THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929
MERCIAD
The
Vol. 78 No. 19
Alumni day brings many back to ’Hurst
Students receive career tips in the classroom from alumni who work in their field
By Jaime Myers
Contributing writer
Move over professors because the
alumni are coming in. This week, gradu-
ates of Mercyhurst College are visiting
the classroom to share their “real world”
experiences with students.
On Thursday and Friday Alumni on
Campus Days will take place for the
second year in a row. Because of the
success of last year’s event, Pat Liebel,
head of the alumni office, decided to
make this an annual event.
Students, faculty and alumni all
enjoyed it last year, so here we are
again.
’Hurst students celebrate Earth Week
Students participated in Earth Week last year by cleaning up the Millcreek watershed and planting trees on campus.
By Jennifer Ciccone
Contributing writer
With the hustle and bustle that spring
time brings, Mercyhurst College is host-
ing an entire week of events that will be
dedicated to making students aware of
Earth Day and its purpose.
Martin Espada wraps-up Literary Festival
By Chelsea Boothe
Contributing writer
The last of the three authors gracing
the Mercyhurst campus during the Lit-
erary Festival is Martin Espada.
Epada will be presenting “Alabanza:
In Praise of Poetry” in the Taylor Little
Theatre, on Thursday, April 28, at 7:30
p.m. Espada is regarded as one of the
leading poets of Puerto Rican heritage
in the United States.
The Brooklyn native’s poems have
been published in The New York Times
Review, Harper’s, The Nation and The
Best American Poetry.
A few of his many honors include
News
inside this issue
 Cardinals choose conservative
German as next pope.
Page 2
 ’Hurst plans memorial for
Matthew Milgate. Find out the
details and how you can help.
Page 3
Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie, Pa. 16546
“The students asked that it be con-
tinued as they thought it was a positive
experience,” said Liebel. “Of course, we
hope this year will be even better.”
It already seems like it is better. The
alumni event last year was only one day
with only seven alumni. This year, the
alumni coming back almost tripled. So
the event was spread out over two days.
Eighteen alumni will make their way
back to campus this week to inspire
students with the stories and journeys it
takes to become a professional. Alumni
from Erie and places from Pittsburgh to
Chicago will attend.
They will speak in different classes
throughout Thursday and Friday.
Students can hear alumni speak about
It was almost 30 years ago when Mer-
cyhurst students and faculty first began
to recognize this sometimes overlooked
holiday.
Sister Maura Smith has been accred-
ited with introducing the concept in
her environmental studies classes nearly
three decades ago.
Most recently, the SPAN club, Stu-
having a
book named
an Ameri-
can Library
Association
Notable
Book of the
year, the Pat-
erson Literary
Achievement,
an American Photo Courtesy of Dr. Schiff
Book Award, Martin Espada
a PEN/
Revson Fellowship and two NEA fel-
lowships.
In an interview with Espada, Steven
Ratiner, from the Face and Place of
Poetry said, “Martin Espada is an
Opinion
 It’s Earth week at the ’Hurst. Find
out what students and faculty have to
say in this enviroment themed issue.
Page 6 & 7
Arts & Entertainment
 Britney Spears and Kevin Federline
are expecting their first child. Can
she still retain her title as pop prin-
cess?
Page 8
business, communication, criminal jus-
tice, education, history, hotel restaurant
and institutional management, intelli-
gence studies and sports medicine.
Students also have the chance to fill
out a survey on how they like or dislike
the speaker and the event. If students
want other topics covered or have sug-
gestions for future alumni events, these
things can be taken into consideration
for next year.
Alumni from Erie:
Rebecca Martin ’82 - vice president
and marketing, Erie Regional Chamber
& Growth Partnership;
Al Messina ’71 - executive director,
Boys and Girls Club of Erie, Inc;
R. J. Zonna ’87 - vice president, United
dents for the Protection and Appre-
ciation of Nature, organized a campus-
wide cleanup of the mouth of Mill Creek
nearly four years ago to coincide with
Earth Day.
Since then, the festivities celebrating
Earth Day have blossomed.
Dr. Chris Magoc, one of the faculty
planners for this year’s Earth Week,
imposing presence, a grizzly bear of
a man with dark eyes that devour the
page. His poems are, by turns, ferocious,
tender, ardently political or touchingly
biographical.”
Epada’s poems have the ability to
catch the reader off guard, and while
he may be talking about a subject that
seems relatively normal, he makes it
extraordinary.
It is said that his writing arises from
his Puerto Rican heritage and his work
experiences ranging from bouncer to
tenant lawyer.
His versatility will be seen a week
from Thursday when he reads at the
Mercyhurst.
Here is a small sample of his outstand-
Features
Weight training can benefit every-
one. Find out how you can get in
shape by weight lifting.
Sports
Men’s lacrosse downs Bryant 12-6.
Page 11
Way of Erie County;
Joyce Savocchio ’65 - former Erie
mayor;
JoAnn Barnes ’79 - senior human
resources director, Rentway, Inc;
Mary Ellen Dahlkemper ’73 - chief
administrative officer, Stairways, Inc;
Kevin Julius ’86 - McDowell High
School teacher and author of “The
Abolitionist Decade-1829-38”;
Brad Fairfield ’90 - developer, Koehler
Brewery Square;
Steve Seymour ’85 - director of human
resources, Country Fair, Inc;
Tom Parilla ’88 - financial adviser;
Michael Malpiedi ’81 - vice president
of sales, NextMedia Radio;
William Dopierala, Esq. ’72 - deputy
File Photos
is really impressed with the students
involvement and willingness to help with
this year’s events.
“Dr. Brown, Cathy Pedler (our campus
Sustainability Coordinator), Jo Ellen and
I first met in September, so it’s a year-
long planning process,” says Magoc.
Please see Earth on Page 3
ing work in an excerpt from the poem
Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits,
“No one can speak my name, I host the
fiesta of the bathroom, stirring the toilet
like a punchbowl.”
“The Spanish music of my name is
lost when the guests complain about
toilet paper.”
He offers his readers a new and/
or different look at something that
someone might otherwise overlook as
unimportant.
As the last of three outstanding
authors the English department encour-
ages everyone to come to Espada’s read-
ing and experience, “the Pablo Neruda
of the North American authors.”
Page 4
April 20, 2005
attorney general, Commonwealth of Pa.
Outside Erie:
Pierre Priestly ’81 (Chicago) - vice
president and division manager, Invest-
ment Property Exchange Services;
Gary Calabrese ’79 (Hudson, Ohio)
- director, sports medicine, Cleveland
Clinic;
Scott Donnelly ’88 (Pittsburgh)-
managing partner, Smallman Street
Deli;
Scott Koskoski ’00 (Pittsburgh)
- associate director of annual giving,
Washington & Jefferson College;
Dan Langan ’91 (Harrisburg) - presi-
dent, Langan Public Affairs Inc;
Russ Franklin ’75 (Pittsburgh) - vice
president, Citizens Bank.
PolioPlus
5k run this
weekend
By Brent Vlcek
Contributing writer
On Saturday, April 23, the Mercy-
hurst Rotaract Club will sponsor the
third annual PolioPlus 5K run on the
campus of Mercyhurst College.
Rotary International’s commitment
holds this annual event to fight the
polio virus that still ravages many
areas of the world.
Emily Roach, race coordinator,
states that it is a “common misconcep-
tion that polio has been eradicated.”
Developed nations such as the United
States experience very few outbreaks
of the polio virus.
However, Roach said that under
developed nations such as those in
Africa still require aid to eradicate
the virus.
Where it takes U.S. patients only
three booster immunizations to estab-
lish immunity to the virus, it can take
up to 10 immunizations for a person
to attain full immunity in Africa.
“Thus far, Rotary’s efforts and
those of its partners around the world
have achieved a 99 percent reduc-
tion in the number of polio cases
worldwide. The goal is to eradicate
polio this year, which is also the cen-
tennial year for Rotary,” said Roach.
To accomplish this goal, the Rota-
ract Club has organized volunteers
and raised money.
Roach said, “The purpose of our
race is to raise money and then donate
to Rotary for their cause.”
The race began in 2003 by alumnus
Danielle Poole. Since then, the race
has grown as more runners joined to
raise money for the cause.
About 40 runners signed up for the
race already. This week, Roach would
like to see 20 more runners sign up.
Not only will the race benefit the
fight against the poliovirus, it will
raise awareness among the student
population.
“This race benefits the students
because it raises awareness about
other countries and their plight as well
as provides students with an easy way
to do something for the greater good
of humanity,” said Roach.
Please see PolioPlus on Page 3
Index
News....................................2
News....................................3
Features...............................4
Features...............................5
Opinion.................................6
Opinion.................................7
A&E.......................................8
A&E.......................................9
Katie McAdams/Photo editor
Sports.................................10
Sports.................................11
Sports.................................12
PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD April 20, 2005

NEWS To contact: newsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu

Cardinals choose conservative German as next pope

By Tom Hundley and Steve
Kloehn
VATICAN CITY, Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger, a doctrinal
conservative who emerged as a
pivotal figure in the days follow-
ing Pope John Paul’s death, was
elected pope Tuesday.
The German prelate, who
turned 78 Saturday, will be the
Roman Catholics’ 264th succes-
sor to St. Peter. He will be known
as Pope Benedict XVI.
Although the announcement
was greeted with delirious cheers
by the multitudes gathered in St.
Peter’s Square, the choice is cer-
tain to be a controversial one.
“Dear brothers and sisters,
after the great pope John Paul
II, the cardinals have elected me
a simple, humble worker in the
vineyard of the Lord,” he told
the faithful from the balcony of
came surprisingly quickly.
When smoke began to curl
from the Sistine Chapel’s chim-
ney a few minutes before 6 p.m.
Rome time, confusion reigned.
Some in the crowd thought it
was white; others were sure it was
black. Italian television declared
it white and so did the Vatican
switchboard, but Vatican Radio
said black.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica
were supposed to clarify the mat-
ter. But at precisely 6 p.m., the
bells began tolling the hour,
adding to the confusion. Finally,
when the bells started to toll at
a few minutes after the hour, it
was clear that a new pope had
been elected.
An air horn sounded. Flags
waved and songs in different
languages were lifted toward the
balcony where the new pope
would appear.
From all over Rome, people
In the minutes after it became
clear that there was a new pope,
the faithful in St. Peter’s Square,
and millions watching on televi-
sion around the world, still did
not know the identity of the
new pope. All eyes turned to the
balcony of St. Peter’s and the
curtained door that would open
to reveal the cardinals’ choice.
Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina
Estevez, the senior cardinal dea-
con, appeared first, and at 6:42
pm he told the world “habemus
papam, we have a pope.”
He introduced Ratzinger as
Benedict XVI.
The initial reaction of the
crowd was mixed. Some seemed
confused, but others began
chanting, “Benedict! Benedict!”
Ratzinger, the first German
pope since the 11th century, has
not yet explained his choice of
name, but the last Pope Benedict,
who reigned from 1914 until KRT Photo

St. Peter’s Basilica.
“The fact that the Lord can
work and act even with insuf-
ficient means consoles me, and
above all I entrust myself to your
prayers,” said Ratzinger, who ap-
peared smiling and serene.
As head of the Congrega-
tion for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Ratzinger served as Pope
John Paul’s theological enforcer.
Many who know him person-
ally describe him as shy and
reserved, but his strict enforce-
ment of John Paul’s conservative
views and his harsh silencing of
several prominent theologians
established his reputation as a
somewhat divisive figure.
As successor to the immensely
popular John Paul, whose 26-year
papacy combined bold political
strokes, an epic global pilgrim-
age and a death that provoked
mourning worldwide, he faces a
daunting task.
But the election of Ratzinger
flocked to the square. Via della
Conciliazione, the broad avenue
that leads to St. Peter’s, became
a fast flowing river of humanity,
some strolling, some sprinting
toward the square to see the an-
nouncement.
Monsignor Thomas Fucinaro,
originally from Lincoln, Neb.,
but a longtime Vatican staff
member, was waiting with fellow
priests along one of the wooden
barricades.
“The fact that this was such a
brief conclave is a clear sign of
the unity of the cardinals,” he
said. “We are all ecstatic.”
After two inconclusive bal-
lots Tuesday morning, and one
Monday evening, Ratzinger was
elected in the conclave’s Tuesday
afternoon session on what would
have been either the fourth or
fifth ballot.
A total of 77 votes, the sup-
port of two-thirds of the 115
cardinal electors, were needed.
1922, worked to bring peace dur-
ing World War I.
The election marks the conclu-
sion of the most widely watched
change in leadership in the his-
tory of the 1.1 billion-member
Roman Catholic Church, a dra-
matic three-week period that
began with the April 2 death of
John Paul II.
To the surprise of even church
leaders, millions of pilgrims
streamed into Rome to pay their
respects to the late pope, some
waiting in line 10 or even 20
hours to spend a few minutes
praying before his body.
A quarter of a million mourn-
ers pressed into St. Peter’s Square
for John Paul II’s funeral, while
an estimated 2 to 3 million more
found other spots in and around
Rome to watch on television, an
experience they shared with hun-
dreds of millions more around
the world.
The funeral, on a chilled and
After taking the name Pope Benedict XVI, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger greets the
crowd in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Italy.
windy day, underscored the tow-
ering presence John Paul II had
in the church, in life and in death.
A ritual designed for pomp and
dignity gave way to cheers and
chants as the crowd showed its
enthusiasm for the pope, some
even calling for his immediate
sainthood.
Those images were not lost on
the cardinals, who had to make
their way through the crowds of
mourners all that week.
Insiders said that many of the
cardinals were truly amazed by
the outpouring. In the week that
followed, as they agreed not to
speak publicly about the choice
they faced, many of the 115 elec-
tors focused on the response to
John Paul II’s death, and tried to
figure out how to harness that
enthusiasm as the church moved
forward.
In the venerable tradition of
papal conclaves, the week leading
up to the voting was filled with
speculation about campaigns
and counter-campaigns, which
cardinals were surging and which
were fading.
But this conclave was unlike
previous gatherings of cardinals
in many ways. It was the largest,
with 115 electors, and the most
international, with 52 nations
represented.
And while all but two of the
men had been made cardinals
by Pope John Paul II, sharing
a certain understanding of the
church and its teachings, they
brought into the Sistine Chapel
a wide array of concerns and
points of view.
As the cardinals remained
mum, attention turned to the
priorities of the church in differ-
ent parts of the world: issues of
economic justice and a crippling
priest shortage in Latin America;
a drift away from Christian roots
in Europe; the priest sex abuse
scandal and technological tangles
in North America; a vibrant faith
mixing a clashing with other
faiths in Africa and Asia.
Then on Monday, the cardi-
nals made their last public ap-
pearance, a solemn procession
in scarlet from the Vatican’s
Apostolic Palace into the Sistine
Chapel, all shown on live televi-
sion for the first time.
Then, as the double oak doors
swung shut, the focus shifted yet
again. This time, all the digital,
high-resolution, instantaneous
technology of the world media
turned to a simple stovepipe
poking through the roof of the
chapel.

Exam anxiety blooming, but it doesn’t have to be debilitating

By Katherine Spitz
Knight Ridder Newspapers
For some college students,
with students of all skill levels,
said many students who suffer
from test anxiety feel that way
because they simply haven’t put
in the hours they need to master
When reassurance and honing
study skills aren’t enough, stu-
dents often benefit from getting
some help from a university’s
counseling services, Love and
tenses, then relaxes part of the Simple test anxiety is treatable is bright.
body, and a few minutes of without use of medication, Just like many of the students
breathing focus. Hale added, and the prognosis who have the problem.

Laker Spring Term I n n

test anxiety is as predictable as
the spring flowers blooming on
campus. Not that these students
would notice the flowers, or
anything else, as they get ready
for finals.
When University of Akron
student Raj Nandi takes an exam,
it becomes an all-encompassing
experience.
“I’m antsy,” said Nandi, 31,
a University of Akron graduate
student in business administra-
tion. “My wife stays away from
me. She just stays out of my
way. And I have a little trouble
sleeping.”
No matter that Nandi com-
pleted a rigorous engineering
undergraduate major, and has
successfully taken test after test
and has done well; he still gets
nervous.
It’s a problem that affects
many students. As finals near, it’s
the busy season for those who
provide counseling or academic
support for college students who
have trouble dealing with the
stress of exams.
Common symptoms of test
anxiety include: trouble sleeping
or waking up in the night, wor-
rying, having a rapid heartbeat,
sweaty palms, or feelings of nau-
sea, say experts and area students.
Perhaps the most distressing
symptom is completely blanking
out during the test.
“Test anxiety comes up, more
so than you would ever imag-
ine,” said William Hale, Ph.D.,
assistant director of the Univer-
sity Counseling Services at Case
Western Reserve University.
Test anxiety occurs in various
degrees. Not all anxiety is bad,
because it can motivate a stu-
dent to hunker down and study,
experts said.
“A bit of that sharpens your
attention and makes you more
alert,” said Ronnie Love, a read-
ing and writing specialist at Kent
State University’s Academic Sup-
port Center. Love, who works
the material.
“It’s justified anxiety,” she
said.
For those who feel anxious
because they aren’t prepared,
the answer is obvious: Prepare
better.
However, Hale said the stu-
dents he treats for test anxiety
have almost always put in the
study time, obviously know their
stuff and still have problems.
Many students who attend
Case Western were at the top,
or near top, of their high school
classes, Hale explained. They can
become very anxious and thrown
off by a new environment.
“When they come here, they
are thrown in with students who
are also the cream of the crop
and they may no longer be top
dog,” Hale said. “The curve gets
completely reconfigured and in-
credibly stressful for them.”
Hale said he often works with
students who know the mate-
rial thoroughly even tutor their
friends and still draw a blank
when it comes time to take the
test. Feelings of anxiety easily can
cause a student to be unable to
access the information that he or
she knows, he said.
It is also very common for
adult learners generally defined
as age 25 or older to have test
anxiety, because they feel a lot of
additional pressure, said Debo-
rah Gwin, director of the Adult
Resource Center at the University
of Akron, which provides servic-
es to students who are juggling
many roles in their lives.
“What brings our adult learners
back to school is what I call the
four D’s death, disability, down-
sizing or divorce,” said Gwin,
who added that about one-third
of the university’s students are
considered adult learners.
“If you’ve got three kids
at home and you’ve lost your
spouse or your income, you have
to do well,” she said. “Also, you
have less time to prepare.”
Gwin said.
Hale, a psychologist, said stu-
dents who have test anxiety usu-
ally come for counseling either
because they are self-referred, or
because of a professor’s sugges-
tion. Hale said when treating a
student, he first does a thorough Galley Grill OLD FAVORITES:
Chicken Fingers
evaluation, to see whether the
anxiety affects other aspects of NEW ITEMS: Sizzling Salad
a student’s life or is limited to the Ruby’s Famous Pizza
testing situation. Tropical Island Oasis
Students who have simple Grilled Chicken Sandwich
test anxiety often benefit from
Fruit Smoothies
two strategies understanding Strawberry
Hours of Operation:
the thought processes that are Banana
making them anxious, and learn- Monday-Friday 8:00am-1:00 a.m.
Piña Colada
ing some concrete relaxation Saturday 1:00pm-1:00 a.m.
exercises. Potato Skins
Sunday 5:00pm-1:00 a.m.
Gaining an understanding of French Toast
the thinking that contributes to
test anxiety is critical, Hale said,
1/2 lb. Galley Burger
because it gets to the root of the
problem. Usually, a student feels
anxious because he or she be-
OLD FAVORITES:
lieves they “must” get an “A” on
a test, or it will set up a string of Laker Express Grilled Chicken Salad
misfortunes. Hale said a student’s Turkey Bagels
train of thought generally runs NEW ITEMS:
something like the following: Meals in a Minute Crispy Chicken Salad
“`I have to make sure I do Macaroni and Cheese Ham and Turkey Subs
perfectly on these tests. If I don’t Chocolate Chip Cookies
make an A on the test, I won’t do
Stuffed Shells
well in the course. If I don’t do Chicken Parm
Hours of Operation:
well in the course, my GPA goes Penne Pasta w/ Alfredo
down. If my GPA goes down, I Monday-Thursday 11:30-8:00 p.m.
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won’t get a good job. If I don’t Friday 11:30-3:30 p.m.
get a good job, I won’t be able Board Equivalency Available: Saturday & Sunday Closed
to pay off my student loans. I’ll
11:30-8:00pm
never be happy. And...”
Hale said he helps this kind
of student learn to replace these
anxiety-producing thoughts with FEATURES:
Subconnection
more realistic, less catastrophic
thinking. Meatball Sub
“I bring it back to the here and Baja Chicken
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ing some simple relaxation ex- Sunday 5:00pm-9:00 p.m.
ercises, Hale said. Hale favors
progressive muscle relaxation, a
process in which a person first
April 20, 2005
Parking issues, again? PolioPlus walk/race
By Jason Endress
Contributing writer
Parade Street residents and
Mercyhurst College have had a
rocky relationship this academic
year, from students disturbing
the peace, to the month-long
battle over the fate of the empty
lot adjacent to the new Parade
entrance.
The year is almost over, but
residents on Parade street are
complaining again. This time
they are focusing on the parked
cars on the city street infront of
their homes, causing Mercyhurst
to crackdown on freshman park-
ing.
Many residents have also ex-
pressed anger towards the college
for the creation of a park on that
lot, some going as far as to say
it’s part of Mercyhurst’s “plan”
to eventually own all of Parade
Street in City Council meetings
in late 2004.
In previous articles, former
President William Garvey dis-
missed these claims as “ridicu-
lous”, emphasizing that Mercy-
hurst treats its neighbors with
consideration, and that the col-
lege supplies immediate residents
with presidential passes which
allow free admission to campus
events such as concerts or dance
shows.
One of the major complaints
from Parade Street residents
was students parking on the
street. This has led to parking
difficulties for residents, as well
as damage to the boulevard, as
improperly parked cars force
snow plows over onto it.
Mercyhurst has taken action
on this end recently, sending
individual e-mails out to stu-
dents who have been parking
on Parade with unregistered cars.
Unregistered automobiles are a
Robert Bly inspires students
By Chelsea Boothe
Contributing writer
The international poet, transla-
tor and author, Robert Bly gave
an entertaining and wonderful
reading of his work on Tuesday,
April 12, and the following day
offered a workshop for the cre-
ative writing students.
Those able to attend his read-
ing met a man who they could
instantly feel comfortable with,
almost as though they had known
him for years. He delivered each
poem as though he were talking
one-on-one with each member
of the audience.
Lakyn Bianco, a sophomore
English major, feels the reading
was worthwhile to attend.
“I really enjoyed Robert Bly’s
reading. He is very wise, genuine
and funny. I could sit and listen
to him tell stories all night,” said
Bianco.
Bly was well received by the
entire audience of over 100
people, and their enjoyment
could be felt during the stand-
ing ovation. Some were drawn
to him because of his powerful
voice that changed inflection,
tone, speed and pitch throughout
each poem; others because of his
honest humor about his own life
’Hurst plans memorial for Matthew Milgate
By Josh Wilwohl
Layout Assistant
Students, faculty and admin-
istration of the Mercyhurst
community continue to mourn
the loss of sophomore Matthew
Milgate who died March 17, in
an accident on 38th Street.
In remembrance of Milgate,
students and friends teamed up
with youth ministry to arrange
a memorial service for this Sun-
day, April 24.
According to sophomore Sara
Mercyhurst neighbors on Parade Street are irked because of student cars parked on
their street.
violation of the Student Conduct
Code, and these students are
therefore potentially subject to
disciplinary action.
Police and Safety scanned the
license plates on Parade Street
to find out which were student
owned. The e-mail instructed the
students to attend a meeting in
the first floor Egan lounge this
past Sunday.
Students iwere then informed
that their cars must be registered
through the school or they will
face disciplinary action. This ac-
tion on the part of the college is
emblematic of efforts through-
out this academic year to live
comfortably with its neighbors.
After several City Council
meetings in late 2004, one of
and work.
Dr. Gerry Tobin, a profes-
sor and counselor on campus,
said the reading was, “Inspir-
ing, thoughtful, provoking and
heartfelt.”
Bly began the evening by read-
ing some of the work he had
translated from other parts of
the world.
Bly said, “It’s translated into
English, and then I translate it
into American.”
His style of reading was quite
unique. He would read his
favorite lines more than once,
interrupt to explain a particular
phrase or custom of the culture
he was reading from and some-
times stop during a poem to
tell a story about his life or the
author’s life.
Bly later reflected that, “when
I’m translating I’m stealing good
sugar.” He uses different themes,
forms and ideas from the poems
he translates.
His own poetry is inspiring
in-and-of itself, and this could
be seen by the way he had the
audience mesmerized with each
line.
The following day during the
workshop he had a somewhat
smaller group, but they were
equally captivated by his every
word.
Turcotte, who is arranging the
event, Matthew’s parents and
family will attend, along with
several of his friends.
“We will be showing a slide-
show behind an acoustic accom-
paniment by two of Matt’s close
friends,” said Turcotte.
“Many of Matt’s friends will
be talking and telling stories
about him, and his family will
be presented with an album and
such of Matt’s times at Mercy-
hurst,” she said.
One close friend and past
roommate of Milgate’s, sopho-
THE MERCIAD
which where Director of Resi-
dence Life Laura Zirkle bore
the brunt of Erie residents’
complaints, Councilman Jim
Thompson volunteered his ser-
vice as an intermediary between
the city and the college.
Since then, measures have been
taken to rein in Mercyhurst’s
off-campus students, which have
increased dramatically in recent
years to well over 100 students.
Disagreements between resi-
dents and the college have once
again returned to parking, which
has only gotten worse in the past
few years. As the student popula-
tion grew to its current ideal size
of more than 3,000 students,
the amount of cars on campus
increased as well.
Robert Bly
He led the group in an exercise
by looking at an object whether a
pine cone or card board box and
reflecting on the object. Then
Bly had each person reflect on
a fairy tale.
Finally, he told his students to
think about what each person
wanted from their future. At
the end each member of the
workshop had written a prose
poem.
Jessica DeMaison, a senior at
Mercyhurst, reflected at the end,
“It was an amazing experience.
I didn’t think I could look into
more Chris Bodley, says he truly
misses his friend and plans to
attend the memorial service.
“Matty was a great kid, the
kind of guy that always had a
smile on his face. He’d help
you if he could, and offer help
to you, even if he couldn’t,” said
Bodley.
“I am going to remember him
the way he was in high school:
As the fun-loving guy, who was
always ready to help and flash
a smile.”
Bodley feels the service is a
“great idea” and will give every-
To contact: newsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
Katie McAdams/Photo editor
Freshmen, unless employed
in the area or hailing from states
farther than Pennsylvania, Ohio
or New York, are generally
not permitted to have cars on
campus until spring term. Many
of these students have circum-
vented this by parking on area
streets, generally Parade.
The effort on Parade to track
down students sidestepping the
lack of parking on campus is a
small step in dealing with the
ongoing problem of finding a
parking spot, which affects the
upperclassmen as well as the
freshmen.
Any students with unregis-
tered vehicles must register their
vehicle with Police and Safety or
face disciplinary action.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Schiff
myself by looking at a fairy tale
or pine cone and then find me.”
Whether at his reading or in
his workshop, those who had the
opportunity to experience Rob-
ert Bly got a rare and wonderful
opportunity. He gives each per-
son he comes in contact with a
wonderful memory.
The one criticism of the whole
evening was that it was difficult
to hear him if you were sitting at
the top, and the people who were
complaining were upset because
they wanted so badly to catch
every single word.
one a chance to “make peace”
and “say goodbye.”
Turcotte said that students
like Bodley will also have the
opportunity to write thoughts
and memories of Milgate to his
family at the service.
“The event is a good way to
get people together to share
stories about him and celebrate
his life,” said Bodley.
The service will be held from
2 to 4 p.m. in the Walker Recital
Hall, with a reception in the
foyer following the service.
Continued from Page 1
Both walkers and runners are
welcome; registration starts at
8:30 a.m. and the event officially
beginning at 9:30 a.m. Entrance
fees are $15 for Mercyhurst
students, $20 for pre-registered
runners/walkers and $25 the day
of the race.
To register, send your check,
payable to Mercyhurst Col-
lege Rotaract Club, to Emi-
ly Roach, R1524, Mercyhurst
College, 501 E. 38th St., Erie,
PA 16546. Or you can e-mail
’Hurst celebrates Earth Week
Continued from Page 1
Considering the amount of
planning and effort put into this
year’s celebration, the outcome
should be fantastic.
When asked why it is impor-
tant for students to get involved
with Earth Day Magoc said,
“Our week-long celebration of
Earth Day is an opportunity for
us to deepen our understanding
of environmental issues and to
reaffirm our commitment to
work every day of the year for a
sustainable future for ourselves,
our region and our children.”
Magoc feels that the events
will help students realize the
environment’s imporance.
“We have planned a dynamic
series of events that celebrate the
interdisciplinary nature of envi-
ronmental issues, reminding us
of how these issues touch every
realm of intellectual endeavor on
this campus,” said Magoc.
“We hope that these events can
help shatter the myth that ‘the
environment’ is an issue best left
to scientific or corporate experts,
or to “environmentalists.” To be
fully informed, engaged citizens
demands that we learn about
issues that affect us all, includ-
ing the quality of our air and
water, the threats posed by global
warming, the links between
natural resources, globalization,
and foreign policy, and the pro-
tection of wilderness that reflect
the values and heritage of all
Americans.”
According to Magoc,“There
are two myths regarding Earth
Day, and they are linked: That
these problems were solved
long ago, and that whatever
concerns raised these days are
being pushed by a minority of
raving tree-huggers who have
nothing else to do, or who are
out to destroy the American way
of life.”
To help dispel these miscon-
ceptions a variety of events and
seminars have been scheduled
throughout this week:
Wednesday, April 20, at 4
p.m., Audrey Hirt Academic
Center 214. The Economics
of Sustainability – compelling
presentation on the economics
of sustainability by international
business professor Dr. Gustavo
Barboza, and visiting professor
of sustainable systems, Dr. Juer-
gen Ertel.
Thursday, April 21, 4:45-
6:30 p.m., Zur n Hall 114.
A roundtable discussion with
Bill McKibben on his book,
“Enough: Staying Human in
Be�er than the Beach
Tanning Boutique
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PAGE 3
News
mcrotaract@yahoo.com. Emily
Roach, race coordinator, can be
reached at 824-3956.
You must include the follow-
ing information: name, address,
T-shirt size, phone number, e-
mail address, age group (Under
30 Men, Over 30 Men, Under 30
Women, Under 30 Women) and
race style (run, walk).
Following the race, partici-
pants can enter a Chinese raffle
for a chance to win a prize of
their choice. Refreshments will
also be available at the end of
the race.
an Engineered Age.” 8:15-10
p.m., Taylor Little Theatre
Bill McKibben lecture
Friday, April 22 “Earth Day,”
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sisters of Mercy
Motherhouse, 444 E. Grandview
Blvd.Fair Trade Fair – Sale of
crafts, jewelry, other products.
Proceeds promote sustainability
and social and economic justice
in developing nations.
Also, the public is welcome to
join the Mercyhurst community
in the fifth annual Mill Creek
Cleanup on Saturday, April 23,
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants
will gather at the mouth of the
creek, which can be accessed
off the Bayfront Highway by
taking the Ore Dock Road north
at Sunburst Electronics for a
quarter mile.
For those of unable to attend
these weeks’ events but still
want to participate in making
the world a better place, you can
always consider the option of
living in the “Green” Building.
Dr. Magoc was adamant about
clearing up the rumors that there
was no televisions or computers
allowed, but that simply is not
true.
“We will be encouraging con-
servation (turning things off
when not in use, for example).
Students who live here will have
a number of advantages, includ-
ing a newly refurbished “green”
lounge (with a “cyberbar”) de-
signed by students and faculty in
Interior Design and the provision
of environmentally responsible
products such as paper products
and cleaning supplies. They will
also be provided with a member-
ship to the Whole Foods Co-op,
where healthier foods are avail-
able,” said Magoc.
“This is unprecedented, a
chance for students to make his-
tory, to model environmentally
responsible ways to live, to point
the way for all of us toward the
future.”
Whether it be attending a
seminar, signing up to live in the
“Green” Building, or just taking
some time out of your day and
consider how you could make the
world a better place you will be
helping convey the true message
of Earth Day.
No good deed goes unpun-
ished and by cleaning up our acts
today, the future of our beautiful
Earth looks promising.
When asked what is one thing
that that students should know
about Earth Day, Magoc replied
“It’s every day.”
PAGE 4 THE MERCIAD April 20, 2005

FEATURES To contact: featuremerciad@mercyhurst.edu

Weight training can benefit everyone
By Jonelle Davis
News editor
Some people weight train ev-
eryday and see no results. Oth-
ers are afraid to even attempt
the dreaded machines at the
gym, but with a proper weight
training workout anyone can
have the body they have always
dreamed of.
According to a recent study
by the University of Maryland,
weightlifting benefits everyone.
For instance, the resting meta-
bolic rates are increased by
seven percent after six months
of weight training.
That means that you can burn
more calories while resting becu-
ase your body has lean mass,
which burns more calories than
fat mass.
Weightlifting-pro.com also
credits weight training to an in-
crease in strength and muscular
endurance, an increase in flexibil-
ity, less chance of injury, confi-
dence and overall well being.
With a good weightlifting pro-
gram a person will soon start to
notice less fat and more muscle.
The Mercyhurst Recreation
Center is working to provide
students with the opportunity
to learn proper weight training
techniques and improve their
health.
The sessions are offered by
other Mercyhurst students who
have found a passion and true
understanding for the impor-
tance of weight training.
Nola Hessom, a junior at Mer-
cyhurst, is one of the student in-
structors who has over four years
of weight training experience.
“I started lifting a little over
four and a half years ago, in the
beginning of my junior year of
high school. I first started lifting
because I wanted to improve
my strength and stamina for the
sports I played,” said Hessom.
“When I started seeing results
about a month into my program,
I kept at it because it made me
feel better mentally and physi-
cally.”
Hessom now shares her love
of weightlifting with other Mer-
cyhurst students through her
weightlifting lessons.
The lessons last between 30
to 45 minutes and are offered
Monday and Wednesday from
10 a.m. through noon, or by ap-
pointment.
Appointments can be made at
the Recreation Center.
When asked about the lessons,
Hessom said she directs the
training towards the results each
individual wants.
“The basic things I would go
over would be the form and
speed at which particular exer-
cises should be performed, as
well as the number of reps for
the results the person would
want. I would also explain how
to break up muscle groups for
different lifting days and show
various lifts for those muscle
groups,” said Hessom.
“One lesson would be made
to hit a par ticular muscle
group. Like the first lesson
would cover techniques, rep-
etitions and sets for a variety
of exercises for chest muscles
Senior Dave Shutler is living proof that weight training can
benefit one’s health and happiness.
including bench press, dumb-
bell press, dumbbell flys, cable
crossovers, etc.”
“I would have people under-
stand techniques for a variety of
exercises but wouldn’t have be-
ginners do all kinds of exercises
Katie McAdams/ Photo editor
for each muscle group right off
the bat.”
Hessom’s weight training les-
sons are great for students ready
to hit the gym and learn, but for
students who do not want to
jump into a lesson there are basic
tips to follow.
In an article found on askmen.
com, Dr. William J. Kraemer,
professor in kinesiology and
physiology at the University of
Connecticut in Storrs, says that
there are many simple rules
to weight training that should
be followed to achieve health
benefits.
The first rule is that when lift-
ing, a person should vary their
work-outs.
It is recommended to “al-
ternate among light workouts,
moderate workouts and heavy
workouts. Sometimes women
use very light weights because
of the fear of getting too mus-
cular. In reality, most women
don’t have the hormones to get
the type of muscle that men can
develop, but they will just lose fat
just under the skin and have more
definition of their muscles,” said
Kraemer.
“You just can’t go in and lift
heavy weights everyday, either,
because the body gets used to
it and you won’t progress. One
key way to vary your workouts
is to include power exercises,
which have a speed or time
component.”
Kraemer’s other r ules to
weightlifting include learning the
principles of strength training
and including resistance training
when trying to lose weight.
Learning about weight training
and following a training program
has been proven to give the body
healthy effects.
Senior Intelligence Studies ma-
jor Dave Shutler is living proof
of the results.
Shutler went from weighing
160 pounds in his freshman
year to his current weight of 215
pounds.
That was not until after he
learned how to train properly.
“I started lifting in seventh
grade in junior high football, but
didn’t know anything about lift-
ing or diet at the time. I probably
noticed a big difference in my
body around sophomore/junior
year in college. I began to get ed-
ucated on lifting and the proper
diet plan,” said Shutler.
He keeps his weight by training
five days per week.
“To g ain both mass and
strength, one must lift heavy,
with around a four to six repeti-
tion range. I usually lift for 45
minutes to an hour, sometimes
even shorter. I keep my workouts
intense and focused. Currently,
I lift one body part a day with a
two-day rest after, so five days
lifting and two days of rest,”
said Shutler.
With his current weight train-
ing program, Shutler says that
along with building mass, he feels
healthier.
“I feel much better after I lift
and much healthier overall. I
think that whenever someone
gets a good sweat in from exer-
cising and lifting, they feel better
about themselves and not so
lazy,” said Shutler.
Many students along with Shut-
ler have also seen results from
weight training.
It has been proven that weight
training benefits one’s health,
especially aiding in weight loss.

Students travel to Los Angeles for conference

By Missy Mulvihill
Contributing writer
The National Broadcasting
Society is a student organiza-
tion that prepares students for
careers in the electronic media
field.
The organization is currently
active on about 100 campuses
in the United States.
This year, Mercyhurst joined
other affiliate groups from
across the nation and started a
National Broadcasting Society
chapter of their own.
Mr. Dennis Lebec, a profes-
sor in the communications
department, started the present
chapter and is the acting club
advisor.
Mercyhurst’s National Broad-
casting Society chapter currently
has eight student members and
is expected to expand to about
15 by the end of the year.
Each year, the National Broad-
casting Society holds regional
and national conferences for
their members.
This year, the national confer-
ence was held in Los Angeles.
for a taping of Jeopardy, had
audience seats on Jay Leno and
were given the opportunity to
shake his hand.
“I asked Jay for his autograph
and he came right over and
pulled out his blue Sharpie and
signed my autograph book!”
said Gardner.
The conference came to an
end on the fourth day in a ban-
quet ceremony.
Here students are rewarded
and awarded for their hard
work.
To his complete surprise, the
“Advisor of the Year” award
went to Mercyhurst’s chapter
advisor, Mr. Lebec.
“I really wasn’t expecting
that,” he said.
Photos courtesy of Teresa Gardner All together this trip will no
Senior Teresa Gardner (left) and junior Andrea Gilkinson (right) had the opportunity to attend the National Broad- doubt be one for the girls to
casting Socity conference earlier this term. remember.
“It was pretty freaking awe-
Two Mercyhurst students, se- “Some highlights of the con- sion was very beneficial. We got mon thread.”
It was not, however, just work some!” Gardner exclaimed.
nior Teresa Gardner and junior vention were getting to meet to rotate around the room and
and no play for the girls. Not only did they have a great
Andrea Gilkinson, attended. lots of people in the industry. were able to speak with profes-
They were able to take in such time, but they came out of the
The national conference was Marc Summers gave the keynote sionals in every field.”
sights as the Grauman’s Chinese conference with experience.
held March 8-12 and the day’s address; Omarosa Stallworth “It was a great opportunity to
Theater, the Kodak Theater, the Gardner said she returned
events included workshops, was a speaker, as well as John meet people and hear how they
Walk of Fame, the famous Hol- home with “lots of good ad-
seminars, panel discussions Miller, creator of “Jackass” and got their start in the business,
lywood sign and more. vice, some great contacts and
and great networking oppor- “Road Rules,” said Gardner. although the only common
The two even scored tickets memories.”
tunities. “Also, the Career Focus ses- thread was that there is no com-

Give blood because it is worth the shot

Needles and horror stories should not hold you back from giving life
By Missy Mulvihill
Contributing writer
According to materials pro-
vided by the American Red
Cross, only small fractions of the
people who are able to donate
blood actually do. Of course,
we’d all expect to receive it, if
needed, but we don’t always want
to give.
Numerous reasons will stop a
person from donating blood.
First, a person needs to be at
least 17 years of age, healthy and
not have given any blood in the
past eight weeks.
Also, needle contact from tat-
toos or piercings can be an issue
for being eligible.
“I was turned away from do-
nating blood because I had just
gotten a tattoo and a piercing
done recently,” said senior Derek
Gabriel.
The Red Cross states that
most donors should wait about
12 months after getting a tat-
too because of the concern for
hepatitis.
The same waiting period is
applied for a piercing, unless
you can prove that the needle
was sterile and used just once.
If this is the case, there is no
waiting time.
Then again, a potential donor
may sometimes understand the
need for blood, but has already
had a bad experience or does not
feel comfortable with the entire
process.
“There are people in desperate
need of the donated blood, and
through blood donation you are
helping to save a person’s life,”
said junior Kathryn Reeners.
“I have given blood before and
will most likely not do it again
because I passed out.”
Junior Angie Pascoe has also
had a bad experience when do-
nating blood.
“I’ve tried to donate blood
before at my high school but
I just sat there for 45 minutes
with the needle sticking out of
my arm.”
“The nurse said my vein was
too small so the blood wasn’t
coming out fast enough. It hurt
and I was pretty bruised the
next day.”
Do not let these horror stories
stop you from donating. The vast
majority of people feel perfectly
fine after donating blood; a very
few will feel faint or dizzy, have
an upset stomach or will bruise.
Other students have found
donating to be a great way to give
and even though Pascoe’s experi-
ence was dramatic, she won’t let it
stop her from helping others.
“It’s such a good cause so I will
definitely try to donate again,”
she said.
“I have donated blood sev-
eral times since I turned 17. My
mother has donated blood over
50 times in her life, and I guess
she passed the desire to help
others down to me,” said junior
Matt Beck.
“As a person with a rare blood
type, it is important that I donate.
It is a necessary civic duty to help
others and it’s unfortunate that
more people do not donate,”
he said.
The bottom line is that the
majority of people are scared or
too nervous to donate because
of the needles or stories they’ve
heard.
There’s nothing to be scared of,
as donating blood will prove to
be a rewarding experience and it
can give you the opportunity to
really help someone in need.
For more information on blood
donation or where you can give,
visit www.givelife.org.
April 20, 2005
Students solving energy problems
By Melissa Brandt
Contributing writer
However you spend your sum-
mer, I bet it doesn’t involve
researching the possibility of
utilizing hydrogen as an alterna-
tive energy source.
Unless, that is, you were one
of the three students chosen to
present their innovative ideas at
the American Chemical Society
National Meeting & Exposi-
tion.
The convention was held
March 13-17 in San Diego, Calif.,
and served as a marketplace of
ideas for over 15,000 guests.
Attendees included chemists,
professors, graduate students
and undergraduate students.
“An abstract has to be sent in
to the ACS, and then they choose
who is accepted,” said the trip
advisor Dr. Ron Brown.
Three students, Sara Houston,
Nicole Vaccariello and Jonathan
Vadnal were all rewarded with
the opportunity to present their
work before 900 other under-
graduate students and an array of
other participants and guests.
“It was nerve-racking at first
just because the amount of
members in the American Chem-
ical Society was intimidating,”
said junior Sara Houston.
“We were also nervous about
the questions they might ask us
becuase we actually might not
Eat more than charred hot dogs outdoors
By Jen Helbig
Features editor
I had to borrow some Drain-
o the other day to unclog our
kitchen sink. I had poured the
last of my cabbage soup down
it, and a few chunks of potato
got stuck in the drain. The last
opaque orange-brown liquid
bubbling down the PVC abyss
was my final transition into the
spring.
All winter I have been fol-
lowing my primitive instinct to
hibernate.
Something inside of me tells
me I need heavy soups with
soggy sourdough bread and
large bowls of pasta with thick
tomato sauce to keep that layer
of fatty insulation on my body.
During the snowy months the
diet doesn’t really seem that bad
to me. However, after the snow
from that last storm melted,
Spending an extra year at the ’Hurst
One student shares her fifth year experience as a graduate assistant
By Courtney Nicholas
Contributing writer
Note: This article does not
reflect the views or opinions of
Mercyhurst College.
I cried at graduation as the
speeches were delivered.
It was an amazing feeling; an
unexplainable feeling as I walked
across the stage, shook President
Garvey’s hand and received my
diploma.
As I sat and stared at the
Warner Theatre Stage as the rest
of my classmates received their
diplomas, I started to think of
what my life would be after leav-
ing Mercyhurst College.
I had spent four years inside
the gates and now I had gotten
the ticket out.
It was hard to believe that four
years had passed and that my
time at Mercyhurst was over.
As I sat through the com-
mencement ceremony I thought
of all the people I had met, the
opportunities I had gotten and
the amount of growing that I
had done in such a short amount
of time.
I thought of all the late night
study sessions, all the research
papers written and all the money
spent on books.
I thought of all the smiles that
know the answers, or just sound
silly. I had also lost my voice
the day before so I was worried
about that as well. But as soon as
we started, that all faded away.”
The students exhibited their
research through posters and
presentations.
“We presented our research
with many other undergradu-
ate students from around the
country,” said junior Nicole
Vaccariello.
“People were able to walk
freely from poster to poster,
reading and asking questions
as they pleased. We basically
presented our research to other
undergraduate students, some
graduate students and professors
from different universities.”
Vaccariello, a biochemistry
major and mathematics minor,
explained the premise and stimu-
lus behind the project.
“Hydrogen is being looked at
as an alternative energy source
for the future. The research en-
tailed doing molecular mechanics
calculations on full models of
carbon nanotubes as a function
of tube geometry and hydrogen
coverage.”
“This involved doing energy
minimizations calculations on
the computer using specific sci-
ence software. I looked to see
what percentage as well as what
pattern of hydrogen coverage
was the most stable on the car-
bon nanotubes.”
something inside of me decided
I was ready to come out of my
hole and sniff around the fridge
for some lighter foods.
And what good is eating a
fun new meal if you don’t have
someone to share it with?
I smell a barbeque.
Fortunatly, for those of you
with the same idea, a new pavil-
lion was built last year equipped
with grills, so just bring your
food and tongs, and you’re set.
Not so fast though! Why would
you and your roommates feel like
eating burnt Oscar Mayers when
they could have made them the
same way on the George Fore-
man all winter?
Try a few of these outside din-
ing techniques and that cutie in
the short shorts will be heading
your way when she smells what’s
cooking.
� Always heat up the grill be-
fore you are going to cook. The
last person may have left some
greeted me as I walked to class, all
the notes taken and all the snow
that had fallen.
All of the memories of Mer-
cyhurst College were welling up
inside of me and I was ready to
burst with love and admiration
“
It was beyond my control.
Obviously the man upstairs played
a big part in this past year and I
wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Courtney Nicholas
for the college on the hill.
I guess I was lucky; I got to
come back for another year.
I decided to pursue my second-
ary English education-teaching
certificate.
I interviewed and received a
graduate assistant position with
the residence life and student
conduct office and was ready to
report for duty the end of July.
The year was tough at first. I
walked around on campus, got
food from the Laker Inn and sat
in classes and really did not know
anyone. The people I had been
close to were far away working in
Jonathan Vadnal, Sara Houston and Nicole Vaccariello took their research to California had great meals with Dr. Brown.
last month to present it to fellow scientists.
“One day [this research] might
help with creating fuel cells that a lab, we
contain carbon nanotubes,” said
Houston.
Obviously, this level of experi- for the undergraduate
mentation requires quite some
time for theorizing and gathering
of data.
Both Vaccariello and Hous-
ton have been working on this
project for about a year. Now a
senior, Jonathan Vadnal started
work on his topic junior year.
“All three of us worked on
computational chemistry. We
food on it, and heating it up will
burn off much of the food. Use
a grill brush to clean before put-
ting down your steaks.
� Measure your burgers at
about 4 oz., or about the size of
your palm. Cook until the inside
is not red anymore. Raw ground
beef can carry bacteria from
production, and the last thing
you want is to give all of your
friends food poisoning.
� If you want to be health
conscious, make a huge salad be-
forehand, and leave the toppings
on the side in separate bowls. Try
having chopped carrots, celery,
olives, tomato, mushrooms and
peppers, sunflower seeds, raisins,
grapes, chopped strawberries,
and croutons. Italian dressing is a
healthier choice than Ranch.
� Grill chicken breasts with
whatever spices you have in your
cupboard. Make sure the juice
runs clear before you eat it. Split
the breasts in half for a serving,
offices, in schools, in other places
around the world.
And it hit me that I was lone-
ly.
A few of my friends had stayed
at Mercyhurst for their graduate
degree, but they were working
”
during the day and had class
at night, so it was difficult to
see them and spend time with
them.
So I decided to branch out, and
I met some really great people
in class.
The adult students that I at-
tended class with were great fun
and we became very close.
I was navigating through the
year, enjoying being back at Mer-
cyhurst and learning a lot about
education and myself.
My job responsibilities kept
me busy, and looking back on
the past year I can definitely say
THE MERCIAD
To contact: featuremerciad@mercyhurst.edu
didn’t do actual experiments in public speaking
did calculations on
computer,” said Houston.
While no prizes are received
portion of sentations.
the convention, the experience
was not without rewards.
“The experience at San Diego urday, April 16, Houston and
was amazing! I had never been to Vaccariello
a big convention before, so it was awards for the chemistry
exciting to see how they are run The prize included
and meet all the different people
who are as excited about their we want to continue to work
research just as I am about mine.
It was also a good experience in the chemistry
and put them on a large bed of
lettuce with the vegetables.
� If you don’t want to spend
the money on ground beef, buy
a package of hot dogs. This is
less tasty and healthy, but it can
feed many more people. Buy
veggie dogs if you are not a fan
of hot dogs - you won’t taste the
difference. Put out condiments
like chopped onions, mustard,
ketcup, pickles, chili beans and
shredded cheese.
� For vegetarians, or those
who don’t want to spend so
much time cooking beef, I rec-
ommend Morningstar Farms
Grillers. You will only need to
grill them for about five minutes
from the freezer on a hot grill.
� Instead of potato chips, try
cutting a potato lengthwise into
strips. Toss the strips in olive oil,
garlic and some cajun seasoning.
Place them on tin foil and fold
the foil in from the edges and
crimp in the middle. Grill for
that I have grown as a student,
a woman and an independent
thinker.
I have opinions and facts to
back them up, and I feel more
confident and ready to approach
the real world.
So I guess you could say that
four years at Mercyhurst wasn’t
enough for me. I had not achieved
all the glory that I wanted so that
is the reason that I came back.
It was beyond my control. Ob-
viously the man upstairs played
a big part in this past year and I
wouldn’t have it any other way.
My last year at Mercyhurst has
been a growing experience and
there are so many people that
have played an important role
in my life, and they know who
they are and I have to take this
opportunity to thank them.
As I prepare to take finals
and pack up all my Mercyhurst
memories, I look back on the
past five years and smile. I have
learned much more from the
surroundings and people than I
could have ever learned from any
class textbook.
The college on the hill will
always be a part of my life and
I plan to return and pay homage
as often as I can.
Mercyhurst isn’t just a college,
it’s a world set apart from the
ordinary and I am glad that I
PAGE 5
FEATURES
give them experiences outside
of the classroom that promote
growth,” said Dr. Brown.
“The biggest reward I got was
to see the students and the cul-
mination of all their work at the
ACS conference.”
The trip also allowed for some
well deserved relaxation and
fun.
“Sara and I made sure to go
sightseeing around San Diego
while we were there. I had never
been to the West Coast so it was
all very exciting for me,” says
Vaccariello.
“While we did end up get-
ting lost most of the time, Sara
and I did get to go to one of
the beaches one day where we
watched a surfing contest.”
“There was lots of shopping
Katie McAdams/ Photo editor in unique little stores, and we all
Our hotel was down the street
from little Italy, so we got some
and presenting great Italian food there,” said
a research,” said Vaccariello. Houston.
The experience helped polish “There was a lot of walk-
the participants for future pre- ing around the city and parks
and just taking in the sunshine
At the Penn State Behrend while thinking of all the snow
Sigma Xi Conference on Sat- in Erie!”
Interested in learning more?
both won runner-up The student’s research topics will
section. be presented again at the Mer-
$50 each. cyhurst Research Symposium
“This is the type of thing on May 1.
Keep your eyes open for flyers
with and involve students in around campus of more specific
department to times.
about 45 minutes to an hour. Using a blender or a smoothie
� If you love onions, take a machine, combine about a cup of
whole sweet onion (the smaller, ice to a half cup of yogurt/soy
yellowish ones) and cut the end milk and one medium sized piece
off that doesn’t have the stem. of fruit. Blend until smooth.
Put it on tin foil (stem side down) � Some of my favorite com-
and fold the foil up around it. binations are banana with two
Pour about a third of a cup of tablespoons of peanut butter,
red wine vinegar, a tablespoon or (add whole peanuts for an extra
two of brown sugar and a little kick), strawberries with a table-
bit of garlic salt on top. Close the spoon of nutella (or you can use
foil over it and grill it for about two tablespoons of sweetened
an hour. When you unwrap it, it powder chocolate), key lime
will be soft and ready to eat. yogurt with a lime and crumbled
� If you want dessert, but pie crust from a ready-made pie
want something light and ener- crust, or a cup of blueberries
gizing before a game of volley- with two Oreos in vanilla yogurt.
ball, I would recommend making Smoothies can be made back at
smoothies. your apartment and frozen until
� Have everyone bring a ready to be consumed.
piece of fruit with them. Buy Hopefully, this primer has
some yogurt or soy milk. Make made any grill novice feel secure
sure they’re vanilla and not enough to light up the coals.
plain. If you are making every Your friends are sure to be
smoothie separate, use 6 oz. impressed when you reveal tasty
yogurt cups of a complementary vegetables and fruits instead of
flavor to your fruit. cole slaw and charred hot dogs.
Cafe Diem
April Special
Tall Storm Italian Soda $1.50
M & M $.65
fACULTY sPECIAL:
1/2 OFF SPECIALTY DRINKS
HOURS LOCATION
Sun.-Thurs. Evenings: Main Floor
6:00 - 12:00 a.m.
Hammermill Library
Mon.-Fri. Mornings:
8:00 - 12:00 p.m.
PAGE 6
OPINION To contact: opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
The new Green Apartments offer willing students an environmentally friendly way of
living.
The environmental
mentality of Mercyhurst
By JoEllen Taylor
Contributing writer
The environmental awareness of the Mercyhurst
College Community has grown substantially over
the past three years. The networking between the
many faculty, administrators and students that are
involved in the team and those of other depart-
ments has led to the planning of many great events
this year for Earth Week.
Our goal this year is to show how environmental
issues affect every academic discipline. For this
reason, there are events planned that offer a variety
of perspectives of the environment.
Such events include the environmental politics
roundtable, the poster display by students of dif-
ferent disciplines, the economics of sustainability
presentation and the panel discussion with Bill
McKibben.
The students, faculty and administrators involved
have worked very hard in putting this Earth Week
together. I, on behalf of the Mercyhurst Green
Team, would like to extend our greatest thoughts
of gratitude and appreciation on a job well done.
We are all looking forward to this week and encour-
age students to attend any event possible for the
duration of the week.
The project for next year that the Green Team is
excited to observe is the Green Apartments. This
project is the result of the collaboration between
the Green Team and Residence Life. This is just
one example of a successful partnership the Green
Team has formed over the years.
The idea derived from The University of South
Carolina, which officially opened their first “green”
dorm, called West Quad. It is a 72,000-square-foot
complex that includes three four-story buildings
that houses 500 undergraduates. The complex uses
45 percent less energy and 20 percent less water
than traditional facilities of the same kind.
Our Green Apartment project is a way for the
Green Team to install the initiative in students to try
to be more environmentally conscious and to offer
those students who want to live environmentally
sound an opportunity to do so.
Just passing and implementing laws cannot
secure the future condition of the environment.
The mindset of the American society and culture
need to change.
We were given this beautiful and bountiful earth
to enjoy, and it is our responsibility to nurture and
Silencing the rumors:
The truth about the Green Apartments
Limited showers?! Limited appliances?! No
computer or television?! This is the buzz around
campus regarding the “Green Living” apartments
available at Mercyhurst next year. Well, according
to the Green Team, these are all rumors, so let me
set the record straight.
The “Green Living” apartments are a wonderful
and unique opportunity for students to practice
more environmentally conscious living.
T he apar t-
ments come
with some en-
vironmentally
healthy perks Allison
Moore
as well. Stu-
dents will be
provided with
a Whole Foods
Co-op mem-
bership, recycled paper and other green products.
Also, there is an environmentally designed lounge
in the basement for all residents to share.
Living in these apartments will also provide
students with unique opportunities unavailable
to others.
For example, transportation will be provided
to and from the Co-op, as well as environmental
events and outings around Erie. Trips include the
Allegheny National Forest, Presque Isle and Lake
Erie Bluffs State Park.
Residents will also take place in programming
with a focus on environmental issues on and off
campus.
So just how will students practice green living?
THE MERCIAD
Katie McAdams/photo editor
preserve the land, water and air for future genera-
tions.
The Green Dorm is an attempt to change the
perspective that students at Mercyhurst have about
the environment. Oil is not the only environmental
concern. While driving more fuel-efficient cars,
carpooling and using other means of transportation
can save the Earth from further ruin; simple acts
of conserving energy, by limiting the use of elec-
tricity and water to short run uses and not having
multiple energy sources being used simultaneously
and recycling can produce long run benefits.
We have all heard facts and statistics about en-
vironmental issues, but they seem to be going in
one ear and out the other. While people complain
about the air pollution, the condition of Lake
Erie, and the high gas prices, they do not seem to
be vocalizing their opinions to their government
officials or actually doing things themselves to ease
the effects of the problems.
The lack of awareness or activity to live environ-
mentally safe cannot be placed only on the students,
but the college is presenting many opportunities to
be more educated.
Earth Week is offering great events to learn more
about the environment from many perspectives.
The Millcreek Cleanup is a great opportunity to
physically clean up the Earth, and the Green Apart-
ments is a great way to start to live environmentally
friendly.
While Mercyhurst College has evolved into an
environmentally conscious college, it is the role of
the students to help evolve the college further by
practicing good environmentally safe habits.
Just as most of us take at least 30 minutes a day
to take care of our bodies by exercising, it is just
as important and easy to take care of the Earth in
that amount of time.
This can be accomplished through turning off
the lights in your rooms when you leave, not hav-
ing the television and radio going when nobody is
watching or listening and not running the water
when you brush your teeth or do dishes.
Like the University of South Carolina, Mercy-
hurst can also be a role model for other colleges
across the nation, but that will take help and co-
operation from the students.
For the sake of each others’ health and the fu-
ture life style of our nation and others around the
world, the Green Team urges all of the students
at Mercyhurst to start being more environmentally
aware, even if it is through small steps. Every little
bit helps!
Residents of the green apartments will focus
mostly on the conservation of energy and water,
recycling and composting. Recycling receptacles
will be provided for you, and your gas and electric
consumption will be monitored.
Another idea being tossed around is creating
a garden where vegetables can be grown. This
would save a pretty penny at the grocery store, as
vegetables are rather expensive.
Despite what some are saying, computers,
televisions and other appliances are allowing in
the complex. Their use is just to be limited, not
eliminated.
You will be allowed to shower, but will be asked
to be quick and efficient. No more standing there
with the water running over you for 10 minutes for
no apparent reason.
As for the television, try just to watch your fa-
vorite shows and make sure it is turned off when
you are not in the room.
The same goes for your computer, don’t leave it
on all night while you sleep. Also, when you are not
using a room, make sure the lights are turned off.
All of these adjustments to your way of life are
minor. You aren’t being asked to become Amish
here! Just be aware of your surroundings and ac-
tions. Living an environmentally friendly lifestyle
will require some changes. But the benefits to
the environment and the chance to set a superior
example for others to follow outweigh the nega-
tives.
So, if you care about the environment and want
to start practicing what you preach, sign up and give
the “Green Living” apartments a chance.
Campus Question
Do you make full use of the
recycling bins on campus?
‘ Yes, I am on the recycling team and the
Mercyhurst green team.
Eric Blum, sophomore, Business
‘ Yes, we need to conserve and
cut down on pollution and be
more environmentally friendly.
Kathy Chiudzin, Mercyhurst employee
‘
Alecia Guerra, junior, Business
‘
Yes, because they are located
across campus and we are
encouraged to do so.
Becky Bliss, sophomore, Elementary/Special-ed
‘
Chris Manchester, junior, Public Relations
‘
No, I just don’t think about it.
Nicole Rondini, freshman, International Business
Oil and the Arctic: Is it all worth it?
By Dina Bastianini
Contributing writer
The United States was once home to vast tracts
of wilderness. Today, the National Park System is
necessary to protect the last areas of our country
that have not been exploited by business or popu-
lation growth.
In Alaska, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
protects beautiful scenery and a diverse range of
plant and animal life. This same area has been
looked at by oil companies wishing to destroy the
ecological balance by drilling. The damage which
would be done by the massive machinery needed
to extract oil, as well as the injury caused solely by
the influx of the people required to drill, would
be grave.
Animal species could be severely endangered, or
even wiped out. In addition, the country stands
to lose its last great, untouched wilderness. Our
children and all future generations could gain im-
mensely from this refuge as a travel destination or
simply as an educational tool.
The Refuge is home to countless species of birds,
fish, marine animals and mammals. This may be
the most diverse location, not only in the United
States, but in the world. This makes our responsi-
bility to protect the Refuge all the more important.
It is an absolute fact that drilling will result in
damage to these animal species. The ecosystem is
extremely fragile, and the destruction caused by oil
companies is likely to be great. The unavoidable
web of roads which will criss-cross the Refuge
will prove to be extremely problematic, as this will
disrupt many animals’ migratory patterns.
The other danger of allowing drilling is the risk
of an oil spill. The effects of the Exxon Valdez
disaster are still being felt 16 years later. There is
April 20, 2005
‘
‘
No, but I recycle in my
apartment. ‘
‘
No, because I don’t pay
‘
attention to them.
‘
no telling how many animals would be killed if a
large scale spill took place. This is a constant con-
cern as there is no way of safeguarding completely
against this.
Another consideration is that this area is inhab-
ited. A tribal people, the Gwich’in Nation, have
lived here for generations. This is their traditional
home, and their way of life will be forever altered
with the introduction of oil drills. The reasons,
then, for keeping the Arctic Refuge pure are not
only animal rights but native rights as well.
Thanks to an anti-environment attitude from the
Bush administration and Congress, this Refuge is
likely to soon be opened up for exploitation and
destruction. The argument for allowing the drilling
is that this country desperately needs to reduce its
dependence on foreign oil. While that is obviously
true, this is not the way to accomplish that goal.
There are many other ways to combat the energy
problem. One is to explore other alternatives for
producing energy, such as wind or solar power.
These methods would undoubtedly save money,
reduce our dependence on hostile nations in the
Middle East and are renewable. Other options
include producing more fuel efficient cars.
However, these options continue to be ignored.
Advocates of drilling act as if the Alaskan Refuge
holds the answer to the problem. In reality, it
does not even come close to doing so. By most
estimates, the oil extracted from this area will not
be usable for 10 years, will not reduce the price
we pay at the pump and will not end foreign de-
pendence.
This leaves the question, why destroy such a
great wildlife preserve for results that are distant
and marginal?
April 20, 2005 THE MERCIAD PAGE 7

To contact: opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu OPINION

Religion can be linked to environmental policy
I’m sure we have all seen a movie or television
program in the past that had a crazy character or
two that many of us disregarded as an unimport-
ant, somewhat pitiful attribute to the atmosphere
of the film.
Frequently in a film that takes place in a large met-
ropolitan city such as New York, we may see these
characters as enthusiastic religious zealots toting
around signs
that read, “The
End is Near,”
o r “ Re p e n t : Corrie
Doomsday is Thearle
Approaching”
or some other
message fore-
casting the end
of the earth.
Usually when I see these characters, I simply
shrug and realize that they have the right to espouse
their own religious beliefs, but that my opinions
may differ and I don’t have to agree with these
biblical revelations.
However, it is frightening to realize that these
apocalyptic world views are not limited to fictional-
ized street harbingers, but that they are espoused
by many political leaders throughout the United
States.
These congressmen and other political officials
are people who are entrusted with the job of
writing and implementing political policy. Now it
seems that these political actions may be directly
influenced and shaped by their religious beliefs.
It would be extremely naïve of me to believe that
religious affiliation does not impact a legislator’s
political agenda, as we have seen recently the
political battles over same-sex marriage, stem cell
research, abortion and euthanasia. Conversely, it
is extremely alarming that certain fundamentalist
groups that believe in biblical doctrine, such as the
End Time and Jesus’ Second Coming, have many
members residing in the Capitol. Not only are the
issues I mentioned above infused and infected with
religious ideology, but now it seems that one of the
most crucial aspects of society has been hard hit
by religious evangelists: the environment.
Christian evangelists are an extremely diverse
group. Not every church believes in the Second
Coming, and not all members are right-wing anti-
environmentalists. There are also many divergent
End of Time theologies and sects as well.
The two most politically influential are the dis-
pensationalists and the reconstructionists.
Dispensationalists espouse a “literal” interpreta-
tion of the Bible that offers a detailed chronology
of the impending end of the world. The social
and environmental crises of our times are consid-
ered portents of the “Rapture,” when born-again
Christians, living and dead, will be taken up into
heaven. Events such as the 9/11 attacks, legalizing
same-sex marriages and the tsunami devastation
this year are all considered examples of the im-
pending Rapture.
A slightly altered and even more dangerous End
of Time doctrine is held by the reconstructionists.
They believe that Christ will only make his Second
Coming when the world has prepared a place for
Him, and that the first step in readying His arrival
is to Christianize America. It seems lately that our
secular democracy is slowly transforming itself into
a theocracy where each political issue has been left
open for religious consideration and intervention.
Unfortunately, this is something that resembles the
Christianized America in which many of our lead-
ers are members of End of Time religious sects.
Now you may be wondering how these religious
views play a part in influencing environmental
decision making.
Well, considering that the end is drawing near,
why should we try and preserve the earth or our
ecological system? Why should we worry about
enacting pesky, bothersome environmental regula-
tions when those who believe in the Rapture will
be saved and taken up into heaven?
Many End-Timers believe that until the Second
Coming, the Lord will provide. Does this mean
the Lord will provide an unlimited amount of oil
or other natural resources? Well then, if that’s the
case, I’m all for the environmental deconstruction
that has occurred under the Bush administration
and the Republican-controlled Congress.
Thank God we have people such as Senate Envi-
ronment and Public Works Committee Chair James
Inhofe (R-Okla.) who stated that global warming
was “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the
American people” in a comment made in a July
2003 Senate floor speech. I’m reassured that mak-
ing the small attempt at recycling my pop bottle is
a waste of time, since the end of the world is near
and until that time the Lord will magically convert
all our landfills into plentiful natural resources.
Along with Inhofe, many numerous other Con-
gressional leaders are self-declared members of
many End Time factions, most notably our House
Majority Leader and ethical friend, Tom Delay, a
member of the Christian Zionists (a faction will-
ing to force the Apocalypse upon the rest of the
world).
The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters
(LCV) has published a National Environmental
Scorecard every Congress since 1970, the year
it was founded by leaders of the environmental
movement following the first Earth Day. The LCV
represents the political voice for over nine million
members of environmental and conservation
organizations. The Scorecard provides objective,
factual information about the environmental voting
records of all members of the final 108th Congress
and scores votes on the most important issues of
the year, including environmental health and safety
protections, resource conservation and spending
for environmental programs.
It is interesting to note that both James Inhofe
and Tom Delay have an amazing score of zero
percent! Amazing! On the other hand, it should
be mentioned that these two influential congress-
men scored high on other voting records. Inhofe
scored 100 percent and Delay 92 percent on the
Christian Coalition 2004 Scorecard, which records
the voting records of members of Congress who
supported the Christian Coalition’s position on
important issues of the year.
The Christian Coalition is a grassroots organiza-
tion that considers members such as Delay and
Inhofe as political shining stars. Wait a second….
while looking at both the CC’s and the LCV’s
scorecards, I seem to notice a pattern. Most mem-
bers who scored extremely low on the LCV chart,
scored extremely high on the CC card, and vice
versa. It appears that many members, who support
right-wing religious policies, do not support crucial
environmental legislation.
I never thought the day would come in which
leading Congressmen could double as the fiction-
alized Doomsday characters that we have seen in
film and television.
Is it not startling to realize that religious ideol-
ogy has continued to affect the political system?
Should religious doctrine be allowed to influence
environmental policy? Does this notion not sound
preposterous and frightening? If we continue to
ignore this pressing problem, then a Doomsday, in
which the separation of Church and State has been
completely eradicated, is in fact upon us.

So what’s the deal with Do your part

global warming anyway? and recycle
By Natalie Waddell-Rutter
Instructor, Environmental
Problem Solving
Global warming – it’s one of
those environmental issues that
everyone’s heard something
about, but no one really knows
any details. “Doesn’t it involve
warmer temperatures?” you may
think to yourself, “then what
gives with the snow in April?”
The dire warnings of environ-
mentalists about “the evil of fos-
sil fuels” and “the perils of global
warming” just make you think
of Chicken Little. So you may
be wondering if global warming
is a real problem, or just an idea
the environmentalists made up to
have something to discuss over
organic green tea and fair trade
chocolate.
While it’s probably not neces-
sary that we give up most of our
worldly possessions and live in
a communal yurt, global warm-
ing is a serious problem that
we should be doing something
about.
So, what is it anyway? Well,
global warming is one element
of global climate change that is
tied to greenhouse gas levels in
our atmosphere. Greenhouse
gases help keep our atmosphere
warm even when the sun isn’t
These glaciers show the effects global warming can have
on the melting of ice, resulting in higher water levels.
more lake effect snow. Warmer
temperatures will also melt ice
and snow worldwide, and lead to
an increase in ocean levels.
Again, this is something that
has already been observed.
Rising ocean levels probably
KRT
of rising greenhouse gas levels
on our global economy” (chan-
neling the nearest oil company
president). Or get our butts in
gear and address the problem
before it gets bigger and even
harder to deal with.
By Ellen Koenig
Contributing writer
The disposal of garbage is much like politics
in that it’s a dirty business. I wish the amount of
media attention that has been focused on Tom
DeLay the past couple of weeks about campaign
funding would be focused on the more detrimental
issue. That is the current status of recycling in
the United States.
In fact, did you know that Americans consume
30 percent of the world’s resources, yet we com-
prise only 5 percent of the world’s population?
While I do love my country, awareness needs to
be brought to the public’s attention concerning
the amount of waste that Americans produce.
Instead of recycling garbage and composting
biodegradable products, the majority of American
consumers simply throw goods in the garbage,
thus overfilling this country’s garbage dumps and
waste facilities. Garbage dumps have notoriously
had toxic runoff into local streams and water ways
that eventually contaminates the water.
A report by the BBC stated that women who
live within three kilometers of a waste site are
more likely to deliver children with chromosomal
birth defects such as Downs Syndrome. I find
this somewhat ironic, seeing as how these are the
kinds of diseases that researchers are discovering
ways to prevent.
The damage to the environment far outweighs
the effects that defective landfills have on hu-
mans.
When moisture from the garbage gathers, it
creates two deadly toxins, which are greenhouse
gases, thus furthering the problem of the green-
house effect.
KRT
Recycling is an easy way to help the
environment.
It is true that the cost of recycling is higher than
it is to produce a new product. However, when
you factor in the cost of disposing wasted materi-
als, as well as the long-term effects that garbage
dumps have on the environment and humans, the
monetary costs are balanced.
Each individual must take it upon themselves to
do several things. One, recycle the typical items
of paper, aluminum, glass etc. At Mercyhurst,
bins are provided all over campus where you can
deposit such items.
Second, city councils and local governments
have a tendency to cut the funding for recycling
programs claiming that it consumes too much
of their local budget. When you go home for
the summer, or even now, be aware of what is
happening to your local recycling/garbage pick
up and disposal.
Third suggestion, if you remember the phrase
“reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.” Taking steps
to actually follow this mantra will make you less
likely to produce as much garbage. And lastly,
when shopping, try and buy products that have
less packaging, as this contributes significantly to
the amount of trash that goes into the dumps.
The truth of the matter is that recycling reduces
pollution, saves money, creates jobs and, most
importantly, keeps garbage out of someone else’s
backyard. In return, it preserves the environment
and saves us all a little extra room.

shining. Too little, and you get
a frozen wasteland, like Mars.
Too much, and the atmosphere
holds too much heat, like Venus
where there’s liquid metal on the
surface. Just right, and you get
Earth with conditions perfect
for life.
The problem is, greenhouse
gas levels are rising in our atmo-
sphere. No one disputes this
fact anymore. What causes the
arguments are decisions about
what these rising greenhouse gas
levels are going to do and what
we should do about it.
As greenhouse gases increase,
they absorb more heat, raising
our global temperatures. This
has already begun to occur.
That’s not such a bad thing, right?
This means less bone-chilling
days in winter, less snow, more
warm summer days. Or does it?
Weather and our global climate
aren’t that simple.
Among other things, warmer
temperatures make it less likely
Lake Erie will freeze over in the
winter, and that could lead to
won’t affect us here in Erie, Pa.
(although I would advise anyone
thinking of buying ocean front
property to hold off for a while,
or buy a little farther inland – it’ll
be ocean front soon enough!)
However, whole nations could
end up underwater in the Pacific
Ocean. Heck, most of Florida
below Miami is likely to end up
underwater, and then where will
people go to retire?
Global climate change is also
likely to include changes in storm
frequency and intensity, some
areas are more likely to flood
while others are more likely to
experience drought and we’ll
see changes in where plants and
animals can live. It’s more than
just warmer summers, and it’s
happening and likely to get worse
as greenhouse gas levels continue
to rise.
So what can we do about it? Sit
around and wail “We’re doomed!”
(bringing back Chicken Little for
a moment). Talk about “the need
for further scientific research to
confirm the detrimental impacts
The
MERCIAD
Personally, I vote for option
three, but I need a little help to
get the ball rolling.
The biggest thing we can all
do is decrease our production
of greenhouse gases, which we
Kelly Rose Duttine Editor-in-Chief editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu
mainly produce from fossil fuel
Jonelle Davis News Editor newsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
consumption.
Jen Helbig Features Editor featuremerciad@mercyhurst.edu
Decrease your energy con-
Allison Moore Opinion Editor opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
sumption in your house (which
Ryan Palm Sports Editor sportsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
will save you money anyway),
Meghan Sullivan A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
choose energy efficient vehicles
Katie McAdams Photo Editor photomerciad@mercyhurst.edu
(shall we talk about those evil
Melissa Jack Production Editor prodmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
SUVs?), and encourage poli-
Kristen Piquette Advertising Manager admerciad@mercyhurst.edu
ticians and policy makers to
Sarah Dowden Copy Editor copymerciad@mercyhurst.edu
address the causes of global
Emily Crofoot Graduate Assistant ecrofo81@mercyhurst.edu
warming.
While your personal choices
are important, it’s even more The Merciad is the student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. It is
important to make changes at published throughout the school year, with the exception of midterms week
the highest level of our govern- and finals week. Our office is in the Hirt Center, room L114. Our telephone
ment. These changes won’t oc-
cur unless the public pressures
number is 824-2376.
the politicians to make global
warming a priority.
The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and
So, what are you all waiting names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters
for? Let’s get out there and make for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due the
some changes. Thursday before publication and may not be longer than 300 words. Submit
letters to box PH 485.
PAGE 8
ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
tHe
BuZz
APRIL 20. Wynton Mar-
salis. Allen Theatre, Cleve-
land.
APRIL 21. Alison Krauss
and Union Station featur-
ing Jerry Douglas. Palace
Theatre, Cleveland.
APRIL 22, 23. Magic. Da-
vid Coppefield. State The-
atre, Cleveland.
APRIL 22. Sting, Phantom
Planet. CSU Convocation
Center, Cleveland.
APRIL 22. Roger Mc-
Guinn. Rockwell Hall,
Buffalo State University,
Buffalo. On sale at (716)
878-3005.
APRIL 22. Comedy. Bill
Engvall. Warner Theatre,
Erie. $29.75. On sale at
Tullio Arena box office,
Ticketmaster outlets, by
phone at 452-4857 or 456-
7070, online at www.ticket-
master.com.
APRIL 23. Tequila Sun-
rise: Tribute to the Eagles.
House of Blues, Cleve-
land.
APRIL 23. Eddie from
Ohio. Beachland Ballroom,
Cleveland.
APRIL 24. Less Than Jake,
Allister, Hidden in Plain
View. House of Blues,
Cleveland.
APRIL 24. Audioslave,
Johnny Polonsky. Agora
Ballroom, Cleveland.
APRIL 25. Undertones.
B e a ch l a n d B a l l r o o m ,
Cleveland.
APRIL 26. Lenny Kravitz.
Music Hall, Cleveland. On
sale date TBA.
APRIL 27. Natalie Mac-
Master. Center for the Arts,
University of Buffalo, Buf-
falo.
APRIL 27. Tiger Army,
Unseen. Agora Ballroom,
Cleveland.
APRIL 28. Rasputina.
B e a ch l a n d B a l l r o o m ,
Cleveland.
APRIL 29. A Night with
the Stars of Rock and
Roll: Lou Christie, Charlie
Thomas’ Drifters, Jay Siegel
and the Tokens, Shirley Al-
son Reeves, Emil Stucchio
and the Classics. Warner
Theater, Erie. $35, $30. On
sale at Tullio Arena box of-
fice, Ticketmaster outlets,
by phone at 452-4857 or
456-7070, online at www.
ticketmaster.com.
APRIL 29. Chris Botti.
Rockwell Hall, Buffalo
State University, Buffalo.
On sale at (716) 878-3005.
APRIL 29. Edwin McCain.
House of Blues, Cleve-
land.
APRIL 30. Badfish, Even-
flow. House of Blues,
Cleveland.
APRIL 30. Dark Star Or-
chestra. Odeon, Cleve-
land.
MAY 1. Musical. “Mamma
Mia.” E.J. Thomas Hall,
Akron, Ohio.
MAY 6. Green Day, My
Chemical Romance. CSU
Convocation Center, Cleve-
land.
Information provided by Go-
Gerie.com
‘Moolaade’ plays at PAC today
By Christina Ferranti
Contributing writer
Moolaade, an unusual name for
a film, can be formally translated
as protection.
The film takes place in a Mus-
lim-dominated culture in Senegal
where traditions and customs are
lived by stringently, where young
girls are forced to undergo a “pu-
rification” process where they are
circumcised.
No man will marry an unpuri-
fied woman so both the elderly
men and women enforce this
upon their village. If a girl does
not undergo the surgery, which
normally ends in disease or even
death, they are shunned by the
rest of their tribe.
This film focuses on how six
young girls attempt to escape the
wretched, degrading process.
They seek refuge with Colle,
a woman who detests the pro-
cess and is outspoken when it
concerns modernization, in the
village that refuses to allow her
daughter to suffer the horrible
procedure since she has already
lost two daughters from incidents
involving the cutting.
Colle declares a moolaade
over the girls, which invokes a
spirit of sanctuary and provides
a safe zone for the girls. Anyone
Another terrorizing Amityville adventure
Remake of ‘The Amityville Horror’ continues to thrill audiences
By Michelle Ellia
Contributing writer
Its box office debut suggests
that audiences will never have
enough of the famous tale of
a demonically possessed house.
It is true.
The remake of the classic hor-
ror flick “The Amityville Hor-
ror” continues to terrorize movie
goers. The movie raked in about
$23 million in three days across
North America.
The classic film, first released
in 1979 was partly inspired by
a book by Jay Anson, which
claimed to tell the true story of
the Lutz family.
The story goes that on Nov. 14,
Will Spears keep her pop-princess title?
Tabloid favorite officially announces her pregnancy
By Michelle Ellia
Contributing writer
Stop the press, it is official. Brit-
ney Spears, 23, is pregnant. The
pop star officially announced on
her Website last Tuesday that she
and dancer-hubby, Kevin Feder-
line, 27, are expecting their first
child together.
The posted message reads,
“The time has finally come to
share our wonderful news that
we are expecting our first child
together.”
The news came after rumors
and paparazzi photos began to
surface on her possible preg-
nancy.
The signs of weight gain and
disappearance of her smok-
ing and drinking habits first
tipped off the media that
the pop star was expecting.
Spears mentioned numerous
times her wishes on becoming a
young mom.
Luckily, she’s already had some
practice. Federline has two chil-
dren from his previous relation-
ship with actress Shar Jackson. His
daughter Kori is two years old and
son Kaleb is eight months old.
Britney Spears first got her start
with the famed Mickey Mouse
Club, similar to many of her
pop contemporaries, although
it was the rocket success of her
debut album “…Baby One More
Time” that launched her to pop-
icon status.
Since the debut of her first
THE MERCIAD
To contact: entertainmentmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
“Moolaade” plays today at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
who attempts to break it, will be
cursed.
Colle, along with a group of
women from her village, stand
out and speak for moderniza-
tion and a break from tradition.
These women are influenced by
their only outside connection,
the radio.
Collectively, they use what is
heard over the radio to protest
and provide legitimate reasons
for wanting to abandon such
1974, police received a frenzied
phone call that led them to the
house and its previous owners,
the DeFeos.
When police arrived on scene
they had made a grisly discovery.
Police had found six bodies.
The bodies turned out to be
the corpses of the entire DeFeo
family.
As the story goes on, it be-
comes apparent that the family
had all been murdered with a .35
caliber as they lay, sleeping calmly
in their beds.
Ronald DeFeo confessed to
the methodic murdering his
parents and four siblings. DeFeo
then told police that it was the
“voices” that told him to do it.
One year after the murders, on
Britany Spears pregnant at age 23.
album, Spears has shocked au-
diences around the world by
morphing from her bubble gum,
teen-dream image, to a sexy
and sometimes controversial
superstar.
Spears continues to drop the
jaws of audiences and has since
released five CDs that include
hits such as “Oops I Did It
Again,” “I’m Not A Girl, Not
Yet A Woman,” and “Me Against
The Music.”
abominable actions.
It gets to a point where the
authority figures claim that the
radios are disturbing and causing
insurrection in their once peace-
ful environment.
In order to restore harmony
once again, the authority figures
take away all connections to
outside opinions, including the
radios that have become a must-
have in each household for the
women.
Dec. 18, 1975, George and Kathy
Lutz, had found the house of
their dreams.
Thinking it was going to be
their dream home, the Lutzes
packed up and moved into the
house with their three children.
Not knowing to the history of
the house, the Lutz family had
thought their find was too good
to be true, unaware that it was.
It was then only 28 days before
the Lutz family was driven away
from their home. Terrorized by
demonic forces, ghastly ghosts
and things that go bump in the
night, the Lutz family packed up
and fled.
T heir lives were forever
changed and would never be
the same.
Knight Ridder Newpaper
Spears also made her mov-
ie debut in “Crossroads,”
which was released in 2002.
After coming off of her high
profile relationship with former
mouseketeer, Justine Timberlake,
Spears had been seen in the com-
pany of Hollywood bad-boys
Fred Durst and Colin Farrell.
However, true love blossomed
when Spears and Federline met
last year when he was a backup
dancer on her tour. Spears wed
Photo courtesy of the Performing Arts Center
This just further enrages the
women and leads to a bloody
showdown between moderniza-
tion and tradition.
Colle, for her actions against
the mutilation, endures a harsh
penalty from her husband, who
did not support either side since
it was so personal.
A subplot of this film is the
arranged marriage that is sup-
posed to take place between
Colle’s daughter and the future
To this day, “The Amityville
Horror” remains one of the
most horrifying haunted house
stories ever told, basically be-
cause it actually happened.
The remake of this horror
film classic has been brought
to us from the producers of
another recently remade hor-
ror film, “The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre.”
The film stars Ryan Reynolds as
George Lutz. Reynolds, 28, has
appeared on the big screen nu-
merous times and has appeared
in the cult-classic “Van Wilder,”
as well as in films such as “Blade:
Trinity” and “Harold & Kumar
Go to White Castle.’
Reynolds also gained his star-
dom by appearing in the hit TV
Federline just eight months
after ending a 55-hour Las
Vegas marriage to her child-
hood friend, Jason Alexander.
Her marriage to Federline has
since provided endless fodder
for tabloids
As for her music career, Spears
much-delayed fifth album was
planned for a summer release
in the U.S. There’s no word on
whether her pregnancy will delay
its release even further.
It has also been announced
that Spears and Federline will
also take their stab at the reality
TV craze.
The pair announced they
would document their courtship
on an upcoming reality show
for UPN that will premiere on
May 17.
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ruler of their tribe who will be
returning from Paris soon. But,
this man, though intelligent and
a rich businessman, refuses to
marry a woman who is impure
and demands that she go through
with the process.
Another character who is piv-
otal to the women and informs
them of the outside world is
Mercenaire. He is ultimately on
the side of the women and is a
true womanizer. He attempts
to make the rest of the village
understand that what is going on
is wrong and is not in accordance
with the outside world.
This film does not solely focus
on the mutilation and degrada-
tion of females; it provides an
insight to African cultures and
traditions.
The director, 81-year-old, Ous-
mane Sembene, is known as the
“father of African cinema” and
has excellently portrayed to us
the realities of life in African vil-
lages even in this day and age.
This picture really strives to
provide an understanding of the
struggles of the outside world
since, in the United States, we
hold such provincial points of
view surrounding circumstances
that occur in the rest of the
world.
show “Two guys, a girl, and a
pizza place,” which was later
renamed “Two guys and a girl.”
This film also stars Melissa
George, 28, who is famous for
her role on the hit TV show
“Alias,” and has appeared in mov-
ies such as “Down with Love,”
and “Mulholland Dr.”
The film was directed by
Andrew Douglas and is play-
ing in theaters nationwide.
Whether you’re in the mood to
take a break from endless study-
ing or change your underpants,
it might be interesting to catch
this flick.
Surely, one could never get sick
of hearing the tale of a demoni-
cally- possessed house.
math
lab
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April 20, 2005 THE MERCIAD PAGE 9

ARTS &
To contact: entertainmentmerciad@mercyhurst.edu ENTERTAINMENT
Our pop culture religion of today and the Kabbalah
By Matthew Rendulic of the Torah and Talmud. Well, Kabbalah is a different way to fault of the media and merchan-
Contributing writer needless to say, people of then envision God. It amplifies the dizing firms in the United States
and today don’t always live long living out of Jewish morals and and around the world.
enough to conquer that massive social ethics by relating all of They see Madonna wearing
In the past several years of our heap of wisdom! them to the person who is trying a protective red string and the
lives we may have noticed that The teachings of the Zohar to live them out. sell them to the public for up to
religion and the state of religion were later carried from Israel to It also gives new light to the $26 dollars a four inch string! I’ll
has major effects on our pop- 16th century Spain. It was there old Creation story and cosmol- give you a red string and teach
culture. taught to very few pupils, but ogy, but it never contradicts the you about the significance of it
For instance, after the tragic influenced Sephardim (south teachings of the Torah (Jewish for free!
events that occurred six years western European Jews) greatly scripture). And yet the people wearing
ago on April 20 at Columbine in their art, writings and archi- Kabbalistic teachings allow them are ignorant as to why
High School in Colorado, there tecture. many Jews to feel a closer re- they wear them, what the point
was a major reintroduction of In this time period it was called lationship to their Creator and of the string is and the history
Christianity among the youth of “The Secret” and Nostra Damus greater success in this life. behind it.
the United States. had even claimed to use Kab- It is because of these insights This is what I believe is mock-
This came in the form of T- balah in his predictions. that Kabbalah and its Rabbis ing Kabbalah and Jewish thought
shirts, more “in-school-prayer- “The Secret” was virtually lost posses that I study it and try in general. It would be equitable
battles,” rallies, prayers, and for centuries. It wasn’t until to incorporate it into by Jewish to me, a non-Catholic, partaking
bible studies at the flag poles, the Hassidic rabbis of Poland life. in your Holy Communion—it’s
and especially a major increase that Kabbalah and Zohar were just not respectful.

in the Christian Rock and Pop
recording industries.
Even more recently, through
the distribution of propaganda
(in the form of degrading t-
shirts, posters, stickers and a
dreadful ditty by John Ashcroft),
the fundamentalist right-wing
of Christianity was able to bring
itself into pop-culture promoting
the “Aries” side of our own Lord
enough to convince a majority of
this nation to re-elect President
Bush—who seems to be promot-
ing the love of God and Christ
quite well throughout his reign
of terror (the author roles his
eyes in disgust and sarcasm!).
But, I digress…what I really
want to speak with you about
is a new spiritual phenomenon
associated with Madonna—this
is Kabbalah.
If you have seen Madonna
within the past two years on any
entertainment gossip shows or
on late night television you know
that she has been an advocate
of Kabbalah. But what is Kab-
Madonna causes gossip as she advocates the Kabbalah.
balah?
Kabbalah is a supplemental
belief system of esoteric mystic
thoughts that hinge around Ju-
daic theology and philosophy.
Many followers of Kabbalah
insist that it has been known by
mankind since Adam; however,
since the primary writings of
Kabbalah are in Aramaic (a rath-
er short-lived Semitic language
from around 200 B.C.E. until
circa 100 C.E.) we can assume
that Kabbalah started during
Photo courtesy of the Kabbalah Center
the time that ancient Israel was
occupied by Greek and Roman
forces.
As stated earlier, I said that
Kabbalah was esoteric; this
means that it was restricted and
only known by very few indi-
viduals.
Part of this is because the writ-
ing of the Zohar, the primary
text for Kabbalah, is so com-
plex in theology that one was
only to study it after they had
already mastered the teachings
rediscovered. After World War
II it was these students of “The
Secret” that took it to Israel with
them.
It was in Israel that Rabbi P.S.
Berg opened The Kabbalah
Center and began translating
the Zohar (23 volumes!) into
English and began his mass
evangelization process of bring-
ing Kabbalah to the world. It
is Berg’s two sons, Michael and
Yehuda, who are now carrying
on his legacy and have opened
up numerous Kabbalah Centers
internationally.
It is Michael Berg who is Ma-
donna’s personal teacher and
rabbi in Kabbalah.
Numerous people are criti-
cizing Madonna saying, “How
could she represent any kind of
religion?”
Well, it is not my place to
criticize Madonna at all for her
spirituality. In fact, I take many
of the teachings of Kabbalah to
heart myself in my own Jewish
education.
“
However, I do not think that
Christianity Kabbalah should only be re-
stricted to elderly Jews. Wisdom
was able to is meant for all, whether it’s
bring itself into Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity,
or Islam.
pop-culture So if you are interested in the
mystic ways of Kabbalah, read
promoting the up on it (Michael and Yehuda
‘Aries’ side Berg have an excellent website
www.Kabbalah.com and numer-
of our own ous books).
Lord enough Study Kabbalah from real Jew-
ish Rabbis and scholars from
to convince a the perspective it is meant to be
majority of this studied.
But spare yourself the extra
nation to re- cash and the iniquity of bastard-
izing the beliefs of myself and
elect President numerous other Jewish worship-
Bush ers world wide.
The Kabbalah is very interest-
-Matthew Rendulic ing and a great way to live your
life and connect with God, just
do it respectfully and not be-
This is why I tend to condemn cause your “living in a material
how pop-culture has bastardized world.”
Kabbalah. This is not Madona’s
fault, nor is it the Berg’s. It is the

Choir performs at Jewish temple

Students give Hebrew Concert at Temple
By Meghan Sullivan
Arts & Entertainment editor
On Sunday two Catholic-affili-
ated musical groups performed
a concert at the Temple Anshe
Hesed.
The Mercyhurst Concert Choir
and Gannon University Flute
Choir took a step away from
their normal repertoire and per-
formed a Hebrew concert of the
music of Renaissance composer
Salamone Rossi.
Salamone Rossi was a leading
Jewish composer of the late Ital-
ian Renaissance.
Rossi’s published works rang-
ing from the years 1589-1628 are
the only direct documentation on
his life and work.
His place in the Renaissance
music culture was unique in
the fact that he was the earliest
outstanding Jewish composer to
ever work in the European art
music tradition.
Preceding the concert was a
lecture on the life and music of
Rossi by Dr. Dennis Vidmar,
director of adult education at
Temple Anshe Hesed. Vidmar,
File Photo
Choir director Rebecca Ryan
very animate about the success
of this concert, worked in col-
laboration with choral conduc-
tor Rebecca Ryan to arrange the
program.
The concert began with mem-
bers of the Gannon University
Flute Choir, directed by Holly
Stackhouse-Sydow, performing
instrumental works by Rossi.
Following the flute choirs lively
and pleasant performance, the
Carpe Diem choir sang the secu-
lar works of Rossi.
These songs were in Italian and
were more typical of the Renais-
sance time period.
The Concert Choir then per-
formed five of Rossi’s sacred
works.
One work included soloists
mezzo-soprano Joanna Brehaut
and soprano Amy Krebs.
A large helping hand in the
success of this culture-crossing
concert was Jewish composition
major M. Joseph Rendulic. He
helped with pronunciation of
the Hebrew and arranged many
of the works performed.
The atypical full sound of
the large Concert Choir would
not have been heard at time the
pieces were written, since tradi-
tionally there may have been as
little as one person on a part.
Besides the obvious time pe-
riod differences of the group,
the choir still moved many of the
Jewish and nor Jewish listeners
that filled the synagogue.
The vibrant sound of the
choir and antiphonal uses of
separate quartettes brought the
Jewish community to their feet
in applause at the closing of the
concert.

Faculty Collage Recital in Walker

Display of music faculty’s talent in recital
By Meghan Sullivan
Arts & Entertainment editor
If you attended the Faculty
Collage Recital in Walker Recital
Hall this previous Thursday then
you witnessed a fine showing of
musical talent.
Each member of the musical
faculty that performed at this
concert was able to display their
artistic ability.
The recital was a wonderful
opportunity to see our teach-
ers’ ability since they work so
hard helping others to perfect
their art.
The program started out with
Scott Meier, who teaches saxo-
phone, music technology and
Jazz Ensemble, singing on his
alto saxophone playing Pierre
Max Dubois’ “Concert for Alto
Saxophone.”
Meier was accompanied by
the ivory stylings of Ann Bom-
melje.
Meier was followed by piano
instructor, Nathan Hess. Hess
performed three movements
from Sergi Rachmaninoff ’s “Ten
Preludes, Op. 23.”
Hess is currently in his fourth
year on the piano faculty at the
State University of New York
at Fredonia but is a first-year
member of the piano faculty at
Mercyhurst.
Following Hess was classical
guitar instructor, Erik Mann.
Mann performed Giovanni Zam-
boni’s “Sonata IX.”
Next on the program was
clarinet instructor, Geoffrey
Wands. Wands bounced along
as he played a lively rendition of
Sigfrid Karg-Elert’s “Sonate fur
Klarinette solo, Op. 110.”
The real musical treat of the
night was the performance by
Faith Lifshen and Janet Bischoff.
These duo-piantists played Haim
Alexander’s “Six Israeli Danc-
es.”
This lively yet thought provok-
ing performance was done in
loving memory of Lifshen’s son,
Moshe Lifshen.
 PAGE 10
LAKER
SPORTS
Slumping offense hurting softball
Lakers have dropped four of last six contests at home
By Matt Jackson
Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst softball team
and others in the GLIAC played
multiple games over the week-
end, and the result appears to
be a late season conference race
worth paying attention to.
With just the home stretch of
the season remaining, almost
every member of the conference
still has at least an outside shot of
being regular season conference
champs.
Northwood, picked to finish
tenth in the preseason coaches
poll, is currently tied with Ash-
land University for the top spot
with an 8-4 GLIAC record, but
if the two teams look in their rear
view mirrors, they will see they
have much more to worry about
than just each other.
Behind the leaders sits a trium-
virate of teams just one game off
the pace.
Those three teams, Ferris State,
Saginaw Valley State and Grand
Valley State all have identical 7-5
GLIAC marks.
Following them is a pair of
teams with 8-6 records, Hillsdale
and Wayne State.
The race right now is so close
that even Mercyhurst, currently
in 10th place, has only three
more losses than the conference
leaders.
“Competitive would be a great
word for the season,” said soph-
omore pitcher/dh Jen Feret.
Rowers successful at the
two-day Knecht Cup
By Brady Hunter
Contributing writer
This weekend brought the
Mercyhurst rowing teams a wel-
come dose of success, after their
previous sub-par outing earlier
this month.
This weekend, April 16-17, at
Villanova’s annual Knecht Cup,
the Lakers brought home three
first place finishes, as well as a
third and a sixth.
Both the men’s and women’s
varsity eight, along with the men’s
varsity four, ended up first this
weekend.
The men’s lightweight eight
team took third, and the women’s
varsity four took sixth in a tough
race on Sunday.
Although the men’s lightweight
boat fell to Boston College, the
women conquered Dowling in
dramatic fashion.
During the women’s varsity
Men’s tennis finishes third at GLIAC
Tournament and heads to nationals
By Chris Van Horn
Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst men’s tennis
team put on a solid showing at
the GLIAC Team Champion-
ships on April 15 and 16 in
Midland, Mich.
Mercyhurst won two out of
three matches to finish in third
place behind Northwood and
Ferris State, both nationally
ranked.
The Lakers beat Wayne State in
their first match 5-3.
Mercyhurst got singles victories
from freshman Mariano Fava,
sophomore Lee Michael Marnik
and junior Lucas Krasowski
to take a 3-2 lead after singles
competition.
The Lakers then won two out
of three doubles matches to take
the victory.
Fava and senior Albert Veverka
To contact: sportsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
“This year any team can take
the conference and every team
is beatable.”
Outside of the race for confer-
ence champion is a race that this
year may be just as important.
Only the top eight teams in
the GLIAC will qualify for the
conference tournament, and as
of right now Mercyhurst sits just
two games back of rival Gannon
University for that eighth and fi-
nal spot despite winning three of
the four games played between
the two teams this season.
“We should be one of those
eight teams, no doubt in my
mind,” said Feret.
The Lakers will have to turn
things around quickly if they re-
ally want to be in the conference
tournament.
They have lost seven of their
last eight games and five of their
last six conference games.
“We have an outstanding lineup
and our defense is amazing, but
right now we are just in a slump,”
said Feret. “We are starting over
with the basics and working
up.”
This past weekend the Lakers
dropped three of four confer-
ence games.
On Saturday Grand Valley
State dropped the Lakers twice
by scores of 8-0 and 2-1.
Sunday the Lakers managed to
split a doubleheader with Ferris
State, losing the first game 8-2
and then snapping a seven game
losing streak with a 6-1 win.
Mercyhurst was back in action
eight race, Dowling and Mercy-
hurst pulled ahead of the rest of
the pack.
After a period of back-and-
forth suspense, the Lakers passed
the finish line just over two sec-
onds ahead of their rivals.
It was enough, this time, how-
ever. But what changed in the pe-
riod between two weeks ago and
this weekend’s competition?
“The main difference was
that we’ve been on the water
for about a week,” captain Jill
Natale said.
The six days that Mercyhurst
spent practicing on water (as
opposed to on machines in the
gym) gave them enough of an
edge to dominate this weekend’s
Knecht Cup.
The men’s team also enjoyed
victory this weekend, as some
boats left all competition far
behind.
On their way to a first-place
finish, the men’s varsity four team
picked up one victory with the
team of Marnik and senior John
Nichols picking up the other
doubles point.
Head coach Ray Yost rested his
big guns in the second matches
against Northwood.
Playing in 75 degree heat, the
Lakers were out-matched by na-
tionally ranked Northwood who
won easily by a score of 5-0.
The Lakers then rebounded
with an impressive 5-4 victory
over Grand Valley State to take
the third place finish.
Mercyhurst took four singles
matches and one doubles match
to seal the victory.
Singles victories went to Fava,
Nichols, Marnik and Krasows-
ki.
Fava and Veverka picked up the
Lakers lone doubles point, but it
was enough for the victory.
Yost was extremely pleased
with his team’s performance.
THE MERCIAD April 20, 2005
Katie McAdams/Photo editor
Sophomore pitcher Katie Clark took the decision in both games against Slippery Rock.
on Tuesday, April 19, when they quite the opposite. The Rock being charged to the pitcher. The next action for Mercyhurst
played host to Slippery Rock. was the powerful offense this Sophomore Katie Clark took will be this Friday when the Lak-
The Lakers came out strong time around. the decision in both games, as she ers travel to Northwood for a
in the opener, as they won 4-1. The Lakers fell by a score of threw the majority of the innings doubleheader and then travel to
Feret was again leading the of- 10-2, victimized by making costly on the weekend. Saginaw Valley State the next day
fense, as she smacked a two-run errors in the field. She is now 3-11, but has fallen for another doubleheader.
home run in the win. The team made five errors, victim to the lack of offensive “We have nothing to lose at this
The nightcap proved to be which led to six unearned runs production as of late. point,” said Feret.
MERCYHURST COLLEGE
passed Vassar and Catholic, and
SUMMER TERM ‘05
the men’s varsity eight beat John
Hopkins and Mary Washington.
This weekend the men travel to
Indianapolis, Ind. to compete in
the Indianapolis Invitational.
The women, originally sched-
uled to also make the trip, will
be staying home due to their race
Accounting, Psychology, Anthropology,
on Sunday. Western Classics, Asian Politics,
This Sunday’s race will be the
only home competition for the Human Biology and
Laker rowers this season, and
also should shape up to be quite many other great courses.
a match.
The women will face Dowling
College once again, this time
for the title of Eastern Regional
Champs. Small classes. Outstanding faculty.
This is an important step for
the team as Natale explained: Housing and meal plans available.
“We got the first ever NCAA title
for this school last year, and we’re
looking to win it again.”
If Mercyhurst does get another
NCAA bid, it will make three in
a row.
Day/evening session: June 20 -- August 8
Weekend session: June 5 – August 14
“Finishing third behind teams
like Northwood and Ferris State Transfer students welcome!
is just as good as finishing first.
Those teams are so far ahead of
everyone else. The boys played
great tennis and we stayed healthy
which is always nice,” Yost said.
Mariano Fava and John Nich-
ols were both named to the All
Register today!
GLIAC First Team.
Lee Michael Marnik was named
to the All GLIAC Second team.
Coach Yost was also named
GLIAC Coach of the Year for
the first time in his tenure at
Mercyhurst.
The Lakers will be the fourth
seed heading into nationals on
May 5 and 6, and are very confi-
dent that they can get out of the
first round for the first time in
(814) 824-2250
team history. www.mercyhurst.edu
The Lakers are currently 13-8
overall and 4-3 in GLIAC play.
April 20, 2005
Men’s lacrosse downs Bryant
Team remains No. 3 in polls with perfect 10-0 record
By Kelly Rose Duttine
Editor-in-Chief
The men’s lacrosse team was
able to keep their record spotless
this weekend when they took
on No. 10 Bryant University
in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday,
April 16.
The game, which was played
at a neutral high school site with
many Lakers’ fans and parents,
ended in a 12-6 decision and
increased the Lakers record to
10-0 for the season.
Mercyhurst scored just two
minutes into the game, and be-
fore five minutes of playtime had
passed, the Lakers were leading
with a score 3-0.
The Bulldogs answered back
quickly, tying the score 3-3 before
the end of the first quarter.
The Lakers scored two more
times at the beginning of the sec-
ond period, but Bryant quickly
responded again with two more
goals.
Mercyhurst edged one more
past Bryant to narrowly lead 6-5
at the end of the first half.
During the third quarter, Mer-
cyhurst picked up the pace and
scored five unanswered goals
to lead 11-5 at the end of the
quarter.
This quickly led to the Lakers’
control of the remainder of the
game.
Men’s volleyball set for MIVA playoffs on April 23
By Matt Jackson
Contributing writer
The regular season may not
have gone as well as the Mercy-
hurst men’s volleyball team may
have expected, but this Saturday
the team will have an opportunity
to do something that they have
yet to accomplish.
Mercyhurst joined the MIVA
conference in 1997 and has yet
to win a MIVA playoff game or
have a player named to the All-
Tournament Team.
Looking at results from the
regular season it appears this
tournament may finish the same
way as the first eight years, with
a first round loss.
The Lakers will enter the tour-
nament as a six seed, which
matches them up against the
three seed and a familiar foe.
Ball State, a team that not only
swept the Lakers in the regular
season, winning both matches,
but also swept both matches 3-
0, will be No. three seed and will
be hoping the third time isn’t the
Water polo wins three straight to improve to 10-7
By Michelle DeLong
Contributing writer
Women’s water polo completed
a successful week beginning
with a triumph over Grove
City and ending with another
victory against Washington and
Jefferson.
The two wins have helped the
Lakers climb above .500 in the
College Water Polo Association
(CWPA).
The Grove City and Washington
and Jefferson wins give the
Lakers at a three game winning
streak when added on to their
9-8 victory over Slippery Rock
on April 9.
The Lakers currently stand
at 10-7 overall and 4-3 in the
CWPA.
Grove City traveled to the
Laker’s hometown on Wednesday,
April 13th.
After three periods the game
remained in either team’s grasp
as the Lakers only led 4-3.
Mercyhurst had one final goal
in the fourth quarter, and the
Bulldogs added another goal
to their total to make the final
score 12-6.
Senior Mike McLellan had four
goals and two assists in the con-
test, and senior Andrew Sands
had three goals and one assist.
Five other Lakers had one goal
each, including Jason Lappies,
Joe Poole, Troy Ledbetter, Adam
Mulherin and Bryon Lindner.
Jim Mullaley tallied three assists
and Lappies also had one assist.
The Lakers out shot the Bull-
dogs 43-21 and won 18 out of 21
possible face-offs.
The Lakers remain at the No.
3 spot in the national ranking for
Division II.
Bryant remains ranked No. 10,
but their record dropped to 3-5
for the season.
Junior goaltender Mike Bring-
ley made six saves in the contest,
which was played in his home-
town.
“It was a lot of fun coming
back and playing in my home- Sophomore Adam Mulherin was one of seven Lakers to score against Bryant on April 16.
town in front of my friends and
family. It was a good time,” said
Bringley.
Bringley was awarded with the defense who has been playing
Mercyhurst Male Athlete of the great. I haven’t even seen that University Knights, a team who
Week for his performance in many shots. It is really the guys is trying to build a DI program record of 11-1 for the season,
this game and throughout the on defense that have been mak- for next year, which means that but Bringley feels the Lakers are
season.
Bringley has only allowed 10
goals in the past two games.
The blocking of the Lakers proved to be decisive against New Jersey Tech.
charm for the underdog Lakers.
Despite the two losses the Lak-
ers already suffered to their tour-
nament opponent and the fact
However, Mercyhurst pulled
through with a strong offensive
force scoring three more goals
in the fourth.
The offense was led by junior
Cassie Rand with three goals and
freshman Christine Somera with
two goals and one assist.
Freshman goaltender Gina
Mieras kept the Laker defense in
tact with 15 saves.
More recently, the Lakers took
on Washington and Jefferson on
April 16.
Mercyhurst defeated the
Presidents 7-3 to push them
over the .500 mark.
Somera, who is nationally-
ranked 39th in total goals, had
four goals and two assists in
the win.
Freshman Carrie Willison
added three goals to the 7-3 win
against the Presidents.
Willison, Cassie Rand, and
Tessa DiLoreto each contributed
one assist.
DiLoreto has earned the honor
of Mercyhurst’s female athlete of
THE MERCIAD
To contact: sportsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu
“It not just that I’ve been play- today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m. at University’s website.
ing pretty good, but it is really our Tullio Field. Bellarmine is located in Louis-
The Lakers host the Bellarmine ville, Kentucky.
Currently, Bellarmine has a
ing my job really easy,” he said. they must play DII schools for up for the challenge.
Mercyhurst plays their final their first season, according to “We are ready, but it should be
home game of the regular season an article on the Bellarmine a good game. They are a first
the players, especially the seniors,
want to lay it all out on the court
Saturday.”
The big reason for the losses
against Ball State in the regular
season for the Lakers was the
large difference in errors com-
mitted by the two teams.
Schmidl believe that if he and
his teammates can turn this
around the final result could
change.
“We match up well against
them so as long as we don’t beat
ourselves, we will beat them,”
said Schmidl.
Schmidl is just one of four
seniors that will be closing out
their collegiate careers in the near
future, whether it is in the first
round or beyond.
The three others are Austin
Siewert, Pat Nichols and Tom
Roberts.
File Photo These four seniors have not
only suffered through three first
round losses in the postseason
that the school has never won a “If we all go into the match but have seen their team win
postseason game in the sport is with positive attitudes we defi- only one game of those three
not keeping the spirits and hopes nitely have a chance,” said senior matches.
of the players down. Dave Schmidl. “I know a lot of A win this weekend would
File Photo
Tessa DiLoreto is second on the team with 30 goals on the season.
the week. “I feel being the better con- polo right now,” remarked coach
She is currently second on the ditioned team helped us against Curtis Robinette, “Our goal right
team in goals with 29 and third Grove City. In addition, we are now is to finish the season, but
in points with 36. just playing very good team water I think everyone on the team,
Page 11
LAKER
SPORTS
Katie McAdams/Photo editor
year team with a lot of Canadian
players with a great offense, so
it should be a challenge for our
defense,” said Bringley.
Mercyhurst will then travel to
play No.8 ranked Molloy College
on Saturday, April 23, in Rock-
ville Center, N.Y. at 1 p.m.
probably mean just a little more
to these seniors who definitely
paid their dues.
“A win would mean we have
reached our goals and overcame
adversity that we’ve faced for the
past four years together.”
The Lakers played two non-
conference matches this past
weekend in a tune-up for the
postseason.
The first match for the Lak-
ers was a disappointing one as
Princeton defeated Coach Ryan
Patton’s Lakers 3-1.
Princeton was a very beatable
team for the Mercyhurst squad
and may have shown the consis-
tency the team lacks.
The Lakers got the confidence
builder they were looking for in
the second game of the weekend
in the form of a 3-1 victory over
New Jersey Tech.
Schmidl and Siewart both led
the team in kills in both con-
tests.
All that remains now is the
chance for this year’s Lakers to
make the college’s athletic his-
tory books.
including myself, are excited to
see how far we can go over the
next few seasons.”
The Lakers are anxiously
awaiting the Western Division
Championships on April 22 in
Grove City, Pa.
The time that the Lakers
will compete remains to be
announced.
“The tournament format has
not always been kind to us this
season because of our small
team, but we are just going to
take one game at a time and see
how we finish,” Robinette said.
The Lakers are in similar shape
to last year, as last season they
finished with a 12-10 record.
They stand at 10-7 this season,
feeding off the three-game win-
ning streak which they have been
on since April 9.
The team stands to lose two
seniors following the season, and
features seven sophomores and
juniors which will be able to carry
on the continuted improvement
of the team.
 PAGE 12 THE MERCIAD April 20, 2005

LAKER
SPORTS To contact: sportsmerciad@mercyhurst.edu

Baseball takes two of three from IUP in the bottom of the 14th before
By Chris Van Horn
Contributing writer
The men’s baseball team con-
cluded a disappointing week
on April 17 by being swept in a
doubleheader by Saginaw Valley
State.
It was the Lakers’ second
straight day of double-header ac-
tion with Saginaw Valley State.
The Lakers managed a split
with Saginaw Valley on April
16.
Mercyhurst also split a double
header with Gannon on April
13.
The Lakers are now 13-18-1
overall and 4-10 in GLIAC play.
In the double header with Gan-
non, the Lakers fell in game one
by a score of 6-2.
Mercyhurst bounced back
strong in game two by pounding
out 17 hits and scoring 16 runs
in a 16-3 demolition of Gannon
at Gannon Baseball Field.
Senior Tim Stacey went 5-7 on
the day to raise his team leading
batting average to .437.
April 16 was the first of two
doubleheaders against Saginaw
Valley State, who sits third in
the GLIAC.
The Lakers won game one in a
marathon that lasted 14 innings
and four and a half hours.
The Lakers loaded the bases
sophomore Tim Echan hit the
game-winning single into center
field to score freshman David
Lough from third base.
Junior Mike Cahoon picked up
his second victory of the year for
the Lakers, pitching two innings
in relief.
The second game was a let
down for the Lakers as they fell
behind 4-0 before falling 7-1.
The Lakers couldn’t pull it all
together on the second day of
doubleheader action with Sagi-
naw Valley either.
The Lakers dropped both
games by close scores.
In game one the Lakers actu-
ally led by scores of 4-1 and 7-6
before a two-run sixth inning by
Saginaw Valley gave them the
lead for good.
Tim Stacey went 4-4 with three
RBI in the game, increasing his
team leading RBI total to 24.
Game two of the double
header featured a pitchers duel.
Freshman Eric Drobotij pitched
Katie McAdams/Photo editor
a four-hitter for the Lakers. Junior Joe Mariano had a pair of hits in the 11-1 win over IUP on April 19.
Unfortunately, the team could
not generate any offense and header, the teams finished up a In the first of the pair, sopho- In the nightcap, sophomore Ludwig did not allow a run
fell by a score of 2-0, wasting game they had started earlier in more Adam Stewart threw a Kris Klang got the start and went in his three innings of work,
Drobotij’s complete game, eight the season, with the Lakers com- complete game, giving up just five innings only allowing two surrendering just three hits and
strikeout performance. ing out on top 11-1. one run on only three hits. runs, one of which was earned. improved his record to 3-1.
The Lakers were back in action Mercyhurst would sweep the Jonathan Alsheimer went 3-3 James Ludwig came in and The Lakers’ next home con-
on Tuesady, April 19, as they double-header, taking the opener in the opener, and close behind closed the game, which needed tests are April 23 and 24 for
hosted IUP for a pair. 7-1 and squeezing out a win in was Devin Kowalski and Stacey one extra inning to decide the double headers both days against
Prior to starting that double- game two by a score of 3-2. with two hits each. winner. Hillsdale.

Women’s lacrosse falls to No. 10 Limestone 8-5

By Jimmy McCann
Contributing writer
On Sunday, April 17, the wom-
en’s lacrosse team played host
to the No. 10 ranked Saints of
Limestone College from Gaff-
ney, S.C.
Limestone came into the game
with a record of 8-4, while the
Lakers entered the game with an
even 5-5 record.
Mercyhurst jumped out to a
quick 2-0 lead just three minutes
into the game and seemed to
be well on their way to an up-
set and even more, a chance to
jump back into a top 10 national
ranking.
However, the early deficit was
not enough to keep the Saints
quiet for long as they scored the
final five goals of the half, taking
a 5-2 lead into the intermission.
senior Jess Bunker combined for
seven saves on the game.
Liberati was very enthuasitic
when asked to comment about
the game.
“We got off to a really great
start scoring the first two goals
of the game and for the most
part really kept up with them,”
she said.
She also added, “We were really
determined to win this game to
prove to Division II that we are
a talented team. When we were
one goal behind them with about
three minutes left and they ended
Junior attack Kelsey French scored two goals against Limestone. Katie McAdams/Photo editor up scoring two more goals, we
simply could not answer that
Mercyhurst narrowed the mar- ride home with an 8-5 victory. Seniors Carrie Kramer and kind of deficit with the amount
gin to 6-5 with 11 minutes to play French led the Lakers with two Andrea Bement capped off the of time we had left.”
on junior attack Kelsey French’s goals and one assist for three scoring for the Lakers with one When asked to compare this
second goal of the game, but that points on the day, while senior goal apiece. performance against Limestone
was the closest the Lakers could attack Dara Liberati continued The Lakers used two goalten- to the Lakers’ past performances
get before the Saints scored the her strong year with a goal and ders for the first time this season against the Saints, Liberati said,
final two goals of the game to an assist of her own. as freshman Nicole Rapacki and “This years was much more
successful than last year’s and
as a team we are proud of that.
We just wish we could have won
this game.”
Liberati had some inspirational,
and hopefully prophetic, words
for her teammates when asked
to comment on the outlook for
the rest of this season.
“We all know that we can win
the rest of our games, and that is
certainly our goal. We all have a
positive outlook on what the rest
of the season will look like. It is
just a matter of discovering why
we’ve lost these close games in
the past, and how we can change
it,” she said.
Hopefully, the Lakers can make
some of those small changes
before Wednesday afternoon
when they travel to Bloomsburg,
Pa. for a 4 p.m. face-off with
the Huskies of Bloomsburg
University.

Men’s golf finishes eighth

at Great Lakes Regional
By Michelle DeLong
Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst men’s and
women’s golf teams participated
in the Penn State Behrend Invi-
tational on April 14 at Peek n’
Peak.
The men’s team placed third
out of a total of seven teams.
They finished shooting a col-
lective 309, 19 shots back of first
place Gannon who completed
the day with 290.
One of Coach Dave Hewett’s
goals for his teams is to not allow
anything negative from the past
affect the here and now.
“Good golfers only remember
good shots and forget all of the
bad ones. That puts them in the
best position to excel in the pres-
ent. That's what we need to focus
on,” Hewett said.
The men’s team made the deci-
sion to use their “B” team in the
Penn State Behrend Invitational,
in order to allow their “A” team
to practice and prepare for the
upcoming regional in Edinburgh,
Ind.
Steve Barr led the Lakers indi-
vidually with a score of 75.
Sophomore Kevin Binsell fol-
lowed behind him with a finish-
ing score of 77.
The women’s team completed
the event with equal success fin-
ishing second out of four teams
with a collective score of 345.
Gannon took first place with a
score of 337.
With respect to the Behrend
Invitational, Coach Hewitt said,
“we are making progress on the
women's side, and that's encour-
aging.”
The top individual scores for
the Lakers were Amy Natalie
shooting a round of 80 and
Hilary McCall with a final score
of 85.
Amy Natalie earned medalist
honors for her performance in
the event.
The NCAA Regionals for the
men featured 18 teams, and the
Lakers managed to place in the
top half for the team competi-
tion.
The Lakers shot a two-day total
of 597 to finish tied for eighth
place with Bellarmine University
and Lewis University.
Freshman Kyle Waddell led the
Lakers with scores of 70 and 74
for a 144 total, good enough for
13th place tie.
Senior Adam Layden finish tied
for 17th with rounds of 75 and 71,
a total of 146.
Sophomore Craig Bishop fin-
ished tied for 29th with back-to-
back rounds of 74 for a total
of 148.
When asked his opinion on
what he feels his teams need to
do in order to be successful in the
regionals and GLIAC champion-
ships, Coach Hewitt responds
with confidence.
He said, “Success is such a rela-
tive term. My definition would
include two areas, preparation
and enjoyment. First, they need
to prepare their minds and bodies
for each and every shot, putting
them in a position to succeed.
It's a difficult task to achieve 100
percent, 85-90 percent would be
great. Second, they need to enjoy
the process, accept and own the
challenge. In doing so, they will
take something positive away
from the event, regardless of
their scores.”
The women’s team finished
third of 16 teams at the West-
minster Invitational, but one
Laker in particular earned a more
prestigious honor.
McCall finished as the tourna-
ment medalist, as her 81 beat
everyone in the field.
Also finishing in the top-10 for
the Lakers were Sara Jaecks with
an 89 good for a tie for seventh,
and Natalie who finished tied for
10th with a 91.