Merciad

College kills
marriage
& family
Vol.82, No.22/4.29.09/Free concentration
Read more on Page 5

’Hurst
freshens up
freshman housing

See more photos

on Page 2
Page 2 NEWS April 29, 2009

From
paper to
reality:
the
making of
the new
freshman
dorm
Scoot Williams photo

Renderings of the
dorm rooms were
created before
ground was
broken for the
building. The fin-
ished rooms look
very similar to the
images shown.
Contributed illustrations

Scoot Williams photo

The staff of The Merciad got an exclusive look and tour of the
new freshman residence hall and saw what a finished room
looked like. Incoming freshman will experience many benefits in
the new living space.
April 29, 2009
Students, siblings experience Kids ‘n’ Sibs Weekend
By Alaina Rydzewski
Staff writer
This year’s Kids ‘n’ Sibs Weekend was
a magical experience at Mercyhurst Col-
lege.
The theme of the weekend was Harry
Potter, and to experience the magic, stu-
dents invited their siblings to Mercyhurst
to participate in a wide variety of activi-
ties.
The events started Friday, April 24
when students and their siblings arrived at
the Herrmann Student Union to pick up
their T-shirts and enjoy pizza and refresh-
ments.
Students represented Houses from
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry by wearing different colored T-
shirts.
Gryffindor was maroon, Hufflepuff
was yellow, Ravenclaw was blue and Sly-
therin was green.
The Norman Ng Magic Experience in
Taylor Little Theatre was Friday night’s
main event.
Norman Ng kept the audience full of
students, their siblings and even some par-
ents, laughing throughout the show. Nor-
man Ng doubled as magician and come-
dian; he constantly talked to the audience
and made jokes.
“[Norman Ng] entertained the younger
kids but still had appropriate adult humor
to keep the older ones amused,” freshman
Theft Egan Cafeteria
Sunday, April 19 Closed
Roadway
Vandalism Pending
Sunday, April 26 investigation
Vandalism Parking Lot 21
Monday, April 27 Closed
April 19 - 27 2009
Mercyhurst College
NEWS Page 3
Liz Zurasky said.
In one of Norman Ng’s many magic
tricks, he made a cell phone appear in a
can of Pringles.
He magically made pieces of white
money-shaped paper turn into actual
money.
Norman Ng attached, cut and reat-
tached a piece of rope multiple times as
part of his act.
Besides performing these magic tricks,
he did more standard acts, like card tricks.
Zurasky’s sister Megan said she liked
his show, because he was interactive with
the audience and very funny.
Breakfast and bingo in the Student
Union Great Room started the events for
Saturday.
Students and their siblings had the op-
portunity to win DVDs, CDs, sports Contributed photo
equipment, a digital camera and other Mercyhurst College students and their siblings wear their Hufflepuff T-shirts
prizes. while they particpate in the activities of Kids ‘n’ Sibs Weekend.
In the afternoon, the Students Activi-
ties Council set up inflatables outside the A barbecue in Garvey Park concluded “I think it was a good time for my sister
Herrmann Student Union. the activities for the weekend. and me to bond and have good old-fash-
The inflatables included a large slide Hotdogs, hamburgers, cookies and ioned fun,” Alexandra said.
and an obstacle course for students to drinks were provided to students and their Freshman Michelle Mula and her sister
race each other in. siblings. Kelly agreed on their favorite part of the
Other activities included caricatures, Some favorite activities from the week- weekend.
name decorations and a magician. end included caricatures, the magic night “Our favorite was Norman Ng, because
One of the events of the weekend and the inflatibles. he was very funny and entertaining,” Mula
helped to celebrate Earth Week. Freshman Alexandra Stacey and her sis- said.
The participants at the Herbology table ter Victoria enjoyed the caricatures. Many students took the opportunity to
had the opportunity to decorate a plastic “We got to surprise our parents with relax in the nice weather and enjoy their
container and help the environment by a memento from the weekend,” Victoria siblings’ company during a magical week-
planting seeds in it. said. end at Mercyhurst.
‘Cirque de Couture’
A circus theme spring fashion show
Held by students in Mercyhurst College’s
Fashion Promotion class
Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in Taylor
Little Theatre
Tickets cost $5 for adults, $3 for students
and $1 for children 12 and under
Proceeds go to the Erie Zoo
Page 4
Dr. Samuel Hazo spoke at the Seventh Annual Literary Festival on Thursday, April 23 at
Mercyhurst College.
Hazo returns to ’Hurst
for annual Literary Festival
By Alaina Rydzewski
Staff writer
Dr. Samuel Hazo, a native of
Pittsburgh, spoke to an audience
of students and professors about
his work at the second installment
of Mercyhurst College’s Seventh
Annual Literary Festival.
Hazo is the founder of the
International Poetry Forum and
was the first State Poet of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in 1993.
He was the featured speaker
at the first Literary Festival in
2002.
After being introduced, Hazo
stood in the middle of the stage
with the microphone and his
audience before him, then recited
some of his poems.
He opened with “No is the
Father of Yes,” and continued
with others poems including,
“The Scoundrels,” “The Ballad
of the Broken Tackle,” “How
Married People Make and Break
Up” and “Battle of the One-
Legged Marine.”
His poems covered a wide
variety of topics, ranging from
sports to war to women.
Besides reading his poetry, he
added comments and anecdotes
to his speech.
Freshman Shannon Kissel
found his poems “extremely
interesting and insightful.”
“I also took interest into his
life and background since he’s
from Pittsburgh, like me. I found
that his poems really make me
think about the subject and also
found it interesting that each
poem had a specific story behind
it,” Kissel said.
Freshman Meghan Hess
agreed.
“He was very motivating and
funny. His poetry caught all of
our attention,” she said.
Hazo was interactive with the
audience.
He asked questions and ex-
pected members to raise their
hands with the answers he want-
ed.
“I found Hazo to be very
NEWS
Scoot Williams photo
powerful and engaging. He held
the audience’s attention for the
entirety of his speech,” freshman
Andrea Sauers said.
“My favorite poem of his was
“Looking into a Tulip,’ which of-
fered a perspective on the beauty
of life and that sometimes the
price of enjoyment cannot be
measured, no matter how short
the period of enjoyment is. Hazo
was a great choice for this year’s
Literary Festival.”
Hazo spoke in the Taylor Little
Theatre on Thursday, April 23.
Hazo graduated from the Uni-
versity of Notre Dame, earned a
master’s degree from Duquesne
University and obtained his
doctorate from the University
of Pittsburgh.
Some of his books include
“Just Once: New and Previous
Poems,” “A Flight to Elsewhere,”
“The Song of the Horse: Se-
lected Poems” and “Watching
Fire, Watching Rain.”
The Literary Festival continues
on Thursday, April 30, at 8:15
p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre.
Aprili 29, 2009
Community Roundtable
The Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society
and Walker School of Business at Mercyhurst College
will convene a panel of experts drawn from across a
spectrum of disciplines – economics, finance, law and
business ethics – to explore the crisis in our country’s
financial system on Thursday, April 30, at 6:15 p.m. in
Mercy Heritage Room.
‘Beyond the Dream’
A talk by Georgetown University theology profes-
sor Diana L. Hayes will conclude Mercyhurst College’s
yearlong observance of “Beyond the Dream: The
Legacy and Challenge of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr”
on Thursday, April 30, at 8 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall.
“Those Who Can ... TEACH”
Recent works in a variety of media by more than 30
Erie County elementary and secondary art teachers will
be featured in “Those Who Can … TEACH,” at Mer-
cyhurst’s Cummings Gallery now through May 3.
Laker Briefs are taken from lakernet.edu.
Campus Ministry’s
Dog Days
Students can meet
with faculty, staff and
their dogs.
Tuesday, May 5,
and Tuesday, May 12.
5 - 6 p.m.
in Garvey Park.
April 29, 2009 NEWS Page 5

College sacrifices marriage and family

By Amanda Valauri
News editor
It’s no secret Mercyhurst Col-
lege, like the rest of the coun-
try, is suffering some financial
pain.
As a result, the college has no
choice but to look into restruc-
turing and cutting budgets.
The marriage and family stud-
ies concentration of the family
and consumer sciences program
will be the first to be phased out
over the next four years.
The cut came as a shock to the
students and faculty.
Senior Meghan Pugliese said
she felt very hurt and frustrated.
“Myself and many of the
other students in this program
were blind-sided by this deci-
sion,” Pugliese said.
Department Chairperson Sally
Ondrejcak is deeply saddened by
the change.
“I was assured that this would
not happen,” Ondrejcak said.
“They told me no program
would ever be cut or phased
out without the chair persons
being consulted.”
Ondrejcak found out about
the cut through one of her stu-
dents, not through the appropri-
ate channels, and the news was
confirmed through her fellow
faculty member Dr. Tom Matta.
One of the reasons behind
this decision to phase out the
department has to do with
numbers.
“The fact is, no incoming
freshmen showed interest in the
program,” Vice President of
Academic Affairs Dr. Philip Bel-
fiore said.
Matta said he believes there
is a miscommunication between
admissions and incoming stu-
dents.
“When admissions goes out
to sell Mercyhurst to prospec-
tive students, psychology, sociol-
ogy and social work have name
recognition and a long-stand-
ing identity, while marriage and
family studies is the new dis-
cipline in the social sciences’
neighborhood and quite young,”
Matta said.
While the cut is happening for
“mainly economic reasons and
trying to balance the budget,”
Belfiore assures students “Mer-
cyhurst would never cut a pro-
gram without allowing students
to finish the degree.”
As a result of a lack of inter-
est, the program, “which strongly
communicates the mission and
vision of the school,” is being
cut, Ondrejcak said.
The faculty is not convinced
or clear about the administra-
tion’s “numbers” theory.
“I think these numbers are
falsely interpreted by the admin-
istration as indicative of a weak
program,” Matta said.
The program has produced
students who have gone on to
graduate programs across the
country.
“Some of the recent Mercy-
hurst graduates are now or soon
to be alumni from the University
of Connecticut, Virginia Tech,
the University of Missouri and
NOVA Southeastern of Flor-
ida,” Matta said.
“Many local graduate school
programs such as those at Edin-
boro, Gannon, Akron, John Car-
roll, Youngstown State and IUP
have many Mercyhurst graduates
from our program as well as in
fields beyond our own including
community counseling, counsel-
ing psychology, clinical psychol-
ogy, school psychology, art ther-
apy and social work,” he said.
According to Belfiore, the mar-
riage and family concentration is
also being phased out because of
program redundancy.
“There is a lot of over lap in
the psychology, social work and
sociology fields,” Belfiore said.
But what about the meaning
of the program in relation to the
mission and vision of the col-
lege?
“A department that speaks so
much to the Catholic tradition
and college mission makes it a
tragedy to see it get phased out,”
Ondrejcak said.
This change affects the Erie
community too. Pugliese feels
undervalued.
“We all work in the commu-
nity, put forth [around 700 ser-
vice hours] and to be told that
we are not strong enough or that
our accomplishments are not
worthy of saving is an awful feel-
ing,” she said.
The college community suf-
fers a loss as well.
“So many majors and minors
from art therapy to criminal jus-
tice can benefit from this pro-
gram and it is a logical combina-
tion for many fields of study,”
Ondrejcak said.
The biggest problem Ondrej-
cak faces is explaining to her stu-
dents why this is happening.
“Students are heartsick. Stu-
dents are asking me for answers
and I don’t have them,” she said.
“They don’t want to be part
of a program their own school
doesn’t even value.”
This is the first department to
be phased out at in the uncertain
economic times; it may not be
the last.
Ondrejcak, Matta and their
students feel “undermined” by
the decision.
“To see a sudden disappear-
ance of such a strong eclectic
program seems dubious at best,”
Ondrejcak said. “I would love to
say we aren’t really being phased
out and that I’ve been misunder-
stood.”

Police and Senior business students present

Safety explain to research foundation
recent thefts
Seniors Tyler
In last week’s issue of The Merciad, a high
Strohmeyer, Oscar
number of thefts and burglaries reported on Calderon, Emily
campus in relation to other incidents. Donovan, Mat-
Mercyhurst College Director of Public thew Musial and
Safety Rodger Gregorich assured The Mer- Billy Ninopoulos
ciad this is not an unusual occurrence at all. presented an
“I checked the statistics from last year and impact plan to
compared them to this year,” Gregorich said. the John Kanzius
“This type of incident is actually down from Cancer Research
last year.” Foundation as part
Campus crimes like this are not related to of their business
the current economic condition. policy class cap-
“Sometimes there are more of one kind of stone project.
incident than another, but I do not believe the
thefts are related to the economy,” he said. Tyler Stauffer photo
Page 6
Mercyhurst College held various events last week in honor of Earth Day. Students tie-
dyed T-shirts on Thursday, April 23, to celebrate the day and spend time with peers who
share similar interests.
Local vendors educate
students during Earth Week
By JoEllen Marsh
Managing editor
To conclude five days of
Earth Week celebrations, Mer-
cyhurst College’s Green Team
arranged for local businesses to
set up tables near the Herrmann
Student Union on Friday.
“The local fest was simply
amazing,” senior Zach Pekor
said. “I think it really got the
word out for a lot of ven-
dors and helped students real-
ize some of what Erie has to
offer.”
The Grasshopper, Purse-
onality by Lily’s Holiday, Nature
Jewelry by Linda Straub and
Ye Olde Sweetshop sold their
products at the event.
Local fest attendees and pass-
ers-by enjoyed buffalo burgers
purchased by the Green Team.
North Coast Energy Systems
came to educate students about
wind and solar energy.
“A lot of students don’t even
know about the solar panels on
campus,” Joe DiFrancisco, the
company’s owner, said.
Students who attended Earth
Week events earned free tickets
for the green raffle, which was
drawn at the end of the Local
Fest.
Up for raffle were green items
NEWS April 29, 2009
Earth Day
celebrated
Tyler Stauffer photos
Jamnesty 2009
Musical festival with bands,
food, vendors, immigrants’
including fair trade coffee and
tea, items from the Grasshop- rights speakers, face painting
per, cooking books and uten-
sils, green cleaning supplies and
and raffles
a bicycle.
“We had a good turn-out.
Getting the tickets out before-
Saturday, May 2,
hand really helped and gave from 3 - 10 p.m.
people an incentive to come,”
post bach. student Kelly Bemis at the Grotto
said.
The proceeds of the green
raffle went to the International Free food from 5 - 7 p.m.
Institute’s new garden project.
“It worked out very well that
the weather was so nice,” fresh-
Donations support
man Rachel Brown said. “It’s
great that the Green Team put
immigrants’ rights
this together.”
April 29, 2009
Student documents ERE vs. KEEP
By Carolyn Carlins
Contributing writer
Tire Incinerator Documentary to Spark
Flames Junior, Katie (Maeve) McGoff,
had no idea when she agreed to do a one
minute public service announcement for
one of her communication classes, her
research on the latest proposal of Erie
Renewable Energy (ERE) would quickly
be turning into a documentary.
After being asked to compose a public
service announcement by Dr. Anne
Zaphiris, one of her communication
professors, McGoff began her research
at the end of spring term last year.
The ERE has proposed to build the
world’s largest tire incinerator to create
tire derived fuel, or “TDF.”
The TDF will be fed into two circulating
fluidized bed boilers to produce steam to
drive a steam turbine that will produce
electricity.
While the ERE argues this method as
renewable energy, the incinerator will be
built within only half of a mile of four
schools and in walking distance of the
Boys and Girls Club and the grassroots
organization Keep Erie’s Environment
Protected (KEEP), sees many adverse
health effects to this method.
Studies conducted by the American
Lung Association already awards Erie a
grade F for fine particle pollution and the
proposed plant estimates the production
of 8,000 pounds of non-filterable
particles per day.
Gabriela Meza
Year: Sophomore
Major: International Business and Business Management
with a minor in Economics
Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Campus Activities: Co-chair of the Programming
Committee of the Business Club
Least Favorite thing about Mercyhurst: Lunch and
dinning hours.
FEATURES Page 7
KEEP’s current campaign, run by Erie
residents, holds health hearings, protests,
and attends city council meetings to voice
their opposition.
After gathering this information, the
idea of producing a documentary was
brought up.
While McGoff had no idea what her
public service announcement could
evolve into, she said that “there was no
reason not to go forward with this issue,
the risks outweigh the benefits.”
Although it was important for McGoff
to organize her documentary with a
“story board, target characters, and
topics,” she said, “several revisions later,
I realized there is no room for a script
because of the strings that are being
pulled and the stories that are constantly
being developed.”
Because the issue is not resolved, the
film does not have a set release date
yet, but McGoff has already posted her
footage online on sites such as Youtube
and Facebook to raise awareness of this
proposal so that the people of Erie can Contributed photo
inform themselves and decide what they Sophomore Burim Loshaj designed this poster for his Digital
want for their community. Imagery class. The aerial photo of the bay was taken by Mercy-
On top of playing a sport, her school hurst Art Director Steve Perkins.
work and despite being a Cincinnati
native, McGoff has decided to create this be built here another one can be built in Individual knowledge and networking
documentary for the benefit of the Erie our hometowns.” is the best way for a community to become
environment. And therein lies the purpose of involved to make local improvements.
McGoff said, “the majority of McGoff ’s documentary: getting the Activities, such as McGoff ’s creation
Mercyhurst students including myself facts out to people through networking of this documentary, not only raise
aren’t from Erie so I’m often asked the and presenting an opportunity for the awareness, but spark active community
question why I care so much and I tell community to know and understand the involvement and momentum toward
them: if a plant with this magnitude can facts. improvement.
Favorite Thing about Mercyhurst:
It is an extremely beautiful campus. I also like
the people, since I’ve met such nice and friendly
people up here.
Interesting Tidbit of Information about you:
I am a bit loud when I talk, and also I tend to be
very hyperactive What else? Oh, I love to dance!
Page 8 FEATURES April 29, 2009

Restaurant Review:
Ricardo’s welcomes students
By Gretchen Beth Yori
Copy editor
What has been around a long time?
What has been described as delicious,
exquisite and full of the homemade-
touch?
The restaurant Ricardo’s is located at
2112 East Lake Road.
When I entered Ricardo’s I was greeted
with a smile, which made my experience
off to an amazing start.
Then my waitress Abby was full of
energy, and got me started with a drink.
The restaurant serves Coke products
and offers a full bar as well.
I began with a raspberry iced tea, at a
reasonable $1.79, unlimited refills.
Looking at the menu, all meals average
I settled for the special, The Captain’s
Platter, which included lobster, shrimp,
deviled crab and perch, all for $21.95.
It came with a side of spaghetti.
The pasta sampler was a delight.
Almost a tease to the taste buds. The
zucchini was perfect.
I was not greasy like in most restaurants,
and it wasn’t overly breaded like most
places bake theirs either.
I was disappointed in my salad, it was
very plain, not much to it but lettuce with
a few vegetables thrown on top. My meal
was delicious.
The lobster was done to perfection.
The shrimp was battered just right. The
perch was full of flavor.
As an Italian, I can say I was extremely
proud of the spaghetti sauce spices; the
recipe was done just right. Gretchen Beth Yori photo

around $15, perfect for the average
college student on a budget.
Meal options include seafood, chicken,
Italian, specialty sandwiches, steaks and a
children’s menu.
All dinners include a pasta sampler
and zucchini and a choice of salad, home
fries or french-fries.
The meal was served with all the
necessary dipping sauces required; I was
impressed.
I will be going back very soon. I
enjoyed myself. I felt welcomed and at
home. It is a place I would recommend
to anyone on a budget looking for good
food and good service.
Shown above, Ricardo’s special ‘The Captain’s Platter. It includes lobster,
shrimp, crab and perch, and costs $21.95
Word of the Week
Expanding your vocabulary
one word at a time
Recessionitis:
noun. the new disease. It can
take months to go away.
The new excuse to not do any-
thing. The act of excluding your-
self from social activities because
you simply just can’t afford it.

In a sentence: Recessionitis has

kept me from taking my girl on a
date in three months!
urbandictionary.com

Gretchen Beth Yori photo

Ricardo’s has a homey atmosphere and a delicious array of food.
April 29, 2009
Adovasio featured in ‘Ice Age Meltdown’
By Kelly Luoma
Staff writer
Mercyhurst College
Archaeological Institute
Director Dr. James Adovasio
spoke about climate change
on The National Geographic
Channel recently.
He appeared on an episode
of “Naked Science” called “Ice
Age Meltdown” on April 16.
The episode was filmed in April
2008.
“Ice Age Meltdown” focuses
on a climate change occurring
18,000 years ago.
This change led to extinction
as humans struggled to adapt to
the change in the environment.
“I and my colleague, David
Madsen, who is an adjunct
research professor here,
discussed various aspects of life
Lunch $ 5
M Southwest Burger
T Breakfast Sandwich
W Sizzle Salad
TH Taco Salad
F Goulash
Laker Burger
S Potato Bowl
M Chicken Parm w/ Pasta
T Philly Wrap
W Gen Tso’s Chix or Tofu
TH Pierogies
F Buffalo Popcorn Chicken
Chicken Bacon Swiss
after the retreat of the glaciers,”
Adovasio said.
Adovasio said this topic will
be discussed in a course he is
teaching in the fall focusing
on the prehistory of North
America.
“The subject matter in the
documentary will be among
the topics addressed, and it will
be useful for students, both
undergraduate and graduate who
register for that course, to see it,”
Adovasio said.
“Ice Age Meltdown” is not
Adovasio’s first appearance on
television. He is accustomed to
being on camera.
“Since the early 1970’s, I
have been on television and in
documentaries more than 50
times,” he said.
Adovasio explained why he
has appeared in many television
shows and documentaries.
Lunch $ 5
6” Sub $4 Combo $5
Wrap Combo- Veggie $5
Other Wraps $4
Make any sub a wrap for
no extra charge!
FEATURES Page 9
“I find that this kind of
coverage redounds mainly to the
credit of the teams with which
I have worked, including my
professional colleagues as well
as students and the institutions
which have sponsored my
research,” Adovasio said.
He explained how Mercyhurst,
in particular, led to his appearance
in various productions.
Mercyhurst has “one of the
highest profile archaeology
programs in the world, and, as a
result, many of our faculty in the
Department of Applied Forensic channel.nationalgeographic.com photo
Sciences regularly participate Dr. James Adovasio and Dr. David Madsen about to enter
in various film endeavors,” Danger Cave, Utah to do research.
Adovasio said.
“Because of the high visibility and that of my colleagues and “Were it not for the publicity
of some of the archaeological students has oftentimes been benefits that accrue to the
projects with which I’ve been solicited,” he said. colleges or universities with
connected in North and South Adovasio explained why he which I have worked, I wouldn’t
America as well as Europe and chose to participate on the show do these documentaries,” he
elsewhere, my participation and in other films. said.
Broccoli & Cheddar Bites
11:30 a.m. -8 p.m.
Lunch $ 5
Page 10 FEATURES April 29, 2009

Donating ‘Krayons for Kids’

Choir trip to Honduras inspires nonprofit organization
By Alaina Rydzewski
Staff writer
Krayons for Kids, Inc.
was founded by Rebecca
Ryan director of the choir at
Mercyhurst College.
It is a legal corporation
hoping to become a nonprofit
organization soon.
“This organization was
founded on the belief that those
of us who have a lot are willing
to give to others,” Ryan said.
On a recent trip to Honduras
with the choir, Ryan said they
performed for a group of
schoolchildren in an isolated
rural area outside of San Pedro
Sula.
The children were very
excited and prepared for the
visit, having learned phrases in
English such as ‘nice song’ and
‘pretty music.’
They also sang some songs in
English.
Upon leaving, Ryan and the
choir received drawings from
the children, and she noticed
that their crayon box held few,
if any, whole crayons and had
to be shared among the whole
class.
“I wished I could give them
clean water and a brighter future,
but I know that is beyond my
reach,” Ryan said.
“However, maybe I could fill
the crayon box with enough
crayons to color their world, put
their ideas on paper and have
fun!” she added.
Thus, Krayons for Kids was
created.
A Web site will be up soon
for the corporation, which
represents five states with
its four-member Board of
Directors and Fund Raising
Committee.
Krayons for Kids received
many donations and will soon
send them to Honduras.
A tour guide in Honduras
obtains the crayons, delivers
them to schools, records which
schools receive crayons and
takes pictures of the children
for the Web site.
For more information or
to donate crayons, contact
Rebecca Ryan at extension 2061
or rryan@mercyhurst.edu.

Become More.
Graduate School at Mercyhurst College
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Information Session
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Come learn more about the graduate programs offered
at Mercyhurst. The graduate admissions team will
be available to answer your questions, assist with
applications and provide financial aid information.





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April 29, 2009 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 11

Dance department presents ‘Giselle’

By Sarah Mastrocola
Staff writer
“Giselle” the ballet will be
at Mercyhurst College’s Mary
D’Angelo Performing Arts
Center (PAC), the dance depart-
ment will present the full-length
romantic ballet “Giselle,” a tale
of love, betrayal, madness and
the supernatural. Performances
are Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 3,
at 2 p.m.
Giselle tells the story of a
young peasant girl in love with a
nobleman Albrecht who is mas-
querading as a peasant.
Albrecht is betrothed to the
Duke’s daughter, Bathilde, and
when his deception is revealed
by the gamekeeper Hilarion,
Giselle descends into madness
and dies.
The title role of Giselle in the
ballet is very demanding, requir-
ing technical prowess and strong
artistry.
The character must make
significant transformations
throughout the course of the
ballet, beginning as an innocent
and naïve young girl, traveling
through a state of madness and
dramatic death, and finally ap-
pearing as a spirit full of forgive-
ness and loyalty to her lover.
Juniors Erin Alarcon and
Alyssa Alger will share the role
of Giselle, with senior Justin
Hogan and sophomore Chris-
topher Taddiken as their respec-
tive partners.
This is the third time Mercy-
hurst will present “Giselle” un-
der the direction of Hunter.
“In the 1996 Mercyhurst pro-
duction, the leading roles were
performed by world-renowned
artists from the American Ballet
Theatre,” she said, “and the sec-
ond time we were honored to
have Gina Ribera from the Re-
turning Professional Program
perform the leading role with a
guest artist as her partner.”
This year, however, students
have the roles.
“It is exciting for me that the
department has finally developed
to such a professional standard
that we can confidently present
our pre-professional students in
the leading roles,” Hunter said.
The cast for the ballet includes
more than 40 dance majors with
a few non-dancers appearing in
character roles.
Dance Chair Tauna Hunter,
who danced the role of Giselle
herself during her professional
career with Ballet West, has
worked to restage the famous
ballet.
Professors C. Noelle Partusch
and Christine Hay have aided in
this process, along with special
guest artist Bruce Marks, who
was in residence April 13-19. In
addition, sets generously loaned
by Ballet Nashville will add to
the splendor of the perfor-
mance.
Tickets for Giselle are $1 for
Mercyhurst students and range
from $5 to $15 for the general
public. Call extension 3000 or Mark Santillano photo
visit the PAC box office for The ballet Giselle will be performed at Mercyhurst College
ticket purchases. throughout this weekend.

What does love have to do with it?
By Nora Beckenstein
Contributing writer
I was a Giselle cynic. I ad-
mit it. A story about the young
royal, tired of the monotony of
his privileged life: I had a hard
time feeling sorry for the kid.
Then, disguised, he decides to
seek amusement in a lowly peas-
ant village and woos the young,
beautiful and probably dirty
peasant.
She falls madly in love with
the him but when she finds out
he is engaged to another wom-
an, dies of heartbreak.
When the wilis begin to kill
him, Giselle comes to the res-
cue and saves his life. This is
the point where every femi-
nist must be cringing, because
why would she save the man
who essentially killed her?
Then recent events in my
life forced me to reevaluate
this classic narrative, and I
began to relate to the story.
When watching the “mad
scene,” I realized how preva-
lent Giselle’s experience is
symbolically.
When you lose someone,
the breaking of your heart is
Mark Santillano photo no longer metaphorical—the
In the story of Giselle, she falls in love with royalty pretending pain is agonizing. This ballet
to be a peasant and eventually dies of a broken heart. is rooted in reality.
The message is timeless. It
is about love and the obstacles
that stand in its way. Giselle’s
decision to save Albrecht’s life,
though he caused her extreme
anguish, is the truest sign of
love: forgiveness. Truly an un-
suspecting hero, Giselle, unlike
the wilis, did not let her heart
harden by love’s betrayal.
The ballet delivers the time-
less message of love, through
the pain, heartache and betrayal.
Though life may throw obstacles
in your way, love will somehow
prevail. Perhaps we can all learn
from Giselle and try to over-
come these barriers and not let
love get away.
Page 12
Metro Opera presents ‘La Cenerentola’
By Hazel Jennings
Staff writer
Bellini’s most pastoral and
successful opera, La Cenerentola,
is coming to the Mary D’Angelo
Performing Arts Center at Mer-
cyhurst College as part of “The
Metropolitan Opera: Live in
High Definition” series on Sat-
urday, May 9, at 12:30 p.m.
La Cenerentola is the famed
Unknown artists from F to J showcased
By Casey Harvilla
Staff writer
F is for…Fire Apes &
Friday Night Boys.
 Although their overall
sound suggests they’re from the
UK, The Fire Apes are an all-
American band. The Fire Apes
are made up of John Seymour,
Hugh Knight, Julian Volpe and
Tommy Hammer. They have
been compared to The Pretend-
ers, Oasis, Green Day and The
Kinks, and rightfully so, as their
songs have the same catchy and
melodic elements. The Fire
Apes’ latest release is a self-
titled EP.
 The Friday Night Boys
are a pop/rock quartet out of
Virginia. They formed in 2006
with a simple goal to make great
music and party hard. FNB is
made up of Andrew Goldstein
(formerly of My Favorite High-
way), Robby Dallas Reider, Mike
Toohey and Chris Barrett, all of
whom are recent college gradu-
ates. The Friday Night Boys are
currently on tour with fellow
indie artists Sing It Loud.
G is for…George Stanford
& Gloriana.
 George Stanford is a
multi-instrumentalist, play-
ing trombone, bass, guitar and
Gioachino Rossini’s interpreta-
tion of the classic fairy tale Cin-
derella. The opera was first per-
formed in Rome in 1817, and
like the original folk tale, is just
as enjoyable now as ever before.
The opera is considered to have
some of Rossini’s finest writing
for solo voice and ensembles.
La Cenerentola is truly a reflec-
tion of genius, as the master-
piece was completed in three
weeks.
piano. As a native of Philadel-
phia, Stanford honed his music
skills at The University of The
Arts, leaving midway through his
schooling to tour with his band.
In 2006, Stanford moved to Los
Angeles, signed to Epic Records
and released an EP. Two years
later, he switched to Smash/
Mercury Records, moved back
to Philly and released his debut
full-length album, “Big Drop.”
 Gloriana is the newest
force in country music. Made
up of brothers Tom and Mike
Gossin, Rachel Reinert and
Cheyenne Kimball, Gloriana is
contemporary country music
at its best. Their debut single,
“Wild At Heart,” was featured
as the Free Single of the Week
on iTunes. With their youthful
energy and fresh take on coun-
try, Gloriana is here to stay.
H is for…Heyday & Honor
By August.
 The Heyday is a Denver-
based quintet with a friendly
and honest rock ‘n’ roll sound.
The band describes their music
as being perfect for “the drive
home with your friends on the
last night of summer.” Their
self-titled debut album features
10 radio-worthy (and mix CD-
worthy) tracks. They have been
compared to The Fray, another
Denver-based band. Needless
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Elina Garanca takes the title
role with masterful skill as she
made her Met debut in another
Rossini production, Il Barbiere
di Siviglia. She appears with an
impressive cast consisting of
Lawrence Brownlee as Prince
Charming. Veteran baritone
Alessandro Corbelli demon-
strates his impeccable comic
timing to match the gravitas of
Met favorite John Relyea. This
show is both classic and acces-
to say, the future looks bright
for these five guys from Colo-
rado.
 Honor By August’s music
is personal and powerful, making
it great live music. Honor By
August also has a proven track
record. The Washington D.C.-
based band has opened for
State Radio, Pat McGee Band
and Bon Jovi. They have also
performed showcases at the
Millennium Music Conference.
Their album, “Drowning Out
The Television,” is currently
available on iTunes.
I is for…Innercity Pirates
& Ian McGlynn.
 Hailing from Wales, UK,
Innercity Pirates are definitely
not your average band. The four
members of the band joined
together through a mutual love
of dancing to techno beats
in UK clubs, and their music
reflects this. Their latest single,
“Let’s Go (D.I.S.C.O.)” is a great
example of the band’s genre-
twisting disco/garage/indie rock
sounds.
 Ian McGlynn’s latest
album, “This Is The Sound,”
showcases 11 tracks that were
meant to be played together.
The entire album flows effort-
lessly from anthems into lulla-
bies, and with McGlynn’s signa-
ture piano skills, the tracks are
September
sible. “This opera is perfect
because everyone knows the
story of Cinderella,” Garanca
said in a Met interview. “It’s
witty and comic—plus the
music is great!”
Now in its third season and
second year at Mercyhurst,
“The Metropolitan Opera: Live
in High Definition” broadcast
is made possible with the help
of a dozen strategically placed
cameras in the Metropolitan
just the right mix. McGlynn also
produced his newest album.
J is for…Jodi King & Just
Off Turner.
 Jodi King is a Canadian
singer/songwriter whose career
started early. Growing up in
a musical family in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, she and her sister
and cousin put together the
BBWs, a girl group. Although
the BBWs’ career was short-
lived and mainly involved family
outings, that didn’t stop King’s
ambition. Her sound is sweet
acoustic pop, highlighted by her
piano and guitar playing. King’s
Johnson & Johnson
Properties
HOUSES FOR RENT
Starting June 1, 2009
814-860-8817
April3,29,2008
2009
Opera House. The cameras
offer brilliant close-ups, which
reveal the details of costumes
and facial gestures, and with
sweeping wide angles present a
panoramic spectacle giving PAC
viewers an intimate advantage
over those actually in the Met
audience.
Tickets are $18 for adults and
$15 for seniors and students.
Front row balcony tickets are
$30.
debut EP features six solid,
catchy songs.
 Just Off Turner started
out in 2001 in Arkansas, play-
ing simple Southern rock. The
four-piece band then changed
up their sound a few years
later, keeping their Southern
roots, but amplifying the alter-
native rock and soul aspects of
their music. If Just Off Turner
sounds familiar, it might be
because John Mayer person-
ally endorsed them in a 2007
blog post. JOT’s album, “The
Long Walk Back,” is available
on iTunes.
April 29, 2009
College dancers get summer opportunity
By Kelly Clymer
Contributing writer
In past years, the arts over the summer
at Mercyhurst College has been the
domain of the Pennsylvania Governor’s
School of Excellence.
The school provides opportunities for
artistically gifted students to gain training
and experience in fields including visual
art, creative writing, dance, music and
theater.
Because of the economic downturn,
the school will not hold a program at the
college this summer.
Although this is a loss, the Mercyhurst
Dance Department has taken a positive
outlook on the situation and developed
Erie Playhouse offers
Maugham’s play,
‘Constant Wife’
By Marie Carbacka
Contributing writer
Being ignorant of tragic affairs in
one’s life is much more secure than
being enraged and humiliated by the
affairs. Or so is the message from W.
Somerset Maugham’s play, “The Con-
stant Wife.” The show has been run-
ning since last Thursday, April 23,
through Sunday, April 26, at the Erie
Playhouse.
The director of the show, Carolin
Lynn, is a familiar face at Mercyhurst
College as an adjunct professor and is
very proud of the turnout for this cast
and how it has come together.
The humorous lines that always got a
laugh from Mrs. Culver, played by Tere-
sa Testrake, were amazing. She had the
best delivery of the entire group; only
second to Constance, played by Chris-
tine Linkie. Mrs. Culver was believably
birdie with her old age.
Most of the other cast members tried
too hard to act their part. Some lines
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 13
the Mercyhurst Summer Intensive Dance dance department, as well as Lake Erie the central four-week intensive. Students
Experience. The program includes train- Ballet and various guest artists. wanting even more summer dance train-
ing in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz and For those who cannot make it to the ing can take the entire ten-week program.
hip-hop and runs from Monday, July 6, four-week intensive, the program will The program has many flexible options
to Friday, July 31, this summer. extend with on-going ballet and modern that can be conducive to almost anyone’s
Students must be 12 years or older and classes throughout the summer running summer schedule. College credit is avail-
have at least five years of dance training. from Monday, June 8, to Saturday, Aug. able to students looking to earn credit
They can choose to attend just two weeks 22. Students can come for a single class, over the summer.
of the program or the entire four weeks, or choose a week to attend. For more information regarding this
and can stay in available campus housing. There is also the option to attend a program or to register, visit summer-
Along with dance training, students can three-week session either before or after dance.mercyhurst.edu.
enjoy outings to Presque Isle beaches
and even the Chautauqua Institution on
weekends.
The program will give lecture semi-
nars on proper stage make-up, dance
psychology, liturgical dance and audi-
tioning. Students can benefit from indi-
vidual attention from teachers from the
were quickly passed over and made it
impossible to understand what the ac-
tors were saying.
Though the accents were well re-
hearsed they were occasionally dropped
or too heavy.
The staging was played too far to
the back of the stage—the couch in
the middle of the stage made it hard
for the actors to talk to one another
without turning backwards unless they
played it towards the front of the stage.
The women also tended to sit on the
arm of the couch, which was incorrect
for a lady of that time period.
A very well-played scene by the lead-
ing lady, was the climatic scene when
Mortimer Durham, played by Ken
Brundage, confronts his wife for hav-
ing an affair. Constance was so believ-
ably calm and cool that one could be-
lieve it was a tell-tale.
Overall, it was a superior show that
was interesting because of the oppor-
tunity to see a playwright’s version of
the early 1900s era with all the double
standards in life between the sexes.
Page 14
Liturgical Dance
Ensemble
reaches out
to community
By Lindsay Parke
Contributing writer
Who knew Mercyhurst Col-
lege had a Liturgical Dance
Ensemble that performs at
churches and workshops across
the nation? Not many.
The ensemble is a student-
managed organization that
gives students the chance to
further their expression of reli-
gious beliefs through the art of
dance as well as achieve leader-
ship, service and performance
opportunities.
This group of dancers per-
forms in all types of venues
including churches, workshops,
retirement homes and health
care centers.
They perform in special holi-
day masses such as Palm Sunday,
Easter Vigil, Christmas Vigil
and the Baccalaureate Mass just
to name a few.
In the past, these dancers have
only performed at the Catholic
Dance Week holds parade, bake sale
By Heather Gorres
Contributing writer
As the Mercyhurst College
campus blooms with signs of
spring with students once again
venturing outdoors to enjoy
long-awaited warm weather, we
also head into National Dance
Week.
For one week all around the
country, dancers and dance-
lovers enjoy dance-related
chapel; however, this year they
will be dancing at the Protestant
chapel as well. Furthermore,
they have danced many seasonal
holiday performances at the
Forest View Health Care Center
and the Sarah Reed Retirement
Center.
The ensemble is involved with
Project Dance, an organization
that offers dancers around the
world training, education and
performance opportunities to
dance to positively influence
society culturally.
Along with Project Dance,
they have performed in Times
Square, N.Y., in spring 2007
as well as in Atlanta, Ga., in
2008. Their most recent per-
formance was last week for
the first time in a Presbyte-
rian service on Saturday, April
18, at the Girard Presbyterian
Church.
They will be performing at
Forest View Health Care Center
next Wednesday, May 13, at 2:30
p.m.
events including classes, perfor-
mances and parades to celebrate
the art of dance and share their
passion with others.
At Mercyhurst events will be
open for students to participate
in to experience different forms
of dance, from Friday, April 24,
through Sunday, May 3.
Kicking off the week was a
belly dancing class taught by
Lorre Holtz, on Monday, April
27, from 6-7 p.m. On Tuesday,
April 28, students came out at
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
National Dance Week takes place from April 24 to May 3. Mercyhurst College has numerous
events that all students can take part in.
Senior dancers moving on
By Michelle Conroy
Contributing writer
Mercyhurst College’s graduat-
ing dance majors have worked
for four years rigorously training
in dance technique and excelling
as academic students.
These dancers have put forth
great effort in making plans for
next year, and these are exciting
and impressive.
6 p.m. for a swing dance class
with Geoff Bach from City
Style Swing Dancers. You don’t
need to be a dancer to get some
exercise, hear good music and
enjoy yourself.
In addition to classes,
Wednesday, April 29, night will
feature Pop Culture Popcorn
Night. Meet in Zurn Hall 114
at 8:15 p.m. to watch the movie
“Billy Elliot” and enjoy free
popcorn.
Throughout the week, the
Nicole Cerilli will be a com-
pany member with Bodiog-
raphy Contemporary Ballet
Company in Pittsburgh, Pa.,
in addition to attending grad-
uate school at Duquesne Uni-
versity, also located in Pitts-
burgh,
Elizabeth Clain-Stefanelli
and Amanda Johnson will be
apprentices with the Ballet The-
atre of Maryland in Annapolis.
Kirstie Corso will attend the
dance department will be having
a bake sale in Zurn. Buy some
homemade sweets and head
over to the open windows to
observe a departmental dance
class or rehearsal.
Don’t forget to support
your fellow student dancers by
attending the ballet Giselle at
the Mary D’Angelo Performing
Arts Center (PAC).
Tickets for the Saturday, May
2, and Sunday, May 3, perfor-
mances are only $1. Don’t miss
April 29, 2009
Mark Santillano photo
University of Pittsburgh gradu-
ate program for International
Relations with a concentration
in Human Resources.
Nora Beckenstein will move
to New York City and begin
working for the National Dance
Institute.
Also in NYC is Jackie Koe-
hler, attending NYU for Per-
formance Studies. Beckenstein
and Koehler plan to continue
dancing in New York.
this exciting full-length ballet
right here on campus.
Get ready to move during
National Dance Week at Mer-
cyhurst.
From classes to performances
to movies, there is something
for everyone, and events are
open to all students, not just
dance majors.
So grab your friends and
come on out for a week of
classes, movies, sweets and per-
formances.
April 29, 2009
Choreography 4 shows off seniors’ work
By Megan Dunphy
Contributing writer
In conjunction with
National Dance Week, the
Mercyhurst College Dance
Department presented the
Choreography 4 Showings on
Sunday, April 26.
Seniors Justin Hogan and
Caitlin Roberts displayed their
choreographic talents through
performances of their original
works, “Stomping Grounds”
and “Psychedelica.”
Hogan began his choreo-
graphic development at the
’Hurst as a freshman and has
expanded his work, here and at
North Carolina Dance Theatre
2.
His piece, “Stomping
Grounds,” depicts the connect-
edness of all people and the
effect one can have on another,
Jazz Mandolin Project performs at PAC
By Marie Karbacka
Staff writer
This past Wednesday, April
22, in the Mary D’Angelo Per-
forming Arts Center (PAC),
the Jazz Mandolin Project per-
formed for the Mercyhurst Col-
lege community.
It was led by Jamie Mase-
field who played the man-
dolin, Peter Apfelbaum who
played the woodwinds, flute
and percussion, Sean Dixon
who played the drums and
Scott Ritchie who played the
upright bass.
Masefield constructed this
performance from the short
story by Leo Tolstoy “How
Much Land Does A Man
Need?”
From his past degree in en-
vironmental science, Masefield
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Seniors Justin Hogan and Caitlin Roberts displayed their cho-
reographic talents at the Choreography 4 Showings.
saw fit to create his own mean-
ing with the story, his music
and an amateur film.
I am sure that his feelings
about the modern situations
the United States face are very
strong, but in both the master
class for the entire music de-
partment and the question and
answer session after the show
he kept his answers open.
Masefield said his first draft
of the film used subtitles, but
no one really read them, so a
friend of Masefield’s provided
him with the name of a Rus-
sian aunt, Elena Pankratov, to
narrate the story.
The pronunciations of the
English words by Pankratov
have such an old folk story
ring—it had the perfect tone.
In the introduction, Mase-
field filmed simple raindrops
on a window and railroad
Mark Santillano photo
tracks.
The blurred transition from
the clear shot of rain on a win-
dow to nothing was so imagi-
native. There was a definite
connection between what was
in the film and what was be-
ing said.
In one scene two women
were talking over a meal, which
completely reflected the wife of
the farmer, Pahom, and a neigh-
bor.
The lighting on stage changed
to red to represent the devil
coming into the story. Masefield
told the audience he created the
pictured masks himself to rep-
resent certain characters in the
tale.
To emphasize the end of the
story the music became more
intense, getting faster and faster,
until the final line.
The extent of today’s environ-
no matter the situation.
Hogan described his choreo-
graphic style as “something that
is based with a strong under-
standing of ballet technique
but also respecting and enjoy-
ing the freedom and expres-
siveness that more modern
dance styles present.”
Roberts has enjoyed choreo-
graphing for many years, but
first saw her work on stage at
the college.
With regard to creating
her piece, Roberts said, “The
only thing I knew was that I
wanted to do a contemporary
ballet entirely to Jimi Hendrix
music.”
“Psychedelica” is a world
where women are powerful and
strong, and are able to draw
in the one male in the piece.
The movements featured are a
combination of modern, jazz
and ballet, with the dancers
mental greed works perfectly
with the lines of Tolstoy.
The expanse of the world’s
environmental greed works per-
fectly with the lines of Tolstoy’s
short story.
I truly believe that it was
not only entertainment, but
also a learning experience that
made everyone in the audience
The Jazz Mandolin Project performed at Mercyhurst on
Wednesday, April 22.
Page 15
looking like they are having a
good time.
With graduation rapidly
approaching, these seniors are
contemplating their plans for
the future.
“I’d like to continue cho-
reographing when opportuni-
ties present themselves, but I’ll
primarily dance until I can no
longer perform, and then begin
my choreographic career in ear-
nest,” Hogan said.
Roberts explained she is
unsure of her future, but knows
she will undoubtedly continue
to choreograph. “Who knows
. . . maybe I will be the next
Twyla Tharp . . . a girl can
dream!”
Hogan and Roberts will be
greatly missed in the Mercy-
hurst College dance commu-
nity, but their choreographic
talents will take them far in
their futures.
reflect on life, our impact on
the world and the world’s im-
pact on us.
No one should take up more
than they bodily need.
In the end, all we need is
our own body to do as much
as we can, without vices and
temptations getting in our
way.
pac.mercyhurst.edu
Page 16 OPINION April 29, 2009
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.

Unconditional love provides comfort for every situation

Mercyhurst College’s Ethical
Reflection Committee has initiated this
series to encourage reflection within the
entire college community on the values
by which we live. We suggest that
faculty introduce appropriate essays
into class discussion; we encourage
students to bring these thoughts to
classes; we invite administrators and
staff to explore these in department
meetings. The ERC also requests that
you let us know how you have used
these thoughts in your life. Contact
Rev. Lyta Seddig, Chair: lseddig@
mercyhurst.edu. This I Believe” is
now linked to the college website.
Essays can be found at http://www.
mercyhurst.edu/ne/special-events/
believe_essays.
I believe in unconditional
love and that unconditional love
takes many forms.
It requires faith when fear
abounds.
It demands courage despite
many questions with few
answers.
Patience is needed in the face
of chaos and discontent.
I am a single mother of three
teenage boys.
From hair color to
temperament to physique, they
all differ from each other.
It is daunting for me to
distribute the amount and type
of love required by each boy;
the task seems to change daily.
My eldest is a newly minted
college student, finding his
calling and empowering himself
more every day, each week.
As he quietly offers his
accomplishments, I accept with
joy.
He is easy to watch and to
love.
My middle son is a sinewy
competitor, successful at
dodging opponents on the
soccer field and responsibility
on the home and school fronts.
I love this son with a tentative
completeness.
He is guarded and wants easy
approval; I overlook faults too
easily and do not honor him by
this.
He helps me to remember
that loving does not mean
allowing.
And then there is my
youngest boy, just 15 and still
sporting a whisper of freckles.
He returned home on
Easter Sunday after being
away six months. The pain of
loving a child in the face of
addiction is searing, baffling
and complete.
I have loved him with despair
and with hope, through times
of crisis and of quiet.
Although I remain cautious,
I know the subtle art of
change and trust are crucial to ripple effect. since August 2007.
us both. Unconditional love, in As I learn, I can teach. As I She works in the Office of Student
many forms, coats and heals us grow in tolerance, I’ll understand Union and Student Activities three
all. I shed one layer only to find more. days a week and oversees students
a better one underneath. Others will be touched and on the EMTA “fun bus” on the
It is a marvelous blend of changes may occur. weekends. Her favorite aspect about
emotions, faith, and grace Where there is unconditional Mercyhurst:
allowing me to love each of my love, there is always room for “I enjoy interacting with the
boys differently but completely. hope. students; our discussions often
If I am fortunate and aware, Helena (“Nell”) Hardy has been cover a broad range of subjects and
this art of loving can have a affiliated with Mercyhurst College emotions.”

Diet pill commercial fuels body image issues

I was working on my
By Jordan homework, but looked up as the
Zangaro before and after pictures of this
Staff writer “fat” where shown.
Suddenly, the great day I
disgusted the viewers.
My roommate watching TV
with me laughed while I went on
a completely overdramatic angry
But really, what does this
say about our society? It is
unrealistic to want to look like
a celebrity.
Not to mention, most
image issues most people face?
Easy… it doesn’t.
It’s commercials like these
fueling eating disorders and
disoriented self-images for

The temperature is finally
warming up in Erie. Spring
clothes are out and summer will
be here in no time.
Worries of bathing suit
season and discussions of body
image have started to circle
everywhere.
I was sitting in my living room
last week and a commercial came
on that caught my attention.
It started off with an image
of diet pills and a voice-over, “I
thought I would be fat forever.”
“
was having ended. I was now
fat.
I definitely weigh more
than this “overweight”,
miserable girl in the before
picture.
Looking around for
something to cause damage
to my television screen, I felt
sick to my stomach.
They should have just
used a picture of me from the
pool last summer as the before
picture… that would have really
It’s commercials like
these fueling eating
disorders and
disoriented self-
images of young,
vulnerable people...
Jordan Zangaro”
outburst about the ludicrous
content of this commercial, and
we discussed ideas of suing this
company for all it is worth.
celebrities our age look like
skeletons and it makes me cringe
to see every bone in their body.
We don’t have a professional
trainer or chef at our constant
beck and call.
Sometimes it is just easier
(and tastier) to grab a double
cheeseburger from McDonald’s
and I don’t think I should feel
guilty about it or consider taking
diet pills.
How does a commercial like
this help self-esteem and body
young, vulnerable people who
so desperately want to look like
Eva Mendes, Megan Fox, Jessica
Biel or God forbid someone
who wants to look like one of
the Olsen twins.
I think eating healthy and
exercising should be priorities
in everyone’s daily routine, but
I don’t think it is necessary to
put an average size girl on the
screen and call her fat.
It is completely insane, and I
don’t appreciate it.
April 29, 2009
Beaming sun rays provoke
carefree attitude in students
By Hayley O’Hare
Staff writer
The sun is out. I know it
seemed as though it would never
happen but it’s glorious.
The reappearance of tank
tops, cornhole boards and shirt-
less boys has put a smile on
everyone’s face. Many of our
moods are affected by the con-
stant gloomy weather.
Thankfully, Mother Nature
has blessed us with sunny rays. It
is amazing to see everyone take
a spot on the grass and it’s hard
Discussing importance of individuality
By Thomas Kubica
Contributing writer
In light of current events, it
is time for us to reexamine how
we view the political spectrum.
We have understood the great
political conflict to be left vs.
right, conservative vs. liberal
and Republican vs. Democrat.
This is convenient for media
and political elites but does it
reflect reality? I submit to you it
does not.
The real conflict is the indi-
vidual vs. the state.
The way to true freedom is to
recognize the sovereignty of the
individual. Why? Because the
traits necessary for a function-
ing free society (responsibility,
rights, etc) are individual traits.
It is when we lose sight of the
importance of individual liber-
ties that government grows and
freedom fades away.
A nay-sayer might object,
“Surely there must be a state
authority! There is no way indi-
viduals can care for themselves!
Anarchy will surely result!”
The nay-sayer misunderstands
order entirely.
to ignore how much happier
and carefree we’ve all become.
I spent the weekend outside,
taking walks, sitting in the park
and lying on the beach. I could
not have been happier but a
thought crossed my mind while I
was sunning myself: “How am I
going to get any work done?”
Well, as irresponsible as it may
sound I have decided spend-
ing time with my friends is
more important than stressing
about school.
After four years, the relation-
ships I have built are more impor-
tant than any assignment, test or
Compare the interactions you
make regularly.
The most orderly, peaceful
experiences you have take place
in a vacuum of regulation. For
example, your local mall: cer-
tainly there are general rules
established for such a place by
the owner, but rarely will you
find a police force micro-man-
aging every interaction.
Yet, this is generally a very
peaceful place.
This state of harmony (aka
“anarchy” or Rothbardian “anar-
cho-capitalism”) is the natural
result of free people working
to find the most mutually ben-
eficial solution to the problem
of navigating the lot and buying
goods and services.
Now, imagine some of the
most regulated businesses in the
country drugs and food.
America is less healthy than
comparable countries. Why?
Because they are governed
not by a truly free market but
by a central planning author-
ity. Apply this idea to your life.
Would you rather have absolute
freedom to choose the best gov-
erning style or would you rather
be stuck with a choice between
OPINION Page 17
Early birds disrupt
late sleepers
quiz. I have learned a lot, worked I didn’t want to have to get
By Alaina Rydewzski
hard and I will graduate, but I will up early. So when I’m getting
Staff writer
never live with my roommates much needed sleep and am
again and I may never see some Mercyhurst College has awakened early by extremely
friends I have made after gradu- numerous activities at all times loud people, it makes me a little
ation. I am confident I will still of the day. This is not only bit angry.
complete my assignments, but understandable, it should be Just because one person is
if I am asked to go to the beach expected. up doesn’t mean everyone is
or have a beer with my friends I To be awakened up in the up, and the people who are
am going to do it. With my new early morning hours, however, is awake need to be respect-
attitude and tan I will enjoy every not understandable and cannot ful. This simply means being
day with the people who have be expected. Everyone on quiet when walking by a dorm
become family. campus has a different sched- building and keeping the noise
We won’t be given back this ule and struggles to get enough level appropriate.
time and I would rather spend it sleep as it is. No screaming, yelling or any-
in the sun with my friends than I purposely didn’t schedule 8 thing of that sort. It’s not hard
in front of a computer screen. a.m. classes this term because and I would appreciate it!
bad and worse? If your goal is
maximum benefit and minimum
cost, your choice must be free-
dom. I am sure some will insist
on simplifying this to some sort If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
of spectrum. Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
If you must have a spectrum, Casey Greene Editor-in-Chief editormerciad
let it run from absolute freedom JoEllen Marsh Managing Editor mgeditormerciad
(where lies political anarchism, Amanda Valauri News Editor newsmerciad
autarchism and libertarianism) Javi Cubillos Features Editor featuremerciad
to absolute statism (where lies Heather Donovan Opinion Editor opinionmerciad
various strains of totalitarian- Brad Moehringer Sports Editor sportsmerciad
ism, communism and fascism). Sam Sellinger Sports Editor sportsmerciad
This is more logical and will Kyle King A&E entertainmentmerciad
prevent you from falling for Scoot Williams Photographer photomerciad
political gimmickry and lies. Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
If you do not fear complex- Caitlin Bly Advertising Manager admerciad
ity and wish to dispel the myths Gretchen Yori Copy Editor copymerciad
you’ve been fed by the establish- Ashley Pastor General Assignment apasto22
ment, I encourage you to think Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
even beyond a simple two point Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
spectrum. The Nolan Chart
(www.nolanchart.com/survey. The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
php) is a good step toward this
College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
type of thinking.
By becoming an actively
finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (
thoughtful, insightful person, 814) 824-2376.
you will take away the bureau-
crats’ authority over your life. The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
You will claim your rightful and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
heritage as heir to the enlight- letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
ened thinking of the Founding are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
Fathers and the world will be
infinitely better for it. letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Page 18
College student refusing to use Facebook
How the social networking site remains unappealing to at least one
By Michael Kozminski
Contributing writer
My friends say I don’t like to
conform to society.
Maybe, maybe not. When
people hear I never had a
Facebook account, they
look confused.
However, I have never seen a
point in Facebook.
What do you really learn
about someone through it? You
might see where someone lives,
if they’re in a relationship, their
favorite music, favorite movies
and all the friends they have.
You don’t really know about a
person unless you know them.
How do I really know Mr.
Sheridan is obsessed with James
Bond? Is it because I saw it
on his blog profile page? No,
I know it from the classes I’ve
had with him. If you hear him
talk about it, it’s easy to tell he
loves anything James Bond.
How do you know I’m
obsessed with Cleveland sports?
Because you’ve had a class
with me and have either seen
Using language to dig for truth, knowledge
By Jerrod
Markle
Staff writer
Time runs down to the phase
of transition and I feel run down
as if the ups I am missing.
But I would like to take some
time to thank language for being
available for my use.
Societal traditions throughout
time have respected language
for destructive, creative and
curative dialogical powers.
I have spanned these powers
in these Merciad conversations
with readers, realizing the full
scope of language’s intended
and unintended consequences.
me wearing a Cleveland shirt
almost every day or heard me
give a presentation somehow
relating to sports. On the other
hand you may not have known
and are finding out through
reading this.
So maybe my profile would
tell you some of my favorite
movies are Fight Club, Snatch
and American History X.
What does that tell you? Joe
Smith lists those as his favorite
movies, too. Besides, are you
really going to start talking to
me, because you like the same
movies as I do?
I originally listed the movies
I liked under my blog profile.
It was the first time I listed my
favorite movies online. It was
weird and I deleted them.
So, Facebook would give me
the opportunity to check my
close friends’ profiles. What’s in
there I don’t know?
If I have to refer to your pro-
file, I’m probably not that good
of friends with you.
And who cares what Derek
Jones is doing right now? Derek
Jones went to the same grade
I am simply gracious for
being part of a society using lan-
guage as a tool to dig for truth
and knowledge.
However, language can also
be a barrier if truth and knowl-
edge are valued higher than lan-
guage itself.
Drawing on last weeks’ lan-
guage regarding the anthro-
pomorphizing of both God
and Earth, which we can learn
false assumptions may lead to
false presumptions.
These patterns, seem to
model a form of functional
illiteracy, so we read but
don’t comprehend.
Sometimes I find Eng-
lish unworthily elevated as a
OPINION
school as me until third grade
and I haven’t seen him since.
I could care less what
he’s doing.
That goes for the other 1,546
“friends” I’ve had in my life. If
I care about your life, I’ll have
your number, screen name
or e-mail.
I constantly hear how people
hate the changes made to the
site. It always sounds creepier
and more pointless.
Suddenly, it’s not such a good
idea to have so many friends,
because you get updates on
every single thing they change
in their profile.
Holy crap, did I freak out
when I got 12 e-mails from
Twitter. I had never gotten so
much mail at once.
Do you really get an e-mail
every time someone writes on
your wall?
I thought texting was the cool
thing to do these days. Another
thing bugging me is employers
checking Facebook. I don’t have
one but my friends made one
for me behind my back once.
Anyone can have a Facebook
universal language only because
it serves as the trade language.
First, the English language
was served by Francis Bacon or
William Shakespeare in order
to propagate a certain culture
aligned with their views of
human nature and the universe.
This is not to say I disrespect
my native dialect, for without it
my own narrative falls silent.
I experience language as neu-
tral in its capacity to sound both
good and evil.
Borrowing words from
the English propagandist or
writer,Aldous Huxley, “Thanks
to words, we have been able to
rise above the brutes; and thanks
to words, we have often sunk to
April 29, 2009
now and you don’t have to be
who you claim to be.
My friends even made a
“group” for people who wanted
me to join Facebook.
The creepy thing is within 20
minutes, 10 people joined.
Facebook makes people
stupid too. Someone once told A rally to protest the
me they had pictures of me Tire-to-Energy plant will be
but couldn’t send them to me held at 4:13 p.m. on Friday
because I don’t have Facebook. at the Plant Site, 922 Bacon
Really? What happened to e- Street. Grab your picket
mail or printing them out? sign and help save the Erie
I could go on and on about community and
how I don’t like Facebook environment.
but I don’t think you will
keep reading.
I’m surprised you made it this
far since everyone loves Face-
book so much.
I’ve never even bothered
checking people’s profiles on
their blogs. Do I hate you? No,
but is it really going to tell me
anything about you? I know you The Cornerstone turned
can consider what I do with my into a brutal fight scene on
free time is a waste. Wednesday night. The 25
However, I think I’d rather cent beers may have fueled
spend my free time playing Wii. the fire for the aggressive
That way, at least I’m improving attacks.
my hand-eye coordination.
the level of the demons.”
With this in mind, I remem-
ber the approach to language
should be silent prayer or con-
fession.
One may desire not to rise The Senior Gift Commit-
above persons or sink below tee is low on funds this year.
them but simply to be one, as Perhaps this is a reflection
language so permits. of the disgruntled nature
I know not if it is what we and disappointed feelings
say or how we say that matters. of the Class of 2009.
I assume, perhaps falsely, words
and sounds partake in creating,
destroying or curing communi- Please e-mail any suggestions to
cational matter. opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Since each week I am granted The GB&U is a compilation of
only 400 words I will take the student opinions.
remaining space to leave 23
words unsaid, unheard and
unread. Suffice.
Baseball..........................................Apr. 21, W 10-0, W 5-3 Lake Erie
Apr. 24, W 10-9, L California (PA.)
Apr. 25, W 9-5, W 10-1 California (PA.)
Men’s Lacrosse...............................Apr. 25, W 12-6 Wheeling Jesuit
Women’s Lacrosse...................................Apr. 22, W 21-3 Edinboro
Apr. 24, L 10-8 West Chester

Lakers sink opposition

Bidwell Selected To Compete In NCAA Regionals
Mercyhurst College senior golfer Tyler Bidwell has been selected to
participate in the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional
tournament. The tournament is to be held May 4 through May 6 at
The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, W. VA. Bidwell was one of
eight competitors selected by the NCAA Men’s Golf Committee to
By Anne Sobol
Staff writer
earn an individual invitation to the regional tournament. Bidwell has
posted a 18-hole score average of 75.9 for the 2008-09 season.
The Mercyhurst College
Five Lakers Selected to Team Canada U-22 Camp rowers kept up their sweep of
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team haS been selected the East this weekend as the
by Team Canada Under-22 Strength and Conditioning/Skating women’s eight again claimed a
Camp. Sophomores Vickie Bendus and Jesse Scanzano and fresh- decisive first place over Dowling
man Bailey Bram, Jess Jones and Hillary Pattenden will participate College and Philadelphia
in the camp geared to choosing Hockey Canada’s Under-22 team University, ranked No. 3 and
for the 2009-10 season. No. 4 respectively, on their
home waters at Findley Lake.
After a close start, the crew
steadily increased their lead to
finish about 10 seconds over
Dowling and 13 ahead of
Philly.
Senior and co-captain Michele Scoot Williams photo
Handzel coxed the crew to The rowing team rigs their boats as they prepare to row-
victory, which included juniors against Philadelphia University and Dowling College.
Leah Niecgorski, co-captain four. four had no better luck for the
Annie Schiller, Alicia Peterson On the men’s side, the eight day.
Jason LaShomb-Men’s Lacrosse and Abbey Celarek, sophomores could not shake the Philly crew Both teams, however, had a
Mercyhurst College senior Jason LaShomb of the men’s lacrosse Ali Bogart and Beth Brun and and dropped to a 7-second few more golds to boast in the
tem earned was named the East Coast Athletic Conference Goal- freshman Amanda Carolyn. deficit crossing the line in pair events.
keeper of the Week for the week of April 27. LaShomb saved 21 The women’s varsity four had second. Niecgorski and Schiller
shots in a 12-6 victory over Wheeling Jesuit University April 25. He a solid race as well, given windy With junior Ryan Browning posted a full minute over
is 10-3 for the season with a .603 save percentage. conditions, splitting the time coxing, juniors Chris Register, Philly, while Boyd/Jovanovic
between Philly and Dowling. Stanislov Kostic, Ben Wells and and Baggaley/Register rocked
Ethan Santora-Baseball Freshman Sally O’Brien, Michael Orzolek; senior Kurtis each of Philadelphia’s A and B
Mercyhurst College freshman Ethan Santora of the baseball team coxswain Lindsey Crosby and Boyd at stern, sophomores boats.
tied the single season home run record of 16 home runs this past Lauren Moss, junior Ashley Lif Michael Baggaley, Jovan May 2, both the men and
weekend against California University of Pennsylvania. Santora tied and senior Michele “Mitzie” Jovanovic and Ben Caplinger women will travel to Allendale,
a record that has been held since 1997 when it was set by Pat Cut- Olivares have definitely shown put up a fight and were not Mich. for the Mid-America
shall Santora this past week posted a .478 batting percentage, hit their strength in national easily overcome. Collegiate Rowing Association
three home runs and drove in 10 runs. contention, as did the freshman Unfortunately, the freshmen regatta.
Page 20
LaShomb making ‘Saves for Kids’
By Katie Dinunzio
Staff writer
One-hundred-and-eleven
saves and still two more games
to go.
The 2009 men’s lacrosse
season began the second week
in February and their final regu-
lar season game is scheduled for
the second day of May.
However, senior goalie Jason
Lashomb plans on extending
the Laker’s season of “saves”
a lot longer than their 14-game
schedule.
Over the summer and begin-
ning this past fall, Lashomb
created a program through the
local Make-A-Wish Foundation
called “Saves for Kids.”
His “goal?” To find local
companies and individuals gen-
erous enough to donate money
to Saves for Kids in order to
grant terminally ill children their
own unique wish.
There are two ways to donate
to Saves for Kids.
A company or individual can
donate a set amount of money
for each save Lashomb makes
during the season or they can
Women’s lax playoff run disappoints
By Katie Waldin
Staff writer
The regular season came to
end this past week as the wom-
en’s lacrosse team of Mercyhurst
College unfortunately lost their
last Pennsylvania State Ath-
letic Conference (PSAC) match
against West Chester University.
The Lakers fought for the
semi-final PSAC victory as they
moved forward into their last
regulation game of the year, and
despite their eight goals, they
simply provide a donation of
their choice to the cause.
When we last talked to
Lashomb he informed us that
many individuals were lined up
to donate to the cause and a
communications company from
Rochester, N.Y., PAETEC, had
donated $500.
So what’s the current status
of the All-American goalie and
his generous ambition to raise
money in order to help make
the dreams of children come
true?
Lashomb, his teammates, and
many eager individuals devote
a great deal of their time to the
cause, and it shows.
Valerio’s Pizzeria could not
resist jumping on the Saves for
Kids campaign and has agreed
to donate as well.
Mercyhurst College has
decided to pitch in as much as
they can to help.
An organization on campus,
the Council for Exceptional
Children (CEC), which is com-
prised of Mercyhurst education
majors, has expressed that they
want to donate to the cause.
As word spread around
campus about Lashomb’s Saves
could not keep West Chester
down.
The Lakers would however
fall to West Chester 10-8 at
Tullio Field on Friday, April 22.
The Lakers are upset by the
loss at the end of the season
against the sixth ranked West
Chester, but they are looking
forward to hopefully receiving a
bid to the playoffs.
This weekend the National
Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) will release the bids for
the Division II national tourna-
ment that will take place in a few
SPORTS
for Kids program, other Mercy-
hurst students wanted to join in
the effort.
This past Sunday Mercyhurst
held its annual 5K “Kid’s Fun
Run” organized by the school’s
Sports medicine Student Asso-
ciation and the Student-Athlete
Advisory Board.
The proceeds from this
year’s “Run for a Dream” race
are being donated to Saves for
Kids.
“Brad Jacobson, the Sports
Medicine department and the
Student Athletics Advisory
Board have been nice enough
to put in a lot of time and
effort into putting together the
details for the race and decided
to donate this year to my cam-
paign. I was really fortunate
that they decided to help me,”
Lashomb said.
Many students, faculty and
Erie citizens came and ran the
race Sunday to raise money
and show their support for the
cause.
With all of these different
companies and groups donat-
ing, students at Grover Cleve-
land Elementary school did not
want to be left out.
weeks.
The Lakers said that they have
played well up to this point, and
they are hoping to take their
game forward into the post
season play.
“We came together and dis-
played one of the best team
defense performances of the
year and there are no regrets
because there was not one
player on the team who didn’t
play to her fullest potential,”
McGoff said.
Ally Keirn had similar feelings
to McGoff about the results
Grover Cleveland Elemen-
tary, where Lashomb student
taught in the fall, agreed to have
a dress-down day to raise money
for Saves for Kids.
Lashomb’s cooperating
teacher, Mrs. Piecuch, wanted
to get involved and proposed
this idea.
Donating $1, the children
were allowed to dress down for
the day and raised $670 which
they happily handed over to
help further the Saves for Kids
program.
The pressure for Lashomb to
make saves on the field is not
only to come out with a win,
but also to make saves because
of the value each holds.
Each save that Lashomb
makes in a game is worth
$13.65.
And with 111 saves so far this
season that calculates to a whop-
ping $1515.15. Lashomb said
currently with flat donations
the total raised and donated
for Saves for Kids comes to
$2020.35.
“I have truly been given an
enormous amount of support
and it has been so helpful,”
LaShomb said.
of the last match against West
Chester.
“Everyone on our team
played their absolute hardest,
which made it more upsetting
for us to lose in the end,” Keirn
said. Throughout the season the
women have put in a lot of heart
and passion for the team.
As the season moves closer to
the end the women are thankful
for everyone’s dedication and
desire to succeed and work their
way to a national title.
“Jersey or no jersey, each indi-
vidual that contributed to the
April 29, 2009
Many family members, friends
and parents of teammates are
getting involved as well.
The amazing support for
Saves for Kids is spreading
quick but at times it’s tough.
“I can understand (compa-
nies’) hesitation to donate due
to the current situation of the
economy but it has been frus-
trating,” LaShomb said.
While generous individuals
and groups have raised money
and donated to the cause, it has
been hard for Lashomb to get
companies to donate, mailing
out information and visiting
12 local businesses, with Vale-
rio’s Pizzeria the only one to
donate.
Lashomb has used his talent
to make his saves count for
more than just his fellow team-
mates.
He said he will not just be
remembered for his play in the
goal in lacrosse, but also his
charity.
Anyone interested in par-
ticipating in Saves for Kids
and helping make a child’s
dream come true contact
him at jlasho40@mercyhurst.
edu.
season’s success is part of the
team including our enthusiastic
bench, skilled starters, devoted
staff, supportive parents, raging
fans and even our caring athletic
trainers,” McGoff said.
“Every talent and personality
came together as one unit know-
ing what they had to do, it was
just a matter of going out there
and doing it,” McGoff said.
The girls will have wait to
hear about their NCAA tourna-
ment fates. It is unlikely though
the Lakers will get a chance to
extend their season.
April 29, 2009
Playoff scenarios ‘Playoff Virgin Syndrome’
Baranowski’s predictions
for NHL second round
By John
Baranowski
Sports columnist
I could look like an idiot
depending on how things go
between when the deadline for
this column is and when it is
published.
Considering that these series
are going the distance, is a
winner obvious with any of
them?
Regardless, I’ll give my picks
based on how things break with
these series.
For those wanting more than
I’m able to give in this column,
watch Hockey Week in Review
on HurstTV channel 19, which
is mainly on late nights or
watch on hockeyweek.blogspot.
com.
Don’t you love shameless
plugs?
The NHL playoffs always
have the highest remaining
seed playing against the lowest
remaining seed, so it’s not as
clean-cut as a bracket, and
thus we must look at different
scenarios.
First round, I predicted
the Washington Capitals to
beat the New York Rangers in
seven games, and I could be
right.
I also predicted the Carolina
Hurricanes would upset
the New Jersey Devils in six
games.
I was wrong, but let’s say that
the Caps and Canes win their
game sevens.
That would make the Boston
Bruins versus Carolina, where
I look for the upset again,
with Carolina winning in seven
games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins
would play Washington,
where this writer’s dream has
Pittsburgh winning in seven
games— after Bob Errey jinxes
another game.
One win the other way
changes everything.
If the Rangers and Carolina
win, we have Boston versus
New York, where Boston wins
in five, and Pittsburgh versus
Carolina, and Pittsburgh wins
in seven games in a very tough
series.
If Washington wins and New
Jersey wins, we have Boston
versus Pittsburgh, where Boston
would most likely prevail in
six games, and Washington
versus New Jersey, where the
Devils move on after five
games.
If New York and New Jersey
win, Boston sweeps the Rangers
in four games, and Pittsburgh
overtakes New Jersey in a game
seven overtime.
The Western Conference, on
the other hand, is pretty much
locked up.
The Anaheim Ducks came
out of nowhere to upset the
very promising San Jose Sharks,
showing that the “Cup Changes
Everything.”
Like many, I said that San Jose
would win in five games.
Ouch.
Anaheim plays the Detroit
Red Wings.
I might be just as wrong
again, but if I’m going to strike
out, I’m going to do it swinging
for the fences.
Keep out your brooms, Wings
fans, Detroit sweeps 4-0.
The Vancouver Canucks play
the Chicago Blackhawks, just
as I predicted, and I predict
the Blackhawks to win in five
games, despite some great play
from Roberto Luongo of the
Canucks.
SPORTS Page 21
Swanson offers thoughts on NHL playoffs
By Devon Swanson
to finish out the series in
six games.
can-eat buffet.
Big players for the Bruins
Staff writer
Can I just say I love Adam were Michael Ryder (four goals
Burish for throwing that octo- and three assists in four games!),
Apparently, the President’s pus in that commercial? Phil Kessel (six points while not
Trophy doesn’t mean much: the The Detroit Red Wings contracting mono again!), Milan
Ducks came out and proved swept the Columbus Blue Jack- Lucic (one suspension in four
that knowing the Heimlich ets in an all-together forgetful games!) and Carey Price.
is an absolute necessity in San series defined by the Playoff I don’t know if I was more
Jose. Virgin Syndrome and Detroit’s excited about the games being
The one reason the Ducks machine-like dominance of played in the Wachovia Center
won (aside from the Shark’s every team it encounters. or which chant was coming out
complete inability to win a play- Notables were Pavel Datsyuk of Philly’s fans next.
off series): Jonas Hiller. and the Swedish Olympic team. Hint: “Crosby sucks!”
In six games, the Swiss goal- ‘Nuff said. Big time stat: the Flyers’ top
tender had 1.46 GAA, .957 The Vancouver Canucks also line and defensive pairing were a
save percentage and posted two swept their series, beating the combined minus 16. Ouch.
shutouts. St. Louis Blues in an unexpect- But don’t worry Flyers fans,
Two questions come from edly lopsided series. they’ll be back on July 26 at the
this: where was J.S. Giguere, and Roberto Luongo was a brick Wachovia Center.
who is Jonas Hiller? wall and the red-hot St. Louis Oh, wait, that’s the WWE
It’s Mike Keenan’s fault in offense was doused with water Night of Champions…
Calgary. by the Canucks’ weird alternate In other news, Thomas Vanek
No, it’s Jarome Iginla’s. logo whale thing. is playing for Team Austria in
No, it’s Kipper’s. Search on YouTube for “Van- the World Championships and
They’re all wrong, it’s Chi- couver Canucks Trash Talk.” Max Afinogenov was -1 for the
cago’s fault for playing great Poor Kelly Backes. day.
hockey. Mwah-ha-ha. Not on the ice, but instead at
That, and they trash-talk In the East, the Boston the Cazenovia Park Golf Course
really well. Bruins dominated, and the (just take the 190 to the 16,
The ’Hawks laid two Montreal Canadiens left faster only five miles from HSBC
beatdowns on the Flames than a supermodel at an all-you- Arena!).
Mercyhurst IT Department
Resident Technician (ResTech) position
Start Fall 2009 $2,000 stipend
Assist students at Helpdesk or in Student Residence halls
Apply by printing, completing and returning the form located at
http://lakernet.mercyhurst.edu/attach/
restechapplication.pdf
Return the form to: Helpdesk, LIBRARY 208
or call ext. 3301 for more information
Application deadline: May 1, 2009
Page 22
Baseball PSAC playoff bound
By Nick Glasier
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst College
baseball team earned its first
Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) Western
Division title and the top seed
in the PSAC Tournament
after winning a weekend series
against California University of
Pennsylvania.
The Lakers improved their
record after the weekend to
32-14 and will play at Gannon
University Friday, May, 1.
The Lakers also are nationally
ranked for the first time at 27 in
Collegiate Baseball Magazine and
PING!Baseball
The Lakers will start PSAC
Tournament play against fourth-
seeded Mansfield University on
Monday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. at
Clipper Magazine Stadium in
Lancaster, Pa. and junior Steve
Grife will make the start.
Mansfield was ranked 39 in
the preseason collegiate polls
but failed to reach these lofty
expectations as they posted a 23-
29 record this season.
The Mountaineers are lead
Rain puts early end to softball season The Lakers recorded 20 or
By Sarah Powell
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst College soft-
ball team’s final game of the
2009 season against Notre Dame
College of Ohio was canceled
last week due to rain.
The rain forced an early end
to the season in which Mercy-
hurst finished 20-23, and fin-
ished fourth in its first year in
the Pennslyvania State Athletic
Conferance (PSAC) Western
Division with a 6-10 divisional
record.
SPORTS
Jim Cooper photo
Junior John Blike offers at a pitch from California University of
Pennsylvania on Friday, April 24.
offensively by sophomore Kevin The Mercyhurst College
Miller who posted a .379 batting baseball team squared off
average with five home runs and against the California University
the ace for the Mountaineers of Pennsylvania Vulcans in a
junior Eric Rosenburger has a weekend series with serious
3.82 ERA with a record of 6-3. implications.
“We split a series against The series started at home with
Mansfield and they are a good an equal amount of offensive
team with good line up, it will firepower from both teams as
be good contest.” Coach Joseph the Lakers defeated the Vulcans
Spano said. 10-9 in eight innings.
run average.
more wins for the third season in Laker starting pitchers threw
a row and made a good run in three complete-game shut-
their first season participating in outs, most notably a complete
the PSAC. game one-hitter in an eight-
Although, the Lakers didn’t inning victory over cross-town
move on to the postseason, the rival Gannon University April
team had numerous successes as 16.
well as individuals players having Junior Elizabeth Maier fin-
season highlights. ished the season with a batting
The Lakers posted the second average of .446, putting her at
most runs in a single season in the second highest batting aver-
program history and batted .281 age in the PSAC.
as a team. Maier was fifth in the PSAC in
The team scored nine or more on-base percentage at .469.
runs in a game on 12 occasions. Maier was also tied for fifth in
Mercyhurst held a 2.97 earned the PSAC with 36 runs scored.
The Vulcans jumped out to a
2-0 lead in the top of the first but
Mercyhurst answered back.
In the bottom of the first,
freshman sensation Ethan
Santora hit a 3-run blast, then
sophomore Craig Denman drove
in another run on a double to put
the Lakers up 4-2 at the end of
the first.
The Lakers continued to trade
runs with the Vulcans as junior
Steve Grife, was touched up for
seven runs in four innings, threw
one of his worst performances
of the year.
He was bailed out by the
“Big Three” when Santora,
sophomore Craig Denman, and
senior Jeff Stoll drove in five
runs combined.
The Vulcans were ice-cold in
the field, committing one error
and throwing five wild pitches
which lead to two Laker runs.
The Lakers won as senior Jamie
Walczak scored the winning run
off a wild pitch to put the Lakers
on top 10-9.
The Lakers again went eight
innings in game two Friday, but
the Vulcans hit a game-winning
home run giving the Vulcans a
4-3 win.
She had the second most hits
in the PSAC with 62.
She was third in the PSAC in
the stolen bases and the steal
attempts category with 19 and 22
respectively.
Sophomore Michelle Schmitz
had 43 runs batted in putting her
fifth in the PSAC.
Sophomore Amber Rapose
finished the season with five tri-
ples which were the second high-
est in the PSAC.
Sophomore pitcher Amanda
Norman struck out 102 batters
this season.
The Lakers will be losing three
April 29, 2009
The Lakers went on the road
Saturday and knew they had to
go to the Vulcans home field
and sweep in order to take the
division title. The Lakers played
like a team with a sense of
urgency.
The Lakers jumped on the
Vulcans quickly and game one
and never let up.
Ethan Santora started off the
Lakers, scoring with a solo home
run in the top of the second
giving him 16 home runs on the
year to tie the single season record
set in 1997 by Pat Cutshall.
The Lakers went on to score
four unanswered runs giving the
Lakers a 4-1 lead.
The Vulcans mounted a
comeback with a 4-run fifth
inning putting the Vulcans up 5-
4 going into the sixth.
The Lakers proved to be too
much, scoring five unanswered
runs to win 9-5.
The Lakers defeated the
Vulcans again in game two 10-1
to complete the sweep.
This rout gave the Lakers
the PSAC West title and placed
Spano into first place in all-time
wins in Mercyhurst baseball
history.
seniors this year, Amber Cervan-
tez, Brittany Strier and Danielle
Zubek.
“I’m definitely going to miss
everyone. Being on the team was
a huge part of my college experi-
ence and I couldn’t imagine what
these past four years would have
been like without it,” Strier said.
“I am disappointed with how
the season ended. We had the
potential to do great things. I
have seen my teammates almost
everyday, and now I am graduat-
ing. I will miss the girls on the
team more than anything,” Cer-
vantez said.
April 29, 2009 SPORTS Page 23

Men’s lacrosse toughs out the week

Lakers take out Cardinals to end week with victory
By Gary Coad
Staff writer
After a tough week in which
men’s lacrosse dropped two
games, the Lakers bounced back
with a commanding win over
the Wheeling Jesuit University
Cardinals to get back in the win
column.
This win moved the Lakers to
10-3 overall for the season and
gives Mercyhurst College a bit
of momentum going into the
final regular season game and
into the post season.
At the conclusion of the
week, the Lakers were sitting
at the No. 5 spot in the polls,
up one spot from the previous
week.
All season long the Lakers
have relied on a balanced attack
on the offensive end of the
field, with six players in double
digits for goals on the season
and eight players in double
digits for total points on the
year.
This offense is complemented
by a defense that gives up half
as many goals to the opponents
as their team scores, allowing
only 6.32 goals against per
game.
The defense boasts an impres-
sive .841 mark in clears.
While the entire team has
performed well, it is anchored
on defense by senior goaltender
Jason LaShomb.
LaShomb, while aided by
his defense, was able to stop
just above 60 per cent of all
shots that challenged him this
season.
LaShomb earned his
third East Coast Confer-
ence Goaltender of the Week
honor this week and looks to
continue his dominance
between the pipes into the post
season.
The next, and potentially
final, home game is on May 2.
“This week is a very big week
for the team. We have the No.
3 team, New York Institute
of Technology, coming in and
basically it is a must win for us,”
LaShomb said.
“We want to finish
the season strong and
try and push for a playoff
spot.”
This game against NYIT
will be extra special, because it
will be Senior Day for the
Lakers.
“It will be a day for the seniors
to remember as we take the field
for the last time of our colle-
giate careers,” LaShomb said.
“So this game has a lot of dif-
ferent meanings and will hope-
fully motivate the team to come
out strong.”
A loss and their season and
collegiate careers come to an
end for the senior class. The
Lakers need a win in order to
have any chance of capturing
that final at-large bid into the
post season.
Page 24:
Senior Ryan Arnold (10)
carries the ball during a
game earlier this season.
The Lakers take on NYIT
on May 2 at 1 pm. at Tullio
Field.

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