the merciad, may 13, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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Vol.82, No.24/5.13.09/Free
Read more on Page 7
Read more on Page 3
Students unconventional family storytravels the world
Dont walk
alone
We have a donor,not a dad.
Merciad
Two students assaulted
near campus
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NEWSPage 2 May 13, 2009
Third Eye Blind was the best band choicesince Ive been here, but it was too hot
to enjoy.
Chris Duval, senior
I wanted to go [to Springfest], but my
friends were more content staying in
because it was so cold, but the concertwas awesome.
Caitlin Roberts, senior
The inflatables were a great way to
spend the day during the halftime of the
spring football game, and the concert was
amazing even though it was extremely hotand sticky.
Randy Tucker, senior
I usually like Third Eye Blind, and I saw
them at Behrend last year and they were
a lot better. They played too many new
songs.
Jenna Golden, senior
It was my first concert experience and
was really fun. I was surprised that hisvocals were so good.
Mercyhurst should definitely get similar
bands like Third Eye Blind in the future.
Liz Zurasky, freshman
Students splash through Springfest
I didnt like that they played so much of
their new music. I wish they had played
more of their old music that everyone
knows, but overall, it was a lot of fun.
Alex Stacey, freshman
Top: Freshmen Laura Palermo,
Lindsay Hoh and Slippery Rock sopho-
more Meghan McGeary slid down the Slip
n Slide.
Left: Freshman Erin Beck raced through
the Pirates Cove Obstacle Course.
Bottom left: Senior Nick Marcellino made
a splash.
Bottom Right: Freshman Kaitlyn Badger
decorated a pair of pink flip flops.
Tyler Stauffer photos
I believe Springfest was a great weekend
of events. Unfortunately on Saturday, the
bad weather would not hold out on us, but
overall I believe students had a lot of fun.
Vicky Fleisner, senior
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NEWS Page 3May 13, 2009
Moving in or moving on: thenew students, transfers report
While many think enrollment
went down, the report to the
college community from the
Board of Trustees Meeting on
Thursday, April 30, said over-
all enrollment actually went up
77 students from the spring of2008 to the spring of 2009.
Mercyhurst North East is up
125 students from last year in
their enrollment.
Graduate programs are at a
record high with an additional
36 students.
In fact, the only two sectors
of the Mercyhurst student pop-
ulation that are down are Erie
County students (down 79) andadult students (down 23).
Incoming freshman students
enrollment is ahead of sched-
ule. With four months remain-
ing in the admission cycle, con-
firmations are 13 ahead of last
year at this time.
Even so, 129 more freshmen
enrollees confirmations are
needed to meet the 665 goal.
The admissions office can stillpull from the other 1,139 appli-
cations in case confirmations
fall short of 129.
Vice President of Enrollment
Dr. Michael Lyden said this
is a record-breaking year for
students transferring into the
college.
A few years ago we had
about 90 new transfer students
and this year we may break
that, he said.
According to Lyden, the bulkof these students are from Erie
County.
These are students who
went away to school some-
where, often times a private
school and for whatever rea-
son, they come back to Erie,
Lyden said.
Students transfer in and out
of college for three main rea-
sons. The number one reasonis for programs. If a student s
current college doesnt have a
program or it is stronger some-
where else, they transfer. The
second most popular reason is
financial.
College is expensive and even
the best program cant keep
some students at their college
of choice. The third is to move
closer to home.We find that a lot of our
transfer students are coming
from the local Erie area. For
whatever reason, being closer to
their families is their priority,
Lyden said.
Beyond those top three rea-
sons, there are hundreds of
other reasons students transfer,
Lyden explained.
In order to keep students at
the college Lyden said, At the
end of the day its all aboutcommunication and informa-
tion sharing among all of the
staff.
Lyden explained how one
person can impact a students
experience negatively and posi-
tively.
The saying, it takes a village
to raise a child applies to the
college experience too, he said.
Everyone from the registrarsoffice down to Police and Safety
contribute to a students experi-
ence and Mercyhurst aims to get
a full picture of their students in
order to understand their rea-
sons for leaving.
We have a representative
from almost every aspect of that
students experience and their
exit interview so we can make
sure we dont repeat the samemistakes and to anticipate po-
tential problems, Lyden said.
By Amanda Valauri
News editor
The Merciad is back online!
Visit us at merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Erie police responded to seperate assaults that occured at the
Cornerstone and behind CVS on Tuesday, May 12.
Scoot Williams photo
Two studentsassaulted
An unknown man assaulted
two female students from Mer-
cyhurst College during separate
incidents in the early hours of
Tuesday morning, according to
the Erie Bureau of Police.
During the first incident,
which occurred at approxi-mately 12:10 a.m. Tuesday, the
perpetrator grabbed a woman at
the Cornerstone and was kicked
out of the bar, police said.
After the man left the Cor-
nerstone, he walked west on
38th Street and turned left
after CVS, and assaulted a
second victim on the walkway
between CVS and the blue light
system near the Wayne Streetparking lot, police reported.
She did not suffer any serious
injuries.
Erie police were dispatched at
approximately 12:20 a.m.
Eyewitnesses who saw the
perpetrator described him as a
6-62 tall black man in his early
20s with short hair and a very
dark complexion, police said.
At the time of the assaults,
the man was wearing baggy graysweatpants and a gray hooded
sweatshirt, according to wit-
nesses.
Captain Frank Kwitowski
of Erie Police Departments
Criminal Investigative Unit
said the unknown suspect will
face charges including inde-
cent assault, simple assault and
harassment.
Mercyhurst Police and Safetyassisted police by providing
pictures related to the incident
captured by college camera sys-
tems.
The Cornerstone and
CVS provided video footage,
Kwitowski said.
Mercyhurst Police and Safety
Chief Ken Sidun strongly
advised students to walk in
pairs or groups, stay aware oftheir surroundings and report
any suspicious activity to
campus police by calling 824-
2304.
To report any information
regarding the incidents, call Sgt.
John Holmes at 870-1503 or
Kwitowski at 870-1158.
Mercyhurst had not yet
released a Timely Notification
Bulletin as of Tuesday night.
By JoEllen Marsh
Managing editor
Read more news, features, artsand entertainment, opinion and
sports on the Web.Feel free to comment!
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NEWS: Year in ReviewPage 4 May 13, 2009
Michelle Spiegel photo
Around Halloween, freshman girls in Egan Hall were spooked by this image
caught on a Web cam. Residents told of their encounters with ghosts.
Scoot Williams photo
Frank Warren, the creator of PostSecret, spoke to an audience of
more than 750 people in December at Mercyhurst. Strangers sharetheir secrets with Warren, the most-trusted man in America.
Courtesy of Erie Times News
Former Mercyhurst College student
Teri Rhodes was sentenced to nine to
18 years in state prison for the
suffocation death of her newborn
daughter in August 2007. Rhodes at-
torney requested her sentence to bereduced, but her appeal was denied.
IRELAND
Dungarvan
Eries sister city
Dungarvan, Ireland,
is home to a new
Mercyhurst campus.
Mercyhurst students
will arrive for classes
in spring 2010.
Mercyhurst chose Parkhurst Dining
Services to provide the colleges
food services beginning in fall 2009.
Parkhurst was chosen for its food qualityand emphasis on sustainability.
Contributed photo
In October, Mercyhurst College communication students had the opportunity to
volunteer at a local political campaign and meet former New York City Mayor Rudy
Giuliani and former First Lady Laura Bush.
Brittani DeVore photo
Francis Warde Hall will be the new freshman residence hall for
incoming students in fall 2009. The dorm will also house a
convenience store and workout center.
Due to the countrys
financial situation,
the marriage and
family studies
concentration of thefamily and consumer
sciences program
will be phased out
over the next four
years at Mercyhurst.
This came as a shock
to faculty and
students.
Tyler Stauffer photo
September 2008 was
the last month for
the MSG Shuttle. The
college converted to
the EMTA to fit more
students and run
more routes.
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FEATURES Page 5May 13, 2009
In 12 days, 288 hours, and 17,280
minutes, Mercyhurst College seniors, the
Class of 2009 will graduate.
Although armed with four years ofeducation, the prospect of the real world
is daunting.
Some embrace this prospect
optimistically while others are more
apprehensive.
Many express sentiments similar to
those of Erik Penn, a social work major,
who said he will miss the people but am
ready to move forward with my life.
Commencement is an exciting and
anxious time for those moving into thereal world.
For some students, commencement
means entering the real world and
workforce.
Seniors will go on the hunt for a job
andg o o d
location to
work.
Many have
scheduled their
interviews, while
others wait to see
what life brings them.
As seniors enter the real
world, they are impacted by the
amount of independence and
responsibility they are about to
take on.
For other students, such as
Luis Sierra, a double major in
music
a n d
accounting,
commencement
means continuing aneducation.
While there are many
options for those who desire
to continue their education,
Sierra intends to continue his
education through Mercyhursts graduate
programs.
Whether entering the workforce or
continuing to receive an education,
graduating seniors are unsure of their
futures, but have the opportunity to
become independent as they enter the
world as educated professionals.As these seniors enter the real world,
many recall the memories they have
made throughout their four years at
Mercyhurst College.
For many, the friends they have made
in the past four years made everything
worthwhile and created unforgettable
experiences.
Penn remembers going on the MSG
trip to Chicago and playing dodgeball in
a league with his friends. When asked his best memory
from four years at Mercyhurst, Chris
VonVolkenberg, a major in music
education, responded, My friends would
have to tell you that one.
By Carolyn Carlins
Contributing writer
Seniors plan with one foot out the door
Two Mercyhurst College
communication students were part
of a client project for the Strategic
Communication II course, where they
were assigned to work with companies to
address problems they were having.
Seniors Matt Wallenhorst and GrigGrigoryan were assigned to the Erie
Community Blood Bank to create a
strategic communication plan to help
them increase blood donations.
The project lasted through spring term
with students being evaluated on their
outcomes.
Additionally, they had to do an
evaluation analysis and give a presentation
to the instructor of the class, Meghan
Corbin.
Director of the Community Blood
Bank Dan Desrochers compared
Wallenhorst and Grigoryans success
and hard work to that of a professional
marketing department.
To develop the plan a couple of
different strategies were used.
When we were developing our
strategies we tried to use things that
worked and eliminate those that didnt
work, Grigoryan said.Essentially we added few more
communication channels and tweaked the
message to fit students. We designed one
message for students and one for faculty,
he added.
Wallenhorst said they used many
different media to spread their
message.
Our strategy was to combine
Facebook messaging, on-campus signs
and posters and personal selling to try
to get people to attend, then out of
the people that came we had them fill
out a survey discussing their donor
experience, Wallenhorst said.
We targeted new blood donor
students, recurring blood donor students
and faculty and staff as our key publics,
he added.
When I was thinking on how to
promote the event I thought that if we
made more people aware by reachingthem with better messages we should be
successful, Grigoryan said.
Our objectives were to get 40
donors, collect e-mails from 90 percent
of participants and survey 40 percent
of donors to understand their perception
of CBBs customer service, he added.
The students campaign was very
successful.
I wasnt sure how much success
we were going to have because the
American Red Cross had a blood drive
exactly one week before ours, we made
goals that we thought we could reach and
were pleasantly surprised that we easily
achieved them, Wallenhorst said.
Wallenhorst and Grigoryan said they
were excited that they had far exceeded
their goals.
We are very pleased with our results.
The number of students that turned
out was phenomenal and we alsogathered some valuable information
from those who attended. I would
like to thank everyone for coming and
making the blood drive a success for
everyone, Wallenhorst said.
Grigoryan agreed.
We exceeded all our objectives. Total
68 people attended 59 people gave us
their e-mail address and we surveyed 50
percent of donors. So I think it was a big
success, he said.
By Jenna Golden
Contributing writerBlood drive driven to success
End of school has seniors thinking about future
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FEATURESPage 6 May 13, 2009
Summer is usually a time
to return home to homemade
cooking, high school friends
and nagging parents.But for some Mercyhurst
College students, summer is used
for relaxation and vacation.
For others; finding a job,
working and interning are
students top priorities.
Whichever route students
venture, summer is always
everyones favorite 10 week
term.
Erie native sophomore Erica
Beidler will be living at home
during the summer.
I have an athletic training
internship with the Erie
Seawolves, Beidler said.
And then, Im going tosee Dave Matthews Band in
Pittsburgh.
Not all students have the
option or desire to return
home.
Junior Sara Norris is staying
on campus for the summer and
working on the paint crew.
Sophomore health and fitness
promotion major, Richeal Forde,
is also working on campus.
My plans are to work at
the library; hopefully do some
clinical hours for my major,
take in some sun rays since we
dont get any at home and then
Im going home to Ireland inAugust, Forde said.
Junior marketing major Cara
Adamus will be fleeing Erie
for an internship at Penn State
University.
I will be working in marketing
and promotions for Magnum
Broadcasting in State College,
Pa., Adamus said.
Junior bio-chemistry major
Surafel Mulugeta will also be
involved with an internship.
This summer, I will be in
Nashville, Tenn., interning
at a pharmacology research
institute, Mulugeta said.
Christine Fink, a juniorinterior design major, will be
living in a townhouse in Erie and
interning at Legion Wholesale
Supply Co, a kitchen and bath
design supplier.
Graduating senior Matt
Wallenhorst will be looking for a
job and working at his previous
part-time job.
Taking a more relaxed
approach to summer, junior
Carrina Crow said, Ill just
spend time with friends and
family; most likely find a part-
time job and spend about 4
weeks [vacation] in Maine.
By Liz Maier
Staff writer
Sun sets on spring term, summer rises on horizon
Lunch $ 5
Dinner $ 5.50 11:30 a.m. -8 p.m.
Lunch $ 5
Dinner $ 5.50
Broccoli & Cheddar Bites
6 Sub $4 Combo $5
12 Sub $5.75 Combo $6.75
Make any sub a wrap for
no extra charge!
Wrap Combo- Veggie $5
Other Wraps $4
M
T
W
TH
F
S
Caesar Salad
Steel City Sandwich
Chicken Quesadilla
Gen. Tsos Chicken
Portabella & Red Pepper Wrap
BBQ Bacon Cheeseurger
M
T
W
TH
F
S
Meat Ravioli
Two Slices of Pizza
Home Style Potato Bowl
Sizzle Salad
Chicken Patty
Chicken Finger Sub
S Meatball Sub
Lunch $ 5
Dinner $ 5.50
Students ready for years end
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FEATURES Page 7May 13, 2009
Mercyhurst College freshman JoEllen
Marsh has two moms.
You have a donor, not a dad, my
moms always told me, Marsh said. We
didnt use the word father. We always
called him the donor.
Marsh said she always knew her family
structure was different.When I was little I would play house
with the nuclear family setup a mom,
dad and baby, she said. I understood
early that it wasnt the norm.
Marsh was home-schooled until the
seventh grade. When she entered public
school she was worried she might be made
fun of for her non-traditional family.
I was uncomfortable with a lot of
people knowing I have two moms, but by
ninth grade the nerves were gone, shesaid.
Marsh said she was never ridiculed.
Everyone was just curious, she said.
I never had any problems talking about
it.
When Marshs birth mother, Lucinda,
and her other mother Deneen, or Neen
as Marsh refers to her, decided they
wanted children, they turned to artificial
insemination.
They began researching the CaliforniaCryobank (CCB), a full-service sperm
bank providing a comprehensive
resource for frozen donor semen, private
semen cryopreservation and specialized
reproductive services, according to their
Web site.
They were one of the only cryobanks
that shipped directly to the mother,
Marsh said.
Lucinda and Neen chose Donor 150
because he was the only individual thatexplained himself as being spiritual,
soulful and creative, Marsh said.
From an early age Marshs parents
shared the information they had about
Donor 150.
I was always really curious about him,
she said.
When Marsh was 12, her grandmother
watched an episode of Oprah featuring
a Web site that helped donor children
connect to siblings.
Marsh, with the support of her family,
decided to sign up on the Donor Sibling
Registry, a site that seeks to assist
individuals conceived as a result of sperm,
egg or embryo donation that are seeking
to make mutually desired contact with
others with whom they share genetic ties,
the foundations Web site says.
It took two and a half years before I
received a response, Marsh said.
In August 2005, 14-year-old Marsh
received a letter from her half-sister,Danielle Pagano, who was 16 at the time.
I was ecstatic, Marsh said. This was
the first real connection to the other half
of my genetic background.
Marsh said finding Pagano was a relief.
It was amazing to know I wasnt alone,
to know someone else went through the
same thing as me, she said.
The girls began to e-mail regularly.
It was so strange, Marsh said. I think
we felt a connection from the beginning.Still, Marsh admitted she was nervous.
We had no guideline, no idea what we
should do, Marsh said. We didnt know
what the relationship should be like, but
we were excited.
It took several months before the
sisters felt comfortable enough to call
each other.
Shortly after the call, the sisters were
contacted by the New York Times. The
Times wanted to do a story on the successusing the DSR site.
The first time (Pagano) and I met was
to do the interview with the New York
Times, Marsh said. I can remember
standing in Penn Station looking at my
half sister for the first time.
Within five days of the New York
Times article, Hello, Im Your Sister. Our
Father Is Donor 150, landing on the front
page of the Sunday edition and over 300
publications around the world, the DSRsite crashed due to high volumes of traffic
and Marsh and Pagano were contacted by
three other siblings.
More half siblings continued to be
found in the following weeks.
We found out Donor 150 was a really
popular donor, Marsh said.
Although Marsh explained the
experience of meeting siblings for the first
time as strange, she said the excitement
was overwhelming
There was no time to think about
it, she said. We were so into it that we wanted to learn everything about each
other.
Marsh said the initial conversation with
newly-found siblings became easier.
I got better and better at the Hello,
Im your sister e-mail.
Marsh said her parents and the parents
of her siblings were very involved.
Some were suspicious, others just
excited, she said. They all understood
how amazing this was.
Of the siblings Marsh stays in contact
with, two single mothers, three sets of
lesbians and one heterosexual couple
make up their parents.
Marsh has met six siblings and knows
of six more. Some do not want to
come forward, others are too young to
understand, Marsh said.
Its normal to have so many donor
recipients come forward, Marsh said.Were actually a minimal number
compared to others.
Siblings werent the only relatives of
Marsh reading the Times. Jeffery Harrison
read the headline and choked on his
coffee.
He saw Donor 150 and California
Cryobank and knew we were his
daughters, Marsh said.
It would take a year and a half for
Harrison to contact the DSR and attemptto connect with his donor children.
Pagano received a call from the DSR
on Valentines Day 2007 explaining thatDonor 150 (Harrison) had come forward.
She immediately called Marsh and the two
decided to conference call Harrison the
next day.
We didnt even tell our parents, Marsh
said. We were so excited we couldnt
wait.
Their parents werent happy they made
the call without informing them, but the
conversation went well, Marsh said.
It went something like this: Hi, were
your daughters, Marsh said. Holy
moley was all he could say.
Since meeting her first sibling and
speaking with her donor father, Marsh
has stayed in regular contact with six of
her half siblings. She speaks to or e-mails
Harrison regularly and is in the process of
making plans to meet him.
Marsh said Harrisons more than my
hippie sperm donor father who lives in anRV on Venice Beach, Calif. with his two
dogs... Hes family, and I feel like I need
to meet him.
Marsh said she understands that
some people dont understand her
non-traditional family, but hopes those
individuals will try to be open-minded.
Were happy, she said. However
crazy, this new kind of family seems,
its meant a lot for us to have these
connections.
By Casey GreeneEditor in Chief
Donor 150s daughter unites with siblings
Marsh met five of her siblings after the New York Times ran an article on them.
Contributed photo
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 8 May 13, 2009
Original choreography displays talent
The Mercyhurst College
Dance Department held an
impromptu choreography show-
ing in the Dance Space in Zurn
Hall on Thursday, May 7.
The Close the Door pro-
gram showcased the talents of
Choreography II students ClaireHinde, Sarah Mastrocola and
Nicole Lyons.
Each choreographer has
been working hard all term to
put together an original com-
bination so they can show their
dances to the public for the first
time.
Each piece was very authen-
tic, and each dancer had the
chance to have their individualtalents shown off. They also
showed their strength as a
department as a whole, fresh-
man Rachel Reszler said.
The event was very well
attended for an informal show-
ing, with most of the members
coming out to support their
friends. They were very sup-
portive of the new choreogra-
phers.
I thought it was very pro-
fessionally done. Mercyhurst
should be proud of its dance
program, freshman dance
major Megan Dunphy said.Nicole Lyons presented her
work first, with a piece titled
Seven. It was a modern
take on the seven deadly sins.
There was no music for this
piece, and each dancer who
represented a different sin
delivered a coinciding mono-
logue.
Claire Hinde presented her
piece next, which was entitledNever a Sure Thing, and
included music by Dido and
Enya. Claire conveyed the feel-
ing of unreturned love and how
time can be spent wanting it.
She combined quick energetic
movements with slower, more
fluid ones to create a very deep
effect.
Sarah Mastrocola presented
the final piece, which was titled
To Let You GoA Work in
Progress, and included music
by GP~00, Faultline and Cold-
play. She tried to show how she
was working out loss, and thatyou have to go on living, while
letting go of the person you lost.
This was an extremely emotional
piece, which was conveyed by
the dancers lyrical movements
and facial expressions.
Overall, this was a great
beginning to the careers of Mer-
cyhursts young choreographers.
Lyons described it as a good
beginning that will lead to morechoreographic opportunities.
It was a good way to showcase
some of Mercyhursts talent.
By Alexandra StaceyStaff writer
Jennings explores summer job opportunities
So, I dont know if youve
heard but the economy
crashed. Break out Steinbecks
Grapes of Wrath with your
high school copy of Harper
Lees How to Kill a Mocking-
bird and start nodding your
head in full sympathetic under-
standing of their plight.OK, so it is not exactly the
Dust Bowl, but jobs are slim this
summer and tuition is going up
again. Youre going to need to get
work this summer. The awesome
thing about summer for most
people is a break from classes.
Unfortunately, this also means
that youre going to lose that work
study position where the govern-
ment pays you minimum wage
to do your homework. But Im
all for getting checks for as littleeffort as possible. After all, I am
a young AmericanI am defined
by my ability to slide by on my own
self-righteous philosophies that I
should neither have to struggle nor
suffer for anything in my life.
So, here are my top three jobs
that wont have you sweating
this summer:
Lifeguard If you can pass
the swimming and CPR tests,you can basically get paid to sit
in the sun, rest your eyes behind
your sunglasses and watch bath-
ing suit clad hotties stroll the
pool side. There is a chance that
someone could drown under
your watch because of your
immense irresponsibility but
life isnt perfect.
Yard work technician OK,
so I may have added technician at
the end just to make it sound fancy.
But if you can get some people inyour neighborhood to pay you to
do their lawn work you can set
your own hours and prices. It may
sound kind of juvenile and youll
probably get so caught up in those
summer parties that youll forget to
ever go out and make money lead-
ing to a lifetime of poverty but
life isnt perfect.
Babysitting A lot like the last
one with risk of juvenile titles, andit can be a really high-stress and
difficult job. However, if you do
some digging, there are a lot of
really rich young mothers that willpay you top dollar to watch their
infant sleep in her Burberry onesie.
You get to watch reruns of Sex
and the City while enjoying their
super expensive Pom Juice and
biscotti that you can never jus-
tify getting yourself at the super-
market. Youll probably have to
change disgusting diapers and she
might spit up all over your new
tank top butlife isnt perfect.I have to say I have little sympa-
thy for those of you trying to find
three-month employment. As a
young woman graduating in the worst economy in decades with
a degree in creative writingmy
future plans include serving coffee
and telling people that Im a poet.
But do your best and dont work
too hardas Im finding out you
have plenty of time for that.
And dont worry too much
about snagging enough cash to
make your life perfectyou can
always take out another loan thatyoull be paying back for the rest
of your life.
By Hazel Jennings
Staff writer
Tell us about your favorite concert
experiences this summer!
Pass along stories and photos (keep it clean) to
Well post the best responses in future issues.
The choreography show displayed not only the dancers talent
but also that of the student choreographers.
Rachel Reszler photo
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 9May 13, 2009
The Wrestler to be screened at PAC
As part of its award-winning
Guelcher Film Series, the Mary
DAngelo Performing Arts
Center will screen the Darren
Aronofsky film The Wrestler
on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:15
and 8 p.m.
Written by Robert Siegel, whoalso wrote the faux news docu-
mentary The Onion Movie,
The Wrestler stars Mickey
Rourke as an aging professional
wrestler determined not to give
up grappling despite its dimin-
ishing returns.
Rourke made sense for the
part because of his own lan-
guishing career. Since his star-
ring roles in romantic comediessuch as 1987s Barfly and
1989s Wild Orchids, little
had been made of the hard-
partying, self-destructive actor.
He had given up life on-screen
for some time in the 1990s in
order to train as a boxer, and
the truthfulness and authentic-
ity Rourke puts into the role are
evident.
Newsweek critic David Ansen
wrote that Rourkes playing of
Randy The Ram Robinson
is as perfect a casting call as
Humphrey Bogart in Casa-
blanca and Daniel Day-Lewis
in There Will Be Blood.Entertainment Weekly critic
Owen Gleiberman noted that
Rourkes acting, coupled with
the movies grainy, no-holds-
barred style of filming, tran-
scends the classic Hollywood
myth of a has-been looking for
redemption.
Rourke is in part so lovable
because of the people sur-
rounding him. He is consoledafter he has a heart attack by
his stripper girlfriend Cassidy
(Marisa Tomei, My Cousin
Vinny, Before the Devil
Knows Youre Dead) and
daughter Stephanie (Evan
Rachel Wood, Across the
Universe, Running With
Scissors), neither of whom
come across as stereotypes,
both deeply humanizing and
sympathizing individuals.
Randy The Ram Robin-
son is relegated to the third-
tier VFW halls that comprise a
down-and-out wrestlers tour
dates. The movies plot turnswhen Robinson attempts to set
up an in-ring re-match with his
1980s arch-nemesis, The Aya-
tollah.
Tomei and Rourke were both
nominated for Academy Awards
for their roles in The Wrestler.
Rourke was beat out by Sean
Penn, who starred in the biopic
Milk, which screened in the
PAC earlier this year. Tickets for The Wrestler
can be obtained at the PAC Box
Office before the screenings.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for
senior citizens and non-Mercy-
hurst students, $3 for Presidents
Card holders and free for Mer-
cyhurst students with student
ID.
The Guelcher Film Series will
continue to play at 2:15 and 8
p.m. on Wednesdays through
the end of school and into
summer vacation.
For those interested, the rest
of the years schedule is as fol-
lows. Frozen River will play
May 20. The documentary
Stranded will screen May 27.
Meryll Streep and Philip Sey-
mour Hoffman star in June 3s
Doubt, which was nominated
for five Oscars in 2009. This
years series is rounded out with
Moscow, Belgium on June 10.
By Kyle KingA&E Editor
Composer Farrar holds opera masterclass
The DAngelo Department
of Music recently held a master-
class titled Fairytales and Fan-
tasies on Thursday, May 7.
The class featured the Library
Director at St. Bonaventure
University Paul Spaeth and
Jordan Farrar, composer of theopera The Day Boy and The
Night Girl.
The audience was small,
and mainly consisted of
music students who wanted
to learn more about next
years opera.
Spaeth opened the class with
a discussion of George McDon-
ald, who wrote the original
novel The Day Boy and The
Night Girl. He discussed howMcDonald is one of the biggest
influences on fantasy writing,
most notably on J.R.R. Tolkein
and C.S. Lewis.
The plot of The Day Boy
and The Night Girl is about a
witch who raises two children in
opposite environments, with the
boy only knowing light, and the
girl only knowing the dark. They
eventually meet, and thoughtheir worlds are very different,
they fall in love.
Farrar has taken this classic
piece of Victorian Literature
and created an opera around it.
However, Farrar said, her opera
is a little darker than the original
story. She went on to talk about
differences that her opera has
with McDonalds original story,
and why she chose to make those
changes. She said it is really aboutparadox and the choices that the
characters make.
The Day Boy and The Night
Girl is being produced by the
After Dinner Opera Company,
which is in residence at Mercy-
hurst College. ADO has a his-
tory of producing new Ameri-
can operas. Louisa Jonason,
who is the head of ADO, as
well as the chair of the musicdepartment, said she listened
to many composers, and many
new operas, but Farrars music
was very different. She said, it
doesnt make any judgments, it
just presents, and the audience
can take what they want from
it.
The students involved in
the world premiere are very
excited. It will be interesting,
something new people haventseen before. Im confident that
it will be a great production,freshman Katie Wagner said.
By Alexandra StaceyStaff writer
HOUSES FOR RENT
Johnson & JohnsonProperties
Starting June 1, 2009
814-860-8817
The Wrestler will be shown on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:15
and 8 p.m. in the Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center.
pac.mercyhurst.edu
-
8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
10/16
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPage 10 May 13, 2009
Unknown artists from S to Z showcased
S is forStealing Summer
& Sun Domingo.
Stealing Summer is afour-piece band made up of
brothers Landon and GraysonSmith, Brad Hutcheson and Jon Taylor. Since forming in
2006, they have been touringand promoting non-stop, inhopes of releasing a full-length
album this year. Their firstsingle, Between You and Me,is currently available for down-
load on iTunes and the bandsMySpace page. Sun Domingo is a pro-
gressive rock trio. Much ofthe bands appeal is their lethal
combination of melodic guitar,introspective lyrics and time-less pop hooks. This combo isalso responsible for the bands
diverse fan base. They are cur-
rently touring in support oftheir 2008 full-length debut,The Worlds Alive.
T is forTaking Chances
& Tinted Windows.
Taking Chances is a
pop/rock band made up ofGerard Canonico, who was acast member of the Broadway
musical Spring Awakening from
2006 to 2009 and brothers Chris,Nick and Joe Salerno. Taking
Chancess music has noticeableska, reggae and acoustic influ-ences and is upbeat garage band
music. Taking Chances releasedtheir self-titled debut in 2008. Tinted Windows is an
alternative rock supergroupand pet project. The four bandmembers come from such
diverse acts that it automaticallystirs curiosity. Tinted Windowsfeatures Taylor Hanson from
Hanson on vocals, James Iha
from Smashing Pumpkins on
guitar, Adam Schlesinger fromFountains of Wayne on bassand Bun E. Carlos from Cheap
Trick on drums. Their debutalbum was released this pastApril.
U is forUntil June &
Ume.
Brothers Josh and Dan
Ballard started writing songs
together in high school, thenbegan playing in bands while
in college at Arizona State Uni-versity. The brothers eventuallymoved to Los Angeles, where
they found drummer DanielDempsey in 2005, complet-ing Until June. After countless
shows and lots of self-promo-tion, the band declared it makeor break time, stating they had
until June to get themselvesrecognized by a label. Ironi-cally, they inked a deal that June
and released an EP on iTunesa few months later. Their self-titled full-length debut is avail-
able now. Although Umes debut
album was released in 2005,
their showcase at this yearsSouth By Southwest (SXSW)
festival proved them to be areal contender in the competi-tive music industry. Fronted byan unassuming Lauren Larson,
Umes sound straddles the linebetween catchy 90s alt-popand dark, psych-infused ballads.
They have been compared tothe Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sonic Youth, but their Sunshower
EP puts them in a class all their
own.V is forVan Atta High &
Vedera.
Van Atta High beganas five friends in New Jersey.
They put out their first EP, Weare the Captivated, in 2006.The band, which is named after
the fictional high school fromthe TV show Full House,made its way around the New
Jersey pop/punk circuit before
making their national debut.
Van Atta High was invited tojoin the 2007 Vans WarpedTour solely due to internet traf-
fic and dedicated fans. Theirnewest EP is titled Run LikeHell and is available on iTunes
and CDbaby. Vedera is an indie rock
quartet originally called Veda.
The band then had to re-release
their debut album, The Weightof An Empty Room, under
their newfound handle. In sup-port of the album, they touredwith such acts as Mute Math and
Underoath. Their latest release,Stages EP, is available now.Vedera is currently touring with
the Plain White Ts, All-Ameri-can Rejects and labelmates TheFray.
W is forWheat. Wheat is the epitome of
low-key. Their dreamy, shoegaz-
ing music style is perfect forlounging around on a sunnyday. Wheat released their debut
album in 1998, a follow-up in1999 and then took a break. They also released albums in
2003 and 2007. Even with fourreleases, Wheat still remained
under the radar, but maintainedtheir independent fan base.This year, the band decided tore-release their 90s albums in
anticipation of their new springrelease.
X is forXO.
XO is the side projectof Jake and Jeff Turner of Say
Anything. Last year, the broth-
ers self-released a six song EPentitled Some Day. The EPfeatures both brothers taking
turns on vocals, guitar, bassand keyboard. Jeff Turnerplayed drums on the record-
ing.Y is forYou Me At Six.
You Me At Six started
out like most bands. Made up
of five friends from London,You Me At Six (YMA6) played
in garages and at house partiesfor a few years until MySpacehelped them grow their UK fan
base. Since 2007, the band hasbeen touring with bands suchas The Audition, Fall Out Boy,
Angels & Airwaves and NewFound Glory. This year, freshoff their showcase at SXSW,
You Me At Six will play select Warped Tour dates in supportof their newest release, Take
Off Your Colours.Z is forZack Hexum.
Zack Hexum is a singer/
songwriter from Los Angelesand the younger brother ofNick Hexum of 311. Hexum,
who plays both guitar and sax-ophone, released his debut in
2004. In 2006, his single HowMany Times was featured asan iTunes Single of the Week.His most recent album, Open
To Close, was released in 2007.Zack Hexum is currently work-ing on a few movies and televi-
sion shows, scoring and ghost-writing music.
By Casey HarvillaStaff writer
Ume is led by Lauren Larson with an alternative pop sound.
mishmashmagazine.com
Black Eyed PeasBoom Boom PowsHIP HOP
The Fray You Found Me ROCK
DOWNLOAD
I got the hit that beat the block / You can getthat bass overload / I got that rock and roll
/ That future flow. Their single has been onthe charts for weeks now at the number onespot. This is one of many of Black Eyed Peas
singles.
The Fray released their newest albumin late 2008, which has the single YouFound Me on it. Lost and insecure /you found me, you found me / Lyin on
the floor / Surrounded, surrounded / Whyd you have towait? Their succinct lyrics draw listenersin.Lady AntebellumI Run to YouCOUNTRYLady Antebellum released their debutself-titled album in 2008. Many singleshave come of the album, includingLove Dont Live Here Anymore,
Lookin for a Good Time and theirlatest single, I Run to You. With a male and femalesinger, their voices combine for an upbeat sound.
Their music is light and bound to put the listener in agood mood.
-
8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
11/16
OPINION Page 11May 13, 2009The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the v iews of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad
or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to [email protected].
@mercyhurst.edu
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The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of MercyhurstCollege. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception offinals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814)
824-2376.
The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signedand names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Lettersare due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at [email protected].
If you dont want it printed . . . dont let it happen.Editors
Casey Greene
JoEllen Marsh
Amanda Valauri
Javi Cubillos
Heather Donovan
Brad MoehringerSam Sellinger
Kyle King
Scoot Williams
Tyler Stauffer
Caitlin Bly
Gretchen Yori
Ashley Pastor
Bill Welch
Brian Sheridan
Positions
Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
News Editor
Features Editor
Opinion Editor
Sports EditorSports Editor
A&E
Photographer
Photographer
Advertising Manager
Copy Editor
General Assignment
Adviser
Adviser
The conflict between our
expectations of life, and the
actual consequences of it, can
make any person depressed.
Sometimes this conflict is due
to our over-expectation; othertimes, its forgetting the reality of
life that troubles us, crossing the
limits of possibility. I think this
is not only the case for an indi-
vidual person but for all humans
around the world, because we
are created by God (as most
religions dictate).
The conflict between the
dream and the reality came
from Adams and Eves lives,as well as Abrahams and
Moses. Virtually all charac-
ters in the Old Testament
receive specific tests from
God, but most do not succeed.
This emphasizes the difference
between God and humanity and
their power in terms of knowl-
edge and happiness beginning at
the time of Adam and Eve.
This quote byLouisa MayAlcott, Far away there in the
sunshine are my highest aspi-
rations. I may not reach them,
but I can look up and see
their beauty, believe in them
and follow where they lead,
portrays my purpose in life.
Alcotts quote means much to
me, because it inspires me to
achieve my ambitions.
Its not unnatural for a student
like me to have dreams
dreams to achieve some-
thing innovative and
extraordinary, so as to
contribute to society on
a global scale and not
merely to develop my
career. Unsurprisingly,
most people strive to
pursue higher education
with full dedication and
discipline.
I too, believe with-
out knowledge, making
dreams come true is like build-
ing castles in the air. Many
people call me childish; I how-
ever, dont feel intimidated by
their judgment.I think it is probably because
every activity I engage myself
in, I do with excessive zeal and
great interest. And it is because
of the way I was raised, I act
this way. I believe, all my child-
ish activities, or as I see it, my
devotion to my tasks, has helped
me to realize the responsibili-
ties of family, society, nation
and humanity.
I have involved myself in
community service since I wasyoung. I did not gain any spe-
cial treatment for my work
except great pleasure and
self-satisfaction.
I dont mean my faith has
been changed or my venture
for humanity has been accom-
plished but it taught me to trust,
to have faith and to sacrifice my
needs for the needs of others. It
may be just an initiation but its
also an ultimate source of inspi-
ration, to continue in the track
of humanity, not overlooking
my education, my intimate and
inborn faith and beliefs.
Now, I am at Mercyhurst to
complete my education with
excellent achievements. I am
enthusiastically looking for-
ward to creating my own plat-
form of success here and in my
future career.
I have heard and I believe
life is an extended journey, like
an odyssey. Every journey is
a new experience, a knowing
experience, a learning experi-
ence. Learning itself is an end-
less process. It cannot be mea-sured through grades or class
rank. These appear trivial in
the long run.
Learning is an ongoing pro-
cess of gaining knowledge
through diverse experiences.
Thus, every human being can
engage in this process because
every human being has expe-
riences of their own.
What I have achieved hasits own value in my life. My
desire to become a critically-
thinking individual and my
facing of lifes challenges with
zeal and enthusiasm, helps me
develop into a broad-minded,
innovative person.
And I wish my dedication,
motivation and innovative atti-
tude, as well as my experiences
in my life, will continue to boostmy academic and extracurricular
achievements at Mercyhurst.
This college, consistent with
its Catholic identity and Mercy
heritage is an institution where
every man and women can share
faith respectfully.
Consequently, it will also
equip me in my march ahead,
namely in my future career, for
I will have a deep understanding
of the core values and mission
statement for life.
Narayan Prasad Dhakal, is a
sophomore International Business
Major from Nepal.
He wants to do something great
in International Business and make a
difference, being a role model to others
who try to work hard in their lives, not
overlooking my sense of responsibility
towards my family, society, nation and
humanity as a whole.
His favorite aspects about Mer-
cyhurst: Strong student-faculty
bonds inspire students to realize the
human and spiritual values embedded
in everyday realities and to exercise
leadership in service toward a just
world the environment promotes
balance of mind, body and spirit, and
ultimately offers the opportunity to
develop a moral compass for authen-
tic living. I believe its really one of
the best places with opportunities to
grow as a person, to make amazing
friends, and to forge my own career
and community.
I have heard andI believe life is an
extended journey,like an odyssey. Narayan Prasad Dhakal
Building a platform for success
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8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
12/16
September 3, 2008OPINIONPage 12 May 13, 2009
Springfest was a hit thisyear, attracting hundredsto free food and fun oncampus. For those whodidnt make an appearance,
you may have paid for yourSpring Fest in keg fees and Aspirin, but fun was no-doubt had by all.
Seniors, its over. Houseparties, pizza for dinnerthree plus days a week,Sunday Fundays leaving youin bed by 8 p.m., using rock-paper-scissor to decide onclass attendance and seri-ously considering careers inkeg tapping... Its over.
Walks home from TheCornerstone and late nighttrips to CVS have recently
become dangerous. It feelsas though predators arelurking around every cor-ner. Watch out for thosetipsy tip-toers.
Please e-mail any suggestions to
The GB&U is a compilation of
student opinions.
I have heard many studentsthroughout my college careersay, Can I really make
a difference?As a senior, I know the fear
of stepping into the unknown;
I was at this point in my life twoyears ago when I graduated withmy Associates of Arts degree. It
is a time in our lives when welook at who we are and can re-
evaluate. I think we can all make
a difference, especially the soon-to-be graduates.
Why? Because, it is a brand
new slate, a new page in each
of our lives. I joined the 2009Graduation Pledge Committee,
because I care about how myfuture job will affect the worldaround me.
Will the company I workfor be one that is socially andenvironmentally aware? I worry
about this question. I want tograduate with the knowledgeI need to get a job, but also
with the lesson of change
Mercyhurst College has taughteach student.
We all, possibly without
knowing it, have been instilled by
Mercyhurst with the knowledgewe need to change the world.
Mercyhurst, in my opinion,leaves the challenge to us. Weall must take an ethics class
before leaving the gates of thecollege, not to be completelydriven nuts over whether there
is a right answer to some of themost complex problems of ourworld, but instead to open our
eyes to issues we will face.
To my fellow seniors whoonce asked yourselves during asocial ethics class, Can I really
make a difference? Or to the
student who heard about thesocial injustices of Darfur in a
random class discussion whoasked the same question, I thinkyou can, by thinking about the
choices you make in your careerand in your future endeavors.
You may not be able to save
the world by yourself, but youcan possibly save the worldby joining efforts with others
who care.
By Gretchen Beth Yori
Copy editor
My dad has just walked at histhird graduation. He received
his teaching certificate andgraduated with a 4.0 G.P.A.When I spoke to him I joked,
Get ready world herecomes Gary.
I started to think about how
my best friends would soon beexperiencing the same situationand how they are finally going
to be entering the real world.Conversations of fear anduncertainty partnered with
excitement and reminiscingof the past years here havebeen the recent obsession at
3907 Lewis.I know it is extremely clichto write a graduation article
but the difference is, I am notgraduating. I dont know thefears and anxiety my roommates
are experiencing as their collegecareers come to an end.
The past three years with
these people has made me growas a person. I have been forced
to grow up and trust people I
barely knew. These people have
become my family and havetaught me more than I everhave in a classroom. They have
taught me to let loose and havefun while we can. I have learnedto accept myself and laugh
at my mistakes. I have finallylearned to relax and no matterwhat happens, things will always
end up OK. Theyve taught me Iwill survive whatever life throwsat me, because I dont have any
other choice.I have memories that will
stay with me the rest of my life
and undoubtedly, will make melaugh forever.
So, as the year finally winds
down, I want to thank myfriends for being themselves,for sticking by my side
through everything.I want to use this opportunityto let them know they are going
to be great and successful. I want them to know they havemade my first three years at this
school amazing and much easierto endure.
I want to wish all of the
graduating seniors all of theluck in the world. It is your time
to shine.
By JordanZangaroStaff writer
Its spring.
Youre in your car, windowsdown, the radio playing faintly inthe background and a sly smile
creeps across your face. Yourealize you no longer have tosit in another college classroom
again. Youve pulled into yourdriveway you are finally home. Your parents greet you with
open arms and Scout, the familydog, is licking your face; youtake your suitcase upstairs and
into your childhood bedroom.Reality sets in; youre jobless
and have moved in with your
family. This is the reality manycollege seniors face. Getting
rid of the college mentalityand living at home for the firsttime in four years puts you in atemporary coma.
It can be a scary time, buta time to appreciate what theword family means. They are
your rock; the one thing thathas kept you sane. Your dad wasthere to pick you up after you
fell off your bike. Your mom
was there for helpful tips on life
and a hug when you felt your
world was falling apart. Youmay think your siblings werethere to torment you, but as you
grow older, theyve become yourbest friends.
We all take our families for
granted, but appreciation setsin during college when yourealize your family is too far
away to help out with the littlethings. Every late night phonecall when you fought with a
roommate, trips to see you onthe weekends, care packagesbefore midterms and a helping
hand moving in and out of yourapartment are all moments wehave had.
So, stepping into your houseafter the graduation hats havefallen, you need to be thankful
your family is welcoming youhome. Welcoming you back intoa life unfamiliar yet refreshing.
Times may be tough and thejob search at a standstill, butone thing is for certain, your
family will always be there. Theywill even support you while yousack out and become a couch
potato for a few months whilethe classified ads become your
daily read.
By Caitlin BlyAd manager
Thanking those whomade you who you are
Moving back homeAppreciating new roommates
Keeping with Mercyhurst valuesGraduates consider future choice repercussions
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8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
13/16
Baseball.......................................................May 6,W 14-13 Mansfield
May 7,W 9-2 Kulztown, L 16-2 West Chester
Womens Lacrosse ................................May 9, L 17-11Lock Haven
Baseball Earns First NCAA Berth Since 2000The Mercyhurst College baseball team will continue its season as
the 28 nationally ranked Laker will continue on to the NCAA II
Atlantic Region Tournament. This is the first time since 2000 that
the Lakers have been in the NCAA tournament. The Lakers are the
fourth-seed in the Atlantic region which will take place on May 14-
18 at Kulztown University.
Rowing Wins Three Golds At Dad Vail Regatta
The Mercyhurst College rowing team won three gold medals at theDad Vail Regatta. This is the best performance at this regatta. The
golds were won by the womens eight, the mens lightweight four
won the second gold and the third gold went to the mens pair.
Jeff Stoll-BaseballMercyhurst Colleges senior baseball player Jeff Stoll batted .461
with a home run and eight RBIs in three games against West Ches-
ter University of Pennsylvania, Mansfield University of Pennsyl-vania and Kutztown University. His performance helped to power
the Lakers to a second place performance in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference Playoffs.
Kriste Jennings-Womens LacrosseMercyhurst College junior attack-man Kriste Jennings scored three
goals and chipped in one assist in the Lakers first NCAA appear-
ance for womens lacrosse. The Lakers unfortunately lost in this first
appearance 17-11 to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. Jen-
nings finished the year with 41 goals, 22 assist and 63 points.
Golden weekend for rowers
Three gold medals came
home with the Mercyhurst
College mens and womens
rowing teams from Dad Vails
this weekend, the most ever
claimed by Mercyhurst crews in
the history of the program.
The regatta was the mens
equivalent to a championship,
because they are not included in
the NCAA.Its one of those days where
you want everything to slow
down, because you dont get too
many of these in your life, head
coach Adrain Spracklen said.
Due to weather conditions,
the order of events was reversed,
causing the Mercyhurst victories
to begin when the womens
varsity eight avenged last weeks
loss to Grand Valley StateUniversity (GVSU).
They entered Saturdays final
in first after an inspiring time
trial and repeated the results
when junior Leah Niecgorski
set the rate to nudge ahead of
GVSU by just three seconds
with a time of 6:50.200.
The womens four barely
missed out on a spot in the
finals by less than one second
when they caught third in the
semis.
Next came the mens
lightweight four, which defended
their unbeaten status when theysnatched gold in the event for
the second straight year.
They had a decisive five-
second lead over Berkley at
6:45.004 and crushed Brock
University, Drexel University,
Emory University and Saint
Joseph University along the
way.
Three of this crews members
were in last years winning four
as well and will likely continue
on to compete overseas at the
Henley Royal Regatta in July.
In the pair event, Stanislov
Kostic and Michael Orzolekclaimed the third and final gold
of the day.
Kostic, who was the fourth
member of last years light four,
and Orzolek, who took silver in
this event last year, synchronized
their skills to finish at 7:21.320
Now the women will
await their bid to the NCAA
championship, held in Camden,
N.J. from May 30-June 1.
By Anne Sobol
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst College rowing womens eight looks to con-
tinue its dominance in the NCAA championship.
Photo by Sports Information
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8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
14/16
SPORTSPage 14 May 13, 2009
Anxiously awaiting for the
NCAA bids to the Division II
Womens Lacrosse Champion-
ship to be announced, fifth-
ranked Mercyhurst College
knew they had a good shot at
getting one of the few trips to
the playoffs that would take
place at various sites around the
country the following week.
With great anticipation the
team finally was greeted with
great news from Coach Cecil
Pilson that they would, in fact,
be the first group of women
to take Mercyhurst College to
the NCAA Womens Lacrosse
Championships in the historyof the program.
As the excitement and joyful
cheers died down, each girl came
to the realization that the many
hours of hard work they had put
in over the course of the season
were really paying off in the end.
With only one week to prepare
for the battle in the first round
against Lock Haven University
of Pennsylvania, the women
started the mental and physicalpreparations right away.
It was a really big deal to
all of us because our program
had never been to the NCAAs
before, senior Katy Miller said.
Our coach really emphasized
that no other team had done
this before in the schools his-
tory, and it really was an exciting
moment for all of us to focus
on.
The Lakers did not change what they were doing each day
in practice, but simply focused
more on utilizing every moment
they had on the field to work on
their game.
After we found out we were
going to the tournament, there
was a switch that went off with
everyone, senior Alicia Guzzo
said. At first we didnt know if
we were going to be going or
not and everyone was waiting tohear, but after we heard, every-
one was really dedicated to prac-
ticing and using every moment
we had to help us in preparing
to win.
The women prepared for one
week at home on the Lakers
turf before traveling across the
state to play Lock Haven this
past weekend.
With the team ready to play
and a great day for a lacrossematch, the women were ready
to take on Lock Haven by
storm. We were shooting over
70 percent in the first half of
play, Guzzo said, But we were
down by three in the first half,
and we brought it back up to a
tie before half time.
Each moment was taken in
as the women pushed through
every sprint up and down the
field, each defensive block, and
each shot taken to prove that
Mercyhurst deserved to win the
game.
Unfortunately, despite the
tough effort given by each
player on the team, the Lakers
were defeated 17-11.
Many of the players said the
score does not reflect the effortthat was put out on the field in
the last game of the year for the
Lakers. We never once put our
heads down, said Guzzo.
With a well-deserved NCAA
bid to end the season this
year, the women can only look
forward to preparing for next
year as they hopefully carry on
the tradition of post-season
play.
Eagles fl y past Lakers 17-11By Katie WaldinStaff writer
Im not manic depressive, but
I know exactly how it feels. OnMonday night, I was screaming
at my TV in a fit of jubilation.
Half an hour later, I was staring
at the screen in silence, words
unable to express my immediate
condition.
My team lost, the night was
ruined. Tonight is the last chance
to make up for it. At around
10 p.m., Ill be exploding with
joy at the prospect of another
series, another chance to see my
team play. Or, the option I dont
enjoy considering, Ill be quieted
into a painfully long summer of
loss, an offseason without the
35 pound., 116-year-old towerof names, also known as the
Stanley Cup, belonging to my
team.
Such is life for a fan in the
NHL playoffs. Watching a team
for 82 games is a rite of passage
that allows one to call the players
on that roster and the logo on
that jersey their own.
After that, what makes one a
fan is the perseverance to come
back.
Come back after a 6-0 rout
that made your team look like
a pile of teenagers in a pick-up
game.
Come back after theDecember and January that
knocked your team down to
10th in the conference and
made you almost turn off the
TV during every game.
Come back after the season
ends in defeat, whether in the
regular season or, arguably
more difficult to deal with, in
the playoffs.
Lets face it. Every team, every
fanbase except one goes into the
middle of June as losers. You
dont have to be Dr. Redmond
to know those statistics just
arent so good for you to end
up happy come seasons end.So why come back? Sometimes,
I honestly could not have an
answer.
Today, Ill say that when your
season depends on the bounce
of a 6 ounce. vulcanized rubber
circle, you want to be there to
watch it.
Win or lose, in the end its
better than not being there at all.
Your red badge of courage is that
loss that was so heartbreakingly
brutal, so unbelievably hard to
bear that the only thing that
makes it better is winning later.
It sucks sometimes to be a fan.
However, there is no feeling likeseeing a game-winning goal in
overtime. None.
Thats why I come back. So,
if you live in the first Wayne
building, I apologize in advance
for what you may witness. If
you have nothing better to do
tonight, turn on your TV and go
to FSN Pittsburgh, Channel 24.
Pick a team, and root for them.
Witness your fanhood begin.
By Devon SwansonSports columnist
The heartbreaks, joys of being a fan during the playoffs
The Mercyhurst College womens lacrosse team made their first NCAA tournament appearance
in school history, but were defeated by Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania losing 17-11.
Jim Cooper photo
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8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
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SPORTS Page 15May 13, 2009
Trio leading Lakers into NCAA tourney
The 2008 season for the Mer-
cyhurst College baseball team
ended with a 27-25 record, and
the team failed to make the con-
ference playoffs.
It was also the eighth season
in a row that the Lakers had
failed to make it to the NCAA
tournament.
The Lakers season posted a
team batting average of .292,
hit 19 home runs and were out-
scored 243 to 233 by their oppo-
nents in total runs scored.
It was obvious the Lakers were
in desperate need of an offensive
boost to break their eight-year
drought without a NCAA tour-
nament appearance. The Lakers of 2009 found
this offensive boost, and the
key to this recent jump has been
the offensive play of freshman
Ethan Santora and seniors Jeff
Stoll and Jamie Walczak.
Those guys have been unbe-
lievable all year. They have
brought us the production and
leadership all year and thats what
makes them invaluable players,
head coach Joe Spano said.
Santora brought a noticeable
offensive presence in the Lakers
lineup batting .373 with a Mercy-
hurst record-tying 16 home runs
and 51 RBIs.
He is offensively a juggernaut.
I knew he was going to be good,
but he has definitely exceeded
our expectations, Spano said.
Stoll, who last year only
appeared in five games due to
injury, was tremendous, batting
.533 and hitting two home runs
in only 15 at-bats.
Starting 48 games this year,
Stoll has hit .370 with 13 home
runs and has batted in a team
leading 65 runs.
Walczak has been a tremen-
dous offensive boost for the
Lakers batting .379 with six
home runs and 34 RBIs.
Walczaks 74 hits this season
ties him for the most hits in a
single season for the Lakers, and
he is currently third all-time on
hits with 213 in his career.
He is also a key reliever for the
Lakers as he has a 1.06 ERA with
his 93 mph fastball.
Jamie has been a game
changer since he came here, he
has the ability to change the game
at any moment with his bat, arm
or legs. He has by far been our
MVP, Spano said.
These seniors are happy to
be able to break the drought ofNCAA tournament appearances
and leave their mark on the pro-
gram.
It feels great for our class to
be playing like we are, especially
as tight knit of a team as we are
and it has been great for me to
be able to come back from injury
and perform like I have, Stoll
said.
Consequently, the Lakersoffensive numbers have jumped
considerably from last years
totals with the team batting aver-
age at .325 with 49 home runs.
Lakers have outscored oppo-
nents 390 to 241, compiling a
35-15 record for the season and
made the NCAA tournament
for the first time in eight years
at Kutztown University on May
14-16.
By Nick GlasierStaff writer
When all else fails, avoid watching your team
Last issue picks time! Chicagohas already moved on to the
next round. Detroit will join
them soon. Detroit simply has
too much going their way and
will stifle the young talent in six
games.
Pittsburgh is going to win this
series. Even if they dont, Ill be
in denial with all the Hartford
fans waiting through this long
off-season.
The Pens beat the Hurricanes
or the Bruins in 7. Then the
Penguins pour on the offense,
besting Detroit in 6 games.
Why am I so sure? I havea prediction. Not just any
prediction, this one has been
going for the past 8 years, when
the lockout was first looming.
I predicted the lockout would
take most of a season, resulting
in a salary cap and plenty of
free agency. The Penguins,
having a tiny salary, would pick
up some big names, let them gel
and then have success. Before
Crosby, Malkin or Fleury were
on the radar, I said, and I quote,
Im calling it now, Pittsburgh
Penguins, 2009 Stanley Cup
Champions. We go deep in 08and win it in 09.
In hindsight, I wish I would
have printed up the T-shirts just
for effectnot that Id ever
wear them. It appears that the
hockey gods do not look kindly
upon this prediction.
It seems that when I watch, the
Penguins lose. Game 6 against
the Flyers, I turn on the radio,
the Flyers score three times in
five minutes. I turn it off. We
win. Game 2, Im at Buffalo
Wild Wings watching the game,
and when I covered my face
and said I cant watch, wescored. Game 3, I just refused
to watch. I accepted the reality
that I was bad luck. I chose to
sleep instead. This plan worked
perfectly as we won.
Game 4 went the same ways
with another Penguins win.
Game 5, I was sick and didnt
watch and what do you know we
won. Game 6, I have troubles
falling asleep, the Penguins fall
in overtime. I guarantee you; Ill
be napping Wednesday evening
for Game 7.
My latest hypothesis is that I
can have my prediction, or I canwatch the games, but I cannot
see my prediction come true.
But all fans are superstitious,
hockey fans especially. Ask any
goalie. We need to be. Its all
part of what the game is about.
So I conclude the year with:
keep cheering, keep loving and
keep hockey near to your heart.
Im off to sacrifice some nachos
in hopes to change my fortune.
By John BaronowskiSports columnist
From righ to left Senior Jamie Walczak, freshman Ethan Santora and senior Jeff Stoll the trio
combined for a .374 batting average, 35 home runs and 150 RBIs.
Tyler Stauffer photo
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8/6/2019 The Merciad, May 13, 2009
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Sports: Year in Review
Top left: Junior Elliot Englemann (50) goes up for a
basket in Mercyhursts 59-57 loss to cross-town rival
Gannon, Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Mercyhurst Athletic
Center.
Top right: Junior Steve Grife (14) delivers a pitch during
his no-hit performance in a 6-0 victory over Lake Erie Col-
lege at Mercyhurst College on April 4.
Bottom: Sophomore Justine Smith, left, and senior Jenna
Matson, right, go up for a block against California Univer-
sity on Sept. 9 in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
For more highlights from Year in Review, check
us out at the Web site:
www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Scoot Williams photo
Tyler Stauffer photo
Scoot Williams photo