Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
During this time, prospects toured the campus, met with faculty and learned more about the University in general. Also during this time, copies of The Merciad were removed from their holders and disposed of in the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union, Old Main and the freshman dorms. Last weeks cover story featured an article on former student Sean Sickmund and the federal charges he is currently facing. After editors replaced all the discarded copies of The Merciad on Monday, they were back in the trash Tuesday.
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NEWS
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Students volunteered their time to help plant crops at the farm at the Girard location.
News Brief
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Shavees pose with the St. Baldricks banner after taking the plunge and shaving their heads for cancer research.
The event could not have gone any better, and Im looking forward to what next year will bring, PRSSA president Lauren Taylor said. The club plans on continuing this event next year. Upon deciding on an event to organize, PRSSA chose St. Baldricks because of its teaching abilities and visual capabilities. PRSSA is dedicated to creating learning opportunities for all of our student members, but in learning to do so we are blessed to have the opportunity to follow in our Mercy tradition and give back. The St. Baldricks Foundation provides numerous resources to help us host a successful event, senior Joe Pudlick said. One of the clubs goals besides raising money was to raise awareness of what this organization does. Not only was money raised, but the club did a wonderful job reaching out to the major media outlets in Erie and received an enormous amount of news coverage of the event, bringing the message to the Erie community. The event was lled with varying emotions when each shavee had his or her turn. An especially touching moment for all in attendance was when Fran Morris sat down to have her shoulder-length, brown hair shaven. My favorite part of the event would absolutely have to be seeing the reactions of the shavees themselves after going through the head-shaving process, said PRSSA treasurer Lauren Smith. The most memorable one for me was Fran Morris, the mother of a childhood cancer survivor who was shaving her head in honor of her son. The emotions were denitely ying around that room. Morris and her family have been through an emotional ordeal the past two years, when the family found out that Matthew Morris, 15, was diag-
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Happi 92.7 host Shari McBride supports the cause and gets her head shaved.
erage by local radio station Happi 92.7 morning radio show, hosted by Shari McBride. The promise was made to listeners that if the goal of money was reached she would shave her head. When she arrived at the event on Saturday, she kept her promise and shaved her head in support of childhood cancer research. The event was a success in all aspects. It was a learning opportunity for the students in PRSSA and money was raised for a worthwhile cause.
NEWS
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One of the most popular new Twitter accounts, MercyhurstCrushes allows students to anonymously share their secret love interests.
the accounts? While I know this is a big trend at many other universities, with a school of Mercyhursts size I feel like this takes on a whole different angle. Everyone knows everyone, Molloy said. Despite some mixed feelings, there is positive reaction from others in the student body. I absolutely love the new Twitter accounts, said junior Chris Gaertner. Theyre something new and exciting and I am obsessed with following their tweets.
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Senior Daksha Cordova agrees. They are super fun to follow, said Cordova. Im sure everyone has a little anxiety over whether their names are going to show up in an anonymous tweet or not. Since the accounts are merely on a student-to-student connection, nothing will be done by the university to the accounts. The amount of reach may be monitored as anything marked with the Mercyhurst name is, but the accounts are nothing alarming to the Public Relations department.
Social media gives people the freedom to express themselves whether it is funny or inappropriate. Theres not really any way to control it, Web Coordinator Chris Norris said. Slim worries for bad press exist as the accounts mostly exist throughout current students and should have no hindrance on incoming or prospective students. Still, this is something the university will not be promoting. Mercyhurst does try to use social media, however, to improve the university. It follows the account Mercyhurst Problems and tries to address problems that students express. It shows how active our social media communication is even at a smaller school like this, said Norris. Its encouraging to know you can give a message (to students) with social media. The real question is, how long with this craze last? I really think they will just die out; just another fad to hit the Mercyhurst University community, Lombardo said. Either way, the new Twitter accounts have students buzzing of their crushes and confessions around campus.
Monday, March 18 Theft Audrey Hirt Academic Center Referred for discipline
Police Log
Wednesday, March 20 Harassment Warde Hall Referred for discipline Sunday, March 24 Public Intoxication Lewis Ave. Referred for discipline
Newspapers go missing
Continued from page 1.
Under no circumstances do I see it permissible to conscate those copies of the newspaper, Vice President of Student Life Gerry Tobin, Ph.D., said. Tobin continued to explain that The Merciad should be able to allow students to freely provide commentary and opinions on events occurring within the university community without the fear of their papers being discarded. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Chris Coons said he held a staff meeting to make sure admissions had nothing to do with the disposal of the papers. The Merciad works so hard on the weekly newspaper that I would never want it to be thrown away, said Coons. I frequently encourage prospective students to take a copy to read. Coach Chris Ryan of the Mens Lacrosse team was unavailable for commenting on this matter. The Merciad adviser Bill Welch was disappointed that the newspaper was thrown away.
I wouldnt want this incident to mar any of the other wonderful events that have happened at Mercyhurst.
Mark Gregorio
Tuesday, March 19 Liquor Law Violation, Harassment Warde Hall Res-Life Incident
The federal investigation began Friday, March 1, after the 14-year-old girl approached the federal agent, according to court records. According to the records, the girl explained that Sickmund had been asking her for self-produced pornographic images over a 12-month period. She was 13 years old at that time. According to Associate Vice President of Student Life Laura Zirkle, Ph.D., this type of incident has not occurred at Mercyhurst before. hurstathletics.com photo 7KLVLVWKH UVWWLPH,DPDZDUHRI WKDWVRPHRQHZDV Sean Sickmund has been charged with arrested or charged for any misuse of the Internet on trying to obtain child pornography from a Mercyhursts campus, Zirkle said. 14-year-old girl. This case is not expected to affect the universitys reputation, however. gorio added, I wouldnt want this particular incident to I dont believe this will have much effect on the university mar any of the other wonderful events that have currently
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Copies of the issue of the Merciad above were thrown away around campus to hide the cover story from the public.
I am distressed to think that anyone at the university would take it upon themselves to hide newspapers with the apparent intent of making sure someone does not read a news story, he said. Welch continued, explaining that The Merciad staff works hard to turn out a publication and online edition that will keep the college community informed. It is even more distressing to think someone would fear the news so much that they would totally disregard that effort. Tobin assured that the matter would be dealt with if he found out who was involved. If we can get a handle on who is responsible, said Tobin, we will deal with it appropriately.
By Zach Dorsch
Photo editor
By Abigail Robinson
Staff writer
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FEATURES
Easter is a major Christian festival which marks the resurrection of Jesus after the crucixion, and is celebrated throughout the world. Mercyhurst students were asked how they celebrate Easter. Many will be going home to enjoy a four-day weekend, and celebrate with their families. Some of the popular holiday activities include attending Easter Sunday Mass, and partaking in Easter egg dyeing and Easter egg hunts. Mercyhurst will hold an Easter Mass at 11 a.m. in Christ the King Chapel for those students who are not able to make it home for the holiday. We also encourage students to go to St. Lukes for other celebrations that are part of this season (Holy Thursday and Good Friday). For those Christians from Protestant backgrounds, we have many good churches within walking distance of campus, Campus Ministry Director Greg Baker said. This year will be a signicant Holy Week for the Catholic Church because it will be the rst Easter for newly appointed Pope Francis. The Pope started off Holy Week with a Palm Sunday service calling on the crowd to shun corruption and reach out to the humble, the poor, and the forgotten. This year Pope Francis will be holding a Holy Thursday service at a youth prison, washing
family, Aguirre said. Aguirre and her family attend Mass every day throughout Holy Week. This year she will be attending Mass on campus and attending a dinner hosted by Mercyhurst Professor Analida Braeger for international students. Nicaragua Junior Camila Polinori shared Easter traditions in Nicaragua. Catholicism is the strongest religion throughout Central America, and Easter is celebrated as one of the most commemorative events of the year. Polinori said Easter is very much a religious holiday in Central America and the commercialized aspects are not celebrated. Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny have been so globalized, that you can nd them in stores in Nicaragua, but they are far from a common Easter tradition, Polinori said. She spends Easter with her family and friends at the beaches in Nicaragua. Every day throughout the Holy Week, processions through the streets of the city are held and inspired by Biblical passages. Holy Week is a moment of interesting, massive processions, as well as a period of vacation during which diversion and relaxation form the main priorities. Polinori will be staying on campus this Easter and celebrating with her fellow international students at a meal hosted by one of the Mercyhurst professors. Honduras
Junior Angela Staszak and her family decorate their dining room table for Easter.
Pennsylvania Senior Emma Rishel is from Pennsylvania and is Presbyterian. She celebrates Easter with her family by going to church Sunday morning followed by the whole family joining together for dinner. To me, Easter means that spring is here and it is the beginning of new things and a reminder of what God sacriced for us said Rishel. While many of us share similar Easter traditions how is Easter celebrated around the world? We asked some of our international students how they celebrate Easter at home, and what their Easter plans are this year. Ireland Senior Rhona Boyle weighed in on how Easter is celebrated in Ireland. As a country strongly inuenced by Catholicism, Easter is centered around church and time with the family. During Lent, Irish children collect the item they have given up, like cookies or sweets, in a big jar and on Easter Sunday, they are allowed to open it and have a feast, said Boyle. We also give and receive large Easter eggs, about the size of a melon. Chocolate companies make many different varieties and avors and children ask for their favorite egg from the Easter Bunny. Boyle celebrates with her family by participating in a large-scale Easter egg hunt in the countryside. This year, like the past three years she has been at Mercyhurst, she will celebrate Easter here with friends. Jamaica Junior Cariel Lewis shared how Easter is celebrated in Jamaica. The most common feature of Easter in Jamaica is the eating of the Easter Bun. This is spiced bread with cheese that families share on Easter. Another Easter festivity is a carnival that begins on Easter Sunday and involves music and dancing in colorful costumes. They also participate in a similar activity to one in the United States, where young children in preparatory schools dress up and collect eggs. I think its especially important because we are reminded of the endless sacrices God has made for us, Lewis said. Spain Freshman Macarena Aguirre-Estalella explained how Easter is celebrated in Spain. Over 73 percent of Spain is Catholic and the country has a strong Christian tradition. Many people throughout Spain celebrate every day of the Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. Every day the people of Spain celebrate with daily processions. The processions are accompanied by bands and music, and incense is burned. Even non-Christians attend these daily processions, Aguirre said. Another tradition that Aguirre shared was one native to her hometown of Valencia, Spain. Children are given cakes in fun shapes (cars, Disney characters, etc.) with a hard boiled egg that has been dyed in the center. Once the children nd the egg they are supposed to break the egg on a sibling or cousins forehead. This time of year is especially signicant because we are all together as a
Junior Daniela Funes explained Holy Week traditions in Honduras. Honduras also has strong roots in Christianity, and many Hondurans are Roman Catholics. Every day of Holy Week, processions throughout the cities are held to depict the events according to the Bible. Funes and her family go to the beach for Easter and attend Mass on Sunday. One Honduran tradition Funes shared was decorative carpets, made from layers of colored sawdust, and shaped into religious scenes, which are presented on Good Friday. Funes will be staying on campus and attend Mass on Sunday followed by a dinner for the international students. So whether you are from the U.S. or an international country, Easter is a special religious holiday that is celebrated in varying ways.
ocal L Events
Friday, March 29 8 p.m. Good Friday All-Star Comedy Jam Warner Theatre Tuesday, April 2 7 p.m. Harlem Globetrotters Erie Insurance Arena Wednesday, April 3 7:30 p.m. Ninety Miles Jazz Ensemble Performing Arts Center Friday, April 5 7 p.m. Erie Bayhawks vs. Maine Erie Insurance Arena Saturday, April 6 2-4 p.m. Forever Endeavor Senior Thesis Cummings Art Gallery 8 p.m. Colour My World: Pop Series Warner Theatre Sunday, April 7 2 p.m. Erie Explosion vs. Kentucky Xtreme Erie Insurance Arena Monday, April 8 8 p.m. The 5 Browns Performing Arts Center
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Pine Barons from southern New Jersey release their debut indie album with folk-rock inuence.
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The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
OPINION
Many students on Facebook are showing their support for marriage equality while the country waits to hear the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8. It is good to see students from various disciplines coming together to agree on an important issue.
from local news sources. This past weekend, those involved were restricting many people from access to pertinent information. Several people within administration stated for The Merciad news account that the Sickmund case would not affect the universitys reputation and its students. Apparently not everyone viewed it this way. Someone tried last weekend to sweep Sickmunds case under the rug as if it didnt happen. So Im disappointed, not only by the disrespect towards a hardworking group of students, but also for some peoples inability to handle bad news in an appropriate way.
Students are nding that the anonymous Twitter accounts, Mercyhurst Mistakes, Mercyhurst Crushes and Mercyhurst Confessions, are getting out of hand. While many tweets are lighthearted and entertaining, some are becoming more and more hurtful. Tweets are being posted that insult students directly and reveal personal information about others. With such a small campus, it is not hard to gure out who each tweet is talking about. Maybe some of these accounts should be left for larger institutions or the gutter.
With last weeks Merciad came much controversy. Many students were unaware of the federal case until it was covered in The Merciad. Too bad most of the newspapers have now disappeared or ended up in the trash. Unfortunately, covering up the news seems to be a reoccuring trend at Mercyhurst.
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376. The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485 or via email at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
SPORTS
After a stupendous 2012-2013 season, the Lakers have ended their season in a 4-1 loss against Boston University in the NCAA Womens Frozen Four seminals on Saturday, March 23. The Lakers conclude the season with an overall record of 29-7-1, and 17-3-0 in the College Hockey American Conference. The loss puts the womens hockey record in NCAA playoff competition to 4-9 in team history. Minnesota went on to claim the championship title over Boston University on Sunday, March 24. Despite the loss to Boston, the Lakers can look back on an absolutely incredible season, and one that reects the perfect combination of united teammates and dedicated staff. The Lakers claimed the number ve spot on the nal United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division I womens hockey poll. Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa went into the game against Boston University as the third-ranked goaltender in the nation, but her focus was not deterred by such recognition. I dont really think about (being ranked third in the nation), because at that point in the season, stats and awards dont matter, said Ciampa. Anything can happen in these games, and a win means a whole lot more than numbers. Ciampa enjoyed her time at the Frozen Four and knows the Lakers stand behind their performance and the season as a whole. It was great for our team to be a part of the Frozen Four and to compete in that environment, she said. The game did not go the way we wanted it to, but we are proud of all that we accomplished this year. In the week preceding the Frozen
The Lakers fought hard in their loss to Boston University on Saturday, March 23.
Four tournament, freshman forward Jenna Dingeldein was named College Hockey America (CHA) Player of the Week, alongside Ciampa and junior forward Christine Bestland. Being named CHA Player of the Week is very exciting. There are many players deserving of CHA Player of the Week, and being honored with the recognition is amazing, Dingeldein said. Dingeldein made her rst appearance in the Frozen Four over the weekend and found the Lakers stuck together not only in the seminals, but also throughout the entire season. This weekend was an amazing experience, and one the team will not forget. As a team this year we have accomplished things many people said we couldnt. We knew if we worked hard and played together, that we could make it far into the tournament, Dingeldien said. Despite the loss, Dingeldein can clearly nd the positives of the spectacular season that she was part of with the Lakers. Although the outcome was not what we wanted when we went into the Frozen Four, it is something that our team must be proud of, just making that far. Our team is the closest team I have ever been on, and seeing it come to an end is sad, said Dingeldein. However, knowing we accomplished so much is something that this group of girls can always say we did together. Coach Michael Sisti is no stranger to the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, as he coached the Lakers to the competition in both the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons. In fact, Sisti has carried the Lakers to NCAA Division I play for the last nine years. Nonetheless, Sisti is very proud of his team, and applauds them on their hard work and determination this season. I think the team bought in to what we were trying to accomplish. They all respect each other and supported one another. They developed mental toughness and a winning attitude that helped them though the tough times, said Coach Sisti. In the game against Boston University on Saturday, Boston scored a goal just 13 seconds into the match, and were outshot in the rst period by a margin of 12 to six. The quick goal may have rattled a few of our players and changed momentum at the start of the game. They [Boston] were able to get a few timely goals that helped them play with good energy, and we just missed
Ed Millard photo
on a few chances that may have helped us gain control of the game, said Sisti. We fought hard and played with pride until the nal buzzer, so overall we are very proud of the girls. Boston University is a very good team with some extremely talented players and they played a great game against us. Overall, Sisti is incredibly pleased with the progress and outcome of the season. We once again proved that indomitable will could lead to amazing accomplishments. Our young team improved throughout the season and matured on and off the ice, said Sisti. They represented our school with great tenacity and pride. I am very proud of my staff and players for another great season.
they dropped game one, 5-1, and game two, 3-1. We just need to stay together and keep working hard as a team. We need to believe in ourselves and believe in our teammates, Blair said. The Lakers will be back in action at home against Indiana University of Pennsylvania for a doubleheader on Friday, March 29. Opening pitch for the rst game is set for 1 p.m. with game two to follow.
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SPORTS
The Mercyhurst mens hockey team lost to Canisius, 7-2, in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) Conference nals. The game was held at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. In addition to an AHA Championship Title, the Lakers would have also gotten an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The team made it to the AHA Finals after defeating University of Connecticut 4-1 in the seminals. The Lakers nished the season with a 19-17-5 overall record. Most of the scoring came in the second period. Mercyhurst was outshot 10-6 in the opening period, and the team could not regroup. Mercyhurst outshot Canisius 14-9 in the third period and held a 36-26 advantage in shots during the contest. Junior defenseman Nick Jones was a First Team honoree, and sophomore
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Matthew Zay recieved the AHA Scoring Champion Trophy on Thursday, March 22.