Vol.83,No.

20/4/21/10/Free

Serbs pull for Lakers

Read about the crew team’s success on page 8

News Features Sports Online Poll Results

What do you think of the
College Police and Safety A school year of Lewis Avenue tree-cutting?
There are trees on Lewis I like electricity. Cut
commemorates chief retires after domination in Avenue? 12% em’ down. 18%
We need power,
40th Earth Day 14-year career GU-’Hurst rivalry Save the trees, no
matter what! 10%
but now the trees
look awful. 19%
They should plant more
trees to replace them. 44%
Page 3 Page 4 Page 7 Current poll: What do you think about the
$500,000 Highland Square renovations?
Page 2 NEWS April 21, 2010

College celebrates 40th anniversary of Earth Day

By Jennifer McCurdy
Staff writer
With Earth Week well under way,
the students of Mercyhurst Col-
lege have plenty of opportunities
to celebrate the 40th anniversary of
Earth Day.
“Chaired by Analida Braeger,
the Earth Day Committee of the
Green Team has worked hard to put
together a fun and dynamic series
of events that address a number of
the environmental challenges that
now confront us,” History Depart-
ment chair and Green Team adviser
Dr. Chris Magoc said.
Among other things, the Green
Team will celebrate the Class of
2010’s gift of the Green Roof.
The Green Team is also announc-
ing that beginning this summer, 100
percent of the college’s electricity
will be derived from wind energy,
making Mercyhurst one of just five
colleges in Pennsylvania to go 100
percent wind.
Freshman Sacha Chadwick spoke
about her plans to celebrate Earth
Week.
“I plan to go to a program that
will allow us to plant flowers and
grow them,” Chadwick said. “I’m
also gardening at a local garden
near North East with my lab
classes.”
Though, like many other stu-
dents, Chadwick didn’t know that
any other Earth Week events are
going on.
Actually, there are plenty of
events on campus to celebrate
Earth Week.
At 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, stu-
dents can attend a jewelry and T-
shirt recycling workshop as well as
make homemade laundry detergent
in the Mercyhurst Student Govern-
ment Chambers.
Also, key speaker Denis Hayes
will visit Mercyhurst on Wednes-
day.
Hayes, who organized the first
Earth Day and whom Time Mag-
azine has called a “Hero of the
Planet,” will hold a discussion titled
“Earth Day Legacies” at 3:30 p.m.
in the Mercy Heritage Room.
Then, at 7:30 p.m. in Taylor Little
Theatre, Hayes will present the
college’s 2010 Sister Maura Smith
Earth Day Lecture.
“Denis Hayes will address some
of the lessons that can be learned
from the historic achievements of
the environmental movement of
the 1960s and ’70s, as well as offer
an assessment of some of the
great challenges facing the nation
and world today, particularly with
respect to renewable energy and cli-
mate change,” Magoc said.
On Thursday the Green Team
will celebrate Earth Day’s 40th
Birthday with a college commu-
nity party in the Herrmann Student
Union from 8-11 p.m.
A Local Products Fair, where
local vendors will showcase every-
thing from buffalo burgers to farm
goods, will take place at Garvey
Park on Friday, April 23. The event,
which will last from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m., demonstrates the importance
of re-localizing the food industry
for a more sustainable future.
There will be a Hike for Haiku in
Wintergreen Gorge at 10 a.m. Sat-
urday. Participants should bring a
packed lunch and meet outside the
Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts
Center for transportation to the
Gorge. The guided hike will teach
about wildflowers, edible plants and
haiku poetry.
The Earth Week events end with
the film “Earth Days” on Monday
at 3:30 p.m. in Zurn Hall Room
314. The documentary follows the
history of the modern environmen-
tal movement from its beginnings
on April 22, 1970.
All of the Earth Week events are
free and open to the public.
“I can’t think of another time of
year when core values and the mis-
sion of the college are more clearly
expressed,” Magoc said.
“Earth Week activities will chal-
lenge us to think about the inter-
connections of our respective
academic disciplines toward the
natural world (and) to ponder our
shared responsibility with the six
and one-half billion people with
whom we share this planet to pass
on a more secure future to our chil-
dren,” Magoc said.

Dawid captures crowd, opens 2010 Literary Festival

By Chrissy Mihalic
Contributing writer
Last Thursday Annie Dawid opened the 2010 Mer-
cyhurst College Literary Festival with readings from her
recently published book, “And Darkness Was Under
His Feet.”
Her readings, which are stories based on a loose
interpretation of her family history, captured the audi-
ence with their emotional representation of her family’s
past.
Dawid began her reading with a story titled “The
Solemn Brothers,” which centered on the troubles her
family faced in France during World War II.
While her first story captured the nervous emotions
felt by her Jewish family during the intense time of war,
students seemed to enjoy Dawid’s second reading the
most.
Her second story was based on Dawid’s parents and
their first time meeting in America.
Junior Leah Hubbard said, “I really enjoyed her
second story the best because I feel that Dawid was
able to capture the scene and personality of the char-
acters well. The whole story was portrayed realistically
and it was really effective.”
Dawid finished her reading with a message to the
audience about ancestry and keeping a record of family
stories.
Online
“Ask your family members about their history while
you can,” she said. “Get as much information from
your relatives about your family history while you have
the chance and if you can, write it all down.”
Director of the Literary Festival Dr. Kenneth Schiff
said that he enjoyed the reading immensely.
“It is always a great experience to have the opportu-
nity to hear the voice of the writer and get an under-
standing of the way in which the author wishes the
stories to come across,” he said.
The next morning, students from Dr. Greg Brown’s
Intro to Creative Writing class had the opportunity of
having Dawid teach a session on writing and the pro-
cess of creating a fictional character.
While lecturing the class on character development
in fiction writing, Dawid kept the class entertained by
incorporating her own life stories and writing experi-
ences into the lesson.
Andrew Hudgins will continue the festival with his
poetry reading on Thursday in Taylor Little Theatre at
8:15 p.m.
Hudgins, who has had many volumes of poetry pub-
lished, including “Ecstatic in the Poison” and “After the
Lost War,” will be reading selections from his works
and will be holding a book signing after the event.
The festival will close Thursday, April 29, at 8:15 in
the Taylor Little Theatre with the unveiling of the 2010
Tyler Stauffer photo
edition of the Lumen, Mercyhurst College’s literary arts
magazine. Both events are free and open to the public. Annie Dawid opened the Mercyhurst College Literary Festival
on Thursday, April 15.

Green Team wants your Students see Invisible Merciad.

electronic trash Children documentary Mercyhurst.edu/News
April 21, 2010
’Hurst Cadet attends
ROTC Award Seminar
By Daniel Piechocki
Contributing writer
Cadet Kirk Shoemaker earned the
opportunity to attend the George
C. Marshall ROTC Award Seminar
from April 13-16 at the Virginia
Military Institute by being selected
as the top senior Cadet in the “Pride
of Pennsylvania Battalion.”
The “Pride of Pennsylvania Bat-
talion” is a partnership between
Mercyhurst College, Gannon Uni-
versity and Penn State Erie.
Shoemaker joined the ranks of
other top cadets from across the
nation to participate in the seminar,
which focused on National Security.
Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
George W. Casey Jr. and other high-
ranking Army officers attended the
seminar as keynote speakers.
“I am very excited and honored
to be able to represent the ‘Pride of
Pennsylvania Battalion’ and Mercy-
hurst College,” Shoemaker said.
He will be branching as an infan-
try officer upon his commissioning
in May.
Shoemaker, a senior Intelligence
Studies major at Mercyhurst, is the
Cadet Battalion Commander. This
is the highest obtainable rank as a
cadet.
He is involved with both the
Mercyhurst Honors and Ambassa-
dor programs.
The Marshall ROTC Seminar, in
its 33rd year of existence, is named
Specials at the Laker Inn
Cantina De Laker East Street Deli
Wednesday Chicken
Burrito
Vegetable
Thursday
Quesadilla
Friday 2 for 1
Beef Tacos
Cadet Kirk Shoemaker was chosen to attend the George C.
Marshall ROTC Award Seminar.
in honor of George C. Marshall,
who served as Army Chief of Staff
during World War II and served as
secretary of state.
Marshall served as Secretary
of State and later as Secretary of
Defense during President Truman’s
administration. His efforts to help
the economies of Europe recover
from World War II earned him the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.
The Marshall Award is given
Chicken
Caesar Wrap
Cuban
Sandwich
Buffalo
Chicken Wrap
NEWS Page 3
News Briefs
Trustees decide on apartments
The Board of Trustees authorized the college to spend half
a million dollars on the Highland Square Apartments, the four
buildings at the top of Briggs and Lewis Avenue. The money
will be spent on replacing windows, replastering and painting
walls and recarpeting. Items such as doors, kitchen cabinets,
showers, furniture and appliances will be replaced as well.
Spending the money to improve the apartments is a temporary
solution which will allow the board to decide on a long-term
solution over the next few years. The money will come from
Mercyhurst’s capital project budget or the college’s margin, or
profit.
Entranceway plans approved
The Board of Trustees accepted the preliminary landscape
design for Phase 1 of the enhanced entranceway to the col-
lege on Thursday, April 15. The new design will enhance the
appearance of the entrance and address safety issues. Land-
Contributed photo
scaping will be added to the entranceway. The project will be
completed in fall 2010.
annually to the top Cadet from
Director of Wellness chosen
each of the 273 Army ROTC units
around the nation.
The event comprises the largest After conducting a national search for the Executive Direc-
annual gathering of those about
to be commissioned through the tor of Wellness position at Mercyhurst College, Mercyhurst
Army ROTC program. officials chose Dr. Judy Smith. She is the director of the
Within weeks of participating in Counseling Center at Mercyhurst. The Executive Director of
this seminar, most of these young Wellness is responsible for overseeing the Counseling Center
men and women will begin their and the Cohen Health Center.
duties as junior officers in the U.S.
Army.
Fate of ‘Drunk Bus’ not yet decided
The Thursday, Friday and Saturday EMTA shuttle routes
from Mercyhurst to downtown Erie ran this past weekend and
will be canceled starting April 22-24. If student behavior dras-
Sequoia Grill tically improved last weekend, MSG promised to work with the
administration to bring the bus back for a trial period. There
Macaroni has not been an update on whether student behavior improved
and Cheese enough to bring the “drunk bus” back.
Southwest
Chicken Tom Ridge to speak at ’Hurst
Sandwich
Tom Ridge, the former governor of Pennsylvania and first
Secretary of Homeland Security, will speak at Mercyhurst on
Cajun Fish Friday, April 30. His speech will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.
Sandwich in Taylor Little Theatre. This event is free and open to the
public.
Page 4
Senior Denise Wheelock will...
be interning at the European Delegation
in Washington D.C.
“This internship will give me a step in the
door of prestigious organizations that I
would love to work for in the future.”
Senior Jon Tirk will be...
doing an intern program with Erie
Congreswoman Kathy Dalhkemper.
“I am really exited that I got this
internship because hopefully it can open
doors to further my political career.”
Junior Ryan Perkins will...
work for American Eagle Outfitters as an
intern of web/graphics in Pittsburgh.
“I’m exited about being able to learn
more in the graphic design and retail
business.”
Senior Liz Maier will be an...
intern writer at The Corry Journal.
“I’m looking forward to it. It should be
a good experience. I’m going to save the
money I make for a trip to Europe.”
Junior Felicia Guerra is going to...
be an assistant for International Affairs at
the US Department of Agriculture.
“I feel very fortunate to have the
opportunity to learn about the interac-
tions between U.S. and Central
America.”
If you have an internship or a job waiting for
you this summer, send us your photo to
featuremerciad@mercyhurst.edu
Your weekly report
Online
Teacher
Features: from Dungarvan,
Dr. Hosey & Ireland:
Ashes in the sky
Dr. Meier
FEATURES
Chief of Police and safety:
‘An experience I wouldn’t trade’
By Liz Maier
Staff writer
One glance at Chief of Police
and Safety Kenneth Sidun’s office
and history unfolds. Police badges
and black-and-white photographs
of the first Erie Police Department
hang proudly on his walls.
“It is one of my hobbies,” said
Sidun, who worked in the Erie
Police Department for 30 years
before accepting his current posi-
tion at Mercyhurst College in 1996.
“A friend and I researched the
history of the Erie Police Depart-
ment from 1851 to 1953,” Sidun
said. “It is something that has
never been done before.”
In June 2010, Sidun will leave
a piece of his own history as he
retires from Mercyhurst after 14
years of dedication.
“I will be saying goodbye along
with the last senior class,” Sidun
said with a smile.
Originally from McKeesport,
Pa., Sidun moved to Erie when he
was five years old.
“I guess you can call me an
Erieite,” Sidun said.
Sidun did not always live in Erie,
though. He volunteered three years
in the U.S. military and spent two
and a half years in Puerto Rico
working as a military police officer
in the U.S. Army.
“I was able to get out before the
Vietnam War got hot,” Sidun said.
When he returned to Erie,
Sidun worked for General Electric
Transportation but was unhappy
with his job.
“Since I did not like shop
work, my friend suggested I take
a police test,” Sidun said. He took
his friend’s advice and in 1966
began working for the Erie Police
Department.
Sidun’s passion for the law
enforcement field led him to
receive a degree in Criminal Justice
from Mercyhurst College in 1974.
Video Game
of the Week:
Marble Lines
April 21, 2010
Even though Sidun dedicated 30
years of service to the Erie Police
Department, he stayed connected
to the Mercyhurst community by
working Mercyhurst’s Fourth of
July Firework Show, Graduation
Day Ceremony and other special
events.
“There were many good times,
bad times and scary times when I
worked for the Erie Police Depart-
ment,” Sidun said.
After leaving the Erie Police
Department in 1996, Bud Deaver,
director of security services at
Mercyhurst, recommended Sidun
take his position.
“At the time, we were just Secu-
rity Services; we were not a depart-
ment,” Sidun said. Under Sidun’s
leadership, Mercyhurst’s Security
Services grew into the Police and
Safety Department it is today.
“The biggest challenge I
experienced when I first came to
Mercyhurst was the adjustment of
Contributed photo
coming from a city to a college,”
Chief of Police and Safety
Sidun said. “You have to be mind-
ful that the students are young, Kenneth Sidun will retire
still growing up and need some after 14 years of duty.
direction.”
While at Mercyhurst, Sidun Despite these incidents, Sidun
dealt with a variety of students and said he enjoyed his time at Mer-
challenging situations. For Sidun, cyhurst and will miss his job, the
the most difficult circumstance students, administration and staff.
involved former student Teri “Seeing the college grow and
Rhodes. In 2007, Rhodes suf- change has been very memorable,”
focated her newborn baby shortly Sidun said.
after giving birth in her on-campus “It’s been a pleasure working
apartment. with Ken,” Police and Safety clerk
“It was very sad,” Sidun, who Christine Dedionisio said. “He is
was on duty the day of the inci- someone who always looked out
dent, said. for the people in his office.”
Sidun also remembers when Sidun plans to spend his retire-
student Matthew Milgate was ment driving his 1934 replica
struck and killed by two cars while Mercedes Convertible, golfing,
crossing 38th Street on Saint researching the history of the Erie
Patrick’s Day in 2005, in addition Police Department and relaxing in
to an anthrax scare in 2001. his winter home in Bellview, Fla.
“A white powder substance “It was a great 14-year experi-
was sent in a letter to Mercyhurst ence. An experience I wouldn’t
from Egypt. The FBI investigated trade. I am glad I did it,” Sidun
the case and discovered it was not said.
anthrax, but the case was never
solved,” Sidun said.
An Erieite Merciad.
Appetite:
Mercyhurst.
Under the
edu/Features
Clock
April 21, 2010 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 5

Classical guitarist Vidovic strums at ’Hurst

By Claire Hinde
Staff writer
Walker Recital Hall opens its
doors to international sound this
Friday as it welcomes classical gui-
tarist and woldwide music phenom
Ana Vidovic. The performance of
soothing guitar music is sure to
leave the audience breathless.
The artist herself has such a
varied and impressive background
that there is little doubt she is one
of the elite musicians of the world
today. Vidovic hails from Karlo-
vac, Croatia, and began her musical
training at the age of five.
By the age of 11, she was giving
public concerts around Europe. At
age 13, she became the youngest stu-
dent to attend the National Musical
Academy in Zagreb, Croatia, under
the tutelage of Istvan Romer.
Soon her outstanding reputation
as an international artist in Europe
led to an invitation to study at the
Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore
with Manuel Barrueco. Having
graduated from this prestigious
institution, Vidovic continues to
be an international sensation, pos-
sessing an impressive number of
musical prizes from competitions
worldwide, among them the Albert
Augustine International Competi-
tion in Bath, England, and the Fer-
nando Sor competition in Rome,
Italy.
More than these honors, Vidovic
has also appeared with the Zagreb
Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as
Contributed photo
in Croatian films and television, and
Tickets for Ana Vidovic are $10 for Mercyhurst students with
has recorded multiple CDs. Since
a valid I.D. taking the stage in 1988, Vidovic
has received stunning reviews for
her performances, of which there
are over 1,000 in places ranging
from Paris, London, Rome, Tel Aviv,
Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg,
Toronto and all over the United
States.
With her extensive training and
revered public image, Vidovic’s
repertoire is sure to include unique
arrangements not only of great
classical pieces but of more con-
temporary compositions as well.
Her work features intricate and
complex guitar techniques as well
as beautiful melodic surprises.
The performance is certain to
leave a lasting impression on all
those who attend. Vidovic will
perform in Walker Recital Hall
this Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets can be
purchased by calling the PAC box
office at (814) 824-3000.

‘Fresh’ depicts healthy ways to grow food

By Kathleen Vogtle
Staff writer
At one point or another, you
have been introduced to a descrip-
tion of the Millennial generation:
We are labeled as diverse, indepen-
dent, comfortable-with-technology
activists.
Innumerable causes and studies
have utilized this last trait, knowing
that if they can garner our support,
we will be invaluable allies. This
is particularly evident in the food
industry.
First, there was “Super Size Me”
in 2004, a radical experiment which
shot down an American view that
people could eat as much highly
processed, fatty fast foods as they
wanted without consequence.
Then “Food, Inc.” came out
in 2008, bringing to light the less
visible but highly controversial
world of meat and vegetable pro-
duction.
This week’s edition to the
Guelcher Film Series, “Fresh,”
exists in this same general vein, but
presents its own unique spin; those
who have seen “Food, Inc.” will
notice the differences.
“Fresh” takes on a distinctly
more humanitarian spin, and lacks
much of the “holier-than-thou”
rhetoric which might exist in other
exposé-type, call-to-action films.
While the film does make jabs
at industrial farming, calling atten-
tion to its toll on our soil, health
and livestock, its primary focus is
on farmers under contract to giant
agribusinesses and on the work of
ordinary men and women who are
making different choices for the
sustenance of our earth despite
outside pressures.
“Fresh” highlights upon vari-
ous areas of the country where
smaller-sized farms and the farmers
who work them are trying different
approaches other than contracting
with huge agribusinesses.
The first is the Growing Power
urban farm in Milwaukee, where
Will Allen is turning three acres of
industrial wasteland into a nutri-
tional utopia for his neighbor-
hood.
In Kansas City, David Ball strives
to revitalize his community, provid-
ing his Good Natured Family Farm
stores with produce grown by local
farmers.
In Virginia’s Shenandoah
Valley, Joel Salatin is setting an
example by allowing cows, chick-
ens, pigs and natural grasses to
flourish and produce without any
chemical fertilizer or industrial
animal feed.
Throughout the film, one
common message exists: Each
person, in his or her own way, has a
responsibility to care for this world,
and that there are viable ways of
doing so. It just takes a little initia-
tive.
“Fresh” shows in the D’Angelo
Performing Arts Center at 2:15 and
7:15 p.m. today. The Brew and View
will begin in the art gallery at 6:30.
Tickets are free for Mercyhurst stu- pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
dents with their ID.
‘Fresh’ is showing today at the PAC at 2:15 and 7:15 p.m.

Panel discussion Civil Twilight

Merciad.
Online

on Asperger’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ presents

A&E

reveals valuable a slicing South Mercyhurst.

insight success African sound edu
Page 6
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.
Administrative zeal for ROTC questioned
By Devin Ruic
Staff writer
Do you know what abseiling is?
I did not either, until the Reserve
Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
of Mercyhurst College asked me to
join them for their Field Training
Exercise (FTX) on April 10. As it
turns out, abseiling is the same thing
as rappelling in American English.
Now, as a civilian, it is highly
unlikely I will have to rappel down
the side of a building or out of a
helicopter – but it is significantly
more likely that our men and
women in uniform on the battlefield
will have to, for a host of military/
tactical reasons.
It is very encouraging to know
that our classmates at Mercyhurst
College and at Gannon University
who have dedicated themselves to
serving in the U.S. military are being
taught these skills now, so that they
will be better prepared for when
they leave us and join the fight
overseas in the War on Terror.
In addition to rappelling, the
student members of the “Pride
of PA” Battalion learn strategies
regarding proper assault and
Extreme upgrade needed at the REC
By Victoria
Gricks
Staff writer
After the girl at the desk swiped
my card, I walked into the chang-
ing room and set my stuff down
on one of the several benches.
Then, I took off my Converse and
sweatpants, placed them in a locker
and put my running shoes on. And
once my hair was in a ponytail and
my iPod was strapped on my arm, it
was time to work out.
As soon as I got to the cardio
area, I realized how busy it was. At
first, I thought all of the machines
were taken. After looking around a
little more, though, I saw that there
were a few open ones.
defensive situations in firefights.
The abilities to think clearly, react
quickly and efficiently work as teams
are key points for the officers-in-
training to understand and acquire
in order to survive and protect their
comrades on the battlefield. The
men and women of the “Pride of
PA” Battalion went about learning
these strategies using Paintball
markers – keeping the frenetic
nature of battle while eliminating
the likelihood of injury, obviously a
plus for training.
I have already admitted to being
a civilian. More than that, I happen
to be a mildly lazy civilian, and I am
immensely grateful that there are
men and women willing and able to
fight on behalf of me and my fellow
countrymen, many of whom are
probably like me – unable to wake
up at 0-Dark-Thirty to actually join
the ROTC battalion on their FTX.
However, there was a civilian at
the FTX who was very different
from me, and not just because this
individual had the wherewithal to
wake up and make it to the FTX.
This individual distinguishes
himself from me because he
is Dr. Tim Downs, the Dean
of Humanities from Gannon
University. This demonstrates the
depth of support our men and
I went toward one of the tread-
mills, but I stopped when I noticed
the paper with “Out of Order”
written on it. Thankfully, there
was another treadmill nearby, and I
didn’t see any signs on this one. I
hopped on and pressed quickstart,
and guess what happened…noth-
ing – this one was broken, too.
Because I was having no luck,
I decided to work on my legs first
and then finish with a 20-minute
run. Happy that I was finally about
to start my workout, I practically
skipped to the leg press. My good
spirits were crushed, however,
when I saw yet another piece of
paper telling me that I couldn’t use
the machine.
Okay, is it just me, or does the
Rec. Center really need upgraded? I
mean, come on.
OPINION April3, 21,2008
September 2010
women in uniform receive from
members of the administrative
Online Opinion Section...
staff of Gannon University.
Gannon is our rival in almost
every regard. But they ought not Go to merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion
to be our rival while we support to check out more opinion articles and
our troops, officers in training or
otherwise. It is for this reason that
the weekly Good, Bad and Ugly!
I am thoroughly discouraged by
the administration of Mercyhurst
College’s seeming indifference to
the Pride of PA Battalion, as at
Have an opinion you want to express?
this point it is questionable as to Become a staff writer for the opinion
whether anyone from our own section. If interested, send an e-mail to
administration (that means you,
Dr. Gamble and Dr. Tobin) will
opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
even attend the formal dining out
ceremony put on by the ROTC
battalion, much less participate in
an FTX.
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
I cannot thank enough the
members of the “Pride of PA”
Battalion not only for their service,
but also for the opportunity to join
them on their FTX, despite my
inability to wake up in time.
No matter what else, it is
encouraging to see that the Dean
of Humanities from Gannon
University, dressed head-to-toe in If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
his own personalized ACUs, was
Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
able to get out into the field with
our ROTC students and participate JoEllen Marsh Editor-in-Chief editormerciad
in the Paintball and rappelling Kelly Luoma News Editor newsmerciad
training, unlike some. Javi Cubillos Features Editor featuremerciad
Jordan Zangaro Opinion Editor opinionmerciad
Nick Glasier Sports Editor sportsmerciad
Alaina Rydzewski
Sam Williams
A&E
Graphics
entertainmentmerciad
photomerciad
It seems like stuff breaks easily Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
and doesn’t get fixed for a while, Ethan Magoc Multimedia Editor emagoc80
and that’s not cool.A lot of money Ethan Johns Web Editor ejohns89
is going to be put into new chang-
Kyle King Copy Editor copymerciad
ing areas, but what about the actual
equipment? In all honesty, I think
Max Rivera Ad Manager admerciad
that should be the number one pri- Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
ority, because students don’t want Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
to use faulty machines. Trust me.
Recently, my friend has been let-
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
ting me use his guest passes at the
Y down the road, because I have College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
gotten tired of all the problems at finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is
our gym. And let me tell you how (814) 824-2376.
much I love it there. Everything is
brand new, there is a greater assort-
The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
ment of machines and there are
enough so that people rarely have and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
to wait. letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
So can something please be
are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
done? I know I’m not the only one
who would appreciate it. letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
April 21, 2010
Cleveland-area trio leads softball to playoffs
By Nick Glasier
Sports Editor
For the first time since 1991, the
women’s softball team has posted a
regular season record over .500.
The Lakers swept Edinboro
University in a two-game series over
the weekend and earned the second
seed in the Pennsylvania State Ath-
letic Conference West Division
Tournament.
The Lakers look to bring success
to a program that has been relegated
to years of pushing through season
after season of disappointment.
A major reason for the recent
success comes from the surge in
offense from the Lakers.
Last year the Lakers were rather
anemic on offense, struggling to
produce runs in key situations.
There are three big reasons
for this resurgence in the Lakers
offense and they are junior Michelle
Schmitz, sophomore Jen Bower and
sophomore Emily Redig.
The three offensive dynamos
’Hurst dominates Gannon
By Billy Colton
Staff writer
There are some games that just
mean a little bit more.
You don’t get more points for
winning them, but you do get the
bragging rights.
Nobody ever wants to lose, but
some games you are desperate not
to lose.
Rivalries add an extra dimension
to a game. Tackles are stronger,
hits are harder and goals mean a
little bit more.
One of the first things anyone
learns at Mercyhurst is about the
intense rivalry with Gannon.
There are always more fans
attending these games, more noise
at these games and more excite-
ment leading up to them.
This past year, Mercyhurst’s
sports teams have dominated
Gannon.
Mercyhurst College junior Michelle Schmitz is leading the
Lakers with her .356 batting average.
have one thing in common, as they
are all from the Cleveland area.
Redig went to Norte Dame Cathe-
dral Latin in Chardon, Schmitz
attended Westlake High School and
Jen Bower attended Elyria High
Mercyhurst recorded a total of
17 wins over Gannon, and lost 10
times.
Football, men’s soccer, women’s
lacrosse, and women’s water polo
all swept the Golden Knights.
The football team retained the
Niagara Cup for the fourth con-
secutive year, winning 27-17 in
front of more than 1,000 fans.
The men’s soccer team embar-
rassed Gannon on its senior day
and homecoming by winning 5-1
to complete a season sweep.
Women’s lacrosse edged two
close encounters, winning by a
single goal in both games.
That was similar to women’s
water polo, which also beat Gannon
by one goal, winning 7-6.
Sports
Tyler Stauffer photo
School and twice played in the state
championship game.
The region’s competitive nature
has made these players more pre-
pared than most.
“Being in such a competitive area
Men’s water polo and women’s
softball both won three out of
four games against their rivals.
The men’s water polo team
had beaten Gannon eight straight
times, but Gannon would finally
get revenge this year.
Baseball, men’s basketball, wom-
en’s soccer and volleyball all split
their respective series.
The women’s soccer team had
never lost to Gannon, going 26
games without a defeat. Twenty-
two of the meetings were victories.
That incredible record was broken
this year.
Gannon would only win
two series against Mercyhurst.
The Knights beat the women’s
basketball team twice, and won the
wrestling contest between the two
schools.
Mercyhurst will look to con-
tinue to add to this impressive
record next year, when the rivalry
resumes.
playing high school softball really
prepared us for college softball and
made the transition easier,” Redig
said.
“There were definitely players in
the area, and there were a good deal
of Division I players that were in
the area, and playing against them
made us better,” Schmitz said.
The level of competition appar-
ently prepared them well.
Schmitz and Bower have com-
bined for 20 home runs, four less
than the team total last season.
Redig has five home runs as well
through the regular season.
Schmitz, Bower and Redig’s 84
RBIs account for close to half the
Lakers’ RBIs this season and have
a combined .335 batting average for
the season.
Despite the high production,
these Lakers just try to keep a
simple mindset at the plate.
“I just try and go out there and
put the ball in play and make the
other team make mistakes,” said
Bower, who leads the team with 11
home runs.
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Page 7
All three worked hard in the off-
season, playing on strong summer
league teams and working on indi-
vidual weaknesses.
“Over the summer, I worked
very hard on trying to improve how
I hit the outside pitch, and now I
can really focus on just hitting the
ball where it is pitched to me,”
Schmitz said.
The hard work has shown, as
Schmitz is leading the team in bat-
ting average with a .352 average
with nine home runs and a team-
leading 36 RBIs.
Schmitz, Redig and Bower are
all very excited about the success
of the team this season but are
convinced there is still room for
improvement.
“I think that we have a lot of
potential and talent on this team.
We have been really performing
well, and we hope we can continue
to carry it over into the playoffs,”
Redig said.
If the Lakers look to advance
deep into the playoffs, they will
need them to come up big.
Page 8 Sports April 21, 2010

NHL playoff pairings Holly Ansaldi photo

a pleasant surprise
Freshman Ivan Palikuca (left) and junior captain Jovan Jovanovic (right) are key to the success
of the Mercyhurst College rowing team.

Serbians pull for Lakers

By Devon Swanson
Columnist

Raise your hand if you thought every series in the NHL Conference basketball and soccer. Ivan said he “I remember Jovan would be
Quarterfinals would be split after two games. Me neither. By Matthew Cirell even took Taekwondo classes. talking to Ivan in Serbian on the
I’ve got two points to make on this oddest of scenarios: I thought the Contributing writer They did not, however, develop phone all the time about Mer-
matchups weren’t the best they could have been, and I didn’t think a few a passion for rowing until the sixth cyhurst before Ivan came here,”
series would be close. With a week of the best postseason hockey I’ve grade. Spracklen said.
Mercyhurst’s men’s rowing team
ever seen under the NHL’s collective belt, I can definitively tell you I was But when they did pick it up, “It was a little harder for Ivan
is doing well this season with the
dead wrong on both counts. they took off. to get to Mercyhurst because of
help of three outstanding athletes
Near the end of the regular season, only four teams’ seeds were The Serbians’ trip to Mercy- the language barrier for one, but
from Serbia.
decided in each conference, setting up many possible match-ups for the hurst would be one that was chal- also because there was some issue
Stroking the boat is freshman
playoffs.In the East, the possible matchups worked out relatively well, lenging for both the athletes and with his national team in terms of
sensation Ivan Palikuca, and right
with Buffalo-Boston and New Jersey-Philadelphia pitting division rivals Mercyhurst. eligibility for the NCAA,” Sprack-
behind him in the number four
against each other and Pittsburgh-Ottawa marking the third time in four Serbia has no college placement len said.
seat is captain Jovan Jovanovic.
years the two teams would meet in the first round of the postseason. tests so they had to take the SAT Jovan and Ivan have been happy
Additionally, senior Stanislav
Caps-Rangers would have been better than Caps-Montreal, but the Flyers to qualify to attend a school in the with their decision in terms of
Kostic has been recovering from
wouldn’t be able to play the Devils if the Rangers made the second United States. academics too.
a foot injury.
season. Out west, the playoff pairings could have been much better, if The foreign players also have to “As far as the college is con-
The impact of the Serbians is
only as far as rivalries and geography were concerned. San Jose could have take a test to determine their com- cerned, I like the teacher-to-stu-
impressive.
played Los Angeles, which put divisional hatred and distance into a big- mand of the English language. dent ratio. I like the small school
“Jovan is a really well-rounded
time matchup. Phoenix-Nashville could have happened, which really just Speaking little English, they setting,” Jovan said.
individual. He is one of our stron-
allowed for better pairings elsewhere, like Detroit-Chicago and Vancou- found the test difficult, but they However, both Ivan and Jovan
gest rowers and will be our captain
ver-Calgary. achieved high enough scores to be miss their fast-paced lives in Bel-
next year,” head coach Adrian
That being said, the matchups that have come out of the regular season accepted by Mercyhurst. grade.
Spracklen said.
are absurdly competitive right now. All eight conference quarterfinals split They also considered a few Ivy “Yes, I like the college, but Erie
“Ivan is the lead stroker in our
the first two games of their respective seven-game series. Last year, only League colleges. is a dead place. We come from a
men’s boat and has broken all our
one series (Jersey-Carolina) split in the first two games. Not only were they Jovan’s interest in Mercyhurst fast-pace city, and there is just
rowing records as a freshman,”
split, but they were all extremely close. Empty net goals aside, every game was sparked by the possibility of more to do there,” Ivan said.
Spracklen said.
has been decided by one or two goals, and many have gone into overtime. rowing for Spracklen. Overall, Spracklen has been
Jovan and Stanislov have also
Matchups that weren’t even supposed to be close (Washington-Mon- “I found Mercyhurst online and very impressed with the Serbians’
been key members on the Lakers’
treal and San Jose-Colorado as the two most blatant examples) have been when I learned that the head coach adjustment due to the support
most successful boats in the
immediately converted to tight series that could easily go the distance. (Adrian Spracklen) was the son system they have built.
Henley Royal Regatta, Dad Veil
With the series switching to the lower seeds’ rinks for two games, the of Mike Spracklen, I immediately “It’s a big culture shock for
Regatta and the IRA National
tables have been turned for the higher seeds and home-ice advantage has liked Mercyhurst,” Jovan said. the guys when they first get here,
Championships.
been eliminated. Looks can be deceiving, and this postseason so far has Mike Spracklen is a successful but it has been quite different for
Jovan and Ivan are from the
been no exception. Last Friday was perhaps the best night of hockey I’ve rowing coach and has earned three them than others since they had
capital city of Belgrade, while Stan
ever seen, with five games decided with less than five minutes in the 3rd Olympic medals. each other to kind of guide their
is from Smederevo.
period or overtime. If you don’t have Versus (which you probably don’t Jovan was essential in the way through it,” Spracklen said.
Growing up, they participated
considering it isn’t available on Mercyhurst cable), get your homework recruitment of Ivan last year.
in many different sports, including
done early and get out to a restaurant or watering hole.