Ian

Michalski
Vol.82,No.6/10.08.08/Free takes a
Mexican
‘study
break’ Read more
on Page 7

Class of 2012,
hope you like
’Hurst housing
Incoming students required to live
Survey says on campus until senior year.

students favor OBAMA

Check out the results of The Merciad’s survey on Page 2
Read more on Page 2
Page 2
Class of 2012 faces
three-year housing rule
By Casey Greene
Editor-in-chief
Before the Class of 2012
starts house-hunting after
sophomore year, they should
read the fine print.
At the end of the 2007-
08 school year, the college
imposed a new policy requir-
ing students to live on campus
until their fourth year. The
first class of students affected
by the policy are Mercyhurst’s
current freshman class.
Previously, students were
allowed to move off campus
after their sophomore year.
“All first-, second-, and
third-year students are
required to live on campus,
unless they are classified as
nontraditional or designated
by admissions as a ‘com-
muter student’ living at their
permanent address. Students
who began classes at Mercy-
hurst College prior to Dec.
31, 2007 are exempt from the
third-year residency require-
ment,” the college’s student
handbook says.
Director of Residence Life
and Student Conduct, Laura
Zirkle, said the change in
policy is the result of the new
freshman residence hall being
built next to Tulio Field.
“The new freshman hous-
ing building provides the
college with many options,”
Zirkle said. “We will now be
able to provide students with
better housing options.”
Vive President of Student
Life, Dr. Gerry Tobin, said
the new residence hall will
house 300 freshmen.
Currently, Baldwin Hall is
the home to 200 freshmen,
McAuley Hall 160, Egan Hall
100 and the Mercy Suites
150.
“We have more freshman
beds than we’ll ever have
freshmen,” Tobin said. “We
understood that when we
decided to build the new resi-
dence hall.”
The policy is not just a
result of the new housing
options. Other concerns led
to the decision to enact the
three-year rule.
Tobin said one housing
issue the administration rec-
ognizes is the “internal den-
sity of apartments.”
“The different sized bed-
rooms in Briggs and Lewis
apartments make living tight,”
Tobin said. “We recognize
this and plan to provide better
housing options as a result of
this change.”
For this reason, the plan is
to convert many of the four-
person apartments on Briggs
and Lewis avenues into tri-
ples.
“We realize that we will be
providing a better housing sit-
uation if we move from quads
to triples,” Zirkle said.
Student safety is another
issue that led to the three-year
policy.
“The college takes a sig-
nificant amount of responsi-
bility in providing good and
safe housing on campus,”
Tobin said. “The housing stu-
dents rent off campus are not
always good and not always
safe.”
With the increase in com-
plaints from neighbors of
off-campus students, Zirkle
said she hopes the new policy
will alleviate some of these
issues.
“This could provide mutual
relief for the college and our
neighbors,” she said.
Currently, the college is talk-
NEWS October 8, 2008
Merciad Student
Survey Results on
Election 2008
ing with a consultant about
possible changes for residence These pie charts depict the results of the 519
buildings on campus. students who completed the survey sent out by
Tobin said one idea is to use
parts of McAuley as a com-
the Merciad.
muter lounge or to use Egan
as office space. Do you plan on voting?
Another possibility is to
convert the Mercy Suites into 45
graduate housing.
“This would open up build-
ings on Briggs and Lewis yes
where grads are currently no
housed,” Tobin said. 473
He said no final decisions
have been made and all ideas
are “still on the table.”
The new policy will not take
affect for another two years.
What party are you affiliated with?
Delaying the enforcement
of the policy gives the college 24
a “few years to get prepared,” 81 Democrat
Tobin said.
While student opposition Republican
240
may occur, Zirkle does not Independent
anticipate much resistance. 173
“This class of freshmen came Other
in knowing and understand-
ing that this was the policy,”
she said.
Zirkle said she believes the Which candidate do you support?
changes in housing and the
housing policy will provide
more desirable on-campus 73
John McCain
living options for students. 167
“It’s important to the col-
Barack Obama
lege that we do what we really Not sure
feel is best for students,” 278
Zirkle said.
Tobin said he feels resi-
dential living is part of the
“whole college experience”
and providing attractive hous- Most Important Issues to Students
ing will make the experience
more successful.
“We now have enough
space to offer great housing 369 Economy
in a way that is much more 463 War in Iraq
appealing to students,” Tobin Energy/Oil
said. “We’re convinced that a
good residential experience in
college is worth all students 370
invest in it.”
October 8, 2008
College’s neighbors unite
to address concerns about
off-campus students
By JoEllen Marsh
Contributing writer
On Monday, Oct. 6, several
dozen local residents held a
meeting at the Lamb of God
Lutheran Church on the corner
of 38th and Ash Streets to dis-
cuss crime and housing viola-
tions in the residential area sur-
rounding Mercyhurst College.
Bob Merski, co-founder of
the South East Hills Neighbor-
hood Watch, said, “It’s mostly
quality of life issues, like
broken glass from beer bottles
and parties on weekdays until
two in the morning when we
have work the next day.”
According to Merski, the
organization started in Novem-
ber 2007 to address issues with
off-campus rental units.
Mercyhurst’s Residence Life
staff is taking the matter very
seriously.
Assistant Vice President of
Student Life, Laura Zirkle said,
“The first couple of weekends
we hit hard with code enforce-
ment to set the tone from the
very beginning… Students are
picking up on the fact that we
will be enforcing the code.”
And they did hit hard, bust-
ing 12 off-campus parties the
first weekend of the school
year. Erie city police reported
ten housing violations, 15
underage citations, three dis-
orderly conduct violations,
five public intoxication cita-
tions and two burglaries in the
month of September.
Joe Howard, the coordina-
tor of student life, said, “We
realize it’s a only handful of
problem houses, and that the
bulk of the students living
off campus are not causing
problems.”
Some of the problems aren’t
even caused by Mercyhurst
students. Seven of the 12 vio-
lations cited the first weekend
involved students Penn State
Behrend.
Apart from excess noise
and parties, parking too many
vehicles, parking vehicles on
lawns, placing indoor furniture
on lawns, leaving trash and fur-
niture outside and low appear-
ance of houses were among
residents’ other complaints.
“Our organization is not
anti-college students or anti-
Mercyhurst. We are pro keep-
ing our neighborhood safe,
clean and orderly,” Merski said.
“We don’t have a problem as
long as they respect the social
values of the neighborhood
and just kept in their minds to
live like their moms live next
door.”
The problem is many stu-
dents go to college to get away
from the restrictions of living
with their parents.
About four students rep-
resented Mercyhurst at the
meeting.
One Mercyhurst student
living on 38th Street told the
residents, “You say we’re citi-
zens first and students second,
but we’re also adults. I think if
you approached us and talked
to us when there’s a problem
before calling the police we
could work it out.”
These issues have only
become a problem in the last
few years as more and more
students move off-campus.
Merski said, “I think that’s
the hardest thing; these were
all solid family homes up until
about five years ago. The stu-
dents just aren’t taking care of
NEWS Page 3
them and they look blighted.”
Senior Jenna Golden has
lived on 38th Street for the Friday, Oct. 10
past two years. She moved off
campus, because “there used
Bash Knight 7:30 p.m. Herrmann
to be more freedom living Student Union
off campus and it’s a lot nicer.
There’s a lot more space and
alone time.” Saturday, Oct. 11
Low density housing is
another issue. The City of
Lakers vs. Gannon
Erie limits residences to three Football Game 7 p.m.
non-related people per house.
So far 24 houses have been
(transportation to
identified for housing viola- Gannon provided)
tions.
The city is currently explor-
ing other zoning options for
certain areas around campus. Harassment Off Campus
Andy Zimmerman, the Man- Saturday, Sept. 27 .08 Pending Investigation
ager of Code Enforcement
in the City of Erie, recently Criminal Mischief 742 East 40th Street
visited Indiana University of
Saturday, Sept. 27 .08 Pending Investigation
Pennsylvania (IUP) to exam-
ine their housing projects.
“IUP is doing the larg- Harassment East 38th Street
est renovation in the nation. Saturday, Sept. 27 .08 Pending Investigation
They’re working on re-zoning
areas, so they can build houses 3829 Lewis Avenue
up… and keep students nearer
Criminal Mischief
Saturday, Sept. 27 .08 Closed
to campus,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman pushed to
follow IUP’s lead in getting Disorderly Conduct Hammermill Library
students involved in the com- College Discipline
Sunday, Sept. 28 .08
munity. “We need to give them
internships in the city, invite
Criminal Mischief Warde Townhouses
them to these meetings. We’ve
got to start working together a Monday, Sept. 29 .08 Closed
little bit.”
Howard said, “Mercyhurst Controlled Substance 3828 Briggs Avenue
is very glad to be cooperating Thursday, Oct. 2 .08 College Violation
with the city and neighbor-
hood watch. Harassment 3828 Briggs Avenue
“One of the upsides is we’re
able to see where our prob- Friday, Oct. 3 .08 College Discipline
lems are and address those
issues. We’re finding a lot of Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 2008
these problems are coming
from Behrend students, so it’s
Mercyhurst
helping Mercyhurst’s reputa- College
tion.”
Page 4
Students have ‘abroad’ choices for travel
By Liz Maier
Staff writer
Discovering a whole new
world can be made possible
through the Mercyhurst Col-
lege Faculty-Led Study Abroad
(FSAT) programs.
In the fall of 2007, the
FSAT program was formed
by, Dr. Heidi Hosey, Director
of International Education
along with several other fac-
ulty members.
Hosey wanted to create a
more affordable, efficient and
effortless approach to study-
ing abroad.
“What makes FSAT differ-
ent is that the students take the
FSAT courses as overloads,”
Hosey said.
“They are not charged
tuition, only a small admin-
istrative fee. That way, the
courses become additional
credits rather than just part of
the traditional tuition load,”
Hosey said.
The next stage in the estab-
lishment of the FSAT was to
find a travel logistics partner
program.
“I looked for a company
with a long track record for
working with students, one
that would take on the liability
responsibility for this kind of
effort and guarantee the price
once students locked it in,
thus protecting students from
unexpected increases and, or
losses in the value of the dollar
against foreign currencies.”
Hosey chose EF, Education
First, Educational Tours.
“They focus on student
learning about culture as their
primary mission,” Hosey said.
In 2008, Hosey set up two
FSAT trips; one to Japan and
the other to Germany, Italy,
Switzerland, France, and Eng-
land.
“Those two trips involved
The Mercyhurst College Faculty-Led Study Abroad program allows students to travel the world
without missing out on important trimesters at the ’Hurst. In the spring of 2009, students will
travel to destinations like Italy, Greece, Egypt, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
five professors and over sixty
students,” Hosey said. “A
huge success for the first time
through.”
Junior Lauren Halpin was
one of the students to travel
on the FSAT trip to Germany,
Italy, Switzerland, France and
England.
“Overall, it was a good
experience,” Halpin said. “We
got to see a lot of different
things. At times, it was a little
overwhelming with so many
students, but it was exciting.”
Hosey traveled with the
2008 Japan FSAT trip, but did
not lead a course.
“I handled the administra-
tive end of things and chased
people around countless
shrines and temples,” Hosey
said. “It was a blast.”
For the summer of 2009,
approximately 90 students and
six professors will be traveling
on three different FSAT trips:
to the Galapagos, Italy and
NEWS October 8, 2008
“I ask faculty members
about their particular inter-
ests, talk with students about
whether they find certain ideas
intriguing, and then try to find
the best itineraries at the best
prices,” Hosey said.
Mercyhurst students have
found the FSAT programs
to European countries most
appealing so far.
“I think Americans love the
romantic idea of the Eiffel
Tower and the Coliseum,”
Hosey said.
Spaces are still available for
all three 2009 FSAT trips, so
interested students should
contact Hosey as soon as pos-
sible.
The FSAT program requires
students to have at least a 2.5
GPA.
Tyler Stauffer illustration In addition to Faculty-
Led Study Abroad, Mercy-
hurst offers a consortium, an
agreement allowing a certain
number of students from each
Greece, and Egypt. time of your life.’” institution to study at another
The courses affiliated with Hosey said it is too early other institution for a certain
the Italy and Greece trip will to announce the 2010 FSAT time period.
be taught by Dr. Daniel McFee trips, but she did hint at a few Financial aid is available for
and Dr. Jim Snyder. The trip locations. qualified students.
to Egypt will be led by Hosey, “In the true tradition of “Emily Semrau in the Mer-
Dean Jim Breckenridge and ‘sneak peek,’ I can say that cyhurst Financial Aid office
Dr. Mary Breckenridge. we’re looking very seriously is the person who focuses
The Galapagos and Ecua- at Eastern Europe; includ- on study abroad financial aid
dor courses will be taught by ing Prague, Africa, the South issues,” Hosey said. “Students
Dr. Steve Mauro and Profes- Pacific and Australia and/or should contact her to discuss
sor Rob Hoff. China,” Hosey said. their options.”
“I recommend all trips,” Student and faculty interest “They will be surprised
Hosey said. “I say to any stu- are the two deciding factors to learn that there are more
dent: ‘Get out there and see in the FSAT program, said options than they might have
the world. It really will be the Hosey. thought,” Hosey said.
Hammermill Library will launch a new
Web site layout on Monday Oct. 13 at 8 a.m.
The updated Web site will allow students to use the library’s
resources easily and will have many new features.
To find out how the Web site changed, check it out at
library.mercyhurst.edu and look for The Merciad article next week about
the new features it has to offer.
October 8, 2008
Repeated
assaults
increase student
awareness
By Ashley Pastor
Staff writer
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Erie
police advised Mercyhurst
College Police and Safety that
an attempted sexual assault
occurred a block north of
the campus on Saturday,
Sept. 27.
According to the Director
of Public Safety, Rodger Gre-
gorich, “there was some con-
fusion as to where the inci-
dent actually took place, and
that issue was resolved the
next day, on October 1.”
Gregorich stated the victim
is not a Mercyhurst student.
The information sent
to students and faculty on
Wednesday, Oct. 1, reported
that on Sept. 27 at approxi-
mately 2 a.m., an attempted
sexual assault occurred near
the Erie campus at E. 37th
and Wallace streets.
For those unfamiliar of the
area, Wallace Street is located
at the light shared with St.
Luke Church.
This area is residential
where many students living
off-campus have housing.
The assailant reportedly
attempted to sexually assault
the victim who struggled and
fell to the pavement, tempo-
rarily losing consciousness.
The assailant fled before
the victim was discovered
by neighbors who called the
police.
“We were advised that the
victim was taken to the hos-
pital, treated and released,”
Gregorich said.
Although this was not an
incident that occurred on
campus, or involving a stu-
dent, numerous cases have
been reported this academic
year in which students have
been assaulted while walking
to their homes late at night
from off-campus sites and
places on campus.
The report continued
describing the suspect as a
white male, about 19 to 20
years of age, 5 feet, 11 inches
with unkempt brown hair, a
thin build and no facial hair.
The campus-wide notifi-
cation asked if anyone had
information regarding the
incident that may be helpful
to contact Police and Safety.
The report also gave the
option of anonymously
reporting any informa-
tion regarding this incident
through the Mercyhurst Col-
lege “Silent Witness” pro-
gram, and offered a hyperlink
to a reporting form.
The notification offered
suggestions for personal
safety.
Some tips include: Walk in
pairs in well lit areas; walk
close to the curb facing traffic
and avoid areas of conceal-
ment such as shrubs, trees and
building entrances; be aware
of surroundings; if someone
is following you, create a dis-
turbance and run towards an
open building; when leaving
a building, look around the
area outside before exiting;
attackers expect passive vic-
tims, so walk with a steady
pace and appear purposeful;
and promptly report any sus-
pected criminal activity to the
Police and Safety Department.
NEWS Page 5
Have you been left downtown waiting
for the MSG Shuttle?
Don’t worry, the wait is over.
Announcing the
Mercyhurst College
EMTA bus!
Students who plan to ride the bus this weekend should know:
• Students can ride any EMTA route for free starting on Saturday, Oct.
11.
• There is no cost to students thanks to of MSG and the college.
However, students are required to show ID in order to board and
ride any EMTA bus.
• The EMTA bus providing the traditional Mercyhurst Student
Government (MSG) routes will say “Mercyhurst” indicated above in
the lights at the front/top of the bus.
• The Briggs Avenue Shelter location will remain the same as indicated
in the schedule.
• The Baldwin pick-up location has been changed to pick-up at the
Parade Street Boulevard entrance of campus. EMTA has plans to
install a shelter at the Parade Street Boulevard entrance. Until then,
there will be an EMTA sign.
• EMTA bus capacity is 32 seated and 16 standing. There will be no
exceptions to the capacity limits.
• All routes are open to the public, including the traditional MSG routes.
This means there could be non-Mercyhurst College people riding the
bus. MSG reminds students to extend the Mercyhurst hospitality to
all passengers and EMTA employees at all times.
• Guests of students will be required to pay the $1.10 bus fare. Check
emtaerie.com for the most accurate information on routes and
fares.
• For a complete list of routes available, please go to: emtaerie.com/
routes.
• The Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening State Street Routes will
require students to show your ID and sign-in with Nell Hardy (the
current MSG shuttle driver).
• EMTA buses are equipped with video recording devices and there
will be security on these routes. All student conduct issues will
be handled in accordance with Mercyhurst College policies and in
accordance with the Student Conduct Code. Students should always
be on their best behavior and remember this service is a privilege.
Page 6
’Hurst alumni
shares his post -
graduation story
By Christopher Davis
Contributing writer
As graduation creeped
closer and closer, I thought I
was extremely prepared for
graduate school.
I chose to go to Bowl-
ing Green University in
Ohio for my Business
Education degree.
The only negative aspect is
some undergraduate classes
(i.e. a computer science 100
level class, personal finance,
and business communications)
are required in my masters
program.
I never had to take them
at Mercyhurst, so its weird
having to take a few of
these undergradate classes
as a graduate student.
I miss the ’Hurst so much.
I made so many wonderful
friendships and was a part of
so many tremendous orga-
nizations during my four
years there.
It was great coming back
during homecoming week-
end as an alumni and seeing
everyone from the Mercy-
hurst community along with
Davis (third from left in top row) helps out at Camp Winaukee
as a camp counselor in the summer.
FEATURES October 8, 2008
all the new features like the
new residence hall being built,
the 24-hour student lounge
and blue light safety systems.
Since graduation, I worked
this summer at a summer
sports camp as a camp coun-
selor and teaching lacrosse at
Camp Winaukee in Moulton-
boro, N.H. right on the lake.
I finished camp and headed
straight off to graduate school
where I am getting my mas- 6” Sub $3.75 Combo $ 4.75
ters in Business Education 12” Sub $5.75 Combo $ 6.75
and working as a teacher’s
assistant.
I also am helping coach a 6” Sub $ 4 Combo $ 5. 25
high school lacrosse team at St. 12” Sub $ 6 Combo $ 6.75
John’s Jesuit in nearby Toledo. Wrap Combo- Veggie $ 5.59
In addition, I was recently Other Wraps $ 5.79
picked as the Graduate Student “ Wrap it Yourself ” Veggie $ 3.99
Senator within my program. Other Wraps $ 4.19
In my free time, I am play-
ing some club lacrosse and
enjoying the Catholic pro-
grams offered: Creed on
Campus, Bible study and
praise and worship, in addi-
11:30 a.m -8pm
tion to teaching a religion
class to fourth and fifth grade
students on Sunday mornings. Lunch $ 4.75
So, just like at the ’Hurst, I Dinner $ 6.75
am always running around and
keeping busy for the better.
Contributed photo
October 8, 2008
Mercyhurst student shares experience abroad
Junior Ian Michalski describes life as a college student in Mexico
By Ian MIchalski
Contributing writer
I am Ian Michalski, a junior
Political Science/World Lan-
guage and Culture double major
at Mercyhurst College.
I have been blessed with the
opportunity to participate in a
new exchange offered by a con-
sortium recently established be-
tween Mercyhurst College and
La Universidad del Mayab.
“La Mayab,” as we call it in Mer-
ida, is a very well known and pres-
tigious institution, especially in
southeastern Mexico. I am tak-
ing three classes here at “La
Mayab,” and so far they are go-
ing very well.
This experience has proved
to be very “international”
for me, not just because I
am an exchange student liv-
ing and studying in Mexico,
but because I am joined by 40
other students.
The other exchange stu-
dents come from places such as
France, Canada, Belgium, Brazil,
Ivory Coast, Austria, Germany
and Spain.
Thanks the to the “Hermano
Mayab” program which has or-
ganized us into groups of about
six, each with an upperclassman
“hermano/a” who acts as our di-
rect contact and support system.
I have been able to spend
plenty of time with my fellow
exchange students and learn
about their lifestyles, languages
and cultures.
I am also training with a beach
volleyball team at a sports club
affiliated with the university. I
will be participating in “Mayab-
MUN 2008”, which is a three-
day Model United Nations con-
ference as well.
Upon expressing my in-
terest in the Model UN, the
organizers made sure to get
FEATURES
Contributed photo
Michalski during one of his weekend Mexico adventures.
me involved. I am very excited nection to Mercyhurst College.
to be representing the United Dr. Juan Argaez, profes-
States of America in the Model sor in the Walker School
UN Security Council. of Business is Susana’s
As for my housing situation, nephew. I must thank Juan
I am living with a wonderful, Argaez for setting me up
family in Merida. They are the with such wonderful living
Herrera-Alonso family, which arrangements.
consists of Luis (father), Su- I am really enjoying this op-
sana (mother), Luisito (18) portunity to live with a family,
and Susi (12). My host family and I feel it helps complete the
actually has a wonderful con- language immersion experience
Michalski (top right corner) is one of 40 students from all over the world chosen to participate in the exchange program. The
ultimate goal is to send students from Mayab to the other schools involved as well as hosting international students.
and also helps me learn about
the culture and life style of the
people in Merida.
With classes and volleyball
taking up most of my week, it
is important for me (and rest of
the exchange students as well) to
take advantage of the weekends
to see what the Yucatan Penin-
sula and the rest of Mexico have
to offer.
So far, I have explored Me-
rida (and its traditional “co-
lonial style” center) as well as
Valladolid, Cancun, Playa Del
Carmen, Isla Mujeres and the
Mayan Ruins of Ek’Balam and
Chichén Itzá.
I have managed to do a con-
siderable amount of activities
in each city, but the greatest
part is I have two more months
left to explore the rest of the
Yucatan region.
Something I did not expect
to experience during my time
in Merida is the ongoing influ-
ence of Maya. Their culture,
customs, food and language
remains strong in the Yucatan,
influencing daily living and even
transcending social class.
Page 7
Everyone in the Yucatan,
from the most humble folk who
live in small villages to the more
wealthy people who live in beau-
tiful houses in wealthy neigh-
borhoods of Merida still take
an active part in preserving the
Mayan culture.
People here still have ham-
mocks hung in every bedroom;
they still eat very traditional
foods, and even use elements of
the Mayan language in everyday
life. I have improved my Span-
ish and my “Mayan” here in
Merida.
Sitting here in my hammock,
I realize it has been a truly en-
riching experience here in Me-
rida, and I can’t wait to see what
the next two months have to
offer.
I am making sure to take plen-
ty of pictures, and I am excited
to share the many anecdotes and
intriguing tales I am acquiring
along the way when I return to
Mercyhurst.
I wish the best for ev-
eryone at Mercyhurst, and
it’s Hasta Luego for me here
in Merida.
unimayab.edu.mx
Page 8 FEATURES October 8, 2008

Martin Margiela: fashion’s hidden wonder

By Amanda Antenucci
Contributing writer
For the past 20 years, one
of fashions most mysterious
and influential designers has
been absent from his own
runway shows.
Unlike most designers
who take the final walk and
applause at the shows, Martin
Margiela has a very different
way of working the crowd.
Ironic enough, the fashion
industry places vast value on
image and outward appearance
and yet the hidden man has
not been forgotten.
So how exactly does one
famous person obtain a low
profile for 20 years?
The Belgian designer
refuses face to face interviews;
all contact to him is done
through fax and when he is in
public you wouldn’t recognize
him enough to give him a
second glance.
One of his colleagues
reports that judgment would
place him as a cold and anti-
social man; however, he is
reported to be very sensitive,
warm and calm.
So what is his main principle
for playing hide and seek?
His provoking stand is
to make two points very
important to him: his designs
should speak for themselves,
and the work shown was
made possible through a large
collaborative team, not just by
one person.
This designer is very
refreshing in a rebel-for-a-
cause kind of way.
That is the basic foundation
of the designer’s collections
and fashion houses; the
clothes speak for themselves
and the designer just has a
name attached to it.
When Martin is at his runway
shows, you can find him either
backstage working the entire
time, or sitting in the crowd as
an observer with a baseball hat
pulled low over his face.
His collections won’t seem produced only 1000 sweaters.
like a similar case like a lot of It’s designers like Margiela
other designers who have close that make the fashion industry
pieces re-worked in different what it is today: diversified,
shapes and fabric. creative, couture, unique
Martin’s specialty is and caters to more than one
reworking and redesigning consumer with inspiration
by hand pieces made from and style.
old silk remnants, canvas and
other random materials such
as wigs and gloves and making
it into couture garments.
He once was asked to make
a sweater that looked old and
ragged, like something found
in a grandma’s attic from
decades ago.
It took work and time to nytimes.com
find yarn that could be made One of Margiela’s creations:
to look deconstructed, and a vest made of gloves.

UCLA team discovers 13 million digit prime number

By Emily Grabowski
Features editor
Mathematicians at UCLA
have discovered a 13 mil-
lion-digit prime number, a
long-sought milestone that
makes them eligible for a
$100,000 prize.
The group found the 46th
known Mersenne prime
last month on a network
of 75 computers running
Windows XP.
The number was veri-
fied by a different computer
system running a different
algorithm.
Primes are numbers
like three, seven and 11
are divisible by only two
whole positive numbers:
themselves and one.
Mersenne primes --
named for their discoverer,
17th century French math-
ematician Marin Mersenne
-- are expressed as 2P-1, or
two to the power of “P”
minus one. P is itself a prime effort to determine the next- able to write one digit per standard that paper money
number. For the new prime, P digit of pi, finding the next second, it would take you be 124 micrometers thick),”
is 43,112,609. prime number is a challenge 150 days (and that’s writing Kelly added.
Pat Kelly, one of the only taken on ‘for the heck for twenty-four hours a day, Kelly hopes this discovery
Associate Professors in the of it’--like the old climbing- seven days a week) to write will create a bigger apprecia-
Mercyhurst math department, a-mountain-because-it’s-there out this number that’s been tion for mathematics and the
was asked what he thought rationale,” he said. discovered. processes involved.
about the recent discovery. Kelly mentioned the number If we say that a typical digit “So all of this thinking hope-
He was very eager to give to his classes to get their would take up 1/8”, that would fully leads to some admiration
his input. input as well. make this number we’ve writ- and possible enjoyment of the
“I think what’s fun about “I recently had a dia- ten about 25.6 miles long. mathematics that’s involved,
this newfound knowledge is logue with my class of Or, if you prefer: If you and it all simply because the
that it has no practical value. math ed majors about the were to stack 13 million one- mountain was there!”
This is a prime example of number, and they consid- dollar bills on top of each To read the full article, visit
mathematics for mathematics’ ered this last point in a very other, the pile would be http://www.cnn.com/2008/
sake,” Kelly said, interesting way. about one mile high (using TECH/09/27/prime.number.
“Similar to the ongoing If we assume that you are the U.S. government’s stated ap/index.html.
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October 8, 2008
’Hurst students ‘go green’ on campus, in life
By Nicole Cerilli
Contributing writer
It takes three extra seconds to
stop and think which garbage
bin to aim for on the way to class,
but it’s not a rare occurrence to
spy a half-eaten, browning apple
tossed carelessly into the ‘paper
only’ bin.
The reality of the situation is
natural resources are being used
up at a rapid, unsustainable rate.
The importance of reducing,
reusing and recycling is greater
than ever.
This is why many Mer-
cyhurst College students
and faculty members
have become interested in
“going green.”Mercyhurst
senior and Green Team Presi-
dent Margaux Valenti is pas-
sionate about this cause.
“We have an obligation to go
green,” she says.
“To be cliché, we only have
one planet, and it’s slowly being
destroyed by greed. We need to
take steps to live in a way better
suited to the continuation of
this planet.”
Just by glancing at the clearly-
labeled garbage bins positioned
throughout the campus, it is evi-
dent Mercyhurst feels an obliga-
tion to take part in the surging
green trend.
History Department Chair
and Mercyhurst College Green
Team Chair Dr. Chris Magoc
has seen the changes over the
years on the campus.
“Over the past decade, Mer-
cyhurst has taken great strides
towards becoming an exemplary
green institution,” he said.
“We have positioned ourselves
at the cutting-edge of transfor-
mational change that will ener-
gize our economy, reduce our
dependency on fossil fuels and
curb the worst effects of global
warming.”
According to Magoc, this puts
Learning how to recycle properly is only one step in the
process of saving our environment.
Mercyhurst “in the upper eche-
lon of colleges and universities
nationwide in terms of a com-
mitment to renewable energy.”
So far, the college established
a student green energy fund
and built geothermal buildings
and solar panels. In addition,
Mercyhurst purchases up to 30
percent of its energy from wind
power to meet electrical needs in
hopes of setting good examples
for other institutions.
The college also has an active
Green Team, which recently dis-
tributed brand-new, blue recy-
cling bins to individual student
apartments across campus to
promote consistent, widespread
recycling.
Many faculty members and
professors encourage students
to make positive, green lifestyle
choices. Art Education Pro-
gram Director Camille Nischal
integrates green practices into
the classroom.
She replaces paper handouts
with wiki Web site pages, uses
soy-based and gum-based inks
that don’t require chemicals to
clean up. She also uses recycled
FEATURES Page 9
Valenti said. choices.
Green Team Vice Presi- Magoc is confident that as
dent senior Zach Pekor shares an exemplary green institu-
Valenti’s point of view. tion, Mercyhurst will have a
“I think people get the false positive impact on students
impression that they have to not only now, but also in
be living in trees and eating the future.
nothing but granola bars in It is his hope the examples
order to be environmen- set for students at the col-
tally friendly, but it does not lege-level college will encour-
have to go to that extreme,” age them to live a green life
he said. even after they graduate from
“Just be environmentally Mercyhurst.
savvy to the best of your “By the way they live here
abilities,” Pekor stated. as well as what they learn in
Valenti and Pekor point the classroom, Mercyhurst stu-
out the simple steps for going dents are learning how to meet
green are out there, but it is ulti- the environmental and eco-
mately up to each individual to nomic challenges of the future,”
make environmentally friendly Magoc said.
ecoworldly.com
Going green doesn’t have to
be hard. Here are some simple
items such as phone books, things you can do:
baby food jars and yogurt
1. Turn off appliances and computer
containers for art cleanup
and storage. when not in use
Other professors lessen the 2. Shut off lights when leaving the room
amountof printhandoutsbypost- 3. Recycle!
ing assignments and readings on 4. Grocery shop with cloth bags
Blackboard.
5. Professors: use Blackboard instead of
But are the students
on campus actually moti- printing handouts
vated to “go green” in their 6. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees
everyday lives? in the summer, and down a few degrees
The answer is yes. Senior John in the winter.
Lorenz believes students will be
7. Wash clothes on cool setting
more inclined to recycle as a
result of the newly-distributed 8. Walk, don’t drive, across campus
recycling bins. He thinks having 9, Recycle ink cartridges in the library
a bin present in the kitchen 10. Eat locally. Shop at the farmer’s mar-
will motivate students to kets held on campus.
recycle daily.
11. Purchase a low-flow showerhead
“I think the students have
good grasp on the impor- 12. Use fluorescent energy-saving light
tance of going green,” bulbs
Lorenz said. 13. Drink organic, fair-trade coffee
Junior Alicia Ackley 14. If you like the taste and purity of
agrees. But Valenti argues
bottled water purchase a Live PURE
people aren’t necessarily
doing enough. Fit and Fresh reusable water bottle. It
“People could make a bigger comes with a water filter and purifies the
effort to put their motivation water as you drink it.
to go green to use by following 15. Purchase recycled content paper
simple steps such as recycling,”
Page 10
Illegal immigration humanized in ‘The Visitor’
By Mason Lorek
Contributing writer
An issue continuing to con-
cern our nation is the perme-
ability of our borders and its
allowance of illegal immigra-
tion.
I’ve heard all of the argu-
ments about security risk
(potentially major) and theft
of American jobs (a bit of a
stretch to me) but I still tend
to sympathize with the immi-
grant.
I respect people with that
much courage to make better
lives for themselves. Sure,
there are better, legal ways of
going about it, but the truth is
visas are often hard to obtain,
sometimes unnecessarily so.
A friend told me a story
about an elderly relative who
was denied entry when trying
to visit her son who was dying
of cancer.
I understand we are just
doing our job and after 9/11
we can’t take any chances, but
Dance major Mihu offers free hip-hop classes
By Sarah Mastrocola
Contributing writer
As part of a new open class
program in the Dance Depart-
ment, junior dance major
Jen Mihu is teaching hip-hop
classes on Saturdays from 9:30
a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The classes are free, unlike
the other departmental open
classes.
The classes are open to
dance majors and non-majors.
Mihu, a native of Cleveland,
Ohio, is famous within the
Dance Department for her
enjoyment of hip-hop.
“I have quite a love for it,
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
we’ve clearly been more lenient
to greater threats than that.
Americans also tend to type-
cast illegal immigrants as indo-
lent, sullied persons of Latin
descent, and that’s the kindest
description I’ve heard.
But the Mexican border is
not the only border America
has, and Hispanics are not the
only people trying to immigrate
into the United States.
Next week’s movie at the
Mary D’Angelo Performing
Arts Center, entitled “The Visi-
tor,” shows this issue in a nec-
essarily different light.
Set primarily in New York,
the film follows two illegal
immigrants that do not fit typi-
cal American stereotypes.
Richard Jenkins (“Step
Brothers,” “Burn After Read-
ing”) plays a disillusioned col-
lege professor named Walter
Vale who has taught the same
course for 20 years.
When the dean tells him to
go to NYU to present a paper
he co-wrote, he reluctantly
agrees.
possibly even too much,”
Mihu said with a laugh.
Dance Department chair
Tauna Hunter first approached
Mihu about teaching the
classes as part of her work
study endeavors because “she
knew I really like hip-hop,”
Mihu said.
Since then, Mihu explained,
the class has drawn between 20
and 25 people each weekend.
The structure of the class
involves warm-up exercises at
the beginning, with everyone
dancing together.
As the class progresses,
exercises are done across the
floor in small groups, and the
class culminates with a longer
Upon arriving at his New
York apartment that he has
not been to in some time, he
is startled to find a Syrian man
named Tarek and his Senega-
lese wife Zainab living there.
The place had been rented
out by a mystery man named
Ivan who had told the couple
the apartment was available.
Apologizing for the misun-
derstanding, Tarek and Zainab
gather their things and depart
with no real destination in mind.
Vale follows them out to
give them a picture frame they
had left behind and when it is
obvious to him the couple has
nowhere to go, he invites them
back to stay until they can find
a new apartment.
An interesting friendship
develops around Vale’s fond-
ness for classical music and
Tarek’s passion for the drum.
As Tarek teaches him and even
gets him to play publically in a
park, we begin to see Vale snap
out of his dormant state.
In the subway station on the
way home, Tarek is accused of
combination done in the
center with the students split
into large groups.
So far, the whole program
has been going well, according
to Mihu.
“Everyone seems be having
fun, and a lot of the same kids
keep coming back to take the
class. We have also had a signif-
icant number of boys coming
to take the class,” she said.
Mihu said she enjoys teach-
ing these classes even more
than teaching hip-hop at her
home studio in Cleveland
because the college kids tend
to have more discipline than
the younger students.
The program is especially
An illegal Syrian immigrant (played by Haaz Sleiman, above
right) wins over the heart of a world weary college professor
(Richard Jenkins, above left) in “The Visitor.”
jumping the turnstile without
paying. Walter tries to vouch
for him, but there is no talk-
ing down the NYPD when a
Syrian man holding a large bag
tries to board the subway, even
if the bag contains a dr um and
not a bomb.
It isn’t until this point Walter
learns that Tarek and Zainab
are not U.S. citizens and is faced
with the decision to return to
his humdrum teaching job or
stay to help a stranger.
Reaction: Refocused Face
good for the Dance Depart-
ment as a whole because it
brings non-majors into the
Dance Space, notes Tauna
Hunter.
Junior dance major Amanda
Fisher said, “I think it’s good
for non-majors to be able to
take the class because then
they get to see what the Dance
Department is like. Also,
it’s just a really fun class for
anyone to take.”
When asked about her
future plans for the hip-hop
class program, Mihu said, “I
hope to continue teaching the
classes past this year, assuming
that I continue to get a work
study award. If all goes well, I
October 8, 2008
PAC photo
“The Visitor” will be shown
at the PAC on Wednesday, Oct.
15, at 2 and 8 p.m.
Jenkins (Best Actor), costar
Danai Jekesai Gurira (Best Sup-
porting Actress) and Thomas
McCarthy (Best Director) all
took home awards at the 2008
Method Fest, which honors
realistic portrayals in American
indpendent film, for their work
on the film.
Tickets are free for Mercy-
hurst students with an ID (one
per ID).
would like to continue teach-
ing the class until I graduate,
especially since there has been
such a good turnout so far.”
Samantha DeBoer, a fresh-
man dance major, said, “The
class is really fun, and it’s a no-
pressure situation where you
can just have a good time and
dance. That’s one reason that I
really like to go.”
Trevor Sones, a junior dance
major who has substitute
taught for Mihu, said of the
class, “It is a great class for
everyone, dance majors and
non-dance majors alike. It’s a
good way to relieve stress and
to have fun, and it’s free and
open to the entire campus.”
October 8, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 11

‘Salome’ heads Met series Professor Hess

By Hazel Jennings
Contributing writer
“Salome,” the notorious and
often shocking opera, is coming
to the Mary D’Angelo Perform-
ing Arts Center at Mercyhurst
College for “The Metropolitan
Opera: Live in High Definition”
series on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1
p.m.
“Salome” is a one-act opera
by Richard Strauss based on
Hedwig Lachmann’s German
translation of Oscar Wilde’s
play. The controversy sur-
rounding the erotic and murder-
ous plot points caused it to be
banned in London until 1907.
Set in King Herod’s palace
during the Old Testament, the
story of Princess Salome is full
of murder, love and the desper-
ation always accompanying such
passion.
The 16-year-old princess
shows the timeless stubborn
desires and demands of a teen-
age girl, but her insistences take
a dramatic turn, as she is willing
to go to scandalous extremes for
her horrifying requests concern-
ing the men that interest her.
Salome will stop at nothing
to hold the man that has cap-
tured her heart, even if it means
unfairly using her young sexual
seduction on an admirer in order
to create an assassination.
The plot line of this thrilling
PAC schedule altered
Karita Matila reprises her 2004 starring role as title seduc-
tress in ‘Salome.’
tale using biblical characters has
given it a lot of national atten-
tion and criticism since its cre-
ation.
Karita Mattila returns for a
stunning reprise of her 2004
role of Salome. The Finnish
diva is one of today’s greatest
singing actresses and has been
recognized internationally as
an electrifying stage performer
who brings uncommon inten-
sity to every role.
Though Mattila appears regu-
larly at major opera houses all
over the world, like The Royal
Opera House in London, the
Vienna State Opera, and the
Berlin Philharmoniker, Mattila
limits her schedule to only 45-60
nights of singing a year. There-
fore, this is a rare opportunity to
see such a talent at the Metro-
politan Opera House.
Now in its third sea-
son and the second year at
Contributed photo
Mercyhurst College, “The Met-
ropolitan Opera: Live in High
Definition” broadcast is made
possible with the help of a
dozen strategically placed cam-
eras in the Metropolitan Opera
House.
The cameras offer brilliant
close-ups, which reveal the
details of costumes and facial
gestures, and with sweeping
wide angles present a panoramic
spectacle giving PAC viewers an
intimate advantage over those
actually in the Met audience.
Do not miss this opportu-
nity to not only see a seductive,
shocking tale not fit for cable
television, but also to experience
the sweeping and exhilarating
event known as a Metropolitan
Opera.
Tickets are $18 for adults and
$15 for seniors and students.
Front row balcony tickets are
$30.
to perform solos
By Kyle King
A & E editor
The Erie Chamber Orches-
tra, under the direction of
Bruce Morton Wright, will
present the second concert
of its 31st season at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10, in the Mary, Seat of
Wisdom Chapel at Gannon
University, located at 512
Peach Street.
The featured soloist will be
pianist Nathan Hess. Hess
is an Assistant Professor of
Piano and Chair of the Piano
Area at Mercyhurst College.
He holds degrees from the
University of Cincinnati Col-
lege-Conservatory of Music
and James Madison Univer-
sity.
Dr. Hess has appeared
in concert throughout the
United States and Europe and
also frequently adjudicates
throughout the region.
He has performed concerti
with the Western New York
Chamber Orchestra, York
Symphony Orchestra (PA),
New River Valley Symphony,
Mercyhurst College Chamber
Orchestra, and the JMU Sym-
phony Orchestra.
In demand as a chamber
musician, he has performed
with members of the Cincin-
nati Symphony Orchestra,
Cleveland Pops, Buffalo Phil-
harmonic, American Compos-
ers Orchestra, Chautauqua
Symphony Orchestra and the
Erie Philharmonic.
Dr. Hess taught on the
piano faculty at the State Uni-
versity of New York at Fredo-
nia and has performed on a set
of recordings for the textbook
“Harmony in Context,” pub-
lished by McGraw-Hill.
During the summer, Hess
heads the piano program at
the Pennsylvania Governor’s
School for the Arts in Erie.
The evening concert will
feature four works.
The concert will begin with
Francois-Joseph Gossec’s
“Sinfonia in E Flat Major,”
and also include three works
by Mozart. Hess will solo on
Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No.
23, K488.”
As a part of Gannon Univer-
sity’s Cultural programming for
the Erie community, Gannon
University has provided fund-
ing to have the concert audio
taped for later broadcasting on
Gannon University’s WERG
Radio FM-90.
The concert is available to
the public and free of charge.
Because of the popular-
ity of these events, seating in
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel
is somewhat limited and is on
a first-come, first-served basis.

This Sunday, Mercyhurst was sched-
uled to broadcast a lecture live from the
92nd St. YMHA in New York City as part
of its ongoing collaborative project with
local partner Temple Anshe Hesed.
The scheduled speaker was Thomas
Keneally, whose book “Searching for
Schindler” was later turned into the 1993
Steven Spielberg film that won seven
Oscars.
Keneally has cancelled due to illness,
and the event will not be rescheduled.
Instead, a tentative replacement has
been set for campus broadcast. Current
Philosophy Club
Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paul- will host a discussion about
son and other captains of industry are
scheduled to speak Thursday, Dec. 18, at Fate and Free Will
8 p.m. on Oct. 9th, from 8:15 - 9:30 p.m.
The event will be broadcast at Taylor
Little Theater, and is free to Mercyhurst in Hirt 200.
students with college ID. More details
will follow in future issues.
All are welcome to attend.
Refreshments provided.
Page 12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT October 8, 2008

Read up on
candidates
in their own
words
It is less than a month until November’s gen-
eral election, and most voters have made their
choices for which candidate they intend to vote.
For those who are still unsure, however, it may
help to check out the many books that have pub-
lished by and about each presidential and vice Images from foreverthesickestkids.com
presidential candidate:

By Barack Obama:“The Audacity of Hope:Thoughts

on Reclaiming the American Dream;” “Dreams from My
Texas sextet Forever the Sickest
Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance;” and “Change
We Can Believe In: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew Kids blare ‘Underdog Alma Mater’
America’s Promise”
On Barack Obama: John R. Talbott’s “Obamanom- rial (“Hey Brittney,” “Believe this is growing up. / I’m sleep-
By Greg Summy
ics: How Bottom-Up Economic Prosperity Will Replace Me I’m Lying”) and fresh new ing so little these days. / I guess
Trickle-down Economics;” David Freddoso’s “The Case Contributing writer
songs (“The Way She Moves,” this is growing up, / I’m feeling
Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexam- “That For Me”). things about to change.”
ined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate;” and Whether or not you went to “Underdog Alma Mater” Though the band may not
David Mendell’s “Obama: From Promise to Power” this summer’s Warped Tour in have “paid their dues” to get
starts out with the band’s first
any of the 46 cities the punk single, which was featured on where they are now, the six
By John McCain: “Faith of My Fathers: A Family
Memoir;” “Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver rock festival rolled through, or Yahoo!’s Who’s Next, “Whoa young men from Dallas/Fort
Life;” and “Hard Call: The Art of Great Decisions” spent those boring days at work Oh (Me vs. Everyone).” Worth, Texas, remain the same
On John McCain: Paul Alexander’s “Man of the surfing the Web for new music, This track is an energetic toe- kind of people they were when
People: The Life of John McCain;” Cliff Schecter’s “The chances are you came across a tapper that quickly turns into a they first started the band.
Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don’t Trust Him and young, talented group of six full-blown dance party by the In a world where frontmen
Why Independents Shouldn’t;” and Robert Timberg’s fun-loving guys. middle of the first chorus. and singular celebrities reign
“John McCain: An American Odyssey” Forever the Sickest Kids, as The lyrical prowess of the supreme with Pete Wentz of
they are known to their fans, band is obvious right from the Fall Out Boy as their king, FTSK
By Joe Biden: “Promises to Keep: On Life and Poli- are beginning to take the music start of the record. remain dedicated to making sure
tics” industry by storm. they are known as a band, not as
The catch-phrase of the first
With three-part harmonies track is a satirical look at life as individual celebrities.
On Sarah Palin: Kaylene Johnson’s “Sarah: How a
Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside and layered vocals similar to old a young adult: “I’ve got friends Cook was featured, along
Down;” Joe Hilley’s “Sarah Palin:A New Kind of Leader;” school acts like the Beach Boys in highly low places.” with four other musicians, on
and Sue Katz’s “Thanks But No Thanks:The Voter’s Guide and The Beatles, Forever the Throughout the album, the cover of Alternative Press
to Sarah Palin” Sickest Kids blend pop, rock vocalists Jonathan Cook, Caleb Magazine.
and electronica into a super Turman and Austin Bello belt In the issue, he wore a t-shirt
By Independents: Ron Paul’s “The Revolution: A genre of their own. out catchy and profound lyrics featuring all his band member’s
Manifesto” and Ralph Nader’s “Civic Arousal.” The band, less than a year that make Pete Wentz look names.
old at the time they singed a shallow. This kind of band identity is
Of General Interest: Franklin Foer’s “Election 2008: deal with Universal Records, The lone acoustic song on what keeps them touring. They
A Voter’s Guide;” Randall E. Adkins’s “The Evolution of released their debut full-length the album, “Coffee Break,” have not been home since the
Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections: Landmark
album this past spring. delves into anxiety issues and start of the AP Tour in May,
Documents from 1787-2008;” and Fareed Zakaria’s
“The Post-American War” “Underdog Alma Mater” life changes with the simple, yet and have dates booked that will
is a collection of some of the powerful lines, “Well I’ve over- keep them on the road through
band’s original touring mate- committed myself / I guess November.
October 8, 2008
Clean coal dirtying the political scene
Candidates involved in renewable energy debate
By Jerrod Markle
Contributing writer
This oxymoron phrase con-
tinuously used by politicians,
businessmen and billboards
irks me each time I am re-
minded of its existence.
The utterance of this con-
cept is distracting us from real
energy issues such as indepen-
dence and renewability.
Here again, shockingly,
Obama and McCain agree it
is time for America to invest
in clean coal.
Social networking sites can
be costly for foolish students
By Amy Kuhnlein
Contributing writer
As if finding a post gradua-
tion job isn’t scary enough—
seniors will be entering into one
of the highest job-loss markets
in five years.
With the economy already
against you, don’t let you go
against you. Employers are
turning to sources like Face-
book and MySpace to weed out
potential job candidates.
These Internet tools can
make or break a chance for
employment depending on the
information in your profile and
especially your pictures.
While some of us will be sub-
ject to extensive background
checks and security investiga-
tions, these do not give em-
ployers insight into someone’s
social makeup.
This is why they take advan-
tage of Facebook and MySpace
to do character checks. Social
OPINION Page 13
There is that change we were But think of all the “green ground. Some may call this but clean coal just does not
all looking for: Now coal com- jobs” averag e Americans clean coal technology How make sense to me.
panies that advanced. Go pick up a piece of coal
“
are already America already uses and experience for yourself
destroying Minors with their clean lungs coal to run nearly half the cleansing affect this new
Appalachia and politicians with their clean of its electricity, so at awareness will have on your
c a n r e c e ive consciences create the perfect least we will progress life.
g over nment pseudo-reality that is created by to what some can claim Politicians and greedy elites
”
subsidies to
ease the costs
the market. as clean.
We will just continue
are lying to me, while my
tax dollars are their invest-
of such evil Jerrod Markle to swipe it off moun- ments! No taxation without
work. tain tops forever, as representation used to mean
Minors with their clean will be provided by allowing mountains grow back. something.
lungs and politicians with their those trusting, environmen- Now maybe Palin’s faith will Luckily, we blindly believe
clean consciences create the tally friendly coal plants to allow her to move mountains and submit to nonsense, so
perfect pseudo-reality that is build newer, cleaner plants or Obama-maniacs think his phrases like clean coal can
created by the market. by emitting the waste into the voice can change landscapes, make sense.
networking sites are the main employers are using these sites, If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
contributors to a person’s on- and not hiring someone be- Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
line footprint. cause of their online profile, is Casey Greene Editor-in-Chief editormerciad
On the employer’s side, Face- that truly a way to find the best Amanda Valauri News Editor newsmerciad
book and MySpace are open possible em-ployees? Emily Grabowski Features Editor featuremerciad
and free to anyone who can Facebook is a conglomera- Heather Donovan Opinion Editor opinionmerciad
access the Internet and join the tion of information put up Brad Moehringer Sports Editor sportsmerciad
right network. for friends—Facebook is not Sam Sellinger Sports Editor sportsmerciad
a resume. Kyle King A&E entertainmentmerciad
I called my dad and asked if Scoot Williams Photographer photomerciad
he uses MySpace or Facebook Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
when it comes to hiring em- Caitlin Bly Advertising Manager admerciad
ployees at his company. Gretchen Yori Copy Editor copymerciad
He responded with “what’s Ashley Pastor General Assignment apasto22
Popular social networking MyFace?” So clearly that is a Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
sites cause for applicant’s no. While not all employers Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
concern. take advantage of these social
databases, many do. The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
The sites allow employers to
It comes down to the choice
have a better idea of who they College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
we have as potential employ-
are hiring without the pretense finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814)
ees. Are you comfortable with
of a formal interview. 824-2376.
superiors seeing how you pres-
Since an employer can see
ent yourself outside of the
the true personality of ap- The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
business world?
plicants, why not use these
tools to hire the best Finding a job is harder than and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
ever, don’t lower your chances letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
candidate available?
more by letting a fun Sat- are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
On the other hand, compa-
urday night ruin a Monday
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morning interview.
someone’s qualifications. If
Page 14
Vice presidential debate: another Palin let down
By Eric Jackson
Contributing writer
Well gosh darn and golly gee
to all you mavericks out there,
that vice presidential debate
was absolutely astonishing.
We are making a mockery
of our political process, and I
pray to God the enemies of the
United States are not watching
this.
I really have to give Senator
Joe Biden credit for being
a gentleman and containing
himself, not because he didn’t
attack, but because he didn’t fall
over laughing.
Governor Palin’s performance
was just plain weird. She refused
to answer the questions of
the moderator. There was
a total disconnect from
reality. It was like she was in
another building.
Campaign contributions breaking the bank
By Devin Ruic
Contributing writer
Barack Obama’s presi-
dential campaign is up
to it again, raising record
amounts of cash for the
democratic nominee.
It would appear not a
single hard-working Ameri-
can citizen can help them-
selves from reaching into
their pockets and tossing
whatever “change” they
have on hand to help
Senator Obama reach the
White House.
Now, I happen to be able
to resist the urge to donate
cash to the Obama, but I
can still toss in my proverbial Campaign contributors have limits. grandmother— he is not
two cents.
Stop accepting fraudulent
donations, Senator Obama.
The $2,300 per-person fed- the donations given.
The “golly gees,” the “gosh
darns” and the jumbled order
of her words made her look like
a dolt and the debate look like
a sideshow.
Senator Biden chose to
overlook her and relentlessly
attack Senator John McCain’s
record. He did not fall into
the trap of beating up on
her and making her a
sympathetic figure.
E ve n w h e n G o ve r n o r
Palin leveled a couple of
rehearsed attacks at Senator
Biden, he simply dismissed
them with a broad smile and
turned his attention back to
Senator McCain.
I honestly feel sorry for
Governor Palin, she is being
used by Senator McCain.
While thinking he could
somehow pick up disaffected
Hillary Clinton voters, he
disregarded the needs of this
eral donation limit is there for
a reason, and yet the junior
senator from Illinois seems per-
fectly willing to ignore federal
Tyler Stauffer photo
election regulations by simply
ignoring the names attached
OPINION
country. They now have her
out on the attack, slandering
Senator Obama’s name.
McCain is steadily losing
ground in the polls, so he has
her rehashing old attacks, trying
to scare the American people
by associating Obama with
William Ayers — who is now
employed by the University
of Chicago.
The acts Mr. Ayers perpetrated
occurred when Barack Obama
was nine years old!
This is a bad joke; are all
faculty and alumni at the
University of Chicago now on
the terrorist watch list, because
they hired William Ayers as a
colleague?
America seems to forget
they put people like Jesse
Helms, Strom Thurmond and
George Wallace in public office
and never gave it a second
thought.
“Good Will” from Austin,
Texas somehow donated more
than $11,000 dollars without
the Obama campaign taking
notice or reporting it to the
proper authorities.
Worse than that, “Doo-
dad Pro” from Nunda,
N.Y. gave the 147- day
senator $17,130! Is
no one able to read at
Obama headquarters?
Shouldn’t there be at
least one person check-
ing to see if people who
donate are real?
Again referring to the
federal election regula-
tions, the Obama cam-
paign has thrown under
the bus— along with his
required to keep track of
individuals who donate less
than $200.
This means people who are
October 8, 2008
For the next few weeks, the
McCain campaign will sink
to new lows, but people who
live in glass houses shouldn’t
throw stones; the ghost of the
savings and loan scandal might The first hint of winter
resurface featuring Charles term hit the press this week
Keating and the Keating five with the release of the aca-
— John McCain just happens demic schedule. The publi-
to be one of those five. cation marks the last couple
People may want to bring up of weeks of fall term.
Sarah Palin’s husband allegedly
being part of a separatist group
that advocated Alaska breaking
off from the United States.
How’s that for patriotism?
If nothing else, this economic
disaster has America talking
about the issues, John McCain
and his lobbyist handlers will An unidentified noise has
do anything to avoid that. kept students and classes
If that happens guess what? from their work this week
All the soccer moms and six in the library.
pack Joes out there lose along
with the rest of America. If only we could go back...
Freshman girls: Please con-
sider your clothing choices
while attending hockey
games,.It’s mighty chilly and
there are children around.
less blatant but just as blasé as
“Doodad Pro” could continu-
ally donate $200 a multitude of
times.
The Obama campaign never
even has to look to see if an
individual has exceeded the
$2,300 individual limit.
Face the facts: the Demo-
cratic Party is no more the Pauly Shore was a huge
party of the working or middle letdown Friday at the Cell-
class than the Know Nothings block.com. He apparently
of yesteryear! pulled a Mercyhurst fe-
The Democratic candidate is male’s hair during his D list
not being supported monetarily appearance.
or politically by the American Reported and unreported
people, but rather the elitist left assaults have been taking
like George Soros. place around campus lately.
The junior 147-day sen-
So please: use caution.
ator from Illinois needs to
start learning how to think for
Please e-mail any suggestions to
himself.
opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
As a matter of fact, judging
The GB&U is a compilation of
by his knowledge of federal
student opinions.
regulations, he might as well be
a Know Nothing!
October 8, 2008
Pick-up lines getting shot down Unforeseen obstacle
Unacceptable language, even for the bar for Barack Obama
By Rhonda Marable
Contributing writer
Scenario: I’m walking through
the club with friends and then I
hear a loud, low voice. “What’s
up baby girl?
“Lemme holla achu right
quick,” he says. While I’m
graciously trying to ignore his
advances, he seems to press the
issue by asking why girls like me
don’t like boys from the hood.
Oh how I hate to explain it.
I seem to have the frequent
opportunity to criticize certain
men that hit on me.
Once dejected, they quickly
lose interest and brush me off
as an uptight (and sometimes
white) woman that doesn’t
understand their “culture.”
Campus safety:
cause for concern
By Jordan Zangaro
Contributing writer
Everyone received the e-
mail about the girl on 37 th
street that a stranger attempted
to sexually assault.
That is not the first reporting
of someone being assaulted
this school year. With these
things happening, it gives
students reason one to look
behind his or her shoulder a
little more often in our safe,
comfortable little campus.
Discussing the unsettling
events— that have not yet
been reported in a campus
police “timely notification”—
one of my roommates said,
“You just don’t expect those
things to happen here, you
know? And now there has
been several incidents.”
She is absolutely right.
Well forgive me for being overly
critical of your “culture”, but I
just don’t see the appeal of your
slang, dress, demeanor or gen-
eral attitude towards women.
Perhaps if I weren’t worried
about your pants falling off
every two seconds or the fact
that your shirt is two sizes too
large I would be more attracted
to you.
Better yet, if I didn’t think it
was completely tacky to have
the tags still on your shoes and
hat I would let you buy me a
drink.
But no, I just care too much
about actually understanding
what you’re saying to me to
allow a strained conversation
with you to continue.
You just might be a very
interesting guy but I’m sorry,
Living at Mercyhurst, we all
have misconceived thoughts
that we can walk alone, any-
where, at any hour and not
be cautious.
I remember a Residence
Life representative talking to
Baldwin Hall residents my
freshman year and saying that
it is so safe at Mercyhurst and
that we could walk anywhere
around campus at 3 o’clock
in the morning and nothing
would happen.
Now obviously, this person
did not mean it literally. It is
true that we—fortunately—
attend a college with a very
low crime rate and we should
feel safe. However we should
not be naïve.
Under no circumstance
should anyone wander the
campus, the sur rounding
neighborhoods or anywhere
for that matter, alone.
OPINION
the slang you use has a myriad
of distracting and confusing
connotations. Have you ever
stopped to think about the
fact that when you say “ask” it
sounds a lot like “ax”?
What am I supposed to think
when I hear you want to “ax”
me a question?
It’s not my fault that when
you say you want to “holla” at
me I get a picture of me run-
ning away from a man that’s
screaming in my face.
I can’t help that the fact that
you look like you got hand-me-
downs from Fat Albert makes
me want to laugh.
They say that you should
give a chance to a man that can
make you laugh. In this case, I
don’t think they meant a man
that you can laugh at. Sorry.
This advice is nothing new.
We have been told since we
were little children that “the
buddy system is the best
system.” That statement holds
true. It is a scary world. You
don’t know who to trust.
Reality causes us to look
over our shoulders a little more
than usual when walking to our
apartments or dorms after a
night class.
But, you have the opportu-
nity and the responsibility to
make sure you do everything
in your power to keep your-
self safe.
Even with the police on
campus, they obviously can
not be everywhere at once. I
am not trying to scare students
in anyway.
More so, I just think maybe
hearing it again, from another
person, may send up a red flag
somewhere. Be careful.
By Seth Hallam
Contributing writer
Barack Obama may lose
the presidential race due to
racism… racism that stems
from his own party.
Yes, even after Palin’s
nu m e r o u s b l u n d e r s a n d
McCain’s hot headedness—
after being asked how he has
liked government health care—
the polls are still close.
However, this does not mean
when it comes to Election
Day the results will be close.
However, it probably would if
Obama was Caucasian.
This unfortunate
phenomenon is called the
Bradley affect.
In summation when
people—let’s say a group of
Democrats—are asked publicly
they will tell the pollster
that they are going to vote
for Obama.
When it comes down to
actually voting, they will
either not vote at all or
Page 15
choose McCain, because
he is Caucasian.
This phenomenon has
thrown several major races,
including the gubernatorial
race in California that it was
named after.
Tom Bradley, an African-
American, lost the 1982
Tyler Stauffer photo
election despite being ahead
in the polls for much of
the race.
A study during the
presidential primaries in
Pennsylvania showed that
one in six Democratic
voters used race as factor in
their decision.
Of these people, 75% voted
for Clinton. The Democrats
claim to be the most progressive
and racially friendly.
It is ironic that race will
play a roll for Obama in his
own party. America has not
progressed enough to take this
factor out of consideration.
It is easy for Democrats to
charge others with racism, but
it seems they may have the
black sheep within.

Field hockey on three-game win streak
The Mercyhurst College field hockey team has put together
three straight wins to improve to 5-7 overall and 4-1 at home.
By Sarah Powell
Staff writer
The women’s field hockey
team proved they know what
it takes to win a game in the
last minutes, this past week.
A couple of 2-1 victories
improved Mercyhurst’s record
to 4-7 overall and 2-3 in the
PSAC.
On Oct. 1, they took on
the Griffins of Seton Hill
University. The Lakers were
Scoot Williams photo
down 1-0 with eight minutes
to play before junior Kristen
Fogle netted her first goal of
the season to tie the game at
1-1.
Just 31 seconds later,
sophomore Sara Wowkowych
set junior Emily Warren
up for the game winning
goal, making the final score
2-1. Senior Jennifer Coleman
registered the win in goal with
four saves.The Lakers returned
home on Saturday, Oct. 4,
to take on the Mansfield
University Mountaineers.
Once again, the Lakers
came out with a 2-1 victory in
the last minutes of the game.
Mercyhurst had the lead at 1-
0 from a goal by Wowkowych
assisted by freshman Serena
Slattery in the first half of play.
Mansfield struck back midway
through the second half to tie
the game at 1-1.
In the last five minutes of
play, Wowkowych tallied her
second goal of the game,
which proved to be the game
winner. Coleman registered
her second win of the season
with one save in net.
In order to prepare for the
rest of the season, Wowkowych
said, “We are focusing mainly
on playing as one cohesive unit
instead of as individuals.”
Fogle added that a second
goal of the team for the rest
of the season is to walk off
the field with no regrets.
“We want to know that we
played with heart in every game
and that we put everything on
the line for the girl standing
next to us on the field,” Fogle
said. “That’s what being a team
is all about. If we are able to
do this, then we will be able to
accomplish what we want on
the playing field.”
The Lakers are back in
action this Saturday, Oct. 11,
at Millersville University and
return home on Monday,
Oct.13, to take on Catawba
College at 4 p.m.
Football..................................................Oct. 4, W 49-14, Lock Haven
Women’s Volleyball.............................Sept. 30, W 3-1, Indiana (Pa.)
Oct. 3, W 3-1, East Stroudsburg
Oct. 4, W 3-0, Millersville
Oct. 4, W 3-1, West Chester
Field Hockey................................................Oct. 1, W 2-1, Seton Hill
Oct. 4, W 2-1, Mansfield
Oct. 6, W 3-1, Bellarmine
Men’s Soccer.............................................Oct. 1, T 1-1, Lock Haven
Oct. 4, L 2-1, West Chester
Women’s Soccer.......................................Oct. 1, W 1-0, Lock Haven
Oct. 4, L 3-2, West Chester
Men’s Water Polo....................Oct. 2, L 12-10, California Lutheran
Oct. 3, W 10-5, Claremont McKenna
Oct. 4, L 10-5, Air Force
Women’s Hockey..........................Oct. 3, (Exhi.) L 4-1, Team USA
Oct. 4, (Exhi.) L 4-2, Team USA
Men’s Hockey.........Oct. 5, (Exhi.) W 10-1, Royal Military College
Women’s Tennis.................................Oct. 6, L 6-3, St. Bonaventure
Women’s Hockey No. 5 in USCHO.com Poll
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team found themselves
ranked No. 5 in the country this week in the first edition of the
USCHO.com Poll. The Lakers regular season kicks off this week-
end on the road against the Boston University Terriers.
Laker Defense Tops in the Country
For the second time this season, the Mercyhurst College football
team has the top ranked defense in the country. The defense has
allowed an average of 203.3 yards per game and an average of 11.5
points per game thus far this season.
Richard Stokes-Football
During the Lakers 49-14 win over Lock Haven on Saturday
Richard Stokes, a senior runningback, became the all-time rush-
ing touchdown leader as he scored his 31st rushing touchdown
of his career.
Sara Wowkowych-Field Hockey
This sophomore scored her first two goals of the season as the
Lakers took down PSAC opponent Mansfield Oct. 4. She also
assisted on the game winning goal against Seton Hill on Oct. 1.
October 8, 2008 SPORTS Page 17

Women’s soccer earns national ranking

By Stephen Duggan
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst College
women’s soccer team was on
the road again for a pair of
PSAC rivals last week.
The first of their games was
played on Wednesday when
they faced the Bald Eagles of
Lock Haven University in a
double header including the
men’s soccer team.
The game started off slowly
for the home team.
Mercyhurst had quite a few
chances, but couldn’t find the
net and the first half looked
like it would end scoreless.
With just 4:55 left on the
clock, Lock Haven was called
offside at midfield.
Sophomore Jamie
Schroter struck the ball 60
yards, managing to connect
with the ever-clinical senior
Sarah Powell who directed
the header past the goalkeeper
to break the deadlock. This
goal gave Powell her team-
leading eighth goal of the
season and gave Schroter her
eighth assist of the season.
The defense proved stingy
and held Lock Haven to just
five shots on goal.
Senior Rebecca Heintzman,
in the goal, produced her
seventeenth shutout of her
career with the Lakers.
The Lakers travelled to the
No. 9 West Chester University
on Saturday for a match up
against their PSAC East rivals.
This game would prove a
much tougher contest than the
Lock Haven game.
The game started in furious
fashion with three goals added
to the scoreboard in the first
13 minutes of the half.
The Golden Rams started
off the scoring with a strike
after two minutes.
The lead would not last long
though as Schroter connected
well on a corner kick, swinging
it into the far corner of the net
to level the game.
Sarah Oswald would put
the Rams up again just two
minutes later to finish out the
scoring in an eventful first
half.
With the Lakers down
2-1, Powell stepped up to slot
home her fourth goal in three
games with an assist off her
strike partner, junior Taylor
Hilinski.
The Golden Rams, however,
would show more resolve than
the Lakers when they scored
on a breakaway in minute 77,
to wrap up a hard fought
game. The Lakers are now
6-3-2 on the season.
Senior Christine Rehnart said,
“We played hard both games
and were able to win one and
make a comeback against the
undefeated Westchester even
though we didn’t get the win.
We are working well as a team Tyler Stauffer photo
and making improvements Senior Christine Rehnert battles for possession of the ball at a
each game.” women’s soccer game earlier this season at Tullio Field.

Men’s soccer holds on through tough matches

By Katie Waldin
Staff writer
The previously ranked No.
22 Mercyhurst College men’s
soccer team jumped one spot
this past week in the national
rankings to No. 21.
They are currently ranked
No. 3 in the Atlantic Region
after spending one week at
No.1.
This past week the Lakers
took on the Eagles of Lock
Haven University in a tough
match on the Eagles home
turf. With nine yellow cards
given, seven of which were in
the second half of play, both
teams were battling it out for
the PSAC win. In the first half
of play, the Lakers defense
committed a foul in the 18
yard box giving the Eagles a
penalty kick against senior goal
keeper Danny Mudd, where
they scored their only goal of
the game.
With the 1-0 score, the
Lakers looked to increase
the pressure on the Eagles
defense to create goal scoring
opportunities.
Just 20 minutes after the
Eagles scored, freshmen
Ryan Florian kicked in the
rebounded shot off of senior
Nick Thompson to score his
first ever collegiate goal and
tie up the game. Mudd stated,
“We showed a lot of character
on Wednesday and came
out of the game with a hard
fought tie.”
With two periods of grueling
over time play, the Lakers and
the Eagles ended the tough
match with a final score of 1-
1.
“It was a tough game that
was very physical and could
have gone either way in the
end but ended up being a tie,”
sophomore Tommy Lund
stated.
“Although it ended up being
a tie, both teams had good
chances. No one could just
put it into the net at the end
of the day.”
Now 1-1-2 in the PSAC
and 6-1-2 overall, the Lakers
were preparing for their cross-
state trip to West Chester
University.
The Lakers traveled across
Pennsylvania to match up
against the Golden Rams of
West Chester on Saturday.
For the third game in a
row, the Lakers managed to
tie up the match and lead the
opposing team into overtime.
With a goal scored in minute
49 of play by sophomore Billy
Colton, the Lakers held off
the Golden Rams for a good
portion of the match.
Just 20 minutes after Colton
scored, the Rams bounced
back to score a goal and tie
up the match taking it into
overtime. In the first period of
overtime, the Rams managed
to sneak the ball past Mudd to
score the golden goal, ending
the game.
“We were a little unlucky in
the game, we started to play a
little too defensive and ended
up conceding a goal,” Lund
said.
“They really only had two
shots and they ended up
scoring both of them and
we ended up having a lot of
chances but just couldn’t make
any go in”.
With a 1-2 loss, the Lakers
were disappointed coming
home without a win, but they
are looking forward to taking
on California University of
Pennsylvania this week.
Page 18
Men’s hockey victorious in exhibition opener
By Mark Gramza
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst Lakers
Men’s Division I hockey team
defeated the Royal Military
College of Canada in a decisive
10-1 win this past Sunday at
the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
With attendance over
five hundred people at the
Mercyhurst Ice Center, the
Lakers impressed fans by
playing in a mostly one-sided
game that was fun to watch for
Mercyhurst College fans.
The Lakers outshot Royal
Military 58-17 and were
successful on the power-
play three out of nine
opportunities.
Senior Brett Robinson and
sophomore Scott Pitt each had
two goals and team captain
Team USA overpowers Lakers
By Brad Moehringer
Sports editor
Arguably the toughest
challenge the Mercyhurst
College women’s hockey team
will face all season will not be
in the regular season or the
NCAA tournament, but rather
exhibition.
The No. 5/6 ranked
Mercyhurst College women’s
hockey took on Team USA in a
pair of exhibition games at the
Schwan Super Rinks Complex
on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4.
Unfortunately for the
Lakers, it was all Team USA all
the time in Blaine, Minn., this
past weekend.
Team USA swept the
weekend series, taking game
one, 4-1 and game two, 4-2.
The Lakers were outshot in
Freshman Ryan Raven (11) controls the puck in the Lakers, 10-1 exhibition win over Royal
Military College (RMC) Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
senior Ryan Toomey had a
goal and three assists. Twelve
players from the Lakers had at
least one point.
both games and Team USA’s
power play proved too much
as they converted six power
play goals on 14 chances.
Team USA featured several
players who were part of
the Team USA squad who
beat Canada in the World
Championships this past
April.
Game one on Friday saw the
Lakers fall behind 2-0 early in
the second period.
Freshman Kelly Steadman
found the back of the net for
the Lakers to draw the lead to
2-1, but that was as close as
the Lakers would come.
Two power play goals for
Team USA in the third would
seal the 4-1 victory. Senior
Courtney Drennen was solid
in net for Mercyhurst stopping
28 shots in the loss.
Game two was much of the
SPORTS
This was an excellent game
to attend as the Lakers will be
playing out of town for the
next eight games, and it seemed
same for the Lakers. However,
Mercyhurst was resilient
and thanks to goals from
sophomore Geena Prough
and senior Hayley McMeekin
the game would be tied at 2
late in the second period.
Team USA was unfazed and
scored in the last seconds of
the second period to take back
the lead.
One final goal in the
third sealed the 4-2 win.
The goaltending was once
again solid for the Lakers as
freshman Hillary Pattenden
stopped 39 of 43 shots.
Mercyhurst finishes with a
1-2 record in the preseason.
The regular season kicks off
this weekend for the Lakers
as they travel to Boston for a
weekend series on Friday and
Saturday against the Terriers
of Boston University.
Scoot Williams photo
as if they wanted to leave their
fans with a good experience
in a game Mercyhurst Lakers
fans can be proud of.
Club hockey off to 9-1 start
By Mark Gramza
Staff writer
The men’s ACHA Division I
hockey team has been on a hot
streak and doesn’t look to be
slowing up anytime soon.
The Lakers are 9-1 so far
this season and just finished an
impressive weekend by beating
two nationally ranked teams.
They beat No. 27 ranked
Duquesne University and
No. 22 ranked University of
Pittsburgh.
These two wins, along with
the victory over No. 26 ranked
Naval Academy are sure to
assure Mercyhurst College
in the national rankings when
they come out on Friday.
Along with their success
against ACHA teams they
also went 5-0 in their College
October 8, 2008
As shown in the Lakers
performance against the Royal
Military College of Canada,
this year’s team is immensely
talented and is looking to have
an excellent season.
The Lakers will start the
regular season on the road
beginning on Oct. 10 with
a weekend series against St.
Cloud State.
The team will finally be
back in town and playing at
the Mercyhurst Ice Center
on November 14 - 15 against
Bentley with both games
starting at 7:05 p.m.
Although it’s a little bit of a
wait to see these Lakers back in
action, after their entertaining
performance this past Sunday
night they should again attract
a large crowd who will be
anxious to see them in action
again.
Showcase tournament and
defeated the Ontario Jr. A
Selects.
Their only loss of the year
came in a hard fought battle
with the Naval Academy.
Freshmen Josh Mandic and
Cody Steele are tied with one
other individual for the league
lead in points with junior
Kenny Hunt as seventh in the
league scoring.
Additionally, six members
of this team are in the top
twenty in league scoring.
This team is gathering
some positive attention as a
result of recruiting by Coach
Tom McKinnon as well as
great performances by former
Division 1 Men’s team goalie,
senior captain Adam Falkner,
who elected to go back
to the ACHA team for this
season.
October 8, 2008 SPORTS Page 19

Lakers conquer red zone against Lock Haven

By Samantha Sellinger
Sports editor
The Laker football team
endured typical Erie weather
last Saturday, Oct.4, to mas-
sacre Lock Haven University
in front of a home crowd, 49-
14.
Adding to his excellent
season, senior running back
Richard Stokes became Mer-
cyhurst College’s all-time
leader in rushing touchdowns
with numbers 30 and 31 of his
career during the second half.
By the end of the game,
Stokes had 23 carries over 128
yards– the second consecutive
game he had picked up at least
that many rushing yards. For
this game, that is almost half
of the 300 yards that Mercy-
hurst rushed.
Quarterback junior Gar-
rett Kensy connected the ball
to the hands of junior Josh
Szeluga, who ran in two touch-
downs during the first quarter.
Kensy, junior Ben Jennings
and senior Dave Stallard all
added to the scoring with
touchdowns throughout the
rest of the game. The Laker
offense was on its game as
they ran the ball 52 times, only
passing 14 times.
Mercyhurst entered the
game with the best time of
possession in the country and
kept the honor, holding the
ball for 32:46.
The team was 6-of-8 on
third-down attempts and
scored touchdowns on all five
of its trips into the red zone.
On the defense, seniors
Jimmy Kokrak and Charlie
Gleisner tied with a team-high
of nine tackles.
Mercyhurst is now on top of
the PSAC West with a record
of 3-0.
They also have the top
ranked overall defense in the
country. This weekend, the
Lakers are match up against
long time, cross city rivals,
Gannon University, and Mer-
cyhurst goes into the game, 4-
2 for the season.
Gannon is 3-3 on the season,
and only 1-2 in the PSAC West
play.
The anticipated game will Scoot Williams photo
take place at Gannon at 7 p.m. Junior running back Richard Stokes pushes past the Bald Eagles’ defense at their game this
on Saturday, Oct.11. past Saturday. Stokes scored two touchdowns during the game.

Matson leads ’Hurst to three more victories

By Gary Coad
Staff writer
Jenna Matson, a senior
captain, has been red hot
these past few weeks for the
Lakers’ volleyball team.
Maybe it’s the fall air she
loves, as it is her favorite
season, or maybe she is simply
in “the zone,” but everything
seems to be going well right
now.
In this season to date,
she has 198 kills and 185
digs, which are both second
respectively on the whole
team.
Matson admitted she felt
like this was her year to step
up and be a leader.
What better way to lead
than by example and that is
exactly what she is doing.
When asked what it was
that set her on this hot streak
she said it all sparked from a
bad loss to the University of
California of Pennsylvania.
Since that game, she said
she has been much more
prepared for matches and her
focus levels are through the
roof.
This has led to things
clicking into place and all of
her talent showing through,
as she is letting the game
come to her.
Matson went on to add that
her team has been a big part
of her streak as well, as the
skills they have been working
on since preseason have been
coming together and everyone
is doing their part.
It truly is a team game and
the Lakers are truly playing
like a team.
The Lakers improved to 13-
8 on the season with three big
victories this past weekend.
They also improved to 4-2
in the conference.
It is no surprise Matson
had a big weekend, totaling
up 33 kills, but she had plenty
of help from senior Lauren
Kubinski and sophomores
Erin English and Katie Fritz
on the offensive end.
The team will travel to
Daemen College to take on
the Wildcats.
The Lakers will be back
on their home court on Oct.
14 here at the MAC, where
they will take on Houghton
College.
Page 20
Senior, Bobby Phillips bat-
tles for position in the Lak-
er’s 10-1 victory over Royal
Military College, on Sunday
Oct. 5, in the Mercyhurst
Ice Center.
Laker Sports
Puck drops
on another
season

Lakers take down RMC 10-1

<< Page 18

Scoot Williams photo

Caption on page 19