MLK day on campus
Transcription
MLK day on campus
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 CAMPUS LIVING A&E Page 3 Vote for Spring Fest bands Photo from petpromise.org Achoo! Get rid of that nasty cold Vol. 80 No. 12 Page 6 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie Pa. 16546 January 10, 2007 Students to research local water VP named to keep with school’s mission By Jessica Kocent News editor “As Mercyhurst looks to achieve our vision with a simultaneous focus on keeping tuition costs sensible and stabilizing enrollment growth, it is becoming increasingly imperative to grow the endowment and to find new sources of support,” Mercyhurst President Tom Gamble said. One of the major initiatives he has taken to achieve this vision is the creation of a new position, vice president of development. Gamble has chosen his fellow Syracuse graduate, Linda Bennett to head up this position. Bennett began her work on Jan. 2. Her main focus will be to build an alumni advancement infrastructure. In layman’s terms that means she will try forge better communication between the alumni relations and the annual fund departments, leverage the knowledge of Mercyhurst College donors and alumni and secure more money for scholarships, research and equipment. Bennett believes that this new position aligns with Gamble’s vision as a way to not only increase funds for Mercyhurst College, but it will also enhance communication between the faculty, students, staff and administration. Bennett grew up in Port Allegheny, Pa., which is just 30 miles south of the New York state line. She attended Clarion University for her undergraduate studies and earned a master’s degree in Library Science at Syracuse University. She worked for both General Electric and Carrier Corporation, before taking the job as Manager of Research for Government and Corporate Relations at Syracuse University in 1984. She held many positions at Syracuse University over 22 years, including vice president for advancement services, a position that required her to create an advancement infrastructure, which is the same position that was created for her here at Mercyhurst College. Bennett said she is very excited to be on the ground floor of more sophisticated infrastructure, giving her a chance to improve technology and communication information, which are “two critical parts to improving organization and sharing knowledge. “My personal philosophy is that it is all about the donor and its all about the college, bring the two together will benefit both,” Bennett said. When asked about her experiences at Mercyhurst College thus far, Bennett said she is “very glad to be here!” She wanted to stress that she is “very impressed with students and the alumni, particularly how proud they are of their school.” She is also very happy about how willing everyone is to help her get acclimated to a new position in a new city. “Everyone has been so friendly, welcoming, and willing to work together, which will really get this program off on the right foot,” she said. Campus news briefs Compiled by editorial staff/from mercyhurst.edu Talent show to help pay medical bills for family The Mercyhurst College chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society for freshmen is organizing a campus-wide talent show to benefit the family of Pete Geddes, a staff member in the college’s athletic department. The show is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. Admission is $3. SAC schedules indoor soccer tournament From 8:30 p.m. to midnight in the REC on Friday, Jan. 12. Comedian night On Saturday, Jan. 13, the Student Acitivites Council will host comedian Troy Tridgill in the Walker Recital Hall at 10 p.m. Mercyhurst, PA CareerLink form partnership Mercyhurst College and Pennsylvania CareerLink, Erie County, are joining forces in an effort to better serve individuals in the community who seek career advancement and training. This recently formed partnership is the first that PA CareerLink, Erie County, has formed with a traditional college. CareerLink is a one-stop system that provides high quality workforce development and career services to employers and job seekers. An equal employment opportunity provider, CareerLink supports local and regional economic development activities by connecting businesses with qualified people, and people with training, jobs and careers. Photo from VisitPA.com Presque Isle is about a twenty-minute drive from campus. By Merissa Frank Contributing writer Going to Presque Isle during warm weather is practically a must in Erie, despite the myths about the water and what grows in there. Lately, it also seems that the majority of the beaches being closed is a must as well. Mercyhurst’s Biology department is going to investigate some real life growth there, starting in the summer of 2007. Coastal Zone Management, a government agency, granted the Biology department two different grants, one for $39, 000 and one for $18, 000. According to redorbit.com, state rules require beaches to close when there are more than 235 colony forming units [of bacteria] per 100 milliliters of water. With these grants, students Cody Smith, Jayme Dylewski, Jessica Watson, Denise Thompson, Theresa Mullan and Tim Wagner will be looking to reduce the bacterial sampling time and reduce the bacteria in general. “The project will take about a year to complete,” according to Dr. Steve Mauro, assistant professor of biology. He said it will take about a year to finish the project because the actual processing of the data is what will take up most of the time. The students will be using the Donald and Judith Alstadt Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Research, a state-of-the-art facility on campus, as well as the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. This project will allow Smith, Dylewski, Watson, Thompson, Mullan and Wagner to become better qualified for graduate school and job opportunities. Not only will this project give the students exposure, but the college as well. It will give Mercyhurst a better name in the research field and allow MLK day on campus Tri-State Honors Band sets concert The Tri-State Honors Band, which includes 90 select high school musicians from the surrounding region, will cap its residency at Mercyhurst College with a performance under the baton of Dr. Joseph Parisi. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and is free and open to the public. Mercyhurst gallery to showcase landscapes An exhibit of landscapes by Thomas Paquette opens at Mercyhurst College’s Cummings Art Gallery on Thursday, Jan. 18. The opening reception is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and is free and open to the public. The book, “Thomas Paquette: Gouache Paintings” will be introduced during the show and will be available at the gallery. Paquette’s exhibit continues through Feb. 18. The gallery is located in the lobby of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mercyhurst students to stage Shakespearean comedy “Twelfth Night” is scheduled for Jan. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. The cost is $1 for students and $4.50 for all others. the Biology department to expand their research and give the college better qualifications as well. Mauro also said that they plan to publish the findings in a scientific journal. “The grant will allow the biology department to purchase equipment and supplies. This project will help beach goers and the community in the long run by better protecting them.” By studying the bacteria that cause the beach closings, Mauro and his team will be able to determine whether or not the bacteria is harmful as well as if it is human or non-human bacteria. This study may determine why the beaches are forced to close so often during the summer, it will definitely give the participating students an extra line on their résumés and it will help boost the name of the college’s biology department. However, it probably won’t put an end to the rumors of what lives in Lake Erie aside from bacteria. By Cara Nemanic Contributing writer Andy Finkel photo Officer Paul Joslin displays the new Honda Pilot police vehicle. New look for police and safety By Merciad staff Mercyhurst College Police and Safety has a new look. The department attained a Honda Pilot to replace the current Ford Explorer police cruiser. According to Police and Safety Chief Ken Sidun, the reason for replacement was the Explorer’s lease ended. The Pilot’s lease, said Sidun, is three years at $299 a month. “It’s a good deal compared to leasing a new Explorer,” he said. “And the reputation of a Honda is another reason we chose the vehicle.” The Pilot currently has no detail, but Sidun said a design is in the works and will be on the vehicle soon. AIFS offers opportunities By Abby Letson Contributing writer The American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) is the leading study abroad program in the U.S. Many of the different programs offered through AIFS and other study abroad institutes are available with course credits. These programs include: Australia, Austria, China, Czech Repub- lic, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Africa and Spain. Whichever programs students choose to attend, they have a “home” university. This is an institution that serves as a home base while the student is abroad. At each of these “home” universities there is an On-site Resident Director, as well as support staff. Please see Viewing on page 2 In an effort to commemorate Martin Luther King’s life, the Mercyhurst community is invited to participate in several activities that will be held on Mon. Jan. 15 in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pertrina Williams, Diversity 101 advisor, expects at least 50-75 people for each of the two breakfast sittings in Mercy Heritage Hall at 9:00 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. Following the breakfast, Mercyhurst will provide transportation to the commemorative march in downtown Erie. After the march, a reflection reception will be held in the Student Union at 1 p.m. Also, the documentary “Citizen King” will be shown in King’s honor. In addition, the play, “I Remember 1955” will be performed by Sojourner’s Expressions this Friday at 6 p.m. Also, Dr. Tom Gamble will be giving a televised speech on Mr. King at 7:30 on WICU-TV, Channel 12. For more information, students can contact Darcey Kemp at x2433 and Pertrina Williams at x2369 to make reservations. PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD NEWS January 10, 2007 To contact: [email protected] Ed. majors learn from student teaching World Briefs International news Compiled by Jessica Kocent From BBC News Morrocan man jailed for attacks on 9/11. al-Motassedek jailed for 9/11 attacks A Moroccan man convicted in Germany as an accessory to the attacks on the United States in September 2001 has been sentenced to 15 years in jail. The court in Hamburg handed the maximum sentence against Mounir al-Motassadek. He had acknowledged that he was close to the 9/11 hijackers but insisted he knew nothing of their plans. But last year Germany’s top appeals court found him guilty of abetting the murder of 246 people on the four planes that crashed on 11 September 2001. The ruling superseded a sevenyear sentence handed to Motassadek in 2005 for being a member of a terror group. Mudslides leave many homeless in Brazil Communities across southeastern Brazil have declared a state of emergency as torrential rain continues to cause extensive damage in the region. At least 50 people are reported to have died, more than half of them in the state of Rio de Janeiro, since the beginning of the year. Tens of thousands have been left homeless by floods and landslides. China angry at Chen Chen Shui-bian is the president of Taiwan. China has protested to the US at plans to allow Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to stop over in California on his way to Central America. President Chen will spend the night in San Francisco before travelling on to Nicaragua for the inauguration of President-elect Daniel Ortega. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and discourages any diplomatic recognition for Taipei. The US said Chen’s visit was simply for transit purposes. Washington has allowed the Taiwanese president to stop over on US soil in the past, but refused permission last May as he headed for a presidential inauguration in Costa Rica. By Amy Zielinski Contributing writer Many education students are becoming anxious for their first day of student teaching and cannot wait to set foot in the classroom. Ray Fiorelli, director of student field placement, has been working extremely hard contacting various schools in Erie County that would be willing to accept students. During fall and spring term, Judy Matthews, assistant director of student field placement, helps Fiorelli with secretarial work. “She is a tremendous help and we work extremely well together,” Fiorelli said. He also has an assistant, Sarah LaBone, who helps in his office by working eight hours a week. Before students can student teach, they are required to fill out a student information sheet. This is very important because this is Fiorelli’s first impression of the student. It is also the principal’s and cooperative teacher’s first impression. One class that students are required to take before student teaching is the Pre-Teaching Internship Practicum, also known as PIPING. This class helps students gain experience in the area they will teach. “Students will be going into a student teaching assignment with classroom experience,” Fiorelli said. “The students are the most meaningful thing about student teaching,” said senior Jim Rudisill, a music education and voice major. Kyle Linehan, a math education major, says, “It is overwhelming at times, but just take one day at a time and focus on what needs to be done.” Dr. Richard O’Dell, assistant professor of special education said, “Mercyhurst students have a good grasp of their subjects and pedagogy through their course work in their majors, education theory, materials and methods courses and their core classes.” After students complete the PIPING course, students can student teach. Students are placed in 12-week assignments. Each Monday during student teaching students attend a mandatory seminar. During these seminars, students and their supervisors discuss procedures and expectations of students. “It’s nice because you have a group of people you can talk and discuss issues with. They are in the same situation you are,” Todd said. “It is nice to see your supervisor and touch base with them,” she added. When students have questions about student teaching, they can also talk with their advisor. “Much of my advising is making sure the student is on track towards completing their course work and double checking applications,” O’Dell said. Dr. Kathleen Bukowski, associate dean of Hafenmaier School of Education and Behavioral Sciences says, “Student teaching is a capstone experience and it proves to Mercyhurst College you are capable to be certified.” When education students reach their senior year at Mercyhurst College, they have received lots of experience through various practicums. “Mercyhurst is unique in that more than half our classes in education require field experience,” she said. Mercyhurst does a great job having students interact with other students in the classroom right from the beginning of their freshman year. “The amount of field experience our students get at freshman year is outstanding. Some schools do what is called a junior field placement,” Bukowski added. “We’re increasing the requirements for secondary subject Continued from page 1 They are there to guide participants through academics, health, cultural differences, language and more. At Mercyhurst, Eric Evans of the International Student Center, is the main contact for students who want to study abroad. “The most important thing to do when even considering studying abroad is plan early and plan well.” Make sure you are a full time student because then your financial aid, federal and from the college will carry over to your abroad program.” Once students are finished student teaching they will either graduate or continue coursework to fulfill graduation requirements. Students will begin to apply for certification in the areas for which they are eligible. Student’s completing the education program at Mercyhurst find various jobs. “Our program encourages risk taking. We provide many opportunities to explore and work outside of one’s initial comfort zone,” O’Dell said. “A good number of our graduates go on to graduate programs in education, counseling, administration, special education, speech and language pathology, just to name a few,” he added. “I believe our students are as well prepared as any other college or university and their chances of receiving a job are excellent,” Fiorelli said. “Sometimes, it’s the small things that make you fulfilled,” Bukowski added. There are a few requirements for applying. Students must carry a GPA of 2.0 or higher or else have letters from the head of the department chair explaining how they would benefit from the program. There is a bit of time for decisions the actual due date for applications is March 15. The programs range in price from $4,799-$9,639. Everything is taken care of by AIFS programs. They do however; give you the time to explore on your own. This is the most personal part of the excursion, when you get to view a country from your own eyes. Photo contributed by Amy Zielinski Hussein was hanged on Dec. 30. Coroner prefers joint inquest in Diana case Any jury at the inquest into the death of Princess Diana will be drawn from the public, the coroner has said. Lady Butler-Sloss told a preliminary High Court hearing that she wanted the inquest in May and did not want the panel drawn from the Royal Household. She reserved her decision on whether there would be a jury or joint inquest. A Metropolitan Police investigation last month concluded the 1997 Paris car crash in which Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died was a tragic accident. Yusuf arrives in Somali capital Interim President Abdullah Yusuf area this year with a senior level internship,” O’dell said. “Our philosophy is that students develop skills over time to develop a teaching style. We want students to validate if this is for them or if it isn’t.” Bukowski said. Students who student teach are required to keep a journal and do a reflection after each lesson. “When you read students’, reflections, you really get to know what the students are getting out of the experience,” Bukowski said. “Student teaching shows you all of the things that go into teaching that the classes don’t tell you about. The paperwork, the meetings, the changes in the schedules and all of those things show you what goes behind the scenes in teaching,” Linehan said. “It has shown me that you have to choose to be positive everyday. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. is not always the greatest, but you have to choose your attitude, hopefully that is a positive one,” he added. Viewing a country with your own eyes Iraqis drop charges The Iraqi High Tribunal has dropped all charges against Saddam Hussein, as the genocide trial of six co-defendants resumed. They are charged with crimes against humanity over a campaign against Kurds that left 100,000 dead. Many Kurds were disappointed that Hussein was executed before facing justice for his role in the Anfal campaign. Among the six remaining defendants is Saddam Hussein’s cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, sometimes known as “Chemical Ali” for his alleged use of chemical weapons against the Kurds. As the trial resumed he tried to read a prayer from the Koran, but the judge ordered him to stop. Photo contributed by Amy Todd Mercyhurst education majors breath a sigh of relief when students leave the classroom for the day. Somalia’s interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has arrived in the capital, Mogadishu, amid tight security. He flew in on his first visit since Islamists fled advancing Ethiopian forces. Gunmen fired at Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu overnight, after two died in anti-Ethiopian protests on Saturday. It is unclear if the violence is linked to the Islamists. Students, faculty, and staff raised a total of $405.80. MSG donates hundreds to St. Martin Center By Amy Zielinski Contributing writer Children in the Erie community were thankful this Christmas. Mercyhurst Student Government conducted a philanthropy drive to help children have a better holiday. The drive started on Nov. 27 and lasted until Dec. 15. a total of $405.80 was donated by faculty, staff and students. The total will be matched by MSG raising the amount to $811.60. All of the proceeds benefited the St. Martin Center of Erie. The St. Martin Center is a United Way affiliate that goes to great lengths to make sure everyone has a good Christmas. They also provide counseling for battered families, supply hot meals, emergency programs and provide a low-cost thrift store. Change jars were placed in 18 different locations around Mercyhurst campus. “We did it because we had great potential to give back to the community,” said MSG Treasurer Ryan Palm. “Anytime we can, we want to help Erie because it is part of our community.” According to Palm, every night during the donation time, MSG representatives collected money. “We had 20 to 30 people help out some way, shape or form,” said Palm. This was the first year for the drive and, according to Palm, MSG wants to continue it in the future. “I think we saw great success with this inaugural event and I hope next year’s leadership will want to continue making a positive impact with fundraising,” he said. Police and Safety Log December 14 Larceny/Theft Hirt Center Closed December 16 Liquor Law Violation 3925 Lewis Ave. Closed College Discipline December 16 College Violation/ Disorderly Conduct 611 East 38th St. Closed College Discipline December 23 Criminal Mischief Lot #7 Closed January 3 Larceny/Theft 3908 Briggs Ave. Open Pending Investigation 1-6-07 Unfounded January 4 Larceny/Theft Hammermill Library Open Pending Investigation 1-6-07 Unfounded January 5 Disorderly Conduct 3827 Lewis Ave. Closed College Discipline January 5 Harassment 3829 Briggs Ave. Closed College Discipline January 6 Liquor Law Violation 3829 Lewis Ave. Closed College Discipline PAGE 3 THE MERCIAD January 10, 2007 CAMPUS Living To contact: [email protected] Soul-warming recipes Easy Resolutions January is the time of year when people decide it is time for a changes in their lives. However, this is not always easy to do on your own. A suppor t system makes changes in your lifestyle easier to handle. Such support systems include dieting with a friend or exercising in a group environment, such as pilates or spinning, which are offered at the Rec Center. When it comes to food, keep healthy snacks such as granola bars and yogurt in your apartment rather than chips and cookies. For your three meals a day, make sure to plan a well-balanced one that includes protein, vegetables and starch. Contrary to popular belief there is no dietary enemy; your body needs carbs, sugars, etc. Portions need to be the focus of a healthy diet. As long as you know what you are eating and regulate the portions you can maintain a healthy diet. If losing weight is your goal, exercise is essential. Easy Food Choices You do not have to sacrifice taste and give up your favorite foods to be healthy and lose weight. However, there are some small ways you can change what you eat to make yourself healthier. Instead of those deep-fried chicken nuggets, order a grilled chicken sandwich or a salad in lieu of a burger. Instead of cooking with butter ,use olive oil to add healthy fats to your diet as a substitute to other trans fats used in cooking. Do With Meg and Kyle The weekly crossword not forget that spices are your friend; flavor does not have to be lost to make food healthy. Any questions or comments can be emailed to: [email protected]. New Year’s Resolutions Ingredients Will power Determination Well-rounded diet Plenty of exercise Directions 1. Whether you resolve to lose weight, eat right, quit smoking or change your lifestyle… You have to want it to change. 2. The key to a healthy lifestyle is a well-rounded diet, exercise and 8 hours of sleep a night. I ERI By Adam Hicks Contributing writer The average college student’s life on a Tuesday night usually consists of eating dinner, doing some homework (or at least thinking about it) and usually watching a favorite TV show. What if there was an option to break from the mundane of the dreary days in the middle of the week? What if there was an opportunity to exercise your mind without having to crack open a book with a potential prize for your effort? You are in luck; there is an alternative to the average pathetic Tuesday: Trivia Night. Just a short ride down State Street. is the Plymouth Tavern, a restaurant and bar, which offers the perfect solution: Tuesday Night Trivia from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday Night Trivia, which started four years ago at the Plymouth, is run by Tammy and Alice. The duo runs the questions, 10 per round with about ten rounds, which include matching subjects, identifying pictures and answering difficult fact questions based on unique categories. Those under 21 are allowed to attend the trivia; unfortunately, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Each week roughly 15 teams attend, with names like “Rosemarie’s Babies,” “The Federalists” and Mercyhurst’s own “New Age All-stars.” The team was founded by Love Trivial Pursuit? Try Trivia Night at the Plymouth. alumni Matt Peterson and Kelly Dombrowski, who said, “The questions are harder than expected, which can sometimes make it more difficult for college age students, but it is still great entertainment.” When asked about her team’s abilities, Dombrowski replied, “We hold our own.” In addition to the great entertainment that trivia night provides, another member of the team, grad student Michael Mancinelli said, “Trivia Night is an awesome Tuesday event because it brings friends together and it doesn’t last all night so there is still time to do homework.” The Plymouth Tavern and Restaurant on 1109 State St. is a unique building with a very vibrant history. It was originally built in the 1800s as a medicine and grocery store, then the Princess Theater in the 1900s and it later became a drug store. In 1973, the building became the Plymouth and has been run by General Manager Debbie Mancini ever since. According to Mancini, trivia started as a small idea but, “it grew each week to the point that we had to move it into a larger room and we still do not have enough seating. It is unbelievable what a hit it has become.” The success of Trivia Night has grown so big that there is now a waiting list for teams to enter, and you have to call to book a table (814-452-6210). Fortunately, Debbie advises to still show up and talk to Alice, because tables often do open up Photo by Adam Hicks The Plymouth is located at 1109 State St. right before the game starts. In addition, there are other incentives to attend Trivia Nights. First, large pizzas are two for $6 and come in pepperoni, cheese and margarita. Second, for those that are 21, individual draft pitchers are $2.50 a piece from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Third, and most important, the top three winning teams receive gift certificates to local venues each week. There is also an individual round at the end of the game where players are given the opportunity to answer and win other prizes like beach glass necklaces, Plymouth merchandise and gift certificates. With so much fun available on a Tuesday night, I encourage you to stop by the Plymouth Tavern and Restaurant to exercise your trivia skills. A new kind of resolution By Jen Helbig Contributing writer Happy New Year! 2007 has already given us some after-theholidays chubbiness, frigid air and snow to keep us inside and next week, not even one month into the year, we have to face midterms already. If you are anything like me, the current circumstances have caused you to toss your New Year’s resolution aside and replace it with the comfortable, old, easier habits that don’t require so much sacrifice and discomfort. I was talking with two of my friends on New Year’s Eve about our resolutions. One friend vowed to go to the gym three times per week for the year, and the other promised not to eat out of the ice cream container on impulse anymore. I went with the predictable and never attainable goal of promising to lose 10 pounds this year. I checked up on my friends when I started to write this article. Just like them I seem to have already gone up one pants size, and to treat my unwanted symptom I drank some hot chocolate and ate cookies. These lofty goals don’t suit me well when I’m in charge of what goes in my cupboards. It’s easy to blame faults on the outside circumstances though and give up. To be honest, even if I was living at home in my health food-packed house I probably would have found a way to get my hands on a cupcake to soothe my mind after a long day at school. School and all the outside stressors aside though, I began to envision what would happen if I could keep a New Year’s resolution for more than a week. As I tried to think of a goal that I truly want to achieve over the next year, I realized that personally, losing 10 pounds is not going to make me much happier or less stressed about school. Then it hit me – if I am stressed out at the proposition of weight loss and I actually am looking to become less stressed and more positive, then why don’t I set that as my New Year’s resolution? Setting a goal for something like weight loss that will cause me such physical discomfort is a disdainful thing to do to myself mentally and physically while I try to get through what will probably be one of the most academically challenging and socially straining years of my life. My New Year’s resolution to lose weight would not have changed me into a better person; it would probably have made me feel even more high-strung if I couldn’t have my little food rewards, hungry as I sat through class sustained solely on celery and most of all bitter if I had to drink light beer every time I went out. Deciding that I would do anything to avoid a state of starvation and carb-deprived depression, I set out to plan some small and attainable New Year’s resolutions that would reduce stress and make me happier. I made a list of small things that I can do for free in just a few minutes. The first will begin tomorrow when I’ll bake muffins to eat in class while the chocolate chips are still hot. If I have time to attend class, study and participate in extracurricular activities, I can definitely afford the time for at least one self-indulgent task per day. It seems a whole lot less painful than stepping onto the scale, sweating on the treadmill and counting calories for the next 355 days. Not to say I won’t have to remind myself every day of this resolution, but it seems like it will cause a lot more self-improvement than my original goal. So what about you? What do you want to give yourself this year? What can one year of time give to you? Imagine who you could be when the ball drops next year. Don’t just imagine yourself with smaller hips or bigger biceps. Set a goal that you truly think you could see happening by next year and wake up tomorrow as a new person. I know that I won’t mind waking up if muffins are waiting for me. Tips to void the evil common cold By Lakyn Bianco Contributing writer This time of the year begins the peak of cold and flu season, it seems that everyone is sick. Living in a college environment without the comforts of home, students may be more susceptible to contracting infectious diseases. One of the most common infectious diseases is the cold. The common cold is caused by a viral infection in the nose. Colds last for an average of one week, and the most frequent symptoms include a stuffy nose, sore throat and hacking cough. There may also be complications of a sinus congestion or earache. The Cohen Student Health Center stresses the best way to prevent colds is to wash your hands frequently and to wash them well. They suggest singing “Happy Birthday” twice while washing in order to get them thoroughly clean. In general you should practice good respiratory hygiene to prevent contracting colds and other illnesses. Along with washing your hands, you should avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Also, you should sneeze and cough into your shirtsleeve or a tissue instead of into your hands to prevent the spreading of germs. It is important to avoid sharing food, eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels and other personal items. It is also advised not to share or to even reuse water bottles. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important in avoiding illnesses all year long. You should follow a balanced diet, drink a lot of water, get a sufficient sleep and avoid high levels of stress. If you are not feeling well, contact The Health Center at x2431. It is located between the Bookstore and Briggs Avenue. January 10, 2007 THE MERCIAD PAGE 4 OPINION To contact: [email protected] Give SAC events a chance If you didn’t see the performance of break dancing at the PAC on Saturday, you truly missed out. With the opportunity to learn after, it was a great event to start a Saturday night. While the entertainers were enthusiastic and the audience was receptive of the energy, when the Ellen house light Koenig were raised I was surprised to see the lack of Contributing writer attendance. I expected to see more people, and it makes me wonder what the turnout has been to other weekend events. SAC events are great because they often give you a variety of activities to do on the weekends. Winter term is one of the better series and they try very hard to get students to attend. With a comedian this upcoming weekend, I wonder what the response will be. Another example was the New Years Below the Border event Friday night, with free food and a live band. This Mexican-inspired event attracted more upper classmen than freshmen. Maybe it’s my observation but the last two freshman classes have been more absent at school sponsored events than the class of 2008 was in their freshman year. With varying funds, SAC attempts to host events that will appeal to a variety of people; however, they seem to lack in originality from year to year. The events are often repetitive and the people in attendance are often the same. Perhaps through, different marketing and public relations tactics targeting a new group of students would be helpful. Another way to boost attendance is for professors and teachers to promote the events in class and even assign extra credit for attendance at an event that may pertain to a certain subject. If you simply read bulletin boards or pay attention to the fliers organizations put out, then you would know what to attend for that weekend. I don’t see how publicity for events can be missed with the assistance of refrigerator magnets and posters; word should easily be spread for student sponsored events. As a junior, the SAC events have a tendency to be repetitive year after year. However, you have to give props to the organizers and the students that set up such events by simply making a presence, even if it is for the free food and a quick dance. The events are a way to get out, socialize, get a bite to eat and then go on to the next party or occasion after showing face. The break dancers from Saturday night were a great show and such a high energy attraction should be more common on this campus. Events where students are exposed to the different performances and genres of entertainment keep the line up fresh and interesting. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly By Editorial Staff The Good Monday, Jan. 15, is Martin Luther King Day and Mercyhurst has several events planned to celebrate the life of this influential and inspiring leader. A breakfast, book fair and a play are some of the festivities planned to honor the member and legacy of King. The Bad Even though Mercyhurst has wonderful events planned for the celebration of Martin Luther King’s life and work, students still have class on the holiday. Therefore, students who do wish to participate in on and off campus events would have to work around, or miss, classes. The Ugly Sickness is spreading rapidly throughout campus. It is nearly impossible not to come into contact with a sneezing, coughing or coarse-talking student. Oh, the perils of living in the closed off community of Mercyworld. Please wash your hands! Several complaints have surfaced regarding Career Services. While the staff is fantastic, the demand of students is not adequately met by the number of available personnel. For example, to get an appointment for a resume, a student often has to wait months and as a result could miss important deadlines. The administration should consider the possibility of expanding the office so that Career Services can continue to offer its top notch assistance in a timely fashion to the ever-growing student body. Letter to the editor: Admissions numbers are impressive As I read the December 13, 2006, edition of the Merciad, I was disheartened to read the Merciad editorial staff ’s uninformed statement about the state of the College’s application pool. While I recognize this may not appear until after Christmas, I feel compelled to share my thoughts and provide the Mercyhurst College community factual insight. To remind readers, the December 13, 2006 Merciad section “The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly” referenced admissions applications under the heading “The Ugly.” The section specifically stated, “According to the admissions office, it appears as if Mercyhurst is headed for a banner year for applicants. So far, the number of applications is up 62% from this time last year. This normally would be very impressive, but it would be good to recall that last year was a low spot in applications received; therefore, the 62% increase is somewhat less impressive.” After staring at this very popular section of the Merciad in disbelief, I asked myself four questions. First, which editorial staff member had enrollment numbers from last year and this year to compare data and declare such a statement? Second, if being up 62% is “Ugly” and “less impressive”, what percentage constitutes impressive? Third, why would our own newspaper feel compelled to write such a statement when numerous Board members, alumni, faculty, staff, administration and current students (including the Ambassador Club) work very hard to promote and advance Mercyhurst’s growing reputation? Lastly, if applications had only increased minimally and the admissions office had an opportunity to select a more diverse, unique, and well-credentialed incoming class, wouldn’t the editorial staff view such a trend as “Good”? After all, wouldn’t such students likely foster successful Mercyhurst graduates, and in the long run, make the Mercyhurst degree even more valuable? As of December 14, 2006, Mercyhurst College had received 2317 applications for the fall of 2007, an increase of 855 (59%) applications as compared to last year. Many of the applicants may bring unique interests, talents, and intellectual curiosities to Mercyhurst. In my opinion, I would consider the number and quality of our applicant pool very impressive. To further prove how “impressive” this application surge has been compare our applications to the fall of 2004, the current Mercyhurst record year for applications (2756) and confirmed students (718). On December 14, 2003, Mercyhurst had received 1516 applications for the fall of 2004. Now, for the sake of comparison, please consider that, as of December 14, 2006, we have received 2317 applications for the fall of 2007, an increase of 801 (53%) applications over 2004’s record year. In fact, over the last 3 years on December 14th, Mercyhurst has averaged 1479 applications, making this year’s 2317 applications 57% more than the previous three years’ average. Unless the words “Ugly” and “less impressive” mean highly successful and astounding, I must be missing something. I realize the Merciad typically provides fair, accurate, and responsible reporting and opinions. I also recognize the Merciad has evolved into a very solid publication and has come a long way since I graduated in 1998. In the future, all I ask is that the Merciad editorial staff investigates all the facts and figures prior to formulating an opinion. I pledge to make myself available for any discussions regarding Mercyhurst’s enrollment: past, present and future. I also wish to congratulate and thank the admissions staff, the Ambassador Club and everyone in the Mercyhurst Community who has aided admissions in this impressive surge of applications. Mercyhurst is experiencing unprecedented, positive momentum as the college moves forward. Dr. Gamble’s compassion, optimism, and dedication are permeating throughout the Mercyhurst and Erie communities, and as director of admissions, and an alum, I ask the Merciad to help sustain this positive momentum. J.P. Cooney Interest in foreign language study positive Unlucky in love? Try hitting the books Kansas City Star, editorial MCT newspapers A new U.S. Census Bureau study analyzing foreign language speakers within the United States is apt to cause some unwarranted hand-wringing. The analysis of 2000 data found that within 14 million U.S. households, people speak a language other than English. In addition, 21 million people spoke English less than “very well.” Such reports often fuel beliefs that Latino and Asian immigrants today are fundamentally different in their approach to English than the German, Polish and Italian-speaking immigrants of previous waves of migration. Nothing could be further from the truth. The rates by which immigrant families learn English, generally abandoning their native tongue by the third generation, remains constant, other studies have found. In the new study, Missouri and Kansas showed some of the lowest numbers of foreign-language speakers in the nation. Still, some legislators in Missouri have discussed measures to make English the official language of the state. Such unnecessary projects are often based on the mistaken impression that immigrants resist learning English or that they lack loyalty to the United States. Immigrants are a self-selected, highly motivated population. It takes drive and courage to leave all that is familiar: family, home and country. These immigrants, like those of previous generations, have generally understood that success is tied to learning English. American society can help them by offering adult English classes and funding public schools so children can become fluent in several languages. Imagine the global business advantage of a U.S. population that is not only proficient in English, but fluent in a variety of the world’s other languages as well. Three million households, a fraction of the nation, are “linguistically isolated,” according to the Census study. That means everyone in the home above age 14 has some difficulty speaking English. But even within those homes, the process by which families become English-dominant is occurring. Often younger family members lead the way for their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The children absorb English through watching television, listening to popular music, playing with other children in their neighborhood in short, by simply living in America. Few things in life are as complicated as love. I feel as if it’s fair to assume that most of us have been confused with matters of the heart. Does he/she have feelings for me? Should I begin a relationship with this person? Should I end a relationship with this person? These questions plague Allison most indiMoore viduals, especially socially active college students who Opinion editor are constantly involved in dealing with romantic situations. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could learn the ways of the heart like you learn science, math or English? Well, students at the University of Sioux Falls will get the chance this February. Next month, a course, titled “Finding Dates Worth Keeping,” will be offered for University of Sioux Falls students looking to improve their romantic lives. The course will be taught by a relationship counselor and certified therapist and will deal issues like infatuation, how to find a compat- ible mate and when it’s best to break up. If you think about it, an academic education is not all students gain in college. We are exposed to new social situations and with that comes meeting and dating new people. Often times, our love lives impact us more than anything else, and the choices we make aren’t always in our best interest. It would be nice to have a class devoted to emotional, not just mental, growth to help us make better life decisions. I wonder, though, how much of an impact such a course would actually have on one’s choices. If you think about it, when it comes to love, rationality and reason often take a vacation. People are so driven by their emotions that they continually make poor decisions. The old saying “love is blind” is chillingly accurate. I mean how often have you warned a friend that they were making poor decisions to no avail? Or, for that matter, how many times have you been warned yourself and refused to listen? I wonder how effective a textbook on dating would reform an impulsive college student who is prone to making poor choices? Perhaps learning through experience is the only real way to unlock the mysteries of love. Perhaps not. Either way, this class is an innovative concept that deals with pertinent issues for everyday college students. MERCIAD The Joshua Wilwohl Jessica Kocent Chelsea Boothe Allison Moore Ryan Palm & Matt Jackson Melissa Brandt Andrew Finkel Katie Diley Melissa Brandt Noelle Lelakus Editor-in-Chief [email protected] News Editor [email protected] Campus Life Editor [email protected] Opinion Editor [email protected] Sports Editors [email protected] A&E Editor [email protected] Photographer [email protected] Production Editor [email protected] Advertising Manager [email protected] Copy Editor [email protected] The Merciad is the student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of midterms week and finals week. Our office is in the Old Main, Room 314. Our telephone number is 824-2376. MCT 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 the Thursday before publication and may not be longer than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485. PAGE 5 THE MERCIAD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT tHe BuZz JAN. 14. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Seneca Events Center, Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Niagara Falls, N.Y. JAN. 15. Andrew Bird. B e a ch l a n d B a l l r o o m , Cleveland. JAN. 16. The Fray, Mute Match. State Theatre, Cleveland. JAN. 18. Cowboy Junkies. Tralf, Buffalo. JAN. 18. Sara Evans. State Theatre, Cleveland. JAN. 19. Ron White. State Theatre, Cleveland. JAN. 19. The Queers. Icon, Buffalo. JAN. 19. Iris Dement & Band, Jason Wilbur. Beachland Tavern, Cleveland. JAN. 20. Pat Dailey. House of Blues, Cleveland. JAN. 20. Rock Star: Supernova. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. JAN. 20. Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Guy Clark. State Theatre, Cleveland. JAN. 20. Comedy. Capitol Steps. Warner Theatre, Erie. $25, $30, $42.50. On sale at Tullio Arena box office. JAN. 20. O.A.R. A.J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh. . JAN. 20. Capitol Steps. Warner Theatre, Erie. On sale at Tullio Arena box office, JAN. 20. O.A. R., Gomez. A.J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh. JAN. 26. Ted Riser. House of Blues, Cleveland. JAN. 26. Mayhem and More with Paramore, the Used, Pennywise. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland. JAN. 27. Freestyle Motocross. Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland. JAN. 28. Big Head Todd and the Monsters. House of Blues, Cleveland. JAN. 29. Augustana. House of Blues, Cleveland. JAN. 31. Cradle of Filth, 69 Eyes. House of Blues, Cleveland. JAN. 31. Matt Wertz, Alternate Routes. House of Blues, Cleveland. FEB. 1. Dark Star Orchestra. House of Blues, Cleveland. FEB. 2. Jerry Seinfeld. State Theatre, Cleveland. To contact: [email protected] Spring films at the PAC By Megan O’Hare Contributing writer This spring, the PAC will present a selection of 16 films that will take audiences as far as Mongolia and South America. The first film is “Thank you for Smoking,” which explores the Big Tobacco industry and their defense of the rights of smokers and cigarette companies. It will be shown at the PAC on Jan. 24. The following week, audiences will be taken to South Africa to follow the story of a hero’s journey to freedom in the early 1980s and today in the film, “Catch a Fire” (Jan. 31). “Jim Jones: The Life and Death of People’s Temple” (February 7) is the documentary that follows the people that traveled with Jim Jones from Indiana, to California and to the jungles of Guyana, South America to rebuild a society. The next film presented at the PAC is “Mongolian Ping Pong,” (Feb. 14) a film about growing up on the Mongolian Steppe and learning about the modern world. “Water” (Feb. 21) follows Chuyia, an 8-year old widow, who must live a life of solitude and chastity in a widow’s house during the time of Matatma Gandhi’s rise to power. Photo courtesy of www.catchafiremovie.com Check out Tim Robbins and Derek Luke in the provocative drama ‘Catch a Fire.’ “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” (February 28) begins with the main character falling ill and spending his last night being transported by ambulances to hospitals that will not admit him. This film symbolizes the best and worst of human behavior. “Iraq in Fragments” (March 7) focuses on post-war Iraq by painting a picture of how Iraq has been divided by religion and ethnicity and following the lives of Iraquis to discover their beliefs and concerns about Iraq today. The next film, “The History Boys,” (March 14) tells the story of a class of bright, unruly history students who aspire to attend Oxford or Cambridge for college. “The Last King of Scotland” (March 21) explores the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s. At a time when America is fighting for democracy and freedom in another country, “Shut up and Sing” (March 28) raises questions about our right to freedom of speech and how that right can sometimes be considered negative. “The Science of Sleep” (April By Melissa Brandt A & E Editor Be warned: The supposed conspiracy thriller, “The Good Sheppherd,” only delivers on half of what it advertises. The movie is laced with government conspiracies as it follows the life of Edward Wilson, (Matt Damon) one of the first members of the CIA. The main issue with this film is audience expectation. Audiences expect a plot. It’s hard to blame them, really. To be fair, “The Good Shepherd” is not without a plot but it is certainly not the traditional ‘rising action, climax, resolution’ that audiences have become accustomed to expect. What the film very simply boils down to (at two hours and eight minutes) is a mottled and dragged out picture of one man’s life: disjointed, tainted and probably eerily realistic. While the film is not a biography of the CIA, the characters in the movie are all based off of real people. Damon’s character is based off of the founder of the CIA’s counterintelligence operations, James Jesus Angelton. DeNiro, William Hurt and Billy Crudup’s characters also have real life models. Obviously, what the movie lacks in traditional plot line, it makes up in strong characters. Boasting an elite Hollywood cast, the film definitely showcases the talent it hired. Damon especially carries the entire story on his ability to communicate emotion through the tight, cold face of his character. He smiles twice. You probably won’t smile at all. The movie is not without merit, but if you want excitement, see “Blood Diamond.” FEB. 8. Kathy Griffin. Palace Theatre, Cleveland. Courtesy of Goerie.com. Conversational Chinese I & II 9 WEEKS OF NON-CREDIT INSTRUCTION PER SESSION CLASSES MEET ONE NIGHT A WEEK FROM 6:309:00 PM NO TESTS OR GRADES CLASSES START JANUARY 16 FEE IS $149 PER SESSION --- $275 FOR BOTH I & II--CLASSES ARE FILLING QUICKLY SIGN UP TODAY!! MERCYHURST COLLEGE OFFICE OF ADULT & GRADUATE PROGRAMS 814-824-2270 / [email protected] WWW.TOYOTALIVEWEB.COM 2007 , AS A COLLEGE GRAD , YOU FJ AS A COLLEGE GRAD CRUISER YOU MAY BE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR 2007 ELIGIBLE FOR RAV4 ANY NEW TOYOTA OF 2007 * CAMRY YOUR CHOICE HYBRID FEB. 7. moe. Town Ballroom, Buffalo. FEB. 7. Rock ‘N Roll Mardis Gras with Cowboy Mouth, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. House of Blues, Cleveland. 4) is a romantic fantasy set inside the brain of an eccentric man whose dreams begin to become a reality. “Half Nelson” (April 11) depicts the story of Dan, an idealistic inner-city junior high teacher who has a drug habit. Drey is one of his troubled students who begins a friendship with his teacher that could prove to be just what they need to change their lives around. In a future where America has lost the war on drugs, an undercover police officer is ordered to spy on his friends in the film, “Scanner Darkly”(April 18). “Notes on a Scandal,” (April 25) based on Zoe Heller’s novel, portrays one woman as she has an affair with her student and another woman with inappropriate obsessions. “The Cave of the Yellow Dog” (May 9) follows a nomad child set in the grasslands of Mongolia who gives a home to a stray dog. “Pan’s Labyrinth” (May 16) takes place at the end of the Spanish civil war where a young girl meets the god, Pan and must accept the three challenges he lays before her. “Babel” (May 23) involves a random gun accident caused by two Moroccan boys that sets the lives of four groups of strangers on three different continents. Set in Southern Minnesota’s farm country, “Sweet Land” (May 30) is a poignant celebration of land, love and the American immigration experience. “Children of Men” (June 6) is set in London in the year 2027 when, the last human child born turns 18-years old and humankind’s survival depends on protecting a woman who has become miraculously pregnant. “Volver” (June 13) depicts a mother who had recently died and has returned to lend a ghostly helping hand to her family. All films at the PAC are shown at 2 and 8 p.m. and are free for Mercyhurst College students with ID (one ticket per ID). Judging merits of Welcome to the global village. De Niro’s ‘Good Conversational Arabic I & II Shepherd’ FEB. 3. Justin Timberlake, Pink. Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland. FEB. 7. Asylum Street Spankers. Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland. January 10, 2007 2007 FJ CRUISER 2007 COROLLA ANY NEW TOYOTA OF YOUR CHOICE* 20072007 YARIS YARIS WWW.WINAYARISONLINE.COM† *NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. CUSTOMERS RECEIVE $400 FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA *NOTDEALERS ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA AND TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES.CUSTOMERS SEE DEALERRECEIVE OR VISIT$400 WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FORFINANCING DETAILS. COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME. † NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. A PURCHASE DOES YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID BY LAW. TO ENTER YOU MUST BETOA CHANGE LEGAL U.S. AT LEAST 18TIME. YEARS OLD DEALERS AND TOYOTA FINANCIALMAKING SERVICES. SEE DEALER ORNOT VISITINCREASE WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FOR WHERE DETAILS.PROHIBITED COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT OR RESIDENT TERMINATION AT ANY AND YOU MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. VISIT YOUR PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALER OR WINAYARISONLINE.COM FOR COMPLETE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. January 10, 2007 THE MERCIAD PAGE 6 ARTS & To contact: [email protected] ENTERTAINMENT Choose the Springfest band By Joe Fidago Contributing writer Seeing as how most people did not get the memo about going online to vote for the Springfest 2007 genre (come on people every once in awhile the Tuesday Afternoon actually does tell you something useful) the winning genre was Alternative. I’m not going to add Brand New to this list, because by now I’m sure you have heard about the guerilla campaigning to get them to play here. So without further rambling, after a little research, here are our best options for Springfest bands. Right off the bat Jack’s Mannequin, Mae, Muse, The Plain White T’s and The Starting Line were ruled out because they are playing a festival the weekend of May 5 & 6 (thanks a lot Bamboozle Fest). As you will notice there are links to PureVolume.com (or somewhere else you can get a sample) for each of these bands…I didn’t put those there for my health, go listen to the songs, give feedback to SAC or myself on the bands, or shut up when a band that you don’t like comes to play in May; because you have had ample opportunity to let your voice be heard. Photo courtesy of www.benfoldsfive.com For more info, check out the site www.benfoldsfive.com. Ben Folds – Piano driven rock, but don’t read that the wrong way; it’s definitely good stuff. Unfortunately there is no good site to stream his music that I have found, but between his solo career and Ben Folds Five, someone you know has to have something of his that you can sample. Photo courtesy of www.theacademyis.com For more info, check out the site www.theacademyis.com The Academy Is… - They sound good on record, but I’m not sure how they are live…someone reading this has probably seen them in concert and has got to know. Recommended Tracks: The Phrase That Pays and Slow Down. www.purevolume.com/theacademyis. Photo courtesy of www.anberlin.com For more info, check out the site www.anberlin.com. Anberlin – Obviously the hardest part of choosing a band for 3,000 plus students is getting one that the majority will want to hear. Anberlin is definitely a band that could draw a big crowd despite being a small name. Their extremely modest price tag would also allow them to play with another big act, should the cards fall that way. Recommended Tracks: A Day Late, Never Take Friendship Personal, Time and Confusion and Ready Fuels. HYPERLINK “www.purevolume.com/anberlin/blog” www. purevolume.com/anberlin/blog. Photo courtesy of www.cartelrocks.com For more info, check out the site www.cartelrocks.com. Cartel – These guys are amazing, if you have heard them you already know this. They have a poppy sound to them, but in this case that isn’t a bad thing. Recommended Tracks: Say Anything (Else), Luckie St., The Ransom, and The City Never Sleeps. HYPERLINK: www.purevolume. com/cartel. Photo courtesy of www.virginacoalition.com For more info, check out www.virginiacoalition.com. Virginia Coalition – If you like Guster, you will like these guys. Their PureVolume site is pretty bare bones, even though they have three or four albums under their belt now. The three songs on there will still give you an idea of what their sound is like though. DMB lovers should be in favor of these guys being our band. Recommended Tracks: Listen to all three of them. www.purevolume.com/virginiacoalition. If there is a band that really sticks out to you, LET SOMEONE KNOW! Contact the Student Activities Council at sac@mercyhurst. edu or myself at [email protected]. MATH LAB OPEN: Sundays through Thursdays Photo courtesy of www.aqualung.net Library 304 A & B For more info, check out the site www.aqualung.net. Aqualung –Very mellow, I want to compare him to Ben Folds at his most chilled out point. The stuff you can stream from his site is a little more upbeat than what is on the album “Strange and Beautiful.” Recommended Tracks: Just click through them all. HYPERLINK “http://aqualung.net/audio.php” http://aqualung.net/audio.php. Photo courtesy of www.guster.com For more info, check out the site www.guster.com. Guster – Similar to John Mayer in the idea that while their music is mellow, it’s upbeat enough that you aren’t going to be falling asleep or getting bored while listening. I’ve seen these guys in concert before, and they were awesome. Recommended Tracks: Amsterdam and Keep It Together. www. guster.com Go to ‘Media’, scroll down to the bottom left corner under ‘Audio.’ Check out the videos from Conan O’Brien too. 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Whole Foods Co-op Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, MAZATLAN, CABO, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES CALL: Ext: 2078 For exact hours Melrose Ave West 26th & Brown Ave MON - SAT 9-8, SUN 12-6 456-0282 www.wholefoodscoop.org PAGE 7 THE MERCIAD January 10, 2007 LAKER SPORTS To contact: [email protected] Mathis’ 24 points lead Lakers over Ashland Andy Finkel photo T.J. Mathis scored a career-high 24 points in a win over Ashland. Mathis is third on the team with 11.9 ppg. By Finella Annand Contributing writer The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team has proven that their win over No.10 Grand Valley on Dec. 9 was no fluke by going on to win four of their following five games. The first port of call for the Lakers after defeating Grand Valley was the Mercyhurst tournament. With confidence running high Mercyhurst convincingly swept aside Columbia Union and Northwood to win the championship in style. Mercyhurst defeated Columbia Union 89-60 in the semi-finals of the Mercyhurst tournament with eight Lakers scoring more than five points. Five players got into double digits with Shelby Chaney’s 19 leading the pack. The championship game saw an even more inspired performance by the Lakers as they crushed Northwood 72-43. The win was largely due to a 32-5 run in the first half. T.J Mathis, Mitch Brennan, Richard Field and Avi Fogel all finished the game in double figures. After the game Mathis and Field were named to the alltournament team, and Field was selected as the MVP. Mercyhurst followed up their tournament triumph with wins over IUP, Concordia and Slippery Rock. Shelby Chaney went over the 1,000-point mark for his career, which includes three years at Gannon and the current season as a Laker. They say all good things must come to an end and it did for Mercyhurst when they faced No. 7 Findlay at the MAC on Jan. 4. Findlay snapped the Lakers’ sixgame winning streak with a score of 59-47. The year 2007 got off to a miserable start for the Lakers as they found themselves unable to recreate the magic that lifted them above No.10 Grand Valley earlier in the season. Mercyhurst trailed 33-24 at the break and were unable to do enough in the second half to come out on top. After the disappointment of the GLIAC loss, the Lakers bounced back two days later to defeat rival Ashland 79-71 in a closely contested game at the MAC. The Lakers fought hard and battled their way to an entertaining victory in front of a receptive crowd. Mathis and Fogel stood out on the night, both racking up 24 points. Fogel also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists, while not committing a single turnover in the contest. Mathis’ 24 points eclipsed a career-high 22-point effort ,when the junior guard played at Morgan State. His previous high as a Laker was 19. Mathis hit 10of-16 field goals, including 3-of-5 from long distance and also had three steals. The win was particularly sweet for the Lakers as Ashland had won five straight in the series with three wins over Mercyhurst last season. The Lakers finished their eightgame homestand with a 7-1 mark and next travel to Northwood on Thursday, January 11 for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off in GLIAC action. Northwood is 5-8 overall and 1-4 in the GLIAC and is led by Aaron Simpson with 16.8 points per game. The Lakers will then play at Saginaw Valley State Saturday. The Cardinals are 5-7 overall and 2-3 in the GLIAC. Men’s volleyball hopes depth is key to success in upcoming season By Chris Davis Contributing writer The third-year head coach of Mercyhurst men’s volleyball team, Ryan Patton, looks to show improvement this season with his squad. Last season one of the most noticeable aspects of the team was its youth. This season Patton has continued to recruit and has brought in six new freshmen and a sophomore transfer to join the already young squad. Patton’s main goal for the team is a winning record. “Everyone makes the playoffs, so I care more about how they finish at the end of the season. Advancing in the playoffs in this experienced conference is one of our goals, but I believe to win more games than we lose would be a major achievement for us,” Patton said. One of the team’s strengths should be its depth. “I see a lot of potential for a lot of people playing significant minutes,” said Patton. The Lakers will count on many freshmen and sophomores to step up. According to Patton, David Hatten is the favorite to emerge as the starter at the setter posi- tion. Freshman Pete Swauger and Ian Michalski will battle for playing time at the position as well. At the libero position, a group of young players have competed for the starting job. “Currently, sophomore Jordan Pierson is closest to earning the starting spot, while Eric Schmalzried, Pete Swauger and Travis Jessick are also battling for the spot,” Patton said. The middle blockers may be the most experienced on the team. From last year’s team, the squad returns two of its starters in Dave Newman and Mike Palaschak. The opposite has also been a good competition battle for the Lakers. “Tim Wagner returns as the starter after starting last season and will be pushed by freshman Joe Montroy, which will be a benefit for each of them,” Patton said. The outside hitter position is an open battle. There are four sophomores competing to fill the spots vacated from last year, Missouri Valley transfer Marcus Santos, Jeff Hartman, Gary Coad and Bryan Ritter. Patton believes his freshmen are going to be a major part of the team, and will be counted on to step up and play against some tough competition. This year’s team has several strengths and weaknesses. In addition to the team being extremely young, he sees the team needing to improve upon several aspects of the game. “Our team weaknesses include blocking, not being physically strong and, lastly, serving, which all need to get better,” Patton said. Some of the strengths of the team have to do with the way he has built this team. “Our strengths are that we have the right guys with the right commitment to make these steps in the gym. We have the right character, right attitude and mindset,” Patton said. One of his goals is for the team to get better everyday and to someday win a championship. “We want to go where Mercyhurst volleyball teams have never gone before. I want to win a championship someday and to keep having the team get better and better,” Patton said. The Lakers play an exhibition match on Jan. 9th before opening their first home game on Wed. Jan. 10th against Nazareth in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers will try to improve upon last season’s 3-21 record, including a 1-11 MIVA record. Andy Finkel photo Goalie Jordan Wakefield has made at least 45 saves in four of his last five games. Wakefield sets Mercyhurst single-game saves record By Andy Tait Contributing writer The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team saw their wretched run of form continue this past weekend as Air Force swept a pair of games at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers have now gone seven games without recording a win. Their last victory came on Dec. 2 on the road at American International. Mercyhurst Head Coach Rick Gotkin is determined to keep his players on task. Gotkin says the key to the team coming out of this winless streak is, “staying positive, continuing to work hard and getting healthy.” The Lakers were cruelly beaten 5-3 this past Friday night, despite leading for most of the game. The Falcons scored three goals in the third period, including two goals in the final 90 seconds of the game from the nation’s leader in points, Eric Ehn. Goals from Chris Trafford, Kyle Gourgon and Cody Collins had given the Lakers 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads until the Falcons turned up the heat in the third period to snatch victory. On Saturday, the Lakers struggled with disciplinary problems as penalties hindered their momentum all evening. Mercyhurst conceded three second period goals and despite a Cullen Eddy goal in the third they could not find a way back. The fact that the Falcons were restricted to just three goals was due to some superb goaltending from senior net minder Jordan Wakefield. He turned aside 52 attempts on goal from the Falcons. Wakefield recently set a new one-game record for the school with 54 saves against Brown. The record had previously been held by sophomore goaltender Tyler Small, who made 53 saves last year against Bentley. Wakefield’s performances of late have been one of just a few positives during this barren spell for the Lakers. Despite the fact his eight starts have only wielded one win and a tie, his performances between the pipes have been stellar. The Lakers finished up 2006 with a few tightly contested games on the road. The Lakers traveled to No. 3 Maine on Dec. 16 and managed to hold the perennial powerhouse to a 1-1 tie in front of over 6,500 fans. The Lakers turned in a battling display to frustrate the Black Bears. Wakefield made 45 saves and that, coupled with an early first period goal from junior Ben Cottreau, was enough to give the Lakers a shocking result away from home. The Lakers coaching staff, players and fans are all scratching their heads as to how the team can go toe-to-toe with a team as good as Maine and get a good result, yet struggle to reproduce that form consistently. The Lakers current record stands at 4-14-4 and 4-10-2 in conference play. Mercyhurst travel to West Point, N.Y. next weekend to take on Army for a pair of games. The Black Knights won three of four meetings last season and will be looking to inflict yet more misery on the Lakers this season. Laker Winter Term I n n Galley Grill New weekly specials: 1/8 - 1/12 Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bottle of soda 1/15 - 1/19 Cuban Style burger combo 1/22 - 1/26 Turkey-Cranberry club wrap combo Laker Express Look for Laker Express Minute Meals! 1/29 - 2/2 Smoke House Pulled-Pork combo 2/5 - 2/9 Honey Mustard Chicken BLT combo Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00am-1:00 a.m. Saturday 1:00pm-1:00 a.m. Sunday 5:00pm-1:00 a.m. Wraps Buffalo Chicken Barbeque Chicken Veggie and humus Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 11:30-8:00 p.m. Board Equivalency Available: Friday 11:30-3:30 p.m. 11:30-8:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Closed Subconnection 6” Sub $3.50 12” Sub $5.50 FEATURES: This Week: Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sub Italian Sub Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 11:30 -9:00 p.m. Saturday 1:00pm-9:00 p.m. Sunday 5:00pm-9:00 p.m. S AKER PORTS Laker Sports “Quick Hits” This weeks results... Women’s hockey..............................................Jan. 5, W 2-1, Cornell Jan. 6, W 6-2, Cornell Men’s hockey..................................................Jan. 5, L 4-3, Air Force Jan. 6, L 3-1, Air Force Women’s basketball..................................Jan. 4, W 75-59, Findlay Jan. 6, L 94-82, Ashland Men’s basketball..........................................Jan. 4, L 59-47, Findlay Jan. 6, W 79-71, Ashland In the news... Athletes of the Week A pair of basketball players earned recognition as Athletes of the Week from the College. T.J. Mathis of the men’s team and Julie Anderson of the women’s team were honored for their play against Findlay and Ashland last weekend. Mathis set a new career-high 24 points on Saturday against Ashland in a 79-71 victory. The junior transfer had a red-hot hand, hitting 10 of 16 from the field and pouring in 17 points in the second half. He also added 10 points against Findlay, grabbing five boards as well. Anderson continued her stellar play of late, also setting a new career high with 29 points against Ashland in the week’s closing game. She tallied her fourth double-double of the season in that game as well, grabbing 12 boards to go with her best scoring night of her illustrious Mercyhurst career. Earlier in the week she scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Findlay. Wrestling ranked regionally The wrestling team is ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings that were released this past week. The team has been idle for several weeks, yet continued to receive recognition from its peers. Ahead of the Lakers reside PittJohnstown, Newberry and West Liberty State. In addition to being ranked as a team, eight individuals are ranked in their weight-class, including Andy Lamancusa, who is first at 157, and Don Cummings and Zack Schafer, who are second at 149 and 174 respectively. Dianoski CHA Player of Week College Hockey America (CHA) recognized Mercyhurst skater Melissa Dianoski on Monday as its Offensive Player of the Week. Dianoski, a sophomore who came to Mercyhurst just four weeks ago, made an immediate contribution in her first series with the Lakers. She scored a pair of goals and added an assist on Saturday against Cornell. Dianoski played the 2004-05 season at North Dakota before sitting out the 2005-06 season entirely. Mercyhurst remains No.1 Mercyhurst women’s hockey retained their unanimous No. 1 ranking in the USCHO.com and USA Today polls released Monday and Tuesday respectively. The Lakers were shorthanded for this past weekend’s series against Cornell, yet notched a pair of wins with scores of 2-1 and 6-2. Five players from Mercyhurst were overseas playing in a U-22 tournament in Germany, which left the Lakers here in the States shorthanded. The handicap didn’t stop them, as they were again the unanimous choice for the top spot: Page 8 January 10, 2007 Women’s hockey sweeps By Ryan Palm Sports editor Sometimes a little heart can go a long way in the absence of a little talent. Such was the case this past weekend at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, when a short-handed Mercyhurst women’s hockey team pulled out two tough wins against the Big Red from Cornell. With five of the team’s top players playing in a world tournament in Germany, both players and coaches knew this past weekend’s test was going to be a challenge. “We knew going in that it was going to be tough playing shorthanded,” said team captain senior Julia Colizza. “We’ve known since the start of the season that this was going to be a tough weekend for us with so many players missing.” “Having those players missing wasn’t ideal, but it helped our team take another step forward. More people were asked to do more things and the team rallied to the occasion and played really well,” said Coach Michael Sisti. Overseas for Mercyhurst were forwards Meghan Agosta, Valerie Chouinard and Stephanie Jones, defender Katariina Soikkanen and starting goaltender Laura Hosier. The three forwards have accounted for nearly half of the Lakers’ scoring this year, and Hosier has posted a 15-1-0 record on the season. Cornell came to Erie anxious to better their dismal record, making a statement early on Friday. The Big Red defense kept the high-power Laker offense scoreless for nearly 30 minutes until senior Lesley McArthur scored her second goal of the season at 11:38 of the second period. Mercyhurst got what at the time was an insurance goal at 7:22 of the third from sophomore defender Natalie Payne. That very goal proved to be the game-winner when Cornell lit the Ryan Palm photo Melissa Dianoski (33) seeks to score with teammate Julia Colizza (10) closeby. lamp just 10 seconds later. Mercyhurst held out the Big Red for the final minutes, and picked up a hard-earned 2-1 win. Sophomore Courtney Drennan made her third start of the season in goal in absence of Hosier. She allowed one goal in nine shots on goal to pick up the win. Saturday’s first period proved to be an even bigger scare for Mercyhurst and the 775 fans at the Ice Center. The Big Red posted a pair of goals in the opening session to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Whatever Coach Michael Sisti said in the lockerroom between periods must have been effective, because the Lakers came out and scored four goals in the second period alone to blow away the visitors. Freshman Angelica Lorsell got the scoring started at 4:44 and was followed by goals from Jackie Jarrell, Melissa Dianoski and Ashley Pendleton. Dianoski added her second goal of the game in the third period along with the team’s sixth goal from Colizza at 14:34. Drennan made 18 saves and picked up her third win of the season, stopping all 14 shots she faced in the final two periods. Mercyhurst was able to shut down the Big Red in the third period despite being whistled six times in 20 minutes, all of which came in the first 13 minutes of play, meaning they played nearly the entire first half of the period short-handed. Those who have followed the Lakers closely noticed a new face on the ice this weekend in Dianoski, a welcome addition to a roster which can always use additional depth. “She did an amazing job over the last four weeks to get in game shape and play very well. I think she’s managed well, jumping into a team like ours that has good team chemistry, and she has done a great job blending in with our team and was a big contributor this weekend when we needed her,” said Sisti. Dianoski played the 2004-05 season for North Dakota and sat out the 2005-06 season before coming to Mercyhurst midway through this season. She seemed to fit in well on Saturday, picking up two goals with an assist in the win. Although the team will be back to full-strength numbers-wise next weekend, there will still be a significant challenge awaiting the Lakers. On Thursday Mercyhurst leaves for Detroit, Mich., where they will square off against the Warriors from Wayne State University. The Warriors are annually the toughest foe in College Hockey America (CHA), and there is an added difficulty with the fatigue that Mercyhurst will be contending with. The five players who were overseas this past weekend do not return until late Monday, which leaves only Tuesday and Wednesday for practice with their teammates. Additionally there is the jet-lag factor, something Sisti describes as a serious condition to deal. Nonetheless, the fab-five represented Mercyhurst well on a worldwide stage. “We told them go play great and represent yourself, your country and your school well. Their teammates made them aware they would handle the situation when they were gone. They got great exposure for themselves and for the program, and they’re continuing to make a case for the 2010 Olympic teams and at the same help out our team here as well,” said Sisti. A split at home for women’s basketball By Chris Davis Contributing writer The Mercyhurst women’s basketball team continues to show Team (First Place) Record Pts Last Poll improvement as the season pro1. Mercyhurst (15) 18-1-1 150 1 gresses, exploding on a 34-point 2. Wisconsin 18-1-3 130 2 swing which gave them their 2. New Hampshire 15-2-3 121 2 biggest comeback of the season 4. Dartmouth 14-3-1 106 4 by defeating Findlay 75-59 at 5. Harvard 14-3-1 78 7 the Mercyhurst Athletic Center 5. Minnesota 14-5-1 78 5 (MAC). 7. St. Lawrence 15-5-2 71 6 During the game they trailed by 8. Boston College 12-5-2 36 NR as many as 18 points. The contest 9. Minnesota-Duluth 11-7-2 28 8 gave the Lakers their first Great 10. Princeton 10-8-2 13 10 Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) win on Women’s hockey represented well overseas the season. On Saturday the Lakers then The five Mercyhurst Lakers playing in the Air Canada Cup this fell to another division rival, past weekend represented their school (and their countries) Ashland, 94-82, at the MAC, in very well. Four Lakers suited up for Team Canada in juniors a game that was a lot closer than Stephanie Jones and Laura Hosier, sophomore Valerie the final score indicated. Chouinard and freshman Meghan Agosta. During the game, senior capAll four factored in the championship trophy that the Canadians tain Julie Anderson recorded a career-high, scoring 29 points. took home, both on the scoreboard and on the ice as well. With the weekend split, MerOverall the team went 4-0 in the tournament, outscoring cyhurst improved to 5-10 overall opponents 32-1 for the tournament. Hosier factored in the and 1-4 in the GLIAC. Findlay goaltending, picking up a pair of wins by stopping 17 and fell to 4-11 overall and 0-5 in the 11 shots respectively without surrendering a goal. Agosta GLIAC, while Ashland improved and Chouinard filled the scoring sheets for Canada, with the freshman tallying four goals and six assists while her teammate their record to 8-7 overall (2-4 GLIAC). scored three goals and notched three assists. Jones also The game Thursday consisted contributed one goal and one assist for Team Canada. of an amazing comeback for the Lakers. When Findlay’s Nanette Freshman defender Katariina Soikkanen played for Team Cox knocked down a threeFinland, with complete results from their games unavailable at pointer to give Findlay a 14-1 press time. scoring run, along with an 18Quick hits are compiled by sports editor Ryan Palm. Any- point lead with 8:24 to play in thing worthy of being a “quick hit” should be emailed to the first half, Mercyhurst looked to be down and out. [email protected]. File Photo Senior Julie Anderson Scoring runs turned out to be the big theme of the game as Mercyhurst then went on a 12-1 scoring run to cut the lead to seven with 3:52 to play in the half. Anderson started the run as she made a jumper to sway the Lakers’ momentum. Also, during the run, Katlyn Petit made a big three-pointer to help the team gain confidence. After the Oilers went on a scoring run, Anderson and Petit again came up big, both making threepoint field goals to close the half, which gave Findlay only a single digit lead 38-29 at halftime. Mercyhurst then went on an impressive second half run to give them their first tie at 40-40 since the opening minutes of the game when it was 2-2. Stephanie Prischak started the half and scored the first eight points, before Anderson’s backto-back threes tied the game and then gave them their first lead of the game at 43-42. After Anderson connected on another three pointer to break a 47-47 tie, Mercyhurst never trailed the rest of the game. The Lakers outscored Findlay 46-21 during the second half. Mercyhurst closed the game outscoring Findlay 22-7 during the final nine and a half minutes of action. Senior Priscila Nascimento thought the team showed a lot of improvement throughout the game. Nascimento said “We showed a lot of fight, and the team is continuing to improve a lot,” she said. During the Ashland game, Mercyhurst again started off slow, as the Eagles scored the first eight points of the game. Mercyhurst never led in the game, but had many opportunities where they came close to taking control of the game. During the first half, the closest the Lakers came was three points from tying the game when the score was 11-8. Mercyhurst would soon get behind by double-digit points just like the previous game against Findlay. Mercyhurst trailed by 16 points at one point, but continued to battle back in the second half. Mercyhurst pulled to within one point of Ashland with 11:24 to play in the game on a lay-up by Lindsay Whipkey, but the Eagles refused to surrender the lead. Ashland then started another big run by getting back up by double digits. Mercyhurst continued to show fight, coming within five points with 5:55 to play. After Anderson missed a threepoint attempt, she picked up her fourth foul with 5:19 to play, which forced her to come out for a few possessions. This kept the Lakers from getting any closer. It also shows how important it is to have Anderson on the basketball court, especially in crunch time. Prischak, who finished as the Lakers’ second leading scorer with 16 points and was one of four Mercyhurst players in double-figures, Petit 15 and Whipkey 10, believed that Anderson picking up her fourth foul was the turning point of the game. Prischak commented, “Julie’s awesome. We have to have her on the court; when she goes out we lose our biggest threat.” Another area that has affected the team all season long has been with turnovers, which hurt the team again against Ashland. They surrendered 27 turnovers to compare to the Eagles’ 21. The Lakers did shoot impressively from the floor and rebounded extremely well. Mercyhurst shot 44 percent for the game. They also out rebounded Ashland 39-34. The team hopes to continue to show promise as they travel to Northwood and Saginaw Valley State this Thursday and Saturday.
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