The Merciad

PHOTOS BY MERCYHURST STUDENTS

What the Duck?!

Wind Ensemble inspires Page 5 Lakers defeat Vulcans Page 7 Laker of the Month: Jacob Griffin Page 4
No, I dont believe in ghosts. 22% Yes, it was terrifying. 37%

READ THE STORY ON PAGE 5

ONLINE POLL RESULTS

I aint afraid of no ghosts. 15%

Does haunted by my homework count? 26%

Total votes: 27

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NEWS
Detchon said she hopes these talks will show the similarities that most faiths share, such as love and good moral values. These meetings are meant to be a place where students, faculty and staff can nd common ground in regard to religion and not feel as though they have to debate or defend themselves. The goal of these gatherings is to facilitate discussion and open dialogue about various religions. Through discussion, students can expect to increase their awareness of other religions by talking with those who practice different spiritual or religious beliefs. The rst of these events took place Sunday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. and featured Arabic instructor and Fulbright Scholar Habib Ben Messaoud, who discussed the basics of Islam and being a Muslim in America. Messaoud gave an overview of the Islamic faith and also discussed similarities between Islam and Christianity; Islam and its tolerance of other religions and gender equality in Islam. He made note of several examples of similarities between the Bible and the Quran, and how the two books call for the same thing. He also cited evidence in the Quran stating Islamic tolerance for other religions and the equality of men and women. Messaoud talked about his rst experience with meeting and working with Americans in his native country of Tunisia. After getting to know Americans, he said he was surprised how many things they had in common and how many values they shared, such as a love of freedom and a respect for human rights. This rst gathering of Peace Talks succeeded in facilitating discussion on the similarities between Islam and other religions, specically Christianity and Judaism. Many in attendance were able to increase their

November 7, 2012

Campus Ministry, students promote Peace Talks

By Stefani Baughman
Staff writer
Religion is a topic not typically discussed in todays society, said junior Jen Detchon. I think that causes a lot of misunderstanding and conict. It was this idea that inspired Detchon and several other students, with support from Campus Ministry, to start Peace Talks, a regular event at which members of the Mercyhurst community can share their individual spiritual and/or religious lives. understanding of Islam by having their questions answered by Messaoud. Peace Talks are expected to be held the rst Sunday of each month. So far, the next meeting is not limited to any specic topic. Any member of the student body, faculty or staff interested in sharing their personal spiritual/religious views at a future gathering is encouraged to contact Jen Detchon at jdetch62@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

Chemistry demonstrations help community learn

By Jaslyne Halter
Staff writer
Chemistry faculty members and students from Mercyhurst University and other area schools were stationed at the Millcreek Mall to interest shoppers of all ages with demonstrations and interactive experiments all about nanotechnology on Saturday, Nov. 3. Mercyhurst University faculty members and students led hands-on chemistry demonstrations tailored for elementary and middle school students. The programs theme, Do More with Less, focused on nanotechnology: what it is and what it can do for our society. Other participating schools included Penn State Behrend, Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Gannon University, the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville and Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy. Some of the stationed activities offered were mole tattoos to represent the unit of measurement used in chemistry to express amounts of a chemical substance, with the value of 6.022x1023, as well as learning about how temporary tattoos stick to skin, smelling scent-lled latex balloons to guess what scents are inside, learning about magnets and how their poles make a difference in their magnetic abilities. I believe the mall is a poor location to demonstrate chemistry. I

Mercyhurst University Police & Safety

Monday, Oct. 26 Larceny Post O ce Referred for discipline Thursday, Nov. 1 Liquor law violation East Main Drive Referred for discipline

Police Log

Saturday, Nov. 3 De ant trespass, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication Lewis Avenue Criminal charges led
Contributed photo

Mercyhurst students Rachel Simeone, Kaleigh Hubert and Garret Verwer participated in the chemistry event at the Millcreek Mall.
dont think people going to the mall really want to learn chemistry as they shop, said junior biology major Heather Christensen. The community should be aware of ways that science can improve their way of living. One of the students who participated was 8-year-old Melanie. Science is my favorite thing about going to school, she said. When I grow up I want to be a science teacher. They should have science days more. This event, which has been going on in Erie for over 20 years, helps the community to stay current with emerging technologies. By discussing medicine, cars, computers, and sports, and even sun screen, the students were able to understand more about nanotechnology in their everyday lives. This years program was sponsored by the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation and the Erie chapter of the American Chemical Society and marked the 25th anniversary of National Chemistry Week.

Saturday, Nov. 3 Public intoxication Baldwin Hall State citation led Saturday, Nov. 3 Larceny Tullio Football Field Letter of trespass sent Sunday, Nov. 4 De ant trespass Lot #22 Criminal charges led

November 7, 2012

NEWS

Intelligence studies recognized by U.S. State Department

By Danielle Vaccaro
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst Institute for Intelligence Studies will be recognized by the U.S. State Departments Ofce of Antiterrorism Assistance for its continued research and expanding role in ghting international terrorism. Not only a teaching tool for students and faculty alike, the programs developed through its partnership with the U.S. State Department have provided many opportunities for students as well as assisting in curbing international terrorism. The Institute for Intelligence Studies began its work in international terrorism in 2007, when it signed its rst contract with the U.S. State Department. The contract allowed faculty and students studying intelligence to develop a law enforcement training program in portions of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Courses developed for the Ofce of Antiterrorism Assistance include Identifying and developing Investigation Information (IDII), Investigative Information Management (IIM), Combating Domestic and Transnational Terrorism (CDTT) and Integrating Counter-Terrorism Stategies at the National Level (ICTSNL). According to the State Department, the institute was recognized based upon their expertise in the eld of law enforcement intelligence; being well known for providing very high-quality individuals in various intelligence programs; and past performance of developing curricula for other government

Bob Woodward has been rescheduled to speak at Mercyhurst University on Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Those with tickets are asked to hold onto them for the event in April. If you cannot make it to the event on the new day, contact the Performing Arts Center Box Ofce at (814) 824-3000 so more people have the opportunity to attend the event.

News Briefs
Woodward event rescheduled Social Work Club collects shoes

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Kyle Briggs photo

Department Chair David Grabelski, left, and IIS Executive Director James Breckenridge, Ph.D., were two of the faculty members recognized by the State Department. Assistant Professor Daniel Kuehl, Ph.D., not pictured, was also recognized.
and non-government agencies, including the FBI, DHS, Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton. The State Department also said, In addition to their excellent qualications, it was determined that a tremendous cost savings would be gained by using Mercyhurst College for these projects as opposed to other vendors. Mercyhurst provided excellent Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Instructional System Designers (ISDs). The management team at Mercyhurst was easy to work with and was always available to discuss and resolve any issues. They assisted with the coordination and logistics of all the pilot presentations which was a great benet to the U.S. Embassies. The award presentation was originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, but due to the weather Hurricane Sandy brought to the East Coast, it will be rescheduled for a later date. This date is yet to be determined by administration.

Social Work Club is working with Coalition Pathways Inc./Lead and Seed Program to help raise awareness about alcohol abuse, drug abuse and drunk driving through the Within the Sole project. From Wednesday, Nov. 7, to Monday, Dec. 17, Social Work club will be collecting shoes to represent the deaths in Erie County that occur due to drug overdose. The shoes will be displayed for a period of time in a lobby on campus. Donation boxes can be found around campus. All shoe donations will be donated to agencies in Erie.

Mushroom art display stolen

The artistic display of nine mushrooms was recently stolen from outside of Zurn Hall near the art department entrance. The educational display was designed for the Green Roof of the building. Police and Safety have been notied and are investigating the theft. The display was created by senior Felicia Sandino for a project she completed in Professor of Art Tom Huberts class. If anyone has any information about the stolen mushrooms, please inform Police and Safety right away. Sandino worked very hard on the project and urges the safe return of the mushrooms.

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.

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Jacob Grifn wins rst Clubs bring Laker of the Month fun to winter
By Daniel Tarr
Staff writer
The very rst Laker of the Month is none other than junior Jacob Grifn, a forensic anthropology major from Danville, Iowa. Grifn broke an 8K school record with the mens cross country team and earned All-Conference honors during the past month of October. He also won the Robert Wesleyan Invitational. Grifn is the schools rst male All-Conference PSAC winner and organized this years Homecoming 5K. In addition to his athletic achievements, Grifn is also an exceptional student by maintaining a consistently high GPA in all of his classes. Grifn is very involved on campus. He is the vice-president of both the Ambassador Club and the Student Alumni Association. Grifn directly oversees the Ambassador Pledge process and brought in a record number of 100 Ambassador Pledges this year alone. The Ambassador Club is currently the largest RSCO on campus. I am extremely thankful for being nominated for Laker of the Month, said Grifn. I believe that being recognized by faculty and staff for hard work is better than any grade or award. When asked about what Grifn thinks about the new Laker of the Month award he said, I nd it really great and exciting that Mercyhurst students are being recognized for all of their hard work and dedication. College is about more than just going to class and getting an education. Its important to get involved and give back to your school. Some of the best memories are those you make being involved with clubs and organizations. Grifn is known to be an absolute pleasure to work with and is liked by his peers, professors, teammates and his colleagues. Congratulations Jacob and keep up the good work.

FEATURES

November 7, September 3, 2008 2012

By Caitlin MacBride
Contributing writer
When the winter storms come to Erie, students nd ways to have fun in the snow. Ski Club and the Snowboard Crew, also known as McScrew. Ski Club goes to Peak N Peak on Tuesday nights and McScrew goes to Holiday Valley on Friday nights. You may think that skiers and snowboarders are rivals because you watched Johnny Tsunami too much as a child; but that is not the case. McScrew President Phil Theriault said, All students are welcomeit depends on what night is best for you. There are snowboarders on ski club and skiers on McScrew. Besides the different sports represented by each club, there is another difference. Teachers and faculty run Ski Club; while McScrew is primarily student run. Ironically, I am not a winter sports

buff. Ive been skiing once and it didnt work out very well. Each club is required to have an administrator as their adviser and the club has a great group of students that make it easy to work with, McScrew adviser Christian Beyer said. Still, dont let the involvement of teachers in the club scare you away.

Contributed photo

Club members enjoy the lift before tearing up the slopes.

Ski Club adviser Raymond Buyce, said I skied with the club when I rst arrived at Mercyhurst and ended up taking over the adviser role. Ive skied since I was a little kid and am still obsessed with the sport. Both of my daughters skied with the club when they attended Mercyhurst. People weve skied with over the years have included high school students that later became students here. Avid skiers and snowboarders run both clubs. Theriault started snowboarding at age two, because his father worked at Peak N Peak. It was a family thing, Theriault said. Theriault doesnt favorite the Peak though, he enjoys going to Holiday Valley for the club. Its much bigger, said Theriault. Its nice to go to different mountains. Theriault isnt the only winter sports buff on campus; Ski Club President Barbara Burriss began skiing when she was young as well. I had little plastic skis when I was two or three, said Burriss. I like just being able to get out in the snow. Burriss likes going to Peak N Peak because it has something for everyone. You can stick to easy slopes or try harder ones, Burriss said. Both clubs take time out from skiing and snowboarding and go tubing once a year. You could even join the club and tube the whole time if you wanted to. Many students take advantage of these clubs during the winter season. Junior Collin George said, Snowboarding club is a good way to meet new people who are interested in the same hobby as you. Ski Club and McScrew go weekly to the slopes, starting after Christmas break. Both clubs have transportation, so students dont need to drive themselves.

Contributed photo

Grifn was nominated as Laker of the Month.

November 7, 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Giant duck has students quacking up

By Mathew Anderson
A&E editor
There has been a giant diversion from nals studying for some students on our campus. This diversion comes in the form of a rather large, colorful toy duck. The artistic statement is one that certainly has not been seen on Mercyhursts campus before this time. There have been many creative reactions to the duck including professor of Political Science Dr. Brian Ripley. The duck is a playful work of post-modern art that also reminds students how big their bill will be, said Ripley. Then there are student opinions such as senior Devon Meddock who played up Mercyhursts known image for looking quite a bit like J.K. Rowlings Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. Its professor McGonagall, Meddock said. The duck is an eye-popping piece of art out of many in collaboration with the Friends of Mercyhurst art installation. The giant duck could rst be seen at the awards pre-party at Erie Insurance for the Pennsylvania Governors Arts Awards held recently in Erie. Since that time, the bright yellow, pink and orange piece of art can be viewed freely on the front lawn of our campus. The artists of the duck are David Seitzinger and Gary Cacchione who are both also showcasing works inside of Old Main as well. Seitzinger made the mobile overhead piece hanging just out of reach from most students; Cacchione can be recognized for his shelf-looking piece just outside of the presidents ofce. They [the artists] love the fact that the students are talking about, taking pictures of, and climbing on the piece, said Carolin Lynn, adjunct instructor at Mercyhurst. If anything is denite, it would be that this piece of art should certainly feel at home with all the rain we have been getting.

Selina Bowe photo

Mercyhurst Department of Music Professor Dr. Scott Meier stands at the podium in front of the Wind Ensemble. Meier eagerly describes the next piece the orchestra will perform.

Wind Ensemble concert inspires with patriotism

By Mathew Anderson
A&E editor
Last Saturday the Mercyhurst Wind Ensemble had their rst concert of this academic year and the group certainly stayed true to the theme of freedom. Conducted by Mercyhurst Professor Dr. Scott Meier the pieces performed were patriotic and the group seemed to capture a sense of pride and nationalism with every beat. I was struck by the number of ways in which we refer to freedom. Would we need to so thoroughly dene our freedoms if we had never experienced their loss? In response to this question, the assumption follows that there are an enormous number of people who have or are experiencing the loss of freedom in one sense of another, Meier said. The program started off with Fanfare for Freedom by Graham Lloyd and Out of the Darkness, Into the Light by Philip Sparke, a classic American composer. Both of these pieces seemed as if they came straight out of an action movie. They featured strong, melodic lines with syncopated accents and left the listener with a sense of pride and eagerness to hear more. Right in the middle of the concert was a composition called A New Birth of Freedom, which was written by Randol A. Bass. This piece was used as background music for an inspirational reading of the Gettysburg Address. The speech was given by the DAngelo Department of Musics own Admissions Coordinator and Administrative Assistant Krista Lamb. The speech had such charisma and passion that it left some audience members in awe, some with more American pride than ever before and some with tears streaming down their faces. Lamb captured the American spirit with her words with such a formidable ensemble playing the patriotic music in the background. The later half of the concert consisted of two equally patriotic pieces. The rst being A Movement for Rosa, by Mark Camphouse, a powerful selection which features rhythms reminiscent of chants and slogans of the civil rights movement. The last piece that was presented is probably one of the most recognizable American themes, John Philip Sousas The Liberty Bell March. The entire concert was one worth praise and recognition. The arts are certainly alive and well at Mercyhurst.

Danielle Vaccaro photo

Senior Caitlin Handerhan bonds with the giant duck art on the front lawn of the campus.

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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Eerie Halloween a spooky treat for all

By Mathew Anderson
A&E editor
On Halloween, Mercyhurst Opera and the Erie Art Museum collaborated to create one spectacular event Eerie Halloween. The event featured a Halloween party with plenty of treats for guests including cookies, candies and a cash bar. The event started promptly at 7 p.m. with tours of the exhibits running every 10 minutes. Guests met and laughed with friends while viewing optically entertaining artwork featured in the main oor gallery. Richard Anuszkiewiczs stunning art work was the centerpiece of the tours, featuring multiple rooms of art that made onlookers squint, tilt their heads and move from right to left and back again. Other exhibits included stamp art and absolutely stunning paintings of landscapes and different environments. The museum had such a collection that there didnt seem to be enough time in the day to fully appreciate every work in its entirety. The artwork ranges from sculptures and modern art to traditional oil on canvas paintings and everything in between. The main event of the night, a oneact opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, The Medium, was the perfect piece to be performed on a rainy Halloween night. Starring the talented, versatile students of the DAngelo School of Music, the performance left some in tears and others speechless. The Medium is the creepy tale of a drunken, spiritual medium that begins to be haunted by her own ghosts. The medium, Mercyhurst alumna Lynn Dula, ends up tragically murdering Toby (senior Adam Ferrari), and destroying everything from young love to the fragile psyche of parents who have lost their children. The story begins with Monica (senior Devon Meddock) reading her favorite book to Toby. Because Toby is a mute, he can only listen with admiration to Monicas words. The two lovers begin to act out the plot of the book, complete with silly costumes, when Madame Baba Flora enters. Baba scolds the two and threatens that shell whip Toby if he ever touches her things again. The three begin to get the house ready for the sance that is to be held that night When the guests arrive, Baba puts herself into a fake trance as Monica dresses up so she appears to be an apparition. When Mrs. Nolan (junior Kathleen Reveille) sees and hears her deceased daughter, it is actually Monica cleverly disguised as the 16-year-old girl. Suddenly Baba feels a cold, ghostly hand grab her throat and push her backward. She panics and orders the guests out of her house. Convinced it was Toby who did the deed, Baba begins to whip the boy and kicks him out of the house. With Toby gone, Monica ees to her room and Baba only enters into a deeper madness. She hears voices and spins wildly around, fearing there is a spirit behind her. While in a drunken sleep, Toby sneaks back into the house to get Monica to safety. On the young couples way out of the house, Baba suddenly awakens and reaches for her gun. She spins wildly and res the gun, taunting the ghost. One of the shots hits Tobys chest and the boy dies in Monicas arms. The opera ends with Monica and Toby laying in a puddle of blood with Baba leaning over them, menacingly repeating Was it you? Guests were encouraged to come in costume and prizes were awarded to two lucky winners. Although there were a plethora of witty, spooky and kooky costumes, both winners seemed to take extra care in getting dressed up in their best that night. The winner of a year-long membership to the Erie Art Museum was a Mercyhursts senior, Kirstan Orgel, for her stunning witch costume. Mercyhursts prize consisted of two tickets to any performance in the Performing Arts Center for this academic year. This prize was awarded to a gentleman dressed in an extremely realistic tudor- Shakespearian costume complete with a feathered hat that seemed to be made of traditional materials. The night as a whole was an absolute success. I hope this becomes a traditional event every Halloween in the Erie Community it certainly has the potential.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

November 7, September 3, 2008 2012

Steve Perkins photo

Mercyhurst alumna Lynn Dula, portrayed the haunting character of Madame Baba Flora in The Medium on Halloween. The students of Mercyhurst represented the university with ying colors.

The carpenters of folk

By Zach Dorsch
Photo editor
The Avett Brothers are just one of those bands that everything about them ts perfectly together in their own unique way. The two brothers in the band Scott (banjo) and Seth (guitar) have this old time brotherly relationship that seems to have been plucked from the 1930s rural US. It is through that bond that they can just about tell what the other is thinking without saying a word. I feel like that relationship is a key factor to their wonderful folk music. Born in North Carolina, both of the brothers were in separate bands during their young adulthood, but on occasion worked on an acoustic side project called The Back Porch Project. When their bands started to deteriorate, they focused more on the side project and even picked up Bob Crawford, an upright bass player, completing the band that today is known as The Avett Brothers. The newest album from this trio, The Carpenter continues to show the simple bliss this band can create. This album is full of the acoustic folk that we have grown to love from them, but it also has a few more electric tracks in it as well. The rst track off the album does a wonderful job to hook you into the rest of the album. This track, The Once and Future Carpenter has just an old strong feel to it. The song is built around the chorus that ends with, If I live the life Im given, I wont be scared to die. The next track Live and Die has more of a folk pop feel to it with a clucking banjo and an electric slide guitar in the background. This song is light hearted and happy which heavily contrasts to the next song, Winter in my Heart. This is

one of my favorite songs on the album. The sound is cold and haunting with the use of the cello and violin combined with acoustic guitar and piano. This song speaks about being cold hearted but not understanding why you cannot love anyone or feel compassion for them. The last track that really stood out to me was, Through my Prayers. This track starts out with banjo and cello in a somber tone that can only be achieved by the blending of these two instruments. This song speaks of an experience that everyone faces in his or her life; the death of someone close to them and their inability to tell that person how you feel before they leave this earth. This album was rather satisfying in a homey kind of way. I would recommend it to anyone who likes folk or wants a good album for the upcoming winter; something to listen to as you watch the snow fall.

November 7, 2012

OPINION

Page 7

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.

Elections end signals healing

By Zack Yost
Staff writer Take a collective sigh of relief -- the 2012 Presidential elections are over, and students will gain a reprieve from endless political ads, campaign commericals, tweets, facebook posts and opinion articles about the Obama-Romney match-up.
Well another presidential election has come and gone. At long last the endless months of media speculation and pundits waging war on the television and in the papers are over. The outcome has been decided. No matter whether or not your preferred candidate emerged victorious here are some things to keep in perspective. As someone who disagrees with nearly everyone on nearly everything, I know how easy it can be to become embroiled in heated political discussions. Still, at the end of the day its important to remember that these arguments are not worth ruining a friendship over. Sometimes it is better to agree to disagree and carry on with your lives than to let partisan politics interrupt a relationship. There is a reason that polls routinely nd that nationally government and politicians are mistrusted by a large majority of the population. Every few years the politicians wake us up from our normal daily lives and promise us they know how to take us all to Candy Mountain and that it is a land of sweets and joy and joyness. But inevitably when they get elected rather than a land of sweets and joy and joyness we nd the average people have been taken to the exact same place and duped again for the benet of some interest or another. While this may be a rather pessimistic simplication of the political process, there are still encouraging things to be found. Despite the on-going machinations of the political class, the average people still manage to go on. We are able to go on because of the brotherhood that binds Americans together in times of trouble. The perfect example of this is the relief effort now underway in the wake of hurricane Sandy. Barely even a few days went by until donations came ooding in from many different avenues. While sometimes it may seem that the nation is divided and full of partisanship, the disaster relief efforts demonstrate that Americans are more than capable of coming together as the politicians squabble and bicker to use the catastrophe to further their own ends. In the days ahead, rather than letting the fallout of this election drive us apart and ll us with animosity and anger, let us remember that politicians will come and go, but the indomitable American spirit shall remain. President Grover Cleveland once said, The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. If we ensure that these words said over a hundred years ago remain true today, there is no need to fear the end of the world just because of who the president is.

Finals are again rapidly approaching. As the end of the term stress begins to take over students lives, at least there is a reading day to look forward to on Friday, Nov. 9.

Merciad retracts column

The Merciad published a personal opinion column in last weeks edition highly critical of the mailroom operation. The opinion stated in that column does not reect the opinion of The Merciad nor of Mercyhurst University. The Merciad apologizes for the column and the critical wording of the headline.

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

@mercyhurst.edu Editors Positions editormerciad Alicia Cagle Editor-in-Chief newsmerciad Stacy Skiavo 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

Confusion abounds regarding the mailroom as students have indicated they are unhappy with their service. In response to last weeks opinion article on the subject, students have come forward sharing their negative experiences in dealing with the mailroom. There is a problem of perception at the very least.

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 8

Lakers crush Vulcans in 40-7 victory

By Joe Chiodo
Sports editor
After having their six-game win streak ended by IUP back on Oct. 20, the Lakers rebounded with a win over Edinboro the following week. Going into their game this past Saturday, Nov. 3, against nationally ranked No.22 California University of Pennsylvanias Vulcans, the Lakers were given the chance to revitalize their win streak. Competing against a nationally ranked, tough opponent such as the Vulcans, the Lakers would need to put on the performance of the season to stand a chance. And they did. The Lakers defeated the Vulcans, 40-7. The win is the largest margin of victory against a nationally ranked team in Mercyhurst history, and improved the Lakers record to 8-2 overall. Sophomore quarterback Alec Swartz knows exactly what led to the Lakers victory. We played really well in all aspects of the game, offense, defense and special teams. We made plays all game and came together as a team to put together a great game and win, Swartz said.

Sports

November 7, 2012

Lindsay Beers photo

Alec Swartz (5) takes snaps in practice alongside senior tight end Ryan Bartizal (88)
Through a strong performance on every side of the ball, the Lakers fought as efciently as they have practiced all season. Putting together a complete game is something we have been striving to do this year, and I believe the win against Cal U is our closest game to that yet. Our offense made big plays when the opportunity was there. The defense was tough all game, not letting Cal U do anything offensively, and our

special teams was very good as well, Swartz said. Additionally, Brown-Dukes has 1,221 rushing yards, and is only a mere 93-yards away from breaking the Mercyhursts all-time freshman rushing record. The win against the Vulcans now puts the Lakers back at the beginning of a win streak, something they have shown to only expand upon this season. Team morale is very good after the win against California. Even though Gannon didnt beat IUP, which prevents us from playing for the PSAC Championship, the team is feeling good about the win. Cal U is a very good team and is know to be the team to beat, so everyone is pretty excited about it, Swartz said. With the win against the Vulcans, the Lakers have tied Western Division records with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, both with records of 6-1 in the conference. This tie results in both Mercyhurst University and IUP earning equal recognition to the PSAC Western Division title. The Lakers will be closing the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 10 against East Stroudsburgs Warriors at noon on Tullio Field.

Mercyhurst ranked 87th in Division II

By Stacy Skiavo
Editor-in-cheif
College level sports are very intense and aggressive. Last month, the Collegiate Power Ranking from the NCSA reported that Mercyhurst University ranked 87th among Division II schools. The calculation is determined by averaging the Leareld Sports Directors Cup ranking, the NCAA student athlete graduation rate of each school and the U.S. News & World Report ranking. The Leareld Sports Directors Cup rating examines the strength of NCAA athletic departments, the U.S. News & World Report rating of schools academic excellence and the graduation rates are provided by the NCAA. Senior defense specialist/libero (DS/L) volleyball player Katie Powell is excited for Mercyhurst to be recognized despite its smaller size. I think the ranking is awesome, especially for a school that is so small. Our Division II sports teams all have great coaches and dedicated athletes from all over the U.S. as well as internationally, Powell said. Senior setter Kiera Rebert enjoys being a member of the volleyball team and credits the success to her strong teammates, coaches and fans. Being a part of the Mercyhurst volleyball team is an exciting team to be a part of right now. We are on an 11-game win streak and ranked seventh in the WCAA Regional rankings. We also have awesome coaches and fans standing behind us, cheering us on, Rebert said. The overall record for the team is 25-8. Many teams have contributed to the ranking: for example, the success of the mens soccer season, which won their rst PSAC Championship, Saturday, Nov. 3. We are doing well because of the commitment to success, which runs from our athletic director and the people who support him in the administration down to the players who are sacricing every day to succeed. In between there you have committed coaches, medical staff, work studies and many other people who are giving time and resources to see us succeed, said mens soccer Head Coach Dale White. Athletics is a part of Mercyhursts DNA. It is important to be successful at everything you commit yourself to in life, although success needs to be clearly dened. The team is ranked No. 17 and won the championship game 1-0 against Slippery Rock University. The lone goal came from sophomore defensemen Ryan Lund. Senior Alex Manea was then named MVP of the PSAC Championship tournament for his hat-trick scored in the previous game against Millersville to qualify them for the game championship match. White credits some of the success to the strong senior players on the team. We have strong leadership from the seniors which is helpful. It is hard to pinpoint individuals, there are many players playing well on any given day and any of the players are capable of helping. In the Conference Final we had a defender score the winning goal, White said. The teams record is 14-5-1. Mens water polo has also seen great success this season with a record of 21-6 and will travel to Princeton for the teams rst time at the CWPA Eastern Championship in two weeks. Senior center James Owen credits the teams great season to the closeness of him and his teammates and their teamwork as well as their new graduate assistant coach, Preston Lujan. We only graduated one person last year so our team has been able to train together for longer which allows us to get used to each others playing styles and that helps with anticipation during games. We also brought on two major key players, Garret Schoeman and Isaac Ogloblin, said Owen. Our new grad Assistant Coach Preston Lujan, has also made a huge impact on the way we train and prepare for games. Still Owen nds the one true secret to the teams success is their drive to win. Nobody expects us to go far

because we are a D2 underdog playing the best D1 water polo teams on the east coast. It only drives us to play harder and have the will to win. Owen said. Laker football has also had a great season with its sixth game win streak and its solid record of 8-2 to add to the school wide success. Athletics at Mercyhurst have denitely raised its competitive edge since I was a freshman. Football won its rst PSAC championship, mens lacrosse won a national title and soccer won the PSAC championship this year. Its a great feeling being a part of the era of Mercyhurst athletics that has created a new level of expectations, said senior offensive lineman Tymothy Takacs. We want Mercyhurst to be at a level of competition where excellence is more than a goal, but rather an expectation. The success of Mercyhurst athletics has reached across many of the Division II teams and if it continues, should lead to an even better ranking next year.