead of always living in resident halls,” he said. In a recent press release Lyden
Correction The Dec. 15 issue of The Merciad contained a story titled, “Cost of play: How Mercyhurst funds its varsity athletics.” In that story, several key figures were incorrectly reported. Mercyhurst College spent $76.6 million in 2009-10, but that total does not include the amount spent on financial aid—an addition of nearly $36 million that was left out of our story. Thus, Mercyhurst spent 9.6 percent of its total budget on athletics last year, not 14 percent as the story stated. The Merciad also reported that the college spent more than $250,000 in game-day expenses on men’s basketball and football last year, which was incorrect. The actual total was $235,102. Finally, Edinboro’s reported athletic participant count was 406, while the 2009-10 official total was 347. We apologize for the inaccuracies, skewing of numbers and any confusion they may have caused.
explained how other colleges’ selection processes allow them to have higher graduation rates. “Most of the other top-ranked schools, such as Villanova and Providence College, for example, are much more selective in their admissions when compared to Mercyhurst.” He explained that Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, have extremely high graduation rates but only admit about 10 percent of students who apply. At Mercyhurst, about 80 percent of applicants are accepted and qualifications are not as strict. This enables Mercyhurst to provide opportunities for students who may not have done as well in high school or had lower SAT or ACT scores. Lyden has high hopes not only for these students’ futures but for Mercyhurst’s future as well. “I think our graduation rates will only get better and that Mercyhurst will move into the top 10 out of 500 other schools in the next few years,” he said. “My reason is that we are admitting excellent students and every student that we admit to Mercyhurst has the personal ability to graduate and be very successful in either their chosen career, graduate or profession school.”
January 5, 2011
LakerNet not yet gone for good By Kelly Luoma Managing editor
The Mercyhurst Portal was supposed to be phased out by LakerNet at the end of December. The phasing out of LakerNet was pushed back because people still use the site for the quick links, Web Programmer Matt Engel said. “We just want to be careful about the pace we introduce new change or changes,” he said. On Tuesday a banner was added to the top of every page except the main page of LakerNet that says, “This web page has been archived, but made available for historical purposes. To view more current information please visit the my.mercyhurstportal.” No new information will be added to the LakerNet pages, and information will gradually disappear from the site. The site will most likely be gone by the start of spring semester. Although the IT staff is not quite ready to get rid of LakerNet, all necessary information has been added to the portal. The core set of departments that were on LakerNet are all on the portal, and on Dec. 22, single sign-
on to Blackboard was added. Since Nov. 15, the portal has had 11,037 unique visitors. This is a large increase from the 1,569 people who visited the portal during Sept. 4 through Oct. 4. Engel said he thinks the amount of visitors is where it should be, but he said he would like there to be more consistency between how many people visit the portal each day of the week. Mercyhurst students are working on adding features to the portal that would increase the number of people who visit the site on Saturdays, which is the day with the lowest number of visitors. Junior Scot Bly is working on a What’s Cook’n section for the website that would allow students to write if they like or dislike the meal that is being served on campus at any given time. Sophomore Amanda Grim is working to add a Mercyhurst classifieds page. Engel is looking for students who are interested in joining a student technology committee that would discuss technology ideas. Interested students should contact Engel at mengel@mercyhurst. edu. Read the full version of this article at merciad.mercyhurst. edu/news.
FEATURES
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January 5, 2011
Alum featured in painting at Army Aviation Museum By Lynn Dula Staff writer
Artist Larry Selman’s painting “No Safe Haven” was accepted into the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Ala., on Dec. 14.
The event is not only a celebration for Selman, but also for Mercyhurst alumnus Eric Carlson, who is featured in the painting. Selman, a south-central Pennsylvania native, works in the Western fine art market, primarily in military printmaking. He paints both historical and modern war scenes, as well as other subjects related to
Contributed photo
“No Safe Haven” will hang in the U.S. Army Aviation Museum. The painting was created by artist Larry Selman.
times of war. His recent work, “No Safe Haven,” depicts one of the many high-risk air assaults conducted by the 82nd Airborne Division and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Eastern Afghanistan during 2007. Carlson was serving as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot with the Division at the time, working with the 7th Special Forces Group. Selman used actual footage of an Apache Attack Helicopter to create “No Safe Haven.” In the painting, Carlson is depicted piloting the UH-60 Blackhawk. Selman wrote in his description of the painting, “Thanks to our military, there is nowhere in the world terrorists will feel safe.” There is nowhere American soldiers will not chase them to, and as this painting depicts, there is no such thing as a ‘Safe Haven,’ and there will be no sanctuary for terrorists as long as the 82nd Airborne Division and US Army Green Berets remain ‘on point’ for the nation,” he wrote. Prints of the painting were sold throughout the U.S., many of which were signed by Carlson and his comrades. The director accepted the original painting into the U.S. Army Aviation Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
A painting’s acceptance into the museum has great significance for both Selman and Carlson, as every Army aviator who graduates Flight School receives his or her wings at the museum. Now, every Army pilot earning their wings will be able to see Selman’s work, reminding them of what being an Army aviator really entails. Carlson’s brother, Capt. Ernie Carlson said, “The painting is now on display where every aviator from this day forward, and anyone who visits the museum, will see this painting and the name of a product of Mercyhurst College.” Indeed, Carlson has proudly shown what Mercyhurst graduates are capable of. Eric Carlson is an Erie native who graduated from Mercyhurst Prep and Mercyhurst College. He is a part owner of The Keystone Armory in Edinboro, an organization through which citizens can buy, sell and trade firearms and military collectibles or commemorative. Carlson now works at Penn State Main Campus as part of the Nittany Lion Battalion Cadre, instructing future Army officers. He holds the rank of major, and is an MSIII Advisor.
Stay active to beat the winter blues By Faye Clark Staff writer
The best way to beat the winter blues, says Student Health Center counselor Judy Smith, Ph. D. is to resist the urge to sleep the season away, and instead be active. This is easier said than done with a foot of snow on the ground and a pile of homework waiting in your dorm. It’s hard for people to even get out of bed with a situation like that to look forward to. To fight these blues, Smith urges students to get out of their dorm or
apartment with friends. “Organize a breakfast squad of friends who agree to wake each other up, get to class and grab breakfast,” says Smith. It’s important to stay social in this weather, because “while electronic communication is great, having people right there with you makes you laugh, move and get energized,” she says. Another way to stay active during the winter is to get involved in a winter sport. Even sledding in Garvey Park gets students up and out of their dormitories. Also students can check when the college is hosting an open skating session to get themselves moving.
Even go for a walk on one of the rare sunny days: anything to get blood pumping. “This helps those Vitamin D levels,” Smith said. “A good multivitamin with D can also be a good thing.” The monochromatic view outside also contributes to making winter a depressing time of the year. Even if spring won’t come for a while, you can bring a little green indoors with plants and colorful posters of nature scenes or your favorite bands or movies. An extra lamp can also do wonders. Remember, EMTA offers free rides to Mercyhurst students, and you can use this service to get out
and explore the city, hang out with friends at a restaurant or go to a movie. Smith also suggests volunteering if you find yourself with too much time on your hands. “Volunteer opportunities abound within an easy bus ride from the campus and would be beneficial,” said Smith. Being active and social in Erie during the winter is difficult to do, especially for students who aren’t used to so much cold and snow. But getting out into the community can help students feel healthy and happy, improving grades and spirits.
Happy New Year! What is your New Year’s resolution? “Focus on developing real relationships with people in person (face-to-face with actual communicating), in comparision to the “virtual” friendship of lots of Facebook and texting.” -Natalie Pertz, freshman
“To not spend money unless absolutely necessary--- bread and milk are a necessity; iTunes and clothes are not.” -Adam Ferrari, sophomore
“To read at least three classic novels not related to school work in any way. I think literature classics and reading in general are an underutalizied tool of relaxation that I would like to take advantage of.” -Megan Duane, senior
What is Sustainability? By Brittany Prischak Sustainability Coordinator According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability is a call “...for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (epa.gov/sustainability). The international movement toward sustainability seeks to address the social, economic and security needs of all peoples now and far into the future. Sustainability represents a profound paradigm shift in human experience that is (albeit slowly and incrementally) redefining how we think about everything from economic development to national security to agriculture and necessitating a fundamental reorientation of our relationship with the natural world. Here at Mercyhurst College, our sustainability efforts have for the past decade or more been primarily aimed at improving the environmental performance of our physical plant by, for example, making buildings more energy efficient. We employ renewable energy wherever
we can and experiment with sustainable building materials and practices such as our new green roof. More recently, courses across the curriculum, focused through our Sustainability Studies academic program prepare our students for a future in which the principles of sustainability (environmental and public health, localized development, social equity) will increasingly shape and impact every walk of life. Much of the movement toward a sustainable future is driven by a desire to strengthen local communities’ ability to feed themselves and provide for their energy needs. This is seen in the widespread emergence of farmers markets, which provide healthier food choices for individuals and families, while also supporting local farmers and offering tangible lessons in sustainable economics. Similarly, new companies developing renewable energy sources and ways to improve energy efficiency help to strengthen the security of communities that are now at the mercy of the utilitycontrolled power grid and long-distance
Help plan Earth Week 2011
Planning for Earth Week events have commenced. If you would like to be a part of the planning committee for environmental education programs in April, please join us on Wednesday, January 5th, 2011at 3:30pm in the Egan 315 conference room. A theme is yet to be determines. Although we have several ideas, we would love additional help organizing and coordinating. If you would like to help or are interested in more information, please contact Brittany Prischak at bprischak@mercyhurst.edu or Analida Braeger at abraeger@mercyhurst.edu.
transmission. Even long-established companies such as the giants of the American auto industry are finding new life and generating American jobs by developing more fuel efficient and smarter vehicles that can help wean America away from our dependency on oil and minimize future environmental disasters like the recent Deepwater Horizon tragedy. Every step counts, no matter how small. The old bumper sticker slogan is true: Everything is connected. Turning off the lights when you leave the room is linked to the urgent need to end mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia. Buying local, buying less, buy fair trade, replacing your light bulbs at home, walking, biking or using public transit when you can, using reusable water bottles, turning off the lights and computer… We all know what we need to do. But if you’re not convinced, then remember what we at Mercyhurst have learned, along with countless businesses and governments around the world—being environmentally responsible does save money. Get involved.
Phonebook recycling begins
Old phonebooks are once again being collected on campus for recycling. Drop off last year’s yellow pages in the bins in the foyer of Preston/Old Main, next to the stack of 2011 phone books, or in the bin located in the library lobby, next to the Merciad newspaper stand. Remember, recycling phone books benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank and supports Erie Energy Products, a local business. They churn phone books into home-insulating material, which in turn saves energy. This is a win-win-win project!
Bike Proposal By Angelina Viveralli As campuses across the United States work towards a more environmentally friendly future they have begun tackling problems in areas such as waste, energy, food, and transportation. Mercyhurst has made great strides in the areas of waste, energy, and food however, there are fewer opportunities to promote green transportation on a primarily residential campus. Students are able to use public transportation in the city and soon, they may be able to borrow campus bikes. The Green Team is developing a series of proposals for the Green Energy Fund to both reward those students already using bikes as transportation and hopefully to inspire more students to cycle. One idea is to implement a bike rental program on campus. Other ideas are to plan events on campus to promote bike riding. After an evaluation of existing bike racks, the Green Team will request funds for more convenient bike racks and storage areas on Briggs and Lewis Aves. We will also propose to purchase a bike rack to be mounted on one of the campus vans in order to allow bike trips for students to Presque Isle and other local trails. A bike rental pilot program would inspire more bike use on campus.
Through this program students would be able to rent—free of charge—one of four new bicycles and helmets purchased from local bike shops. Although the exact details of the rental program are still in the works, we are confident that the program would run in half to full day rentals and that the bikes could be taken off-campus. Call for Submission from Students and Faculty: Narratives of Travel and Navigation: English by Water, Air, Land, and Imagination. Does the end of the term have to mean the end of student’s coursework? Is the recycling bin the inevitable destination of graded assignments? Can the three Rs of recycling ever apply to essays without plagiarizing? Students who have taken Western Classics, American Classics, some history classes, and perhaps a few others may have written something for class that could earn a wider, real world audience. The Pennsylvania College English Association (PCEA) invites proposals for original creative works and critical interpretations of any genre of travel narrative or stories of journeys or quests for self, real or imaginative. Analysis of landscapes in travel writing and inquiry into attitudes about nature and the natural world in literature would support the conference theme. In addition to the special sessions on the topic of travel and navigation, PCEA welcomes all proposals related to the study
and/or teaching of literature, film, composition, and linguistics, as well as creative works. The conference will meet in Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, March 24-26th. It couldn’t be easier to attend! Graduate and undergraduate students who submit an abstract for the conference may also compete for the Best Paper Award, which is given by PCEA in three categories—critical, creative poetry, and creative prose—and carries a small monetary prize. Award winners will also be considered for publication in PCEA’s journal, Pennsylvania English. For more information about submissions for the conference or the essay contest, visit: http://www.english.iup.edu/pcea. Need more incentive? The Student Creative and Scholarly Research Fund supports research opportunities for undergraduate students at Mercyhurst College by reimbursing them for research and travel expenses to present completed research at a professional research conference such as the PCEA conference, or to present or perform an artistic creation/ exhibition. In other words, you could share your important academic or creative work, get an accolade for your career file, and enjoy a day or two off campus on the Bayfront for free. For more information, visit http://lakernet.mercyhurst.edu/students/ student_research_fund.php
Mercyhurst now recycles toner cartridges
No need to ship spent toner cartridges long distances for recycling. From now on, toner cartridges can be placed in the ink cartridge collection bins. Recycled ink and toner cartridges as well as cell phones will all be sent to the Funding Factory, which is a local recycling company. The Funding Factory deals with remanufacturing and reusing of these recycled materials. Collection bins are located in Old Main on the second floor next to the Center for Teaching
Earth Week Planning Committee Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 3:30 p.m. Location: Egan 315
Excellence, in Preston on the first floor near the corner offices and in the basement next to the Mailroom and in Hirt on the second floor next to the stairwell. A cell phone collection bin is located in the basement of Preston near the Mailroom. Reducing waste sent to the landfill, refilling cartridges for reuse, and recycling what’s left; it’s the three R’s of recycling accomplished with one easy action.
Bike/Run Duathlon Planning Committee Sunday, Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m., Location: 118 Hirt.
All Campus Green Team Meeting Monday, Jan. 17 at 3:30 p.m. Location: TBD – Stay Tuned
January 5, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Dancer spotlight: Junior Kelly Clymer integrates healing with dance By Sarah Mastrocola Staff writer
As a dance major with an art therapy minor, junior Kelly Clymer has a special interest in the power of art to heal. Hailing from Cleveland, Clymer has been dancing from a young age, and she hopes to dance professionally in the future. Since coming to college, though, she has discovered an interest in movement’s uses in therapy. After her professional dance career ends, she intends to transition into the dance movement therapy field and work with disabled children. Dance and movement also serve in a remedial capacity for Clymer herself. “Dance is an escape from everyday life for
me,” she said. Clymer was one of the students who assisted with the creation of Yoga Club, a new RSCO advised by Betty Amatangelo. Having discovered how much she enjoyed the yoga classes offered on campus, Clymer was excited to help with the formation of the organization. She now serves as the secretary for the club. “It’s a very close-knit group, and it’s a lot of fun,” Clymer said. “I really like yoga a lot. It’s nice to have some introspective time.” In addition to her talent as a dancer, Clymer is also a choreographer and a gifted visual artist. She studied art in high school, and now she likes to integrate her art background with her dancing. She is currently choreographing a piece for the dance department’s winter concert,
“Raw Edges,” which explores the idea of colors on the color wheel coming alive. Clymer describes her choreography as generally light and often humorous, and she says that she likes to have fun in the studio while she works. Combining academic pursuits with her dance studies is important to Clymer as well. “I feel like it’s important to also have an academic side in college while dancing,” she said. She is an active member of the Honors Program and secretary for the Honors Council. Clymer also serves as the vice president for Mercyhurst’s chapter of Nu Delta Alpha, a national dance honor society. With her natural cheer and energy, Clymer is sure to be a success in whatever arts genre she is pursuing.
Tyler Stauffer photo
Junior Kelly Clymer is a dance major with an art therapy minor, which she will put to use after dancing professionally.
PAC brings the Wild West to Mercyhurst By Claire Hinde Staff writer
The Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC) will be streaming the Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” this Sunday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m. The opera premiered in 1910 with the Metropolitan Opera (Met) in New York City. Puccini was commissioned to write the opera for the two leading stars, Enrico Caruso and Emmy Destinn. It was the first of many world premieres at the Met, and after receiving outstanding praise in the United States went on to tour in Europe. The opera is based on the play “The Girl of the Golden West” by David Belasco and depicts a mining camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1849-50 during the gold rush.
Presented in Italian in three acts, the story follows the love of a local Native American, and plenty of the action and rough and tumble spirit so prevalent in Wild West narratives. Indeed, American optimism is shown boldly in the work in contrast to the tragic demeanor adopted by many operas. This hearty, frontier attitude is likely due to the proximity of the wild frontier lifestyle and the hope for the possibilities of the future as America moved into the twentieth century. In the version streamed at the PAC and presented by the Met, Deborah Voigt and Marcello Giordani sing the lead roles in celebration of the opera’s centennial. This particular production has not been performed by the Met since 1993. Though a bit of an unusual opera, the work has won a loyal following due to its moving melodic tendencies.
The New York Times praises the music and called it “subtle and boldly modern,” wrapping the audience in rich textures and heartfelt lyrics. In a sense the music gives the audience what it needs and not necessarily what it wants, or is expecting to hear in any given scene. The ability for the Met to stream such performances has done a great deal for the opera as well as all those now able to be reached and touched by art. In fact, the presence of such showings at Mercyhurst College make quite a difference to the art programs at the college, as well as providing more accessible fine art for the Erie community. “La Fanciulla del West” is a sincerely moving, honest and native opera for the Ballet Met and is sure to be spectacular. Tickets can be purchased at the PAC box office or by calling 814824-3000. They are $15 for Mercyhurst students with ID.
OPINION
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January 5, 2011 September 3, 2008
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.
A plea for writers By Ethan Magoc Editor-in-chief
When I first started college, I saw the student newspaper as a bit of a mystery. It showed up on racks around campus and was presumably put together by the upperclassmen powers that be. I knew none of the names among the bylines and was often dissatisfied with the content and opinions expressed within the pages. If this was the official voice of students, it sure didn’t sound like mine. And I definitely wasn’t about to read something that carried little personal interest. But that was at a university more than three times the size of Mercyhurst—one where my voice truly didn’t count as much as it might at a smaller
school. Fortunately for you, fellow student, you possess the opportunity to make your opinion mean a great deal more here. The Merciad, Mercyhurst’s official student newspaper for more than 80 years, publishes 1,200 copies every Wednesday morning. Our staff personally distributes these inside the front door of every major building on campus and editions can be found lying in many classroom and hallway and corners. Most importantly, we are the best student-produced source of information for campus news, arts and entertainment, features about your faculty and fellow students and the place to catch up on the most interesting varsity sports story lines. And, of course, the main place to express your opinions and college experiences. Yet we have lately run into a shortage of talented or even reli-
able writers. While there’s still a steady crop of dedicated scribes who produce quality content each week, our numbers have begun to dwindle. At the risk of sounding like a public television station, I’m not going to say we won’t survive without your help. Still, these pages are probably going to start to lack quality very soon if you don’t come our way with fresh story ideas, a different perspective on an issue or the ability to clearly communicate your thoughts in writing. Even if you possess none of the above, and are simply eager to be published or to write in some form other than that lackluster essay you turned in Monday morning, we want you. Doesn’t matter what your major is—the more wide-ranging the better. While the majority of our staff stems from Mercyhurst’s
Holiday spirit to remain through time By Victoria Gricks
Opinion editor Like most college students, I planned on working over Christmas vacation. I had spent a lot on gifts for my family, and I desperately needed to replenish my bank account. So, I texted my manager at Subway, told her my availability, and asked to be put on the schedule as much as possible. When she finally got back to me about when I would be working, I was shocked – she only wrote me down for Christmas Eve from 10 to 5. Angry about my lack of days and knowing my mother wouldn’t even let me go to work the day before Christmas, I texted her back and told her I didn’t want to be on the schedule at all. I was disappointed that I
wouldn’t be making any money, but I couldn’t wait to relax. It was the first time I wouldn’t be working while on break. During my time home, I received several texts from my managers asking if I could work, and I made an excuse each time as to why I couldn’t. Sure, it sounds mean, but I had no interest in making sandwiches for customers or prepping food for several hours. A couple days after Christmas, however, my friend asked if I could cover his shift. I contemplated his question for several minutes before responding with a ‘yes.’ I guess the spirit of the holiday had put me in a good mood. You’re probably asking yourself why any of this matters. I mean, who cares that I spent a lot of money on gifts and whether or not I worked over break? Well, let me tell you why this is important. Have you ever noticed what
Christmas does to society? It’s the time of year when everyone forgets their troubles and just enjoys the holiday. People are able to spend time with friends and family, eat good food, and relax. (Some even cover their friend’s shift .) It’s great. What about after it’s all said and done, though? The presents have all been unwrapped, the new year has begun, and it’s back to reality. Well, I think it’s about time we change that. I don’t think the spirit of the holiday has to disappear as soon as January arrives. So, let’s make a New Year’s Resolution to keep this cheerful attitude alive within us all year long. Granted, there will be days when we just hate the world. But if we remember the joy we felt at Christmas, we should be able to get past that negative emotion. So, what do you say? Are you with me?
The Good
communication department, to truly continue this tradition as a well-rounded publication and not just a first-floor-of-Hirtshouting-box, we need you to share experiences from all over campus. If you see any part of The Merciad that you’re interested in—news, features, entertainment, opinion sports—contact myself or one of our section editors on the right. And know that anything you write is guaranteed to earn you $10, a byline and the knowledge that your voice does indeed matter.
Students are now able to use the portal to access email, Blackboard, and WebAdvisor without having to log in multiple times.
The Bad
Now that Christmas vacation is over, we have to stay at school for the next seven weeks before getting another break.
The Ugly
Even though we just got back to school, we have to worry about midterms already. Blame the trimesters.
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen. Editors Ethan Magoc Kelly Luoma Alex Stacey Victoria Gricks Nick Glasier Kathleen Vogtle Samantha Williams Tyler Stauffer Ethan Johns Chrissy Mihalic Max Rivera Bill Welch Brian Sheridan
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.
Sports
January 5, 2011
Page 8
Schaetzle goes for football coach of the year honors
Sports in full swing this winter By Spencer Hunt
Staff writer
By Nick Glasier Sports editor
Mercyhurst College head football coach Marty Schaetzle’s accomplishments have garnered him recognition inside the Mercyhurst community and nationally. Schaetzle has gained national attention as a finalist for the 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award for leading Mercyhurst College to its first Pennsylvania State Conference title and to its first NCAA Division II National Championship playoff birth, The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is given to a NCAA Division II football coach who has achieved coaching excellence throughout the 2010 football season. Schaetlze made it to the final round as he was voted in the top 15 candidates on www.CoachoftheYear.com and by an objective-scoring model. The objective scoring model considers criteria such as wins, team penalties, on-field sportsmanship, academic achievement by the student-athletes and civic and philanthropic endeavors. To be considered for this award was a great honor for Schaetzle, but he does not take all the credit. “It was great to be considered for this award.” Schaetzle said, “It was really an offshoot of what the players did this season, though.” Schaetzle is not only happy with what this award will do for his career but what it means for Mercyhurst as an institution and his players. “It is the work of the players that
Ethan Magoc photo
Mercyhurst College head football coach Marty Schaetzle led the Lakers to their most successful season ever. got us to this point, and it is really great to get our college’s name out there,” Schaetzle said. Schaetzle has done a great deal of work to build up a Mercyhurst football program that before his tenure had lurked in the shadows of the college’s attention. As the head coach, Schaetzle has had his ups and downs at Mercyhurst. This season was only the second that the Mercyhurst football program has finished with a win-
ning record. Despite these ups and downs Schaetzle has been resolute in his development of the program. He has worked to greatly improve footballs facilities and widen the region of Mercyhurst’s recruiting. Despite the highly successful season, Schaetzle still sees ways that he and the team can improve. “Going forward, we need to learn to do a few things better such as scheduling practices if we make
it deep into the playoffs again,” Schaetzle said. Schaetzle is busy on the recruiting trail and has seen how a successful season can help. “Our playoff run really widened our recruiting base,” said Schaetzle. “Now we know who we are and what we are about as a program.” The winner of the 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award will be announced Jan. 10.
There are activities for everyone in college. For an aspiring writer, there is the school paper. For a basket weaver, there is a basket-weaving club. For athletes, there is athletics. However, a varsity team can be very selective, which is is why intramural sports are a perfect fallback. At Mercyhurst College, sports are offered every term for students. In the fall, there is flag football and ultimate Frisbee, and winter term has basketball and volleyball. Also, in the spring there is softball and soccer. According to Intramural Director Joe Spano, the largest sports in terms of participation are flag football and softball. Each sport has had at least 16 teams with 10 students per team over the last few years. Volleyball has been a steadily growing sport. Since all sports are co-ed, volleyball seems to benefit the most. With 14 teams already this year, volleyball is very close to becoming the largest sport. Thankfully, with all the support from students who participate, there are only about two forfeits per sport. With no supervision on a team, forfeits could be common by teams that are not committed, but that does not seem to be an issue. With the help of Spano, the intramural sport events are scheduled around students’ schedules as best as possible. Different kinds of sports are tried each year as well as the major sports.
For the full article go to merciad. mercyhurst.edu.