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Vol 73 No. 14 Mercyhurst College 501E. 38th St. 16546

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 0 d e b a t e s w h e r e ; t o h o lBy Carrie Tap peEditor in Chief

With only 67 days remaining illthe Gass of2000 graduates, theusual planning forthe biggestevent of the school year i s at a"stand still" until March 17.That afternoon thePresident* sStaff will meet and act on an11th hour request: to considerhaving commencement oncampus.

It's not as if college officialshaven't tried it before, but 10years ago, a s classes grewlarger, graduation wasmoved:from the crowded and uncom-fortablenon-air-conditionedathletic center to the air-conditioned Warner Theatre.

Students got more tickets,guests weren't fainting from theheat, and for the mostpart,everyone was happy. |

However, the nostalgicsetting of commencement o ncampushas once again surfacedby some members of the Classof 2000, w ho met withthe T ^president to ask that either acampus or5,000 seat CivicCenter (TullioArena) gradua-tion be the site for theturn-of-the-century graduating class.

Twenty-eight years ago,Mercyhurst held its first andonly outdoor graduation. TheClass of '73 had petitioned thecollege, much like the Class of* 00 for the change. Collegeofficials agreed to the class* srequest It rained, graduationwas ruined, and it became a"miserable experience" for allthose i nvol vcd, i nc I udingalumni of that class nowworking at the college, GaryBukowski, vice president of

Gerrlt Shuffstall/Merclad photographerA proposed site forgraduation the parking lot behindZum Halt w illbe one of the venues consid-ered for commencement ceremonies if it isdecided to be held on campus.

institutional advancement; Dr.Allan Belovarac, professorofhistory; and M ary Ellen | ]Dahlkemper, director of adult andgraduate programs.

The President's Staff willdiscuss whether the college canpull it off with such a sho rtamount oftime to plan it? Can thecollege absorb the unbudgetedcost of two graduation sites, by nomeans an incidental. And mostimportantly, is this what themajorityof the class wants.

Some students feel that theMercyhurst campus is a moreappropriate venue for such anoccasion. Others disagree.I "We are the class of 2000, themillennium class. Perhaps this isthe year for change," senior JennyNovak, said.

"Graduation is beautiful at the

Warner Theatre andwe will allbe miserable if itrains that day,"senior Scott Koskoski said.

And so the debategoesgamong 372 seniorswho willparticipate in theMay 21ceremonies from the Class of2000 which totals 466 graduates. "The president asked us to

explore all our options," saidMaryDaly,vice president ofcommunication and a graduationcoordinator along with TomBillingsley,executive vicepresident. "We have looked atsites on campus, we have talkedto graduation coordinators atothercolleges and universitieswho have outdoor graduations."

If graduation is held oncampus, it would be a latemorning or noon g raduation toavoid the mid-day heat and to

allow for a shift in locationifneeded..- Theon-campus venue is not

certain. "Dr. Garvey askedus tolook into using TullioHeld. BillKerbusch,director of thephysicalplant, looked into that,and while it seemed at first the"perfect solution" we wouldhave to put 3/4" plywoodover'the majority of the field, and stillwould forfeit the warranty on thefield ifdamage resulted."

The other spot that haspossibilities, Daly noted, is touse the back campus as thebackdrop with graduates lookingnorth and setup at the southerntip of Munson Plaza, using theD'Angelo/Zurn Parking Lot forchairs. This site would enablechairs and a stageto beset upfree ofmud and soggy grass in

th e event of rain intheto graduation,

The backup plan wthe ceremony to the WTheatre for later intheSeating

If graduation was houtside, the college wbetween 2,800 and 3,0and there would be noit rained, each four-yewill have six tickets fWarner andthe associamasterdegree candidahave four.

"The problem arisestudentshave eight orcoming in from out otgraduation and that mrains oris too windy. Tmustdecide which ofthpeople canattend," DaThe day's other festi

Other consideratiotraditional Baccalaureand brunch whichis ususcheduled for SundaymWith an early graduatthe Mass and brunch cplannedas usual. Baccservices when graduatoutdoors in the morninheld on Saturday. "Weneed tomake adjustmeentire weekend ifwe chvenue, but theycan be mDaly said. *

"Graduation is a mat Mercyhurst and pridline thatday," Daly saidwant it to be the most day for the graduating cto go off without a hitc

The question facingof 2000 and thePresidentis "Are we ready to takgamble with the millenclass" or is it the perfecroll the dice.

in Baldwinire|sA fire broke ou t in Baldwin310 on March3 around 5:30 a.m.Fortunately there were no residents in the dorm due to spring break.

According to Laura Zirkle, dean of residents life, the response bythe college to this unfortunate situation was immediate and terriffic."The people who needed to be contacted were reached quickly. Theresponse system worked well."

This fire was the first actual emergency the police and safetydepartment has encounted since the new response system wasinstalled inDecember. K |

Bill Kerbusch, director of physical plant, estimated the damageand repair caused by the fire to total approximately $1,500.

The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation by theCity of Erie Fire Marshal.^ ~ JW

Hurst purchases apartments Art gallBriggs andLewiAs the result of an agreement with Spiegel Management, as of March1 Mercyhurst purchased buildings 3807-09 and 3827-29on BriggsAvenue and 3808-10 and 3828-30 on Lewis Avenue. Occupantsliving in these buildings may do so until July31. f*

The purchase is part of a long-term plan ofbuying the property tothe east and west ofthe college boundaries, andto carry outMercyhurst's master plan calling forthe construction ofa newacademic building and parking ramp on the east campus.

The purchase of these buildings means potential changes inhousing sign ups for students returning in the fall. Signs ups begin inearly April.

opens shoA multi-media exhibit the work of Mercyhursing art majors will opeMarch 18, with a recept2 to 5 p.m. in the CummGallery.The annual exhwhich continues throug

Cummings GalleryisTuesday through Sundato 5 p.m. and Thursday 9 p.m. Admission is fre

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CAMPUS NEWSSpikesf named student social workeroflhe yearBy Jen HarwellNews editor

11 was a wel I -earned m omentwhen senior Christine Spikeswalked up to receive her awardfrom the northwest division ofthe National Association of

Social Workers.It has been three years since a

Mercyhurst student has earnedthe title, but Spikes claimedthetitle of StudentSocial Worker ofthe Year to hopefully startanother winning streak for.Mercyhurst students.

Vandalismfcontinues on campusBy LeslieEchamMerciad writer

Unfortunately, somestudentshave lostthe respectful attitudetoward Mercyhurst, destroyingthe beautifulcampus and their"home away from home."

"Never inthe past have wehad problems like this, " said BillKerbusc h, d i rectorof physicalplant, who has been working atMercyhurst since 1992. "Inatwo week period after winterbreak, 17 windows were brokenon campus,"Kerbusch said.

According to Kerbusch, theaverage price to replacea*window costs$85. The total costfor th is destructionwas$ 1,523.02*Kerbusch saidw*-4M(maintenance) does not knowwho comm itted the crimes orwhat theirmotives were. |

In addition to broken win-dows, the security gates locatedin frontof Baldwin and ZurnHalls have been repeatedlyvandalized. On March 8, anothergate arm was destroyed. Thestudent violatoris unknown atthe present time. A total of 21gates have been broken.

According to Ken Sidun,chief of police and safety, threepeople have been chargedcriminallyfor breaking that gate.

According to Kerbusch, thecost for maintenance to repair agate is$47.35,whereas purchas-ing a new gate from a supplierwould cost $169. The cost ofreplacing the gatearms comesout of Mercyhurst students' 'Jtuition. "It seems like the gateis

a challengenow, to see ifthey *can break it and get away withit," Kerbusch said. He also saidthat he does not understand whystudents would destroy their >"school's property. | ^

'The gate was put up inJuly/*of 1997. Breaking the gatehasbeen an on-going event since,"Kerbusch said.

During spring break, therewas a break-in at M cAuley Hall,which left student residentassistant, Jeff Oros, with abroken television, as wellasmovies missing and his SegaDreamcast gone. Oros said,"Lwas the last to leave and the firstto be back, and the building wassupposed to be locked. Thereisno reason that would justify thisincident" *|T In addition to the unfortunateincident at McAuley Hall, Sidunsaid there was a water leakover*spring break thatwas discoveredon March1 in Mercy 300. Theresidents' carpethad to be $

replaced and the room below hadceiling and carpet work donebecauseof the water. Thesituation is still under investiga-tion.

Whatseems to be mostconfusing to students andmaintenanceis the question,*Why?" What is the reasonforthe negative actions on thiscollege campus? Mercyhurst is aplace were students come to 2 \ u

"It's an opportunity tolook inthe mirror," said Sister GeriRosin ski, director of CampusMinistry.

The program is open to theentire Mercyhurst communityand will be held Thursdayevenings during Lent (March 16,23,30 and April6,13), 8:15-9:30 p.m. in the Student Govern-ment Chambers.

MURPHY'S LAW

Forty participate in habit

I I Gerrit Shuffstall/Merciad photographerStudent organizers ofWomen's Month events. f f

The week of March 5 hfeatured three presentations.Therese Forsthoefelgave a lectureon Tuesday,March 7 titled"Empowering Your Body."OnWednesday, March8, DianaMcMannus fromthe Mercy Centerfor Women lectured onself-esteem,and Thursday,March 9,students heard a presentation bytwo representatives ofthe ErieRape Crisis Center.. The presentations were %

Organized by juniorsCan Matrasand Liz Oliver, sophomoreAshling McBrideand "fresher"Faith Lewis.The idea for the*events came when the four attendthe StudentPeace Action Networksummitin Washington, D.C., Feb.

Accordingto Oliver, "We wereall inspired and wantedto dosomething."

Fundingfor the presentationswas provided through CassShimek, associate dean of studentdevelopment

On Tuesday,March 14,professional writer DeniseDuhamelgave two presentations.Tuesday afternoon Duhamelgave areading ofher poetry and in theevening lecturedon "Barbie"andthe implications of "Barbie's"image in our culture.

Duhamel's visit was organizedby Dr. Beth Gylys, assistantprofessor of English, and spon-sored by an Academic Enrichmentgrant and student development

By AdamDuSholeMerciad writer

It's not unusual for collegestudents to frequent thecontinent's southern climates,especially duringthis, "NationalHedonismMonth"(or as it ismore innocuously referred to,Spring Break). For most, theagenda would include at leastone form ofdebauchery oranother but not visiting aconstruction site.

Thisbreak, 40 Mercyhurststudents forfeited their collegiateright to depravity, however, andtraveled to Anniston, Ala. asparticipants in Habitatfor*Humanity International' s *Collegiate Challenge: Spring

Break 2000. The Spring Break2000program,running from F eb.27 through April22, includes fmore than8,500 students fromover400 universities andcolleges working at170 sitesacross the country.

Through the course of oneweek they workedon several*homes. A greatdeal of' ^fundraisingWas required for theirexcursion, ranging from candyand bakesales to Chineseauctions. Additional funding wasprovided by donations fromCampus Ministry andMercyhurst President Dr.William P. Garvey.

"It's working toward a good

cause," said Katie Krupka,

Stratman buildsin Al

president of the M ercychapter of Habitat forHas she spoke of the recand discussed her continvolvement with thepr

"Habitat for Humanon eradicatingpoverty,'That's a good goal tohmind."

Brianna Stratman,a fstudent atMercyhurst, vteered to work with HaHumanity simply becawanted "to help peopledifference." She highlmendsthe program to ostudents."It was one ofenjoyable things I've esaid an enthusiastic Str

Students seeking adinformation about HabiHumanity can contact Ext 2939.* t. F

Koroshi Kick*Fit helps Mercyhurst"feel the burn"

[orA

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By KateCywinsRIMerciad writer h

With bathing suit seasona fewshort monthsaway, Mercyhurststudents,sjaff and'the generalpublic now have ah opportunity toget n shape with Korosh'i KickFi t.The programis a type of low *impact, high intensity aerobics thatincludes thehands of boxing andthe feet ofkarate. '-: \

Instructor Jillian DeMarcoleads theworkouts every Tuesday jand Thursday from4:30 to 5:30p.m. in the Mercyhurst RECCenter fora cost of$4 per session.

3 Koroshi Kick Fitis a cardioworkout similarto Tae Bo. Unliketraditional, dance-like aerobics,this program requires participantsto lift, push;pull and flex withtheir muscles. Thosewho attendthe aerobics classes will see quickresults as theylose inches and gettoned. The program is suited toany fitness level.

HannahGehman,a student whoattendedthe first class, stated,"Because you're paying forit, youpush yourselfto get the most outof the exercise." DeMarcoexplained thatthe programis asmuch of a workoutas one makes.

it. "I recommend Koroshi KickFitbecause it works. With consis-tency, youwill definitely seequick results," said DeMarco.

Craig Clinton, master instruc-tor of karate,Tae Kwon Do, andTai Chi Chuan established;Koroshi KickFit in Ashtabula,Ohio. Clinton,with 25 years ofexperience,is a member of themartial arts hall of fame. Hecompeted withBilly Blanks, thewell known instructor of Tae Bo.

DeMarco attended Clinton'sKoroshi KickFit classes as a

regular member beforehe offeredto train herto teach it. As acertified instructor,she leads theclasses in Ashtabulaat Kent StateUniversityalong with masterClintonand another instructor,Tina Rice.

DeMarco graduated fromMercyhurstin 1996 witha degreein hotel and restaurant manage-ment She returnedin 1999 and ispersuingan elementary educationcertificate. She decided to beginKoroshi KickFit classes atMercyhurst in responseto the

request of friendswho felcollege needed an aerobprogram.

DeMarco enjoys workmaster Clinton.She instruaerobics becauseshe findsand addicting. Students

* aUended the program seenthusiastic aboutit. "By class I felt relieved that iwbut very good about comsaid Megan Eble. Thereistime to get in shape than r

Chesterfield County Police DepartmentChesterfield County isa suburb of Richmond,VA, the capital of the state. It offerpositive features ofsuburban living while maintaining one ofthe lowest crime rate

state. The county is one ofthe fastest growing counties in the state o f VirgiWe are accepting applicationson an on-goingbaste and will start the next Polic

Basic Training Academyon June 26,2000. The written examination willbe adminiMercyhurst on Thursday, March 23 , at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. i.

in the Alumni Board Room.You must be a US citizen21 years of age by the completion of training with a safe drivingrecor

must have60 college credits, and no felony or habitual misdemeanor convictionNo PennsylvaniaAct-120 police pre-certification needed.

For mo re information or to schedule for the exam, call(804)748-1547

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SPORTSMARCH 15, 2000 THE MERCIAD

Mercyhurst destroys Holyearns berth in MA ACF

By Scott KoskoskiSports editor

As he w as leaving the Mercy-hurst Ice Center last Saturdaynight, a fatigued HolyCross fanclad in purple and white pausedand addressed an arena official"It was truly a pleasure toplay*Mercyhurst," said the manrespectfully. k

To that fan: trust us. thepleasure was all ours.r

After all. the Holy Crossfaithful sure couldn'tfind anypleasure in watching a once-close Metro Atlantic A thletic

Conference (MAAC)quarterfinalgame turn into an absolutedisaster. Unless, thatis, theyconsidered the three-hourconstant rumbling of giveaway"clapper" noisemakers to bepleasurable. |

Behind a two-goal perfor-mance each by sophomoresLouisGoulet, Tom McMonagle

and rookie P.J. Hiscock, theMercyhurst hockey team earneda berth in the MAAC HockeyLeague Final Four with a10-3lambasting ofthe Crusaders, thedefending league champions.&

About the only thing HolyCross actually crusaded Saturdaynight was their way back toWorcester, Mass.after sufferingthrough a Laker ice storm morefierce than the nigh t's worseningweather outside the M IC.

And forthe seven 'Hurst

hockey seniors (and senior fanswatching their last games at the*MIC as students), there w asn'tany better way to say goodbye tothe Ice Center. Reminiscent ofMercyhurst's NCAAD-II /hockey glorydays, the place wasfilled nearly to capac ity, withhundreds of charged studentsmaking themselves heard ... by

g l Anne Sitter/Merciad photographer

The Lake Show erupts again: severalMercyhurst playersLiebfaX o n e * flj"second-period goals against Holy Cross.

Anne Sitter/Merciad photoPlayoff faceoff atthe MIC:Mercyhurst hockey sophomore center Louis G oulet(middje)Cross sophomore forward Tony DeLuzio (let) await the referee's dropof "the puck in MQuarterfinal action Saturday night. The Lakers won this faceoffand the game, beating H

both voice and clappers.The Laker players only

needed the first 8:48 of thesecond period to say all they*needed to. Leading2-1 after thefirst stanza behind bothMcMonagle goals (scored justover three minutes apart),Mercyhurst emerged from theintermission and blasted HolyCross lock, stock and barrel.

First it was Goulet, whointercepted a Crusader pass inthe neutral zone and turned HCgoaltender Dan Bennett whiterthan the snow outside as heskated in alone for Mercyhurst'sthird score just21 seconds intothe period. Junior defensemanJody Robinson tallied at2:17,Goulet picked upa power playscore at6:19, Hiscock found thenet 40 seconds later, and seniorKelly Koshman blasted onehome at 8:48. - - - ?? That means a fancould'veleft his seat to get a hot dog and

visit the restroom with the score2-1 and came back momentslater with the score7-1.

Holy Crossfinally stoppedthe bleedingwhen junior wingerAdam Askashian beat Lakersenior goaltender Ashley Stevensat 15:32,but Hiscock scoredagain just 24 seconds laterto .squash any Crusader comebackhopes..

It was lights out for goalieBennett atmat point, andlightsout forbis teammates aswell.Backupnetminders Matt Smithand John Tocco fared no betteragainst the relentless Laker

*

attack. Mercyhurst added twothird period goals thanks tofreshman Marty Rychley and