The Merciad, Dec. 13, 2006

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929

CAMPUS LIVING
Spend some time in the cave under the sea on 14th Street

SPORTS
Men’s basketball upsets No. 10 Grand Valley State

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Vol. 80 No. 10 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie Pa. 16546

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December 13, 2006

Is the trimester system in jeopardy?
By Melissa Brandt A&E editor
Mercyhurst’s trimester system is one of the main characteristics that sets it apart from other colleges. However, the current academic calendar creates a lot of difficulties for staff and students who want to explore overseas opportunities or transfer credits between other semester institutions. For these reasons among others, over five years ago former college president Dr. William Garvey entertained the exploration of other academic calendar options, according to the Academic Dean Dr. Barbara Behan. As early as this January, President Dr. Thomas Gamble will announce his decision on whether to approve or deny a new academic calendar. The desire for a new academic term took a backseat to other issues in the past few years. However, Gamble is reviewing a proposal for a new four by four system, answering a stimulus from a combination of sources, including administration, faculty and students. If Gamble approves the proposal, the Board of Trustees will soon make the final decision on Mercyhurst’s academic structure. “There’s been the thought for many years that the three-term system is not conducive to good pedagogy,” says Behan. “Students are asked to learn a lot in a little period of time. To switch to semesters with a three-credit system would mean students would have to take five courses a term. That was a big concern of the faculty and administrators.” The four-by-four system requires students to take only two terms of 15 weeks instead of the current calendar that is three ten-week terms. Under the four by four, a student would take four classes each term, each class worth four credits. The total credit number achieved per year would then be two more than the current 30 credit total. Although, Behan states the added credits per year would not substantially affect tuition costs. Money, however, is the smallest concern if the college changes to a fourby-four system. Please see Unsure on page 3

Andy Finkel photo

Gamble’s office contains all of the necessary information to make an informed decision about the four-by-four system.

One soldier’s tale
Photo submitted by Mike Nichols

The court will have a number of uses for student activities.

Senior gift announced
By Sarah Sheehan Contributing writer
The senior gift tradition began with the graduating class of 1989 who dedicated the stained glass window in the Mercy Heritage Room. Other gifts have included the student union gazebo, library books, scholarships, The Rock, the Alumni Park near the Grotto, the ceramic Mercy Cross in the Hirt Center lobby, Academic Banners, and the Sister Damien Mlechick ’56 Spirit Bell. The largest gift Mercyhurst Seniors have ever dedicated though was the Pavilion in the upperclassman area. In 2004, Josh Hack, the chair for the senior gift committee set a goal forth to develop the upperclassman area with the pavilion and wanted future classes to continue the growth. This year the growth will continue. Last spring about forty individuals met to discuss ideas for the senior gift. Please see Seniors on page 2
Cpl. Nic Bunker takes a break to smoke a cigar while in Iraq.
Nic Bunker photo

Espress-yes

Mercyhurst’s Lance Cpl. Nic Bunker prepares to return to Iraq
By Kate Collins Contributing writer
Sitting, surrounded by white walls, the faint sound of a TV in the background, a picture stares out. The picture, fairly small, seems so large. Blue and red words scrawled on clay buildings can’t be read. The desert, dry, hot, blurs in the background. The faces of men-the faces of soldiers-gaze out. They know something we don’t. They know the brotherhood. Nic glances up at the picture. “Oh, that was a raid we were doing in the city of Hit,” he explains nonchalantly, adding that they were looking for terrorist weapon caches. One of the men looking out is a close friend, Lance Cpl. Thomas White. Nic says White’s favorite thing to do is rip down doors, especially those that aren’t suppose to welcome entry. The door in the picture is hanging off its hinges. The man gripping it has a slight grin on his face. “We all have this joke. We use to say he carried the key to the city. It was a huge crow bar and he could open any door in the city with it,” Nic laughs, his face a little flush. Nic Bunker left for Iraq on Jan. 4, 2005. He was 20 years old, a sophomore at Mercyhurst College entering the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. “I remember the day. It was a mild day in January, no snow on the ground. I was standing in the driveway saying goodbye to my parents. It was an emotionless day really, because I was ready to go. I told my mom she better not cry.” He was ready. Nic hugged both of his parents, kissed his mother softly on the cheek. Please see Bunker on page 3

Andy Finkel photo

Senior barista Kyle Scully displays the new espresso machine. Associate Vice President for AdminisBy Joshua Wilwohl tration Tyrone Moore said the machine Editor-in-chief was replaced for the benefit of the Students craving the espresso-made student body. Senior student manager of the bookdrinks need not wait any longer. store coffee bar Lindsay Laufik said the According to General Manager of Sodexho Ted Foessett, a new espresso new machine should bring business machine is up and running at the book- back to normal. “We hope once word gets out, busistore coffee shop. ness will increase,” she said. Foessett said that replacing the Senior student manager Meghan machine was much more cost effective Smith said business should certainly than repairing. “When we compared the repair price increase now the new machine is in versus a new machine price, the cost place. “We should see a rise in business after in the long run was more effective,” the first of the year,” she said. he said.

Campus news briefs
Compiled by editorial staff/from mercyhurst.edu

MSG encourages students to vote for Spring Fest band genre MSG is in the process of planning Spring Fest 2007. In order for the event to be a success, MSG is working on finding bands. Students can vote for their favorite band genre at msg.mercyhurst.edu. Voting will run to midnight on Friday, Dec. 15.

SAC presents: New Year’s: South of the Border The event will be at 10 p.m. in the Student Union. Celebrate with authentic Mexican food, music, dancing and a piñata drop at midnight. SAC presents: BREAK! On Jan. 6, Break Dancers will be performing in the PAC at 9 p.m. Come and check out street dancing you can’t

resist! You’ll be amazed as they busta-move!

Senior info night MSG Senior Issues Committee will meet on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 8:15 p.m. in the Student Union Great Room. There will be representatives from career services, the alumni office and presentation on the senior class gift.

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THE MERCIAD

December 13, 2006

NEWS

To contact: [email protected]

World Briefs
Compiled by Jessica Kocent From BBC News

Police and Safety Log
December 5 Attempted Theft Old Main Open Pending Investigation December 6 Criminal Violation/ Possession of Controlled Substance Soccer Field Closed College Discipline December 7 Liquor Law Violation Mercy Suite 300 Closed State Citation December 9 Liquor Law Violation 3940 Lewis Ave. Closed College Discipline December 9 Liquor Law Violation 3827 Briggs Ave. Closed State Citation December 10 Liquor Law Violation 3829 Lewis Ave. Closed State Citation/ College Discipline

International news
Controversial Chilean leader mourned
Hundreds of supporters of Chile’s former military leader, Augusto Pinochet, have begun filing past his coffin in the capital, Santiago. Gen Pinochet, who ruled for 17 years, died on Sunday aged 91. He was accused of dozens of human rights abuses. His death sparked emotional scenes and clashes. Opponents of the former leader celebrated, while supporters mourned outside the hospital where he died. A judge said his death should not end probes into crimes committed under him.

Andy Finkel photo

Sophomores are very pleased with housing in Duval.

Pinochet was considered a dictator by some.

North Korea nuclear talks to resume this month
Six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear program are to resume on 18 December, Chinese officials say. A date for the resumption of talks has been long awaited after they stalled a year ago when North Korea walked out in protest at US financial sanctions. Tensions have been heightened since North Korea carried out a nuclear test on 9 October.

Sophomore housing may not be permanent
By Merissa Frank Contributing writer
The ever-growing population of Mercyhurst College means that with each larger class, more housing is in need. But what about the growing problem of transitioning from freshman year to sophomore year? Especially going from dorm life to apartment life? In 2004, a prog ram was launched to dedicate certain housing to about 50 sophomores. In 2006, the number spiked to almost 400 residents in the sophomore housing area. According to Laura Zirkle, assistant vice president of student life, the strategy of sophomore housing takes the sense of community that freshmen had and continues it by living with other sophomores. Many issues face sophomores once they get through their first year: money management, cleaning, the ability to have a car on campus. Some of the programming that goes on in sophomore housing is giving advice to residents. Joe Howard, assistant director of residence life and student conduct, said that in this programming, the sophomores are shown different ways to understand Erie and get off Peach St., State St. and campus in general. Howard also allows for the transition of having one roommate to having three by suggesting some internal resources, like making a cleaning and cooking schedule and deciding who buys and eats what groceries. Even though the Mercy Suites are like apartments, the freshmen residents there aren’t faced with what sophomores are in their apartments. They also support a unique position of helping sophomores with things like building a résumé and getting through sophomore

Seniors plan largest gift ever
Continued from page 1 The group was broken down into five committees and each group designed a gift proposal. The ideas were then presented to the administration to gather their opinions. The multi-purpose sport court will be built where the volleyball court is now. There are four essential pieces to the gift. The first being that the volleyball court will be relocated one block north of the present location. The multi-purpose court will have a basketball hoop that can be used for half court basketball. The court will also have a telescoping net that allows for adjustment to play tennis, volleyball, or badminton; it can also be removed so individuals can play floor hockey or soccer. There are two pieces that make this senior gift unique. There will be two benches installed in the same area in remembrance of the two students who passed away during the class of 2007’s time at Mercyhurst, Matthew Milgate and Sara Pieszak. Each bench will have a remembrance plaque to honor these students. There is also going to a brick walkway laid from the street to the court. The planning committee incorporates the steering committee and two chairs from each of the five schools at Mercyhurst as well as the original 40 students. Mike Nickel’s explained, “Our goal is surpass all the records, last year 57.7% of the student body donated money for the Sister Damien Spirit bell raising 15,000 dollars.” The cost of the senior gift is estimated to be around 20,000 dollars and the steering committee is aiming towards raising 15,000. Ryan Palm exclaimed, “This is a monumental task and is asking a lot of the committee and the class and knowing our seniors I definitely think we can meet and exceed the challenge.” When speaking with Mike Nickels, he explained the costs of each element of the gift. During the planning stages it was discussed that if 15,000 dollars was raised towards the gift that President Gamble would cover the extra amount if necessary. Tyrone Moore is planning to cover the costs of relocating the volleyball court and the landscaping for both areas. With the relocation of the volleyball court it will be built appropriately with a clay bottom instead of cement and the net will be replaced. Mike Nickels explains, “Although there are significant costs it’s getting a lot done, and hopefully this will start a chain reaction for the area.” It is planned that the whole gift will take six days to install, weather permitting. The court is planned to be done by graduation. Donations will be accepted up until graduation day however the contest to party with the President will end May 1, 2007. Nickels explained that the major goal this year is to make sure at least every student is asked to donate. Donations can be made in the form of cash, check, credit card, and your housing deposit is an option. The minimal gift that will be accepted is $7.00. Pledge cards can also be obtained by anyone on the steering committee and Steve Zinram whose office is located on the fourth floor of the library. This is the largest senior gift in the school’s history and there is a long way to go so all seniors should try to make a contribution to leave their lasting mark at Mercyhurst.

Islamists target Ethiopain border
Somali Islamist fighters are heading for a town near the border with Ethiopia, aiming to cut off the government base in Baidoa, they say. The Islamists accuse Ethiopia of fighting with the forces of the government in Baidoa - charges denied by Ethiopia. The military build-up in the town of Tiyeglow follows fierce fighting on Friday and Saturday. There are fears of a regional conflict breaking out in Somalia. Meanwhile, Uganda has said it will not send peacekeeping troops to Somalia unless security improves.

Somalis are about to attack a small town in Ethiopia.

Students heckle Iranian president’s speech
Iranian students have disrupted a speech President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was giving at a university by lighting fireworks and burning his portrait. Ahmadinejad responded calmly to protesters’ shouts of “Death to the dictator,” an official spokesman said. The president reportedly described the hecklers as an “oppressive minority” and continued his speech. Hundreds of students protested on Sunday against what they described as a crackdown on a students’ association. Protests against the government have become a rarity in Iran since Ahmadinejad’s election in 2005.

Ahmadinejad rarely has protesters at his talks.

review. Zirkle said, “When freshmen come to college, it’s intimidating. They go from having structure in the dorms to a huge adjustment of moving away from the people you lived with.” Sophomore housing resident and Intel student Steve Holian said that he liked the setting in McAuley Hall better because in his apartment building most people keep to themselves. Zirkle also said that sophomores face more pressure academically. “We are taking the support of freshman year to another level. It’s more tailored and the community is the best thing about it because familiarity was getting lost,” she said. Will sophomore housing become permanent and extend to all sophomores? Definitely not. Zirkle said that eventually they will make the assumption that all sophomores will want to live in sophomore housing, but stressed that it will never be mandatory. Howard said that the idea of sophomore housing is likely to reinvent itself every few years. “It’s hard to do programming with several buildings because there is no common area. How do we get the message out then?” he said. Sophomore housing includes the Duval apartments and some buildings on North Briggs Avenue. This area is ideal because there is a natural divide with the fence along the west side of Briggs. It is also a way to keep that many sophomores contained in a common area according to Zirkle, as well as keeping them closer to the academic areas. By the time sophomores are juniors, the stresses of the first year of living in an apartment will be quelled for the most part, which makes sophomore housing a success.

Are Pakistani deals aiding Taliban leaders?
Peace deals between the Pakistani government and pro-Taleban militants have encouraged a surge in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan, a report says. The policy of “appeasement” had allowed militants to regroup and rearm, said leading global policy think-tank the International Crisis Group. Pakistan has long rejected accusations that it is not doing enough to curb attacks on its neighbour’s soil. Afghanistan is currently seeing its worst violence since the Taleban fell.

Pre-health professions office opens doors to future doctors
By Amy Zielinski Contributing writer
Students who want to major in the pre-health professions now have the guidance they need. With an increasing number of students applying to medical and health professional schools, Mercyhurst College created the pre-health professions advising office that will help guide students who want to pursue degrees in pre-medical, pre-dental, and pre-veterinary studies. Biology department chair Dr. David Hyland and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Barbara Behan said they developed such an office after popular demand. “We’ve never had pre-health advising on campus,” said Behan. “This office will be more responsive.” Hyland agreed. “We are expecting 35 to 40 peo-

“He (Lutton) has the time to do creative and positive things for students in these programs.” - Dr. Barbara Behan
“He has the time to do creative and positive things for students in these programs,” said Behan. “That is what we are interested in.” Lutton has established a committee that will work with students, review progress, write letters of recommendations, and review applications. Lutton has already started outreach initiatives. “He wants to increase the recruitment, and early, on advising to prospective pre-health students,” Behan said. “He also wants to establish learning communities in students.” Hyland’s goal is to create a Web site where students can browse and look up information on the pre-health profession programs. Hyland said he would like to see the Web site include things such as application forms, information about the pre-health profession committee, and information about what students should consider before declaring a pre-health profession major. “Students need to know the pre-health professions advising office exists. It is hoped there will be more visibility so they know where to go,” Hyland said. “The office is also a way to ensure they’re on the right track.” Lutton could not be reached for comment.

Sri Lankans at war
The Sri Lankan army says that it is continuing military operations against Tamil Tigers rebels in the east. The offensive follows fighting at the weekend. Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other, but correspondents say it is impossible to get independent verification. Officially neither side has formally declared an end to a 2002 ceasefire, but unofficially they are now at war.

Dr. Barbara Behan

File photo

East Sri Lankans consider themselves at war.

ple to apply to medical schools,” he said. “This needed to be done because of the increasing number of students.” Dr. Lewis Lutton is assigned part-time to be the first prehealth professions adviser. Lutton replaced associate professor of biology Dr. Larry Gauriloff as adviser this fall.

December 13, 2006

THE MERCIAD

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To contact: [email protected]

News

MC offering many opportunities to study new languages on campus
By Noelle Lelakus Copy editor
Is there a language at Mercyhurst that you would like to take for your own enjoyment, without the added stress of tests and grades? If so a new venture by the World Languages Study Program that begins this January might interest you. Non-credit courses in both conversational Chinese and Arabic will be offered at the college to the Erie community, including local high school and college students. According to Dr. Alice Edwards, chair of the world languages and cultures department at Mercyhurst, the idea for this program came from “a shifting interest in language.” “Something hits the news and everyone says ‘Wow, we need to learn Arabic.’ Colleges have trouble responding to that,” she said. Director of adult and graduate programs at Mercyhurst, Dr. Michael Lyden, believes the program will expose participants to languages that have large speaking populations but are not taught as much. “We are glad to be able to provide this resource to the Erie community,” Lyden said. “Chinese is, of course, the most prevalent language in the world. The number of Arabic speakers is about equal to the number of German and French speakers combined.” The program, which will include courses in Conversational Chinese I and II as well as Conversational Arabic I and II, will begin the week of Jan. 15. The fee is $149 per person, plus books and study materials. Classes will be held one night a week from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the language lab at the Hammermill Library until the week of May 14.

Unsure about four-by-four
Continued from page 1 Communications Chair Anne Zaphris, who states the Communication Department will adapt to the four-by-four if the trustees approve it, notes that most changes are accompanied by at least some difficulty. Dr. Randall Clemons, a proponent of four-by-four, and current head of the Faculty Senate, outlines four main drawbacks to the switch. “While [the four-by-four] would increase the depth and breadth of the courses we offer to students, the reduction in the number of courses taken would decrease the breadth of the courses taken. Two, a number of our largest programs are opposed to this switch because it would decrease the number of classes students would take both within the major and within the core,” he said. “Three, how to deal with this issue (different calendars, different credits, etc.) at North East is problematic. Four, though the long-term payoff would exceed the costs, it would mean a significant amount of work for many faculty and administrators.” However, once in place, the four-by-four offers a lot of advantages, the main one: time. Clemons notes several advantages to thefour-by-four system, including the creation of a bigger window for deadlines for term papers and other big assignments and exams, giving students some breathing room. Missed classes will not impact students, especially athletes. Faculty, with only six classes to teach instead of eight, would have more time to work with students, improve courses and do research. As far as practicality is concerned, the semester system makes all important attendance and student transfers easier and more likely. However, not everyone approves of the transfer. Student opinion of the four by four is split. A Mercyhurst Student Government Constituency Poll taken in 2004 shows about a 50 percent student approval rating for the four-by-four system. MSG reported to the College Council after the constituency survey that “…half of the students interviewed agreed with the ‘proposed student benefits’ and had a positive outlook on the four-by-four calendar… The other half were split between feelings of indifference and a need to address specific examples that have brought apprehension toward the four-by-four calendar.” Still, some of the college’s underclassmen are reluctant to lose the current academic calendar. Junior Lauren McDermott says she favors the current system. “I prefer the trimester system, it’s one of the main reasons I came to Mercyhurst,” she said. Sophomore Kyle Hicks shares McDermott’s opinion. “I am not a fan of the idea,” said Hicks. “I know a lot of people who came here because the trimester system allows them to find the specific classes they wanted, as opposed to larger broader classes.” Hicks, who is an English, secondary education, and religious studies major says the current system helps students who have more than one major.“I don’t think the semester switch has anything to do with the students.” Sophomore Danni Lockerbie does not prefer the semester system. “A semester system would change financial aid a lot, and that would be devastating for classmen already,” he said. “Also, I like having the breaks the way they are, with the semester system you get a month for Christmas, which is really long.” If the system is approved in January, the entire academic calendar would undergo a huge overhaul. Missy Breckenridge, head of the Task Force formed to research if the four-by-four is feasible for the departments stated that administration and faculty will have to come up with a transition plan for courses. Classes would change significantly, including rotation period and content. “If Gamble recommends the four by four, we will start immediately with the process of researching how to adjust billing to twice a year, transferring credits, etc,” says Behan. The decision for recommendation may come as early as January of this year. At the Nov. 6 Faculty Senate meeting, Clemons announced Gamble accepted an invitation to attend the faculty meeting on Jan. 17. Although Clemons is unaware of the final decision, it will be divulged then. According to the meeting minutes, Clemons assured the faculty “…he doubts that the four-by-four he has worked tirelessly for is where we are headed, he is confident that President Gamble has heard all the voices, and is confident that President Gamble’s vision and our Mission will guide the decision, moving toward better things for the school.” Gamble’s decision will reflect the reports and or opinions of the College Council, department chairs, the Calendar Task Force, the dean’s council, the MSG Constituency, administrative units, faculty forums and surveys. With all the information received, all that’s left is to announce the approval or disapproval of the new calendar. With all the alterations required to switch the college to a semester system, even if the Board of Trustees approves the calendar, changes will not take place until the 2008-2009 academic year.

Photo submitted by Nic Bunker

Bunker was promoted to Lance Corporal and will be returning to Iraq in the summer.

Bunker prepares to return
Continued from page 1 “I got in my truck and drove away. That was it, I cranked the music and accepted what I was doing.” Nic started the two-hour drive toward Buffalo, N.Y., to catch a plane. He was on his way to California. There he would train with the brothers he would soon grow to love, a love that is ineffable to those that don’t experience it. Nic was ready. “I was excited to finally do what I thought I was born to do ... this was my duty. I had no doubts, ya’ know?” Soon after training Nic left with a battalion of 1,200. Boys, many in their early 20s; boys that were about to become men sooner than they realized. They were stationed primarily in the city of Hit. Nic and 1,200 others were on a nine-month deployment. Bunker’s feelings are indescribable. Being in another country, especially one of turmoil, is something he can’t forget, but something he has learned to grasp. It was – and still is – his life. “You don’t really feel anything. You just wake up and do your job, get some rest and do it again.” Nic glances at the TV and takes a sip of his Bud Light. But there are memories. Memories he carries with him every single day. He begins talking about the desert, the dry sand that inevitably stings the Marine’s eyes for the better part of a day. It’s hot – on average 100 degrees or more. Every day they wait, they keep waiting for something to happen and day after day they sit, playing cards in their bunkers or writing letters to missed parents, siblings, or friends. There’s the occasional gunfire though, and one in particular that Nic remembers well. It was Sept. 4, 11:30 a.m. He had just gotten off patrol. Sitting on his cot, he suddenly heard gunfire that seemed to be right outside his window. This was normal to hear. “We thought it was just a car getting too close. We would shoot at cars all the time if they got too close to us so we didn’t really think anything of it at the time,” he said. Then came the sound of the machine gun atop his building beginning to fire. This signaled an emergency, an attack. Immediately they grabbed their weapons and ran for the windows. While running to the windows, a large explosion went off right outside. Glass shattered and flew in every direction. The windows had blown out and the men were thrown back from the force. It was a suicide bomber. After regaining their composure, the Marines fired back, the fight began in earnest. Insurgents were surrounding them on rooftops, the whole city seemed to be on fire. “We let off 11,000 rounds. That’s something we’re quite proud of.” But the fight lasted only 30 minutes. And on average, they wait. Nic returned to the States on Sept. 29, 2005. “I was afraid of coming home. It had become a way of life. I felt acceptance in that life and I was afraid of how things were going to be here in the States.” He was also afraid of his family. “I hadn’t talked to them a whole lot while I was there. I didn’t know who they’d become and I was afraid of what they would think of me.” Nic looks down and starts fidgeting with a spoon. He does this often. All these feelings, all these emotions. But he knew he had to return. This was also his duty. After the long flight, almost 24 hours, Nic sits on a bus. Looking out the window he notices the streets lined with people escorting the Marines into the city from the airport. Little kids with flags and signs smile and cheer loudly atop their parents’ shoulders. People raising their hands and screaming with excitement reach up toward the buses as the cops ride along side them. Nic is there now, staring out the window. “I felt like I wanted to vomit. I felt guilty. Guilty. All these people are going nuts because we were home but we didn’t feel like we had done anything at all.” Nic came back to Mercyhurst Nov. 29, 2005. Back to his “normal” life. He wakes up, goes to class, what the average student does. But something is different, very different. “I just keep thinking I should be back over there. It’s hard to explain, I get lost in class. Sitting in class isn’t very important to me anymore and that’s why I daydream. That’s when I go back.” The look in Nic’s eyes is a distant one. He’s there now, the hot sun on his face, sand sweeping past him. “All I can do is think about going back. About how it will be different. About how it will be the same. I think about leaving again this summer. Then it really makes it seem like classes aren’t important, knowing you’re going back.” School’s hard for Nic now. He does well in class – that isn’t the problem. He doesn’t worry about his grades like he use to. Class seems irrelevant. After returning from Iraq, Nic recalls the way he felt. He gets angry. “I don’t feel like we got any respect, from the school I mean. There are others, not just me that came back to this school after fighting for our country and we heard nothing. No one heard anything. Mercyhurst doesn’t even know us. That’s frustrating.” It’s hard to say if he is the only one that feels this way. His is a rare, but recently all-too-common, experience. Mercyhurst’s counseling center hasn’t had one soldier come in for counseling. “I don’t know if Nic shares the same feelings and emotions about the situation as others do. We haven’t had any soldiers come into our office,” said Michelle Tobin. “A lot of soldiers don’t like to talk about what they’ve gone through, especially to a counselor,” said Mike Collins of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. “They keep it locked up inside and most, many I know, drink their pain away. It’s the easiest thing for us to do. We’re supposed to be soldiers, heroes to some,” he said. “We don’t want people knowing that we have a weakness, that this has impacted us the way it has. It’s hard.” Mike was wounded in Iraq on Mar. 25, 2002. He has never seen a counselor. He has been reactivated and will return to Iraq in January. He will miss his spring term. As for Nic. He spends each day waiting, wanting to be there again. That day is not far out of reach. Nic will leave for Iraq again in the summer of 2007.

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PAGE 4

Living
By Adam Hicks Contributing writer

CAMPUS

THE MERCIAD

December 13, 2006

To contact: [email protected]

Underwater wishes and exotic fish dreams
In Erie, with temperatures growing colder and winter upon us, the closest you’ll get to the ocean is 660 E. 14th St. According to owners Stephen and Colleen Firman of Sea Cave – Erie’s in-depth, family-run fish store – winter is the number one season for purchasing and developing aquariums. During its busiest season from late December to early March, six days a week this family brings the sea to its customers. With over 500 different varieties of freshwater and saltwater fish and 200 invertebrates including coral, crabs and snails, Sea Cave can customize the tank for every aquarium enthusiast’s needs. According to the owner Stephen Firman, there are three different kinds of aquariums that fit to their owner’s personality: peaceful, semi-aggressive and highly aggressive. The Firmans, with thousands of success stories in the beginning of tanks, devote all their time and knowledge to support their customers. First, they recommend a decision between fresh and salt water, though they advise that fresh water is less difficult to begin. In order to purchase a tank, space is key to placement; based on your living space, a suitable tank size can be chosen. Sea Cave offers tanks between 3 to 200 gallons to fit the area and wallet of the purchaser. Firman recommends that the buyer build up to the right size tank. “I won’t tell them that they have to purchase a large amount of useless add-ons,” he said. “What the buyer can afford we will help them go with.” Unlike larger corporations such as Petco and Petsmart, or money-driven competitors like Buzz-n-B’s, this small local business does not have to meet a monthly quota. Instead of forcing unneeded merchandise, they present expertise in the field due to years of hobbyist enthusiasm, and offer deals every month to allow new beginners to purchase the right equipment. At Sea Cave, the husband-wife duo brings different expertise to the field, with Colleen skilled in freshwater and Stephen skilled in saltwater. In order to start a freshwater or saltwater tank, the water needs to be able to cycle before the addition of fish; water contains trace chemical elements that can be harmful to some species. Sea Cave recommends that beginners start with freshwater aquariums and work their way up to saltwater after at least a year. Colleen operates and manages the 900 gallons of freshwater tanks housed by Sea Cave. For a freshwater tank, the process can take up to 48 hours, a procedure consisting of letting the water cycle through an aquarium filter. After the water cycles, fish and decorations, such as plants, can be added to the tank. The most popular freshwater fish sold at Sea Cave are the Zebra Danios, a small white fish that is peaceful, but when genetically enhanced with sea urchin elements come in brilliant colors. The store also offers freshwater maintenance services for those with larger tanks and less experience. Sea Cave stocks and maintains the large tanks at the Wharf Restaurant, keeping them supplied with vibrant and interesting species of fish. Saltwater tanks, however, are more difficult to setup and maintain. Contrary to popular knowledge, saltwater tanks cannot be created by using city tap water and table salt. They require special chemical salts with specific maintenance requirements in order to create a healthy, stable environment for different species. water fish sold at Sea Cave is the Mandarin Goby, a multicolored fish that takes on a tie-dyed appearance in swirling hues of green, orange and blue. Unfortunately, the fish is difficult to care for, feeding only on small invertebrates known as copepods. Stephen puts as much time and dedication in working with his fish as he does with his shop. Besides the large amount of fish, the store sells everything from gravel to different types of additives for tanks. “All these fish are mine until I sell them,” he said. “If you love what you do, it’s not work.” Unlike the competitors that just sell fish to any layman, the Firman family takes pride in using their continuously growing knowledge and expertise to support their customers’ tanks. Many of their customers they know individually by name and by tank specifications, which creates an informed and inviting atmosphere. “We are trying to educate people and guide the customers the best way to ensure success of the fish tank,” said Firman. “We gain knowledge by sharing with customers, because some of the equipment is false advertising and needs to be tested. There is a fine line between me as a hobbyist versus me as a business person, but one must keep ethics and morals within the realm. I can tell a customer to buy a lot of untested merchandise, but it may not work or be needed. That is why we share our expertise with our customers here at Sea Cave.” Starting an aquarium is difficult and requires large amounts of time and money to ensure success but, unlike larger stores, Sea Cave tries to educate people properly to save them money and cultivate a lifetime of enthusiasm in creating aquatic masterpieces. Currently, Sea Cave is operating on a low overhead, with just Stephen and Colleen working the store. However, they plan to re-design and expand the shop in the next two years, and hopefully add a service department in the future to assist in larger home aquarium systems. They admit that the job is more than just the hours open, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, Friday 12 noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A typical day at the store starts at 8am, beginning with feeding and cleaning all the tanks, and the day ends around 9 p.m. with the same routine. Along with daily maintenance, each 200 gallon tank must have at least 60 gallons of water changed every other week, a daunting task, that Stephen has streamlined with unique plumbing and ingenuity. Due to the large amount of work , the price of their fish is sometimes a few dollars more than their on-line and corporate competitors. “At another place the fish may be cheaper, but they do not use as much quality as we do in our product. The amount of time and skill we put into our aquariums ensures a longer lasting, healthier fish,” Firman said. The family admits that small business is not all it seems, with long and difficult work hours, coupled with the stress of caring for hundreds of specimens. “The problem with a small business is that you never get a vacation,” Firman siad. At a family trip to the Erie Zoo, the Firmans noticed that the only aquarium display was a freshwater cichlid (a type of brightly colored African fish) exhibit. Firman said that someday he hopes for Erie to install a large aquarium, utilizing the bay front area as a backdrop to educate people about the vast amount of life that exists under the sea. In the meantime, until Erie develops such an aquarium, Sea Cave is the place to go to experience the wonders of the deep sea. “At Sea Cave you are getting more than just fish,” said Firman. “You get an education.”

Photos by Adam Hicks

Discus fish are a fresh water fish on display in Sea Cave.

Stephen takes pride in maintaining over 2,000 gallons of saltwater tanks containing various and unique types of fish and invertebrates like coral, hermit crabs and starfish. The saltwater tank cycle can take up to a month, but based on new research and tank design, this time is vastly decreased with the introduction of live rock. Live rock is rock from the ocean impregnated by biological elements that create a natural filter and introduce beneficial bacteria into the water that help to create a more realistic ocean environment. Live rock is also used to create coral reefscapes with unique and distinctive pieces in the shapes

of branched dead coral, porous volcanic rock and jagged pieces of broken reef. Sea Cave cures all their own rock, which they receive in 40 to 80 pound boxes from the Indian Ocean, Australia and the Caribbean Islands. The live rock is shipped dry because of the biological elements in it need revitalized by being immersed in a vat of saltwater. The process takes three weeks. Once the tank is cycled and all nitrite, pH, nitrate and ammonia levels have stabilized, the tank is ready for fish. With the standard rule of one inch of fish per five gallons, the most popular and unique salt-

Better than a sweater: creative gift ideas
By Jen Helbig Contributing writer
I went to the mall this past weekend and couldn’t believe how many cars were in the lot. I promptly turned around and headed home, not ready to face the vicious crowd. I can imagine that many people similarly dread throngs of hasty people and would much rather prefer a one-on-one shopping trip with the computer. Most stores offer a full selection online of their products, and some even offer sale items that cannot be found in stores. Some unique products cannot even be found in stores but are a few clicks away. Here are a few creative suggestions that are sure to bring happiness to the recipient and keep you from getting in a parking lot car accident. For your parents: Buy orchestra tickets for a show in your hometown with a dinner gift certificate for their favorite restaurant. Buy a ticket or season tickets to see their favorite team play, and wrap them in a jersey or blanket from the team’s shop. If they haven’t ever been to a certain museum in your hometown, get tickets and a gift card to a nearby coffee shop so they can spend the day wandering and thinking. For a brother or sister who is also at college: Buy a gift certificate to their favorite website to download music instead of picking up a CD that they might not like. Fill a bag with all of the necessities that you tend to run out ofthey probably run out of them also. Get them some apparel from the Mercyhurst bookstore so they can think about you when they wear it. Buy a cookbook and get them a gift certificate to their favorite grocery store. Get a gift certificate to a gas station and tell them to visit you after the New Year. Take them out to a good restaurant and show them around campus while they’re in Erie. For a younger brother or sister: Get passes to the Erie Zoo and Tinseltown and have them come up to visit early next year for a weekend sleepover. Take them to a children’s museum or a performance at your local playhouse. For an older brother or sister: If they have their own apartment or house, check e-bay for a unique lamp, sculpture or painting. You can even try going to a thrift store to pick up an old picture frame. Spray paint the frame and have a picture of the two of you when you were young blown up to put in it. For a roommate: Keep it simple; you know they don’t have money either. You can stay under five dollars by buying something unique at a thrift store to decorate your apartment. You could also get them their favorite food or a new shade of makeup if you are a girl. For a friend who is far away: Send photos with captions and write a long letter to say hello. Include a small present that reminds you of that person, or just get them a gift-card to a movie store or a coffee shop so they can have a relaxing moment on you. Making/buying something unique or giving the gift of a relaxing evening can be so much better than a sweater or purse that someone will only use every once in awhile. Think outside of the box, and good luck shopping!

Dancing all night for kids with AIDS
By Colleen Lanigan Contributing writer
Have you ever participated in a Relay for Life? Interested in helping out a global cause with a similar event? Do you enjoy dancing with friends and having fun? Well clear your calendar for Jan. 19, 2007; your dreams will come true. The Social Work seniors in conjunction with SAC are hosting a Dance Marathon for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. This event is a fundraiser for the foundation, and will take place in the Rec Center from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation started in the late 1980s as a response to no antiretroviral medication that was safe enough to administer to children. Today the foundation promotes HIV education in developing countries and helps to build hospitals, orphanages and schools for children who are primarily HIV positive. If you aren’t doing anything on Jan. 19, come out and support the dancers and this global effort. For a registration packet or more information about the dance marathon, please stop by the information tables in the Student Union this week and the first few weeks we are back from break. For questions you can email S AC a t s a c @ m e r c y h u r s t . edu or Colleen Lanigan at [email protected]. We hope to see you there and remember; we’ll have fun and get a lot done!

MC students give guidance to high schoolers
By Lakyn Bianco Contributing writer
As a part of an outreach program directed toward Erie School District students, Mercyhurst students have the opportunity to show local high school kids what college is all about. On Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. East High School students visit Mercyhurst to experience the campus and get a head start in thinking about their future education and career options. According to Dr. Ruth Auld of the Education Department, the East High School students will face the challenge of finding their way around campus on their own. Students will be given the opportunity for an “authentic college experience.” East High students will also meet with honors groups across campus within the Graphic Design, Pre-health, English, Education and History departments. Through this outreach program, students will be encouraged to take courses at Mercyhurst during their senior year of high school. Only 20% of East High School students apply to college, but Auld explained that this program will help students to realize that college is an option for them. “This opportunity makes college something attainable for these students,” she said. She further explained that these high school students expect college to be too difficult, but given the opportunity to see what the college classroom is really like they realize it is something they are capable of completing. The Mercyhurst Education Department first became involved with the Erie School District and East High School students five years ago when Auld and Dr. Phil Belfiore began a tutoring program aimed to interest high school students in careers in education. Today the program coordinator at East High is Mercyhurst alum Mr. Jeff Hutchinson. As a spin off of the program with East High students, another educational opportunity involving 8th graders from Jefferson Elementary School is in the works. On Feb. 2 Jefferson students will visit Mercyhurst for a day to shadow college students one-onone. The 8th graders will follow Mercyhurst students through their regularly scheduled activities of that day. Any Mercyhurst students who are interested in hosting a Jefferson student can pick up an application outside of Dr. Auld’s office, Hirt 300C. Applications are due Jan. 4. Auld also emphasized the benefit of Mercyhurst reaching out to the students of the community. “As a college these programs are a great way to broaden our support of the community of Erie. They also work in broadening our own understanding of the community economically, culturally and socially.”

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December 13, 2006

THE MERCIAD

To contact: [email protected]

Living

CAMPUS

PAGE 5

Soul warming recipes
There is no time like the holidays to get together with friends and family. This candy is easy to prepare and a great treat with a mug of hot cocoa after opening presents or a day in the snow. It could also make a great gift for that person in your life who makes shopping difficult. We want to wish everyone a happy holiday! Any comments or questions please email us at [email protected]

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 13, 2006

THE Daily Crossword Edited by Wayne Robert Williams
ACROSS 1 Michelangelo masterpiece 6 Light source 10 Smelting refuse 14 Wide tie 15 On the Aegean 16 Pop 17 Two horses 20 Writer Follett 21 Hornet's relative 22 Irregularly notched 23 Needle-nosed fish 24 Innermost part 26 Two horses 32 Attu resident 33 Church areas 34 Hodges of baseball 36 Marsh bird 37 Violent anger 38 Soul's partner? 39 Ill. neighbor 40 More tender 41 City in a WWI song 42 Two horses 45 Butts 46 Ms. Thurman 47 Up and about 50 Upolu Island city 52 Nav. non-com 55 Two horses 59 Statuesque 60 Neighboring planet 61 Goof 62 Torah holders 63 Bog material 64 Actress Diamond 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DOWN Load luggage Man or Wight Bus. sch. course Tyke Crosswise Scottish miss On-the-double letters Stag party attendees Steno book Makes a basket Gray wolf Priestly vestments

With Meg and Kyle

Holiday Peppermint Bark
Ingredients 1 Lb semisweet chocolate 1 Lb white chocolate 20-30 candy canes Equipment Cookie sheet Aluminum foil Hard object of your choice Microwave or Double boiler

Directions 1. Place the candy canes in a Ziploc bag and smash them to pieces with the hard object of your choosing. I suggest a rolling pin. 2. Melt the semisweet chocolate in the microwave on medium for approximately 4-5 minutes. Watch it closely; you don’t want it to burn. (If chocolate is not melted and easily stirred, con tinue to microwave until it is fully melted) 3. Stir in ½ of the crushed candy cane mixture. 4. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread the chocolate candy cane mixture evenly across the pan. 5. Place in the freezer until hardened, approximately 30 minutes. 6. While the semisweet chocolate is cooling, repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the white chocolate. 7. Once the semisweet chocolate is cooled, spread the white chocolate candy cane mixture over the top of the hardened semisweet chocolate. 8. Place the candy in the freezer for 45 min. to an hour. 9. ENJOY and Have a Happy Holidays

51 Days of old 52 Sandburg or Sagan 53 Graduation ball 54 Gumbo ingredient 56 Little devil 57 Dundee denial 58 Doctor of music?

By Adam Hicks Contributing writer
This Christmas, why not bring home a gift that is unique and yet distinctively from Erie, Pennsylvania? On 3835 West 12th St., near the airport, a bright purple building offers all of your Christmas shopping needs: Relish Studio and Gallery. This art gallery makes and sells a wide variety of beach glass jewelr y, collected entirely from beaches in Erie. Relish began from humble roots 10 years ago and is still co-owned by sisters Jennifer Reed and Terri Reed Boyer, who operate a wonderfully thriving business on the west side of town. Their fascination with beach glass began in the 1960s when their mother used to take them to Erie beaches to play and collect beach glass. Beach glass comes from old glass that has broken and rounded for years in the ocean, or in this case, in Lake Erie. This region is a hotspot for beach glass due to the fact that Lake Erie “is the most shallow and turbulent of all the great lakes with the most shipwrecks per capita,” Terri said. The beach glass that is produced comes in colors of orange, red, turquoise, yellow, teal, pink and purple. The rarest of colors is orange, only made for a short period during the early 1900’s, with a 1 in 10,000

chance of discovering a piece. According to Terri, her sister was one day approached by her six-year-old son who wanted Jennifer to create a ring with a piece of beach glass as the center. Although Jennifer was skeptical of success in drilling and setting the glass, it worked. This accomplishment inspired her to create her first piece, a traditional necklace style now known as the “Trads.”

The two sisters now operate out of a large gallery, which they have owned for the last 4 years, that showcases their work and other Erie-made artistic items. The jewelry available consists of rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces for women, in addition to male necklaces, bracelets and even cuff links. The store tries to reach out to as many shoppers as possible, offering styles from simple to ornate at prices from $15 to $1,000. All of the pieces are created in shop and can be watched through a window at the gallery. Relish employs 15 workers, 5 jewelry makers, including Terri and Jennifer and a large support

and sales staff. The staff prides themselves in customer service, and even offers complimentary goodies and a special blend of Erie coffee created for the store named “Daughters of the Sea.” According to Terri, “A different shopping experience is what we like to provide.” The owners attribute their success to the fact that, “it is a product that sells itself,” Terri. W h e n asked for a favorite color of beach glass, Terri replied, “it is impossible to choose a favorite color of beach glass, but it would probably be the blues. The beach glass jewelry appeals to many people and is becoming really popular. We really created something here and we were one of the first to do it.” For the Christmas season, Relish is the perfect place to do some holiday shopping with their unique pieces of jewelry, and other Erie items including handmade purses, soap and blown glass. They are open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Their website is www.relishinc. com.

The Lamda Phi Eta Club helped the kids make candy cane ornaments.

Christmas on Campus
By Chelsea Boothe Campus living editor
On Saturday, Dec. 9, students set aside their time to help bring the joy of Christmas to young, underprivileged children of the Erie community. Every year, Mercyhurst students, through the help of SAC, MSG and campus ministry, get together to put on the event: Christmas on Campus. It was held in the Union from 12 to four, and the event helped give children a memorable Christmas who might not have had anything to celebrate. The day was filled with crafts, delicious snacks and entertainment. There were several ways for students to participate in this event. Some students chose to be buddies. The buddies were paired up with the young children who went to the event and spent the day giving special attention to one single child. Another way students could help was by volunteering to be a character. Throughout the day the kids met several of their favorite characters, such as Pocahontas, a few Dalmatians, the Cat in the Hat and many more. Also, several of Santa’s elves were wandering around the Union, giving out candy to all who were present. Participating in one of the tables was another way to help with the event. The entire downstairs of the Union was filled with craft tables set up by different clubs. For example the Honors Program helped make the kids Santa puppets, the Green Team made bird feeders and the Social Work Club decorated cookies with the kids. Each table allowed the kids to do a craft and get to know their buddy. Also, later in the day a very special guest, Santa Claus, came to visit the children, pass out gifts and watch different performances, like a dance show and Dr. Barry McAndrew’s reading of a Christmas story. As usual, there was a huge turn out, and it was very successful. Thank you to all those who helped make the event possible.

Need a strength consultant?
By Chris Davis Contributing writer
The Strength Consulting program offer students at Mercyhurst the opportunity to get started with a fitness routine. Tim Harvey, a member of the Sports Medicine Department, and several of his students designed the free health program. Harvey was inspired to begin work on the program based on his own experience at the gym. “I developed the idea because I work out all the time and I have seen many people young and old struggle due to lack of instruction,” Harvey said. “I still see a lot of mistakes people make when lifting and I know the potential injuries from those mistakes. “This program allows my students the opportunity to work with people of all ages in a oneon-one fashion,” he said. “It is a perfect fit, a ‘win-win,’ if you will, between the department of athletics, the Health Fitness Promotion students and the campus community.” Harvey’s experience with this type of program extends beyond his time at Mercyhurst. “I have developed, built, and run strength and fitness facilities in the past and have served as a strength coach for the past 25 plus years,” said Harvey. Harvey was encouraged by participation in the program’s inaugural year but commented on a lower turnout this year. “This year they are down thus far due to lack of advertisement,” he said. If you are interested in this program you can e-mail Harvey at [email protected].

RELEASE DECEMBER 14, 2006

ssword Edited by Wayne Robert Williams

I

ERI

Need a gift idea for someone? Go to Relish: Unique gifts made of Lake Erie sea glass and more!

Andy Finkel Photo

atives f the flock toy

13 Marvin of Motown 18 Lester's pickin' partner 19 Goat groups 23 Ancient European region 24 Prance about 25 Nonpareil 26 Trolley sound 27 Spyri's heroine 28 Buries in a tomb 29 Like some seals 30 Ancient bazaar 31 Broaden 32 "Exodus" hero 35 Caustic cleaner 37 Bubble mass 38 Lower California 40 Desolate 41 Salon gels 43 Pretentious addons 44 Total destruction 47 "The Thin Man" pooch 48 Have the lead 49 Converse 50 Taj Mahal location

s. or pointer ted rival rticle o ient rs' sts aunt icated s ing with ntary s dye rade org. in Jakarta n or Marx enance Baldwin an nt st! yer

46 Presidential blackball 47 Leading 48 Mell Lazarus comic strip 50 Detach 51 Flower part 52 Western resort lake

54 Words of understanding Eye on the sly Saturn satellite Relative of etc. Andes tuber FedEx rival

56 57 58 60 61

PAGE 6

THE MERCIAD

December 13, 2006

OPINION
Appearance matters

To contact: [email protected]

Letters to the editor:
Setting the record straight
Just for the record: In the last addition of the Merciad there was reference to maintenance having 75 maintenance personnel. The fact of the matter is, we have four housing maintenance techs, four Academic maintenance techs, two second shift maintenance techs, one carpenter, two electricians, one painter, one locksmith and six grounds keepers. Additionally, we have one part time painter and one part time vehicle mechanic Ninety percent of all work orders are issued to the eight maintenance techs, two evening maintenance techs (housing and academics), which are required to take care of over a million square feet of buildings. Four Housing Maintenance Techs cover approximately 648,000 square feet. Four Academic Maintenance Techs cover approximately 596,000 square feet. The trades personnel are responsible for mainly projects. During snow removal operations, all six grounds keepers are engaged in making the campus safe for pedestrian traffic, while the academic maintenance techs are engaged in clearing roadways. In addition, the grounds crew is responsible for all office moves, and all setups for functions on campus. In fiscal year 2006, we completed over 13,000 work orders, this does not include the 110 set-ups, snow removal, minor and major projects. We have 19 housekeepers who are responsible for all of the academic buildings, common areas in housing, and special function cleaning. They are not responsible for cleaning occupied apartments, although on occasion they have in certain situations. General cleaning of housing units are the responsibility of the occupants. Routine cleaning of the bathrooms and living space by the occupant will reduce the amount of mold, mildew, insects and yes rodents. Again this is just to set the record straight. Ken Stepherson Director Physical Plant Mercyhurst College This is in response to the article “Where does the money go?” First, remodeling and cleaning are two separate things. It is one thing for students to not clean and then get mold or a mice (not taking out garbage), but it is another for the stoves to have gas leaks, the wall paper to be peeling, water stains, toilets that do not work (apparently the new toilets run in several apartments unless you put the lever at a 90 degree angle). The picture of the sink on the front page cannot be cleaned by maintenance, and is not the fault of the students, new ones need to be put in. There was nothing in the article that pertained to remodeling, only cleaning. Tyrone Moore is going around the issue by talking about how much money is spent on cleaning, but what about remodeling? Therefore, maintenance has nothing to with this issue. It is the school’s prerogative to remodel, and it would be in their best interest. I have a sister who goes to Canisius College, and her housing is brand new and gorgeous. That makes a student want to go to that school, because who wants to live in an apartment with gross wallpaper. Just because the apartments were not low income housing and instead were built for newlyweds after World War II doesn’t make them not old. Also, the school does not need to accommodate to 4,000 students since there are only 3,800 students on campus, 20 percent of which are commuters. That is a small amount of commuters, but the school has increased there numbers of non commuters every year, so where do they plan to put these students? Hence, remodeling/rebuilding is necessary. The number for the cost of maintenance may be more than the money spent on grounds, but a good portion of that money is our money that we pay to live here, it is not just coming out of the school’s “pocket.” All of the “bills” that 3 million encompasses, in my opinion is the bare minimum. Those things are inherent, and every college campus pays for them. Maybe if we didn’t waste 35,000 dollars on a kiosk we could have done some kind of small remodeling. New caulking does not constitute remodeling, that is probably something they should do every few years. Sarah Arnold

What do you say I am?
Despite being United States citizens, some feel the term ‘American’ is inappropiate
By Lynn McBride Contributing writer
A particular group of people comes from a country that has an ocean on both sides, a large landmass to the north and a smaller landmass to the south that connects to an even greater mass below it. I have no idea what you should be calling these people. The people to the north come from Canada. They’re called Canadians. The people to the south come from Mexico. They’re called Mexicans. If one goes further south, the peoples have a host of names: Brazilians, Argentineans, Venezuelans and so on. Trick question – What do you call the people from the country in the middle? If you answered American, you might be right or you might be wrong. It depends on who you ask. Some people say the inhabitants of the United States of America should not be called Americans. So are we North Americans? How many countries have two words when referring to their nationalities? Not many. Or are we Unitedstatedians? I don’t think so. Consider the countries that have the word “united” in their name. Some called the people of the former United Soviet Socialist Republic Russians or the Soviets. The people from People’s Republic of China are referred to as Chinese. The people from the United Kingdom, otherwise known as England, are called the English or Britons. And only recently have Koreans been referred to as North Koreans versus South Koreans. Not one of these countries refers to themselves as “Unitedians” or “Republicans.” Our allies and countries in Europe such as Australia and Spain refer to us as Americans. Other than a few choice words that I’ll fail to mention, what do our enemies call us? Our enemies in Iran and Iraq also call us Americans. One just has to look at demonstrators in enemy countries and see them holding posters with the word “American” splattered all over them. And yet, some people are saying that we shouldn’t call ourselves Americans. They seem to think that we’re just a bunch of arrogant fools. How dare we refer to ourselves as Americans when Canadians, Mexicans and Argentineans can refer to themselves as Americans as well? But do they normally refer to themselves that way? Of course not! They already have commonly accepted names. Besides, who would want to be associated with those darn Americans anyway? It seems that we come from the Land of Misfit Countries. We have one school of thought that says that journalists should try to sway the public away from referring to us as Americans. In the book, “Working With Words,” authors Brooks, Pinson and Wilson state, “American doesn’t even mean a citizen of the United States. Instead, American refers to someone from North or South America.” Period. However, according to The Associated Press Stylebook, the book referenced by journalists across the United States, the word “American” is “An acceptable description for a citizen of the United States.” And why not? The word “American” is embedded in our culture. We have distinctly American crafts. Just look at our quilts, clothing and décor. Who hasn’t seen wagon wheel or Shaker furniture? My sons raced in the “AllAmerican Soap Box Derby.” Coming back from NASCAR races, my youngest son proudly wears his “All-American Race Fan” shirt. We salute the “American” flag. “American-made” appears on the labels of our clothes and other items. Darian Lake amusement park plays the song “Proud to be an American” daily.

“

Hey, you can help too . . .
By Edyta Tudruj Contributing writer
All my life I’ve been interested in the issue of volunteering and community service. My parents made me realize that volunteering not only helps other people but also teaches me to be open and sensitive. They always used to tell me that instead of wasting all of my time on playing and relaxing, I could do something significant that benefits someone else and teaches me practical skills, which might become useful later in life. The more experience you have, the better you can deal with problems, conflicts and difficult situations. Also thanks to my teachers, I was able to start doing community service very early at school. I began with collecting money and putting up posters for a hospice for children. Later I decided to broaden my knowledge in psychology and complete a practicum in a mental institution, and volunteer for a cancer clinic to helped the nursing stuff to provide care to patients. Moreover, at Mercyhurst College, I became engaged in working for elderly people in a care center. Not only did I help others, but I also learned how to deal with the fears of death, pain, sickness and being emotionally pushed away. I realized that community service is not based on hard work too. People in the hospice, mental institution, cancer clinic and care center showed me what happiness really is; how many interesting things you can do with your life. They showed me strength and determination. I was shocked that patients who were old, depressed, schizophrenic or diagnosed with cancer and close to dying were still able to joke, play bingo with other patients, dance and enjoy each other’s company. They already knew that nothing in life should be taken for granted and that every moment is valuable and precious. Thanks to them, I learned how to play piano, serve food, prepare shows, events and produce an activity for a group of people. They showed me the determination to never give up and that being old and sick does not imply being grumpy and old-fashioned, which made me get rid of my stereotypes. I gained knowledge, practice and ability to lead conversations and meetings. In addition to that, I learned how to help people, take care of them and provide concern and entertainment. Now I use all the skills I gained and apply them to everyday life, and think of myself as a more independent and knowledgeable person. However, there were many times, particularly in the beginning, when I used to be scared, depressed or reluctant of volunteering. Sometimes patients did not appreciate the work and commitment, and requested to be left alone. After a while I realized that even though there were times when I was sick of seeing the pain, death and fight for survival, I had become aware of the fact that so much help is still needed to make a difference in the world. My patients always made me feel better by saying that they were glad I was there, that they enjoyed a program I prepared for them or had cried, not wanting me to leave or go back home. The hard work, along with being tired and depressed, is all worth it when a smile appears across a patient’s face. I realized that it is worth waiting for moments like this, no matter how long it takes for someone to show you how important community service is. All of these events totally changed my perspective about community service and my own life. Stereotypes and myths were also erased from my memory. Officially, community service is designed to improve the quality of life for residents of a society, especially individuals of low income, and to solve problems related to their needs. That includes health and child care, education, welfare, transportation, housing, neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime control and prevention and recreation. Volunteering is undertaken by volunteers’ own free will, without coercion, to benefit the community, and also for no financial gain. Volunteering is always a matter of choice, respecting the rights, dignity and culture of other individuals. It promotes human rights and equality. To make sure that no harm is done while performing these actions, human service professionals and educators follow ethical guidelines, a set of standards of conduct, which are employed frequently in decisionmaking. Even though ethical codes are not officially authorized documents, they may be used to assist in the negotiation of issues connected with ethical human service behavior. So if community service and volunteering are so beneficial to society, why does only a minority of people become engaged in these actions, and why does the quality of community service still remain defective? Although community service and volunteering are the aspects of society in great demand, rarely will the average citizen take time to help the community. In America, people are continually caught in endless cycles of schedules and errands. In the rush of personal life and self-centeredness, the attention to individuals of less fortune does not present a problem in the back of people’s minds. The idea of working and receiving no financial or material gain is not a concept with which most of America sits well. When people have free time, it tends to be used selfishly, purely for the benefit of the individual. Moreover, many reasons for not volunteering are due to stereotypes and myths, which have been etched into the mind at an early age. As in nursing homes, it is believed that the patients are getting enough care and entertainment from the staff and activities that are provided for them. Still, there are individuals who have the will and desire to indulge in services for the community. The majority of people who engage themselves in such services are teenagers. These young adults want to broaden their horizons and try to make a difference in the world. Although they cannot do it all at once, they try to make a dent early in life. The experience obtained during the service is priceless. Personal experience also persuades the pursuit in volunteering. One instance may be a grandmother or grandfather recently moved into a nursing home. Going to the nursing home and spending time with the grandparent and the other people who reside there can be an indirect way that service may start. Other possibilities of beginning service also stem from having friends who engage in service activities, which inspire the individual to volunteer in the community as well. Another factor in the introduction to service work is from the classroom. Teachers often incorporate service hours in their lessons, which the students must fulfill to pass the class. Furthermore, parents influence their children to donate back to the community to build them as well-rounded individuals, and to show the feeling of personal accomplishment that accompanies the child after completing such tasks. Both teachers and parents want to get rid of myths, which usually push teenagers away from providing community service, especially for elderly people. If we start teaching kids at an early age how they can help the society of which they are a part, they will be more likely to believe that they can make a difference and help the world. And that’s a good start.

Some people are saying that we shouldn’t call ourselves Americans. They seem to think that we’re just a bunch of arrogant fools.

”

Mercyhurst student Mariano Fava calls himself an Argentinean. “I am also American,” he says. “We are both Americans. I would call someone from the United States a North American.” But wouldn’t a Canadian also be a North American? And do people normally refer to those below Mexico as South Americans? Mercyhurst Statistics professor Hema Deshmukh, who was born in India, now calls herself an American. Cathy Coverdale and Tammy Mangold, neither of whom are journalists or tied to any academic community, refer to themselves as Americans as well. Coverdale adds, “My ancestors are from other countries, but I’m an American.” I’ve got it! Why not a “Name the Native” contest? Marketing executives use contests to name products all the time. We could re-invent the American (oops) image. And maybe people would forget all of our past transgressions. They certainly are able to forget the good we have done for others in time of need. All my life, I’ve been trying to figure out who I am. When y’all figure it out, let me know. Meanwhile, I think I’ll grab some Chinese takeout or some enchiladas and wash it down with good old American Pepsi. Salut!

December 13, 2006

THE MERCIAD

To contact: [email protected]

OPINION

PAGE 7

Tis the season for giving
Tis the season, or so they say. The holidays are once again upon us. Cookies are baking, lights are twinkling and credit cards are charging. It seems, as it does every year, that the true meaning of Christmas is often lost in the chaos. Somewhere between fist fighting for the last new fad toy and sleeping outside for Allison days in order to buy a PS3, Moore the majority of our society has lost sight of what is Opinion editor truly important during this season. Now, I don’t want to sound like a Hallmark card, but the holiday season should be a time of giving and reflection on your blessings. While leaving the grocery store last weekend, I saw students from Penn State Berhend collecting money for children with cancer. Looking down at my cup holder filled with change, I immediately rolled down my window and contributed. I also frequently give change to the Salvation Army. Quite frankly, I admire those people for standing out in the winter weather to collect for those who need it. As my loose change left my hand and hit the bucket, I immediately felt better about myself, and to be honest, I felt more in the holiday spirit. Driving down Peach Street in my 2005 Colbalt, I realized that as a college student, I had more than some people ever would in their lives, and that really bothered me. Somehow though, parting with the little change I had made me feel as if I was helping, even if it was a small gesture. Earlier that same day, I helped out with Christmas on Campus, an event that affects me every year. I met so many wonderful kids who were full of promise and hope. They were so grateful for the simple gestures made by the Mercyhurst community. It was gratifying to know that a few hours of my time brightened the day of so many children. I know it’s cliche, but giving truly is better than receiving and no time is that more apparent than the holidays. So, give up your change, give some of your time and give your love, because for someone who is in need, there is no such thing as too little a gesture. Happy holidays.

The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
By Editorial Staff

The Good
The coffee shop in the bookstore has received a new espresso machine. This is good news for coffee lovers everywhere.

The Bad
With the holiday break approaching, students are forced to cram in tests and quizzes before they return in January. The awkwardly placed break puts students and professors in a bind, as knowledge is quickly lost over the two-and-a-half week period.

The Ugly
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.

Though it might be uncomfortable, global warming needs to be discussed
Global warming tends to be the big fat elephant in the room that no one likes to discuss. When mentioned at dinner parties or among friends, everyone becomes silent and avoids eye contact with the speaker. However, it is a matter that everyone should be aware of and taking measures to prevent Ellen further destruction and limit energy consumption. Koenig No matter what side of the aisle you sit, this is a concern that will plague us for years to come. Contributing writer I am a big believer in the phrase, “think globally, act locally.” It applies to every kind of issue a citizen may find themselves concerned about, spanning from gun control to birth control. The actions individuals take in their own communities influence the picture in the grand scheme. The results of global warming are evident in Europe and in other parts of the globe. In Germany and other major ski resorts of Central Europe, the snow did not come this year thus preventing the seasonal migration of thousands of skiers and tourists. Environmental conditions such as smog, polluted air and water ways found across the United States. In fact, hikers and backpackers are warned it is unsafe to consume any surface water in the United States due to pesticide run off and other pollutants. We have learned the federal government will not take adequate steps to promote a cleaner environment/ atmosphere. For instance, when the Bush administration took office, he quickly dismissed the UN Kyoto Agreement stating it is unfair because it does not apply to developing nations such as China and India. In addition, Bush’s defense was the burden it would amount on the U.S. economy to clean up the act. Instead of dealing with an economic transition, the goverment would rather put off the inevitable. The needs of corporate America have been placed above the future of the citizens of, not only America, but the world as well. Hopefully, when we do come to the realization that the environment matter, it won’t be too late. The money that could have been used for the environmental efforts has been spent on other endeavors, primarily military and tax cuts. Additional funds must be raised in the near future to compensate for the rearrangement of funds. In Boulder, Colo., there have been multiple efforts put into place to restrict the amount of energy being wasted. This includes fees for additional watt usage in houses, tolls on highways to discourage driving, and incentives to citizens who use solar panels and alternative energy. This is a trend that has taken place in hundreds of suburbs and communities across the country. Predominantly concentrated in the Northwest, these trends should spread rapidly to other regions. One thing is clear, if change is going to happen, it must begin at the grass roots level. Individuals must be accountable for their actions, and for every action there is a reaction. In terms of pollution and energy consumption, the reactions can often be negative results. For instance, the coal burning energy plants of southern Ohio often send acid rain to central Pennsylvania, yet people in Ohio are unaware that driving to the grocery store is affecting a negative change in the fall foliage in Potter, Pennsylvania. We are living in the age of globalization, and in addition to the global community, we must also be aware of our local communities, as well as our neighboring townships and states. If change is going to happen, it has to start with the individual and eventually the ripple effect will pass it on to the greater population.

Students weigh in on ending the trimester system
“No, because there’re certain classes we’re required to take and the semester system would mess that up.” No, I just prefer trimesters over semesters because you can retain information better because of the shorter week period.” Samantha Testa, ‘08 “I think it would be a good move, because as a math student trimesters are very fast.” Brittany Parker, ‘07

Do you think Mercyhurst should switch to a semester system?

Meghan Dolney, ‘08

“No, because I get bored with classes in 11 weeks, and I can’t imagine them going longer.” Kyle Scully, ‘07

“Yes, because when I go back home all of my friends are on semesters, and I would like to see them.” Chris Duval, ‘09

“Absolutely not, because I think 10 weeks is a good amount of time for a class to see if you like it. It gives students the time to dabble into other classes.” Katie Jarocki, ‘07

The

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Joshua Wilwohl Jessica Kocent Chelsea Boothe Allison Moore Ryan Palm & Matt Jackson Melissa Brandt Andrew Finkel Katie Diley Melissa Brandt Noelle Lelakus

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. 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.

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ENTERTAINMENT
tHe BuZz
DEC. 13. In Flames. Agora Theatre, Cleveland. DEC. 14. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh. DEC. 14. Winter Blast ‘06 with Young Jeezy, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Young Dro, Lil’ Wayne and Baby, Jim Jones. Wolstein Center, Cleveland. DEC. 14. Haste the Day. Agora Theatre, Cleveland. DEC. 15. Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. DEC. 16. Donna the Buffalo, Sim Redmond Band. Town Ballroom, Buffalo. On sale at tickets.com. DEC. 16. Linda Eder. Center for the Arts, University of Buffalo, Buffalo. DEC. 16. Cute Is What We Aim For. Icon, Buffalo. DEC. 17. Gogol Bordello. House of Blues, Cleveland. DEC. 17. Cheetah Girls. Everlife. Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh. DEC. 17. Kissmas Bash with Nick Lachey, New Found Glory, Frankie J., Gym Class Heroes, Chingy, Mario Vazquez, Cherisih. HSBC Arena, Buffalo. On sale at tickets.com. DEC. 19. Army of Anyone (Robert and Dean DeLeo, Richard Patrick). House of Blues, Cleveland. D E C. 2 0 . M a n n h e i m Steamroller. Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University, Cleveland. DEC. 21. Trent Tomlinson. Icon, Buffalo. DEC. 23. Trans-Siberian Orchestra. HSBC Arena, Buffalo. On sale at Tops Markets, www.tickets.com, by phone at (888) 2236000. DEC. 23. Tequila Sunrise. House of Blues, Cleveland. DEC. 23. Boys From County Hell. House of Blues (Cambridge Room), Cleveland. DEC. 27. A Chimaira Christmas. House of Blues, Cleveland. DEC. 28. Waiting Room. House of Blues, Cleveland. DEC. 29-30. Michael Stanley and the Resonators. house of Blues, Cleveland. Courtesy of Goerie.com

ARTS &

THE MERCIAD

December 13, 2006

To contact: [email protected]

Elven woe and family lies
By Christina Ferranti Contributing writer
Erie Roadhouse Theatre presents two fabulously twisted tales of holiday cheer brought to you to “brighten up” your Christmas season: “Santaland’s Diaries and Season’s Greetings,” both written by David Sedaris. The show guarantees to ease your mind after a strenuous day of Christmas shopping, children screaming, bells obnoxiously jangling outside of every store looking for donations and the wild-eyed mothers that want nothing more than to destroy the woman in front of her who took the last Playstation 3. David Sedaris, a playwright, author and National Public Radio commentator, composed these highly entertaining essays and Joe Mantello adapted them both for the stage. It reminds each and every one of us that Christmas is the season to spread happiness and cheer even if the times are damper and gray…for example, out of work and desperate for some cash, why not become one of Macy’s Santaland elves? This is exactly what David, played by Jimmy Mehs, submits to as a result of his holiday-poverty. He details his experiences from the training of a Macy’s elf, which is a tedious and obnoxious process filled with highly annoying individuals, some who dream only of being Santa’s elves all year long. At the end of the training, David has to pick a name for himself, deciding on Crumpet, a seemingly suitable name for an elf who despises the effect the elf kingdom has already had on his fragile mental state. He details his accounts of the several different areas of Santaland, including the maze of candy canes, peakthrough-windows and Santa’s little house. Crumpet finds there are many things to do as an elf, directing people, cleaning up pre-Santa visit vomit, calming down the irrational throngs of people, photographing wily children, and ushering them out as fast as elven-ly possible. He explicitly describes those wonderful parents who request a “special Santa” and then join along in asking Santa for what they want for Christmas. The craziness culminates on the night before Christmas and never eases up until the following day. The second half of the show evokes a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of the stomach with the stage lit by the soft ambiance of colorful Christmas tree lights and the fireplace with its cute, small stockings, hung all in a row, one for each member of the Dunbar family. Mrs. Dunbar, played by Sue Ellen Wojciechowski, sits in her petite rocking chair and reads a heart-warming letter she wrote to all of her friends at Christmas time, projecting her Christmas “spirit” on everyone, which includes the dreaded turmoil she has had to suffer through in the past three months. Perfectly composed, she relates to the audience what a perfect family she once had. Before that is, the addition of a image-damaging Christmas present to her husband from Vietnam, her new crack baby grandchild and an es-

Delightful tales of holiday dismay at the Roadhouse
tranged, tattooed daughter. Mrs.. Dunbar’s letter quickly turns to the horrors that slowly unfold as Christmas Day approaches. Regardless, she slaps a beautiful fake smile on her face, animated and cheerful, she whisks the audience into her disturbing, yet hilarious tales of the newly dysfunctional Dunbar family Christmas season. This production plays every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. until Saturday, Dec. 23. Reservations can be made over the phone at 814-456-5656 or in person at the Roadhouse Theatre, located on 145 West 11th Street. Box office hours are 2 - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The theater accepts cash, checks, VISA, MasterCard and Discover. Admission prices include: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. As a special treat, there will be a display of several photographs taken by the Mercyhurst Prepretory students lining the walls of the Roadhouse Theatre. The photos are available for purchase and will stay available for viewing until the new year. For more information contact the box office at the Roadhouse Theatre. Also, there will be a special holiday concert of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Songs of Rocky Horror performed by The Pink Bombers, Dec. 9 & 30 @ 9 p.m.. For more information, visit www.roadhousetheatre.org.

Mistletoe incentive not required
By Melissa Brandt A&E Editor
Enter a mystical land where beautiful women and handsome eligible bachelors are alone on the Christmas holiday. Add a surprisingly unique plot, lovable characters, and lots of impromptu kisses and you have director Nancy Meyer’s “The Holiday.” Two women troubled with guy-problems (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet) swap homes in each other’s countries, where they each meet a local guy (Jude Law, Jack Black, respectively) and try their best to fall out of their routine and into love. Although I thought the movie was a bit cutesy, most of the writing was intelligent, if a little predictable. I am not generally into the romantic comedy genre, so call it the holiday spirit, but I thought the film was pretty good. Winslet plays the victim to unrequited love from an enduring but one-sided relationship, hoping to infuse her life with new joys by taking a holiday in Los Angeles and befriending an old movie producer. A series of events unfold that introduces her to the usually funny and mostly adorable Jack Black. Cameron Diaz, an overworked and independent Los Angeles native, trades homes with Winslet to end up in Surrey, England. Relaxation and intoxication

Check out Winslet, Diaz, Black and Law in this season’s lovely and semi-intelligent romantic comedy ‘The Holiday.’

Photo Courtesy of www.sonypictures.com/movies/theholiday.htm

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provides the opportunity for her to meet Jude Law, this time playing a character with a bit more depth than his normal ‘role of stunning play-boy.’ The film is refreshing and lighthearted, with enough laughs to keep you from thinking about the $6.75 you just paid for 3-4 musical montages. The Best: A few great lines will leave you laughing during the movie and after. The Worst: One too many music-montages.

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December 13, 2006

THE MERCIAD

PAGE 9

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ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS &

Australian western at PAC
By Megan O’Hare Contributing writer
When thinking of a Western film, what comes to mind? Men fighting with one another, crime and desert settings are common themes that occur in many Western movies. The Proposition includes many of the same elements and tells the story of the ultimate decision one man must make between his brothers. The film takes place in the humid, thick-dusted desert of Australia where Charlie Burns is introduced. Burns is depicted as an eerie man who had been part of a notorious gang with his older brother Arthur. Arthur is an epic character who is imprisoned by Captain Stanley because of his involvement as the leader of the gang wanted for a variety of heinous crimes, including the murder of a whole family. Captain Stanley is an authoritative British lawman who is sent from England to civilize the wild outback of Australia. He is a man filled with rage and despair as he turns against everything important in his life; his men, the outlaws in the town, his wife and even himself. Captain Stanley sets Charlie free after he accepts the proposal. Charlie must find Arthur, who is hiding out since the Captain discovered him, and kill him within nine days, which happens to be Christmas day. Stanley makes the decision to release Charlie if he will find his brother because he believes this is the first step to creating a sense of order in this very uncivilized society. If he does not follow through with this plan, Stanley will hang his 14 year old brother, Mikey. This creates a difficult situation for Charlie, as he must choose between his two brothers. He feels no real connection with Arthur since their relationship has been based on hatred for others and the crimes they commit because of this hatred. The desert setting is indifferent to human existence much like the Burn’s brothers who are void of any morality and are as hostile, violent and unrelenting as the desert itself. The task set before the Captain is a formidable one. He wants to fulfill the job of civilizing the arid environment and the seemingly soulless cowboys. Although Captain Stanley is adamant about imposing law on these people, he is ultimately contradicts himself by breaking

Photo courtesy of PAC

Check out the unique Australian-western film, ‘The Proposition,’ playing at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

the laws he has created and offers the proposition to Charlie. The film is typical in the western view of the environment

but breaks course of traditional westerns that depict characters that are inherently evil and some that are inherently good

but show an evil side. The Proposition will be shown at the PAC on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are

free for Mercyhurst College students (one ticket per ID).

Hurst TV Schedule Best CD releases of 2006
HURST TV Schedule for Wed Dec. 13-16 Wednesday, Dec 13 6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. miere) 7 p.m. 9 p.m. 10 p.m. 10:30 p.m. 11 p.m. Hurst Hockey (new episode premiere) MSGvening News (new episode preZilo TV Juvenile Justice Panel Discussion MSGvening News Ticket to Hollywood Hurst Hockey

Thursday, Dec 14 3 p.m. Best of City Club of Cleveland Speaker 4p.m. Hurst Hockey 4:30 p.m. Ticket to Hollywood (new episode pre miere) 5 p.m. Zilo TV 6 p.m. MSGvening News 6:30 p.m. Hurst Hockey 7 p.m. Ticket to Hollywood 7:30 p.m. Mercyhurst Speaker Series (new episode premiere) 8:30 p.m. Zilo TV 9:30 p.m. Best of City Club of Cleveland Speaker 10:30 p.m. Amnesty International Special 11 p.m. MSGvening News Friday, Dec 15 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Noon er 3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. er 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. cussion Red Cross Safety Hurst Hockey TBA Ticket to Hollywood Inside Reel Best of City Club of Cleveland SpeakHurst Hockey Inside Reel Ticket to Hollywood Zilo TV TBA MSGvening News Best of City Club of Cleveland SpeakTicket to Hollywood Human Future Development Panel Dis-

John Legend’s CD, ‘Once Again’ makes this year’s list of the best CD releases for 2006, among others.

Photo courtesy of Johnlegend.com

By Joe Fidago Contributing writer
RAP/HIP-HOP/R&B Akon – “Konvicted”: I can’t say I’m totally sold on this being one of the best R&B albums of the year, but like I said (see John Legend), I’m no R&B connoisseur. It is pretty solid throughout, and does have two of the biggest singles of the year (“Smack That” and “I Wanna Love You”), so its place on the list may very well be justified. Game – Doctor’s Advocate: Just reviewed this one last week, but here’s a recap if you missed it: It sounds like an old school West Coast album, and just like “The Documentary,” it’s rock solid. There should be no G-Unit vs. Game discussion ever again, as this album blows Lloyd Banks’ “Rotten Apple” right out of the water. Forget about taking sides and just get yourself a copy. Jay-Z – “Kingdome Come”: It’s a Jay-Z album. It’s not “The Blueprint 2.” That’s really all you need to know if you haven’t been living under a rock to know why this is on the list. John Legend – “Once Again”: I consider myself just slightly above the “ignorant” level when it comes to my knowledge of R&B and soul music, but this album instantly caught my ear the first time I listened to it and

wouldn’t let go. Just as solid as his debut, it seems to be a matter of choice as to whether you like this one or that more. Nas – “Hip Hop is Dead”: Okay, so it doesn’t come out until Dec. 19, but it doesn’t matter – Nas is constantly solid, excluding his dabbles in the bling-bling era. Count it. ROCK/POP: Beck – “The Information”: Beck seems to be hit and miss with people, but if you liked his previous stuff pick this up because it’s very well done. If you don’t like him, this could very well be the album that changes your mind. James Blunt – “Back to Bedlam”: This is pop music done right. This album didn’t blow up without reason. Blunt’s music has attracted everyone from your younger sibling in high school to your aunt. This explains why some people feel the need to bash this CD (see “Worst of 06” lists on cdnow.com). Overplayed? Yes. Bad? No. John Mayer – “Continuum”: If you like rock, pop, blues, his previous albums or just music in general, get it. Enough said. It really is that good. My Chemical Romance – “The Black Parade”: Quite possibly the best rock album of the year. The band who previously sang about vampires is back this time

with an arena rock album. A concept album, it centers on a cancer patient who learns to love and live his life after he gets a sneak peek at death. If you heard “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge,” and liked it, you’ll still like this. If you didn’t but you like rock music in general, give this a try too. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Stadium Arcadium”: Sometimes when bands release double disc albums it turns out to be a very regrettable decision, with about 12 quality tracks and the rest just being crap that stretches the album into a two disc debacle. Not the case here. Very solid discs. Wolfmother – “Wolfmother”: Some people said these Aussie rockers sounded redundant, and were just a copy of material already done before them, but I like it and this is my list, so tough. This is proof to everyone who loves rock and roll that there are still bands that can breathe new life into the genre. PUNK AFI – “December underground”: AFI started out as a hardcore punk band, rarely playing songs that lasted over 2:30. Then they decided to go gothic on us, and while they still are in that phase to a point, this album showcases a bit of everything, including the more mainstream rock flavor of “Sing the Sor-

row.” I was almost tempted to put this into the Rock category, but there is some severe genre bending going on here. The genre really isn’t as important as the music, and it’s good. If it wasn’t for the Rise Against album, I would have listened to this all summer. Rise Against – “The Sufferer and the Witness”: Unreal. Probably – no, definitely – my favorite album of the year. There is no need to skip a track on here, the entire disc is amazing. If I wasn’t afraid of the “selling out curse” striking them, I would say that I hope these guys break it big. Instead, I’ll say that they can stay right where they are, because they seem to be doing much more than fine musically. If you need some new music for the gym, get this. Actually, I don’t care what your reason is, just get it. If you don’t like it, I’ll reimburse you, right after I smack some musical taste into you. COUNTRY All country is kind of similar, so here is just a list of notables. Eric Church – “Sinners Like Me” Keith Urban – “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing” Montgomery Gentry – “Some People Change” Rascal Flatts – “Me and My Gang.”

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THE MERCIAD

December 13, 2006

SPORTS

LAKER

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Rowers live a different life
Early mornings, late nights common for Mercyhurst rowers
By Kelly Oldach Contributing writer
For most college students, an average day consists of sleepily stumbling into a 10 a.m. class, daydreaming for two hours then crawling right back into bed. For a member of the Mercyhurst rowing team, an average day is a little different. Take sophomore coxswain Michele Handzel’s, for example. Her alarm screams precisely at 5:15 a.m. With a bite to eat and quick brush of her teeth, she’s out the door and to the bus by 5:30 a.m. The wheels roll as the driver cranks the heat – it’s only 18 degrees. Just as the bus warms up, the lights turn on and she finds herself in the driveway of the Gillard Rowing Center in Findley Lake, N.Y. Lake conditions: strong head wind from the north, heavy snow, a bitter 20 degrees, and no indication that the sun even exists. After about 90 minutes of running practice in the still half frozen lake, she sits down at the back of the bus and checks her watch, hoping to make it back to class on time. Running through the doors of Zurn, she takes her seat just in time to hear eight distinct chimes come from the tower of Old Main. Relieved, she mentally prepares herself for six straight hours of learning. Those six hours fly by, as it is suddenly 2:00 p.m. She realizes she has only 30 minutes to walk all the way back to her apartment, change her clothes, eat lunch and be back at the rowing room. Before she knows it, she’s sitting on the bus again, this time chowing down a sub she snatched from The Laker. Arriving at the boathouse at 3:00 p.m., she bundles up with layers upon layers of clothing and stuffs her gloves with hand warmers. Ready for another cold one, she gives the command, “Hands on!” This second practice lasts for a short 75 minutes as the whiteout conditions are so bad that she cannot even see the coach’s boat floating 15 feet to the left of her. After docking and putting the boats away, she is again staring out the foggy window of the 20-passenger bus. When she arrives back on campus, her first steps are toward the library. Through the doors, she catches a glimpse of the clock above her that reads 6:10 p.m. Yawning, she walks wearily up the stairs knowing she has a long night ahead of her. After nearly three hours of homework and studying at the library, she returns to her apartment and grabs a quick shower. With an apple and tall glass of Photo submitted by Kelly Oldach water, a short call home and The Mercyhurst men’s rowing team rows on Findlay lake during a practice session last year. five spare minutes to check her e-mail, she gets ready for bed. fice among many other things. together. I have also learned a is a machine because everyone student-athletes are driven by? Setting her alarm for 5:15 a.m., But if you ask any rower on the lot about myself from being in that’s involved is a part of that What exactly is it that rowers get she lies down and lets out a Mercyhurst men’s or women’s the sport as long as I have,” said machine. The machine only out of the sport? happy sigh. team, they wouldn’t have it any Petendra. works if all the parts are workWhat draws people to it is that She checks the clock one last other way. Head Coach Adrian Spracklen ing,” said Spracklen. it’s different. “If it weren’t diftime, which now reads 9:50 p.m. Senior captain Brandon Boyd has been rowing for 31 years and Although the rowers love what ferent, people wouldn’t want to Closing her eyes she smiles, has been rowing for nine years his father is currently the Head they do, they also realize that do it,” said Spracklen. knowing tomorrow is going to and feels the same passion that Coach of the Canadian Olympic being a rower means making For some, it isn’t the credit for be another great day. his teammate and coach do. Rowing team. “I started when I sacrifices outside of the train- rowing or the friendships that To the average person, this “I like it because it allows you was eight years old. My father ing sites. they’re after - it’s pushing yourlifestyle may seem very odd to learn how to push yourself politely pushed me into a boat “I would say that its just all self as hard as you can and winand extremely undesirable. For beyond anything that you ever so I didn’t have much choice,” a part of it ... I really am not ning national championships. people like Handzel and other thought you were able to do, Spracklen said. bothered by being able to take “The difference between a members of the rowing team, it and I really love the atmosphere The reason that the majority class at a certain time and I like champion versus a non-chamis what they live for. of the entire sport – the people, of rowers have made this sport having the morning practices pion is that they still get up on “It is definitely a passion of training, being outside on the a “lifestyle” has to do with the because I think it cuts down on those mornings,” said Boyd. mine. I’ve been doing it for six water – it’s great,” Boyd said. concept of teamwork. the amount of partying I can do Those are the days that make you years and it’s become such a big Naomi Petendra, also a senior “Because rowing has such a which helps with structure in stronger as a person, when you part of my schedule every day,” captain, is in her eighth year huge emphasis on being a team my life. I also feel that it teaches can push yourself to train just as she said. now. sport, you have to be able to put a lot of discipline and I like to hard on the days you don’t really Rowing at the collegiate level “I have always enjoyed the the same time in as everyone else have that in my life otherwise I feel like being there. It’s what is something that not very many social aspect of it. The team on the team. If not you will not would probably be a lazy slob,” distinguishes you among the rest people get to experience. It takes becomes a family because of be successful,” said Boyd. said Petendra. and what wins you championteamwork, discipline and sacri- the amount of time you spend “Rowing is like a machine. It So just what is it that these ships.”

Harrison, Schafer lead Lakers to title at Ohio Northern Invite

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Freshman Andy Lamancusa (top) took fourth place in the Ohio Northern Invitational.

By Matt Jackson Co-Sports editor
The month-long break from competition that the Mercyhurst wrestlers just began might be a breath of fresh air after competing in the Ohio Northern Invitational Saturday. The Lakers, led by individual winners Hudson Harrison and Zack Schafer, won the event fairly easily, scoring over 30 points better than second-place Indianapolis. The road to the finals for Harrison and Schafer and the journey through the wrestlebacks for other Laker wrestlers was grueling. While only 24 teams competed, multiple wrestlers from each team were sent, creating brackets with nearly 50 wrestlers or more in many weight classes. Kenny Bluska, for example, wrestled eight matches on his way to a fifth place finish at heavyweight.

Harrison was forced to win four matches to get to the finals at 157 pounds, including what Coach Tony Cipollone called a dominating 4-0 win over Gannon’s A.J. Sayles, before winning his fifth match of the day over top-seeded Corey Murphy of Thiel in the finals.. “Hudson may have wrestled the best he has all year,” said Cipollone. Schafer, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, had his biggest match in the semifinals where he avenged an earlier loss to West Liberty State’s Tommy Clark. Schafer had lost to Clark 9-8 in a dual meet but came through with a 9-5 win Saturday. The senior captain followed that with a 13-4 win in the finals. “This tournament gave him (Schafer) the confidence he can compete with the best 174’s in the nation,” said Cipollone. “He knows now he is right in the mix just like last year.” Trevor Gallo finished second

for the Lakers at 184 despite entering the tournament unseeded. Six other wrestlers fought their way to places in the tournament. J.J. Zanetta (141) and Don Cummings (149) finished third and Andy Lamancusa took fourth. Braxdon Scaletta (133) joined Bluska with a fifth-place finish while Brian Pogel took sixth at 157 and Mike Sullivan finished eighth at heavyweight. Overall, Cipollone was pleased with his team’s second tournament win of the year, which included teams ranked ahead of the No. 15 Lakers, including No. 9 Indianapolis and No. 12 West Liberty State, who had defeated the Lakers in a dual meet earlier this year. “We have some improvements to make but it was a good tournament,” said Cipollone. The Lakers will be off until Jan. 13 when they compete in the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships in Iowa.

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December 13, 2006

THE MERCIAD

Page 11

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SPORTS

LAKER

Men’s hockey drops pair to RIT
By Andy Tait Contributing writer
This past weekend the Mercyhurst men’s hockey team was swept at home for the first time in over a year. The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) emerged with two big wins from a pair of fiercely contested games to improve their record to 8-5-2 and 8-2-1 in Atlantic Hockey. Mercyhurst now stands at 410-3 overall and 4-8-2 in conference play. The Lakers are in the midst of wretched run of form and their schedules does not appear to be getting any easier. On the back of being swept at home by bitter rival RIT, 52 and 6-4 the Lakers travel to No. 3 Maine this Saturday with everyone expecting a very onesided affair in favor of the Black Bears. Mercyhurst Coach Rick Gotkin believes his side has what it takes to cause an upset in Maine. “It doesn’t get any easier but if we go out and compete like I know we can then we can win,” said Gotkin. The Lakers hope to quickly erase the memory of this past weekend’s series where little seemed to go right for the team. However, it appears that they are not a million miles away from stringing together the type of run of which we all know they are capable. “Tough times don’t last but tough people do,” said a philosophical Gotkin. On Friday, the Lakers got off to a fast start when freshman forward Cody Collins blasted the puck past rookie goaltender Louis Menard. Unfortunately for the Lakers this would be the only lead that they would hold for the rest of the series. RIT tallied two goals in the final five minutes of the first period to nudge them in front, 2-1. A Tiger defenseman added RIT’s third goal early in the second as a shot from beyond the blue line somehow eluded sophomore goaltender Tyler Small. Sophomore forward Chris Trafford got the Lakers back into the contest with the game’s lone power play marker in the fifth minute of the middle period. The Tigers made it 4-2 a few minutes later to restore their two goal advantage. Gotkin decided to pull Small for the final period and replaced him with senior Jordan Wakefield in the hope that the team may experience a change in fortunes. A big effort from the Lakers was needed in the final period but the team could not find a way past Menard and, when they Ryan Palm photo did, the post was there to save A RIT forward looks to score on goalie Jordan Wakefield while Bobby Phillips (20) tries to stop the puck. the Tigers. However, it proved not to be Senior forward Scott Cham- posed for a huge final period moment. Gourgon believes the team is the Lakers’ day, as RIT added pagne pulled one back for the from the Lakers. “How we emerge from this not far away from turning things insult to injury. Lakers with his eighth goal of the Ryan Toomey was inches away situation will be a defining mo- around. “If we keep showing up With five minutes remaining season but any hopes the Lakers from giving the Lakers the early ment in the program’s history,” and staying together, pucks will Steve Pinizotto’s shot deflected had of scoring an equalizer were goal they needed but a combina- said Gotkin. begin to bounce our way and in off a Mercyhurst defenseman’s to be short-lived. RIT added two tion of Menard’s outstretched leg Gotkin is certainly not shirking we’ll be able to pull some wins stick and past Wakefield into the further quick goals just minutes and the post were able to prevent away from the challenge that lies together,” said Gourgon. net to make it 5-2. after Champagne had gotten the the puck from crossing the line. before him. “We need to better in The Lakers are only eight The Lakers had applied some Lakers within a goal. In the seventh minute the all facets of the game, better on points from first place and with pressure during the final period With the Lakers trailing 4-1, Tigers’ Matt Smith made it 6-3, defense, offense and goaltend- so many games left still to play but failed to beat Tiger goal- Gotkin once again turned to leaving the Lakers with a moun- ing,” said Gotkin. this season the team’s main goal tender Menard. When they did Wakefield for the start of the tain to climb. One area of the team’s perfor- is to begin to get a few wins and manage to beat him the post was second period to try to stem the Junior forward Matt Warren mances this year that has never build some confidence. there to the rescue, which sums flow of Tigers’ goals. gave the Lakers faithful a glim- been questioned is the effort that The Lakers travel to No. 3 up how things are going for the Mercyhurst junior forwards mer of hope with six minutes the team displays each week. Maine for a game on the 16th team at the moment. Ryan Toomey and Ben Cottreau remaining as he cut the lead to “The effort from all the guys then return to action in Denver On Saturday senior goaltender each tallied power-play goals to just two, but it was too little too is not an issue, we just didn’t on the 29th and 30th for games Mike Ella was handed his first keep the Lakers in the game. late for the Lakers. capitalize on our chances on against No. 13 Pioneers and eistart in goal in 28 games. However, the goals came on Rick Gotkin has been head Friday and on Saturday we game ther Brown or UMass-Lowell. However, two power play either side of an RIT goal which coach of the Lakers for the them an early lead, which is never The Lakers will return home goals in quick succession in the helped to keep the Lakers at arms program’s entire 19 year exis- easy to climb all the way back to the Ice Center January 5 and first period gave the Tigers the length. tence and sees the team’s cur- from,” said senior captain Kyle 6 to take on conference-rival Air perfect start. Once again the game was finely rent predicament as a defining Gourgon. Force.

Women’s basketball loses two to Grand Valley
By Chris Davis Contributing writer
On Saturday afternoon No. 4 ranked Grand Valley State University (7-1, 3-0 GLIAC) overpowered the injury-plagued Mercyhurst squad 76-49 in front of 257 people at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. With the loss, the Lakers have now lost four in a row and are currently 2-6 overall, 0-3 in the GLIAC. Mercyhurst started off strong and scored the first two baskets of the game on lay-ups by Priscila Nacimento and Erica Elliot to give them an opening 4-0 lead to the contest. The only other Laker lead came during a three pointer by Julie Anderson, which gave the Lakers a 9-6 lead with 14:31 to play in the first half. After this opportunity, Grand Valley came roaring back and never trailed again for the rest of the game, as they put together a In the second half Grand Valley drained Mercyhurst hopes as they opened the first 13 minutes of the second half with a 23-3 scoring run. This gave Grand Valley their biggest lead of the game at 63-29. During that span, Mercyhurst made just one field goal and had nine turnovers. This run lost any hope for the Lakers to strategize a comeback. With the significant Grand Valley lead, they had the opportunity to rest most of their starters throughout the remaining portions of the second half. Turnovers and shooting continued to hurt the Lakers as a team. They committed 24 turnovers during the game compared to 13 for Grand Valley. It resulted in 33 points for Grand Valley, while Mercyhurst had only 15. Shooting also hurt the Lakers, as they only shot 33.9% during the game and 31% in the second half. They also struggled from the three-point line in the second half, missing all eight attempts after making four of six threepointers during the first half. Mercyhurst did continue to play hard in the second half though as they made a 20-12 run to end the game. The Lakers’ late minute drama was too little to late though. They need to continue to keep improving and become a better team everyday. However, as healthy players return it should help to get this team back into the swing of things. One of the major problems was Lindsay Whipkey getting into foul trouble in the first half, which kept her minutes to a minimum. She played only three first-half minutes because of committing three quick fouls, which kept Julie Anderson in the game for the whole first half. It also ruined the Lakers’ game plan and hurt their already limited rotation. Nicholls believed that losing Whipkey’s height meant losing a big part of their post play. “It made us play out of position,” Coach Karen Nicholls said. “It hurt us as far as the game went and it forced us to have to take outside shots.” In the second half Whipkey scored eight points in the nine minutes she played, all while she played with four fouls. She helped contribute to the final Laker run. Starting guard Nascimento thought that the team will continue to improve throughout the rest of the season. “We have had some problems with health, but everything should be okay though as the season goes on.” Mercyhurst plays on Tuesday at West Virginia Wesleyan before returning home to take on Mansfield on Saturday and LeMoyne on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Their next home conference game will be in 2007 when they host Findley at 6 p.m. on Thursday January 4.

Andy Finkel photo

Coach Karen Nicholls discusses strategy with the team.

14-3 scoring run to take a 20-12 lead. Mercyhurst played tough throughout the first half, trying to battle back with every run that

Grand Valley made. The closest Mercyhurst came after that was when Anderson made a lay-up to cut the lead to 23-18.

Anderson continues stellar career at Mercyhurst
By Chris Davis Contributing writer
Ever since Julie Anderson was a kid, she has always enjoyed watching her older sister play basketball. This has inspired Anderson to follow in her older sister’s footsteps. Anderson said, “I have always wanted to be just like her.” Anderson has been a part of the game of basketball for a while. She played four years of basketball at Sydenham High School in Sydenham, Ontario and was voted team captain for two years. Some of her high school rewards include being selected All-Conference (twice), County All-star (all four years) and threetime MVP. She was also a member of the Ontario Basketball Club that won the 2003 provincial championship, of which she was selected MVP. In addition, she played three other sports in high school, which included playing three years of volleyball and soccer, and participating in track for two years. After finishing high school, she decided to accept a scholarship at Mercyhurst College because she liked everything that the school had to offer. “I wanted to play NCAA basketball and not be too far away from home.” Anderson continued to explain that, “I wanted a small school, and wanted to major in athletic training, which Mercyhurst allowed athletes to do, unlike other schools that I was looking at.” While here at Mercyhurst, Anderson has played extremely well and has numerous records that she is close to breaking. Currently she is ranked eighth on Mercyhurst all-time career scoring list with 1,137 points and needs 93 to pass Amy Galla who is number seven. Anderson is now tied with Krista Usher for ninth place on career field goals made with 386. Other career statistics include being ranked seventh in rebounds (600), fifth in steals (192) and fourth in free throws (316). Anderson does not think too much about breaking any of the records. “I don’t think I will break the record (for career scoring) but if I do it would be an awesome experience,” said Anderson. “ I don’t get worried about records because I feel I just need to go out and play my game to the best of my ability to be successful.” Her greatest memory is winning the final basketball game of the season at home against Gannon in front of a sold out crowd cheering them on in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. “Even though we only won one game my freshman year, that season beating Gannon in front of a large crowd has been my greatest memory,” said Anderson. In 2005, Anderson was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. Anderson also feels very honored to be recognized by making First Team All-GLIAC South, the GLIAC All-Defensive Team in 2006, and the GLIAC All-Academic Team in 2005. Anderson believes Coach Karen Nicholls has done a magnificent job of helping her to mature as not only a player, but also as a person off of the basketball court. “She has helped by bringing out my strengths and improving on my weaknesses,” explained Anderson. “She has also helped me to grow as a person, more than just as a basketball player.” Asked about her success not only as an athlete, but also as a student she explained how she balances her time efficiently. “It is being able to multi task,” responded Anderson. If Anderson continues to work hard and manages to stay healthy, she should have no problem earning several more awards at the conclusion of the season.

Laker Sports “Quick Hits”
This Week’s Results...
Women’s hockey..............................Dec. 9, W 3-0, Robert Morris Dec. 10, W 5-0, Robert Morris Men’s hockey........................................................Dec. 8, L 5-2, RIT Dec. 9, L 6-4, RIT Women’s basketball.........................Dec. 5, L 63-57, Ohio Valley Dec. 9, L 76-49, Grand Valley Men’s basketball...................................Dec. 6, L 63-57, Edinboro Dec. 9, W 79-74, Grand Valley Wrestling.............................Dec. 9, 1 of 24, Ohio Northern Invite.

S

AKER PORTS
By Finella Annand Contributing writer

Page 12

December 13, 2006

Men’s hoops upsets GVSU

In the news...
Agosta CHA P.O.W.
Mercyhurst freshman phenom Meghan Agosta was named Offensive Player of the Week by College Hockey America (CHA) on Monday. In a pair of games against Robert Morris over the weekend, she tallied three goals and a pair of assists in the 3-0, 5-0 victories. Agosta is the team-leading scorer with 15 goals and leads the team by a wide margin in points on the season with 33. She also leads the entire country in short-handed goals with four, which is tops among all freshmen with 1.83 points-per-game.

Schafer/Agosta Athletes of Week
The Mercyhurst Athletic Department announced Monday that wrestling’s Zach Schafer and women’s hockey forward Meghan Agosta were the Athletes of the Week. Schafer earned recognition as the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Ohio Northern Invitational this past weekend. He won the individual championship at the 174 weight class with a 4-0 record including two pins. Mercyhurst won the 24-team tournament and defeated a pair of programs that were ranked above them in the latest poll. Agosta had another outstanding weekend, tallying three goals and two assists in the Mercyhurst victories over Robert Morris. She has scored a point in eight straight games for the Lakers, and was also named the CHA Offensive Player of the Week.

Collins/Wakefield Make AHA Honor Roll
A pair of Lakers were considered positives on a negative weekend for Merychurst men’s hockey, as senior goalie Jordan Wakefield and freshman forward Cody Collins were named to the Honor Roll from the Atlantic Hockey Association. Wakefield played in both games on the weekend, coming in relief in both. He played the third period on Friday against RIT, surrendering only one goal. On Saturday he allowed one goal in each of the two periods in which he played. Overall he stopped 34 of 37 shots he faced on the weekend.

There will be mixed emotions in the men’s basketball locker room this week as the Lakers look back and reflect on their latest games against Edinboro and Grand Valley State. Mercyhurst followed up a disappointing road loss to the Fighting Scots last Wednesday with an impressive home victory on Saturday against a stunned Grand Valley outfit who went into the game ranked No. 10 in the nation. The Lakers of Grand Valley are in many ways the Goliath of Division II athletics and Mercyhurst became their David, as it defeated the Michigan team 79-74 in front of a rapturous crowd at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. However, the huge win was preceded by a disappointing loss away to Edinboro, where a poor first half performance by Mercyhurst proved to be too much to overcome for the Lakers. “We played really bad in the first half of the Edinboro game,” said senior guard Avi Fogel, “but we showed ourselves how good we can be with our second half performance.” Mercyhurst nearly pulled off an incredible comeback against Edinboro. They bounced back with determination and character in the second half after trailing 38-16 at the break. Fogel and Shelby Chaney ran riot against the Fighting Scots early in the second half, scoring 11 straight points between them. With just over three minutes to play, a jumper by Fogel tied up the game but the exertion of the

Senior Richard Field shoots a free-throw Saturday against Grand Valley State.

Andy Finkel Photo

comeback appeared to tire the Lakers, who couldn’t quite push through for the win. The game finished 63-57 with the Lakers coming up just short. Chaney, a senior who transferred to Mercyhurst this year from cross-town rival Gannon, turned in another impressive performance for the Lakers against Edinboro. His 22 points and 13 rebounds were a team high and a personal best at Mercyhurst. Richard Field, who transferred to Mercyhurst last year, tallied a career high with 12 rebounds and 10 points. As these players keep delivering, the likelihood of Mercyhurst making playoffs increases. “With our team we have a very realistic chance of making the playoffs and we expect nothing short of this if we play to our potential,” said Fogel Mercyhurst certainly played to

that potential when they faced Grand Valley at home on Saturday afternoon. In a closely contested game Mercyhurst came out on top in the end with a score of 79-74. Mercyhurst’s starting line up of Fogel, Field, Chaney, T.J Mathis and Mitch Brennan proved heroes, as they all played over 35 minutes and managed to score all of Mercyhurst’s 79 points between them. Field scored a career-high 20 and tied career bests with four assists and three blocks in the win. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for his second consecutive doubledouble. He was 7-of-11 shooting with a pair of threes. Fogel led all players with 22 points. The senior hit 5-of-8 threes, grabbed six boards and dished out four assists. Mathis added 19 points, including nine from beyond the arc. Chaney and Brennan scored nine each to round out Mercy-

hurst’s scoring. All of Brennan’s points came from a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc, while Chaney cleared nine rebounds and blocked three shots. The combined effort of the five starters proved enough to lift Mercyhurst over Grand Valley in a tight contest that could have went either way. One of Mercyhurst’s strengths on the day was their rebounds, as they out-rebounded the No. 10 team in the nation 36-29, despite Grand Valley entering the game with a strong rebounding margin. “The Grand Valley game just proved to us that we can be a very tough team and play with anyone when we bring our intensity for 40 minutes,” said Fogel. Mercyhurst hope to carry the momentum of the win over to next weekend when the team will host the Mercyhurst Tournament on the 16th and 17th of December at the Athletic Center.

Women’s hockey sweeps Robert Morris
By Ryan Palm Sports editor Drennan got her second start of the year Saturday, and stopped everything that came her way to notch the shutout. She improved her record to 10-1 on the season with the win. Statistically speaking Mercyhurst demonstrates it is worthy of the No. 1 ranking bestowed upon it over the last month. Agosta leads the country in rookie scoring with 1.83 pointsper-game and also leads all skaters with four short-handed goals on the season. Chouinard is second in the nation in power play goals with 10, a tally already good enough for the Mercyhurst single-season record. On the defensive side Hosier is tops in winning percentage with .938 and ranks third in goalsagainst-average with 1.31. Mercyhurst leads the nation in winning percentage, is third in scoring defense and eighth in scoring offense. The team now breaks for the holidays, yet will still have to work hard over the stretch of off-days to keep sharp for the first games of the new year. Their first series of 2007 is against Cornell, and has some added difficultly to the situation. Five players from Mercyhurst will be traveling to Germany that week to compete in a prestigious U-22 Tournament there. These players include Agosta, Chouinard, Hosier, forward Stephanie Jones and defender Katariina Soikkanen. That means the Lakers back in the states will be short-handed and will struggle to survive against a tough Cornell team. “It will be a tough series without our power-play and starting goalie, so we’ll have to work to get the wins,” said Sisti. The games take place Jan. 5-6 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

One of the hottest teams in women’s college hockey continued its streak of unbeaten Collins scored the opening goal for the Lakers on Friday night, play, picking up a pair of wins in which gave them a 1-0 lead. That lead proved to be the only its conference opener this past one for Mercyhurst as RIT swept the Lakers 5-2 and 6-4. weekend. On the road in Moon, Pa., Athletic Department changes the No. 1 Mercyhurst women’s hockey team defeated Robert The coming of a new year will bring a new face to the Athletic Morris 3-0 and 5-0 to improve Department, and also the departure of a familiar one. Current their record to 16-1-1. Associate Athletic Director Matt Grimaldi has accepted a The win was their sixth in a position as Director of Athletics at Keystone College in La row, with only No. 5 Minnesota Plume, Pa. Dr. Grimaldi has been at Mercyhurst since 2001, and unranked Clarkson posting and has overseen the growth and development of the 25 more consecutive victories than Mercyhurst athletic teams. the Lakers. Going into the game, MercyReplacing Grimaldi will be Craig Barnett, who will come from hurst knew it needed to finish Baker College in Worcester, Mass. Barnett is not a new face the first half of its schedule on to Mercyhurst, as he was an assistant on the men’s hockey a positive note in order to keep program and director of the Mercyhurst Ice Center from 1991 to their No. 1 ranking, and the pair 1993. of victories solidified the ranking again. He has also spent time coaching Becker’s first-year hockey “We challenged the players to program this past year. He has experience in professional play hard and represent the jersey hockey, spending a couple years in the New York Ranger they wear, and they did just that,” organization. said Coach Mike Sisti. In the most recent USCHO. com poll, Mercyhurst received 14 of 15 first-place votes, good for 149 out of a possible 150 points. In the USA Today poll released Tuesday, Mercyhurst gained all 19 first places votes. On Friday night the scoring commenced when freshman Angelica Lorsell scored her second marker of the season 10 minutes into the opening period. Her goal was assisted by freshman Meghan Agosta and senior defender Ashley Pendelton. The second goal of the game Submitted Photo came from junior Jackie Jarrell, Team Supreme, the 2006 intramural flag football champion. who scored her first goal since 2004 after missing the entire Quick hits are compiled by sports editor Ryan Palm. Anything 2005-06 season due to injury. Jarrell, an assistant captain for worthy of being a “quick hit” should be emailed to sportsmerciad@ the Lakers, is a key ingredient for mercyhurst.edu. the Lakers’ run down the stretch.

File Photo

Freshman Meghan Agosta (87) and sophomore Valerie Chouinard (right) each scored two goals on Saturday.

Prior to her mid-season injury in 2004, she was near the top for Mercyhurst in nearly all offensive statistics. Jarrell getting back to her normal playing shape has added that much more depth to the Mercyhurst offensive attack, as well as a strong leader in the lockerroom. Agosta added a short-handed score at 9:55 of the second period to give Mercyhurst a 3-0 lead, which is where the game would finish. Junior goalie Laura Hosier posted her second straight shutout and third in her last four starts. She improved her record to 15-1-0 on the season with the win. In game two of the weekend series, Mercyhurst came out with a bit more fire in their scoring attack. The stars came out to shine for Mercyhurst, as their top-three

goal scorers took care of the scoring. Sophomore Valerie Chouinard opened the scoring late in the first period on a goal assisted by Stefanie Bourbeau and Natalie Payne. Agosta then scored on the power play at 4:39 of the second, assisted by Pendelton and Payne. Bourbeau then took her turn on the scoring attack, banking home a short-handed goal at 13:27 of the second on assists from Agosta and Danielle Ayearst. Chouinard and Agosta each added third-period goals to stretch the Mercyhurst lead to 5-0 by the time the final horn sounded. In game two Mercyhurst outshot 60-7, with the Mercyhurst defense limiting RMU to only one shot on goal in the third period. Sophomore goalie Courtney