The Merciad April 26 Issue

Dr. Jaquette Ray speaks on mental health and climate change

By Eva Mihelich News editor

On Wednesday, April 19, Sarah Jaquette Ray, Ph.D., visited Mercyhurst University to speak at the annual Earth Day Lecture Series. Ray is an environmental humanist who works at the intersection of social justice and climate emotions.

Ray is a professor and program director at Cal Poly Humboldt, or California State Polytechnic University. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, her master’s degree in American Studies, and her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies. Besides teaching college courses and leading her department, Ray speaks on the issue of social justice and climate issues.

She has recognized in many of her classes that students are experiencing burnout and embracing it rather than solving it.

Ray spoke that her students have many feelings related to climate change that are rather discouraging, and she aims to turn those negative feelings into positive ones to take closer steps to fixing the problem.

She defines some of those negative feelings as pseudo-inefficacy which is the feeling that the problem is too big, so one does not contribute at all to help it due to the apathy and fear that this awareness gives the person.

She said her students have expressed pessimism towards humanity, and that they feel like they are headed towards an unclear life course, so they do not want to even bring children into the world.

Ray said that she felt saddened when her students shared this with her, but she understood their hesitancy to take action against climate change when they were struggling to just show up to class.

Ray then went onto a part of

her presentation where she talks about the importance of emotions. She said that this is important to discuss because we have been taught to suppress emotions in academic settings and to simply focus on subjectivity, but she points out that emotions dictate decision making, and that suppressing those emotions only leads to grief and anger, which fuels the problem more.

All of these points were to get to the eventual point of her talk: how can we, as students, help climate change and the many anxieties that it brings to us as the climate generation?

During these types of talks, this is usually where audience members expect to hear the usual tips to help climate change: use reus-

able straws, bring your own cup to Starbucks, and take a bike instead of driving. However, Ray offered advice that you don’t usually hear in a talk about climate change.

Ray said that the first step in all of this should be to rest. “Rest is a resistance to ‘grind’ culture,” said Ray. She said that our culture glorifies under-eating, under-sleeping, and under-caring for yourself.

Ray pointed out that this is harmful to our overall well-being, and that in order to take the steps to help fix climate change, you must first take care of yourself and make sure you are in the right headspace.

Next, Ray said to focus on what you love, not on what you fear. She stated that you can usually turn a negative into a positive,

such as focusing on how much you love the world around you, not how much you fear its ending.

The next step that Ray gave the audience is to embrace ambiguity, and that you should not live in fear of the unknown, but rather face that unknown.

She expressed that we will never fully know what is going on, so that is not a reason to step back when it comes to climate emotions.

Her final step is to resist urgency. She laughed as she said this, because climate change seems to be an urgent, pressing issue, with scientists constantly giving us timelines of when we will be too far gone to reverse the effects of climate change. However, Ray said that if you look at climate

change with an urgent lens, then you will never begin to face the problem due to your preoccupation with your fears.

Ray spoke to the Mercyhurst Community in the Walker Recital Hall filled with students and faculty about issues that are difficult to bring up. After she spoke, there was a Q&A portion of the talk where many people asked interesting questions to her.

The annual Earth Day Lecture is named after Sister Maura Smith who took great steps to make Mercyhurst University a more sustainable campus.

Ray hopes that students learn how to prevent burnout this early on in our lives so that we can face climate change with a view of optimism and a desire to help, rather than a lens of pessimism and apathy.

There was much to learn from her, and she hopefully opened the door for some students to take up environmental studies as a career path.

As the 2022-2023 academic year comes to a close, remember to take care of yourself in the midst of finals and the many stresses that come with the end of the year.

Graduating students might also be facing a number of difficult emotions, so do not forget to take a couple moments each day to simply breathe, and to use Ray’s tips to emotionally balance yourself.

Her tips are useful for anxieties about climate change, but also about any stress you might have in life.

Learn how to prevent burnout in academics and social justice issues by reading one of Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray’s books.

Students run anti-human trafficking campaign

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Human trafficking occurs every year to millions of men, women, and children worldwide. This issue gets brushed over by many individuals every year due to it often being called a “silent crime” which no one speaks out about.

Because of this, many individuals do not even know what to look for regarding helping individuals who may have been trafficked.

Mercyhurst University students have stepped up to help resolve this issue by launching an anti-human trafficking campaign.

The campaign is currently spending its time hanging up posters around the Erie area to bring awareness to what human traffick-

ing can look like.

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers and a fear of law enforcement often stop human trafficking victims from seeking the help that they may need.

Victims often do not even realize that they are victims in situations like this because traffickers convince them that they did it to themselves or that they chose this life.

These all play a part in making human trafficking a hidden crime that often is incredibly difficult to spot to an untrained eye.

By placing posters across Erie, the individuals within Mercyhurst’s anti-human trafficking campaign are stepping up to showcase just

what to look for and how to help.

Human trafficking often occurs in three main forms which are sex trade, forced labor and domestic servitude. All three of these types use force, fraud, and/or coercion in order to obtain some form of forced labor for a profit.

The economic sectors that often profit the most from the trafficking of humans are agriculture, restaurant, manufacturing, domestic work, entertainment, hospitality and the commercial sex industry.

Traffickers look for individuals who they decide are easy targets for a plethora of reasons.

The individuals that traffickers decide are easy targets are often facing economic and financial

hardships, are psychologically or emotionally vulnerable and lack social safety skills.

An individual’s surroundings can also lead to them being more likely to be trafficked, such as natural disasters and political instability. It is imperative for individuals to realize that this can occur in any community in the world and the victims can be of any race, gender, nationality, or age.

Traffickers use a plethora of methods in order to lure victims into situations that will then raise their risk of being trafficked.

The methods can include violence to the individual or to the individual’s family, manipulation by traffickers to trick individuals,

making false promises of well-paying jobs, and romantic relationships to lure individuals away from their families and friends.

Traffickers also use the confusion that occurs during major sporting events to their advantage in order to silently move individuals from one place to another.

Specific major events increase the cases of human trafficking every year. These events are large scale sporting events, like the Super Bowl and holidays, like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

Be on the lookout throughout Erie for the posters and for any signs you may see of trafficking in our community.

Contributed photo

Photo of Dr. Ray speaking at Mercyhurst.

Impact of mass shootings on mental health

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

The issue with mass shootings that the United States has been facing is more than just a crisis at this point; it is a full-blown pandemic.

There have been over 162 mass shooting in the US in 2023 as of April 17, with only 112 days (about 3 and a half months) in the year as of this writing.

The fact that there have been more mass shootings than days of the year so far is extremely concerning, and a study recently published by CNN further confirms this.

Following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas last May that claimed the lives of nineteen students and two teachers, a mental health crisis line received a spike in messages that referenced guns and other related firearm-related terms, according to a study funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although the study did not track the specific location of the messages coming in, Crisis Text Line – a nonprofit organization offering free confidential crisis intervention – serves people nationwide.

This all comes in the wake of several high-profile mass shootings that have occurred over the past few weeks, including at a school in Nashville that killed three students and three staff, a

bank in Louisville that killed five individuals and a 16th birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, that killed four young adults, including three teenagers.

“We know that exposure through the media – which can happen across many different outlets, with the swipe of a finger or a ding on your phone – to some type of traumatic event can result in someone experiencing an acute stress reaction and can trigger underlying post-traumatic stress they may have from something else,” said Leah Brogan, a psychologist who works at both the Center for Violence Prevention and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The study that CNN released also discusses that according to a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 1 in 5 adults has had a family member killed by a gun, including in homicide and suicide, and about 1 in 6 has witnessed an injury from a gun.

This is especially important to know considering the shootings that have happened in just the past week for seemingly innocent reasons.

In Kansas City, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl barely survived after being shot twice following accidentally ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his younger siblings.

In Texas, several cheerleaders

were shot at after accidentally getting into the wrong car following a grocery run.

A 20-year-old woman in upstate New York was killed after pulling into a driveway in an attempt to find directions after getting lost.

A 6-year-old girl and her parents were shot at in North Carolina when her basketball accidentally rolled into a neighbor’s lawn.

Most recently, a Florida couple delivering an Instacart order was shot at when they accidentally delivered to the wrong address.

The study has opened up a lot of eyes as to what needs improvement in the United States when it comes to mass shootings.

Hopefully, studies like these can continue being published so that we can learn from them and create reform.

It can be anxiety-inducing for many people to hear about mass shootings, particularly those who work or study in those environments that have been susceptible to shootings previously.

If you find yourself facing feelings of depression or anxiety about this, consider setting up an appointment at the Counseling Center.

Daily Bruin Image

Gun control is one of the most controversial issues in the US today, with many discussions beginning again ever since the sharp increase of mass shootings in 2023.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Summer housing

if you intend to stay on campus this summer, please fill out the summer housing form on Self Service.

There is a limited number of apartments available for housing this summer, so make sure to fill this out ASAP to ensure you have a spot.

This is a great, affordable option for students who have a job in Erie this summer, international students, or anyone who does not wish to move home for a few months.

Spring Sale at the Bookstore

The Mercyhurst Bookstore is having an end-of-the-year sale. Everything is marked 20% off.

Use this opportunity to get a Mother’s Day gift which is approaching quickly, or to simple get some Mercyhurst gear for you or your friends and family!

There have been a lot of new shipments in, so take a quick browse soon and see the new selection.

Take advantage of the sale so that you are equipped for the next academic year that will be full of plenty of chances to sport your Mercyhurst pride!

Erie Seawolves

Mercyhurst has a special discount to offer. If you show your Mercyhurst ID at a Seawolves ticket box, you can get tickets for a discounted price.

You can get $10 upperbox tickets for a number of games throughout the following dates:

April 11-16

April 25-30

May 9-14

May 23-28

Aug 29-Sept. 3

Sept. 12-17

If you want to preorder your tickets, use the discount code HURSTISHOME at checkout to receive the special discount.

Take advantage of this opportunity!

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

NEWS

Wait - we have a cow-tipping team?

By Eva Mihelich News editor

If you have walked around campus in the past few months, you most likely have seen some people sporting a ‘Mercyhurst Cow-Tipping Team’ shirt.

The design is very simple, with a picture of a cow on the front of it with some black lettering.

The first shipment of the shirts sold out in a week with dozens of students flocking to the bookstore to get their own shirt.

Grace Mullins, junior dance major and employee at the bookstore, said that she originally got the shirt because she thought it was funny. “I saw a couple of different people wearing the shirt around campus and didn’t realize it was actually made at the bookstore. I thought someone just made it as a joke or something, but when I realized the Mercyhurst Bookstore was selling them, I knew I had to get it,” said Mullins.

Many people are wondering why the bookstore is selling this shirt or where it

came from in the first place.

Daniel Cullen, general manager of the bookstore, said that it first came into creation a few decades ago.

“It really was just supposed to be a fun, silly thing, but people have just gone crazy for it. Each time we bring that design back, it sells out so fast. We originally were gonna have it as a one-time design, but we’ve brought it back a few times now,” said Cullen. Some students have even stopped in recently and asked when the bookstore will be supplying more of the cow-tipping shirts, because the second shipment sold out just as fast as the first one. Cullen said that there will hopefully be another shipment in late summer or early fall of this year.

“Lots of other schools have funny shirts that aren’t necessarily meant to advertise the school, but rather have the purpose of just showing something silly and fun. That’s what this is,” said Cullen. There is not a deeper meaning to the shirt – Mercyhurst is not getting a cow-tip-

ping team anytime soon.

However, keep an eye out for the next shipment of these shirts, because they seem to be going quickly! Getting merchandise at the bookstore, especially with something fun like the cow-tipping

shirts, shows solidarity with other students in a fun way. Consider purchasing a cow-tipping shirt when they are back in stock to keep the tradition alive, and to confuse people for years to come.

Aaron Tveit to Close Out 2022-2023 MIAC Live Series

By Bella Lee Staff writer

This year’s MIAC Live series is drawing to a close with one of the most anticipated performances of the year. On May 3, Broadway superstar Aaron Tveit will make his debut at the Performing Arts Center.

He’s especially well-known for his performance in “Moulin Rouge: The Musical,” with other Broadway credits including “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” and “Rent,” as well as “Catch Me If You Can” and “Next to Normal.”

He also has some impressive TV credits. In July 2021, he was seen in Apple TV+’s new series “Schmigadoon!” opposite Cecily Strong, Keegan Michael-Key, Alan Cumming, and Kristin Chenoweth and he currently appears in season two.

He also appeared in Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Stories” and Audible and Broadway Video’s podcast “Hit Job,” alongside Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson.

Additionally, Tveit has been seen on TV in “Graceland,” “Braindead,” “Grease: Live,” “The Good Fight,” “Gossip Girl,” “Ugly Betty,” “The Good Wife,” and “Law and Order: SVU.” His movie credits include “Les Misérables,” “Out of the Blue,” “Created Equal,” “Howl,” and “Ghost Town.”

Tveit has received numerous honors for his work in theatre, including the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in “Next to Normal” and the Actors Equity Association Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Actor.

Nominations included Distinguished Performance from the Drama League, Best Male Dancer from the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and Outstanding Featured Actor from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, all for his work in “Catch Me if You Can.”

The excitement for this performance is clearly through the roof, as it is already sold out and attendees are slated to be here from 25 states as well as Canada, Mexico and Australia.

“I became a massive fan after that, and did some good social media scouring, and found he does lots of live concerts like this,

and it became my mission to see one,” said Emily Liebenberg of San Diego, who is traveling to this performance and saw Tveit three times during his run in “Moulin Rouge: The Musical.”

“After the Covid shutdowns and feeling trapped at home for so long, I renewed my determination to get out there and have adventures! And what better adventure is there than to travel for live music by a fantastic artist? I am really excited to see Aaron perform live just as himself and not part of a bigger show,” said Liebenberg.

“The Aaron Tveit concert is an

exceptional example, but patrons routinely travel from other states to attend our performances,” said Brett Johnson, Ph.D., artistic director of MIAC. “For example, we had ticket holders from Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania at Betty Buckley’s September 2022 concert. We are definitely developing a national profile.”

While this performance is sold out, the box office will open at 6 p.m. the day of if you want the chance at snagging a ticket via the cancellation line.

Contributed photo

The popular cow tipping shirt design is shown above. T shirts are sold in the bookstore and are expected to return this fall.

Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade photo Aaron Tveit is pictured above, who will be performing at Mercyhurst University to close out the MIAC Live Series for the school year.

I ntroducing the 2023-2024 MSG Executive Board

By Bella Lee Staff writer

A new academic year will soon be upon us, which means it’s time to get to know the incoming executive board for MSG!

These folks are all so excited to bring you amazing programs to make this upcoming school year the most amazing yet!

Kaitlyn Low, junior Sports Medicine major, will be next year’s President.

“I am most excited about being the ambassador for the students at the highest levels of the university,” Low said. “Part of being the president is getting to be the voice of the student body to the president and board of trustees. I want students to know that I am all for them.

“Next year, I’m really trying to achieve more unity within our campus. I’m trying to personally get out into our campus community and meet as many students as I can to gain connections with them.”

Ethan Frey, sophomore Political Science major, will be returning as Vice President.

“There’s so much that I want to achieve next year,” Frey said. “One of the biggest things is getting more students involved with MSG, even if they aren’t a Senator! Coming to our meetings, Mondays at 8 p.m., is a great way to become more informed on all things happening around campus.”

Another veteran of their position is Samantha Weber, junior Business and Competitive Intelligence major, who will be returning as Treasurer.

“I am most excited about get-

ting to work with the new executive board,” Weber said. “I had so much fun with the current board this past year and I cannot wait to see what the future board will accomplish. They are all so hard working, and I can’t wait to officially start working with them.

“Since the treasure oversees all the RSCOs on campus, I hope to make the process for requesting/reconciliation funds easier for everyone. This was the first year that we were fully reliant on Laker Launchpad and there were some problems that we ran into. But, after working through them the first year, I think next year will be able to run a lot smoother.”

Mia Burrington, sophomore Intelligence Studies and Criminal Justice double major and Gabrielle Ialacci, junior Biochemistry major, will be serving as MAC/SAC chairs.

“I am most excited about working with other members of E-Board and the MAC/SAC Programmers,” Burrington said. “I hope to be a good mentor to the programming board and help lead them to create successful events!”

Ialacci agrees with her fellow chair.

“I’m most excited to lead the new Programming Board and put on awesome weekend events,” she said. “I hope to achieve a fun dynamic throughout E-Board as well as the Programming Board.”

Megan Kantz, junior Biology major, will be serving as Design Coordinator.

“I am most excited to work alongside the rest of E-board

to create cohesive and visually appealing branding for student government,” Kantz said. “My main goal is to build off this year’s efforts to increase engagement with the student government. I aim to create effective graphics that encourage participation from the student body.”

Matti Trimbath, sophomore English and Religious Studies double major, will be next year’s Events Coordinator.

“I’m excited to plan some key events for students, such as the MSG speakers and SpringFest; I’m also excited to work closely with the sustainability community on campus,” Trimbath said. “I hope to help work on

food waste on campus as well as make sure our speakers are as informative—but enjoyable—as possible.

“I also have high hopes to make sure that SpringFest is fun, relaxing, and exciting for all students on campus! I have high hopes for next year, and I’m excited to work with our e-board, senators, and student body!”

Last, but certainly not least is Vydalia Weatherly, junior Criminal Justice and Political Science double major, who will be serving as next year’s PR Coordinator.

“I’m most excited to go to the many events the campus has to offer and make stories about

them on the MSG Instagram,” Weatherly said.

“I hope to be able to get more students involved on campus. I recognize events happen every day on campus, but many students do not know about it. I have also noticed that students in different departments, majors, and organizations are doing this.”

If you see any of these folks around campus, be sure to congratulate them! They will surely make for a wonderful MSG executive board next year!

LAKER MOMENT

LASSA Study Abroad Presentations

On Thursday, April 20, LASSA hosted an information session where students who have studied abroad in a Spanish-speaking country could present their experience to those who were interested.

There were also elections for the upcoming school year held during this meeting. Ivelisse Arce is the new president, Samantha Weber is the new vice president, Kaylee Moffitt is the new secretary, Madison Rogers is the new treasurer and Sabrina Pizzarelli is the new social media coordinator.

Contributed photo

Madison Rogers and Kaylee Moffitt presenting on their study abroad experience in Puerto Rico.

MSG Lakers Instagram photo

Vice President, Ethan Frey posing with the SpringFest shirts. Frey will be returning to his role as VP next school year.

By

RSCO FEATURE GREAT OUTDOORS CLUB

Gavin Griffin runs for Titusville City Council

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Mercyhurst freshman

Gavin Griffin is running for City Council in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Griffin is a political science major and is passionate about local politics and public service. At just 18 years old, Griffin would be the youngest council officer in the history of his native Crawford County.

This is an impressive challenge for anyone to take on, let alone a college student.

Are you someone who enjoys the great outdoors?

If so, there is a new RSCO that is just right for you to join on campus.

The Great Outdoors Club is a new RSCO that was just approved last week. Since they are so new, there has not been an actual meeting yet, but the club has a lot of ideas for the future.

The club hopes to host several outdoor activities which include hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, kayaking, canoing, skiing/snowboarding/sledding, biking, exploring, cookouts, outdoor games and more.

This club strives to share their passion for nature and the outdoors while giving students the opportunity to make new friends and find a community of people who share an interest in the outdoors. As indicated by the name, all of the activities and events that the club puts on will be outdoors as long as there are no dangerous or hazardous weather patterns.

This is a great opportunity if you love being outdoors, but feel contained on campus a lot of the time. As a member, you will get to explore the wonders that nature has to offer in Erie.

This club was started by Aden Ricketts, a sophomore Geology and Physics major. When asked why they started this club, Ricketts said, “We recognized that, though our campus is beautiful, there are many amazing places beyond the gates that are unknown to most students. This club will offer members a chance to step away from the oftenstressful life of college on campus and experience the outdoors, all whilst meeting new people and spending time with friends.”

The faculty advisor for the club is Bryan Prindle. Prindle was first introduced to the club through Sue Sweeney who was helping the club become a recognized student club.

“I met with the students who put the club together and we all thought I would be a good fit,” Prindle said. “I hope that the students get a greater appreciation of what mother nature offers us in the local area.”

Ricketts said, “I like to think of the Great Outdoors Club as more of a community than an organization, a stress-free place for members to relax and enjoy nature, and I hope others view it in a similar way. I believe this club offers a fantastic opportunity for those passionate about the outdoors to connect.”

If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Ricketts or Prindle about when the club will be meeting next.

Griffin joined the Junior Councilman Program when it was first established in 2022 and he did everything including attending meetings to research and the decision-making process even though he was unpaid and did not technically have a vote.

With this experience along with his current internship with Senator Bob Casey, Griffin has had plenty of political experience at such a young age.

Griffin’s political agenda is helping the poor by having more collaborative local social services, increasing the availability of Narcan to save lives, ensuring first responders have adequate staffing and equipment and advocating for more CPR training and the installation of AEDs in the community.

In order to run, one has to have 100 signatures, Griffin went door-to-door to obtain these signatures and he stopped after receiving 150. He continues to go door-to-door to get to know his potential constituents and what they want to see in their city.

Griffin included an essay piece outlining why it is important for young people and college students to seek out change in their own communities through public service. He wanted to include it in this article:

“The youth of our country today have been born and raised in what is perhaps the most turbulent time of any such generation in recorded human history.

Born in the 21st century, most have never known America in a time of peace. They have witnessed the death and destruction caused by international terrorist attacks. They have lived through the ill-fated forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now see our government’s failure to serve the veterans we sent to fight them.

They have seen a financial crisis, caused by deregulation and the risky greed of banks deemed “too big to fail.”

They have experienced an economic recession, watching prices go up and American jobs disappear.

They have been the test group for a brand new worldwide social experiment called the internet, and the effects have led to increased suicide rates and decreased feelings of true connection with others.

They have watched as their fellow students across the country are murdered in their classrooms, and have continuously been told to offer ‘thoughts and prayers’ for the victims and their families.

They have seen a rise in hate, an erosion of justice, and the breaking of our

social fabric, one piece at a time.

In spite of all this, however, the youth of the United States continue to hold on to hope. They continue to work in the pursuit of good, even when their more cynical elders tell them not to bother. They foster relationships with those who think differently from themselves, even when those in Washington are incapable of doing so.

In short, America’s young people have faced a world dominated by hate, unyielding to change, and still they persist in attempting to be a force for good.

As the youth of this country begin to come of age, it seems ever more evident that the only true agents for positive change in their lifetime must be the youth themselves.

We, as a nation, need a new generation of leaders to fix our country from the bottom up, and expand a new and uniquely American vision of hope, justice, and prosperity that is so desperately needed today.”

Christina Judy

Staff writer

Contributed photo

Gavin Griffin would be the youngest council officer in the history of Crawford County if elected.

LGBTQIA+ Walk a great success

By Bella Lee Staff Writer

Mercyhurst does a lot of work in order to make sure a variety of groups can feel represented. A new event occurred recently— the LGBTQIA+ Walk, on Monday, April 17.

The event was organized thanks to the efforts of Catherine Segada, junior Environmental Science and Anthropology double major and Mik Sciortino, junior Social Work major.

With the battles that are ongoing nationally for and against the LGBTQIA+ community, the duo was inspired to form this event.

“In 2023, 461 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced in the United States,” said Sciortino. “Considering the fact that we are only 3.5 months into the year, that number is staggering. Mercyhurst students and faculty needed to take a stance against these bills, and we decided to do it.

“We wanted to be able to communicate to the Mercyhurst LGBTQIA+ community that they are accepted, loved, and that students are willing to fight for their human rights.

“Additionally, we wanted students who may not hear LGBTQIA+ voices on the regular to be able to hear from a diverse array of speakers that could touch upon their own experiences.”

The walk proved to be a great success, with attendees being given resources to use in the future.

“We provided all of the attendees with a QR code with many resources on how to reach out to their local representatives, register to vote, and so much more,” said Sciortino. “We hoped that they would understand that these bills affect their fellow students, faculty and staff, and millions of other people. We wanted people to feel empowered, not disheartened.”

The walk was important to Segada and Sciortino because as

the number of LGBTQIA+ students in universities continues to increase, the representation that is necessary becomes even more important. “This event was important to us because as two members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we are scared about what our country is quickly moving to,” said Sciortino. “It is so important to advocate for this community and everyone in it.”

It is crucial that there is adequate LGBTQIA+ representation everywhere, especially in the school setting.

According to the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, 82% of LGBTQIA+ students had issues in the previous school year with bullying about their sexual orientation, 64% felt unsafe at school due to their sexual orientation, 61% never reported being attacked as a result of their orientation, and out of those that did, 31% said their school made no effort to respond.

Additionally, in 2019, The Trevor Project reported that 71% of LGBTQIA+ youth experienced some form of discrimination and 67% faced attempts to be convinced to change.

It is known without a doubt that the students at Mercyhurst are capable of amazing things,

CLASS CATALOG IA-100: INTRO TO DESIGN BASICS

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Intro to Design Basics or IA-100 is a unique course offered to Interior Architecture and Design majors.

The course is taught here at Mercyhurst by Professor Kathy Weidenboerner of the Interior Design Department.

Weidenboerner described the course in her own words saying, “This course is the first step across the bridge to being a great designer.”

Intro to Design Basics is specifically a studio course that includes both lecture and hands-on creation of artistic exercises for student’s to get a sense of the characteristics in design environments.

Students will also use a

wide variety of skills like sketching, and an application of design which are valuable tools needed in order to create professional models. Students looking to explore the elements and principles of design will thrive in the studio environment through various projects and exercises.

Weidenboerner described why she liked teaching the course saying, “Every class of students and their approaches to solving the design problems are different. It’s exciting to see those responses and the works of design and art that the creative mind can produce. I especially love when a student discovers and gains confidence in one of these new skills.”

Intro to Design Basics not

only covers the fundamentals of design, but students can also assess their current skills through feedback. Having a class suited for the world of design is a great opportunity to join a group of designers who are like minded. The class helps artists develop their inner creativity which is a great asset in school and in life.

Emphasis in the class will also be placed on the artistic creation and analysis of design compositions that are grounded in design fundamentals. Twodimensional and threedimensional interpretations and expressions will be explored as well in relation to the elements of line, shape, form, mass, texture, space,

light, color and motion; the principles of emphasis, balance, scale, proportion, rhythm, unity, variety and harmony; visual perception; and design theory.

The course is offered all year here at Mercyhurst and is a 3-credit full semester option.

Students interested in adding Interior Architecture and Design will be required to take this course and will not have any regrets.

The core of the major is to combine modern artistry and special functionality.

The Interior Architecture and Design program is also housed within the Walker College of Business which provides students with a foundation including Intro to Design but also knowledge of

as was shown with all the hard work students put into the LGBTQIA+ Walk in order to make it as successful as possible. We hope to see another event like this next year!

the field of business. Students receive hands-on experience which is extremely beneficial in the design world and in our community.

The art of design can open many opportunities for students beyond college, especially in our world where everything we see and everything we share is viewed a certain way which has remarkable effects.

Far too many students are not exposed to the opportunities other majors offer that may in fact suit their personal qualities better.

Mercyhurst hopes to open students’ eyes to new opportunities and ideas they may have not thought about otherwise.

Contributed photo

Mik Sciortino and Catharine Segada organized the inaugural LGBTQIA+ Walk at Mercyhurst on Monday, April 17 .

Mercyhurst promotes sexual assault awareness month

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Every year during the month of April, the world recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month, commonly referred to as SAAM.

The mission of SAAM is to raise awareness of sexual violence that takes place around the world in hopes of educating communities on ways to prevent it.

This year marks to 22nd annual year of the world recognizing SAAM with a theme of “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” Every year individuals recognize this month as an opportunity to honor the resilience of survivors in the process of healing all while showcasing such an important issue.

One of the most well-known activities that takes place every April in order to bring awareness to SAAM is national Denim Day. Denim Day is the current longest running prevention and education campaign of sexual violence.

On this day community members, elected officials, businesses and students make a social statement through their clothes by wearing jeans as a way to protest common misconceptions that surround sexual violence.

Sexual assault awareness is an important matter because of how common of an act that it is. This act of violence can affect anyone from any community, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

Every 68 seconds, an individual

in the United States is sexually assaulted. More than 1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men and 48% of transgender people experience sexual violence. Of these numbers, women of color experience sexual violence at a disproportionately higher rate. It is an incredibly serious public health crisis that can impact the victim for their entire life.

Having awareness is incredibly important to acknowledge on a college campus because not every individual may have experienced or had knowledge of sexual violence before coming to college.

National averages indicate 13% of college students have experienced rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitations.

These acts are often accompanied by other forms of violence. Perpetrators are often someone that the victim knows in some capacity.

People who may be friends, current or former intimate partners, coworkers, neighbors, or family members can commit these heinous acts.

There is a plethora of ways to get involved and be an ally to someone who may have experienced sexual violence.

Activities like initiating a conversation in private in which you listen to what they tell you, validate their feelings, take it seriously, and support and respect their decisions can all allow for the individual you are interacting

with to feel supported. It is important to go into any situation with an open mind, avoid victim blaming, and to challenge any false attitudes or beliefs that you may have previously had. There will never be a quick

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Eva Philips Staff writer

fix for situations like this, so it is incredibly important to keep in mind that you must let go of expectations that you had going into it.

The effects of sexual assault are often lifelong, and it is necessary

to understand the resources that you or the individuals you are interacting with have access too. Please reach out to the Counseling Center or Residence Life for a list of campus and local reasources.

This week in Mercyhurst history, we look back 55 years in the past to April 21, 1968. On that day, Zurn Hall was dedicated in honor of the Zurn family, who were based in Erie and ran a successful manufacturing company. The Zurns had donated $200,000 to construct a new building for arts and sciences on Mercyhurst’s campus. At the time, the building’s full name was Zurn Hall of Natural Sciences and Fine Arts. The dedication took place approximately two and a half years after ground was broken for the project. Today, Zurn Hall continues to house the majority of science facilities on campus, as well as the dance and art departments.

Mercyhurst Archive photo

Picture of Zurn Hall when it was first built.

Chrysalis Foundation photo

Poster with statistical information regarding the sexual violence.

‘Phantom of the Opera’ closes on Broadway after 53-year run

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has done a lot of damage to various industries. However, one industry that has suffered in particular has been theatre.

Theatre thrives on live audiences, so the fact that these productions couldn’t perform for over a year was devastating for both cast and crew, who were left without a source of income for that entire time.

Even after shows began reopening, the lack of audiences attending out of extreme caution for their health led to many rising popular shows closing after sadly short stints.

However, one show that was significantly impacted was “Phantom of the Opera.”

After a stunning 13,981 performances, “Phantom of the Opera” closed on April 16 following an unprecedented 35-year long run, the longest in Broadway history.

Over the course of its time at the Majestic Theatre, it has entertained over 20 million patrons and brought in over $1.3

billion, with an estimated 6,500 people having been employed by the production, including over 400 actors, and a cast, orchestra and crew of 125 needed per performance.

“I got the gig of a lifetime. There’s no other way to describe it,” says Richard Poole, who’s been a member of the ensemble, playing minor roles, for almost 25 years.

“It’s given me the ability to have security, to plan ahead,” said Poole in an interview with NPR. “It gives me discipline and structure in my life, and it gives me a constant way to maintain my craft.”

Musician Joyce Hammann has been at the show even longer than Poole: “I’m concertmaster at Phantom of the Opera, which is first violin. And holy moly, I’ve been there 33 and a half ye ars.”

Hammann is one of several orchestra members to have a “Phantom baby” – her son, Jackson, just turned 18. “This has been his home away from home,” she said.

Six women out of 40 who portrayed the leading woman, Christine, could share their

experiences with the production and how it changed their lives.

“As monumental as the role is to everybody else, I was a young person doing my best with all the talent I had to put this beautiful role in place,” said Sarah Brightman, the very first Christine. “I feel very humbled by it.”

“The gift of that for me was getting the feedback of people who didn’t realize that this was a

role that was open to them,” said Ali Ewoldt, the first person of color to portray Christine. Emilie Kouatchou agrees with this notion. “I’m getting to be powerful, and soft, and sexy, and feminine and masculine,” Kouatchou said. “I think it’s important for people to see someone who looks like me being able to be all of these things because, as Black women, we don’t get to do that quite often.”

It’s a devastating blow to the theatre industry that “Phantom of the Opera” will no longer be on Broadway, prompting many to wonder what show will occupy the Majestic Theatre now. Hopefully, there will be tours or a revival to keep the love for “Phantom of the Opera” just as strong as it initially was.

Live-action ‘Lilo and Stitch’

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Filming for the live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch” was initially planned to begin in 2020, but several delays kept pushing it back.

“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” director Dean Fleischer Camp, will also be directing the film that was previously said to be premiering on Disney+ rather than in theaters.

While not much information has been released about the live-action version, several sources have said the “Lilo & Stitch” remake will bring the 2002 animated classic to life in a new way.

Hopefully, they do not mess up Stitch’s teeth along the way. Various sources have confirmed that Disney has cast newcomer Maia Kealoha to star as Lilo.

While Kealoha has no major acting credits yet, she has participated in several Little Miss Kona Coffee pageants.

Many on social media have supported the six-year-old rising star; the same can not be said for everyone in the cast.

This week, the Hollywood Reporter released that Nani, Lilo’s older sister will be played by 22-year-old Sydney Elizabeth

Agudong.

In the past, Agudong has played roles in “NCIS,” “Infamously in Love,” “On My Block,” and the feature film “West Michigan.” Significantly after the news broke, people took to social media to criticize Disney’s decision to cast Agudong, born and raised in Kauai, Hawaii.

Native Hawaiian fans have taken to social media to point out Disney’s track record of whitewashing characters and express their unhappiness with re-imagining Nani, a darker-skinned character, as a lighter-skinned, biracial actor in the classic movie’s upcoming adaptation.

“Not being Indigenous or from a PoC community, it may not be easy to see a problem with this casting, but within our communities, this is a big issue,” one person tweeted. “Nani is Indigenous Hawaiian with strong features and dark skin; this casting is blatant colorism.”

Another Twitter user posted, “I get that there isn’t a “look” to being indigenous, but Nani is not a light skin indigenous Hawaiian woman....like, let’s be serious right now.”

This is not the first time Disney has been accused of whitewashing. In 2018 after changing Tiana

—the studio’s first Black princess, from “The Princess and the Frog” —by portraying her with lighter skin and looser curls in an unreleased version of “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” the company took a lot of heat, on social media.

After images of the new depiction of the beloved character surfaced online, Disney reanimated the scene, facing backlash from

fans and feedback from the voice actor who originally played Tiana. They eventually reverted the character’s looks closer to her original depiction in “The Princess and the Frog.”

In 2019, the company came under fire for casting Naomi Scott, a biracial British actor of Indian ancestry, as Princess Jasmine in the live-action remake of “Aladdin.”

Audiences enraged by the casting decision called out the company for whitewashing the original character, who was the only Disney princess with darker skin at the time of the animated movie’s release in 1992.

Disney has yet to respond to several news organization requests for comment, but regardless we are excited to see Kealoha as Lilo.

Left: An artist rendition of what Stich could look like in a live-action format. Right: Maia Kealoha will be playing Lilo in the latest Disney remake.

Hurst Hot Take: What’s up with ‘Up’—exploring a Pixar classic

By Meghan McKay Staff writer

The 2000s have arguably the best decade of TV shows and movies to have surfaced on the internet.

Some of the most prominent TV shows I still enjoy watching, like “Gossip Girl,” “24,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “One Tree Hill,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Mad Men,” and even “Friends,” highlight the liveliness of the decade.

The movies from the 2000s also follow suit as many of them can be regarded as the best movies of all time.

Whether it was the release of a new Bond film or a rom-com, the 2000s had it all. One of my favorite movies is “Up” which was released in 2009.

“Up” is a Disney computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film directed by Pete Docter.

It was the first animated film to open the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.

It received a 10-minute standing ovation from the audience, a historic moment for Pixar. No other animated film had ever been given the honor of opening the festival before.

This film is about the 78-yearold widower Carl Fredericksen.

The plot tells us about his journey to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with thousands of balloons as he flies to South America to fulfill his lifelong dream of traveling there.

An earnest eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell accidentally becomes the old man’s travel companion on his adventure. Russell sees the old man Mr. Fredericksen as a father figure and appreci-

ates his kindness and willingness to listen.

Along the way, they meet a talking dog, a giant bird and a villainous explorer.

The movie is heartwarming and must watch for anyone looking for a feel-good movie. The story explores themes of love, loss, and adventure.

“Up” has received critical acclaim for its storytelling, animation and emotional depth.

It is one of my favorite movies because I always get a laugh out of the characters’ interactions, especially Russell, because of how adorable he is.

I also enjoy a good Pixar film and think some of Disney’s best films were from the era.

Luckily, I am not the only one who regards “Up” as one of the best Pixar films. It has won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.

I encouraged people to watch the movie because it is beautifully crafted and resonates with audiences of all ages.

“Up” is a beloved classic because of how well-developed the characters and their journeys are depicted.

It is a timeless classic that has touched the hearts of millions around the world. If I ever need a smile, I will not hesitate to turn it on and soak in the stunning animation and breathtaking visuals.

In conclusion, “Up” is Pixar’s 10th film, and for its 10th anniversary was a 10 out of 10.

“Up” also has a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 8.9/10 based on reviews. “Up” sits alongside many other wonderfully crafted Pixar films from the 2000s including “Finding Nemo,” “Ratatouille,” “The

Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc,” and “WALL-E.”

Disney hardly ever misses with their movies and this was yet another example of their successful movies.

People are so obsessed with the movie that someone even painted their house like Mr. Fredericksen’s in the movie. The house is located in Herriman, Utah and Bangerter Homes were the ones who recreated the house with permission from Disney.

So many of us grew up on Disney and Pixar movies when we were younger, and it is nice to sometimes look back on them and reflect on how they made us feel as children.

Since growing up, life moves by too quickly so it is important to slow down and remember the fun memories you had even as a child because it is important to constantly have that state of happiness in one’s life.

Bangerter Homes recreated the iconic “Up” house in Herriman, Utah.

The 2009 Disney-Pixar film, “Up” has won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.

The Guardian Photo

Some of “Up”’s cast and crew celebrate their impressive showing at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

SpringFest is this week!

To BORG or not to BORG? The new drinking trend across colleges

By Christina Judy Staff writer

is a smart way to stay safe and feel more comfortable with your drink.

this past weekend.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully this is the last of the colder weather.

The Merciad

STUDENT EDITORS

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.

College is a time to grow in your independence, test your limitations and learn from your mistakes. One of the most common activities that college aged students struggle to figure out is how to consume alcohol safely in social settings.

A new trend has popularized recently via social media that is addressing this very issue. BORGs, or Blackout Rage Gallons, have become a drinking trend in which gallon-sized jugs are filled by mixing the alcohol of choice, water and flavoring along with electrolytes or Liquid IV. The addition of electrolytes helps to ease the hangover one might experience after drinking a gallon filled with an alcoholic beverage.

There are many other positives that common people and experts have identified in the use of BORGs. For one thing, gallon plastic jugs contain a cap which has been regarded as a way to protect the individuals drink from being spiked. This

I believe that one of the most beneficial aspects of using BORGs, especially at campus parties, is that the consumer can decide the proportions of liquids within the gallon.

For example, if you are not looking to get drunk or even blackout, you have a lot of control over the amount of alcohol poured into your gallon and can deter drunkenness from happening.

College students face a lot of peer pressure when they are at a party, but if they show up with their own drink, they can ward off any other person who might nag at them throughout the night.

The benefit of this is that it promotes individual harm reduction which is a high concern for young adults.

Despite the benefits of the BORGs, I believe it is important to remind people using them that blacking out can be dangerous. There have been incidents on other college campuses across the U.S. that have been unsafe for college students drinking from BORGs.

With that being said, there is a simple way to avoid blacking

out using BORGs, all someone has to do is add a lesser amount of liquor to their gallon. It is also super helpful that half to most of the gallon contains water, which will absolutely support hydration in comparison to just drinking straight up alcohol. Depending on the amount of liquor added to a BORG, they can slow the consumption of alcohol in comparison to other alcoholic drinks on the market. This is of key importance because this method is not so harsh on the body by allowing it to process the alcohol being consumed.

The popularity of BORGs spurred from TikTok posts about the additional trend of naming the drinks, usually with funny phrases or puns like “Borg to Be Wild” or “Legally Borg,” which has caught the eye of other college students across the country.

Although there have been benefits linked with using BORGs, there is still a warning about drinking alcohol on college campuses in order to protect students from any harm that could come with the recklessness of being blackout drunk.

Colleges need to do better with awareness for sexual assault

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

The month of April recognizes many different topics, one of them being sexual assault awareness.

I believe that especially as college students, it is important to raise awareness for sexual assault and harassment that is sadly occurring every day.

It baffles me to think about how there are people out there who do not believe it is as common as it actually is, or they are quick to brush it off as not that serious. It is because of people like them that make women not want to speak up and afraid to tell the stories of assault that happened to them. However, although very difficult to do, it is through sharing stories that people start to feel a little less alone, and that there is hope for them to feel okay again.

In college culture I do not think there is enough awareness for sexual assault. Colleges preach that they have resources,

and they have a zero-tolerance policy, but what are you to do when the person who assaulted you is on a major sports team, or well-known at school? Things like this continuously happen and universities all across the country try their hardest to brush it off, cover it up or simply say they cannot take one person’s word over another.

It happens all the time where there is no ‘proof’ that someone had been sexually assaulted, so when they try to report it, administrators say that they cannot just simply believe one student over another. The thing is though, in my opinion, they can. I think that if someone is brave enough to put themselves out there knowing they might not be believed and consequences might not follow for the assaulter, then they are probably not lying.

The climate we live in today seems more concerned with protecting the future of the assaulter because of what they would call a “minor incident,” than it is with getting justice for the victims. People are so concerned with what will happen to the person who committed the crime, but what

about what will happen to the survivor when their assaulter is allowed to walk around campus like nothing ever happened? This is only sending the message that people are allowed to take advantage of others and commit crimes without any sort of repercussions.

I think that increased awareness for sexual assault in college needs to happen, and happen soon. People are afraid to speak up and tell even their friends about it, and this should not be the case. What happened to them is not their fault, and I do not feel like schools give off that impression well enough.

At Mercyhurst, there has been a Take Back the Night Walk to raise awareness for sexual assault, which I think is a good way to bring in a lot of people. During the walk they give statistics, myths that are misunderstood about sexual assault, and information on the topic. Unfortunately this year the event was canceled.

If you or anyone else you know is struggling, you are not alone. Reach out to the counseling center on campus or the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673.

A heater caught on fire in Baldwin

Customers cannot resist the thought of Crumbl Cookies

By Megan McKay Staff writer

“It all started with one big dream, two crazy cousins, and the perfect combination of flour, sugar and chocolate chips.” These have been the words spoken from Jason McGowan (CEO) and Sawyer Hemsley (COO) the cofounders of Crumbl Cookies, the fastest growing bakery franchise of our generation.

It was started just a short time ago in 2017 in Utah and has grown nationwide into over 600 stores. Crumbl is known for their deliciously large and flavorful cookies, and it does not end there.

What has made Crumbl so popular is their social media presence when promoting their new cookies.

Each week the company has a rotation of different flavored cookies available for purchase. This makes the demand for their cookies that much more prominent as customers only have a week to get their favorite flavor before a new lineup is released. This has made Crumbl’s marketing style all the more unique as no other business has generated the same popularity.

Customers have truly become fans of the brand as they are invested each week in the new flavors released and even post TikTok videos reviewing the cookie lineups which is a huge promotional component.

The popularity online has flourished because of Crumbl’s marketing team, and their constant social media presence is what keeps customers interested every week.

Crumbl has become a destination versus a chain which causes most people to make exceptions for higher costs and calorie intake.

Personally, I too have been drawn in by the changes in cookie flavors weekly. This has caused me to constantly be checking back on either the app, social media or website to see if there is a new flavor that I like. I know there have been times where I have seen a new cookie flavor and would instantly have to go within that week if I wanted to get one before it was too late. This has caused me to outweigh the negatives, which are the high calories and price in order to get a flavor I enjoy because it is time sensitive.

However, customers who enjoy consistency can be rest assured that each week the original chocolate chip cookie remains and most of the time a classic pink sugar cookie.

Most of the cookies rotated are extravagant, which makes them so eye-catching. As someone with a major sweet tooth, I love the idea but hate the outcome. After your first bite, the outcome is you are obsessed and finish the entire cookie.

As a result, I often find time to get a workout in before indulging, but no one should ever feel they have to earn the delicious cookie. It is important

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

to note that most cookies range from 600-1000 calories which is almost half the recommended amount nutritionists say for consumers per day which makes the cookies not the most nutritionally healthy.

The cookies’ nutrition facts are also only marketing a quarter of each cookie which can be deceiving to consumers trying multiple flavors. One can argue though that consumers get a lot for what they pay for and I would recommend sharing a box with friends to get the full experience. The average cookie is around $4 and 4.5 inches wide.

Crumbl also has catering options where mini cookies can be ordered for parties and teams.

I recommend if you have never been to Crumbl, go to the Crumbl app or website and find your nearest location. Crumbl also offers cookies to be shipped to you as there is not a store yet in Erie. I recommend being on the lookout for arguably some of Crumbls most popular cookies which include: Birthday cake oreo, cookie dough, mint chip ice cream, key lime pie, blueberry cheesecake, Reese’s, buckeye brownie, chocolate cookies and cream, Kentucky butter cake, my personal favorite Biscoff lava and their original chocolate chip.

It is ultimately up to consumers to decide if they feel the cookies are worth the hype. I believe they are delicious but the nutritional benefits have made me glad we do not have a store here in Erie.

We asked: What is your favorite movie?

Jackson Feiock, junior intelligence studies major: “My favorite movies without a doubt are the Star Wars series.”

Maiya Harding, senior criminal justice major: “My favorite movie is Mulan!”

Bethany Jentz, junior Intelligence major: “One of my favorite movies would probably be Forest Gump.”

Lilly English, junior criminal justice major: “Right now I am loving Top Gun: Maverick.”

The Era’s Tour is like the Met Gala: Taylor’s Version

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

Taylor Swift is just about a month into her Era’s Tour, and fans have been going all out dressing up for her concerts. Since the tour is all encompassing of her previous albums, some people are choosing to dress up from the era of a specific album. Swift’s most recent album, “Midnights,” is a really fun theme to dress as in my opinion. For people who have been going with this theme there have been a ton of glitter and sparkles, mainly because of the song “Bejeweled,” which is part of the setlist on tour. Sticking with the sparkly theme, I have seen people dressing up as a mirrorball, in all silver with reflective sparkles everywhere because of her song “Mirrorball,” on her eighth studio album, “Folklore.”

Fans have also been mixing different album themes together and adding cowboy boots to many outfits because Swift first started her career releasing country music. I have to say, I did not think I would like it, but the glittery outfits paired with cowboy boots do look pretty cool.

A few weeks ago when the tour first started I heard someone describe it as The Met Gala, and the theme is Taylor Swift, and that really is the best way to describe it.

When I think about it, I wonder if Swift thinks it is odd to look into the crowd and see people dressing up as her in a certain music video, or her in an interview she did years ago, because that is how specific people are getting.

Not that I know her personally, but I feel like she would look at it as nostalgic and surreal that people admire her so much to want to dress as her at different

points in her life. As for me, I was lucky enough to get tickets to go to The Eras tour and I am so excited to plan my outfit. I found a light pink crop top with butterflies (to match her “Lover” era) and ivy stitched into it (for the song “Ivy”). I have mirrorball earrings that I am going to wear and I am also going to put a pink glitter heart around my eye because that was Swift’s signature look on the “Lover” album cover. I would love to do something more sparkly but that is all I

have figured out for now.

One cool thing fans have been doing at the concerts is bringing friendship bracelets to trade with other fans. People are doing this because of the lyrics “make the friendship bracelets take the moment and taste it, you’ve got no reason to be afraid,” in her song, “You’re On Your Own, kid.”

Another way I saw someone connecting with other fans at the concert is having them sign a t-shirt.

This girl wore a plain white

t-shirt that said, “I’ve got a blank space,” and on the back it said, “write your name,” so she ended up with a shirt packed full with names of other fans that went to the same concert.

I have loved seeing all the outfits on the Eras tour so far and I am excited to see what people will be wearing at the concert I am going to!

Compiled by Hailey Steidle

NHL Playoffs: Who will take home the Stanley Cup?

By Hailey Steidle Staff Writer

Every year 16 National Hockey League teams face off for the title of a lifetime. The NHL playoffs draw in millions of viewers over the course of weeks as the best 16 teams in the National Hockey League face down in a series of tournaments where two teams will go head-to-head to determine who moves forward.

The winners get to claim the Stanley Cup which is the most prestigious award that any team in the NHL can achieve.

This year, the games began on April 17 and are projected to last until the end of June. Who will win? What names are bound to be mentioned often? Only time can tell us these answers, but we can speculate.

The first round of the games is currently ongoing as 16 teams face off in eight a best-of-seven series which will showcase four teams from the eastern conference and four teams from the western conference.

The current lineup for these games is the Boston Bruins vs the Florida Panthers in which the Bruins are leading with a score of 4-1 games so far.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing the Tampa Bay Lightning with the Maple Leafs leading with a score of 2-1.

The Carolina Hurricanes are playing against the New York Islanders which the Hurricanes are leading with a score of 3-1. The New York Rangers are up with a

score of 2-1 against the New Jersey Devils.

The Colorado Avalanche is in a similar situation with a score of 2-1 against the Seattle Kraken. The Dallas Stars have been going head-to-head with the Minnesota Wild who are currently tied with scores of 2-2.

The Vegas Golden Knights are playing against the Winnipeg Jets with the Golden Knights leading with a score of 2-1.

The final two teams facing off are the Edmonton Oilers vs the Los Angeles Kings who are tied with scores of 2-2.

The question of who will win

is in many peoples’ minds during these showdowns.

Many are looking towards last year’s winners, the Colorado Avalanche, to see if they can pull out consecutive wins.

During last year’s Stanley Cup, the Colorado Avalanche beat out the Tampa Bay Lightning with a nail-biting score of 2-1.

After the Avalanche finished playing some of the best hockey they have ever played in the regular season, many are wondering if they will be able to keep up the momentum in the playoff games. One of the names that seems to stand out for them this season is Alexander Georgiev.

Another team who many are looking at is the Boston Bruins who just recently won the Presidents’ trophy. The team set new records with a total of 64 wins and 135 points in the regular season.

The team has a stacked roster will excellent goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, an award-winning coach. Jim Montgomery, and David Pastrnak who scored 60 goals this season alone making him the second in franchise history to ever do so. All of these factors have landed them with the No. 1 overall seed.

NBA Playoffs: Series updates and teams to watch

By Megan McKay Staff writer

The NBA playoffs postseason has officially begun and the team to beat are the defending champions and the once dominant force: the Golden State Warriors.

The playoffs are made up of 16 teams who will be faced with four rounds of a seven game series format to determine the new 2023 champ.

The top six teams in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs but the teams sitting on the cut had to participating the NBA’s play-in tournament to determine the final two teams in each conference. The play-in tournament concluded last week as the Lakers and Atlanta earned the 7th seed, and the Timberwolves and Heat earned the 8th seed. Ultimately Chicago, Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Toronto were eliminated from any playoff contention. The lower seeds will all go on to face the highest seeds which include the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and Memphis Grizzlies. However, despite seeding the playoffs are any teams game especially for many of the lower seeds looking to produce upsets.

The first rounds of the playoffs are still taking place and the current standings right now are;

Heat(8) vs Bucks(1) series tied 1-1, Cavs(4) vs Knicks(5) series 1-2 NY, 76ers(3) vs Nets(6) series 3-0 Brooklyn, Celtics(2) vs Atlanta(7) series 2-1 Boston, Nuggets(1) vs Minnesota(8) series 3-0 Denver, Suns(4) vs Clippers(5) series 2-1 Phoenix, Kings(3) vs Warriors(6) series 2-1 Sacramento, and Grizzlies(2) vs Lakers(7) series tied 1-1.

Each series has clearly been a close matchup with an exception of a few who have struggled to secure their first win. It is interesting to note that for the first time all four California teams are in the playoffs; the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, and Kings.

The Sacramento Kings are also in the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons which is a remarkable achievement.

The Kings hold the 3 seed in the western conference and this season are 48-24. The franchise also won its first Pacific Division title since 2003. The Kings have held the longest playoff drought streak in all of sports but after their recent berth ended the long awaited record. With the monkey off Sacramento’s back this makes the Kings a team that everyone in all sports will be rooting for. On the other end of the spectrum is the Golden State Warriors who have won four of their seven NBA Championships in the past eight seasons.

The returning champions have not had their best season but were able to secure their playoff spot after a late push in the regular season. The Warriors have struggled with a season of misfortune as they had to play most the season without their star players. Stephen Curry missed most of the season with a broken hand, and Klay Thompson has yet to play a game due to a torn ACL. The Lakers also had a troubling start to the season and off the skin of their teeth were able to secure a playoff spot even with Lebron James’ historic and record breaking season. The Clippers, however, have had a strong season and sit at the 5 seed but will be missing Paul George after he suffered a knee injury and is expected to miss the first round. The Clippers will also be missing Kawhi Leonard who also ruled out due to a knee sprain. The 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies have had a handful of injuries in just the first round including Ja Morant who suffered a hand injury, Steven Adams with a knee injury, and Brandon Clarke is out for the season after tearing his Achilles.

The Miami Heat will be missing Tyler Herro after he broke two fingers in game one against Milwaukee. Milwaukee will be missing Giannis Antetokounmpo who suffered a lower back

contusion in game 1.

Injuries aside, the 2023 NBA playoffs have been full of excitement and the teams to watch are the Celtics and Bucks. The Boston Celtics have become a strong team to watch and root for especially in their current series against Atlanta. Trae Young of the Hawks has struggled to put up any offense so far against the dominant 2 seed. Heading into the playoffs Milwaukee was chosen to be the favorite to win the title after passing the Celtics in the standings but the Celtics cannot be overlooked.

Boston ranks second overall in both offensive and defensive rating which gives them the all around advantage over a team like the Bucks. After a run to

the finals last season the Celtics look better than ever as Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown have been terrific thus far.

However, for the Bucks even without their star player they have shown their depth after going down in the series against the Miami Heat. Bobby Portis has stepped into the lineup for Antetokounmpo and playoff veterans Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder have contributed to the depth the Bucks needed.

The current odds for the NBA title are in favor of the Boston Celtics who are +550 followed by the Milwaukee Bucks +600 and Golden State Warriors +650. The Sacramento Kings odds are shockingly +25,000.

NHL .com photo

2023 NHL Playoff Bracket entering Tuesday.

NBA.com photo

Top players from the 2022-2023 season.

Women’s Lacrosse battles hard, splits 3-3 in April

By Christina Judy Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Women’s Lacrosse team is currently holding a 3-3 record for the month of April.

Their three wins have been hard-fought and well-deserved, and their losses have been really close in score.

The Lakers have put forth much effort to prepare for this season and they have earned some great wins and moments for their program.

With the competitiveness of the PSAC, the Lakers had their work cut out for them and they wasted no time in preparing for the toughness of their opponents.

With teams like Slippery Rock University, Lock Haven University and the improving Gannon University, the Lakers have had to fight their hearts out for every goal, defense stop and success play on the field.

To start off the April springtime play, the Lakers defeated Slippery Rock University 13-10 on their home field with a celebratory game.

The importance of this win went beyond the scoreboard because the Lakers hosted their senior day to recognize the six seniors who have dedicated so much of their time and energy to bettering the program.

Additionally, the Lakers sought to spread awareness

through dedicating this game as their Morgan’s Message game. Through this act, the women’s lacrosse team recognized and honored the struggle that people face with mental illness.

In the spirit of upholding this event, the Lakers went on to perform very well having a perfect 22-22 on their clears and plenty of defensive and offensive highlights to tally on the stat sheet.

Only days later the Lakers faced their cross-town rivals, Gannon University, and fell to the Knights in a 9-10 loss.

The scoreboard is not

the whole story, the Lakers fought relentlessly, and this game was taken as a mindset lesson.

After falling to Lock Haven by one point earlier in their season, the Lakers had a chance to redeem themselves.

They took this opportunity and beat the Bald Eagles in this PSAC matchup to enhance their conference record.

With incredible statistics from individual players, they Lakers were sure to come up victorious.

Maggie Newton netted six

goals and Marlee Antinora had a hat trick to help solidify the win.

They also capitalized on draw controls, recording 18 which certainly created the offensive opportunities that were graced with success.

Traveling for a game brings about its challenges and the Lakers felt that when facing IUP. Despite their hard-working efforts, they came up short to the Crimson Hawks with a score of 12-14.

The Lakers did not perform as they usually do in terms of draw controls as

IUP overtook that category. However, the Laker spirit never died because their effort is the heart of their success.

They recorded 16 ground balls which are imperative to creating offensive opportunities.

A great team win followed when Mercyhurst took on Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and claimed a 20-3 victory.

Some fantastic and selfless team play gave many players the chance to showcase their skills. Mackenzie Murphy, traditionally a defender, scored two goals!

Many freshman also had their first goals of the season including Emma Cimino, Alex Finocchario, Brenna Smith, and Nicole Hetzer!

The Lakers must continue to play with intensity and heart to help their team advance and make the PSAC playoffs.

LET’S

Wednesday April 27, Erie PA, 4 p.m. Baseball vs. IUP

Friday, April 28, Edinboro PA, 2 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. Fairmont State University, NCAA Regionals

Saturday, April 29, Lock Haven PA, Women’s Golf, PSAC Championship

AP News photo

The 2022-2023 Laker Women’s Lacrosse team.

The Lakers wrapping up their 2023 season

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

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SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230424

FOR RELEASE APRIL 24, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of May 1, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

Changes in the workplace might be daunting for some, but you love challenges and will do just fine with this one. Remember to work with facts, not rumors.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

Just when you need some emotional reassurances, you find an almostforgotten, friendly gesture repaid in the most wonderful way. More good news follows.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You have a chance to restart a stalled personal relationship. Additionally, a workplace change bodes well for new opportunities, but you need more facts before you can act.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Talk to your longtime friends about why they’re not in sync with your new pal. You might learn some startling facts. Also, a difficult workplace situation eases.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) What seems to be a golden opportunity is, naturally, attractive to Leos. But be careful that it’s not just a lot of surface glitter. You need to ask more questions.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) There are still some issues with getting decisions made on your workplace project. Talk to a supervisor about ways to break the impasse.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A family matter could become more complicated and reach an apparent dead end. Don’t give up on trying to find a solution. Work patiently with everyone involved.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You’ll soon hear more about an offer that could change the direction of your career. Meanwhile, enjoy the newly positive on-the-job environment.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Expect a favorable reply to a workplace request. On the home front, a full explanation helps you sort out a long-standing personal problem.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A serious matter needs focused consideration. Watch that your sometimes capricious nature doesn’t create any unnecessary distractions.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You win added support for your determination to turn a bad situation into a good one. One new ally arrives from a most unexpected source.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Family and friends need to be told about a decision you want to make. Be prepared to offer a full explanation when asked. Hold nothing back.

BORN THIS WEEK: You can be a fighter and a lover. You are a natural leader with a strong sense of justice that makes people respect you.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.