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Mercyhurst University Police & Safety

NEWS

October 31, 2012

Police Log
Monday, Oct. 22 Criminal mischief 3807 Briggs Ave. Closed

Monday, Oct. 22 Larceny Warde Hall Closed Wednesday, Oct. 24 Possession of controlled substance Lot #2 Referred for discipline Thursday, Oct. 25 Larceny Bike rack at Rec Center Closed Saturday, Oct. 27 Liquor law violation McAuley Hall Referred for discipline Saturday, Oct. 27 Criminal mischief Lot #15 Closed Sunday, Oct. 28 De ant trespasser Lot #8 Criminal charges led Sunday, Oct. 28 Liquor law violation McAuley Hall Referred for discipline Sunday, Oct. 28 Controlled substance 3829 Lewis Ave. Res-life incident
Zach Dorsch photo

The Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute will offer Mercyhursts rst doctoral program, which has been in the works for 22 years.

Mercyhurst introduces rst doctoral program

By Caitlin MacBride
Staff writer
After 22 years in the making, Mercyhurst will now offer a doctoral program in anthropology, which will make it the rst small school in Pennsylvania to do so. Director of the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute James Adovasio, Ph.D., the director of the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, has been working to make a doctoral program at Mercyhurst since he began working here in June of 1990. The program will consist of three tracks, archaeology, geoarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Each track will admit two students per year, totaling six students all together. The proposal for the doctoral degree program does not require additional faculty, funds or resources because Mercyhurst is fully equipped to handle such a disciplined program. The department is very well funded and we envision no need for additional funding, said Adovasio. We are extraordinarily well equipped and well supported both internally and externally. The Archaeological Institute has grown at Mercyhurst since its creation. The program has grown to become what is widely regarded as the nest of its kind in any small to medium-sized college or university in North America. Our laboratories are widely regarded as the nest in any school of any size in North America, Adovasio said. The doctoral program at Mercyhurst will allow students to do highend research in a small environment that allows them to have more one-onone time with professors and equipment. Perhaps the most exciting element of the new program will be the presence of a small number of high level doctoral candidates, said Adovasio. Such students add to the intellectual excitement of any department, school or university and add a stimulating dimension to the intellectual life of their fellow masters degree and undergraduate students. If Mercyhurst nds success in this doctoral program, there is hope that more programs will come from it. This program is also a way to welcome in the Year of the University by showing that Mercyhurst, a small school, can achieve big things. The creation of a Ph.D., program in the liberal arts has been under discussion for more than three years, said Adovasio. It represents another unique aspect of Mercyhurst University by which it can be distinguished from other such institutions in northwestern Pennsylvania, specically, and the tri-state area, generally. The department is ready and the school is supporting the new program. Theres a sense when Mercyhurst does something, we do it all the way. We already have an international reputation in anthropology and archaeology and this new degree program will serve to further expand that, President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D., said. A program application has been submitted to Middle States Commission on Higher Education for approval. The program will begin taking applications in fall 2013.

October 31, 2012

By Jaslyne Halter
Staff writer

NEWS

Page 3
as a part of a voluntary game lab students are welcome to participate in. The lab has become pretty popular, said Wheaton. The fewest weve had is four; the most, 20. Id say we average around 10 to 15 students weekly. Although his research is incomplete, Wheaton said the introduction of games appears to have strengthened his students critical thinking skills, expanded their ways of thinking about intelligence problems and helped them to discover better solutions to problems. If the end-game is to elevate the quality of students work and produce better and more condent analysts, Wheaton gures hes on the winning track. Wheaton has presented his academic approach to gaming at the Global Intelligence Forum in Dungarvan, Ireland, the Game Education Summit at the University of Southern California and most recently, a presentation on The Five Myths of Gamebased Learning at the American Association of University Professors annual conference in Washington, D.C. Wheaton is also the author of a popular blog among intelligence professionals, Sources & Methods at http:// sourcesandmethods.blogspot.com.

Intel professor recognized for game-based learning

Associate Professor of intelligence studies Kristan Wheaton, J.D., has acted as a pioneer in game-based learning, especially in regard to Intelligence Studies. Wheatons advocacy of gaming skills has put the Institute of Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst University on the pages of USA Today, featured him (Wheaton) as a subject-matter expert in notable academic publications, and allowed Mercyhurst to be ranked in the nations 10 best colleges for game-based learning by bestcollegesonline.com. This has hit a chord with students. I personally like games in the classroom, especially during review sessions. It helps refresh the material in my mind and reinforce so that I remember it better. Games are also much more interactive than the typical lecture, and often times are hands on, which is what I really like, freshman Chuck Robinson said. In his Strategic Intelligence class, Wheaton likes to incorporate well-

Kyle Briggs photo

Kristan Wheaton, Ph.D., advocates using gaming skills for his classes in the Institute of Intelligence Studies.
known games, such as Clue and World of Warcraft, because they take strategy and make you think. He also uses Deant Russia, a board game based on the 1941 German attack on the Soviet Union, and the online musical puzzle, Auditorium. Wheaton emphasized that he is not the rst professor to use game-based learning. Some professors might not use it to the extent that I do, but Im sure there are others on campus using games of some sort, he said He offers the game-based learning

Know of someone at Mercyhurst who deserves recognition? Now they can be with Laker of the Month.
Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) and the Merciad ask students, faculty and staff to nominate an outstanding student who deserves recognition. MSG members and the Merciad staff are exempt from being nominated. Send nominations to lakerofthemonth@lakers.mercyhurst.edu with a brief summary of why that person deserves the award.

Congressional candidate speaks at Mercyhurst

By Mark Vidunas
Staff writer
Democratic U.S. Congressional Candidate Missa Eaton spoke at Mercyhurst University in the Mercy Heritage room on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The town hall format discussion was sponsored by the Center for Applied Politics. Eaton is running for a seat in Pennsylvanians third congressional district, in which Erie and six other counties are located. Eaton started off the evening with her personal history. She discussed how she went from retail to real estate, even owning her own cosmetics business. She eventually went back to school and entered the education eld, where she has spent her last 15 years, eight of which as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Penn State Shenango. She said she believes that this wide range of experiences would make her a great representative of Pennsylvanias third district. Im not just sitting in an ivory towerI feel like Ive been where a majority of the district has been, Eaton said. She said she went through college as a single mother and lost her home, along with 1,200 others in her county, in just that month. She also talked about her modest roots, that her father worked in a meat packing plant before going off to serve in Vietnam and that her mother was a secretary. Eaton then gave a brief overview of her running platform. She is a self described centrist Democrat. She would like to invest in all levels of education because, as she said, every dollar we invest in our education comes back eight or nine times. She would like to protect seniors and veterans to support things like social security and Medicare. She believes in sustainable energy and affordable access to health care. When Eaton was asked about the biggest difference between herself and the incumbent Congressman Mike Kelley, she responded with, I think we need to have fair taxation, and I believe he thinks we need to have no taxation. When asked on how he believed the event went, Brian Ripley, Ph.D., a Mercyhurst political science professor said, I think its great for students to have the opportunity to meet these people and ask questions. I think its great to have these events and we have to have more in the future. Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP) extended the same initiation to speak to Representative Mike Kelley, but he was unable to make it due to scheduling constraints. MCAP is non-partisan and does not endorse any candidate.

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Conference examines womens quality of life

By Kierston Bromley
Staff writer
The Womens Roundtable will be hosting the 3rd Erie Conference on the Status of Women Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. The conference will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be held at the Hirt Academic Center at Mercyhurst University. The cost to attend the conference is $30. Mercyhurst students with a meal plan, however, may attend the conference free of charge though it is recommended that they register with The Womens Roundtable since they are not paying to attend. Previous conferences, the last having taken place about 14 years ago, prompted the need for another conference to meet to talk about topics of interest to Erie women. Thirty presenters, womens agencies and groups will gather to go over the concerns women face in these changing times. The ofcial goal of this conference, and others like them, is a call to action to improve the quality of life of women. The 3rd Erie Conference aims to improve the quality of life of women in northwestern Pennsylvania in particular. Some of the topics that will be covered include improving quality of life for women in Erie, nancial security, leadership, education and healthcare. Several Mercyhurst faculty presenters will be presenting at the conference, such as Public Health Administrative Assistant Eileen Zinchiak, Assistant Professor of Communications Meghan Corbin, Executive Director of Wellness Judy Smith, Professor of Psychology Marilyn Livosky and Professor of World Cultures Alice Edwards. Zinchiak notes that these conferences are especially important because they give women an opportunity and a platform to speak up about their concerns rather than listen and be lectured to, which many women may not ordinarily get a chance to do so. (The conference) creates a day where women executives, those involved in higher education, leading agencies, etc. (can come together to] serve womens most urgent needs, said Zinchiak. [As well as] learn and share information. Smith, selected by The Womens Roundtable as woman of the year in 2007, became familiar with the organization from this nomination and will be teaching a workshop on assertiveness this time around. Its a great idea to have an opportunity for women from different professional backgrounds to get together for a day of networking and learning, Smith said. Womens Round Table President-Elect 2012-2013 Marsha Mac Kinnon agrees with Smith. We need to nd ways to improve economic opportunities, especially for those who need job training or retaining, and available child and day care, so they can improve their skills, Mac Kinnon said. Women represent half of the work-force and deserve the same economic opportunities as the other half, she said. Its preferred that those wishing to attend register and pay online through Paypal at www.wrterie.com. The Womens Round Table also accepts checks to this address: The Womens Roundtable, P.O. Box 3922, Erie PA 16508. For any registration concerns or questions, contact Hospitality Co-Director Barbara Brown at (814)-3973916.

NEWS

Women le complaints with university following Merciad story on sexual coercion

Two women have led complaints with Mercyhurst University ofcials following the Wednesday, Oct. 24, story When she says no and he says yes. The two students took the action with the universitys Title IX enforcement ofce. University ofcials are now conducting a full investigation into the matter. If you have been a victim of sexual violence or sexual coercion, or even if you suspect you may have been, there are several people you can see for advice or to make a report. Contacts include: Erie Police Department, (814) 870-1125; your RA; Police & Safety, (814) 824-2304; Title IX Coordinator attorney Meredith Bollheimer, (814) 824-3363; Title IX Deputy Coordinator Tina Fryling, (814) 824-2352 and the Counseling Center, (814) 8243650. A counselor is always on call even when the Counseling Center is closed.

News Briefs

October 31, 2012

Woodward event postponed

Due to Hurricane Sandy, award-winning journalist Bob Woodward was unable to leave Washington, D.C. for the event at Mercyhurst on Monday, Oct. 29. Mercyhurst University President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D. appointed Instructor of Communications Brian Sheridan to reschedule the event. Sheridan is coordinating with the Washington Speakers Bureau to reschedule the event at a time that is best for Woodward and Mercyhurst. Those with tickets should hold them. Tickets will be honored at the rescheduled event.

Students encouraged to complete survey

Full-time undergraduate students at Mercyhursts Erie and North East campuses are asked to complete the online National College Health Assessment survey. Executive Director of Wellness and Director of Health and Counseling Centers Judy Smith, Ph.D., encourages students to take 15 minutes to complete the survey. Smith explains that the survey is part of a well-known national survey by the American College Health Association. The data gathered will help provide understanding on a national and college level of what students are experiencing. Its your health, get your voice out there, Smith said. The link to the survey can be found in an email sent out to students and should be completed before Wednesday, Nov. 7. Responses in the survey are anonymous, but students that complete the survey may be randomly selected for a variety of prizes. For more information about the survey, contact Smith at (814) 824-2037.

Haunting at the Hurst

By Stacy Skiavo
Editor-in-Chief
Its that time of year for scary movies, ghosts and haunted houses. At Mercyhurst we seem to have our own haunted house all year long. Everyone knows of the rumors of Mercyhurst being haunted, contributed by the various deaths and strange occurrences that have happened throughout the years on campus. Just walking around Old Main and Egan throughout the day can seem a little creepy with the statues that seem to be staring you straight in the eye and the elevator older than your parents in Egan. Now imagine staying in these buildings until the next morning. The Merciad staff took on the frightening task and stayed in the connecting buildings until 3 a.m. to observe if anything eerie might occur. The night started off after a tedious assembly of the latest issue of the Merciad around 11 p.m. We all met up in the main lobby of Old Main, awaiting for the night to take off. The decision was then made to split up in groups and continue our adventure. Walking through halls of Old Main we ran into a cleaning lady who gave her insight on the matter of whether the campus was haunted. No, I havent seen anything spooky in this building, but those that clean in Baldwin have told me they have there, Denise Snyder said. As we continued our adventure we found some very creepy locations in the buildings. Headed to the lowest level of Egan we found a creepy, tiny door. It was unknown what was on the other side, but by the looks of it, I didnt really want to know. Near the mysterious door we came across a room that resembled a scene of a slaughter lm. Water was dripping and a lthy staircase that led to another unknown room. We peered up most of the stairs, but decided going much further was not an option. The situation was getting a little too creepy for our liking. Soon we reunited with the rest of the crew, who had not experienced anything too spooky, just also shared some creepy atmospheres. Then it was time for Ouija to begin. The best reading occurred in the girls bathroom in Egan. Sports editor Joe Chiodo and entertainment editor Mat Anderson volunteered to see what ghosts they could conjure. As the game begins you ask the spirit if they are from the sun or the moon, meaning if they are a good or bad spirit. The spirit let us know it was ring and became a Sister of Mercy. She then placed the ring on the statue of baby Jesus in the chapel, as a symbol that Jesus was now her true love. A few years later her love returned and she discovered he was still alive. Unfortunately, she was now a sister and was unable to marry him. Hysterical, she made the rash decision to hang herself in the tower of Old Main. Since then, the rumor continues that she haunts the building and that the ring is cursed. It is rumored an engaged Mercyhurst student decided to steal the ring years later to wear it when her anc arrived to visit her at the college. The day of his expected arrival, she answered the telephone while wearing the ring to hear the terrible news that her anc had died in a freak automobile accident. Ambassador and senior Aldyn Stewart has celebrated Haunted Hurst for several years. Her favorite is the tale of the sisters body in the South Parlor in Old Main. The room was used in the past as a space to store the deceased as a viewing room. One day a deceased sister was placed inside the room in her cofn for the night. When the sisters had returned the next morning they found that the cofn was empty. The two main doors were open and footprints were found leading away from

October 31, 2012

FEATURES

Page 5

Mat Anderson took a picture in room 222 of McAuley Hall in 2010 and a mysterious face appeared over his right shoulder. Anderson believes it was a Mercyhurst spirit.
from the sun, meaning it was a good spirit, and that it was a female. The question of her name was then asked. We all stared in awe as the triangular plastic piece spelled out N-O-R-A. Things were starting to feel real as the propeller fan went crazy in the corner of the bathroom. Nora then revealed she had died in 1946 and still remained on campus for revenge. She told us she sought out revenge from her brother Duncan who had killed someone. That was enough information for us, as we then wished the spirit goodbye.

Staff photo

I was walking into Old Main and heard the piano playing, but didnt see anyone playing it.
Michael Starry

Our experience in Old Main and Egan was a very creepy one just as many other students have experienced throughout their time as a student on campus. Sophomore Michael Starry recalls the time he became a believer of the Hurst being haunted. I was walking into Old Main and heard the piano playing, but didnt see anyone playing it, Starry said. Senior Abby Robinson shared a similar story when she was participat-

ing in phone-a-thon calling. As we were all in the room for the phone-a-thon a gust of wind blew throughout the room and all of the papers and pens ew off the desk, but all of the windows were closed. We all freaked out and got out of there immediately, Robinson said. Others just hope to have a paranormal experience before they leave the Hurst. Unfortunately, Ive never had any scary encounters on campus. I totally believe that Mercyhurst is haunted and would love to have some sort of scary encounter on campus. Ive walked around late at night by myself, went to all the haunted places alone, and have even participated in a sance freshman year, but still have never had an encounter with the paranormal, said ambassador and junior Chris Gaertner. Im holding out hope though. I want to have a scary encounter before I graduate next year. Several well known stories exist around campus. Many of which are told at Haunted Hurst each year. One of the most well known tales is the story of the ring. The legend states that many years ago a couple was engaged at Mercyhurst. The man proposed and gave her a ring for their engagement right before he was shipped off to war. While he was away at war, the woman received a telegram stating that her husband-to-be was killed in battle. The woman was devastated, removed her

the room. The mystery was never solved of what exactly happened, but the doors have remained permanently closed since. Many wonder if these stories are just stories, but Stewart is a believer of the tales. I totally believe parts of Mercyhurst are haunted especially after taking a Ouija board to random spots around campus my freshman year, said Stewart. I had never believed in that kind of stuff but after experiencing some weird things that my logical and rational brain couldnt explain, I guess it kind of just stuck and now many places on campus creep me out at night and I nd myself walking through them quickly. Whether the tales are true or not the Haunted Hurst event is still one enjoyed by all. It gets everyone in the holiday spirit for Halloween and adds character to our school. I love the uniqueness of the Haunted Hurst event and how it brings the community together for some seasonal fun with the twist of history. I enjoy working it and having the opportunity to make it fun, and a little scary, but mostly fun, ambassador and senior Joe Pudlick said. To see more pictures go to http://merciad.mercyhurst.edu.

Staff photo

Cagle and Handerhan talk to the spirits, using a Ouija board, outside the Mercyhurst Christ the King Chapel.

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Sustainability ofce begins composting

By Derek Smith
Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst ofce of sustainability started the operation of its own campus composters on Oct. 18. These green Earth Tubs are located at the south-eastern corner of the Warde Hall parking lot. The tubs turn food waste into compost for various projects on campus. Its something that every campus thats going green does, sustainability ofcer Brittany Prischak said. This is the newest addition the ofce has undertaken, having been involved in geothermal heating in Hammermill Library and various projects at the Mercyhurst West farm. The Mercyhurst farm provides produce that is used in Egan and is sold in farmers markets. The land also has various research sites. Prischak supervises the project and works with a small group of work study students. These students help operate the system and make sure the process is successful. The work studies receive a packet with instructions on how to work the machine, and what to do once they have nished their task. The campus composters use the hot compost method, which is when compost is kept in an enclosed space and kept somewhere between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain the temperature, water is added to the system, but it is important to keep around half of the material dry. Mercyhurst uses sawdust donated by local lumber mill to maintain moisture levels. The system they are using includes a bio-lter that reduces the smell of the compost. It works by funneling the scent to an enclosed tub lled with pine bark. The cooking process takes around 20 to 40 days. Then it takes an additional 20 to 40 days for the compost to cure, this is when the compost becomes stable. Around $19,000 was spent getting the project operational and it was paid for by grant money and the student sustainability fund. While the project does not create direct prot, it will save the campus money in the long run. Currently, the waste is supplied by Parkhurst Dining, the food provider to Egan and the Laker Inn. It is the prep waste from Egan, but the sustainability ofce would like to expand into taking student waste from Egan and other areas. The problem with this is that the materials that come from student waste could affect the time it takes for materials to compost. Meats, oily foods and paper affect how long it takes for it to be composted. The ofce is trying to work out a method for gathering more materials to increase the amount they can produce at one time.

FEATURES

October 31, September 3, 2008 2012

Hurst to Haiti: Hot in Haiti

Senior Caitlin Handerhan enjoyed blogging about her Haiti trip. As I stepped off the plane into the Port-au-Prince airport, I dont know which surprised me more - the band of musicians playing as we entered the warehouse converted into a terminal or the wave of humidity that greeted us after 12 hours of air travel. Let it be noted that I suffer in humidity. My personal woes with the weather aside, I can honestly say this rst day in Haiti has been more of an adventure that I could have ever imagined. For starters, I was stopped at immigration and not allowed through because I had written convent, Gros Morne as my Haitian address since the street names and numbers are virtually non-existent. The immigration ofcer I encountered was not satised with that answer, and demanded specics. When I could produce nothing more than a few sputters and the sign of the cross, I was sent to the service desk.

Students attend science conference

By Abigail Robinson
Staff writer
Senior Veronica McCoy, graduate Ashley Russell and Mercyhurst Administrative Member Darlene Melchitzky attended the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference in New Orleans, on Oct. 13-17. The SfN hosted an annual meeting providing the worlds largest forum for neuroscientists to debut research and network with colleagues through lectures, symposia, workshops and various events. The event was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; 28,500 people attended. This event is the largest international conference, and Mercyhurst presented two posters on research they had been conducting for two years prior to the conference. The research was an extension of that conducted by Susan Erickson of the University of Pittsburgh. McCoy and Melchitzky presented on the connections from the medial temporal lobe to the lateral mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. Russell and Melchitzky presented on the role of the hypothalamus. McCoy is a psychology major with a neuroscience concentration and a biology minor at Mercyhurst, and Ashley Russell who graduated this past year, is now attending the University of Buffalo for a masters degree in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Contributed photo

Handerhans rst-hand view of poverish conditions in Haiti.

No computers were in sight, and I was merely told to redo my immigration papers. I wrote exactly the same thing, went to another line to avoid the rst ofcer I encountered, and was admitted into the country without so much as a cursory glance at my forms. After claiming my luggage, weighed down by laptops and ink cartridges for the students Mercy Beyond Borders sponsors, we headed to our car for the four hour trip from the capitol to the northern town of Gros Morne. As we drove through the countryside, we encountered such entrancing sights. Fighting my urge to sleep, since sleep was elusive on my over-night ight, I was shocked at what I was seeing. You can read about Haiti, hear the economic statistics or see clips of the extreme poverty on the news, but my rst world exposure to this place did little to prepare me for the sights I would see. As I sit now, free from the bouncing connes of our car transport, what strikes me most about the drive up here was the garbage. The garbage with goats on top. The garbage with the goats next to a house. The garbage with the goats next to a house where young children were playing. The living conditions of the Haitian population were deplorable, even when we passed thorough more afuent urban areas. Although I have yet to see much of Gros Morne, I suspect this will be the case at the homes of the girls MBB has on scholarship here. This evening we are resting, and becoming acquainted with the sisters who are hosting us for the week, but tomorrow I suspect will bring even more surprises. Stay tuned to learn more about Caitlins trip to Haiti in upcoming columns.

Contributed photo

Melchitzky and McCoy at neuroscience conference.

The posters that Mercyhurst presented were located in the general poster session, so they were among

hundreds of others. McCoy and Russell each worked with Melchitzky for almost two years before they presented their ndings. It was very overwhelming at rst because there were 28,500 people in attendance, so it was the largest conference I have been to but I denitely enjoyed it, McCoy said. The conference offered lectures, and symposia all relative to the eld of neuroscience. There were some poster sessions and talks that had to do with specic themes or subtopics of neuroscience, so attendees could decide to attend which-ever they preferred. I learned a lot while I was there. I was able to talk with graduate schools as well as learn about the newest research going on in the eld on neuroscience. It opened up my eyes to how expansive the eld of neuroscience really is and made me realize that all of the opportunities that exist in this eld, McCoy said. The next conference will be held in 2013 in San Diego, and hope fully Mercyhurst will be represented next year.

October 31, 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Dance show is Beyond Words

By Mathew Anderson
A&E editor
Last weekend, Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre and SoMar Dance Works put on a collaborative event that showcased their versatility and ability to create stunning visual art that continually raises the standard expected of the arts at Mercyhurst. Starting with a preview concert on Friday, the performances lasted throughout the weekend with relatively large crowds each night. The two groups performed all different genres of dance from ballet to modern. The Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre started the performance with multiple acts of expression from abstract
Sarah Hlusko photo

to creative and comical dance works. A piece that really stood out in regards to the rest was the incredibly creative selection titled Its Alive! The Halloween-esque, spooky feature incorporated Dance faculty Mark and Solveig Santillano along with a great number of the Mercyhurst Ballerinas. Solveig played the role of the mad scientist with Mark as her bumbling, stumbling assistant. The rest of the performers on stage were dressed, very convincingly, like zombies. It was almost shocking how closely the girls resembled the movements of what one would consider a zombie to move like. Overall the performance of the Mercyhurst Ballet Theatre and SoMar Dance Works was one that truly embodied the declared theme for this academic season: Freedom Season.

Cummings Art Gallery is displaying works of art by the faculty of the Millcreek school system. Many of the works are abstract pieces with deep emotional connections, others seem to be reminiscent of Halloween.

Art Gallery presents Millcreek art exhibits

By Alejandra Zeron
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst University Cummings Gallery is featuring the work of artists who teach visual arts in the Millcreek Township School District. A public reception was held for the artists on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. The participating artists included Timothy Blair and Robert V. Werder of McDowell Intermediate High School. Bethany Krowsoski and Michael Prather of McDowell High School, Jackie Platz, teacher at both McDowell Intermediate and Belle Valley Elementary School, Jennifer Dunham of J.S. Wilson Middle School and Maria Cross of Grandview and Chestnut Hill elementary schools. Also featured were retired teachers Andrea Jacoby and Mary Rosiak of McDowell Intermediate and Marsha Langman Cisek of McDowell. The Millcreek Township school district has hosted 14 exhibits since 1985, following the innovative edge of nearby colleges and universities. The exhibit portrayed a variety of works in diverse media from watercolor on aqua-board, acrylic on canvas and colored pencils to ceramic, photography and collagraphs. The ceramic work of Michael Prather had a commanding presence that captured the audiences attention. He experimented with different textures and surface treatments such as

glossy nishes, smoked exteriors and spray that conferred to each piece a unique emotion, design and story. Jackie Platzs watercolors on aquaboard convey the appearance of being close range snapshots of plants and owers. Also of outstanding appeal were Marsha Langman Ciseks metal weavings, which consisted of corroded nuts, screws, wire and metal interwoven into single cohesive units. The exhibition will be on display until Oct. 28, in Cummings Gallery, located in the lobby of the Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center. The Art Gallery is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Call 824-2092 for more information.

Online

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

View upcoming performances: www.pac.mercyhurst.edu

www.merciad.mercyhurst. edu/arts_entertainment

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

edy, Titus Andronicus is an Indie-Punk band that hails from Glen Rock, N.J. Unlike previous albums by this band, who offered 15 minute epics about the Civil War, this album is very much on the punk side. Honestly, the rst thing that I picked up on this band was how much they sounded like the 70s Glam Rock band The New York Dolls. Both bands have gruff vocals thrown over twangy, overdriven guitars, and huge gang vocal choruses that hit you like Hurricane Sandy making land fall. The track that really got my attention right from the rst listen was, In a Big City. This song starts out with this twang lled electric folk guitar, and is soon followed by the lead singers confessions of life in a big city. Moved over to the other side of the river, now Im a drop in a deluge of hipsters, says a little about his experiences of living in the big city. My Eating Disorder is worlds apart from In a Big City. It is a heartfelt way of explaining one of the band members struggles, and is structured more like a big rock epic which lasts a little over eight minutes. This track hosts a wide variety of tempo changes and even has this hair metal, dual lead guitar part. I found both of these to be a surprise as well as proof of this bands versatility. The last track worth checking out is Ecce Homo, which has a lighthearted guitar line compared to most of the other tracks and a simple rhythm beat. The pure simplicity of the song is what really stands out compared to the other tracks. This album is denitely worth listening to, though it will be hard to like the whole album, due to the lack of spark in some of the other songs. This should not be seen as a deterrent to this band or their other works. So go ahead invest some of your time in Local Business.

October 31, September 3, 2008 2012

Titus Andronicuss Local Business: 0% Shakespeare, 100% Awesome

By Zach Dorsch
Photo editor
It seems that often I pick the albums I want to review in the same way a veyear-old may pick out cereal. Truly it is all about what is on the box. Now most of the time this leads to me choosing albums that I absolutely hate, but on rare occasions I nd something wonderful. This happened to me recently when I found an album cover that simply said, Local Business against a red background. The name of the band wasnt even on it. Feeling curious, I looked up the album not knowing what to expect and to say the least Local Business, the third album for the band Titus Andronicus, did not disappoint me. Named after a Shakespearean trag-

pac.mercyhurst.edu photo

On Screen/ In Person: Dislecksia

In this comic documentary director Harvey Hubbell V explore the latest scientic knowledge about dyslexia and the experiences of dyslexics. The lm gives dyslexics and their families hope as well as a crash course in how to keep smiling.

Taylor Little Theater Friday Nov. 9, 2012 - 2:15 p.m. & 7:15 p.m.

Cloud Atlas, a challenging yet compelling experience

By Matthew Teleha
Staff writer
There are not many ways to fully explain the detailed plot of Cloud Atlas within the connes of a 400word review, so Im not going to try. Instead, Ill give you some pointers and observations to keep in mind while seeing the lm for the rst time. Cloud Atlas, based on the novel of the same name, is a massive independent undertaking written and directed by the Wachowski siblings and their colleague Tom Tykwer. The lm debuted this past weekend to varied critiques, ranging from love it to hate it and many falling in the neutral zone. The lm follows six separate story lines that connect to each other through the actions of a multitude of characters. Interestingly enough, we meet about 40 characters, all of whom are each played by one of only ve very talented lead actors. These actors performances (led primarily by Tom Hanks and Halle Berry) are breathtaking, and at many times I found myself struggling to recognize the actor behind the makeup. While there are a couple specic instances where this can be distracting, theyre justied by the impressive illusions. The writing of the lm is so intricate that it seems to also be somewhat fragile. The novel was originally considered to be unlmable, and now I can denitely see why. The interweaving story lines transition quite frequently, and at times they struggle to emphasize themselves. However, if anybody could attack such a challenging story, its these lmmakers. Tykwer and the Wachowskis exercise an ambitious amount of effort into making visual sense of the novel, and ultimately their message is conveyed. Make sure that youre fully awake when watching this lm; the fastpaced rotation of the six timelines can be somewhat difcult to keep track of. The lms nearly three-hour runtime proves a challenge for those with a short attention span as well. Since the lms sections were each directed by only one of the three directors, you nearly feel like youre watching three separate lms at once. Each section reects the style of its respective director, luckily though these sections eventually unify about halfway through the movie. Opinion aside, theres no denying the incredible amount of work and dedication it took to make Atlas. The scope of the lm is far-reaching so much so that it will unfortunately leave a lot of viewers cold. For those who can brave such challenges, however, a visual and thought-provoking treat awaits.

October 31, 2012

OPINION

Page 9

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.

MIAC responds to The Bad post

By Jamie Grady
MIAC Director
I am writing to you in regards to your October 17, 2012, Opinion page expressing a dislike to the venue change of the Maria J. Langer Film Series. I wonder if the person expressing such an opinion has actually seen a movie at the Taylor Little Theater. This year saw the creation of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture (MIAC) which oversees the arts programming accomplished by the Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center, the Walker Recital Hall and the Taylor Little Theater. MIAC manages the planning and execution of artistic and cultural events on campus in coordination with faculty and students. The Institute is creating a lot of excitement on- and off-campus, but has been woefully over looked in your recent arts packed edition. Over the course of the summer MIAC was busy improving the Taylor Little Theater and repurposing it into the place to see movies on campus. maximum picture resolution and best audio possible. These changes along with the intimate environment of the theatre help to provide a unique viewing experience. MIAC has also changed the Langer Film Series screenings to Friday. In large part the change was made to accommodate the Universitys students who found it difcult to attend the lms on Wednesdays. We hope, in the end, our lm series becomes an active part in the campus communitys night life and arts scene. And after all you come to a good lm, to see the story on the screen not because it is being shown in a particular venue. I hope you give us a real chance to prove your opinion wrong.

Editor rebuttal
Opinion editor

By Caitlin Handerhan

We hope our lm series becomes an active part in the campus communitys night life and art scene.
- Jamie Grady

In addition to cosmetic changes to the theatre, the University installed a new sound system and Blu-ray projector which provides viewers with the

In response to Mr. Jamie Grady of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture, I have to say I was shocked to receive such a defensive statement. Each week one of the most read sections of the Merciad is the Good, Bad and Ugly, which details student concerns on and off campus. On Oct. 17, as the opinion editor, I made the decision to use an often heard complaint from students, and stand by my decision to run material about the Maria J. Langer lm series being moved to the Taylor Little Theater. He boldly questions whether or not I have attended a lm in Taylor Little, which is a moot point consid-

ering my opinion has little bearing on the formulation of these briefs each week, as they are a culmination of student concerns, but I will address it none the less. Yes, Mr. Grady, I have attended lms in Taylor in the past, and in my humble opinion it is a less than ideal venue for any event. As the president of two RSCOs on campus, I would never intentionally hold an event or show a lm in Taylor Little for my groups. In sum, I feel Mr. Grady should not be upset with the Merciad staff, or myself for posting it, but rather should consider the student opinions that prompted the post in the rst place. If my opinion was the only one that mattered, Mr. Gradys self-indulgent response would be The Ugly this week.

Student nds deplorable service, truly offensive attitude in mailroom

Missing packages, confusion prevails
By Caitlin MacBride
Staff writer
Bundles and bundles of mail come in everyday, but somehow it seems 50 percent of these packages go missing. Is it too much to ask for a safe delivery of our birthday presents, absentee ballots, and maybe some greeting cards? What is happening to this mail? I am not sure, and I dont want to point ngers. All I know is its not me. The mailbox numbers have been switched to lessen the number of mail thefts because your roommates are now your mailbox partners. Recently, myself and the two other roommates who I share a mailbox with have had letters go missing. The three of us went to the mailroom and politely asked where they could have gone. One persons mail was from September and another two were from three weeks prior. To our surprise and frustration, the mailroom worker gave us some uncalled for attitude. He told us that they would never lose mail and maybe our roommates had stolen it. We all looked at each other thinking, but were all here, how did we steal it from each other? He then proceeded to tell us that we needed to confront each other because that is the only way mail would go missing. I dont know about everyone else, but I dont take kindly to being called a thief. I was fuming, so I decided to talk to others. Junior Samantha Goldbach said, my mom sent my sister and me letters in early October. My sister got her letter two days later, I still havent received mine. Another source said she still hadnt received birthday cards from last year. Junior Kiana Micari said, I was sent $150 last year, it never showed up. I am not sure what is happening, but something needs to be done How are students supposed to vote when their ballots dont show up? Are parents love and money being misplaced? The mailroom clearly needs a better system for sorting mail, considering how many people are complaining about it. Maybe they should revamp their system before pointing the nger at innocent students. Its just not right.

If you dont want it printed . . . dont let it happen.

@mercyhurst.edu Editors Positions editormerciad Stacy Skiavo Editor-in-Chief newsmerciad Alicia Cagle News Editor featuremerciad Kayla Kelly Features Editor opinionmerciad Caitlin Handerhan Opinion Editor sportsmerciad Joe Chiodo Sports Editor entertainmentmerciad Mat Anderson A&E Editor copymerciad Chelsea Schermerhorn Copy Editor photomerciad Samantha Link Graphics photomerciad Zach Dorsch Photo Editor ejohns89 Ethan Johns Web Editor admerciad Laura Fiegelist Ad Manager wwelch Bill Welch Adviser

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.

Page 10

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

October 31, 2012

Minority groups targeted by common phrases unknowingly

The Mercyhurst community survived Hurricane Sandy with no massive power outages, no structural damage on campus and no cancelled classes. While Hurst ofcials are glad classes remained on schedule, students feel otherwise.

Slang terms offensive to many

By Kierston Bromley
Staff writer
One of dictionary.coms denitions for the word slur is a disparaging remark or a slight. This is a broad category than can include all sorts of insults such as loser or ugly or other hurtful comments; however, there is a category of slurs that I hear around campus that particularly concern me. I hear students saying thats so gay referring to a disappointing football game in which the team they were rooting for lost. I hear I must be retarded when a student does poorly on a test or doesnt quickly understand something that is supposed to be easily understood. I hear that was crazy to describe negative and positive events and people, and so-and-so is an insane grader to describe a professor who has difcult tests and/or strictly grades said tests. All of these phrases are a common part of many students vocabularies. Many think nothing of saying them because, as is often said, everyone uses these words. However, a troubling aspect of words like gay, retard, crazy, and insane is that they are harmful to minority groups who are often targeted for bullying and other kinds of violence simply because they are not heterosexual, have a learning disability or a mental disorder.

All of these phrases are a common part of many students vocabularies.

- Kierston Bromley

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodard was scheduled to speak before a sold-out crowd on campus this week, but couldnt leave D.C. due to massive ight cancellations courtesy of Hurricane Sandy.

Of course, this list does not take into account all identiable minority groups, but the words I listed are the words I most often hear around campus. These slurs, and others, are used to label people in minority groups as other and thus basically slap a sign on their backs that says kick me to the rest of the population. While this does not necessarily mean physical violence all the time, words are also a vehicle of harm that many people sometimes forget about.

I do not think that most students intend to harm someone when they say that was so gay or I must be retarded. I do think, however, that many are not as careful with their language as they could be because words are too often seen as harmless. A punch thrown is immediately felt and a black eye is easily visible as well as remembered. However, words, too, can cause lasting mental and emotional anguish that stay long after the black eye fades away. I often hear the sentence but its just a word, youre being too sensitive or that the First Amendment says that people can say whatever they like in response to being asked not to use hurtful words. First, when people say youre being too sensitive, they are saying my right to say this word matters more to me than your pain to the person their hurtful words harmed. This is a stance of privilege, where the person saying hurtful words believes they can say, or do, whatever they want no matter the cost to others. Secondly, when quoting the First Amendment as an excuse, one should actually understand what the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of

the United States Constitution actually says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Yes the First Amendment includes the words freedom of speech, but who must respect this freedom of the people? The government. This means that the government may not tell the people what they can and cannot say, but this does not mean that a regular citizen, such as myself, cannot speak out against the use of these slurs. People always seem to forget that freedom of speech is a two-sided sword that cuts both ways. If it is acceptable that people can use their words to hurt with impunity because of freedom than others can also speak out about this practice by the same token. Truly, is it all that difcult to simply open a dictionary and choose another word that is not only not hurtful to minority groups but also more specic in describing how one is actually feeling? I think not.

The hurricane brought ooding to several residence halls, apartment buildings and academic buildings on campus the night of the storm. After spending approximately $9 million on the brand new Center for Academic Engagement, it is really comforting to see water streaming down the inside of the picturesque windows. Luckily the builder is still responsible for repairs.

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October 31, 2012

a successful season are junior Matt Cote and senior Josh Rodriquez. With some signicant transfers on the team, and some maturing players, the Lakers are stepping up their game, trying to take it all the way to the Eastern Championships in Princeton, New Jersey over Thanksgiving break. We have a lot of key players on the team, everyone really does their part. But some of the players that have been sticking out this year as being key contributors are transfer juniors Garret Schoeman, Isaac Ogloblin and Brett Luehmann, Robinette said.

SPORTS
With their two wins this past weekend at the Division II Eastern Championships against Salem International University, 19-14 and Gannon University, 18-5, the Lakers are positive they will be able to reach their goal of the Eastern Championships. Our goal from day one was to go all the way. With a record of 15-10 last year, we were looking to really make a name for ourselves, and were looking forward to the season with a mature team, Robinette said. With the CWPA Southern Championships this weekend in Bucknell Pennsylvania, the Lakers are looking to keep their seven-game winstreak alive, and earn a spot against the competition. What makes us really unique is the fact that we have such a geographic diverse roster, with three different international students. We dont just play Division II schools. Everyone plays everyone, mostly because water polo is such a rare sport to play, said Robinette. We play a lot of Division I schools such as Harvard University. Our best game so far would have to be against

Page 11

Lakers earn spot in DII E. Championship

By Samantha Bante
Staff writer
Having a season record of 19-5 is an accomplishment for any team, especially for the mens water polo team. We have a better team this year. We are a year older with a lot of key players, so we have matured a lot in that way, Coach Curtis Robinette said. With an addition of ve new freshmen, the Lakers are looking to mature more with key young players. The captains this year leading the team to such

Harvard. We were down by two and won in regulation, 3-0, in the last two minutes. That was a big accomplishment because we had lost to them previously in the season. The Lakers look forward to competing in the DII Eastern Championships, and testing their strength as a team. This year is a great year for our team. We really have rounded out a lot of the edges, Robinette said. The Lakers next game is Friday, Nov. 2, against John Hopkins University at Bucknell, Pa.

Mens hockey searches for seasons rst win

By Joe Chiodo
Sports editor
On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Lakers traveled to Big Rapids, Mich., to play the Ferris State Bulldogs. The Lakers put up a solid ght against the Bulldogs, refusing to lose in the 3-3 tie. Currently, the Lakers hold a record of 0-2-1, with the majority of the season still to come. Sophomore forward Ryan Misiak scored the rst goal of the game, which was his second of the season. Misiak has two goals and two assists over the last three games, and is optimistic on the rest of the season. Although we may not have a dish in the win column as of yet, we just need to get back to doing the little things we did last year that made us successful. Misiak said. Despite the winless season, the Lakers condence has not diminished in the least bit. The teams morale has not decreased whatsoever, it may actually be stronger. Adversity is something that brings a team closer together, said Misiak. This is the closest knit of guys I have ever played with, and as a family we know that the sky is the limit if we all pull together and continue to work hard and improve in all aspects. After time had expired in the game on Saturday, both teams competed in a shootout. Although unofcial in the eyes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Lakers won the shootout with a goal

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Ryan Misiak makes his way along the boards in the Lakers game against Ferris State.
by sophomore forward Nardo Nagtzaam. It was a big learning lesson for our group as a whole, but we know a win is a win. I couldnt be more proud of the guys, with the heart and pride they showed Saturday night, Misiak said. The Lakers will search for their rst ofcial win of the season on Friday, Nov. 2, against Sacred Hearts Pioneers in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

For information: Meetings are in Hirt L120B on Mondays at 8:15 p.m. or email sportsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Page 12

Golfers receive Womens soccer ends PSAC Award season at 7-10-1

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has awarded junior womens golf member Kristen Vidmar and senior mens golf member Jake Pilarski the prestigious PSAC Champion Scholar Award. PSAC gives this award to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average competing in a PSAC Championship. Vidmar, a chemistry major with a 3.8 grade point average, is humble in her recognition by the PSAC. It was an honor to be awarded this title, and it was a bit of a surprise because I know how hard my teammates work in their studies, Vidmar said. Juggling academics and a sport like golf would be a tough task for anyone, but Vidmar manages it with great success. I would have to say that having the professors and good friends who offer to explain the material I have missed while on the road has really helped me to succeed in academics, said Vidmar. As for golf, my teammates are a huge support system for me, and weve grown to become a family throughout the past years. I know I can always count on them to have my back, whether on the course or off. I could not thank them enough. With the fall season over, Vidmar can reect on the achievements of her team and looks forward to the spring season. The fall season for our team was, overall, a success. We won the California Invitational and we placed third at the PSAC Championships, said Vidmar. We have a lot of young talent, and I know the program is only going to improve. I cannot wait to see what the spring season and the rest of my career at Mercyhurst is going to bring. Madeline Erickson contributed to this article.

Sports

October 31, 2012

By Dan Tarr

Contributing writer
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, The Lakers traveled to Lock Haven University to compete against the Eagles. The Lakers ended the game with a victory of, 1-0, with the sole goal being recorded by freshman forward Lauren Testa. It was a great feeling, and a big accomplishment for me to contribute to the win, Testa said. Being a freshman, Testa took the challenging transition into college soccer with great stride. At rst it was a challenge, I was a little home sick. It was weird playing with girls that I had never played with. Now that Im all settled in, I really enjoy it and its a great experience, Testa said. Testa attributes her success on

the eld to her father, who has supported her since she picked up the sport. Hes been there for me ever since the beginning. He went from coaching me through the years, to being my biggest fan on the sidelines, Testa said.

We all gave 150 percent, and no one gave up.

Lauren Testa

Unfortunately, the Lakers fell to Gannon in their season nale on Sunday, Oct. 28. Subsequently, the Lakers ended their season with a solid record of 7-10-1 overall. It was a tough loss. Everyone was disappointed, but we arent ashamed by the way we played. We all gave 150 percent, and no one gave up. Its just

too bad that the end didnt turn out in our favor, Testa said. Although the season is over for the Lakers, prospects are high for next year. Testa anticipates a great next season for the team. We will build off of this season. The entire team started to work really well with each other toward the end, and Im hoping that we continue this for the future season, said Testa. Im looking forward to playing with all of the returning girls, as well as meeting the new ones. The Lakers aim to have an even more productive season in the spring, with many veteran players returning and a positive year to improve off of.