BUS

N K
D RU

MSG indefinitely
discontinues ‘drunk bus’ Vol.83,No.19/4/14/10/Free
News Features Sports Online Poll
What should MSG have done about

Students Yoga classes Lacrosse teams the drunk bus rowdiness?

Keep routes the same.

dominating
We don’t want drunk
walk for AIDS continue to gain drivers 70%
Stop all late-night bus

awareness popularity competition Stop Friday

routes for a few
weeks 18%
and Saturday I don’t care now, but the
night routes bus better be back when I
indefinitely 2% turn 21! 9%
Page 3 Page 4 Page 7 Current poll: What do you think of the
Lewis Avenue tree-cutting?
Page 2 NEWS April 14, 2010

MSG indefinitely discontinues ‘drunk bus’

By JoEllen Marsh
Editor-in-chief
Taxis and designated drivers will
soon be the sole means for safely
transporting Mercyhurst College’s
inebriated students every weekend.
The Thursday, Friday and Saturday
night EMTA shuttle routes from
Mercyhurst to downtown Erie will
be canceled starting April 22-24.
The joint decision between Mer-
cyhurst Student Government and
the college administration comes
after months of problems with
inappropriate student behavior on
the EMTA shuttles.
The “drunk bus,” as it’s known
on campus, gives students and
community members transporta-
tion from Briggs and Lewis Ave-
nues to the bars and nightlife of
downtown Erie.
If student behavior improves
drastically between April 15-18,
MSG has promised to work with
the administration to bring the bus
back for a trial period.
However, if bad behavior again
becomes a problem, the administra-
tion will not hesitate to cancel bus
routes for SpringFest weekend.
MSG President Santina Sgro
said, “We’re really disappointed
that it had to be taken away, and we
really hope that students can prove
that we’re capable and worthy of
the service.”
Director of Student Engage-
ment and Leadership Development
Darcy Kemp said, “It’s totally in the
hands of the students now. It is not
the wish of the college or student
government to take this service
away.”
Junior Mike Zinn said, “I don’t
see why people can’t act responsi-
bly....Students should behave like
adults if they expect to be treated
like adults.”
EMTA drivers, security person-
nel and students have reported
unacceptable behavior on the
shuttle, including vomiting,
drinking alcohol, smoking, refus-
ing to show ID, physical fights
and throwing beer at the EMTA
driver.
Students have also thrown
themselves in front of the bus and
physically pushed their way into
the bus when it was at capacity.
EMTA security footage backs
up reports of students misbehav-
ing on the bus. Three students
have been reported for bad behav-
ior in the last two weeks.
Kemp said, “It takes a really
committed person to work on the
shuttle. If our EMTA security per-
sonnel say it needs to stop, it stops
forever. That’s a really hard position
to fill.”
Sgro said drunk driving was
MSG’s biggest concern about
canceling the bus. “I’m hoping
that (the stoppage) doesn’t con-
tinue much past the weekend so...
it doesn’t lead to drunk driving,”
Sgro said.
Seventy percent of students
responding to The Merciad’s online
poll think MSG should keep the bus
to keep people from driving drunk.
“I think the reason why they (got
the bus) was to prevent…drunk
driving, so by taking it away they’re
just asking people to drive drunk,”
sophomore Courtney O’Brien said.
“Also, there’s other stuff going
on downtown, like theaters and the
comedy club,” she said.
Many students who are under 21
or treat the shuttle as a privilege feel
cheated.
Senior John Bennett said, “I can
see why they did it, but for students
who might not have been there, it’s
not fair.”
Although EMTA has reported
problems since the beginning
of this school year, according to
Kemp the shuttle was not like this
last year.
“This year it has progressed and
gotten worse as time goes on,”
Kemp said.
Kemp hopes that students will
self-regulate their behavior on
the bus and report misconduct of
other students by speaking with
her or emailing dkemp@mercy-
hurst.edu.
E-mails must include specific
details about the time, date, behav-
ior and identity of those misbehav-
ing.
Sgro said, “We all need to remind
each other of what good behavior
is.”
“It shouldn’t be up to the admin-
istration to tell us what good behav-
ior is,” she said.

College launches eighth

annual literary festival
By Chrissy Mihalic
Contributing writer
This Thursday, April 15, the eighth annual Mercy-
hurst College Literary Festival will open with a reading
by the novelist Anne Dawid in Taylor Little Theatre at
8:15 p.m.
The Literary festival, which began at Mercyhurst in
2003, has had numerous authors speak, such as Samuel
Hazo, Randall Silvis, Robert Coover, Li-Young Lee, Robert
Bly and Sonia Sonchez.
The festival’s featured writers for this year are Annie
Dawid and Andrew Hudgins.
Dawid is a full-time writer who in 2006 founded
BloomsburyWest, a retreat for writers and artists.
She will read selections from her most recent work,
“And Darkness Was Under His Feet,” a collection of
stories loosely based on her own family history, dating
back about 100 years.
Her book won the 2007 Litchfield Award for Short
Fiction and was then published in 2008.
Dawid, a past English professor and director of cre-
ative writing for 15 years, left teaching to be a full-time
writer.
Hudgins, who will be reading selections of his poetry
on Thursday, April 22, has had many volumes of poetry
published including his most recent, “Ecstatic in the
Poison.”
In 1989 Hudson won the Poets’ Prize for his work
“After the Lost War” and was one of three finalists for
the 1985 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his book “Saints
and Strangers.”
In 1999 Hudgins was named Distinguished Research
Professor at the University of Cincinnati where he
taught for 16 years.
Hudgins is the Humanities Distinguished Professor
in English at The Ohio State University.
Mercyhurst College English Professors Dr. Kenneth
Schiff and Dr. Jeffrey Roessner began the Literary Fes-
tival on campus in order to emulate the University of
Notre Dame’s renowned reading series.
Schiff, director of the Literary Festival, expressed his
enthusiasm about this year’s poets.
“I’m very excited to be able to bring both Dawid
and Hudgins to Mercyhurst,” Schiff said. “I believe
that the festival is a great opportunity to expose Mer-
cyhurst students to award-winning, professional cre-
ative writers.”
The festival will close Thursday, April 29, at 8:15 p.m.
in Taylor Little Theatre with the unveiling of the 2010
edition of the Lumen, Mercyhurst College’s literary
magazine.
The magazine consists of works such as poetry, short
fiction, photography and art work created by Mercy-
hurst students and also includes an interactive CD with
musical compositions and dance clips perfomed by
students.
Free copies of the Lumen will be distributed during
the event as well as the announcement of the top three Online
works from this year’s Lumen.
The Lumen reception, as well as the Dawid and Read ‘Food concerns only rumors’
Hudgin readings, is free and open to all who wish to
join in a celebration of poetry and literature. online at merciad.mercyhurst.edu.
April 14, 2010 NEWS Page 3

Students ‘take the walk’ News Briefs

to raise AIDS awareness
By Jennifer McCurdy
Staff writer
Despite numerous difficulties,
the second annual Take the Walk
and Style Your Sole Party met with
success on Saturday, April 10.
The Art Therapy Club and TOMS
Campus Club made a joint effort to
host the one-mile walk around the
Mercyhurst College campus.
Participation in the walk was
free, and each walker had one dollar
donated in his or her name to raise
AIDS awareness.
The money raised at the event
was donated to TOMS Shoes, a for-
profit organization that provides
shoes to children in developing
nations.
“(TOMS Shoes) has a One for
One movement, which means that
for every pair of shoes…that they
sell, a pair of shoes goes to a devel-
oping nation or a disaster area for
children and adults who are cur-
rently living without shoes,” junior
Casey Harvilla said.
“Most of these developing coun-
tries also have a rather high rate of
disease, namely AIDS, so the walk
this year is going to support both
causes,” Harvilla said.
Juniors Elise Frey, Meredith Stalker, Laura McCarthy and
Emma Hughey decorated TOMS shoes after the walk.
Last year, 35 people participated
in the fundraiser, but this year, only
25 people took the walk. Harvilla
explained that weather likely caused
the drop in numbers.
“We had a good turnout for it
being so cold,” she said.
The walk ended in a Style Your
Sole Party outside the Herrmann
Student Union, where participants
could tie-dye shirts.
Paints were set out to style
TOMS shoes, which several stu-
dents had preordered. However,
many of the shoes did not arrive in
time for the event, so the shoes will
Tyler Stauffer photo
be decorated at another time.
Even so, participants did not
seem disappointed with the event.
Freshman Sara Hawksworth said,
“We just want to fight poverty and
AIDS.”
Sophomores Korrine Hallen
and Sarah Blair chose to walk with-
out shoes like several other partci-
pants.
“I think everyone should try to
walk barefoot,” Hallen said.
Blair said, “It shows what it’s like
to walk without shoes. It hurts.”
For more information on the
cause, visit takethewalk.net.
’Hurst celebrates Earth Day
Mercyhurst College will celebrate the 40th Earth Day with
Earth Week events starting Monday, April 19, and going through
Wednesday, April 28. The events start with the Hunger Ban-
quet on Monday, April 19, in the Mercy Heritage Room. Tickets
for the event are $5 and can be purchased in Campus Ministry.
Proceeds will benefit Emmaus Soup Kitchen. At the banquet,
students will draw a piece of paper out of a dish which will
say either high-income area, middle-income area or low-income
area. Students will sit at tables based on the income area they
pick. At their tables they will learn how environmental, social
and economic issues affect eating habits. The event will be
catered by Parkhurst. Only 100 tickets are available. On Tuesday,
April 20, the film “The Beloved Community” will be shown at 7
p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre.
Students attend conferences
On Friday, March 12, Assistant Professor Kimberly Zacherl
attended the Society for Human Resource Management Confer-
ence in Cleveland, Ohio, with students Jessica Blackburn, Katie
Senkoski, Carolyn Cartwright and Michele Ebert. They attended
various conferences throughout the day. On Wednesday, March
17, Zacherl attended the annual Dr. Jeremy D. Brown Millen-
nium Leader Scholarship Luncheon featuring Jerry Greenfield,
co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. Zacherl attended
with two students, Natalie Iovino and Felicia Guerra. The lun-
cheon was at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. Greenfield

Comedian entertains by
discussed his success stories in American business by making
social responsibility and creative management strengths instead
of weaknesses.

making fun of everyone
By Chelsee Callahan
Staff writer
Comedian Todd “J.T.” Thomas traveled from Los
Angeles to entertain Mercyhurst College Students on
Friday, April 9.
During his performance, Thomas explained why he
wanted to become a comedian.
“I wanted to be an actor originally, but then I started
doing open mic nights and I loved to make people
laugh,” he said.
Thomas began his comedy career while attending
Southern Illinois University. Since then he has been
featured on the “Bob and Tom Show,” a comedy radio
program that also airs as an hour-long television show.
Thomas told several jokes that the audience espe-
cially enjoyed during his performance.
These jokes covered topics like dating games, Nin-
tendo and the weather.
He also told jokes that made fun of many different
Register for kickball tournament
The Sportsmedicine Student Association and Campus Minis-
try will host a kickball tournament on Sunday, April 25, at 2 p.m.
groups of people.
“No one should take anything personally,” Thomas Teams of 10 students with at least three members of the opposite
said. “I make fun of everyone: kids, elderly people, sex may register to enter the tournament. Teams must submit a
white, black, short, tall. It doesn’t matter because we are $50 entrance fee. The winning team will receive tickets to the Erie
all here to laugh and have a good time.” Sea Wolves buck night game the following week. E-mail Allison
What made Thomas unique is that he acted out his
Stockton by Monday, April 19, at astock92@mercyhurst.edu to
jokes at times, and toward the end of his show he inter-
acted with students and made them laugh at themselves. register your team and team captain.
“It was really cool how he interacted with the audience
and made us laugh,” freshman Molly Beichner said. “He
Facebook the library
was one of the best comedians I have seen this year.”
Other students enjoyed Thomas’s act.
“He was really entertaining,” freshman Alison Palm-
eri said. Before leaving Mercyhurst for the summer, become a fan of
Junior Nicole Hanks said, “He was hilarious. I
the Hammermill Library on Facebook to receive announce-
laughed a lot and had a great time.”
ments about new technology and services. Go to facebook.
Thomas ended his performance with advice.
“Make sure to always have fun no matter what you com/pages/Erie-PA/Hammermill-Library/297424049038 to
are doing,” he said. become a fan.
Page 4
British documentary will feature Mercyhurst student
By Faye Clark
Staff writer
Many students returning from
Easter Break are returning to col-
lege after visiting their families. Mer-
cyhurst sophomore JoEllen Marsh
filmed a documentary instead.
The Merciad’s own editor-in-
chief has a slightly different home
life than many are used to. Instead
of one mother, she has two: Lucinda
Marsh and Deneen Matthews.
Jeffrey Harrison, otherwise
known as Donor 150, was a prolific
donor during the 1980s, and as a
dog-walker, masseuse and model,
was in relatively high demand. Arti-
ficial insemination was in its infancy
at this point, but it was considered
Yoga classes continue to spread bliss
By Jemma Homer
Staff writer
The widely successful yoga class
which began earlier this year has
expanded to two days a week.
With assistance from Dr. Gerald
Tobin and Laura Zirkle from Stu-
dent Life, the class is now offered
Monday and Thursday nights in
order to accommodate more stu-
dents’ academic schedules. Both
classes appear to be doing well,
with 15-35 students in attendance
each week at both the Rec Center
and Student Union locations.
Betty Amatangelo, asana instruc-
tor and motivational leader, believes
that the success of the class is in
part due to the consistent results
after ever session.
“Students continue to attend
because they feel so good after-
wards. Most after class conversa-
tions begin with, ‘I was having
a rough day and this made it all
better,’” Amatangelo said. “Also,
I’d like to believe that they continue
Your weekly report from
Online
Dungarvan, Ireland:
Easter à Paris, an escapade
to Barcelona
safe. Now JoEllen, through the help
of The Donor Siblings Registry,
has had a chance to meet not only
her half-siblings, but her biological
father as well.
Marsh has been exchanging let-
ters with one of her half-siblings
from Long Island, New York, for
several years now, and three years
ago met for the first time.
Now, a documentary is being
made on the reunion between
Donor 150 and several of his bio-
logical children.
The documentary, directed by
Jerry Rothwell, is at the moment
titled “Donor 150,” and is airing in
Great Britain, but there is a possi-
bility that it will also air on HBO
or PBS. Marsh heard about the
documentary about a year and a
half ago when the director needed
to come because of the absolutely
unconditional accepting nature of
yoga, both as a physical and spiri-
tual discipline.”
Students agree that the benefits
of yoga go beyond the physical. “At
first, I went to yoga to increase my
flexibility for wrestling, but then I
realized it is just a perfect way to
relax your body and mind,” fresh-
man Seth Stonis said.
“I choose to practice yoga
because it makes my body feel good,
and I enjoy the spiritual experience,”
freshman Matthew Holtz said.
With Amatangelo at the fore-
front, it is not difficult to under-
stand the success of this unique
exercise class.
“I really enjoy having a yoga class
at the rec center now, especially with
a teacher that is so knowledgeable
and passionate about what she is
teaching,” junior Toni Novello said.
“I think that Betty’s classes are
so well-attended because she is a
talented yoga instructor. She is able
to work with yoga students (this
includes faculty and staff) at all
levels and makes students feel com-
FEATURES April 14, 2010
to do some preliminary filming for
sponsors.
The majority of the filming was
done over this past spring break, when
the director, producer and a sound
technician came over to film JoEllen
on campus and with her family.
“They were all English, so it was
cool to compare cultures and talk
with them,” Marsh said.
Over four days, the film crew fol-
lowed her in the Intel lab, her apart-
ment and the Merciad newsroom.
They filmed her bowling with Contributed photo
friends, cooking at her boyfriend’s
Marsh and sister Ryann will be featured in a documentary
house and singing with her grand-
parents. about Donor 150.
“It was a really interesting feeling
to be on camera for so long,” Marsh things.” “I didn’t like the direction he
said, “and to just open up in front Marsh already participated in a took, but I think this documentary
of practically complete strang- half-hour documentary for a French will focus on the positive conec-
ers, and talk about really personal student film maker. tions of our story,” Marsh said.
fortable,” Associate Professor of
Social Work Laura Lewis said. “She
clearly loves teaching yoga, and her
dedication to improving herself
through yoga is very evident.”
Both Novello and Lewis said
they believe in all the benefits of
yoga as well.
“I go to yoga for my physical and
spiritual well-being. Yoga’s effects
occur both inside and out,” Novello
said. “It is a great opportunity to
come clear your mind and separate
yourself from your busy life just for
a moment, while also being physi-
cally active. This yoga class keeps
me coming back every week.” Ethan Magoc photo
“The classes are both relaxing Yoga improves physical health and relaxes the mind.
and intense. It is a good work-
out, and most importantly to me, goals for the class, such as to keep said. “As a Catholic myself, yoga has
it helps with flexibility and core encouraging people through yogic led me to a deeper understanding of
strength - two things that I neglect,” movement and the philosophy of God and what that actually means.”
Lewis said. yoga, to promote stillness, the kind Classes will continue through
The yoga class is not stopping at of stillness that fortifies us beyond mid-May. Classes are held on Mon-
expanding to just two nights a week. the limitations that we create for days at 4:45 p.m. at the Student
Future plans include utilizing other ourselves and to help students Union and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at
spaces on campus, offering morn- strengthen their religious beliefs. the Rec Center. Feel free to check
ing classes and getting yoga recog- “I believe yoga can bring you into out all yoga has to offer at the Yoga
nized as a one-credit course. a more personal communion with Celebration, Friday, April 30th, from
Amatangelo also has personal your chosen deity,” Amatangelo 5-7 p.m. outside in the Grotto.
Merciad.
Video Game Teaching
Mercyhurst.
of the Week: Fellows
Imbecile Test honored edu/Features
April 14, 2010
‘Adam’ presents fresh
perspective on Asperger’s
By Kathleen Vogtle
Staff writer
It is a common yet unfortunate
human condition that at times we
find ourselves in an awkward social
setting.
This could happen in any number
of ways – we have a hard time
thinking of what to say, we may
feel uncomfortable or have to think
about the image we project.
Following the 7:15 p.m. showing of ‘Adam,’ there will be a
panel discussion on Asperger’s Syndrome in the world today.
Hitler exposed by a look at his private library
By Alaina Rydzewski
A&E editor
In “Hitler’s Private Library:
The Books that Shaped His
Life,” Timothy W. Ryback dis-
cusses how a man without a
high school diploma became
one of the most powerful men
in the 20th century, analyzing
the Fuhrer’s personal library
in order to examine how these
readings affected his life and
therefore his decisions.
The book is divided into 10
chapters that focus primarily on
one book, although others may be
mentioned. It starts with Hitler’s
‘frontline reading’ in the First
World War and continues to his
death. Though at first this set-up
was annoying, the chronological
Generally though, there’s usually
some sort of proverbial net to fall
back on, some mainstream topic
or useful technique that can be
employed to keep us from feeling
socially inept.
Unfortunately, people with
autism don’t experience this luxury.
Contrary to popular belief, autism is
not synonymous with mental retar-
dation or, for that matter, genius.
Simply defined, autism is charac-
terized by impaired social interac-
tion and communication and by
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
layout helped me to understand
the development of Hitler’s
thought.
The books Ryback centered on
are almost inconsequential for two
reasons. The first is that many of
the books were written at a time
when anti-Semitism was preva-
lent, and therefore attitudes in the
books themselves reflect this and
cause them to lose credibility. The
second is that the average Ameri-
can will never even have heard
of most of the books, as most
of them were written by German
authors from surrounding Euro-
pean countries.
Given this disclaimer, some of
the books Ryback used to explore
Hitler’s mind were “Peer Gynt” by
Henrik Ibsen, “Fire and Blood”
by Ernest Junger, “Foundations
of National Socialism” by Alois
Hudal, “Schlieffen” by Hugo
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
restricted or repetitive behavior.
As with other chronic illnesses, it
needs to be understood rather than
pitied.
This week’s edition to the
Guelcher Film Series attempts to
initiate this process. “Adam” cen-
ters on a character with a particular
form of autism, Asperger’s syn-
drome (AS), most often associated
with a lack of demonstrated empa-
thy.
In Adam’s (Hugh Dancy) case,
we are introduced to a man with
a refreshingly childlike innocence,
openness and enthusiasm. A resi-
dent of Manhattan, Adam has lost
both his parents, most recently his
father, with whom he shared an
apartment. He has a friend Harlan
(Frankie Faison) and his love of
space exploration to sustain him,
but in effect, Adam has been left
alone.
Things change when a new
neighbor moves in upstairs, a beau-
tiful schoolteacher named Beth
(Rose Byrne) who is recovering
from a bad breakup and is drawn
to Adam’s gentle, genuine person-
ality. Through her efforts, Adam is
drawn out of his socially awkward
shell and into a deep relationship
that proves to be immensely valu-
able to both of them. Her character
Rochs, and “Frederick the Great”
(a biography) by Thomas Carlyle.
The only book I happened to rec-
ognize that Ryback mentioned was
“Mein Kampf,” and it turns out I
didn’t know as much about it as
I thought. (“Mein Kampf ” is a
three-book series, the last of which
was never published.)
After Ryback finishes with Hit-
ler’s suicide, he continues with an
afterword and four appendices.
In the afterword he discusses
the fate of Hitler’s library: Of his
nearly 10,000 books, only 1,244
have been recovered. That leaves
8,756 of Hitler’s books either
missing, taken or destroyed.
Ryback goes on to say that of
these 8,756, most were taken by
Soviet and American soldiers
in the first weeks after Hitler’s
suicide, with people from the
press and even neighbors taking
Page 5
A&E online
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
The ‘Demon Barber on Fleet Street’ to
terrorize PAC
“Sweeney Todd” is coming to the PAC this weekend under
the direction of Dave Mathews.
Ferrante provided relaxing
performance
Maria Ferrante, along with Lincoln Mayorga, performed a
show titled “Best Kept Secrets.”
Dave Barnes’s life lived under radar
Veteran artist Dave Barnes has lived his life and thus his
music without the help of the mainstream media.
also gives viewers the opportunity the Barber National Institute; Dr.
to see beyond the Asperger’s — to Joseph McAllister, director of psy-
understand and fully experience chological services at Pittsburgh’s
what she sees in Adam. Watson Institute; and clinical psy-
Following the evening showing, chologist Janet Pawlowski, founder
audience members are invited to of KaleidAScope, Inc., which
stay for a panel discussion where serves those 15 years and older with
several professionals who deal with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Asperger’s Syndrome will share “Adam” shows in the Mary
their perspectives on the film. D’Angelo Performing Arts Center
Panelists will include Dr. Eileen today at 2:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
McNamara, medical director of Tickets are free for Mercyhurst stu-
the Adult Autism Connection of dents with ID.
their share. But a lot of them
were destroyed, never to be seen
again.
Up until this point in the book,
I had been chugging along, not
really surprised by any of these
facts, but not really bored with
them either. But when I read that
most of Hitler’s library was miss-
ing, I thought to myself, ‘How
could one possibly even claim to
know a tiny bit about the mind of
Hitler when reading only ten per-
cent of his library?’
Nonetheless, considering the
huge number of books and the
ways in which he analyzed them
(marginalia, thumbed pages, how
they came into his possession), it Contributed photo
seems as though Ryback has done Hitler’s private life is
a rather thorough job of analyzing
researched and analyzed with
what Hitler read and how what he
read affected his life. the books he read throughout
his whole life.
Page 6
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad
or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Terrorists in Moscow: Who are the heroes?
By Devin Ruic
Staff writer
There are nearly 40 people dead
in Moscow who ought not to be
dead.
They were innocent civilians
and government workers, simply
going about their days when
they were maliciously cut down
by extremists looking to make a
point. These extremists want more
than just independence from the
Russian Federation, they also want
to establish a reactionary Islamic
Caliphate in the Caucasus Mountain
region. For the victims, and those
who empathize with the victims,
the goals of such extremists do not
matter -- these are terrorists, after
all.
Only a few days after the bombing
of the Lubyanka Metro station, a
pair of explosions in the Dagestan
province derailed a Russian train.
Combined with yet another suicide
This I Believe: Healthy life full of laughter
By C. Noelle Partusch
Contributing writer
I believe in laughter. I believe a
good joke or funny story at least
once a day that makes me laugh a
little is a wonderful daily vitamin.
It has been said that laughter is the
best medicine, and I have certainly
used it as such in my life. I’ve read
that often the emotion that causes
laughter is very similar to that which
causes crying, and I felt this to be
true at times as well.
I’ve also been told that clowns
are some of the saddest people and
that all their make-up and shenani-
gans completely mask their true
identity and feelings. I think there is
some truth to this also.
I have always loved to laugh, as
evidenced by the many snapshots
of me as a child in funny costumes
or poses. I don’t know that I’d have
called myself the “class clown,” but
I certainly could be counted on for
bombing in the Dagestan province,
more than 50 people are dead.
The United States has advocated
moderation when Russia goes
to deal with its own insurgency,
traditionally groups identifying
themselves as Chechen Rebels.
The 1999 war against Chechnya,
led by Vladimir Putin, resulted in
significant condemnation from
the American government, as
the tactics employed against the
Chechen people were considered
too indiscriminate and harsh.
Following the latest attacks,
however, Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin has promised that the
“terrorists will be destroyed” and
that he will have them scraped
“from the bottom of the sewers” in
retribution.
The dirty little secret with all
of this? Ask most Americans,
white or blue collar, Democrat or
Republican, and I would venture
a guess that most of them would
issue their own support for Putin’s
new vendetta against the Chechen
terrorists.
finding a reason to laugh each day.
I am a dancer and a dance teacher
and in the world of arts and enter-
tainment, a really good comedian is
a rarity. As a student of choreogra-
phy in college I tried hard to create
deep, thoughtful work and some-
how, people always ended up laugh-
ing at something I did. Frustrated
as I was, my teacher told me that
many people try to be funny and do
not succeed, and that if I could be
successful without even trying that
I ought to run with it. I took this
advice to heart and it has served me
well since.
My personality enjoys laughing
and making people laugh. I use
jokes when I teach to enable people
to relax and not take themselves so
seriously. When class is fun, students
want to attend. I’ve had former stu-
dents contact me having used my
ideas in their own performance or
in teaching to let me know that “it
works!”
I believe in laughing as a reaction,
as a release, as a protection and as a
OPINION April3, 14,2008
September 2010
When determining what a
terrorist is, their methods must be
Online Opinion Articles...
looked at carefully. Separatist groups
with legitimate cause to strike out Grateful for throwaway bowls
against a corrupt regime ought to It really is about the little things in life. Read
strike against the regime itself, or Victoria Gricks’s article about the excitement of
its satellites, such as government having take-out containers for ice cream in the
agencies and military targets, not
cafeteria.
metro lines, theaters and grade
schools, as Chechen groups have
done over the past decade.
When Prime Minister Putin A moral upbringing causes appreciation
leads his next campaign against Contributing writer Denise Wheelock shares her story of how
the “Chechen Problem,” there grateful she is to have had a safe, healthy upbringing. Read about
is no doubt that the blood of her participation in UNICEF and how it has opened her eyes to
innocents will be left in the streets the horrible conditions children around the globe face daily.
of Chechen towns, and we will
mourn. However, we will also cheer
the brutality wrought upon those
who understand and deserve only merciad.mercyhurst.edu
brutality.
With this said, it is undoubted
that the world will cheer whom we
will later call murderers. Until then,
let Vladimir Putin and the Russian
Fifth Army wreak their vengeance
against those who would murder
innocent and loyal Russians, and let
us call them heroes.
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
JoEllen Marsh
Kelly Luoma
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
editormerciad
newsmerciad
teaching tool. I believe one of the Javi Cubillos Features Editor featuremerciad
highest compliments I could ever Jordan Zangaro Opinion Editor opinionmerciad
be paid is to learn that something I Nick Glasier Sports Editor sportsmerciad
did made someone laugh and, in so
Alaina Rydzewski A&E entertainmentmerciad
doing, helped them learn, remem-
ber, relax or otherwise react to a
Sam Williams Graphics photomerciad
certain situation. Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
Laughter is not always the appro- Ethan Magoc Multimedia Editor emagoc80
priate response, as there is definite Ethan Johns Web Editor ejohns89
tragedy and suffering in our world. Kyle King Copy Editor copymerciad
But I believe there is always a silver Max Rivera Ad Manager admerciad
lining and, more than likely, also a Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
rainbow-colored trim to things and Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
I believe there will still be a reason
to laugh.
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
Noelle Partusch grew up in Las Cruces,
finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is
N.M., and was born in Lancaster, Penn.
She is currently in her seventh year as an
(814) 824-2376.
Assistant Professor of Dance here at
Mercyhurst. She currently serves as well The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
as the faculty adviser for Mercyhurst’s
and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
Liturgical Dance Ensemble. She appre-
ciates Mercyhurst’s close-knit community letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
and the collegiality of its faculty, but also are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
says the college’s coffee has always been
letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
wonderful.
April 14, 2010
Mercyhurst lacrosse dominating competition
By Nick Glasier
Sports Editor
Mercyhurst College has become
a lacrosse juggernaut this season.
Combined, the men’s and women’s
lacrosse teams are 21-1.
The men’s team is ranked second
in the nation, and the women’s team
is fifth.
The general expectations for the
men’s lacrosse team were a bit lower
going into the year, as the Lakers
graduated a number of key seniors
from the year previous.
The team themselves did not
lower their expectations.
“The expectations did not change
from year to year. We expect to go
out each season and compete for
a conference championship and a
national championship each year,”
men’s coach Chris Ryan said.
Perhaps the biggest loss from
last year’s team was goalie Jason
LaShomb.
Junior goalkeeper Zach Nash has
stepped up to replace LaShomb.
Bidwell on his back nine
By Billy Colton
Staff writer
After four years at Mercyhurst
College, Tyler Bidwell will graduate
next month, bringing his success-
ful golf career with the Lakers to
an end.
Graduating brings mixed emo-
tions for most people.
There is the excitement of the
next phase of your life, but also
the anxiousness and uncertainty of
finding a job and having to become
a responsible adult.
For anyone on a sports team, the
decision has to be made to either
continue playing or give up the
game that has been a huge part of
their entire lives.
When something has been such a
major part of your life for so long,
it is hard to give it up.
Anyone who plays sports knows
it won’t last forever and has to make
the decision to quit at some point.
Bidwell has already made this
The Mercyhurst College men’s and women’s lacrosse teams
have a combined 21-1 record for the 2010 season.
“We miss Jason, but we have a
good core of goalies this year who
have stepped up to fill that gap,”
Ryan said.
A youth movement with new-
comers junior transfer Kevin
Mercyhurst Sports Information photo
Senior golfer Tyler Bidwell.
decision and is looking to continue
to play golf competitively.
“I definitely want to. Who knows
at what level or how much I will
get a chance to, but it’s something I
want in my life for as long as I can,”
Bidwell said.
Sports
Ethan Magoc and Tyler Stauffer photos
Coholan and freshman Brian
Scheetz has brought the Lakers a
much needed boost this season.
“Sheetz and Coholan have added
a lacrosse I.Q. to the team that has
allowed us to overcome the great
Bidwell reflects on his four years
here with fondness after making
some great memories.
“I have seen it as a great expe-
rience that I will always remember.
I have been able to travel and see
many nice golf courses and have
played against some guys we may
be seeing on the TV someday,” said
Bidwell, a native of Saegertown,
Pa.
Last year he became the first
Mercyhurst golfer to compete at
the regional level since 1987, when
he played in the NCAA Division
II East/Atlantic Regional Tourna-
ment.
Bidwell has been a mainstay on
the Mercyhurst College golf team
for the past four years.
Bidwell leads the team with an
average of 75.6 for the season but
feels there is still room for improve-
ment.
For the rest of this article go to
merciad.mercyhurst.edu/Bidwell.
graduating class we had last year,”
Ryan said.
Ryan also finds the attitude of
this year’s team to be quite impres-
sive.
“The attitude of this year’s team
is excellent. They are a highly com-
mitted team in terms of success,”
Ryan said.
The team is also committed to
success on and off the field.
“This team has a really high GPA
and they are totally committed to
putting in time in the weight room,
which is very impressive,” Ryan
said.
For a younger team, the attitude
the Lakers have on the field is highly
unusual.
“The unselfishness shown by
the guys this year is amazing. They
really pass the ball around great and
rarely is there an unassisted goal. I
actually wish they were a little bit
more selfish,” Ryan said.
The men’s lacrosse team has
ridden this unselfish play to a 9-0
record.
The women’s lacrosse team has
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also found major success while
overcoming the loss of a great
player from last year.
Breanna Haggerty graduated,
leaving the Lakers with a huge gap
to fill on the offensive end, but the
Lakers have responded.
“We have a lot more balance
offensively this year. I feel that we
have eight players on our team that
can score constantly for us this
year,” women’s coach Cecil Pilton
said.
The Lakers recently defeated
crosstown rival Gannon University,
11-10, and this new offensive bal-
ance was the main reason for the
victory.
“Gannon really came out there
trying to shut down Kim Master-
ton, but we had some girls really
step up and score. This year the
offense isn’t a one-girl show, so
now if our top scorer gets shut
down, we have other options we
can go to,” assistant coach Jillian
Howley said.
This balance has the women’s
team rolling to a 12-1 start.

Visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Lewis Avenue trees cut 14 days before Earth Week
By Denise Wheelock
Contributing writer
Just two weeks before the United
States celebrates Earth Week, the
cutting of trees on Lewis and Briggs
Avenues reminded students of the
importance of Mother Nature.
“How would you feel if we did
not have trees on campus?” Green
Team members asked this question
last Friday. Be it inspirational or
for its practicality, surroundings do
influence student life.
Overall, one does not need to
be a die-hard environmentalist to
appreciate what nature gives us.
Rather than focusing on sentimen-
tality, or morality for that matter, let
us explore some facts surrounding
the incident.
From a biological standpoint,
trees give us the air we breathe.
Interestingly enough, trees also keep
noise pollution in order. According
to the US Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, “Studies have shown
that there are direct links between
noise and health.” In fact, noise
pollution can cause problems relat-
ing to stress, high blood pressure,
Research funds help student art gallery open
By Claire Hinde
Staff writer
When the 12” x 12” student art
gallery comes to town, Mercyhurst
The 12” x 12” student art gallery will be on display at Geary’s
Studio 7 Gallery starting on Friday, April 16.
Laker Life
Commentary
speech interference, hearing loss,
sleep disruption and loss of pro-
ductivity.
The college’s geography might
also be something we should con-
sider. If trees mitigate the flow of
storm water run-off, we should
then analyze long-term effects of
these tree cuts.
“The college has been working
hard for years to address the prob-
lem of storm water flow, and trees
help us to do that,” environmental
historian and Green Team Chair
Dr. Chris Magoc said.
Granted, there are several trees
on campus. If the city of Erie
decides to cut down a couple of
trees on Lewis Avenue, for example,
it does not necessarily mean Mercy-
hurst students living on campus will
immediately suffer from noise pol-
lution-related illnesses. Trees and
sunlight are said to improve mood;
nonetheless, students are very
familiar with stress, especially those
seniors graduating in this economy.
Perhaps the most surprising
College students and the Erie com-
munity alike will be shown vinyl.
Mercyhurst art students are finding
a way to serve the community and
showcase their talents in this new
and retro-inspired exhibition.
The gallery, which will be hosted
Contributed photo
April 14, 2010
aspect of last week’s incident was
how it came about. “I was pretty
shocked to find out that they would
be cutting down entire trees,”
senior Ian Michalski said. “I felt like
they could have just trimmed the
branches that were near the power
lines.”
It was rather surprising how
the notification was sent out to
students. The e-mail sent by the
Department of Police and Safety
on Tuesday, April 6, was addressed
to all students concerning student
parking. No explanation was given
as to why the trees were getting cut
down.
Had the Green Team not
inquired about their reasoning, the
issue would have gone by unno- Denise Wheelock photo
ticed. Police and Safety did clarify Two trees were cut down along Lewis Avenue this past week.
they were not advocates of cutting
to solve the problem and just went of the goings-on of the college.
the trees down but that the trees
for the easy way without research- This is especially so when it regards
represented a fire hazard.
ing for the best way to fix the prob- something which will affect us all.
“I think it was unfortunate that
lem and avoid damaging the trees “I understand it would have
they are cutting the trees,” senior
and the environment.” been difficult to fight an entity like
Oscar Ordonez said. “They should
Whether Mercyhurst College has Penelec, so my next thought was
have thought of another way to
or does not have a say on the cut- whether the trees would be put to
solve the problem with the electric
ting of the trees, the administration some greater use,” Michalski said.
wires.”
does have a say on the information It’s just a shame the incident hap-
Senior Libny Tovar said, “(Pen-
it shares with students. Students do pened two weeks before the nation’s
elec) didn’t look for alternative ways
have a right to be properly informed Earth Week celebration – oh well.
by Mary Kay Geary of Geary’s “I really wanted to get the stu-
Studio 7 Gallery, will feature various dents more actively involved in
art pieces, all of which are made by the community and give them
Mercyhurst students and which a chance to share their talents,”
focus on old 12” vinyl records. Bathory said. The result was a
“We all drew inspiration from a student art exhibit in a local Erie
common theme and are eager to gallery to benefit not only the par-
show the multitude of different ticipating students, but also the
interpretations on an old retro Erie community.
theme,” junior participant Lisa Participation in the gallery was
Bathory said. open to all art students and drew
Bathory, the creator of the interest not only from Adpro but
12” x 12” project, has put in a also from the Art Therapy Club, the
huge amount of work to bring Art Education Club and the Photo
this art gallery to the community Club.
of Erie. A junior graphic design The exhibit will open Friday,
student and president of Adpro, April 16, from 6-9:30 p.m. at
the advertising design club on Geary’s Studio 7 Gallery, which is
campus, Bathory worked in con- located at 2807 W. 8th St. Inspired
junction with her adviser Jodi Sta- by retro records, perfect propor-
niunas-Hopper to make the event tions and music for all the senses,
possible. 12” x 12” is sure to be an incredible Contributed photo
Bathory received a student experience for all, and an amazing Lisa Bathory is the creator
scholarly research fund and exhibition of the talents of Mercy- and one of the participants of
wanted to put the money toward hurst students. the 12” x 12” art gallery.
a truly worthwhile goal.