Vol.83,No.

18/3/31/10/Free

‘Empty Bowls’ raises

money to fill
empty stomachs

Read article on Page 2 or online

News A&E Sports Weekly Poll Results

Tuition
How do you feel about Hellogoodbye as the
Win two free Unselfish Springfest band?

changes tickets to see Santora looks They’re OK, but I won’t I love them!
see the concert 26% Can’t wait! 24%
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to flat rate R&B artist to break home Terrible choice 32%
go to the concert 18%

charge Bobby V run record

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Tell us at merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Page 2
‘Empty Bowls’ raises money to fill empty stomachs
By Chelsee Callahan
Staff writer
Students and members of
the Mercyhurst College com-
munity came together on
Sunday, March 28, to eat dinner
while working toward reducing
hunger in Erie.
Students from the art and
sociology departments raised
money for the Second Harvest
Food Bank in Erie by selling
bowls and soup in Egan Dining
Hall.
Students and members of the
community paid $15 for a soup
and bread dinner and one of the
383 handmade bowls made by
the art department, or they had
the option of paying $3 to eat
without purchasing the bowl.
Ticket sales for the event
raised about $6,000 for the
Second Harvest Food Bank,
which is approximately $102,000
worth of food.
Those who attended the
event had the chance to enter to
win art or scarves in the silent
auction.
The Empty Bowls event has
been held for the past three
University status to benefit undergrads
By Jennifer McCurdy
Staff writer
The decision to turn Mercy-
hurst College into Mercyhurst
University is possibly the best
thing to do for Mercyhurst
undergraduate students.
“Our goal is to preserve and
strengthen the undergraduate
program by defining who’s in
it,” Mercyhurst College Presi-
dent Dr. Thomas Gamble said.
Under the new system, only
four-year undergraduates would
remain students of Mercyhurst
NEWS
Tyler Stauffer photo
Juniors Caitlin Ross and Eve Klajbor enjoyed a bowl of soup
and bread at the Empty Bowls event.
years. The event was not only for a
Seniors Lilly Parker, Alicia good cause, it was also educa-
Peterson, Allison Hellmann and tional.
Bobby Kensinger agreed the In every handmade bowl
event had a better turnout this there was information about
year because it was in a good hunger relief. Those who
location and easy for students attended the event learned that
to get to. every day 16,000 children die
Hellman, a graduate student, from malnutrition, which is the
said, “We were pleasantly sur- equivalent of one child dying
prised by the turnout, and it was every five seconds.
a great event.” The information about
College, while associate degree size” to allow for a personal atmo-
students and graduate students sphere and to maintain focus on
will belong to new colleges student-faculty relations.
formed within Mercyhurst Uni- In addition to developing a
versity. more efficient organization of
The new system better defines student groups, gaining univer-
the special needs of different sity status will also improve the
student groups. international reputation of the
The organization will also Mercyhurst community.
allow associate and graduate “In the global marketplace,
programs to grow and develop ‘college’ means ‘high school,’”
while maintaining the size of Gamble said.
the undergraduate program. With a university degree, stu-
“We are not looking to expand dents would have an easier time
the undergraduate program,” finding employment overseas or
Gamble said. He said he thinks establishing international trade
that the program is the “right connections.
Students from the Mercyhurst College Art Department sold
handmade bowls to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.
hunger relief showed why
supporting this cause is so
important.
“I am so happy with the turn-
out,” senior Betsy Morningstar
said. “It is wonderful to see the
community and Mercyhurst
come together for this great
cause.”
Morningstar was one of the
students in charge of running
the event.
Essentially, as Mercyhurst’s
reputation improves, Mercy-
hurst degrees gain more worth
in the workplace.
According to Gamble, aside
from opportunity cost, there are
no downsides. “The more stu-
dents know about the change, the
more they will like it,” he said.
“Your life won’t change. You
will come to the same campus
and go to the same classes.
“In terms of day-to-day life,
there will be no change except
choosing between Mercyhurst
College or Mercyhurst University
sweatshirts at the bookstore.”
March 31, 2010
Tyler Stauffer photo
Students who attended the
event were also pleased.
“This was a really cool idea
and a pretty awesome event. I
am glad my roommate invited
me,” senior Emily McDowell
said.
“I had a great time seeing
my friends and enjoying soup
all while supporting a great
cause,” freshman Paige Bos-
nyak said.
Of course, the decision has
not yet been made. Gamble and
his staff will make a report to the
Board of Trustees in April and
will make a final recommendation
in June, after which the Board will
make its final decision.
“Part of that is student and
faculty support. If you sup-
port (the status change), let it be
known,” Gamble said.
If the Board of Trust-
ees decides to seek university
status, Mercyhurst College may
become Mercyhurst University
as soon as the fall term of 2011
or 2012.
March 31, 2010 NEWS Page 3

Tuition changes to flat rate charge
By Kelly Luoma
News editor
As of fall 2010, Mercyhurst
College students will be charged
one flat rate for tuition each
term as opposed to being billed
A major reason for the change ferent students paying different tuition because they will now be
in billing comes from the lack costs each term, it invites errors able to take non-major classes The Basics
of predictability in a per credit on bills,” Lyden said. that will make them more com-
tuition charge. He said he hopes the flat rate petitive in the job field without Students’ average tuition
According to Dr. Michael tuition will reduce the number it costing more money. this year for 30 credits is
Lyden, vice president for of complaints about billing Students agree that the tuition $23,661.
Enrollment Management, the issues. change will be beneficial.
primary reason “I think it would help people Next year, students can
take 12 credits per term,

per credit.
For the 2010-2011 academic
year, students who register for
“
for the change is whose financial aid might not
We’re going to look back on or 36 credits total, for
to “make costs help them get where they’re the cost of 30 (inflation
of coming here this and say I can’t believe we going as fast as they would adjusted). These 36

”
eight to 12 credits a term will more predict- like,” senior Connor Corcoran
pay $8,216 plus general fees able.”
used to do it the other way. said.
credits will cost $24,648.

each term.
Students who register for less
than eight credits will pay $822
for each credit.
Students who register for 13
or more credits a term will pay
$822 for each credit over 12 in
addition to the flat rate charge
of $8,216.
These costs do not include
course or laboratory fees.
Students paid an average
of $7,887 for fall 2009 tuition
charges. The flat rate charge of
$8,216 is a 4.2 percent increase
per term, a result of Mercy-
hurst’s annual tuition increase.
It is difficult Sophomore Kaitlin Badger The additional six credits
-Dr. Michael Lyden,
for families to said, “I feel good about it will cost $624/credit less
Vice President for Enrollment
calculate each because I’m a double major and than this year’s rate, giving
Management students a financial
term’s bill when it would not cost as much.”
it changes every This new billing system incentive to take four
term due to stu- will not affect all students on classes per term.
dents taking different amounts The flat rate billing is meant campus.
of credits and dropping and to make paying tuition easier for Only traditional undergradu-
adding classes, Lyden said. students and families. The abil- ate students at Mercyhurst main dents will not be affected by this
The flat rate tuition will allow ity to pay tuition online is one campus will pay the flat rate because there are “too many
students and parents to answer way to simplify things. tuition fee each term. part-timers,” Lyden said. “They
the question, “What is it going “We’re going to look back Adult undergraduate students, wouldn’t really get the benefits
to cost me to come here?” on this and say I can’t believe post-baccalaureate students, grad- from it.”
Lyden said. we used to do it the other way,” uate students and students at the For more information about
Another reason for the change Lyden said. Corry, North East and West cam- the flat rate tuition charge visit
in tuition is issues with billing. Lyden said he believes stu- puses will be charged per credit. mercyhurst.edu/financial-aid/
“When you have so many dif- dents will benefit from flat rate Adult undergraduate stu- flat-rate-tuition-charge/.

Tryouts for 2010 Football Cheerleading

Saturday, April 10, 12-3 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Must have cheerleading experience to try out
E-mail Coach Pam Zimmer at pczimm@roadrunner.com
with any questions.

The Green Energy Fund Review Board

(GEFRB) is still accepting proposals for
2010 funding. Students who are
interested in submitting a proposal
should contact Dr. James Snyder, chair
of the GERFB, at jsnyder@mercyhurst.
edu. A proposal form and further infor-
mation is available at the Mercyhurst
Green Team Web site:
sustainability@mercyhurst.edu.
Page 4
Hallelujahs and Amens heard at the Student Union
By Faye Clark
Staff writer
It’s 9:15 p.m. on Thursday
night in the Student Union and
a club meeting is about to start.
People wave at friends they
haven’t seen in a while, girls
cluster together and talk, boys
fist-bump each other as they
walk in and chairs are brought in
to accommodate a large crowd.
Haiden Ratner is a junior
Contributed photo
Junior Heiden Ratner, who
started the group, leads the
discussion.
T-shirt profits go to building a new school — in Afghanistan
By Jemma Homer
Staff writer
There is an African proverb
that, paraphrased, says, “To
educate a boy, you are only edu-
cating an individual, but to edu-
cate a girl, you are educating an
entire community.”
Even so, educating young
women remains a significant
problem. Sixty-three percent of
the children in the world who
are unable to attend school are
women.
Driven and passionate high
school students from the Erie
area have come together to give
girls in Afghanistan a better
chance at a good education.
Instead of sending aid to an
operational school, their goal is
religious studies major and the
founder of this group, and he
walks around mingling with
the people, getting ready for
the meeting. Then he sits down
in his chair and the room gets
quiet. The meeting is about to
start.
But it isn’t just any meeting.
This group of students, alumni
and other Erie residents gather
for Mercyhurst College’s Bible
study group.
Haiden is pleased with the
new faces that have come, as
well as the returning members.
“It is vitally important to
our relationship with the Lord
to know who God is,” he said
to start the meeting. “To know
who the God of the Bible is,
you gotta know a little about his
word.”
Forty-seven people were in
attendance that night, and all
of them introduced themselves
and their reasons for coming.
It was standing room only by
the time the last stragglers trick-
led in.
a bit more ambitious.
They’re raising money to
build a whole new school.
Students are in control of
every aspect of the venture:
T-shirt designs, printing, sales,
management, etc.
The shirts themselves are
designed with the theme of
taking the initiative and making
a difference.
“It’s extremely uplifting and
motivating to see a small group
of kids within a small, rural town
excited with a global perspec-
tive. It’s reassuring that there
is hope even among the small-
est towns,” Mercyhurst College
sophomore Laura Jones said.
Laura has recognized the
efforts of these high school
students and is encouraging the
Mercyhurst College community
FEATURES
There were science majors
and English majors and many
other occupations and disci-
plines in between, but they all
had come for one thing — to
learn what they could about
scriptures, not from notes and
lectures and quizzes and tests,
but from discourse with their
peers.
“It’s like a little community we
have here, a little family,” Ratner
said. “We try to step out of the
busy school day and make time
for God.”
Many people find out about
the Bible Study group through
friends, and a few have been
with Haiden from the begin-
ning.
Lawrence ‘LB’ Bright is a
junior finance major, and he
remembered when the group
first started. “It got too big for
his living room, so we moved
here (to the Student Union),
and now we’re too big for here,”
Bright said.
Janel Craig is a junior in the
forensic science department,
to support them in this cause.
The T-shirts that the students
made are now being sold on-
campus for $10 each.
“Personally, this project for
me is a combination of so
many feelings. As a girl, edu-
cating women is a cause close
to my heart. In that sense, the
project is extremely respectable
and necessary,” Jones said, only
taking credit as a messenger of
the students’ work.
“Educating girls actually
decreases infant mortality rates,
slows the population growth
rate and increases the quality
of health in the community. In
Afghanistan, the Taliban will
throw acid in the girls’ faces who
want to go to school, throw poi-
sons in the schools with the stu-
dents inside, will massacre and
March 31, 2010
Contributed photo
Last Thursday, 47 students attended Bible study. The group,
which started in Ratner’s living room, is already getting too
big for the Student Union.
who heard about it through in the week where they can just
a friend. “It helps me to be a talk and hang out with friends.
better Christian, and on Thurs- Jessica Stachelrodt, a fresh-
day nights I’m not getting into man English and dance major,
trouble. I’m learning about the summed it up for the group:
Word,” he said. “You can’t just run around
Elizabeth Mordenga, Kylie campus yelling, ‘Are you Chris-
McCormick, Tess Sinke, and tian? Hang out with me!’ People
Chelsea Morris are all freshmen would run away. This way it pro-
who said they like to have a day vides fellowship for all of us.”
murder the teachers in front of
the students. It is gut-wrenching
to think that these females go
through this for something we
Online...
Your weekly
take for granted,” Jones said.
Many Mercyhurst students report from
have already responded in sup- Dungarvan, Ireland:
porting the cause. Dublin VIP
“I think it’s a great cause to treatment
support education. It opens
doors to awareness and under- An Erieite Appetite:
standing,” senior Laura Stevens Arnone’s
said.
T-shirts will be sold around
campus, so keep an eye out for File taxes online,
your chance to contribute to on your own,
this cause or email Laura Joneas on time
at ljones70@mercyhurst.edu.
Read the rest of this
Merciad.
story, and look at prints Mercyhurst.
of the T-shirts online. edu/Features
March 31, 2010 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 5

Dance runs in the family A&E online

By Emma Rishel
Staff writer
Michelle Conroy, this month’s
featured dancer, is a senior from
Batavia, N.Y., who has been
dancing since she was three
years old.
1. What made you origi-
nally decide to come to Mer-
cyhurst College?
I originally became interested
ently I bugged my mother for a
year about when I would be able
to start dancing. She allowed me
to start classes at three, after
watching me jump around in a
play tutu every day.
3. What do you want to do
with your dance training after
you graduate?
During the spring term I
have been and will continue to
audition for various dance com-
panies. I would love to dance
tusch have especially helped my
growth as a dancer and have
always been a source of encour-
agement when I was feeling less
than confident.
An unabridged version of this
interview can be found online.
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
‘Brazil’ features daydreaming
The next installment of the Guelcher Film Series, “Brazil,” is
about a man who daydreams to escape painful realities.
Meyer performs on flute for students
Adjunct lute professor Anna Meyer performed for the
music department in the Faculty Recital Series.

Win two tickets

in Mercyhurst because of the professionally for a few years
reputation of the dance depart- if I am fortunate enough to be
ment. After visiting the school given the chance to do so. If I

and auditioning for the pro-
gram, Mercyhurst became my
number one choice.
2. What drew you to
dance?
Both my mom and my older
sister danced. Even at a very
young age, I can remember being
fascinated when watching them
take class and perform in the
end-of-the-year recital. Appar-
to see Bobby V
had my choice, I would love
to dance with a contemporary
company.
4. What professor/teacher
has particularly influenced
you?
By Alaina Rydzewski
A&E editor
Since the beginning of my
time at Mercyhurst I have
appreciated the help that I have Tyler Stauffer photo Over the years, Erie has been
received from my dance pro- Senior Michelle Conroy has host to numerous musicians of
fessors. Ms. Hay and Ms. Par- danced since age three. various genres and styles, includ-
ing, but not limited to, the Goo

Lady A creates a must-listen album Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind,

By Casey Harvilla
Staff writer
Lady Antebellum is quickly
becoming one of the hottest
country acts today.
Lady A, as they are often
called, is made up of Charles
Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave
Contributed photo
Lady Antebellum released
their third album, “Need You
Now,” on Jan. 26.
Haywood, who all bring a little
something different to the
group. Kelley, whose brother
is musician Josh Kelley, had a
solo career before joining the
group, as did Scott. Haywood
is a multi-instrumentalist whose
talents help the group reach fans
of pop, rock and country alike.
Lady Antebellum’s newest
album, “Need You Now,” was
released on Jan. 26.
The album opens with the
title track and first single, a song
that sums up the dreaded but
predictable feelings between
exes.
The second single from the
album is “American Honey.”
This ode to simplicity and the
good things in life showcases
the trademark harmonies of
Lady A.
Charles Kelley takes over lead
vocals on “Hello World,” a track
about seeing the world for what
it truly is with all material pos-
sessions aside.
My favorite song on the
album is “Stars Tonight.” It is
an upbeat, feel-good song about
just having a good time at a con-
cert. It reminds me of “Here’s
To You” by Rascal Flatts in that
it acts as a salute to the fans
who contribute to the fun atmo-
sphere at a concert.
Each of the 11 tracks on
“Need You Now” has a unique-
ness about it, which helps the
album flow. The amazing talent
in Lady Antebellum also doesn’t
hurt, as their harmonies blend
together to truly tell a story with
each song. “Need You Now”
is a must-listen album for any
country fan.
An unabridged version of this
article can be found online.
Ludacris and MercyMe. Add to
that famed R&B singer Bobby
Valentino, or Bobby V.
Born Bobby Wilson, Bobby
V’s nickname of ‘Valentino’
came about because his due
date was Valentine’s Day. He
entered the music scene in 1996
in the four-person group Mista,
and eventually, with the help of
Diddy and Ludacris, was signed
as a solo artist by Disturbing
Tha Peace Records.
He released his first solo
CD in 2005. Since then, he has
switched record labels, released
two other albums and is set to
release his fourth in the spring
of this year.
In addition to having a suc-
cessful music career, Bobby V
also holds a degree from Clark
College and has received several
awards, including the NAACP
Image Awards, the Soul Train
Awards, the Vibe Awards and
the Urban Music Awards for his
Contributed photo
Bobby V will be performing
at the Bayfront Convention
Center on Sunday, April 7.
success in the music industry
He will be coming to the Bay-
front Convention Center on
Sunday, April 4, at 7 p.m. Tick-
ets are $30 in advance or $35 at
the door. They are available at
all Ticketmaster locations.
However, there is another (and
cheaper) way to get your hands
on a set of tickets. All you have
to do is go on Facebook, become
a fan of the Ben Jammin’ Enter-
tainment page and write on the
wall saying you joined because
of Mercyhurst. You could be the
lucky winner of two tickets!
For more information,
contact the A&E editor at
entertainmentmerciad@
mercyhurst.edu.
Page 6
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 opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Dropping ball on health care coverage
By Greg Summy
Contributing writer
I was thoroughly shocked
and disappointed when I picked
up last week’s issue of the
Merciad.
Sunday, March 21, marked
a day that will have an impact
on the economic and political
climate of this country for years,
if not indefinitely. However,
there was but a mere single
opinion article buried on Page 6
on the topic.
The front page justifiably
featured two monumental
stories which affect the college
and its students. The intelligence
department was featured in a
half-page article on Page 3, and
The Merciad responds to criticism
By Kyle King
Copy Editor
The Merciad staff appreci-
ates Mr. Summy’s concerns and
shares his belief that health care
is a vital issue of our time. It was
not covered more fully in last
week’s issue because, like most
weekly newspapers, we have our
pages planned out and articles
written by Sunday night. The
turnaround time to produce an
informative article on such a
complex, nation-affecting issue
is too difficult, especially since,
as Mr. Ruic has written, “It is
unlikely that a single one of the
Representatives who voted for,
or against, the bill can hope to
truly understand its effects.”
What we are trying to do to
remedy our lack of immedi-
ate coverage is to offer a more
thoughtful package in the issues
to come. Our first issue back
from Easter vacation, scheduled
for April 14, 2010, is slotted to
focus a great deal of our energy
and space on understanding the
a preview of the Guelcher Film
received more than a half page.
The Springfest band online poll
was granted more exposure than
health care, sadly. A&E articles
made up a whopping 25 percent
of the Merciad this week, while
one of the biggest political
stories of the year, perhaps
our lifetime, was limited to one
opinion article.
I could have bet any
extraordinary amount of money
on Devin Ruic writing about the
impact of health care through a
number of perspectives.
In the news section, our
planned coverage includes talk-
ing to administrators about how
nationalized health care could
change costs at the school. In
the features section, we intend
to poll students on the introduc-
tion of health care reform and
how they believe it will be per-
ceived at re-election time and 50
years from now. In the opinion
section, we want to hear not only
from students, but also from the
resident experts – our faculty.
We have invited a number
of scholars the opportunity
to discuss issues surrounding
health care connected to their
fields. For a history professor,
this could mean detailing wel-
fare reform movements – and
health care’s place among such
initiatives as Social Security
and unemployment benefits. A
political science professor may
be invited to weigh in on the
re-election chances of Congres-
sional Republicans who voted
against the bill, or on different
OPINION March3, 31,2008
September 2010
Online Opinion Articles...
health care reform bill passing, Cell phone failure causes grief
and, thankfully, he did.
Read Victoria Gricks’ rant about failing
For the Merciad to not
acknowledge the issue outside technology in an advanced world dependent on
of the opinion section is constant interaction.
preposterous. This bill has an
impact on every American, Why the drunk bus might stop?
After much warning, intoxicated students on the
everywhere, and needs to be
discussed. EMTA on weekends have caused enough chaos
to possibly have the route shut down. Read
“Mercyworld” may be a
Devin Ruic’s advice to keep it up and running.
self-contained microcosm of
the US, but one of our core
values is Global Responsibility. Job opportunity sheds uplifting light
How is it Globally Responsible The economy is crashing. Choices are slim.
to refrain from reporting on Read Jordan Zangaro’s refreshing outlook on
American health care reform? graduating and entering the professional world.
The Merciad did not live up
to its expectations as a college
newspaper. merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Thank you, Mr. Ruic, for
actually caring enough about
this country to say ANYTHING
about the issue.
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
amendments the bill has picked
up traveling between House and Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
Senate. A philosophy professor JoEllen Marsh Editor-in-Chief editormerciad
might be asked to opine on the Kelly Luoma News Editor newsmerciad
ethics of heath care reform – is Javi Cubillos Features Editor featuremerciad
it ‘necessary’ in any meaningful Jordan Zangaro Opinion Editor opinionmerciad
way? A business professor could Nick Glasier Sports Editor sportsmerciad
evaluate the short-term and Alaina Rydzewski A&E entertainmentmerciad
long-term costs of health care: Sam Williams Graphics photomerciad
When does health care become Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
‘worth it’ fiscally? All students
Ethan Magoc Multimedia Editor emagoc80
and professors who want to
Ethan Johns Web Editor ejohns89
contribute to the debate are
welcome to contact us at opin- Kyle King Copy Editor copymerciad
ionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu or Max Rivera Ad Manager admerciad
copymerciad@mercyhurst.edu. Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
These issues are thorny. It Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
is unfair to ask professors – or
considerate writers of any stripe
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
– to produce knee-jerk reactions
and hypothetical theories to the College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
murky rhetoric of polarizing finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is
politics. (814) 824-2376.
The Merciad has attempted
to take the high road, taking our
The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
time to produce quality cover-
age of what is possibly the year’s and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
biggest news event. We hope letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
Mr. Summy and all readers look are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
forward to the Merciad issues
to come. letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
March 31, 2010
Prof bonds with students through the lens
By Nick Glasier
Sports Editor
Dr. Richard O’Dell has
developed a habit of attending
students’ athletic events and
photographing them.
He then uses the photos as
a way to connect with his stu-
dents.
“It makes me more involved
with the students, allowing me
to get closer to that student,”
special education professor
O’Dell said.
“It allows me to see the stu-
dent more as a person than
someone that I dictate notes
to and spits them back to me,”
O’Dell said.
O’Dell thinks that this closer
connection with his students
translates into a better learning
environment in the classroom.
“I think it makes the class-
Unselfish Santora looks to break homerun record
By Billy Colton
Staff writer
Records in sports are made
to be broken. Records can give
players a goal.
Some last longer than others,
but, in the end, they are always
broken.
Last year, 20-year-old baseball
player Ethan Santora came ago-
nizingly close to breaking the
single-season home run record.
He hit 16 home runs, tying
a shool record that has stood
since 1997.
This was all the more impres-
sive considering Santora was
competing in his first year of
collegiate sports as a freshman.
Santora, though, is completely
modest of his achievements,
which also include being named
Pennslyvania State Athletic
Mercyhurst College special education teacher Dr. Richard
O’Dell’s photo of softball senior outfielder Amber Rapose.
room more relaxed and more
collegiate. It is no longer one
dimensional because our rela-
tionship goes beyond the class-
room,” O’Dell said.
Conferance West Rookie of the
Year, All-PSAC West First Team
and a National Collegiate Base-
ball Writers Association All-
America Honorable Mention.
“I didn’t really have any per-
sonal goals. Coming into the
year, I didn’t really know what to
expect,” Santora, who is a native
of Mayfield, Ohio, said.
“I just wanted to go out and
help our team win. All I did was
try to do my part, and it ended
with me tying the home run
record,” Santora said.
There can be a heavy price to
pay for a successful athlete.
Coaches, players and fans
begin to expect more. That
builds pressure.
Santora does not feel this.
“I feel a little more pressure,
but it’s from myself, not any
outside sources. I put a little
more pressure on myself to help
Sports
the best professors I’ve ever
had,” senior softball player
Amber Rapose said.
“We know him as Dr. Dad
because he cares about you as a
student and as a person, and as a
professor he pours his heart out
to you,” Rapose said.
“It is hard to find a professor
that treats you like a peer and
doesn’t judge you by your title.
The two letters in front of his
name don’t seem to matter to
him,” Rapose said.
The way O’Dell tries to get to
know his athletes is very impres-
sive to Rapose.
“He always tries to go and
Richard O’Dell photo watch our games. The students
find it cool that he takes the
time out of his busy day to get
One of the athletes who to know you on and off the
O’Dell has photographed said field,” Rapose said.
she agreed with O’Dell’s phi- “It is really nice to know that
losophy. someone cares about you as a
“(O’Dell) is probably one of person too,” Rapose said.
Ethan Magoc photo
Mercyhurst College sophomore Ethan Santora aims to have a
repeat of his stellar freshman season.
my teammates out and help the Santora.
team win, since I had such a big In high school, he won the
role in our success last year,” the Ohio Player of the Year award
third baseman said. and broke the school’s home
Breaking records and gar- run record.
nering awards was not new for He believes that having this
Page 7
O’Dell started photography
in high school and purchased his
first 35 millimeter camera while
he was in the Coast Guard.
O’Dell took a photography
course in college as his interest
in photography grew.
Sports photography came into
the picture for O’Dell when his
kids began to play high school
sports, as he wanted to docu-
ment their achievements.
O’Dell started his sports pho-
tography at Mercyhurst for a
different reason.
“It’s just a great way to get out
of the office, and after a little
bit it got to be a great way to
connect with students,” O’Dell
said.
With this hobby, O’Dell cites
many instances where he has
become a great deal closer to
his students.
For the full article go to merciad.
mercyhurst.edu/content/ODell.
experience enabled him to cope
with the pressure of college
baseball and believes the pres-
sure has actually died down since
his senior year high school.
Santora admits last year was
his best year as a baseball player
based on his statistics, and not
for the awards he won.
“I don’t really think about
things such as records or things
like that. I just try and take one
game at a time and one at-bat at
a time. I feel as though if I keep
doing that and keep working
hard to improve my game, then
something good will come from
it,” he said.
Santora said the team is going
through a small rough patch, but
he trusts that with continuing
hard work, the team will come
through it.
For the full article go to merciad.
mercyhurst.edu/content/santora.

Visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu
‘Dis-Ease’ presents dancing with a message
By Claire Hinde
Staff writer
SoMar Dance Works and local
musician Davie Sturtevant pre-
sented an ingenious collabora-
tive performance of song and
dance this past Sunday, March
28, in the Walker Recital Hall.
The performance, titled “Dis-
ease: A Coming Out,” was free
to the public and received a
phenomenal response from the
community. Each seat in the
theater was filled and people
were spilling down the stairs and
standing along the back wall.
The show featured all origi-
nal music by Sturtevant and
new choreographic works from
Mark and Solveig Santillano,
the founders and directors of
SoMar Dance Works, a local
nine-member dance company.
This sold-out concert was
more than simply a dance
performance. Sponsored by
Stairways Behavioral Health,
Ailey II presents strong talent, pleases audience
By Sarah Mastrocola
Staff writer
The Ailey II performance that
appeared in the Mary D’Angelo
Performing Arts Center (PAC)
at Medrcyhurst College last
Friday, March 26, exhibited the
great talent of the dancers.
Surprisingly, however, the per-
formance did not present any
of the historic choreography
created by Alvin Ailey himself.
Instead, the show featured
works by current leaders of the
Ailey company as well as by lead-
ing choreographers of today.
The performance opened
with “The External Knot,” cho-
Laker Life
“Dis-ease” also served to raise
awareness about mental illness,
including bipolar disorder. It
lent a three-dimensional element
to Sturtevant’s heartfelt story.
“The connections between the
dancing and lyrics worked really
well,” junior Christine Wilbur
said. The performance rolled
along as Sturtevant and his band
played tunes in a wide variety of
styles, sporting banjos and wash-
boards at times, and plucking out
a bona fide tango at others.
The performance proved
to be wonderfully fresh and
imaginative, blending SoMar’s
inventive movement and inter-
pretations with Sturtevant’s
gentle voice.
One number, “Better roll
over play dead,” was a humor-
ous depiction of dealing with
treatment policies to a peppy
blue-grass melody featuring
Mercyhurst senior dance stu-
dents Christopher Taddiken,
Erin Alarcon and Amanda
Fisher.
reographed by Associate Artistic
Director Troy Powell. This piece
exhibited flowing movement
Tyler Stauffer photo
Ailey II performed at the PAC
last Friday, March 26.
SoMar Dance Works, along with local musician Davie
Sturtevant, presented “Dis-Ease” on Sunday, March 28.
Between dance numbers,
Sturtevant chatted with the
many people that had gathered,
filling in the gaps of the story
and explaining in more detail all
that he has faced. Sturtevant’s
complete honesty and simple
frankness in both the lyrics of
the song and his chats made the
concert especially poignant and
refreshing for those who have
faced the difficulties of mental
illness themselves.
Even more amazing than the
positive response from the com-
with a dynamic and powerful
ending. The dance featured an
especially strong performance
by soloist Chang Yong Sung,
although all the dancers in this
piece performed well.
The following piece was a
solo, an excerpt from “Splendid
Isolation II,” choreographed
by Jessica Lang and performed
by Taeler Cyrus. As the curtain
rose, the audience was wowed
by the elegant white dress that
filled the entire spotlight. The
solo exuded beauty in its sim-
plicity and featured expressive
port de bras, as the large skirt
inhibited any large movement
across the stage.
Next came the quirky quartet
Nick Glasier photo
munity was the fully-rounded
nature of the event. Once all the
singing and dancing had been
completed, with overwhelm-
ing support from the audience,
all were welcomed to stay for
a discussion about the difficul-
ties of dealing with mental ill-
ness, as well as to ask questions.
The discussion was led by Mary
Ellen Dahlkemper of Stairways
and included a panel made up
of psychologists and therapists
from all over Erie, as well as
Sturtevant and both Santillanos.
“Proximity…” choreographed
by Carlos dos Santos. This piece
featured unusual and at times
twitchy movement with comic,
cartoonish moments. Unlike
the rest of the pieces, the danc-
ers wore street clothes for this
dance, which added to its edgy
flavor.
“The choreography was
amazing, especially in the sim-
plicity of the second piece in
the white dress,” junior Sarah
Hlusko said.
The final piece of the eve-
ning, “Divining,” called upon
Ailey’s African dance roots and
was choreographed by Judith
Jamison, artistic director of
Alvin Ailey American Dance
March 31, 2010
The discussion was open to
the audience, and spearheaded
questions from the audience
about how to deal with mental
illness, going a long way to sow
acceptance and hope for those
dealing with mental illness.
There is no doubt that Stur-
tevant and SoMar Dance Works
accomplished a great feat on
Sunday. “The performance dealt
with the topic really well. It was
very moving,” sophomore Vic-
toria Scott said.
Junior Nicole Lyons, who
performed in the concert, said,
“Performing in ‘Dis-ease’ was
very different from other per-
formances because it carried
such a strong message. It was
great to have that kind of expe-
rience — it really tested my
maturity as a dancer.”
For both performers and
viewers alike, “Disease: A
Coming Out” was a powerful
experience.
An unabridged version of this
article can be found online.
Theatre and Artistic Advisor of
Ailey II. The piece highlighted
the dancing of Ghrai DeVore as
a soloist supported by the rest
of the Ailey II company.
The performance was well-
received by many of the audi-
ence members.“It was very
exciting and fresh. The physical-
ity of all the dancers was great,”
senior Cameron Woods said.
“The show was wonderful.
I loved the expression of the
dancers,” freshman Darnell
Lewis said.
Overall, the show seemed to
be well-liked and appreciated by
many. “They should bring more
shows like this to Erie,” audi-
ence member Vivian Tate said.