The Merciad, March 9, 2011
Content
Assistant women’s hockey coach recovers as team pushes forward
By Ethan Magoc
Editor-in-Chief Mercyhurst’s women’s hockey team faces a monumental task this weekend in Boston. But a hockey game—even an NCAA quarterfinal match that would send the Lakers to their third-consecutive Frozen Four—seems inconsequential when compared with the battle the team’s assistant coach, Kristen Cameron, has fought the past six months. Cameron set out for a bicycle ride on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 12. She pedaled all the way to Summit Township, making her way at about 6 p.m. on the shoulder along a stretch of road at 9071 Peach St. when 50-year-old Erie resident Allen Francis Peters struck her with his 1979 Chevrolet Caprice. Cameron was thrown 50 feet from her bicycle. Peters kept driving for another 300 yards, pulled over and examined his dented hood and shattered windshield. He then drove home. Continued on page 2
In their hearts and minds
Contributed photo
Assistant coach Kristen Cameron, who would have sat in the bottom left between goaltender Hillary Pattenden and coach Michael Sisti, remains a strong motivator for the women’s hockey team this year.
More Inside & Online
Plain White T’s scheduled to play Spring Fest if contract approved
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Living the Values: Michelle Ellia relishes role with D’Angelo Center
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Photos: Dervish brings traditional Irish folk music with flair, humor
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Opinion: A call for Catholic Church to accept homosexuality
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NEWS
March 9, 2011
Hockey coach Kristen Cameron’s rehabilitation ahead of schedule
Continued from Cover A witness followed him and reported his address to the police who then arrested him on 14 charges. He pleaded guilty to two DUI-related charges Tuesday and will face up to 10 years and six months in an April sentencing. Cameron was rushed by ambulance to Hamot Medical Center, where, according to women’s hockey head coach Michael Sisti, “she needed two very long, very serious operations to stay alive.” She suffered a broken back and three neck fractures. She has also been unable to walk, and a December report by Toronto’s National Post stated she was paralyzed from the chest down. By the end of 2010, she had been transported to a hospital in Toronto, where she has continued daily rehabilitation efforts. These now include working on transfers from her bed to a wheelchair and strengthening her upper body in an attempt to regain independence. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Cameron said Monday morning by telephone in her first public comments to the Erie news media. “It takes time.” Still, some of the hospital’s occupational and physical therapists tell Cameron that her drive and determination to earn back independence have put her rehabilitation ahead of schedule. She has steadily regained range of motion in her shoulders and hands since early January, honing in each day on small tasks like getting dressed. Prior to the accident, Cameronwas just beginning her second season coaching at Mercyhurst. She helped the team reach the Frozen Four in 2010 by assisting with onice instruction, scouting, video breakdown and day-to-day office duties. “(Coaches) Paul (Colontino) and Louis (Goulet) have had to handle her workload,” Sisti said with a smile, “so that’s been interesting.” Well respected among the players, Sisti said she brings a dynamic aspect to the team’s staff because she is “closer in age to the girls, playing women’s hockey like the girls have.” Her team will be playing on the road Saturday against Boston University in the NCAA quarterfinals. Sixth-seeded Mercyhurst defeated BU in 2010 in Erie, and the Terriers will be out for revenge. A complete team effort will be needed, Cameron said, offering some advice for the team. “Just do it together, stay together as a team,” she said. “I think they’ve got to the point that they’re doing that.” Mercyhurst’s play on the ice and several players’ visits to her hospital during academic and season breaks have provided Cameron inspiration. “I can’t put into words how motivational they have been for me,” she said. “(It was) so great to see them.” Cameron also acknowledged an outpouring of support she has received from all over Canada, from her home region of Prince Edward Island and from Mercyhurst. A Facebook support page for her and her parents, Brian and Joanne, has garnered more than 1,100 people, and countless fundraising events have taken place on both sides of the border. “It’s been really tough at times,” said the 25-year-old Cameron. “I have little things around my room at the hospital, and it’s just to remind me every day that there is so much support for me.” “It’s done nothing but help the recovery process,” she said. The motivational relationship between Cameron and her players is symbiotic. They’re playing for a championship this season as much for her as they are for themselves, for Mercyhurst and for Erie, Sisti said. “This is (a year) that made the girls grow up,” he said. “It’s a real life situation. It’s very traumatic.” Cameron declined to speak about the past—the collision or the man who caused it. Perhaps the early success of her rehabilitation stems from that focus on the future. And should she watch, from her hospital bed, the Lakers win this weekend, her focus will shift to making the three-and-a-half hour trip from her hospital to Tullio Arena for the semifinals on March 17. “As long as everything falls into place,” she said, “I should be there.”
Tyler Stauffer photo
An inch of water flooded the third floor of McAuley Hall. The water was cleaned up 30 hours after the incident occurred.
Flood in McAuley Hall cleaned 30 hours later
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
At about 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, third floor McAuley Hall residents discovered an inch of water in the hallway and in half of the rooms. Someone had clogged the sinks with paper towels and left the water running, causing a flood. The water leaked all the way down to Police & Safety on the first floor. The resident assistant who students notified, sophomore Joe Pudlick, immediately called Police & Safety, as RAs are required to do on weekends, so Police & Safety can then call maintenance. While waiting for the on-call maintenance person to come clean it up, Pudlick and his residents got out their towels and a mop and started to clean up the worst of it. Pudlick drove to Warde Hall to retrieve a fan so that the floor could dry. Maintenance didn’t arrive that Sunday morning, saying the weather was too bad to drive in. He said he would be there at 4 p.m. later that day, about 12 hours after the flood occurred. On Sunday at 4 p.m., maintenance deemed that Pudlick and residents had sufficiently cleaned up the water. Maintenance then left the building, Outside Administrator Larry Kerr said. On Monday at 10 a.m., nearly 30 hours after the flooding, a staff member showed up to shampoo the carpets. Standard procedure for this kind of incident is for Police & Safety to call the first on-call maintenance person, and if they cannot come, then call the second and the third, and if neither of them can come, call Kerr or Physical Plant Manager Ken Stepherson. The reason only the first on-call maintenance person was called, Police & Safety said, was because after the source of the flood had been discovered and remedied, the incident was considered taken care of. The flooding had stopped, butthat didn’t help McAuley residents who lived with wet hall and bedroom carpets until Monday. What further frustrated building residents and RAs was that a similar flooding incident had occurred the previous weekend. Maintenance did not show up at all, even though a clean-up had also been recommended through the RAs and Police & Safety. Assistant Director of Residence Life Jessica Provenzano, who oversees freshman living areas, could not be reached for comment.
Peters pleads guilty in DUI accident
By Ethan Magoc
Editor-in-chief
Allen Francis Peters avoided trial and accepted a plea bargain in Erie County Court Tuesday afternoon. He entered guilty pleas for a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault while driving under the influence and a misdemeanor DUI which, when combined, carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and six months and a $35,000 fine. Peters faced 14 charges stemming from a Sept. 12 car crash in Summit Township that left Mercyhurst women’s hockey assistant coach Kristen Cameron recovering in a Toronto hospital and unable to walk. He had been expected to begin trial March 14 but entered a guilty plea Wednesday before Judge John Garhart. The remaining 12 charges, including reckless endangerment, failure to stop or render aid and driving without an inspection, were dropped. Peters appeared calm in court and wore street clothes. He has been free on bond since September. The prosecution requested the misdemeanor DUI charge remain standing due to Peters’ level of blood alcohol content at the time of his arrest. Police discovered a BAC rate of .187, more than double Pennsylvania’s legal limit. He faces sentencing at the Courthouse on April 26 at 8:45 a.m. before Judge Ernest J. DiSantis.
March 9, 2011
NEWS
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Former ’Hurst employee sells 104.9 Jazz FM
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
Jazz FM, Mercyhurst College’s radio station, recently experienced a huge change. 104.9, one of the college’s two broadcasting frequencies, was sold. Jazz FM now operates solely on 88.5. Mercyhurst College did not choose to sell 104.9, and neither did Jazz FM Director Mike Leal. Why? The college didn’t own it. Bill Shannon, an Erie resident and former Mercyhurst employee, bought the frequency from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for $1 in 1984, and on Feb. 22, 2011, he sold it for $62,500 to Citadel Broadcasting, according to the FCC website. For the previous 10 years, Mercyhurst had a contract with Shannon allowing the use of the frequency at no charge. Shannon was the former manager of WMCE. That agreement expired three years ago. When Leal found out that Citadel Broadcasting was interested in purchasing the frequency, he contacted the college but received no response. “I did ask the school if they were interested in pursuing the idea of purchasing it, but I never received any official word back from them, just ‘heard’ that administrators were
News Briefs
Watson’s killer gets 23 years to life
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Steven Pieper, former boyfriend of murdered Mercyhurst student Jenni-Lyn Watson, was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years to life in prison for Watson’s November murder. Pieper, 21, strangled Watson, 20, in her home while she was home on Thanksgiving break, then dumped her body in a nearby park. He had previously planned to take the case to trial, but pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Feb. 15. Two years were taken from his possible sentence of 25 to life. “You deserve to spend the rest of your life in prison,” Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi said to Pieper Tuesday in court, according to WSYR of Syracuse. Pieper and Watson had dated for more than a year before she broke up with him last fall. He apologize and described the murder as “cowardly and self-centered,” according to The Post-Standard of Syracuse.
Google Maps
The blue circle indicates the reach of the 104.9 frequency, which Jazz FM used from 1984 to 2011.
not interested in helping to pay for it,” Leal said. Over the years, 88.5 has gotten permission from the FCC to increase its power, and it is now three times stronger than 104.9. Thus, the sale “should not affect listeners at all,” Leal said. “Since he was actively selling it, we felt it was important to turn it off and alert our listeners to tune to 88.5.” The station will remain in possession of the 104.9 broadcasting equipment, which will be used as “a back-up auxiliary for 88.5. In other words, (the equipment) will be used as a back-up in case we lose power to our main transmitter,” Leal said. He noted that Shannon only owned the license, not the equipment. Why should listeners care? The main importance, Leal said, is to “alert listeners and get them used to hearing the jazz signal on 88.5 FM, especially as we get closer to our Spring Membership Drive later in March.”
Former hockey players’ hearing scheduled
Kyle Just and Jordan Tibbett, former Mercyhurst College hockey players, will face a preliminary hearing in their sexual assault case on Wednesday at 2 p.m. before Erie District Judge Joseph Lefaiver, 460 E. 26th St. The case, which underwent two continuances in November and February, began in November when a woman told police the two sexually assaulted her and forced her to perform a sex act on them on Nov. 14 in a Briggs apartment. They were each charged with a sexual assault felony count and released on $10,000 bond. Since their prison release and subsequent departure from Mercyhurst, they joined junior hockey league teams. Just competes with the Pembroke Lumber Kings in Ontario and Tibbett plays for the Youngstown Phantoms.
Plain White T’s tentatively to play Spring Fest
By Kelly Luoma
Managing editor
A Facebook status leaked late Monday night that the Plain White T’s may play at Mercyhurst College’s Spring Fest this year. Junior Michelle Tatavosian posted on her Facebook that the Plain White T’s would play at Spring Fest after a friend directed her to look at the band’s website. The Plain White T’s website shows the band will play at Mercyhurst College on Friday, May 6, which is the night of Mercyhurst’s Spring Fest concert. Student Activities Council (SAC) Chair Char Lichtinger asked Tatavosian to remove the post from her Facebook. She told Tatavosian that “nothing’s official. Please take it down,” Tatavosian said. Tatavosian removed the post. “People should be allowed to put on Facebook saying the Plain White T’s are coming if you can find it on their website,” she said. Lichtinger explained the reasoning for asking Tatavosian to remove her Facebook status. “We don’t want people’s hopes to get up if it doesn’t work out,” she said. There is a chance that the Plain White T’s will not perform at Spring Fest. “Nothing has been finalized at all,” said Sarah Allen, assistant director for the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership Development. Allen received a 22-page contract from the band on Friday, which she, Lichtinger and Colleen O’Hara, Mercyhurst Student Government events coordinator, will review. Allen will send the contract back with revisions. Sharrin Summers, executive driector of publicity for Hollywood Records, said the two parties will work as quickly as possible to finalize the contract. “There could be a possibility that they could back out,” Allen said. If Plain White T’s backed out now, SAC has no other bands in mind. If everything goes as planned, You Hang Up, which features actor Frankie Muniz, and Romantic Era, comprised of Mercyhurst and Gannon students, will open for the Plain White T’s. SAC planned to announce these bands in April through a video via Facebook. SAC typically waits until the contract is signed to announce the Spring Fest band. “It’s all very disappointing to us that it has occurred this way,” Allen said. Lichtinger said she wished the announcement of the band would have gone as planned, but despite the surprise being ruined, she is excited about the concert. “I’m happy people are excited,” she said. Plain White T’s is “our first choice, and we got them, hopefully,” she said.
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FEATURES
in the Erie community, too, with the events we have.” An example of this is the Guelcher Film Series. Documentaries like “Food, Inc.” and “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” open the eyes of students and community members to things they may never have been exposed to before. “We use the arts as a platform. The purpose is to transform people and introduce them to issues they didn’t know were issues. It gives people a chance to see what is out there, take a risk, experience something new,” Ellia says. The cultural events that the PAC brings to the community also serve as an outlet for dance and music majors to express themselves, thus enhancing the intellectually creative value. “It gives them the opportunity,” Ellia says, “to expand their horizons by providing things that are challenging and them to take these risks and challenge themselves. “The arts helped me to find my niche, and that is what being a part of Mercyhurst College and the liberal arts is all about,” she says. Editor’s note: Living the Values will be a monthly series featuring college employees who also graduated from Mercyhurst College.
March 9, 2011
What is your favorite part of a new term?
Living the Values: Michelle Ellia
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
The values and mission of Mercyhurst College are integral parts of the vision and realization not only of the college itself, but also of the way students and faculty carry out their daily lives. The values affect their actions, thoughts and lives as a whole. Michelle Ellia, assistant marketing manager at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, experiences this every day—she graduated from Mercyhurst in 2007 and has been working here ever since. “As an alum and employee of Mercyhurst College, the work I do is promoting what we offer here. I am the megaphone—I engage and encourage the community to participate in the events we have,” Ellia says. Ellia graduated with a communication major with a business minor and believes her choice of study has served her well thus far. “My business minor made me aware of how we are a connection to the outside world.” She sees the values and the mission in her job and life on a regular basis, and appreciates what they
“Having a completely clean slate and knowing that right now I have the opportunity to do everything right this term.” -Jane Henry, junior
Michelle Ellia has experienced the values of Mercyhurst College in her daily life since she started as a student in 2003.
have brought to the college and to the PAC. “What the PAC really represents is more of Mercyhurst College’s
Ethan Magoc photo
vision to educate the whole person, which is what the tradition is. We enhance that not only in the Mercyhurst College community, but also
‘Mustache Bowling’ to support AdPro
By Lynn Dula
Staff writer
AdPro, the student chapter of the American Advertising Federation, will hold “Mustache Bowling,” a benefit at Rolling Meadows Bowling Alley on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The fundraiser will benefit AdPro and its student scholarship fund, and also raise money for students to attend an AAF career conference in Chicago. “AdPro is a great way for students to work in a team environment and get real world experience,” senior Laura McCarty said. “Design and marketing students get the chance to design and promote items for clients, fundraiser events and other events that we put on throughout the year.” “Not only does Adpro create a great social environment, but its tie to the AAF also allows students to participate in career conferences and fairs,” said senior Lisa Bathory, AdPro and student chapter AAF president. Aside from the professional benefits of AdPro, the organization also volunteers in the community and organizes events within the college. “Throughout the year, AdPro is involved in a variety of different activities from social events to art shows to community service,” Bathory said. “We also do annual Halloween parties, White Elephant parties and recruitment parties which allow students to be more involved and meet other students outside our major. We also volunteer in Christmas on Campus.” The other advantage of AdPro is the student scholarship fund. “Each year, the American Federation of Northwestern Pennsylvania awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to regional college students working towards degrees in advertising, graphic design, journalism and related fields,” AFNWPA President Brian Amick said. “This fundraiser will help us continue to provide these important scholarships, and will also allow us to continue our mission of improving the local business community through professional development, networking, and professional recognition opportunities.” “Mustache Bowling” has been organized by Bathory, the Performing Arts Center Assistant Marketing Manager Michelle Ellia, and other AdPro board members, including McCarty and seniors Margaret Moltz and Debbie Brunner. So for an “evening of mischief and mustaches,” simply “round up a team of up to five bowlers, put on some ’staches and come bowl for a good cause,” states the event’s brochure. Students must be 21 years and older to attend the benefit. The cost is $20 per person and $15 for students. Questions can be directed to Michelle Ellia at extension 2194 or [email protected].
“Getting to see my roommates when we get back from break, as well as seeing all my friends. Knowing that I don’t have a test right around the corner, and major papers are due at the end of the term. When spring term starts, it’s nice because the weather begins to change and it’s absolutely gorgeous. -Alianna Whiteaker, sophomore
“Starting fresh, getting to meet new people and syllabus days!” -Bryan Byrnes, sophomore
March 9, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
By Claire Hinde
Staff writer
Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly sets out to save her family’s Ozark home, up for repossession when her father put the property up for his bail and skips town. As she pushes through lies, obstacles, and threats to save her family’s property, a tale of overwhelming and shocking suspense unravels. Her struggle becomes almost tangible to the audience, as the drama hangs menacingly in the air. Jennifer Lawrence takes the lead as Ree, receiving the New Hollywood Award at the Hollywood Film Festival. The young actress is beginning to make waves in the film world from her sudden beginnings at age 14. Despite the twirling world of Hollywood that is becoming more and more enamored with her, Lawrence seems to have a
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‘Winter’s Bone’ proves to be a harsh yet honest
The Guelcher Film Series presented each Wednesday in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center has a knack for showing films that expose part of the heart of life. Such films from this season such as “That Evening Sun,” are often a bit harsh, showcasing a cross section of life and humanity. These films are always outstanding in the film world. Today’s presentation of “Winter’s Bone” is no exception. The film will be shown in the PAC at 2:15 and 7 p.m. Winner of Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the Sundance Film Festival, “Winter’s Bone” tells an incredible story of family codes and perseverance.
Missourifilm.org photo
Jennifer Lawrence portrays Ree Dolly in a gripping tale of Ozark life.
very honest approach to acting. When interviewed by Tribute Movies, Lawrence said about the roles she’s chosen “they’re not stupid. So many scripts are stupid for young blonde girls.” She goes on to speak about the authenticity of the film and the role locals played in its making. One can find hope for the film industry in such an honest presentation of a story. A desperate version of the American dream, “Winter’s Bone” shows the audience a piece of humanity and importance of a place to call home, whether it is perfect or not. Presenting a spectacular script, astounding performances, and genuine honesty in its making, “Winter’s Bone” is a feature worth seeing, especially with no cost to students. Tickets are free for students with a Mercyhurst ID.
Dervish brings Irish folk music with a flair
Tyler Stauffer photos
On Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m., Irish band Dervish came to the PAC with its eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary music.
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OPINION
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to [email protected].
March 9, 2011 September 3, 2008
Lady Gaga speaks out against intolerance
By Caitlin Handerhan
Staff writer
As I eagerly waited in line with thousands of other little monsters outside the concert last Saturday, politics was the last thing I expected to be thinking about after an evening with Lady Gaga. Despite an unforgettable night with great seats, intricate set design, insane lights, epic songs and the mother monster herself, I came away from the concert with much more than I ever expected. In between songs, Gaga addressed the crowd, and it was then that I heard something that resonated with me far more than any of the driving beats in her chart-topping songs. Keeping with the theme of her latest hit, “Born This Way,” Gaga began a monologue about religion, bullying and how un-Christian it is to hate. Recounting how bullying marred her own adolescence, she wove together her message of acceptance throughout the show. She boldly called out all those who discriminate, including the religious right for its persecution of the gay community. She even gave the Buffalo crowd the e-mail address of a New York State Senator threatening to block equality legislation, encouraging her followers to voice their views. In light of the recent controversy surrounding the Westboro Baptist Church and its ignorant protests at military funerals, Lady Gaga’s message to reject hate hit home more than ever before. The Westboro Baptist Church has declared that President Obama, members of the Supreme Court and United States military are “going to hell for being part of the United States’ wicked, gay-condoning culture,” according to the congregation’s attorney. While I feel it is within that church’s constitutionally protected rights, it is appalling to me to see the protests of the Westboro Baptist Church; their messages include signs claiming hell and damnation for those they have deemed different. For me, I have never understood and, frankly, cannot agree with the idea that religion can be used to justify hatred of another person. Rejecting someone for their lifestyle, political views, or even who they are is wrong, and using religion to rationalize the hatred is worse. If you believe that God is the divine creator, how can a person be discriminated against and hated for being true to how they feel? Perhaps it is this frustration with hypocritical sentiments that
have fueled the success of Gaga’s latest hit, “Born This Way.” The message throughout her work transcends traditional boundaries and is something that everyone can identify with. As I left the arena and my first Lady Gaga experience, I still felt frustration toward the religious right movement, but it was a refreshing experience to see my political beliefs reaffirmed alongside 18,000 others in the audience. Politics juxtaposed with pop culture was never the factor I thought would be the most memorable part about my first Monster Ball, but then again, you never know what to expect with Lady Gaga.
Gays deserve Catholic acceptance
By Mike Lado
Staff writer
For example, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are very friendly to LGBT people. I was browsing their website one day and came across an article by a nun named Sister Ann McGovern. In the article, titled “Homosexuality: From Tolerance to Love and Appreciation,” she explains that the Catholic Church needs to focus on integrating LGBT people into the church. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also released an article called “Always Our Children.” This article was intended for parents of the faith who have teens who identify as LGBT. The article encourages parents to reach out to their LGBT son/daughter and to try to understand what they are going through. I am a gay Catholic, and when I came out last year, I expected to find support. Instead, I found a priest who told me to change my thinking and find a girl. How homophobic is that? Officially, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says the following: “The Christian community should offer its homosexual sisters and brothers understanding and pastoral care. More than 20 years ago, we bishops stated that “Homosexuals should have an active role in the Christian community.” The Catholic Church has a landscape of varying opinions on LGBT people, those that range from extremely homophobic clergy (like I experienced), to those who are understanding men and women who care about the LGBT people in their parish. I call on the Bishop Donald W. Trautman to address this issue in the Diocese of Erie. I am not saying the Church should condone same-sex activities or marriage; in fact, I am very happy being gay and living a chaste lifestyle that is sanctioned by the Church for LGBT people. What I am saying is that the Church needs to stamp out homophobia and welcome LGBT people with open arms, saying “We love you, God loves you, and you don’t have to face these feeling alone.”
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
Editors Ethan Magoc Kelly Luoma Alaina Rydzewski Victoria Gricks Spencer Hunt Alex Stacey Kaitlin Badger Tyler Stauffer Ethan Johns Daniela Carcamo Bill Welch Brian Sheridan Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Graphics photomerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Web Editor ejohns89 Ad Manager admerciad Adviser wwelch Adviser bsheridan
So, my last three columns were about the economy and spending. But it’s time to dwell on one of the most controversial issues of our time: homosexuality. As a Catholic college, Mercyhurst holds a special meaning to Catholics like me who identify as gay. When I arrived here earlier in the year, I was shocked, albeit in a good way, that we have a GayStraight Alliance on campus. At first, I thought Catholicism and my gayness were incompatible. However, I realized that, despite popular opinions and what mainstream media says, the Church actually strives to include LGBT people in its community. I am not saying there isn’t homophobia in the church. I agree with popular opinion on this, that more outreach work needs to be done by the Catholic Church towards LGBT people.
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376. The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at [email protected].
For more columns, visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion.
March 9, 2011
Sports
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Women’s hockey slighted with NCAA berth
By Spencer Hunt Sports editor
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team is fresh off its ninth straight College Hockey America championship and thought it might host an NCAA quarterfinal game this weekend. All season, they have been among the top five teams in the country. But much to the Lakers’ and their fans’ surprise, they were passed over Sunday night during the NCAA field selection. After a sound 29-5-0 record and a national ranking ranging between three and five all season, a fourth seed seemed reasonable. But the top four seeds were the University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, Boston University, and Boston College. Wisconsin and Cornell were obvious choices for a first and second seed. They both won their respecttive conferences and had only four total losses between them. They deserved their ranking. The final two spots were up for grabs. Boston University finished the season 4-4-1 in its last nine games and lost in the conference semifinals to Northeastern University. Yet even after their rocky finish, the Terriers still received the third seed. Boston College earned an appropriate seed. They won their conference, beating Northeastern in the championship game. This is the same Northeastern team that beat BU, who got seeded above Boston College. However, Boston College has one of the tougher trips to the championship, needing to beat No. 5 Minnesota and the winner of the Wisconsin/Minnesota-Duluth match-up to reach the title game. Finally, Mercyhurst. They managed to win yet another conference title, finishing it off with a come-frombehind victory against host Syracuse. The Lakers finished fourth and fifth in the major polls. Somehow, that’s the seed they got. Even though the seeding did not pan out quite as the team had hoped, the Lakers seem hungry to earn their place among the elite in women’s hockey. “Everyone deserves to be in the final eight, and it won’t be an easy road,” head coach Michael Sisti said. Assistant captain Jesse Scanzano was equally displeased with the seeding. “It is what it is. It’s just one game,” Scanzano said. ”We want revenge on everyone.”
Ethan Magoc photo
With a win at Boston University on Saturday, the Lakers could make their third-consecutive appearance in the Frozen Four.
Bus to Boston planned for women’s hockey fans
Want to go to Boston for the Lakers quarterfinal game against Boston University? Thanks to SAC, the Athletic Department, and the President’s Office, a bus has been made available for students. There are 52 tickets available. To reserve your spot, go to the Student Union at 9 p.m. on Thursday. A $10 cash deposit is needed (it will be returned the day of the trip). The bus will leave Saturday at 4 a.m., and return 3 a.m. Sunday.
March 9, 2011
Sports
Mike Pollard will join Shields. The freshman wrestler weighs in at 197 pounds and has set the school record for pins in a season. Pollard also has an impressive record of 26-10 with 18 pins. Senior Fred Hale will compete as a heavyweight with a record of 13-5. Hale’s explosive strength and quickness will make him a formidable competitor in this national tournament. Freshman Londele Cox, meanwhile, begins his first national competition at 184 pounds. Cox is from Pittsburgh and was a four-sport athlete in high school in wrestling, football, baseball and track. “It is very exciting,” coach Mike Wehler said. “It will be tough for the two freshmen being that it’s their first time at nationals, but they are all tough and they all have enough talent to win.” Last season, Wehler coached the team to a 14th place finish in the national tournament and has high hopes for the four qualifiers this year.
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Mercyhurst sends four to national tournament
By Matt Cirell
Staff writer
Four of the wrestling team’s student athletes—Mike Pollard, Fred Hale, Jordan Shields and Londele Cox—have earned quite a bit of success this season. All four landed a spot in the NCAA Division II national wrestling tournament March 11 and 12. These student athletes, as well as the rest of the team, proved tough enough to lift Mercyhurst to a top 25 ranking in the national Division II poll. Mercyhurst will compete against such top contending schools as NebraskaOmaha, Augustana and Newberry. “It’s going to be very hard,” 157pound wrestler Jordan Shields said. Shields has an impressive record of 24-4. “There will be no strikeouts in this tournament. It comes down to the simple fact that the tougher guy wins. I am tired now, but when I get to the tournament, I’ll feel like a kid in a candy store,” he said.
Ethan Magoc photo
Redshirt junior Fred Hale, left, is one of four Mercyhurst wrestlers headed to the Division II National Tournament. Coach Michael Wehler is at his right.
Men’s basketball season ends
Ethan Magoc photo
Ethan Magoc photo
Mercyhurst’s Iddo Cohen goes up for a shot against Slippery Rock’s Maron Brown (30) during the first half on Tuesday, March 1, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Slippery Rock won the PSAC tournament quarterfinal game, 51-45, and ended the Lakers’ bid for a conference title. The Rock lost in the title game to IUP. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, was passed over for a bid to the NCAA tournament despite a recent No. 25 national ranking.
Mercyhurst’s Olivier Dupiton, holding crutches, Bryheem Charity (21), and Shelton Jackson (15) walk off the court following their team’s 51-45 loss to Slippery Rock on Tuesday, March 1, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
By Ethan Magoc
Editor-in-Chief Mercyhurst’s women’s hockey team faces a monumental task this weekend in Boston. But a hockey game—even an NCAA quarterfinal match that would send the Lakers to their third-consecutive Frozen Four—seems inconsequential when compared with the battle the team’s assistant coach, Kristen Cameron, has fought the past six months. Cameron set out for a bicycle ride on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 12. She pedaled all the way to Summit Township, making her way at about 6 p.m. on the shoulder along a stretch of road at 9071 Peach St. when 50-year-old Erie resident Allen Francis Peters struck her with his 1979 Chevrolet Caprice. Cameron was thrown 50 feet from her bicycle. Peters kept driving for another 300 yards, pulled over and examined his dented hood and shattered windshield. He then drove home. Continued on page 2
In their hearts and minds
Contributed photo
Assistant coach Kristen Cameron, who would have sat in the bottom left between goaltender Hillary Pattenden and coach Michael Sisti, remains a strong motivator for the women’s hockey team this year.
More Inside & Online
Plain White T’s scheduled to play Spring Fest if contract approved
Page 3
Living the Values: Michelle Ellia relishes role with D’Angelo Center
Page 4
Photos: Dervish brings traditional Irish folk music with flair, humor
Page 5
Opinion: A call for Catholic Church to accept homosexuality
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Page 2
NEWS
March 9, 2011
Hockey coach Kristen Cameron’s rehabilitation ahead of schedule
Continued from Cover A witness followed him and reported his address to the police who then arrested him on 14 charges. He pleaded guilty to two DUI-related charges Tuesday and will face up to 10 years and six months in an April sentencing. Cameron was rushed by ambulance to Hamot Medical Center, where, according to women’s hockey head coach Michael Sisti, “she needed two very long, very serious operations to stay alive.” She suffered a broken back and three neck fractures. She has also been unable to walk, and a December report by Toronto’s National Post stated she was paralyzed from the chest down. By the end of 2010, she had been transported to a hospital in Toronto, where she has continued daily rehabilitation efforts. These now include working on transfers from her bed to a wheelchair and strengthening her upper body in an attempt to regain independence. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” Cameron said Monday morning by telephone in her first public comments to the Erie news media. “It takes time.” Still, some of the hospital’s occupational and physical therapists tell Cameron that her drive and determination to earn back independence have put her rehabilitation ahead of schedule. She has steadily regained range of motion in her shoulders and hands since early January, honing in each day on small tasks like getting dressed. Prior to the accident, Cameronwas just beginning her second season coaching at Mercyhurst. She helped the team reach the Frozen Four in 2010 by assisting with onice instruction, scouting, video breakdown and day-to-day office duties. “(Coaches) Paul (Colontino) and Louis (Goulet) have had to handle her workload,” Sisti said with a smile, “so that’s been interesting.” Well respected among the players, Sisti said she brings a dynamic aspect to the team’s staff because she is “closer in age to the girls, playing women’s hockey like the girls have.” Her team will be playing on the road Saturday against Boston University in the NCAA quarterfinals. Sixth-seeded Mercyhurst defeated BU in 2010 in Erie, and the Terriers will be out for revenge. A complete team effort will be needed, Cameron said, offering some advice for the team. “Just do it together, stay together as a team,” she said. “I think they’ve got to the point that they’re doing that.” Mercyhurst’s play on the ice and several players’ visits to her hospital during academic and season breaks have provided Cameron inspiration. “I can’t put into words how motivational they have been for me,” she said. “(It was) so great to see them.” Cameron also acknowledged an outpouring of support she has received from all over Canada, from her home region of Prince Edward Island and from Mercyhurst. A Facebook support page for her and her parents, Brian and Joanne, has garnered more than 1,100 people, and countless fundraising events have taken place on both sides of the border. “It’s been really tough at times,” said the 25-year-old Cameron. “I have little things around my room at the hospital, and it’s just to remind me every day that there is so much support for me.” “It’s done nothing but help the recovery process,” she said. The motivational relationship between Cameron and her players is symbiotic. They’re playing for a championship this season as much for her as they are for themselves, for Mercyhurst and for Erie, Sisti said. “This is (a year) that made the girls grow up,” he said. “It’s a real life situation. It’s very traumatic.” Cameron declined to speak about the past—the collision or the man who caused it. Perhaps the early success of her rehabilitation stems from that focus on the future. And should she watch, from her hospital bed, the Lakers win this weekend, her focus will shift to making the three-and-a-half hour trip from her hospital to Tullio Arena for the semifinals on March 17. “As long as everything falls into place,” she said, “I should be there.”
Tyler Stauffer photo
An inch of water flooded the third floor of McAuley Hall. The water was cleaned up 30 hours after the incident occurred.
Flood in McAuley Hall cleaned 30 hours later
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
At about 4 a.m. on Feb. 13, third floor McAuley Hall residents discovered an inch of water in the hallway and in half of the rooms. Someone had clogged the sinks with paper towels and left the water running, causing a flood. The water leaked all the way down to Police & Safety on the first floor. The resident assistant who students notified, sophomore Joe Pudlick, immediately called Police & Safety, as RAs are required to do on weekends, so Police & Safety can then call maintenance. While waiting for the on-call maintenance person to come clean it up, Pudlick and his residents got out their towels and a mop and started to clean up the worst of it. Pudlick drove to Warde Hall to retrieve a fan so that the floor could dry. Maintenance didn’t arrive that Sunday morning, saying the weather was too bad to drive in. He said he would be there at 4 p.m. later that day, about 12 hours after the flood occurred. On Sunday at 4 p.m., maintenance deemed that Pudlick and residents had sufficiently cleaned up the water. Maintenance then left the building, Outside Administrator Larry Kerr said. On Monday at 10 a.m., nearly 30 hours after the flooding, a staff member showed up to shampoo the carpets. Standard procedure for this kind of incident is for Police & Safety to call the first on-call maintenance person, and if they cannot come, then call the second and the third, and if neither of them can come, call Kerr or Physical Plant Manager Ken Stepherson. The reason only the first on-call maintenance person was called, Police & Safety said, was because after the source of the flood had been discovered and remedied, the incident was considered taken care of. The flooding had stopped, butthat didn’t help McAuley residents who lived with wet hall and bedroom carpets until Monday. What further frustrated building residents and RAs was that a similar flooding incident had occurred the previous weekend. Maintenance did not show up at all, even though a clean-up had also been recommended through the RAs and Police & Safety. Assistant Director of Residence Life Jessica Provenzano, who oversees freshman living areas, could not be reached for comment.
Peters pleads guilty in DUI accident
By Ethan Magoc
Editor-in-chief
Allen Francis Peters avoided trial and accepted a plea bargain in Erie County Court Tuesday afternoon. He entered guilty pleas for a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault while driving under the influence and a misdemeanor DUI which, when combined, carry a maximum sentence of 10 years and six months and a $35,000 fine. Peters faced 14 charges stemming from a Sept. 12 car crash in Summit Township that left Mercyhurst women’s hockey assistant coach Kristen Cameron recovering in a Toronto hospital and unable to walk. He had been expected to begin trial March 14 but entered a guilty plea Wednesday before Judge John Garhart. The remaining 12 charges, including reckless endangerment, failure to stop or render aid and driving without an inspection, were dropped. Peters appeared calm in court and wore street clothes. He has been free on bond since September. The prosecution requested the misdemeanor DUI charge remain standing due to Peters’ level of blood alcohol content at the time of his arrest. Police discovered a BAC rate of .187, more than double Pennsylvania’s legal limit. He faces sentencing at the Courthouse on April 26 at 8:45 a.m. before Judge Ernest J. DiSantis.
March 9, 2011
NEWS
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Former ’Hurst employee sells 104.9 Jazz FM
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
Jazz FM, Mercyhurst College’s radio station, recently experienced a huge change. 104.9, one of the college’s two broadcasting frequencies, was sold. Jazz FM now operates solely on 88.5. Mercyhurst College did not choose to sell 104.9, and neither did Jazz FM Director Mike Leal. Why? The college didn’t own it. Bill Shannon, an Erie resident and former Mercyhurst employee, bought the frequency from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for $1 in 1984, and on Feb. 22, 2011, he sold it for $62,500 to Citadel Broadcasting, according to the FCC website. For the previous 10 years, Mercyhurst had a contract with Shannon allowing the use of the frequency at no charge. Shannon was the former manager of WMCE. That agreement expired three years ago. When Leal found out that Citadel Broadcasting was interested in purchasing the frequency, he contacted the college but received no response. “I did ask the school if they were interested in pursuing the idea of purchasing it, but I never received any official word back from them, just ‘heard’ that administrators were
News Briefs
Watson’s killer gets 23 years to life
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Steven Pieper, former boyfriend of murdered Mercyhurst student Jenni-Lyn Watson, was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years to life in prison for Watson’s November murder. Pieper, 21, strangled Watson, 20, in her home while she was home on Thanksgiving break, then dumped her body in a nearby park. He had previously planned to take the case to trial, but pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Feb. 15. Two years were taken from his possible sentence of 25 to life. “You deserve to spend the rest of your life in prison,” Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi said to Pieper Tuesday in court, according to WSYR of Syracuse. Pieper and Watson had dated for more than a year before she broke up with him last fall. He apologize and described the murder as “cowardly and self-centered,” according to The Post-Standard of Syracuse.
Google Maps
The blue circle indicates the reach of the 104.9 frequency, which Jazz FM used from 1984 to 2011.
not interested in helping to pay for it,” Leal said. Over the years, 88.5 has gotten permission from the FCC to increase its power, and it is now three times stronger than 104.9. Thus, the sale “should not affect listeners at all,” Leal said. “Since he was actively selling it, we felt it was important to turn it off and alert our listeners to tune to 88.5.” The station will remain in possession of the 104.9 broadcasting equipment, which will be used as “a back-up auxiliary for 88.5. In other words, (the equipment) will be used as a back-up in case we lose power to our main transmitter,” Leal said. He noted that Shannon only owned the license, not the equipment. Why should listeners care? The main importance, Leal said, is to “alert listeners and get them used to hearing the jazz signal on 88.5 FM, especially as we get closer to our Spring Membership Drive later in March.”
Former hockey players’ hearing scheduled
Kyle Just and Jordan Tibbett, former Mercyhurst College hockey players, will face a preliminary hearing in their sexual assault case on Wednesday at 2 p.m. before Erie District Judge Joseph Lefaiver, 460 E. 26th St. The case, which underwent two continuances in November and February, began in November when a woman told police the two sexually assaulted her and forced her to perform a sex act on them on Nov. 14 in a Briggs apartment. They were each charged with a sexual assault felony count and released on $10,000 bond. Since their prison release and subsequent departure from Mercyhurst, they joined junior hockey league teams. Just competes with the Pembroke Lumber Kings in Ontario and Tibbett plays for the Youngstown Phantoms.
Plain White T’s tentatively to play Spring Fest
By Kelly Luoma
Managing editor
A Facebook status leaked late Monday night that the Plain White T’s may play at Mercyhurst College’s Spring Fest this year. Junior Michelle Tatavosian posted on her Facebook that the Plain White T’s would play at Spring Fest after a friend directed her to look at the band’s website. The Plain White T’s website shows the band will play at Mercyhurst College on Friday, May 6, which is the night of Mercyhurst’s Spring Fest concert. Student Activities Council (SAC) Chair Char Lichtinger asked Tatavosian to remove the post from her Facebook. She told Tatavosian that “nothing’s official. Please take it down,” Tatavosian said. Tatavosian removed the post. “People should be allowed to put on Facebook saying the Plain White T’s are coming if you can find it on their website,” she said. Lichtinger explained the reasoning for asking Tatavosian to remove her Facebook status. “We don’t want people’s hopes to get up if it doesn’t work out,” she said. There is a chance that the Plain White T’s will not perform at Spring Fest. “Nothing has been finalized at all,” said Sarah Allen, assistant director for the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership Development. Allen received a 22-page contract from the band on Friday, which she, Lichtinger and Colleen O’Hara, Mercyhurst Student Government events coordinator, will review. Allen will send the contract back with revisions. Sharrin Summers, executive driector of publicity for Hollywood Records, said the two parties will work as quickly as possible to finalize the contract. “There could be a possibility that they could back out,” Allen said. If Plain White T’s backed out now, SAC has no other bands in mind. If everything goes as planned, You Hang Up, which features actor Frankie Muniz, and Romantic Era, comprised of Mercyhurst and Gannon students, will open for the Plain White T’s. SAC planned to announce these bands in April through a video via Facebook. SAC typically waits until the contract is signed to announce the Spring Fest band. “It’s all very disappointing to us that it has occurred this way,” Allen said. Lichtinger said she wished the announcement of the band would have gone as planned, but despite the surprise being ruined, she is excited about the concert. “I’m happy people are excited,” she said. Plain White T’s is “our first choice, and we got them, hopefully,” she said.
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FEATURES
in the Erie community, too, with the events we have.” An example of this is the Guelcher Film Series. Documentaries like “Food, Inc.” and “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” open the eyes of students and community members to things they may never have been exposed to before. “We use the arts as a platform. The purpose is to transform people and introduce them to issues they didn’t know were issues. It gives people a chance to see what is out there, take a risk, experience something new,” Ellia says. The cultural events that the PAC brings to the community also serve as an outlet for dance and music majors to express themselves, thus enhancing the intellectually creative value. “It gives them the opportunity,” Ellia says, “to expand their horizons by providing things that are challenging and them to take these risks and challenge themselves. “The arts helped me to find my niche, and that is what being a part of Mercyhurst College and the liberal arts is all about,” she says. Editor’s note: Living the Values will be a monthly series featuring college employees who also graduated from Mercyhurst College.
March 9, 2011
What is your favorite part of a new term?
Living the Values: Michelle Ellia
By Alaina Rydzewski
Features editor
The values and mission of Mercyhurst College are integral parts of the vision and realization not only of the college itself, but also of the way students and faculty carry out their daily lives. The values affect their actions, thoughts and lives as a whole. Michelle Ellia, assistant marketing manager at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, experiences this every day—she graduated from Mercyhurst in 2007 and has been working here ever since. “As an alum and employee of Mercyhurst College, the work I do is promoting what we offer here. I am the megaphone—I engage and encourage the community to participate in the events we have,” Ellia says. Ellia graduated with a communication major with a business minor and believes her choice of study has served her well thus far. “My business minor made me aware of how we are a connection to the outside world.” She sees the values and the mission in her job and life on a regular basis, and appreciates what they
“Having a completely clean slate and knowing that right now I have the opportunity to do everything right this term.” -Jane Henry, junior
Michelle Ellia has experienced the values of Mercyhurst College in her daily life since she started as a student in 2003.
have brought to the college and to the PAC. “What the PAC really represents is more of Mercyhurst College’s
Ethan Magoc photo
vision to educate the whole person, which is what the tradition is. We enhance that not only in the Mercyhurst College community, but also
‘Mustache Bowling’ to support AdPro
By Lynn Dula
Staff writer
AdPro, the student chapter of the American Advertising Federation, will hold “Mustache Bowling,” a benefit at Rolling Meadows Bowling Alley on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The fundraiser will benefit AdPro and its student scholarship fund, and also raise money for students to attend an AAF career conference in Chicago. “AdPro is a great way for students to work in a team environment and get real world experience,” senior Laura McCarty said. “Design and marketing students get the chance to design and promote items for clients, fundraiser events and other events that we put on throughout the year.” “Not only does Adpro create a great social environment, but its tie to the AAF also allows students to participate in career conferences and fairs,” said senior Lisa Bathory, AdPro and student chapter AAF president. Aside from the professional benefits of AdPro, the organization also volunteers in the community and organizes events within the college. “Throughout the year, AdPro is involved in a variety of different activities from social events to art shows to community service,” Bathory said. “We also do annual Halloween parties, White Elephant parties and recruitment parties which allow students to be more involved and meet other students outside our major. We also volunteer in Christmas on Campus.” The other advantage of AdPro is the student scholarship fund. “Each year, the American Federation of Northwestern Pennsylvania awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to regional college students working towards degrees in advertising, graphic design, journalism and related fields,” AFNWPA President Brian Amick said. “This fundraiser will help us continue to provide these important scholarships, and will also allow us to continue our mission of improving the local business community through professional development, networking, and professional recognition opportunities.” “Mustache Bowling” has been organized by Bathory, the Performing Arts Center Assistant Marketing Manager Michelle Ellia, and other AdPro board members, including McCarty and seniors Margaret Moltz and Debbie Brunner. So for an “evening of mischief and mustaches,” simply “round up a team of up to five bowlers, put on some ’staches and come bowl for a good cause,” states the event’s brochure. Students must be 21 years and older to attend the benefit. The cost is $20 per person and $15 for students. Questions can be directed to Michelle Ellia at extension 2194 or [email protected].
“Getting to see my roommates when we get back from break, as well as seeing all my friends. Knowing that I don’t have a test right around the corner, and major papers are due at the end of the term. When spring term starts, it’s nice because the weather begins to change and it’s absolutely gorgeous. -Alianna Whiteaker, sophomore
“Starting fresh, getting to meet new people and syllabus days!” -Bryan Byrnes, sophomore
March 9, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
By Claire Hinde
Staff writer
Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly sets out to save her family’s Ozark home, up for repossession when her father put the property up for his bail and skips town. As she pushes through lies, obstacles, and threats to save her family’s property, a tale of overwhelming and shocking suspense unravels. Her struggle becomes almost tangible to the audience, as the drama hangs menacingly in the air. Jennifer Lawrence takes the lead as Ree, receiving the New Hollywood Award at the Hollywood Film Festival. The young actress is beginning to make waves in the film world from her sudden beginnings at age 14. Despite the twirling world of Hollywood that is becoming more and more enamored with her, Lawrence seems to have a
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‘Winter’s Bone’ proves to be a harsh yet honest
The Guelcher Film Series presented each Wednesday in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center has a knack for showing films that expose part of the heart of life. Such films from this season such as “That Evening Sun,” are often a bit harsh, showcasing a cross section of life and humanity. These films are always outstanding in the film world. Today’s presentation of “Winter’s Bone” is no exception. The film will be shown in the PAC at 2:15 and 7 p.m. Winner of Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the Sundance Film Festival, “Winter’s Bone” tells an incredible story of family codes and perseverance.
Missourifilm.org photo
Jennifer Lawrence portrays Ree Dolly in a gripping tale of Ozark life.
very honest approach to acting. When interviewed by Tribute Movies, Lawrence said about the roles she’s chosen “they’re not stupid. So many scripts are stupid for young blonde girls.” She goes on to speak about the authenticity of the film and the role locals played in its making. One can find hope for the film industry in such an honest presentation of a story. A desperate version of the American dream, “Winter’s Bone” shows the audience a piece of humanity and importance of a place to call home, whether it is perfect or not. Presenting a spectacular script, astounding performances, and genuine honesty in its making, “Winter’s Bone” is a feature worth seeing, especially with no cost to students. Tickets are free for students with a Mercyhurst ID.
Dervish brings Irish folk music with a flair
Tyler Stauffer photos
On Friday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m., Irish band Dervish came to the PAC with its eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary music.
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OPINION
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to [email protected].
March 9, 2011 September 3, 2008
Lady Gaga speaks out against intolerance
By Caitlin Handerhan
Staff writer
As I eagerly waited in line with thousands of other little monsters outside the concert last Saturday, politics was the last thing I expected to be thinking about after an evening with Lady Gaga. Despite an unforgettable night with great seats, intricate set design, insane lights, epic songs and the mother monster herself, I came away from the concert with much more than I ever expected. In between songs, Gaga addressed the crowd, and it was then that I heard something that resonated with me far more than any of the driving beats in her chart-topping songs. Keeping with the theme of her latest hit, “Born This Way,” Gaga began a monologue about religion, bullying and how un-Christian it is to hate. Recounting how bullying marred her own adolescence, she wove together her message of acceptance throughout the show. She boldly called out all those who discriminate, including the religious right for its persecution of the gay community. She even gave the Buffalo crowd the e-mail address of a New York State Senator threatening to block equality legislation, encouraging her followers to voice their views. In light of the recent controversy surrounding the Westboro Baptist Church and its ignorant protests at military funerals, Lady Gaga’s message to reject hate hit home more than ever before. The Westboro Baptist Church has declared that President Obama, members of the Supreme Court and United States military are “going to hell for being part of the United States’ wicked, gay-condoning culture,” according to the congregation’s attorney. While I feel it is within that church’s constitutionally protected rights, it is appalling to me to see the protests of the Westboro Baptist Church; their messages include signs claiming hell and damnation for those they have deemed different. For me, I have never understood and, frankly, cannot agree with the idea that religion can be used to justify hatred of another person. Rejecting someone for their lifestyle, political views, or even who they are is wrong, and using religion to rationalize the hatred is worse. If you believe that God is the divine creator, how can a person be discriminated against and hated for being true to how they feel? Perhaps it is this frustration with hypocritical sentiments that
have fueled the success of Gaga’s latest hit, “Born This Way.” The message throughout her work transcends traditional boundaries and is something that everyone can identify with. As I left the arena and my first Lady Gaga experience, I still felt frustration toward the religious right movement, but it was a refreshing experience to see my political beliefs reaffirmed alongside 18,000 others in the audience. Politics juxtaposed with pop culture was never the factor I thought would be the most memorable part about my first Monster Ball, but then again, you never know what to expect with Lady Gaga.
Gays deserve Catholic acceptance
By Mike Lado
Staff writer
For example, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are very friendly to LGBT people. I was browsing their website one day and came across an article by a nun named Sister Ann McGovern. In the article, titled “Homosexuality: From Tolerance to Love and Appreciation,” she explains that the Catholic Church needs to focus on integrating LGBT people into the church. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also released an article called “Always Our Children.” This article was intended for parents of the faith who have teens who identify as LGBT. The article encourages parents to reach out to their LGBT son/daughter and to try to understand what they are going through. I am a gay Catholic, and when I came out last year, I expected to find support. Instead, I found a priest who told me to change my thinking and find a girl. How homophobic is that? Officially, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says the following: “The Christian community should offer its homosexual sisters and brothers understanding and pastoral care. More than 20 years ago, we bishops stated that “Homosexuals should have an active role in the Christian community.” The Catholic Church has a landscape of varying opinions on LGBT people, those that range from extremely homophobic clergy (like I experienced), to those who are understanding men and women who care about the LGBT people in their parish. I call on the Bishop Donald W. Trautman to address this issue in the Diocese of Erie. I am not saying the Church should condone same-sex activities or marriage; in fact, I am very happy being gay and living a chaste lifestyle that is sanctioned by the Church for LGBT people. What I am saying is that the Church needs to stamp out homophobia and welcome LGBT people with open arms, saying “We love you, God loves you, and you don’t have to face these feeling alone.”
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
Editors Ethan Magoc Kelly Luoma Alaina Rydzewski Victoria Gricks Spencer Hunt Alex Stacey Kaitlin Badger Tyler Stauffer Ethan Johns Daniela Carcamo Bill Welch Brian Sheridan Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Graphics photomerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Web Editor ejohns89 Ad Manager admerciad Adviser wwelch Adviser bsheridan
So, my last three columns were about the economy and spending. But it’s time to dwell on one of the most controversial issues of our time: homosexuality. As a Catholic college, Mercyhurst holds a special meaning to Catholics like me who identify as gay. When I arrived here earlier in the year, I was shocked, albeit in a good way, that we have a GayStraight Alliance on campus. At first, I thought Catholicism and my gayness were incompatible. However, I realized that, despite popular opinions and what mainstream media says, the Church actually strives to include LGBT people in its community. I am not saying there isn’t homophobia in the church. I agree with popular opinion on this, that more outreach work needs to be done by the Catholic Church towards LGBT people.
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376. The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at [email protected].
For more columns, visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion.
March 9, 2011
Sports
Page 7
Women’s hockey slighted with NCAA berth
By Spencer Hunt Sports editor
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team is fresh off its ninth straight College Hockey America championship and thought it might host an NCAA quarterfinal game this weekend. All season, they have been among the top five teams in the country. But much to the Lakers’ and their fans’ surprise, they were passed over Sunday night during the NCAA field selection. After a sound 29-5-0 record and a national ranking ranging between three and five all season, a fourth seed seemed reasonable. But the top four seeds were the University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, Boston University, and Boston College. Wisconsin and Cornell were obvious choices for a first and second seed. They both won their respecttive conferences and had only four total losses between them. They deserved their ranking. The final two spots were up for grabs. Boston University finished the season 4-4-1 in its last nine games and lost in the conference semifinals to Northeastern University. Yet even after their rocky finish, the Terriers still received the third seed. Boston College earned an appropriate seed. They won their conference, beating Northeastern in the championship game. This is the same Northeastern team that beat BU, who got seeded above Boston College. However, Boston College has one of the tougher trips to the championship, needing to beat No. 5 Minnesota and the winner of the Wisconsin/Minnesota-Duluth match-up to reach the title game. Finally, Mercyhurst. They managed to win yet another conference title, finishing it off with a come-frombehind victory against host Syracuse. The Lakers finished fourth and fifth in the major polls. Somehow, that’s the seed they got. Even though the seeding did not pan out quite as the team had hoped, the Lakers seem hungry to earn their place among the elite in women’s hockey. “Everyone deserves to be in the final eight, and it won’t be an easy road,” head coach Michael Sisti said. Assistant captain Jesse Scanzano was equally displeased with the seeding. “It is what it is. It’s just one game,” Scanzano said. ”We want revenge on everyone.”
Ethan Magoc photo
With a win at Boston University on Saturday, the Lakers could make their third-consecutive appearance in the Frozen Four.
Bus to Boston planned for women’s hockey fans
Want to go to Boston for the Lakers quarterfinal game against Boston University? Thanks to SAC, the Athletic Department, and the President’s Office, a bus has been made available for students. There are 52 tickets available. To reserve your spot, go to the Student Union at 9 p.m. on Thursday. A $10 cash deposit is needed (it will be returned the day of the trip). The bus will leave Saturday at 4 a.m., and return 3 a.m. Sunday.
March 9, 2011
Sports
Mike Pollard will join Shields. The freshman wrestler weighs in at 197 pounds and has set the school record for pins in a season. Pollard also has an impressive record of 26-10 with 18 pins. Senior Fred Hale will compete as a heavyweight with a record of 13-5. Hale’s explosive strength and quickness will make him a formidable competitor in this national tournament. Freshman Londele Cox, meanwhile, begins his first national competition at 184 pounds. Cox is from Pittsburgh and was a four-sport athlete in high school in wrestling, football, baseball and track. “It is very exciting,” coach Mike Wehler said. “It will be tough for the two freshmen being that it’s their first time at nationals, but they are all tough and they all have enough talent to win.” Last season, Wehler coached the team to a 14th place finish in the national tournament and has high hopes for the four qualifiers this year.
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Mercyhurst sends four to national tournament
By Matt Cirell
Staff writer
Four of the wrestling team’s student athletes—Mike Pollard, Fred Hale, Jordan Shields and Londele Cox—have earned quite a bit of success this season. All four landed a spot in the NCAA Division II national wrestling tournament March 11 and 12. These student athletes, as well as the rest of the team, proved tough enough to lift Mercyhurst to a top 25 ranking in the national Division II poll. Mercyhurst will compete against such top contending schools as NebraskaOmaha, Augustana and Newberry. “It’s going to be very hard,” 157pound wrestler Jordan Shields said. Shields has an impressive record of 24-4. “There will be no strikeouts in this tournament. It comes down to the simple fact that the tougher guy wins. I am tired now, but when I get to the tournament, I’ll feel like a kid in a candy store,” he said.
Ethan Magoc photo
Redshirt junior Fred Hale, left, is one of four Mercyhurst wrestlers headed to the Division II National Tournament. Coach Michael Wehler is at his right.
Men’s basketball season ends
Ethan Magoc photo
Ethan Magoc photo
Mercyhurst’s Iddo Cohen goes up for a shot against Slippery Rock’s Maron Brown (30) during the first half on Tuesday, March 1, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Slippery Rock won the PSAC tournament quarterfinal game, 51-45, and ended the Lakers’ bid for a conference title. The Rock lost in the title game to IUP. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, was passed over for a bid to the NCAA tournament despite a recent No. 25 national ranking.
Mercyhurst’s Olivier Dupiton, holding crutches, Bryheem Charity (21), and Shelton Jackson (15) walk off the court following their team’s 51-45 loss to Slippery Rock on Tuesday, March 1, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
