The Merciad March 17 Issue

Merciad THE

MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

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W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 1 7, 2 0 2 1

News ................2-5 Features...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion........ 12-13 Sports ......... 14-15 Laker Living.......16 |

VOL. 94 NO. 13

To reduce the spread of germs, please take this copy with you or recycle after reading.

Habitat’s Campus Cleanup PAGE 8

Online poll results

We asked: Where is your

favorite place to get coffee?

Starbucks Tim Hortons

6: Innovation Beehive Network expands project, gains lab

Local shop or bust

10: 19th annual Literary Festival goes virtual over Zoom and Facebook

Dunkin Donuts

15: Softball take three of four against Clarion

PAGE 2

This week’s

POLL

How do you spend your days off?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

NEWS

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Merciad meets with interim president Joseph Necastro

By Marina Boyle Editor-in-chief

As of March 18, Joe NeCastro ’78 has been approved by the Mercyhurst Board of Trustees as the interim president of the institution. The Merciad sat down with NeCastro to get to know the man who will be the face of Mercyhurst during the search for our next president.

NeCastro is an alumnus of Mercyhurst who got his undergraduate degree in accounting. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, he now lives in Cleveland with his wife Barbara and splits his time between Mercyhurst and his family home.

NeCastro also has three adult children and a dog.

NeCastro spent most of his life after college developing his career, but again became involved with the Hurst about 15 years ago when he joined the university’s Business Advisory Board. In 2011, NeCastro joined the Board of Trustees.

“At our recent quarterly Trustees’ meeting, a vote was approved to name me interim president of

the university until the presidential search is completed and we welcome a new president,” NeCastro said.

Current board vice-chairs, Sister JoAnne Courneen ’64 RSM and Yvonne Maher ’93, will serve as co-chairs of the board for the duration of NeCastro’s tenure.

NeCastro told the Merciad that he was most happy to be back on campus because of the place Mercyhurst holds in his heart.

“Mercyhurst was a very important time in my life. Mercyhurst makes a difference in people’s lives and I am no exception. I am here because I think Mercyhurst can make a difference to others.”

Like many alumni, NeCastro’s favorite memory of the Hurst is the friendship and community he found here.

“I made two lifelong friends at the Hurst – my best friend George and fellow board member Patrick Weschler,” NeCastro said.

NeCastro also fondly remembers getting involved with Student Government in his junior and senior years, which he said drew him “out of his comfort zone and

accounting major stereotypes” to open his eyes to leadership opportunities and the difference a good leader can make.

When asked what he hopes to achieve during his time as interim president, NeCastro humbly replied that his main goal is “not to screw anything up.” But, alongside this goal, he hopes to simply ensure a smooth transition from the retirement of President Victor to our next president.

“I want to maintain a sense of calm and ease. I am also focused on keeping the momentum of Mercyhurst going so that we do not lose any of the progress made under President Victor,” NeCastro said.

Finally, NeCastro spoke about what he is looking for in our next president.

“I am looking for somebody who reflects the mission of the Contributed photo school and the Sisters. Mercyhurst is a very special place that can’t Joseph NeCastro was recently voted as interim president of Mercyjust be entrusted to anyone,” said hurst University while the search for a new president continues.

NeCastro. “Because I am such a big fan of Mercyhurst I am committed to finding someone who our students.” will create the best experience for Welcome back, Joe NeCastro!

Celebrating Women’s History Month with HurstHirstory26 social media

By Ashley Barletta

Staff writer

Women’s History Month has arrived. Though women who made a difference are always important to remember, now is a time to really reflect on the powerful women in history who have helped make the lives of women today better. Women’s History Month is an annually declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

To promote Women’s History Month, the History Department here at Mercyhurst has been sharing one video each day with information about a woman or a women’s organization. These videos were submitted by history majors and minors. The women who they have chosen to feature have impacted their lives, personally or professionally, in some meaningful way.

So far, there have been videos about iconic figures like Joan of Arc, Clara Barton, Bridget Mason, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

Assistant professor of History, Averill Earls, Ph.D., describes this project.

“Lily Smith (the Department

Social Media & Recruitment Specialist) and I are running a social media campaign to share stories of women/women’s organizations from history,” said Earls.

“We sent out a call to students to submit their favorite stories and we’ve gotten fabulous short videos about all kinds of women that students have learned about in their history classes. I’ve actually been delightfully surprised by the range of people highlighted. We’ve learned so much about

Emmeline Pankhurst, Claudette Colvin, Rani Lakshmibai and so many more.”

Emmeline Pankhurst was a women’s rights activist in the UK. She was involved in politics and helped women secure the right to vote. Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, also known as the suffragettes, in 1903.

Claudette Colvin was the first Black woman arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a

white woman. When she denied the woman the bus seat in 1955 Montgomery, she was 15 years old and pregnant.

Colvin paved the way for Rosa Parks to initiate the Montgomery bus boycott.

Rani Lakshmibai was an Indian queen who ruled the state of Jhansi. She was a leading figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Her resistance to the British Raj Kingdom impacted and inspired many.

Recognition for this social me-

dia campaign has stemmed beyond Mercyhurst and received local news attention from YourErie. com.

Reporter Fontain Glenn spoke with Smith about the project and even encouraged community members to get involved with the campaign by sending any of the Mercyhurst history accounts a direct message with their story of an inspiring woman.

An article on the Mercyhurst website highlights the importance of recognizing women’s accomplishments throughout history, especially those who pioneered the way for the election of the first woman vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris.

According to the article, these women include Victoria Woodhall, Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Geraldine Ferraro and Stacey Abrams, along with many more. A description of what these courageous women did can be found within the article.

To participate in this social media campaign, submit a video of your own about a woman who has inspired you to any of the HurstHistory26 social media accounts.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

NEWS

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Governor Wolf announces new changes to PA travel guidelines

By Trey Catalano

Contributing writer

On March 1 Governor Tom Wolf revised the mitigation order on gatherings and lifted outof-state travel restrictions for the state of Pennsylvania. Under these new provisions, one no longer needs a negative COVID test to enter the state, or to fulfill a ten-day quarantine upon entering PA. “Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” said Governor Wolf. “The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the mitigation efforts we have in place. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene are making a difference and need to continue even as we see more and more people fully vaccinated. We need to balance protect-

ing public health with leading the state to a robust economic recovery. We are lifting mitigation efforts only when we believe it is safe to do so.”

Executive Director of Wellness for Campus and Director of the Cohen Health Center, Judy Smith, Ph.D., offered some insight into how this change could potentially affect students.

“I think that students from nearby states will find it alleviates some pressure if they decide to go home to visit for a weekend as they will not be faced with having to obtain test results in a certain period of time or quarantine,” said Smith. “On the other hand, we have seen situations where roommates express significant concerns when they realize a roommate is going out of state and then coming straight back into the shared living environment. These students may find it

frustrating that the state no longer requires their roommate to test or quarantine before moving back into the shared housing.”

Even with these lifted precautions, Governor Wolf, along with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) cautioned against unnecessary travel.

According to the CDC web page on travel during COVID-19, one should consider factors such as if they live with someone who is at an increased risk of complications due to COVID-19, if hospitals are operating at or above capacity and the methods of transportation one plans to utilize, among other things, before considering travel.

Smith echoed this sentiment.

“The CDC continues to emphasize not traveling if at all possible. We need to be careful that students do not become confused and think that since PA

got out of the business of trying to set regulations restricting travel that this means travel is now considered safe,” said Smith.

“A key statement in the current CDC guidance to the public remains: ‘Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time. Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.’”

As these mitigation strategies were set forth by the Pennsylvania state government, Smith discussed how Mercyhurst will be continuing its COVID precautions.

“We have historically done our best to support compliance with PA travel restrictions when they were in place. However, even before they were, our mitigation strategies emphasized healthy habits such as social distancing,

cleaning/disinfecting, and masking, among others,” said Smith.

“We will continue to follow the above mitigation strategies and to encourage students to not travel outside of Erie during the semester if it can be avoided.”

For those who may have to travel for emergency circumstances, athletics, or other necessities, this change may be a welcome relief.

Smith cautions that decreasing the flow of people in and out of the campus can help to avoid exposure to other communities.

“We know how important it is for students and families to make sure that conditions on campus remain safe and that the semester goes well. And we count on the support of the overall campus community to help us with this,” Smith said.

Family Weekend traditions continue with virtual events and performances

By Samantha Weber

Staff writer

It is that time of the year again: Mercyhurst University’s annual Family Weekend. This is a time to celebrate our wider Laker family with activities for all who are connected to the Hurst.

This year, the celebration will occur from March 26-28. Additionally, the weekend will be all virtual, as outside visitors are not permitted on campus due to COVID-19 restrictions. By moving these activities online, Lakers and their families can connect virtually while still maintaining their health.

Students and families can register for the weekend on the Family Weekend Tab on the Mercyhurst website. This is where information about all the weekend’s events can be found. When registering, make sure to select all the events you would like to attend, that way the organizers of this event can get the right link to you before the event begins.

Multicultural/ Student Activities Council (MAC/SAC) Chair, Braeden Barnett talked to the Merciad about the unique situation regarding Family Weekend this year due to COVID. “This year many families have not been able to visit their children at campus, so this is a way to bring the Mercyhurst spirit home to them.”

The famous saying for students who go to Mercyhurst, “Hurst is Home,” is taking on a new mean-

ing for Family Weekend with “Hurst from Home,” as that is where the families will be joining us from.

Activities and Spirit Coordinator, Sam Beckas, talks about why she thinks it is important for students to get involved.

“Just like any other weekend, this is an opportunity for students to take a break from their homework and participate in something fun.”

This weekend is supposed to act as a break from any stresses that students might be facing at that time.

There will be family-friendly events each evening throughout the weekend along with a few during the day. There will be both synchronous and asynchronous opportunities for both the

Friday and Saturday nights. This particular weekend the only difference is that the events they have planned will be available for families to participate in as well.

The second day of events on March 27 includes a Young Alumni Panel, which entails recent graduates talk about how their experience at Mercyhurst has helped them in their recent graduate life.

Additionally, throughout the day, there will be multiple activities that will be hosted by the different departments here at Mercyhurst.

Later in the day, Mercyhurst Bingo will take place at 8 p.m.

MU Bingo is Mercyhurst themed and gives students and their famistudents and their families to at- lies the chance to win cool prizes.

On the third day, March 28, tend if they are busy during the there will be a live stream Mass day.

There is also the ability to sign up for the events that you want to attend and/or are able to attend in advance.

“Sadly, last year we had to cancel family weekend due to COVID-19, but this year we have been able to recover many aspects of it, such as the Rudos Magic Show and Mercyhurst Bingo,” said Barnett. “These traditions tend to be family favorites.”

The first event will be March 16 and it is a show by a father-son comedy magician duo, the Rudos, offered through MAC/SAC. MAC/SAC programmers are in charge of planning weekend events every weekend on both

for Psalm Sunday at 11 a.m. That night, there is a special showing of the film “That Thing You Do,” part of which was filmed on Mercyhurst’s campus.

There is also a 2021 Family Weekend shirt that is available for purchase before the weekend. This year, the shirts are free for students and families who are attending the events during the weekend. They just have to reserve their shirts at the Family Weekend Tab on Mercyhurst’s web page.

For more information or visit www.mercyhurst.edu/family-weekend.

If anyone has any questions about Family Weekend, feel free to reach out to Sam Beckas at sbeckas@mercyhurst.edu.

NEWS

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Cyber security gets recognized Merciad IN A MINUTE

By RayLynn Chraston

Laker Leaders wanted Want to help freshmen have a successful transition to college life?

Look no further than Laker Leaders.

Applications are out now to become a Laker Leader for the 2021-2022 academic year. Check out the HUB for more information and how to apply.

The application deadline has been extended to March 22.

Tune in to Sarah Thomas On March 22 the annual spring MSG Speaker Series will kick off with special guest Sarah Thomas.

Thomas is the NFL’s first female official who will be sharing her story about her journey in a maledominated field, among many other topics.

Use Zoom meeting ID 949 8717 0812 with passcode 437342 to attend.

Event phase update RSCOs are now operating under the Phase 2 model for events, meaning that some in-person events are allowed to occur.

Keep in mind that social distancing practices should still be continued.

For further details on how this may effect your club or organization, visit the RSCO page on the HUB.

Service fair FlipGrids live The Post-Graduate Service Fair is live on the HUB! If you are thinking about committing yourself to service after graduation, consider checking out the available FlipGrids to learn more about different organizations that could gladly use your help.

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events?

Email us at newsmerciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Staff writer

Intelligent.com, a free and privately-supported website which brings forth unbiased, accurate and fact-based information on a wide range of issues for its viewers has named Mercyhurst as having one of the best cyber security programs in the nation. The 2021 rankings on Best Master’s in Internet Security analyzed 160 schools with only 50 making the final list, including Mercyhurst University.

This program has been growing in recent years, launching an undergrad program in 2019 that has grown from 63 to 138 students since its beginning.

The Cyber Security master’s program here at Mercyhurst is seen as one of the best in the nation due to the way that the classes are formatted.

“This is a one-of-a-kind program where students coming in are not expected to have an extensive background in Computer Science and can learn all the concepts from introductory ones to advanced ones within two years,” said professor and co-developer of the Master’s program, Christopher Mansour, Ph.D. “It is special because the faculty in this program also dedicate a lot of attention to student learning and experience.”

The fact that the professors who are involved with this program devote much of their time to their students is very important. They want to see them succeed and that should say something about Mercyhurst and the program itself.

For graduate students currently enrolled, this program is opening up many opportunities for them.

For instance, this degree allows the possibility of being promoted

in a job or ability to switch their career if they see fit.

The Cyber Security program also may help a student pair their current line of study with the cyber security field.

“Cyber security is needed and applicable in a lot of industries,” said Mansour. “Mercyhurst is seeing record enrollments in the major.”

Additionally, this program here at Mercyhurst allows students to become part of one of the fastest growing employment sectors.

“The unemployment rate in the field of cyber security is zero percent and there is a huge demand for people in this field. Jobs pay really well, sometimes starting with six figures,” Mansour said.

This actively demonstrates the importance of the field and the opportunities provided for students currently in the program.

Having a zero percent unemployment rate in the field guarantees the graduate students a job after graduation.

According to Mansour, the cyber security program is one of the greatest programs that Mercyhurst currently offers. “[The program] follow[s] the mission of the Sisters in preparing students to be well-knowledgeable and equipped with the necessary skill set needed to protect the personal information of people in our society, companies in our society and our nation from bad actors,” said Mansour.

The nation’s future prosperity depends on a workforce trained in the latest tools and skills in cybersecurity. More information can be found on the department’s web page on the Mercyhurst site.

Three students recognized with prestigious award nominations

By Madeleine Plourde

Contributing writer

Among the many student-focused programs here at Mercyhurst University sits the Prestigious Awards Program. The Prestigious Awards Program exists to help some of the exceptional students here apply for some of the most competitive scholarships and awards nationally and internationally.

These awards are for both undergraduate and graduate students, helping them be able to study and research at some of the most prestigious schools in the world.

The second goal of the Prestigious Awards Program is to help groom and prepare students in their first years here for applying for these awards in their upperclassmen years.

These students are identified by faculty recommendations and the Honors Program. The program is run by Honors Program director, Justin Ross, Ph.D.

“The program is important because these awards and scholarships are very competitive, and students may need assistance in completing what can be complex applications,” Ross said.

Many different awards exist as part of the Prestigious Awards Program, each serving a unique purpose. This past year, three students from Mercyhurst University were nominated for these awards.

Junior Intelligence Studies major Douglas Wilsch was nominated for the Truman Scholarship, a graduate study award.

As the Mercyhurst Prestigious Awards web page states, the award provides a student “up to $30,000 for graduate study in a public service-related degree.”

Also, Lucy Belleau and Christa Knipes were both nominated for the Fulbright Scholarship. The Fulbright Scholarship is also a graduate study award, but focuses on paying for travel, language, medical and living expenses for students during study abroad related to their career field.

As impressive and beneficial as these awards are, the monetary benefits are not the sole purpose or reward.

“Writing an application for one of the awards is focusing in on something that is special to you,” said Ross. “They are interested in applications which demonstrate a high commitment to public service.”

Belleau and Knipes were both interested in the Fulbright Scholarship due to their interest in education and travel. Both students understand the value in learning about other cultures, especially from a first-hand perspective.

“The Fulbright provides opportunities for real cultural exchange that allows for the give and take of language, cultural intricacies and customs that you simply cannot obtain from reading a book,” said Belleau.

However, the application process for these scholarships is far from a simple essay and resume to go along with it.

In fact, Knipes mentioned the

application process is so extensive, taking many months, that many students do not end up completing it.

The application includes recommendations, a university endorsement and numerous personal writing samples on specific and related topics, as well as regular materials such as transcripts and resumes.

Regardless of the outcome of these awards, the nominees agreed that completing the application was an accomplishment which helped them learn more about themselves, their goals and their education.

Having gone through the process, Belleau provides advice to the next generation of Lakers applying for a Prestigious Award.

“My advice to anyone interested in applying is to take the leap and commit,” Belleau said.

If considering applying, students can visit the Prestigious Awards HUB page and fill out an interest form. Who knows where the process may lead.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

NEWS

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

This weekend’s campus events

Essay contest calls us to ‘Be the Change’

By Rebecca Dunphy

News editor

Run to your laptop or get out your pens, because the “Be the Change” student essay competition is underway now through March 19.

‘Be the Change: Building a Diverse, Inclusive and Antiracist Community’ is an initiative sponsored by the Mercyhurst University Office of Mission and the International Student Association to elevate student voices and promote constructive conversation about antiracism efforts.

“By participating in the contest, my hope is that students are able to really reflect on racism in our society and how we can work to end it,” said student organizer and senior Intelligence Studies major, Sarah Klein. “Mercyhurst has been hosting many virtual antiracism events where community members are able to educate themselves and others, and discuss these issues with other students, faculty and staff; however, I think it is equally valuable to promote self-reflection as well. I hope that the essay contest will be a nice complement to the other initiatives we have been starting on campus.”

The idea for an essay competition came from assistant professor of biology, Rajinikanth Mohan, Ph.D., and Klein after attending the One Book program where participants read “So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo.

They decided that action was necessary and so they worked with assistant professor of sociology

Nicole John-Danzell, Ph.D. and senior Business and Competitive Intelligence major, Marina Boyle, to bring the idea to fruition. They also gained support from assistant professor of English, Joanne Hosey-McGurk, Ph.D. “We are a diverse team of faculty members and students and all the planning, organization and evaluation of the essays are team decisions,” said Mohan. “The student organizers are the heart of the team, have been instrumental in the advertisement of the event and are the driving force behind the execution of this event.”

The group was awarded one of three mini-grants from the Office of Mission to help make their proposal a reality. More funds were also provided by the International Student Office, and together, this money will support the cash prizes to be given to the award recipients.

The best three essay will be receiving prizes of $150, $100 and $75, while also being eligible for publication in the Erie TimesNews, The Merciad and other local and regional newspapers, as the judges see fit.

The rewards of participation go beyond just monetary gain, according to Boyle.

“From a student perspective, I feel that this contest is a great way to get your voice heard and to give the administration concrete ideas about how to foster change that resonates with your personal experience and the student experience at Mercyhurst,” said Boyle.

“I hope students participate in order to share their encounters and

challenges in terms of diversity, inclusion and antiracism, as well as sparking a conversation around these issues. The cash prizes are just an added bonus.”

Essays will be judged by the competition organizers on the basis of quality of writing, contest, originality and creativity of the proposed changes.

“We are looking for entries where students speak their hearts, articulate their concerns regarding diversity, inclusivity and race and express clear-cut ideas for social change,” Mohan said.

To enter the competition, students should check out the official rules on the Be the Change web page on the Hub. Essays should be no more than 900 words and address the following three areas: personal reflections on the themes of diversity, inclusivity and antiracism; ideas of action; and why change is essential.

All essays should include an attention-grabbing title, but student names or any other identifiers should be omitted from the file itself.

Documents should be attached to an email as a PDF file and to essaycontest@mercyhurst.edu no later than March 19 at 11:59 p.m. Please ensure that the body of the email contains the participant’s name, major(s), minor(s) and year. The email subject should read “Essay Contest Entry.”

The time to enter is quickly coming to an end, so make sure to get your submission in soon so you too can be part of the change.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG March 6: Liquor law violation at Ryan Hall.

March 6: Larceny/ Theft at Rec Center.

March 7: Liquor law violation on Lewis Ave. March 14: Assault at Lot 22.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

HURST CLASS CATALOG

Innovation Beehive Network expands project, gains lab

By Marina Boyle Editor in chief

Contributed photo

Race and Justice is a course that focuses on prime movements in America.

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

Over the past several years, the world has seen a rise in social movements, like the Me Too movement and Black Lives Matter, just to name a few. In addition, this past year, the number of attacks on Asians has drastically risen during the pandemic. If you want to learn more about these movements; how you can raise awareness for them; and how they function in today’s world, look no further than the Criminal Justice course called Race and Justice.

Taught by Adam Saeler, Ph.D., the class is currently only for Criminal Justice majors, but starting in the fall 2021 semester, five seats will be offered for nonmajors in every section.

Major, minor and non-major students can expect to learn a lot in this course.

“Students can expect to examine their own biases, where those biases come from, to critically examine the impact of categorizing people and to analyze the role that race plays in the United States’ criminal justice system,” said Saeler.

This class is extremely important in this day and age, so students can expect to have their eyes opened to a whole new world.

“If students have a better understanding of the historical context of race relations in the United States, beyond the traditional talking points, they can better react to contemporary issues they are seeing or will see,” Saeler said.

Overall, this an engaging class for students and teachers alike.

“I love teaching Race and Justice because it is challenging. It’s a topic that few people feel comfortable discussing, but we have to continue to bring the topic up, to face those uncomfortable conversations and topics because that is what moves the bar forward. This topic is and should be everyone’s concern,” said Saeler. “It is no secret that the relationship between the criminal justice system and people of color in the United States is strained.

Knowing that strain is nothing new prepares our students, who will be entering that system, to make the small, everyday changes necessary to begin addressing that strain in meaningful ways.”

No matter if you’ve been a long-time advocate of these movements or you want to know how to get started, Race and Justice is the perfect course.

Keep on the lookout for this class next fall and you could learn a lot about how these movements are changing our country and the world around us.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Mercyhurst’s role as part of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network has been expanded through further grant funding and the opening of Mercyhurst’s new Innovation Entente Lab. The Innovation Beehive Network was formed in 2014 to enhance business development in the region. It combines university efforts from Mercyhurst, Gannon, Penn State Behrend, Edinboro University and the Blasco Erie County library to foster community entrepreneurship and innovation.

Team members from the universities help clients identify key marketing strategies, potential funding and necessary strategic media options to help small business owners get on the path to success.

Specifically at Mercyhurst, students provide competitive intelligence and graphic design products to clients as part of the program.

This student’s real-world experience but also makes a meaningful impact on real businesses that might not otherwise have access to expensive competitive intelligence resources.

The initiative currently employs 15 student analysts and two graphic designers and is set to expand. The initiative itself is overseen by Brian Fuller, director of Operations for the Ridge College, while the Innovation Lab is run

by Abbey Lesniewski, who oversees its day-to-day operations and coordinates its mobile capabilities.

“Each of the colleges in the Beehive Network has different areas of expertise that they can provide

to local entrepreneurs or small businesses looking to expand. For example, Gannon can help with small business development while we focus on the intelligence side and we provide business intelligence data. After we help them, we can also send them to another node in the network for further projects,” Fuller said.

On March 1, 2021, the Innovation Entente Lab was opened in the lower level of the Hammermill Library to give students a central place to complete their work and meet with clients in a professional setting.

Funding came from an $89,000 grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and a three-year grant of $376,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

This new funding allows the Innovation Lab to provide on-site support (when COVID-safe) by taking teams of students on the road to serve clients in their own environments. This aspect of the Beehive Network will be known as the mobile unit. Until recently, the Beehive Network had served a five-county area. Thanks to increased grant funding, it has expanded its regional coverage to include 17 counties, including parts of New York and Ohio. Libraries across the counties will be used to market the Network and set the framework for entrepreneurs.

“We are completely funded by grants,” said Fuller.

“These helped us to build the lab but also help us to cover our personnel and operational costs.

This initiative is a model for collaboration- it has been amazing to see universities, libraries and those within Mercyhurst come together for this.”

Collaboration has been key in all regards for the Beehive Network and the Innovation Lab. Even just at Mercyhurst, the lab itself was designed in part by students Addison Richmond, Claire Orr and Olivia Minichelli; overseen by Dionne Veitch; supported by the Provost and Associate Provost; and furnished and finished by the university’s maintenance team.

Maintenance hand-made various aspects of the lab and installed a table centerpiece with another collaborative aspect – a table designed from reused barn wood by Mercyhurst alumni from the Willow Creek Barnwood Furniture company.

“The lab is designed for creativity,” said Fuller.

“We want our analysts to think critically but use their creative minds for the clients, especially within the Intel field. This is a space for that.”

Alaina Stromenger is a junior Intelligence Studies major who has been involved with the Beehive Network since October 2019.

“The lab is a great place to work on projects for clients in Erie and I feel fortunate when I can see clients’ success in the Erie area and know that I have helped them in some way,” Stromenger said.

Fuller noted that the initiative now averages 40 clients a year.

“With the latest grant,” he said, “we are looking to increase production by 25 percent this year and another 40 percent in years two and three.”

For students, this only means more opportunity.

“Most of all, we want this to be a place where students can grow and have fun doing it,” Fuller said.

Marina Boyle photo

Mercyhurst University’s new Beehive Network Innovation Entente Lab in the lower level of the Hammermill Library. This new space will allow students to work on-site to help better serve their clients.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

FEATURES

PAGE 7

Mercyhurst Career Development Center hosts career expositions

By Sarah Klein Copy editor

For students looking to explore internship and career opportunities, the Mercyhurst Office of Career and Professional Development is hosting a total of four different career expos this semester.

For the first time to date, this year the career expos are divided by academic college and are completely virtual.

For students belonging to Ridge College, Zurn College and Hafenmaier College the events were held for four hours on Feb. 25, March 4, and March 11, respectively.

“We use Handshake for our Career Expos. There definitely was a learning curve in making the events virtual, beneficial and easy to access for all parties involved but overall, it has been going well,” Emma Kovacs, a counselor in the

Career Development Center and organizer of the expos, said.

Each student is given a Handshake account when they begin their time at Mercyhurst. To access the career expos, students log in to their account and then follow the career expo link.

Each virtual career expo presents students with a variety of employers to discuss opportunities with, as well as Mercyhurst alumni who can share their experiences.

The expos may lead to networking opportunities, internships, and even full time jobs. Even if students are not looking for any of those things, they can also just gain some valuable information about their field.

“Our office wanted to host events that would be advantageous to students at any level. We pride ourselves on encouraging students to make well-rounded career de-

cisions through networking, informational interviews and job shadowing,” Kovacs said. “Thus, we created the career expos, a career event that hosts employers and graduate schools looking for students as well as alumni to share insight and serve as a connection.”

While past in-person career expos have been more geared toward students looking for internships, graduate schools or full-time jobs, this semester’s virtual expos have encouraged participation from students who may just be looking to explore their interests and potential future opportunities within their field. With this, the Career Development Center incorporated alumni speakers for the first time.

Alumni speakers attending the Ridge College expo included Dina Bastianini, a litigation attorney; Gary Dagan, a retired FBI

special agent; Christopher Kelly, an associate policy scientist; Matthew Gernold, a probation parole officer; and Dinorah Sanchez, an asset management subject matter expert, among others.

Alumni speakers at the Zurn expo included Brendan Doran, a senior director of clinical operations; Mathew Jury, a student doctor; and Kaleigh Vinesky, a physician assistant.

When asked what has been most successful about the career expos, Kovacs said “the alumni participation and willingness to serve as connections to our students.”

“We had top-notch alumni opening up their network and sharing career tips. That aspect of the expos is what I consider very successful and hope to continue this in the future,” Kovacs said.

Looking ahead, the Career De-

velopment Center will be hosting one more virtual career expo on Handshake, this time for Walker College, on March 18. Some employers attending this fair include GEICO, Barber National Institute and Carlow University.

“When an office creates a new event or a twist on an already established event (i.e. turning the campus-wide career fair into college-specific career expos), it takes time for that event to gain recognition,” said Kovacs. “While we are happy with the results of the first two expos, the active goal is to have more student attendance at these events in the future.”

If you are a student hoping to explore opportunities within your field, look out for more events hosted by the Career Development Center.

Hurst gears up for a COVID-friendly and fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day

By Rebecca Dunphy News editor

As an Irish Catholic institution, St. Patrick’s Day has always been a beloved holiday for Lakers, and this year was no exception.

Numerous campus organizations found ways to continue festivities, while still abiding by social distancing guidelines.

Parkhurst got into the holiday spirit with a number of specials at each dining location. At the Anchor Express, hand-crafted beverages were being served up, such as the Shamrock Frappuccino, Irish Peruvian mocha and Irish cream latte.

Over at the Anchor Express, Irish cream lattes and the Blarney Stone Frappuccinos were the specials of the week. These drinks pair perfectly with an assortment of St Patrick’s Day-themed desserts and baked goods, available at both locations.

Those looking for a different type of beverage could head over to the Roost for the March Mocktail, the Luke’s Lucky Charm, made up of apple juice, cranberry juice, green coloring and a lime wedge. For guests over 21, the Emerald Isle was this week’s drink special. Other specials included a free churro shooter with the purchase of any Reuben meal and Reuben loaded potato skins.

As for the Grotto Commons, lunch offerings such as Irish style Guinness stew, champ, Irish sourdough bread, corned beef cheesesteak, root vegetables and Dub-

Contributed photo

MAC/SAC St. Patrick’s Day flyer for themed event this coming week.

lin pasta gave diners a taste of Irish culture. Similar dishes could be found at the 501 Grille with braised Irish bangers, Guinness stout gravy and classic Reubens on the menu.

Besides these dining specials, Irish Club and MSG helped Lakers get in the spirit with events throughout the day.

“Since we go to an Irish Catholic school, St. Patrick’s Day is a pretty important holiday to us.

Due to the restrictions still in place around many of our beloved holidays, we decided to have a pop-up to spark some of that Laker Pride around campus,” said senator Carissa Budday. “Since this year is

to host an Irish Trivia night via Zoom.

The fun does not stop there, as Irish Club is hosting an in-person meeting on March 18 where members will be watching the documentary “St. Patrick: Apostle of Ireland.” Although St. Patrick’s Day is a commonly celebrated holiday in the United States, many Americans do not know the history of St. Patrick’s Day or why it has such cultural importance.

Using a documentary and information from board members, the club hopes to relay this important info to anyone who wants to learn more.

Those who attend will also be enjoying individually packaged beverages and snacks while watching the film.

“I think it is important for us to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day because it allows for us to celebrate Irish heritage and culture,” said Irish Club president and senior Intelligence Studies major, Michelle Benedetti. “As a school that has such close ties to Ireland, I think it is important that we make such a big deal of this day to show how proud we are of where we and the Sisters came from.”

The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day concludes on March 19 at 8 p.m. with MAC/ SAC at a St. Patrick’s Day event. Join trivia on Zoom to show off your Irish trivia skills and earn prizes up to $200.

The programmers hope to see you there!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Lakers!

different, students should come to meet us for a fun surprise and to feel the joy of St. Patrick’s Day.” At this pop-up event, students could stop by to get a green carnation and to make a Celtic knot craft, an ode to an important Irish cultural tradition.

The Spirit Committee members were stationed at dining locations throughout campus to help spread cheer. Luke the Laker also made an appearance.

“We [were] so excited to be able to put this event on and [could] not wait to see everyone’s masked and smiling face,” Budday said.

Contributed photo On March 17 the Irish Club teamed up with the History Club The official logo for The Roost, the beloved pub/ eatery on campus .

PAGE 8

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

FEATURES

History club hosts successful book drive

By Joe Talerico

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst History Club has successfully completed a book drive for prisoners incarcerated across Pennsylvania.

Members of the History Club and the wider History department respectively collected books for the drive, and then mailed them to prisons across the state.

Benjamin Scharff, Ph.D., chair of the History department, first organized the drive a few weeks ago when he received a letter from a regional prisoner asking for history books. In the letter, the prisoner stated his passion for history and his interest in books on specific historical topics and historiography.

Historiography is defined as the study of the methods and ways history is developed and understood.

The prisoner’s specific request for historiography books caught the department’s attention.

Moreover, this prisoner mentioned his loneliness and increase in free time due to the pandemic, which has allowed him more time to read and dwell on the past.

“The request for historiography books struck me as unique as most laypeople do not know or use that term. This specific interest in the nuts and bolts of our field is really what motivated us to respond to the request. This was not just a request for free books, this was

Contributed photo

The history club’s donation box which was sent off a few weeks ago

a request from an individual who possessed a deep desire to understand and learn the philosophical underpinnings of our field,” Scharff said.

Dr. Scharff then brought the idea for a book drive to the officers of the History Club, who were happy to help.

“We were very excited to help out. Prisoners deserve our human-

ity and whenever we can help, we jump at the opportunity. Books are hot commodities in prison and it is a small way that we can help these men and women during their long and typically unexciting sentences,” said History Club co-president Steven Mooradian.

The club then sent out an email to its members, encouraging them to donate any books they had to

spare.

A box was then placed outside of Dr. Scharff’s office, and within the following weeks enough relevant books were collected.

The shipment consisted of fifteen books, as that was the limit they were allowed to mail to the prison. The donation also included a card signed by the club officers. The club was proud of the

work they accomplished.

“I believe that one of the best things about the book drive was that it showed that our department, and the people in it, truly believe in the importance and power of doing and learning history, as evidenced by our desire to help someone else do that,” said club vice president, Garrett Freas.

The club hopes to do similar drives in the future.

“I personally would love for the club to do this in the future, both with this particular prisoner and with others,” added Mooradian.

The club has also considered the possibility of doing a used book drive to raise funds for the club.

The group hopes to collect old books and textbooks from students, and then sell them cheaply to either other people on campus or directly to used bookstores.

They would then use the money to fund trips to museums and other sites.

“We very much like to go to museums or historical sites as a club but have simply been unable to do so this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Freas added.

The history club plans on doing so again as soon as it becomes possible. Students should be on the lookout for any future book drives or sales by the History Club.

LAKER MOMENT The Habitat for Humanity Club’s first Spring Campus Clean-Up was a success in beautifying campus for the warm weather to come. While many are happy to see the snow melting, the good weather revealed trash to be cleaned up across the campus. While Habitat Club members cannot venture off campus to build homes this year, they can help to keep Hurst a beautiful home with events like this.

Gillian Mazur photo

Staff member Colin Hurley and senior Julia Wrest at the campus clean up.

Gillian Mazur photo

Abby Springer and various staff members and students also attended the campus clean up, which was a success for the club.

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

PAGE 9

Fashion Merchandising professor publishes second historical novel

By RayLynn Chraston

Staff writer

Jennifer Craven, professor of Fashion Merchandising here at Mercyhurst, recently released her second novel titled “All That Shines and Whispers.” The novel is a work of historical fiction.

Broadly inspired by Craven’s favorite film “The Sound of Music,” the novel’s journey follows the what-if ’s of the film’s ending.

“I always like to imagine what could have happened after the movie ended. It was so fun to play with the characters and make them different, yet still recognizable,” Craven said.

“All That Shines and Whispers,” explores the themes of betrayal, sacrifice and redemption set against the backdrop of Nazi-era Europe. Amazon defines this book as a coming-of-age story that traces the mistakes young women make stumbling towards adulthood, in pursuit of love and trust and security, and all the identities they try on in order to know themselves.

Craven’s favorite genre is historical fiction, where past lives and time periods come alive through rich storytelling and powerful characteristics, and she uses her love for this genre to write stories of her own.

Craven admits that she has always been a writer and this novel was her way of expressing not

Contributing photo

Jennifer Craven, author and professor of Fashion Merchandising here at Mercyhurst.

only her love for the genre but, for the curiosities one has when it comes to the “what if ’s” after the end of a story.

“I’m completely in love with writing novels. I constantly have story ideas popping into my head.

It’s been fun to hear from people who have enjoyed the books.

That’s one of the best parts: when your words impact someone else,” Craven said.

She uses her talent to bring joy to those around her and fulfill the passion she has for writing. When

publishing her first book, “A Long Way from Blaire Street,” Craven admits she had learned so much about the writing process and the industry, which has shaped her future novels.

She mentions how the writing portion of her books has been easy, however, the marketing aspect has been the difficult part.

“Getting a book out into the world and marketing it is the challenge. My writing process remains mostly the same: lots of drafts, endless revisions and getting early feedback. But now I know the importance of marketing.”

“Being a writer can be challenging when you want to get your works out there to people, but if you truly love what you are doing the challenge is all worth it,” Craven said.

Both of Craven’s books are stand-alone novels, meaning that in order to understand and enjoy her books the audience does not need to read an entire series.

None of the books are connected, except for the fact that Craven loves writing about strong women and women’s issues.

Craven had also made mention that she has already finished a third novel and has started plotting a fourth.

A couple of quotes that Craven had included are: “It was hard to remember a time when their lives weren’t built on secrets and lies.” “Biting her bottom lip, Lara

Contributed photo

the book cover for Craven’s recent novel “All that Shines and Whispers.”

replaced the lid and shoved the jar under her mattress for safekeeping. The act felt deceptive.

The money wasn’t hers. At that moment, she felt like a common thief.”

If anyone is intruiged by these lines, you are likely to enjoy the book.

Both of Craven’s current novels can be found on Amazon and are able to be rented or purchased for one’s reading needs.

Craven is very talented in many ways. Devoting her time to her students as well as her passion for writing has helped shape her into the woman that she is today.

Craven is continuing her passion for writing and we are all excited to see what she has in store for us to read next.

FROM THE ARCHIVES February 1990: In an astounding athletic event forgotten by many, February 1990 was the year when a former Mercyhurst student took on Mike Tyson, and won. James “Buster” Douglas came to Mercyhurst in 1980, recruited from Sinclair Community College in Ohio by former head basketball coach Dan O’Connor.

He left Mercyhurst to pursue boxing. He took out Tyson on Feb. 11, 1990 with what the Merciad called “the punch that was felt around the world.”

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

19th annual Literary Festival goes virtual over Zoom and Facebook

By Ashley Barletta

Staff writer

The Literary Festival is always exciting amongst majors in the arts.

This year, there will be two speakers, and then the unveiling of this year’s edition of “The Lumen,” Mercyhurst’s student-written and student-edited literary journal.

All events are free and open to the public. Go to @mercyhurstenglish on Facebook to find the live stream of events.

“Like all of our arts events, the Literary Festival had to be re-imagined for the pandemic.

This year we won’t host readers in person, which means that we will lose some options for connecting with our guests. But we’ve gained opportunities as well,” associate dean of Hafenmaier College, Jeffrey Roessner, Ph.D., said.

This year, the Literary Festival will be on Zoom and live streamed over Facebook.

“That will allow us to connect to alumni and prospective students in ways that we hadn’t imagined before. I expect that we will make livestreaming part of all future events,” Roessner said.

Since all of the events are virtual this year, it wasn’t as difficult to prepare.

“Finding speakers was much easier than usual, mainly because we didn’t have to worry at all about travel, bad weather and accommodations,” said Roessner. “They can Zoom in from anywhere, and it doesn’t require nearly as much of a time commitment as getting on a plane to get to Erie.”

The first speaker is Bewketu Seyoum on March 18 at 8 p.m.

He is a writer, poet, essayist and entertainer.

Seyoum was named Ethiopian Best Novelist of the Year in 2008 and Best Young Author of 2009.

He has also published six books in both English and Amharic, which is his native language.

The second speaker is Stephanie Gorton, who will speak on April 1 at 8 p.m. She has written for many different publications, including New Yorker, Smithsonian and The Toast.

She has also been an editor at The Overlook Press, Canongate Books and Open Road.

Gorton published a book in 2020 titled “Citizen Reporters,” which tells the story of McClure’s magazine and the rise of investigative journalism.

“Teaching literature, we always seek to make the writing come alive for students. It’s easy to forget that behind the words on the page, there’s a living, breathing

person, with a complex history and a clear point of view. Bringing writers to campus helps us make those connections vivid and real,” Roessner said.

On April 28 at 8 p.m., the Lumen will be broadcast over Facebook live stream.

Aside from this, the P. Barry McAndrew award will be presented to three students who wrote the best pieces of creative writing and critical essays on literature.

The awards are presented to honor Professor McAndrew, who taught in the English department for more than 40 years here at Mercyhurst.

McAndrew’s family generously donated cash prizes for the recipients of the awards.

After the presentation of “The Lumen” and awards, there will be an open mic for students to share their works.

If you would like to read your piece during the open mic, email Dr. Roessner at jroessner@mercyhurst.edu.

“Students gain a rich appreciation for the works when they hear them read aloud and are able to ask questions of the writer who is standing right in front of them,” said Roessner. “The Festival also lets us showcase literature as a contemporary art form, still produced and read today.”

Unseen Vincent van Gogh painting resurfaces

By Samantha Weber

Staff writer

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch, post-impressionist painter, who is now arguably regarded as one of the most famous painters in history.

Throughout his life, he created about 2,100 paintings, about 860 of which were oil paintings done in the last few years of his life.

In late February, there was a painting by van Gogh that was recently discovered and put on display so that the public can view another one of his masterful works.

This particular painting was from his Montmartre Period.

The painting was titled, “Street Scene in Montmartre.” It illustrates Parisians walking through Montmartre, which is now a historic district and a famous destination in the city.

Specifically, the painting represents the Moulin de la Galette, which is a windmill that was turned into a dance hall in the district.

The windmill is called Pepper Mill. Not even thirty years after van Gogh painted his Moulin de la Galette series, the original

Contributed photo:

Rediscovered van Gogh painting, “Street Scene in Montmartre.”

windmill was torn down in 1911, but two other windmills are still standing.

However, the surrounding area has become clouded with more modern ideas such as roads and other buildings.

One could argue that the surroundings now take away from the historical significance of the

landmark. Because so much has changed around the windmill, it barely resembles what was so beautifully portrayed long ago.

The painting allows whoever is viewing it to get a peek into what life was like in Montmartre at the end of the 19th century.

At that point, windmills were the famous attractions that people

would go to see.

The painting was created when van Gogh was living with his brother, Theo, in Paris, and it was during this time that he discovered color and how color could change the way a painting was perceived.

His paintings prior to his move were often very dark and ominous.

A lot of the paintings from that series are now located in prestigious museum collections and not in the hands of private owners.

However, this particular painting had been in a French family’s private collection for more than a century. The painting has been published in several catalogs, but it has never been displayed.

“Street Scene in Montmartre” was painted in 1887, just three years before van Gogh passed away.

While his cause of death was not confirmed, the popular belief of many is that he committed suicide.

The rusty handgun he is believed to have used to end his life was discovered and then recently sold in 2019.

This rediscovered painting will be shown to the public for a short amount of time before being sent away for an auction. The painting is projected to be sold for between $6 million and $9.7 million.

The sale is being handled in a statement by Sotheby’s in Paris on March 25.

Before then, it will be on display both in Amsterdam and Hong Kong before returning to Paris to be auctioned off.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Actor Sean Astin inspires during chat with virtual MIAC audience

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture, or MIAC, has brought in a variety of big names to give performances to students, from Kristin Chenoweth to Jane Lynch.

Future stars that will be brought in, courtesy of MIAC, include Matthew Morrison and Bryan Stokes Mitchell, who was supposed to entertain students in April before COVID derailed things.

However, on March 11, students and faculty alike had the opportunity to observe a performance and Q&A session with versatile actor Sean Astin.

Astin, the son of legendary actors John Astin and Patty Duke, first rose to fame at the age of 13 when he played Mikey in “The Goonies.” Since then, his notable roles have included Doug in “50 First Dates,” Bob in “Stranger Things,” the title role in “Rudy” and most famously Samwise Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Astin has also won a variety of awards, including those from the MTV Movie Awards, the Screen Actors Guild and the National Board of Review.

Astin’s mother, Patty Duke, was

well known for roles such as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker,” Neely O’Hara in “Valley of the Dolls,” and Patty Lane in “The Patty Duke Show.”

Astin’s father, John Astin, is most well known for playing Gomez Addams in the 60s TV show “The Addams Family,” but has also played Kent Winkdale in “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” and The Riddler in Season 2 of the 60s TV show “Batman.”

During the MIAC webinar, Astin spoke with director of MIAC and the Theater Program, Brett Johnson, Ph.D., about a variety of topics.

He discussed his many famous roles, his relationship with his parents and his studies toward obtaining a master’s degree at American University.

A major topic he touched on during the webinar was mental health, as his mother battled bipolar disorder when he was younger.

“You need to look in the mirror and realize you need to accept reality,” Astin said, on accepting having a mental health condition Contributed photo and working to get help for it.

Astin was already a pre-teen when his mother was diagnosed, Actor Sean Astin, the most recent MIAC guest. but he explained how his relationship with his mother needed work nosis. He also touched on topics movie sets and watching his parto be repaired following the diag- such as experiences on various ents act over the years.

When it came time for the Q&A session, Astin did not fail to impress the audience.

One audience member’s daughter was celebrating her birthday that day, and asked Astin if he could recite his famous “potatoes” line from “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

Astin promptly delivered, reciting the entire quote verbatim and following it with a happy birthday message to the audience member’s daughter.

This made the virtual chat more personal and immersive for everyone who attended, not just this fan.

He also casually discussed his various co-stars and directors and referred to them by their first names, such as Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, and Peter Jackson, who directed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

At the end of the webinar, Dr. Johnson jokingly stated that MIAC might need to set up a “part two webinar” for Astin, as the event was so popular and there were so many questions by audience members left unanswered.

If you weren’t able to attend this session, here’s to hoping there’ll be another session in the future!

Upcoming Events

March 17 @ 8 p.m. on Zoom: Faculty Rebecca Wunch & Nathan Hess March 18 @ 8 p.m. via Facebook Livestream: reading by Bewketu Seyoum March 18-20 @ 7:30 pm and March 21 @ 2 p.m. on Zoom: Through the Looking Glass April 1 @ 8 p.m. via Facebook livestream: reading by Stephanie Gorton April 7 @ 7:30 pm on Zoom: Chris Thile April 12 @ 8 p.m. on Zoom: Faculty Allen Zurcher April 28 @ 8 p.m. via Facebook livestream: Lumen unveiling and student awards April 23-25 @ time TBD on Zoom: Raw Edges

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD The weather has been extremely sunny!

BAD March 13 was the one-year anniversary of lockdowns in the U.S.

RECENT Yesterday was Advising Day!

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

COVID and athletic events guidelines that outlined how

on how such games also detract from our college lives as well. universities would look during Even as teams comply with Contributing Writer the 2021 spring season. Some protocols such as regular COVID universities compete spectatortesting and self-screening, there is less, instead offering online still an inherent risk of exposure viewing services. and transmission between players Over the course of a year, The conference also announced and coaches at events. Long colleges across the nation have that it “has adopted the distance travel and the inability to endured significant change in requirement that each of its social distance or wear face masks order to comply with COVID member institutions will follow also heightens the risks associated mitigation strategies. Here at NCAA Guidelines according with play.

Mercyhurst, we recognize that to the NCAA Sport Science It’s also important to consider many of these alterations have those students who may be created a profound impact on our Institute in regard to returning to play amidst the COVID-19 indirectly disparaged by these college experiences. Everything matches. As we are frequently from the dearth of usual campus Pandemic.”

Such developments undeniably reminded, the actions of one events like the absence of a Hurst provide some benefits. A large person can affect an entire Day to the added stresses of locality. If one player manages classes during a pandemic have all part of some folks’ college life is athletics. From cheering to contract COVID from their been a detriment to our time at teams on at weekend games games, they risk the safety of university. to participating in them, these their classmates, professors Recently, Mercyhurst has events can be key to forming and other members of the attempted to rekindle some lifelong friendships and lasting Mercyhurst community. And, semblance of normalcy by memories. should any of these individuals scheduling and facilitating The sense of camaraderie come into contact with others, athletic events. Like other and spirit at a sporting event is the web expands further colleges, the Hurst has resolved unparalleled, and whether one is outwards; although through no to allow its various teams to compete this spring, which even a spectator or a player, the energy fault of their own, they have at these events is unique and inadvertently jeopardized the means having fall teams play in invaluable. What’s more, we need well-being of countless others. the middle of March. activities such as these athletic As such, Mercyhurst must Although out of the ordinary, events now more than ever engage in an important balancing the movement of such events before. Not only do they help act to ensure that if its athletic to the spring semester was to keep people active, but they events are to be held, that deemed necessary due to provide a sense of community every possible precaution is COVID concerns over the that helps bring us together even implemented to protect athletes, health and safety of athletes and in the toughest of times. The students, and the community at communities alike. benefits of athletic events cannot large.

The Pennsylvania State be overlooked.

Athletic Conference, or PSAC, That said, we must also reflect announced its “return to play”

By Trey Catalano sporting events at various

Thoughts on student events

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Marina Boyle............................ Editor in Chief Gillian Mazur........................ Managing Editor Rebecca Dunphy .........................News Editor Victoria McGinty .................... Features Editor Michael Boylan .......................... Sports Editor Christa Knipes .............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Sarah Klein ...................................Copy Editor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

a chance to get off-campus and have a break from the stress of Weber classes.

Staff writer This year, the committees have worked together to try and provide the students with a This year has obviously been somewhat normal experience by completely unprecedented and continuing to host their weekly has asked a lot of people to adjust events. I think this is crucial for to the unknown. On a smaller students, especially for freshmen scale, Mercyhurst has done who do not know that many a great job of trying to allow people and they could potentially students to enjoy as much of the meet their best friends at those real college experience, while also events. taking the necessary protective The activities this year have measures. One thing I love about obviously been different, but Mercyhurst is that they have two overall, the committees have done committees that plan and host a great job of trying to replicate events every weekend on both the excitement of the events. I Friday and Saturday nights. think that they have done the MAC/SAC events are entirely best they can while following the run by students and these health restrictions. students are able to get an idea Most of the activities this year of what peers want to do on the have been completely virtual but weekends and they do their best recently there has been the option to make that happen for them. to go in person for some of them.

Before COVID changed Most of the events have different everything, these events would time slots to attend in person include leaving campus and and that way they can try and traveling somewhere. Some of the get as many students in person as events that took place in previous possible. years were going to a pumpkin For the virtual ones, students patch for Halloween or a water could go pick up their supplies park in Erie to give the students beforehand if it is a craft or

By Samantha

activity of some sort, or for some of the events that are completely virtual, the students can simply log on to a Zoom call. I like the virtual ones because you can also do other things at the same time, so you can multitask. If it is completely virtual you can go over to your friend’s room and do it with them.

I do wish we could go off campus for something, like if they rented out a movie theater so all Mercyhurst students could social distance. I know it is definitely safer to stay on campus and limit our contact, but I think there are ways to have activities more like in years past.

Some of the recent activities this semester have been a selfdefense class, Mindfulness Night and Black Voices in Poetry. Last semester some of my favorites were Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf and Bowling Night. I do think that MAC/SAC is doing the best they can to try and replicate the typical year for students, but I do think that as cases go down, there could be more done to try and recreate normalcy of past years.

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

OPINION

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

PAGE 13

Things to do in Erie spring HURST STUDENTS Isle there is a small restaurant

This park is a little over ten

By Alexis Lovewell called Sara’s where you can enjoy minutes away from campus and

a hot dog or hamburger, or even a salad. Sara’s Restaurant is also known for its delicious milkshakes which would be able The weather in Erie, PA is to cool you off on a hot day. finally starting to move towards Another fun activity you spring and that means more can do in Erie in the spring is people are going to be looking go to the Erie Zoo that is less for things to do in their free time than ten minutes away from outdoors. With Lake Erie being campus. The Erie Zoo is home so close to campus, it makes it to more than 400 animals and very easy to find things to do. also has botanical gardens and a Not only is there a lake close by, greenhouse with more than 600 but there are several nature trails species of plants from around and a zoo close by as well. the world. It is open from 10 The main attraction in Erie, a.m.-5 p.m. everyday.

PA when the weather starts Some of the main attractions to get warm is Presque Isle. at the zoo are lions, monkeys Presque Isle is a 3,200-acre and giraffes. They allow you to peninsula that arches into Lake feed the giraffes while visiting Erie and is Pennsylvania’s only their habitat. “seashore.” At Presque Isle you There are several different can do many different activities nature trails in Erie that are open like swimming, fishing, hiking, for the public to walk through boating, biking and more. There with beautiful scenery and are 13 beaches that you can wildlife sightings. Headwaters choose to go to, and biking trails Park is less than ten minutes and roads leading to the other away from campus and has beaches. easy trails with streams flowing The neck of Presque Isle is across the trails. This trail also attached to the outskirts of has monthly scavenger hunts for downtown Erie, giving you a lot something to do while you are of options to go do other things walking through the park. while you visit the beaches.

Another nature trail in Erie is Right before you enter Presque the called Brown’s Farm.

Contributing writer

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contains well-kept trails and also light workout bars throughout the trails. This trail is great if you are looking for exercise as it can be a little hilly in some areas.

This nature trail attracts a lot of wildlife and you will definitely see some animals during your walk here.

If you aren’t a fan of being outdoors there are also many options for you as well.

Downtown Erie has many shops where you can walk from one to the other, including Grasshopper, which is a gift shop on Peach Street that sells oils, incense, tie dye clothing, jewelry and much more. There is artwork sold here and also wooden African drums and other instruments used for meditation.

All of these activities will be helpful for students and staff this spring to take the time and get away from campus for a bit and relax.

Whether you like being outdoors or indoors in the spring, Erie, PA has many activities for everyone.

Twitter: @TheMerciad Instagram: @MUMerciad Facebook: The Merciad

SPEAK UP We asked: How are midterms going so far?

Eva Philips, sophomore Intelligence Studies major : “It’s been a crazy few weeks but hopefully things will calm down soon!”

Rebekah Peyton, junior Music Therapy major: “Most of my classes don’t have proper midterms this semester, but the ones that are have been giving me a run for my money!”

Steven Mooradian, senior Public History major: “Midterms are going okay! I’m quite excited that they are my last ones. I only have three classes right now, so that helps. I’m looking forward to finishing my senior project and graduating, which is coming soon!”

Rebecca Ferguson, sophomore Music Therapy major: “Midterms are a pretty busy time for me. Luckily midterm week is going well. I like having midterms online. This allows me to be able to do my work wherever I want.”

Compiled by Bella Lee

My thoughts on the Pope’s visit to Iraq One church in particular was desecrated and vandalized by the terror group was the ancient Corso Church of the Immaculate Staff writer Conception where the Pope held a Mass.

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis The Pope also celebrated Mass made a historical pilgrimage to at a stadium in Irbil, where he war-torn Iraq as the first pope to said Iraq would remain in his visit the country, despite threats heart. of violence, rising coronavirus Thousands of people attended cases and foreign concerns. the service despite COVID-19 On the last day of his concerns. Many who attended pilgrimage, he visited Mosul had escaped from ISIL, and where he condemned the Pope Francis is hoping to terroristic acts of the Islamic improve Christian-Muslim State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS/ relations in the region and ISIL for short. He also called for around the world. forgiveness.

The Pope visited an Ayatollah The Pope’s visit to Iraq was during the second day of extremely risky as Iraq had his pilgrimage, saying that mostly been torn apart thanks to religious authorities have a role war. During his visit to the now- in protecting Christians and liberated Mosul, he explained violence is a betrayal of religion. that “hope is more powerful Such betrayals have extended than hatred” during a special beyond the Middle East to the church service. rest of the world.

He then visited the nearby He also traveled to the ancient Christian town Qaraqosh that city of Ur, which is revered as was also humiliated by ISIL. the birthplace of Abraham, and

By Patrick

also held Mass at a church that had also been taken over by jihadists.

According to an Islamic

his presence would help bring Christians back to Iraq.

Believe it or not, Pope John Paul II was originally planned to visit Iraq in 1999, but the trip never materialized.

For Pope Francis, visiting Pope Francis is Iraq was one of those things he hoping to improve wanted to do, even before the Christian-Muslim coronavirus pandemic struck the relations in the globe.

As mentioned in the Bible, region and around Iraq takes the place of ancient the world ... saying Mesopotamia and many see it as that religious the birthplace of Christianity. authorities have a Reconciliation was one of those things Iraqi citizens role in protecting wanted to hear from Pope Christians and Francis, even though many were violence is a against it. betrayal of Many also did not recommend he hold Mass as they would religion.” become superspreader events.

Patrick Corso Iraq has over 750,000 cases as of this writing and is currently experiencing a second wave of infections, compared to the cleric, the Pope’s visit raised a United States’ three waves. signal that the extremists who When the Pope departed Iraq, rampaged Iraq had lost, and that many thanked him for the time

“

and brave trip, although many had called for him to cancel or postpone.

It was mostly Iraq’s Christian minority that were touched and were very glad that he resisted his urge to cancel.

The Pope has visited a total of seven Middle Eastern countries and 11 Muslim majority countries, including a past visit to Egypt in the spring of 2017, where he condemned two ISIS suicide bombings on Coptic churches celebrating Palm Sunday three weeks prior.

He has also visited countries where Buddhism is one of the dominant religions, such as Thailand and Japan. His visit in Japan in 2019 was the first in almost four decades.

Pope Francis has worked to show brothers and sisters of all faiths the power of coming together with this historic trip.

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Mens lacrosse defeat Robert Wesleyan 19-4

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team had a great showing on Saturday to defeat previously undefeated Roberts Wesleyan and move to 2-0. The game took place on March 13 in Rochester, NY and despite being the away team, Mercyhurst took no time in gaining an early lead.

Devin Pipher was able to get the Lakers a 1-0 lead just 35 seconds into the game. Three players from Roberts Wesleyan attempted to quickly answer this but were all denied by goalie Cole Pellicano.

Pipher and Nathan Grenon each scored twice in the first quarter of play.

Mercyhurst never slowed down after this as the score was 5-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Grenon continued the momentum for the Lakers into the second quarter by finishing off his hat trick. Caleb Kueber was able to get his first goal of the game

from a Nicholas Mabe assist.

Kueber ended up scoring multiple times in the second quarter. Caleb Kueber and Devin Pipher showed a great connection in the second quarter with each of them scoring off of each other’s assists.

Roberts Wesleyan was unable to score against goalie Cole Pellicano until there was only 2:46 remaining in the half. Mercyhurst went into the half with a comfortable 9-1 lead.

Mabe was able to kick things off for the Lakers in the second half which gave them a double-digit total. Gavin Ingalls made his scoring opportunity count after an assist from Michael Rossi.

The lead quickly became an impressive 13-1 with 11:35 left in the third quarter. Scores from Jacob Emerson, Kueber, Johnson and Pipher with Tommy Angelicola made the score 17-2. The score resulted in a 17-2 lead for the Lakers after three quarters.

Mercyhurst gave Jason Pawlak, Brett Olney and Brendan Eye-

stone time in net for the fourth quarter. Mercyhurst sent some fresh players on the field who made the most of their opportunity, including Patrick Carozzi who scored off an assist from Quinn Simonson. Todd Redman was able to put the nail in the coffin by making the score 19-4 for the Lakers.

Roberts Wesleyan attempted to make a run in the final quarter with two goals but were unable to increase their score further. Mercyhurst continued to dominate the game and maintained the 19-4 score to the finish.

Mercyhurst made the most of their opportunities by cashing in on 19-35 shot attempts. Roberts Wesleyan only had 18/25 shots on goal while Mercyhurst had 31/35.

The top scorers for the Lakers in this contest were Devin Pipher with four goals, Caleb Kueber with four goals, Nathon Grenon with three goals, and Bryce Johnson with two goals. Kueber and Johnson also contributed heavily

HurstAthletics Photo

Pictured is senior attackman Devin Pipher. Pipher had four goals and one assist against Robert Wesleyan.

to the team effort with five and three assists respectively. Cole Pellicano played extremely well in net also, making 10 saves which earned him a .833 save percentage.

The men’s lacrosse team will

ride this momentum into their next game on Saturday, March 20th at 3 p.m. against Seton Hill University. Seton Hill is the Lakers biggest competitor in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference so it should be an exciting matchup.

HURST RESULTS March 13: Baseball vs. Lake Erie College: 8-7, Lakers

Mercyhurst releases updated spring fan attendance policy

By Mike Boylan Sports editor

Mercyhurst has released information regarding the approval of a limited amount of spectators to be present for both indoor and outdoor events for the remainder of the spring semester.

The spectator policy has been developed in compliance with current state, national, NCAA, PSAC and Mercyhurst University guidelines.

The new policy comes with various rules that must be followed by fans in attendance to allow for safe spectatorship.

Firstly, tailgating is prohibited and there is no mingling with student-athletes or team personnel either before or after the games.

Gates will open thirty minutes before the listed start time and fans

must leave the facility after the completion of the game.

Prior to any fan’s arrival to a Mercyhurst event, they must complete the screening process found at Mercyhurst.edu/guest.

Upon arriving, guests will show their completion of the screening process with a mobile device at their specific check in table.

Proper social distancing is required to take place and spectators must sit in designated areas that have been marked. Families are required to stay in their pods away from other groups.

No concessions will be available during the events. Families sitting in personal chairs are allowed as long as they remain within their families and social distancing is followed.

Additional measures will be taken to ensure safety, including the

posting of signage to encourage social distancing, the placement of hand sanitizing stations, the cleansing of high touch areas, as well as campus staff presence to ensure safety measures are followed.

Ticket allotment will be distributed for home games to families based on the athletic team and field of play.

Four tickets will be distributed to athletes on the following teams: Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer (Saxon Stadium), Field Hockey, Volleyball and Rowing.

Football will receive three tickets per athlete. Baseball and Soccer at MU Soccer Field will receive two tickets per athlete.

For more information regarding the rules and regulations, the entire list is available at hurstathletics.com

March 13: Womens Water Polo vs. Wittenberg: 17-5, Lakers March 14: Softball vs. Gannon: 3-2, Lakers; 8-4, Lakers March 14: Womens Lacrosse vs.

Walsh: 17-10, Lakers March 15: Mens Tennis vs.

Fairmont State: 2-5, Fighting Falcons March 15: Womens Tennis vs.

Fairmont State: 4-3, Lakers

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Softball take three of four against Clarion

By Gillian Mazur Managing editor

This past week the Mercyhurst Women’s softball team had a fourgame match up versus the Clarion University Golden Eagles. The four games were held on both Monday and Wednesday and were split by two games each day one at 2:30 and another at 4:30.

Although the four games were not doubleheaders, two games were played each day.

The season opener for both teams, the Mercyhurst Lakers were able to score five home runs between both games on Monday.

Dominating the first game, the Lakers won 8-0 and rounded the day off with an 8-3 win during the second game.

After four straight innings of neither teams scoring in the first game, Mercyhurst’s senior outfielder Sarah Koscho scored a point during the bottom of the fourth leading the Lakers 1-0 going into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore pitcher and first baseman Marisa Cartellone hit a single to right-center advancing junior pitcher and infielder Cheyenne Hindman to second. Soon after sophomore first baseman and outfielder Allison Dejidas hit the ball to center field sending Cartellone and Hindman home advancing the score 4-0. Freshman infielder Kaci Alderson homered to left field allowing Koscho to score as well, making it 6-0 Lakers. At the end of the inning, sophomore outfielder Madison Fry singled to third base sending junior third

baseman Chloe McQuestion home. Sophomore outfielder Brianne Egelston then promptly sent Fry home making the final score 8-0 Mercyhurst.

The Lakers came out strong at the start of the second game. Dejidas singled to center field allowing Egelston and Fry to score two points at the bottom of the first.

At the bottom of the second, Alderson and McQuestion both hit home runs quickly building the Lakers’ lead 4-0. Keeping with the theme, both Koscho and Dejidas scored again during the bottom of the third taking the score to 6-0. At the top of the fourth, Clarion finally scored two points but Hindman soon after singled the ball to right-center sending Egelston and Fry home for an 8-2 lead. At the top of the sixth, Clarion scored one more time for an 8-3 total final score.

“We came out ready to play and that was proven on Monday with the 8-0 and 8-3 wins,” said Hindman.

On Wednesday, the Mercyhurst Lakers traveled to Clarion, PA to once again face the Clarion Golden Eagles. The Lakers seemed to have kept up their winning streak from Monday’s games resulting in a very close 3-2 win for the first game.

At the top of the first, Cartellone doubled down the right-field line allowing Dejidas and Egelston to score for a 2-0 lead. Clarion scored one point at the bottom of the third and then once more at the bottom of the fifth. At the top of the sixth, Cartellone hit a home run which would result in the 3-2

HurstAthletics photo

Freshman infielder Kaci Alderson at bat during the Monday match up. Alderson hit two homers through the day.

game total.

“Wednesday brought a different day and even though we took the “loss” for the fourth game, it was far from [it]. The greatest teams believe in themselves and everyone around them and that’s exactly what we did,” Hindman said.

The Golden Eagles came out strong for the fourth game scoring four times in the bottom of the first. Egelston doubled to center field sending Alderson and Koscho home to bring the score 2-3 Clarion. During the second inning, Clarion scored two more times and Mercyhurst once for a 3-5 total, Clarion. At the bottom of the third, Clarion came out bats a blazing taking the score from 3-5 to 3-8 Clarion. Clarion scored once more in the sixth inning making the score 3-9 Clar-

ion. Unfortunately, the umpires were forced to call the game an inning short due to the oncoming darkness at the end of the sixth allowing Clarion the win 3-9.

Hindman said, “I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a great team and another family. We’re just getting started!”

“After the 4 games series with Clarion, it was awesome to see how Mercyhurst Softball has grown being a senior on the team,” said outfielder Sarah Koscho. “My approach for the first games of the season was to go out and have fun.

That allowed myself and my other teammates to make solid contact on the ball and string runs together.”

“These games were a great confidence booster and gave us a great opportunity to see what we need-

Women’s water polo open season with wins

LET’S GO, LAKERS!

By Mike Boylan Sports editor

The Mercyhurst Women’s water polo team opened up their season this past weekend with impressive victories against both Wittenberg University and Grove City College. The team made the trip down to Grove City, Pa with both games taking place on Saturday.

The team added three freshmen to the roster this year alongside the 11 returning athletes. Three of the teams’ four top scorers from last season have returned this year, including Hanna Good and Maddie Nye. The Lakers return two goalies in Sarah O’Keefe and Madison Hoefakker, both of which saw playing time last season.

The first game was against Wittenberg at 4 p.m., and the Lakers were quick to start the season off right. The Lakers won the game 17-5 and saw goal contributions from seven different players on the roster.

Senior Maddie Nye led the team with five goals while juniors Sara Marin and Cassie Anderson both put up three goals respectively. Marin also contributed three

ed to work on to be a successful team throughout the season,” said sophomore Madison Fry. “After all this time, we are just so thankful to be back on the field playing together!”

Since the 4-game matchup, the Lakers have played another 4-game match up versus the Gannon University Knights at home on March 13 and away on March 14.

On March 19 and 20, the Mercyhurst Lakers are set to play four more games against the Indiana University Cardinals.

The details for these upcoming four games can be found on the hurstathletics.com website.

Football Spring Schedule Announcement: April 10: Sheperd University Hurst Athletics photo

Senior Madie Nye led the Lakers scoring five goals against Wittenberg this past Saturday.

assists alongside her goals. Senior goalie Sarah O’Keefe stopped ten shots through the first game while also contributing two assists offensively. Senior Rachel Morris assisted a total five goals while scoring one herself.

Mercyhurst held this aggressive attitude going into game two against Grove City College, leading to a 26-10 victory. The Lakers somehow saw even more contri-

butions offensively this game with goals from eight different players.

Both Morris and freshman Rachel Vlietstra scored four goals during the second game. This was a new career high for Morris. Hoefakker assisted on two goals this game while making her first career start in the net for the Lakers. Both Nye and Good contributed goals as well.

The team looks forward to con-

tinuing their show of success and continuing to improve throughout the season.

Their next games will be against McKendree University and Salem University this Saturday in Morgantown, WV. The team’s upcoming schedule information can be found on hurstathletics.com

April 17: Opponent TBA April 24: Gannon University

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The week promises a calmer aspect.

Although there might be some lingering effects of a recent job problem, things should continue to ease up. Also expect a change in a home-based situation.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) If you feel uneasy about a colleague’s suggestion, it might be that your wise inner Taurean guide is alerting you to a potential problem. Stepping away could turn out to be the right thing to do.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A family get-together opens up new opportunities for renewing ties. It can be especially effective in dealing with disagreements that should have been, but never were, fully resolved.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might be surprised at the response you get to a recent decision. You might be even more surprised by the reasons behind it. In any event, you’ll learn something important.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your aspects favor resolving any tensions left over from a recent incident. You might want to consider having a “clear the air” talk as soon as you can. A call can lead to a change of plans.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Avoid repeating yourself. If your first few efforts fail to connect, maybe it’s because you haven’t found the right way to get your message across.

Try changing your approach.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Good intentions plus a strong resolve to succeed can take you where you want to go. Don’t give up just because someone suggests you might be pursuing an impossible cause.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An unexpected setback can be a blessing in disguise. Use it to recheck your facts and how you’ve presented them. Meanwhile, look for ways to expand your contacts.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You should finally be seeing a positive change in a recent personal situation. However, an on-thejob matter might need more attention than you realized. Stay with it.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) While you should be close to completing an important matter, you still need to focus on being focused. But things ease up in time for weekend fun.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A certain matter might take an unexpected turn. Don’t simply accept it; ask for an explanation. What you learn might be helpful in shifting the situation around to your benefit.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Projecting a positive attitude helps restore calm even when you’re confronting some pretty stormy situations. Stay the course. The outcome will be well worth your efforts.

BORN THIS WEEK: While you enjoy tradition and stability, you also appreciate the good things that change can bring. © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian