Vol.83, No.8/11.4.

09/Free

Lakers learn the lotus

Yoga instructor stretches bodies, heals minds
By Jennifer McCurdy
Contributing writer
As a staff member of more than 15 years, Betty
Amatangelo, clerk at the Registrar’s Office, has struggled
to find a position in which she can help students in a
way not covered by other college organizations, such as
tutoring and Campus Ministry.
“I’ve always had a ministry bone in my body,”
Amatangelo said.
She remembers that a senior staff member once asked
her, “What do you have to offer that no one else has?”
At the time, Amatangelo did not have an answer. Now
she does, and that answer is yoga.
She now teaches a weekly class held every Thursday at
7:30 p.m. in the Rec Center.
“The kids love it,” Amatangelo said. In every class
of the past four weeks, 40 to 60 students have partici-
pated as well as five to seven faculty members, although
Amatangelo hopes more faculty will show interest in the
future.
“It’s relaxing and inspirational,” freshman Jenna Das-
canio said, using two words that were repeatedly used in
other students’ responses as well.
“We’re making this a weekly thing,” said Dascanio’s
fellow freshman, Kaitln Wrona.
Besides the obvious physical benefits of yoga, Amatan-
gelo explained that the class provides students with a
chance to unwind and deal with issues in their lives. Each
class consists of a short discussion, which helps students
emotionally and spiritually; asana, the movement portion
of the class; and a motivational reading, which Amatan-
gelo reads while students do a relaxation exercise.
“Yoga is a nice break from my hectic schedule as a
student,” junior Taleisha Johnson said. “It’s a challenge
for my body, and I feel really good.”
While the class has met with great success at the
Recreation Center, Amatangelo hopes to offer a second
class every week at another location.
“There are a lot of students who would like a class
in the dorms, and I’d be willing to do a class one night
a week at the dorm for free,” Amatangelo said. She
explained that the common area of Baldwin would be
ideal as the majority of her students are female.
Two major factors play into Amatangelo’s offer.
“Some students are intimidated by the Rec center,” she
said. “There are people who have always wanted to try
yoga but are too self-conscious in this setting.”
In addition, scheduling prevents some students and
faculty from attending the class. Someone with a Thurs-
day night class could not make it to class, but two classes
a week might solve that problem, provided that the
second class does not take place on Tuesday.
Students widely encourage the idea of a second yoga
class and hope the administration will soon approve and
implement the plan.
See more at merciad.mercyhurst.edu

NEWS A&E OPINION GREEN

CVS and C-Store: Dance Department Staying healthy Students attend
Comparing plans ‘35 Years’ in workaholic Power Shift
prices celebration environment

Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7

Page 2
Panel discussion highlights poverty in past, Erie
By Jennifer McCurdy
Contributing writer
Nearly 25 percent of Erie’s
population today lives in pov-
erty, a figure that dredges up
images of the Great Depression
of the 1930s.
As part of its yearlong exami-
ination of the Depression, Mer-
cyhurst College presented a panel
discussion on “Lessons and Leg-
acies of the Great Depression”
on Thursday, Oct. 29.
During the panel discussion,
six faculty members shared their
thoughts on the effects of the
Great Depression on various
aspects of American life. The
six speakers were Dr. Allan Bel-
ovarac, Dr. Juan Argaez, Dr.
Peter Benekos, Dr. Randy Clem-
ons, Dr. John Olszowka and Dr.
Christina Riley-Brown.
Riley-Brown began the dis-
cussion by examining the
“images and icons” of the Great
Depression.
Literature and photography
showed “an important and
decisive break in American opti-
mism,” Riley-Brown said.
Before the Depression, the
American dream had been one
of “financial independence
through hard work,” but after
this period, “We have a sense of
the American dream…turned
into the American nightmare,”
she said.
Argaez followed this discus-
sion with an exploration of how
economic thought influenced
behavior.
By exploring Neoclassical
Theory, Keynesian Theory and
other economic trends of the
past 130 years, Argaez demon-
strated that economic behavior
comes in cycles of demand-side
and supply-side economics. By
studying these cycles, an econo-
mist can use the Great Depres-
sion as a model to examine
today’s recession, Argaez said.
According to Olszowka, New
Deal policies brought about a
“transformation of the Ameri-
can working class.” This time
period saw the rise of worker
unions, which became recog-
nized by the government under
President Franklin D. Roos-
NEWS November 4, 2009
evelt.
After World War II, per capita
income jumped and unions con-
tinued to thrive. In effect, the
working class evolved into the
middle class of today, Olszowka
said.
Not only did the dynamics of
the working class change, but the
“collective mindset about pov-
erty” changed as well, Benekos
said. Benekos compared poverty
to a coastline. He said, few people
care about the gradual erosion
of the tide line, or day-to-day
poverty, but funds flood in from
the public when a tidal wave, or
economic disaster, strikes.
Clemons told the audience, Ethan Magoc photo
“Almost one in four people in Dr. Juan Argaez spoke at the panel discussion, “Lessons and
Erie live in poverty.” Legacies of the Great Depression,” on Thursday, Oct. 29. This
“I didn’t realize Erie was so discussion was part of the yearlong series, “Fear Itself: The
impoverished,” junior Sarah Great Depression, New Deal and Today’s Search for Economic
Hlusko said. Security.”
After comparing the recent
recession to the Great Depres- speakers’ presentations, Clem- particularly the “popular photo-
sion, Clemons concluded his ons said, “It’s always interest- graphs.”
presentation by saying, “When ing to take an interdisciplinary The film, “The Grapes of
this storm hit, thanks to the approach to problems like this.” Wrath,” will be shown on Tues-
New Deal, we already had insti- Hlusko said the discussion day, Dec. 15, in the Taylor Little
tutions in place.” was “well-rounded” and that Theatre as the next installment
Commenting on the other she enjoyed the presentation, of the yearlong series.
200 Miles-a-Term Challenge
Participants must walk, run
or bike 200 miles during
the winter term to
complete the challenge
and earn a free T-shirt.
To register, e-mail Nola Hessom
at nhessom@mercyhurst.edu
by Wednesday, Nov. 18.
For an even bigger challenge, register for “The Big 300.”
November 4, 2009
Comparing prices: C-Store and CVS
By Kelly Luoma
News editor
The C-Store located in Fran-
ces Warde Hall is a convenient
place for Mercyhurst College
students to purchase snacks,
coffee, frozen foods and items
such as shampoo and tooth-
paste.
Despite its convenience, the
C-Store does not always offer its
items at the lowest prices.
Prices of items offered at
the C-Store were compared to
Campus TV station receives new name
By Bryan Parker
Contributing writer
At the beginning of this school
year, the Mercyhurst College’s
Communications Department
revamped its former television
station, Hurst TV, and devel-
oped it into the new Laker TV.
Laker TV is a comprehen-
sive entertainment station that
informs and entertains the sur-
rounding communities.
The name change will be offi-
cially adopted at the beginning
of the winter term when the
station receives a new logo.
Students of all majors have
the chance to participate in the
production of TV shows, which
prices of identical items sold
at CVS.
The results showed that many
items were more expensive at
the C-Store. Even so, some
items cost the same at both
stores or were cheaper at the C-
Store than the items at CVS.
According to Director of
Food Services Kim Novak, the
differences in prices between
CVS and the C-Store are due
to CVS having a larger buying
power and the fact that they sell
more items.
The C-Store only sells about
are shown between 6 and 9 p.m.
every day of the week.
Freshmen Victoria Gricks,
Jules Sheehan, Billy Kraus,
Megan O’Polka and Alex Keener
are among the staff members of
Mercyhurst’s new version of the
campus TV station Laker TV.
Together with 25 other stu-
dents, these students work with
professional TV equipment.
The students work behind and
in front of the camera on shows
like “MC Charts,” “The Movie
Show” and “Gossip Girls.”
Laker TV, which is on Chan-
nel 19 in Erie and Corry, is avail-
able to be viewed by thousands
of cable customers.
This year, production man-
ager Nadine Bower supervises
NEWS
12 boxes of Kleenex a month,
but CVS sells thousands, Novak
said.
This in part explains why a
Kleenex box with 200 tissues
costs $3.89 at the C-Store as
opposed to $2.39 at CVS.
The C-Store does not have
the “volume that CVS does,”
Novak said. Therefore, CVS
is able to charge less for their
items.
According to Novak, the
prices in the C-Store are based
on the cost of the item, the cost
of labor to put the item on the
a total of seven shows and is
developing new ideas in hopes
of producing more shows for
Laker TV.
“We have such a high number
of students who are interested
in being on camera this year,”
Bower said.
The majority of the students
who work at Laker TV have
never worked with professional
TV equipment before, Bower
said.
In short training sessions,
Bower trains them in the most
important features, “and the rest
is learning by doing,” she said.
To become involved, either
behind or in front of the
camera, contact Nadine Bower
at nzinra44@mercyhurst.edu.
Page 3
shelf and the costs of lighting basis, but she hopes that during
the store. the winter the C-Store will be a
Novak explained that the pur- convenient place that students
pose of the C-Store is to offer frequent when they run out of
items that suit the students’ an item they need or want to
needs. grab a snack.
“The store is there for con- Novak encouraged stu-
venience for students,” Novak dents to share suggestions
said. with Parkhurst about items
She said that not all students they would like the C-Store to
walk by the C-Store on a daily offer.
Tyler Stauffer photo
The C-Store located in Warde Hall is open from 4 to 11 p.m.
every day.
News Updates
Mold situation unchanged
The group of students is still
waiting to set a date for the tour of
the worst apartments on
campus.
H1N1 infects 13
As of Friday, Oct. 30, health
authorities have confirmed 13 cases
of the H1N1 virus at Mercyhurst.
Two of these cases are at
Mercyhurst North East.
Page 4 FEATURES November 4, 2009

Baran assumes national UNICEF leadership position

By Carolyn Carlins
Staff writer
Senior Marta Baran, a hospitality
management major, is one of five stu-
dents across the United States chosen
to assume a leadership position with the
Campus Initiative Council of UNICEF
for 2009-2010.
Baran’s experience as an international
student from Poland at Mercyhurst will
bring an perspective of diversity to UNI-
CEF’s mission.
Her passion for helping children
helped her find the college’s UNICEF
chapter. With her new position, she will
be able to further promote her beliefs in
the UNICEF initiative.
The UNICEF Campus Initiative is a
grassroots movement that promotes the
belief that college students can make a
difference in helping to improve the lives
of children around the world. In Mar-
ta’s position, she will work in the areas
of education, advocacy and fundraising
activities that benefit UNICEF. This
initiative includes organizing concerts,
promoting UNICEF on campus and
participating in UNICEF activities such
as “Trick-or-Treat.”
Baran first became interested in
UNICEF after volunteering at an
orphanage in her home of Lublin, which
opened her eyes to some of the condi-
tions in which children live.
“Imagine that 20 percent of the
world’s population, which is about 1.3
billion people, live on less than a dollar
per day, or the fact that pneumonia takes
the lives of about 2 million children each
year — more than AIDS, malaria, and
measles combined — or that 24,000 chil-
dren die every day from causes that are
preventable,” Baran said.
Because of her consistent involvement
with this organization, Baran was invited
to attend the national conference and was
encouraged to put in an application for the
National Council.
Baran’s application was accepted and
during her training, which took place
Oct. 2-4 in New York City, she gained Contributed photo
a better understanding of UNICEF and Baran, lower right, and fellow UNICEF student volunteers pose in the Campus
learned how to fully comprehend her Initiative National Council in New York City.
role in the scope of the Campus Initia-
tive National Council. They also built Members and UNICEF headquarters in college campuses as an effective agent of
collective and individual work plans for order to communicate the development major difference in childrens’ lives.”
this year and created a system of com- of UNICEF’s goals. UNICEF-MC Club is celebrating the 20th
munication between UNICEF leaders. For the future, Baran said she “would Anniversary of the Convention of the rights
Twice a month, Baran engages in con- love to see ‘The US Fund for UNICEF of the child by having an International Film
ference calls with other National Council Campus Initiative’ to be well-known on Fest Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre.

‘Gossip’ spreads at Mercyhurst College

By Alicia Cagle
Contributing writer
Mercyhurst College has its
very own Gossip Girls. Junior
Kristen Ribelli and sophomores
Paula Siedlecka and Kristen
Grenga host Hurst TV’s talk
show “Gossip Girls.”
The three hosts discuss the
who we really are.”
The girls say that their favor-
ite things to do on the show are
the different segments. Some of
these segments include review-
ing red carpet dresses, matching
up celebrities and the ‘Love it or
Hate it’ segment.
“I absolutely love being a
host,” Ribelli said. “It is a lot
of fun just sitting on camera,
the production manager for “Gossip
Girls,” said she hopes the show will
have a steady viewership.
“The start of the show has
been a little rough, because the
hosts took it over from three
girls who did the show last year,”
Bower said. “The new girls are
still getting used to being in
Online..
front of the camera and work-
ing as a team, but I’m sure it will
all fall in place very soon.”
Ribelli, Siedlecka, and Grenga
meet every Wednesday to lay out
what to do on the show and film
on Thursdays. “It takes a week of
collecting info and thinking about
what would be entertaining for
our audience,” Ribelli said.
“Watch the show,” Grenga
said. “We hope people enjoy it
as much as we enjoy making it.”
New episodes of “Gossip
Girls” air Fridays at 6 p.m. on
channel 19. Re-runs air Mondays
and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and
Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m.
Merciad.

latest fashions and celebrity and talking about the latest celebrity
Intelligence Video Game
entertainment gossip. gossip. I couldn’t ask for any-
students Paintball of the Week:
“We are trying to build into
the show a little bit of our per-
thing better than that!”
“We all have a lot of fun at the ‘Pentagon’ ‘Cyber Nations’ Mercyhurst.
sonalities,” Ribelli said. This (hosting),” Grenga added. “I Players get to
includes talking about things love looking at celebrity gossip
Paintball teaches
important rule their nations
edu/
like weekend plans, she said. anyway, so I might as well talk
“The show is all our opinions, about it.” career skills and nuke others’ Features
so the viewers really get to know Graduate student Nadine Bower,
November 4, 2009
‘35 Years’ honors
Dance Dept. success
By Claire Hinde
Contributing writer
Exciting things have been
happening in the dance space
at Mercyhurst College: Alumni
stream in and out, guest artists’
choreography shakes the studio,
and it is all leading up to the
department’s end-of-term show.
The show is called “35 Years:
A Celebration,” and includes
choreography by guest art-
ists Diego Salterini, Bill Evans,
Sandra Baldwin and Bruce
Marks, as well as guest appear-
ances by Bill Evans and other
department alumni.
The production will be at the
Mary D’Angelo Performing
Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 7,
Acclaimed artist brings Latin American flair
By Kathleen Vogtle
Staff writer
This Saturday the Mary
D’Angelo Performing Arts
Center will be playing host to
a leader of the Latin American
music scene.
Lauded for his “futuristic
approach to the Latin jazz big
band canon” by The New York
Times, and for the “high energy”
suffusing his tracks, audience
members are surely in for a treat
when Bobby Sanabria and ¡Quar-
teto Aché! take the stage.
Bobby Sanabria is heralded
for his many talents as a drum-
mer, percussionist, composer,
arranger, recording artist, pro-
ducer and educator. He has
also received multiple Grammy
nominations.
Sanabria was born to Puerto
Rican parents and raised in the
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday,
Nov. 8, at 2 p.m.
When asked about the show,
freshman Ashley Cook said,
“We’ve all put in a lot of work,
and I think all the students
should come to support their
classmates.”
The show marks not only the
end of a term’s worth of work
by the dance students, but also
the 35th anniversary of the
dance department, which has
gone through many changes
over that time.
Starting out in what is now
the great room of the Ham-
mermill Library, the department
has now graduated to its own
space and received accreditation
by the National Association of
Schools of Dance.
South Bronx of New York City.
Deciding that he wanted to “get
serious” with his music, he attended
the Berkley College of Music in
Boston from 1975 to 1979.
Acclaimed musician Bobby Sanabria will bring Latin American
flair to the ’Hurst on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m.
“35 Years: A Celebration” is
going to be quite the show. With
pieces such as “Terra Mia,” a tra-
ditional Italian folk dance, and
“Hard Times,” a modern piece
about the Appalachian sub-cul-
ture, there is plenty of thematic
and stylistic variety within the
show.
Beyond the array of excit-
ing pieces, the performance
includes alumni of the dance
department.With ideas and art-
ists coming from the past and
present as well as all over the
world to collaborate for the
show, it is sure to be an incred-
ible experience for all.
Tickets are $1 for students
with a Mercyhurst ID.
An unabridged version of this
article can be found online.
Along with obtaining a Bach-
elor of music degree, he also
received Berkley’s prestigious
Faculty Association Award for
his work as an instrumentalist.
Contributed photo
Page 5
A&E online
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
Yamato drums down the house
Yamato returned to Mercyhurst with sold-out shows and
amazed audiences. Read the full review and look at
pictures online.
Train rolls back to roots
with new album
Train’s fifth album, “Save Me San Francisco,” features
songs that return to their Californian roots. Read a
review of the album with a song-by-song description,
plus a picture of the album cover online.
‘12 Angry Jurors’ takes
audience for ride
Mercyhurst’s unique play debuted over the weekend and
garnered positive reviews. Read the full review and look
at pictures online.
In 2002, Sanabria released his represent the United States in
¡Quarteto Aché! recording; it is a series of concerts; the group
said to “document his virtuos- received an ovation from the esti-
ity in a small group setting.” The mated 8,000-person audience.
recording itself was acclaimed When asked what jazz rep-
as a “classic” by Modern Drum- resents to him, Sanabria simply
mer magazine and critically replied, “Freedom.”
acclaimed by The New York Ben Ratliff of The New
Times. It was also nominated York Times says, “Mr. Sanabria
for Best Latin Jazz recording expands the possibilities, moving
of 2003 by the Jazz Journalists the sound of bands like that of
Association. Puente and Machito, with all the
In 2006 Sanabria was inducted heft and intricacy and clave-based
into the Bronx Walk of Fame by dance rhythm, into the harmoni-
having a permanent street named cally oriented sophistication of
after him on the Bronx’s famed current New York jazz players.”
Grand Concourse in recognition Presented through JazzE-
for his contributions to music rie, the performance will take
and the arts. It is recognized by place in the Walker Recital Hall
the Bronx Borough President as on Saturday, at 8 p.m. Tickets
the highest honor a person from are $5 with Mercyhurst student
the Bronx can achieve. ID.
Sanabria and his ¡Quarteto Sanabria will also hold a clinic
Aché! recently toured Armenia open to students and the general
this past June, being personally public on Friday, in the Walker
invited by the U.S. Embassy to Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
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.
Furious and fed up with spoiled students
By Brian Weisman
Contributing writer
It’s been two months since
Parkhurst came to Mercyhurst
and I’ve had enough. Not
of Parkhurst, but of the
students. People have noticed
they can leave comments
about the cafeteria and the
posted comments clearly show
how spoiled some people
have become.
For instance, there have
been numerous complaints of
the Egan closing two hours
earlier. First, if you are going
to complain, learn how to spell.
“Eagan?” “Outragious?” This
is a college cafeteria, not an
elementary cafeteria.
Anyway, people are
demanding they get their money
back for the reduction in hours. I
know, you pay $30,000 and think
you are entitled to everything.
If you are going to invest
$30,000, maybe you should do
Staying healthy in workaholic environment
By Jordan
Zangaro
Opinion Editor
Starting my freshman year,
I had an obsession to excel
in my academics. I became a
perfectionist to the point of
destroying my health. My close
friends and family will tell you
that I spun out of control and
that my grade point average
didn’t mean anything to them
when they got a call that I was
in the hospital from stress.
Since then, I was able to calm
down, prioritize and even enjoy
my last two years here. With
the swine flu on the campus,
and illness around every corner,
I am reminded of the way I
used to be and what is really
some research.
You chose to come here.
Which means you should have
eaten here to see what the food
was like. Had you done that,
you would have found out the
cafeteria used to close at 6 p.m.
When I was a freshman, if you
didn’t make it to the cafeteria by
6 p.m., you ate from the vending
machine, found a microwave
to make Ramen or walked to
Arby’s. And, there was no such
thing as a to-go box.
But you pay $30,000 and can’t
eat at the cafeteria and then
ask for a to-go box. You also
can’t ask for a to-go box at Old
Country Buffet.
I know, but you did your
research and came here because
they said the cafeteria would be
open ‘til midnight this year. But
then they changed it and you
want your money back. Do you
demand money back when your
professor cancels class? You paid
to have your professor teach
you for 20 classes a term. How
important… your health.
I cannot tell you the number
of times I have said I can’t
afford to get sick right now. As
illness has strategically taken out
two of my roommates, I stayed
away from my house at all costs
to reassure myself that I can
make it through the rest of this
term without missing a class and
falling behind. I put such a stress
on remaining healthy because I
went to school unhealthy for so
many years.
While your grades, projects
and jobs are imperative to
getting the career of your
dreams after college, it is not the
most important thing. I think
most will agree that remaining
healthy should be your number
one priority at all times. I quickly
get lost trying to stay afloat with
OPINION November3, 4,2008
September 2009
dare he or she only teaches you Online Opinion Articles...
18 classes. You should demand
money back because you don’t Countries get away with
know how to spell “Egan.”
Seriously, I don’t think we
‘accidental’ invasions
are ever going to be satisfied. Devin Ruic discusses, in detail, the unnoticed
People want Reese’s Puffs and military actions of the the watch-making,
Lucky Charms all the time and chocolate-eating country. Read more to find out how
then someone wants less sugary some countries “get away with murder.”
cereals. It wasn’t good enough
to put out hot chocolate unless Studying pays off
they put out marshmallows. Victoria Gricks discusses the common
American, Swiss, cheddar and loathing felt toward studying and when
pepper jack cheese is not good those feelings are pushed through, how the
enough. You need provolone all results are more rewarding.
the time. This is a cafeteria, not
a cheese factory.
Sure, I would like to see a
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
racquetball court, more parking
and a beer fountain. However,
since I decided to pay $30,000
to come here, I knew what
the college had and what it
would not have. When you pay
$30,000 to come here, it is your
responsibility to know what
the campus is like and not be If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen.
a whining brat, demanding the Editors Positions @mercyhurst.edu
college fulfill your every want. JoEllen Marsh Editor-in-Chief editormerciad
Kelly Luoma News Editor newsmerciad
Javi Cubillos
Jordan Zangaro
Features Editor
Opinion Editor
featuremerciad
opinionmerciad
all of the tasks that I have taken Nick Glasier Sports Editor sportsmerciad
on, and so I think if I get sick Alaina Rydzewski A&E entertainmentmerciad
it will be the end of my life Sam Williams Graphics photomerciad
because I may not get an “A” in Tyler Stauffer Photographer photomerciad
my religion class. Ethan Magoc Multimedia Editor emagoc80
That is not the case. If we Ethan Johns Web Editor ejohns89
all continue to work ourselves Gaby Meza Advertising Manager admerciad
into the ground, we are going to Kyle King Copy Editor copymerciad
have a lot more to worry about Bill Welch Adviser wwelch
than writing a research paper or Brian Sheridan Adviser bsheridan
taking an exam. The stress you
are under can actually affect
your immune system and leave The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst
you vulnerable to illness. If you College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of
do not have your health, you do finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is
not have anything. I know this (814) 824-2376.
because I have lived it.
So as the term winds down The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed
and the projects and exams pile and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the
up, make sure to take time to
eat right, sanitize, get the sleep
letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters
are due Mondays. by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit
necessary and stay healthy. You’ll
be truly sorry if you don’t. letters to box PH 485 or via e-mail at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
November 4, 2009 Green Page Page 7
The ‘Green Page’ is a weekly spotlight on environmental issues affecting Mercyhurst College.
Go to merciad.mercyhurst.edu/green every Wednesday to read news, opinions and features.

Students track greenhouse gases, await plan for solution

By Erin Dascher
Contributing writer
Mercyhurst College is now
one of 1,200 campuses in the
United States participating in
the greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions inventory.
Mercyhurst alumna Brittany
Prischak conducted an inven-
tory of the college’s emissions
from 2001 to 2008 as part of
her thesis.
Prischak gathered data about
the college’s campus popula-
tion, building space, electricity,
natural gas, fertilizers, refriger-
ants, solid waste, commuter, air,
and college fleet transportation
and entered it into the Campus
Carbon Calculator provided by
The college already uses
solar panels to supplement
its energy needs, and the
Hirt Academic building
is exothermally heated.
Hopefully, the American
College & University Presi-
dents Climate Commitment
(ACUPCC) agreement,
which Mercyhurst College
President Dr. Tom Gamble
signed in 2007, will encour-
Contributed photo
age the college to pursue
This graph shows the distribution of Mercyhurst’s greenhouse gas
further actions to make the
emissions for the 2007-2008 school year.
campus carbon neutral.
Clean Air-Cool Planet, Inc. for a new academic building “Now that the school has
This inventory revealed under way, it is foreseeable that completed the first step of the
that the top three sources of Mercyhurst’s energy and natu- ACUPCC agreement, I hope it
Mercyhurst’s GHG emissions ral gas needs will increase. This won’t be long before we see the
are electricity, natural gas and does not mean that the college completion of the other steps,”
transportation. With the addi- cannot reduce its emission of Green Team President senior
tion of the new dorm and plans GHGs. Zoey Alderman-Tuttle said.
Apparently a plan is already
under way.
Last spring, senior Michelle
Zaccagnino presented a plan
of action that included making
students aware of how they can
help cut down on electricity use,
helping to facilitate commuter
car pools, replacing single-pane
glass windows to prevent heat
loss and cut down on natural
gas consumption.
“I think awareness is key, not
just about what the problem is
but how we can fix it,” senior
Josh Tracy said.
It is intended for a member of
the student body to update the
inventory each year, but accord-
ing to professor John Campbell,
“No one has yet stepped up to
the plate.”

Students attend Power Shift The Green Team is sponsoring the...

By Erin Dascher
Contributing writer
Power Shift is a project of the
energy action coalition dedicated
to combating climate change by
advocating clean energy on a
political level.
In the winter of 2009, Power
Shift delivered a message of
Bunge, who attended the con-
ference as a junior last year, “It
was a lot of fun, and you learned
a lot.”
Power Shift ’09 continued
this fall with 11 regional sum-
mits held across the nation.
The Pennsylvania Power Shift
Summit was held at Penn State
University on the weekend of
what they could do to become
more sustainable themselves. Wintergreen Gorge
While the regional summit left
something to be desired in the
way of organization, it was still
a great experience.
Clean-up and BBQ
“I am glad I went, and am
definitely becoming more
involved,” Monahan said
Sunday was filled with even
Saturday, Nov. 7

change to the nation’s elected
officials while enhancing the
climate and clean energy move-
ment.
In the middle of the Obama
administration’s first 100 days in
office, 12,000 American youths
gathered in Washington, D.C.,
as part of Power Shift ’09. This
represents the largest lobby day
on climate and energy in our
nation’s history.
According to senior Marcella
Oct. 23. Four Mercyhurst stu-
dents – myself, senior Zoey
Alderman-Tuttle, senior Sher-
ette Almandoz and junior Emily
Monahan – embarked on the
four-hour drive to Penn State to
take part in the event.
We arrived at the college just
in time to take part in the 350
Days of Action picture. After-
ward, everyone split up to either
partake in workshops and train-
ing or to listen to a panel on
environmental justice.
During the day’s “breakout
sessions,” students got to discuss
what their schools were doing
to be sustainable, how they felt
about environmental issues and
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
more panels, workshops and
trainings, including topics such
as food sustainability and cam-
paign planning, followed by
more breakouts.
During the return trip to Mer-
Everyone is welcome.
cyhurst, the car was filled with
the sharing of newly learned If in need of transportaon,
information, talk of new ideas
and plans to enact change. be at the PAC at 9:30 a.m.
For the four of us who
attended the Pennsylvania
Power Shift Summit, it was cer-
to ride in the van.
tainly an exhilarating learning
experience.
E-mail zalder27@mercyhurst.edu
More information about
Power Shift can be found at for more informaon.
www.powershift09.org.
 Laker Sports
Visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu for sports photos and videos

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Online sports articles......................

Hessom looks to inflict some hurt

Mercyhurst sends second mixed martial arts
fighter into action Nov. 7.

Women’s hockey handed first loss

Women’s hockey lost their first game in a
weekend series split with Minnesota Duluth, 4-3.

Men’s hockey splits with Bentley

Men’s hockey splits weekend series against
Bentley, gaining their second victory.

Women’s soccer season over

Women’s soccer falls to IUP, 1-0, in the first
round of the PSAC tournament, ending their
season.

Ethan Magoc photo

Mercyhurst College freshman Austin Solomon kicks the ball up the field in the Lakers’ 2-1
victory over Slippery Rock. The Lakers clinched the top seed in the PSAC West playoffs with
their victory over The Rock.

Men’s soccer top seed

By Katie Dinunzio
Staff writer
The Mercyhurst College
men’s soccer team earned the
No. 1 seed in the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference West
with a victory over Slippery
Rock University last Tuesday.
The Lakers finished the
season with a 7-1 PSAC record.
In the first half of the game,
junior Michael De Rose sent a
breathtaking header into the net
for the Lakers’ first goal.
The Rock also produced one
goal in the first half, making the
Ethan Magoc photo score 1-1.
Mercyhurst College junior Arash Fahandezh heads a ball The second half brought an
against Slippery Rock. advantage for Mercyhurst as
Slippery Rock was forced to
play a man down the entire half
when one of their players red-
carded.
The Lakers embraced this
opportunity, allowing for more
time and space in the midfield.
Despite the advantage, time still
seemed to be running out with
the game tied and the Lakers in
need of a break.
That break came in the 80th
minute when junior Billy Colton
knocked in the game-winner for
the team.
The Lakers held on the last 10
minutes for the 2-1 victory over
Slippery Rock.
On Oct. 30, the men
approached their final game of
the regular season at Lake Erie
College. Down 2-0 after the
first half, the Lakers were deter-
mined to fight back.
In the second half, Colton cut
the deficit in half, 2-1. Late in
the game Lake Erie knocked in
another goal, giving them a two-
goal lead that stuck. Despite an
extreme amount of hard work
by the Lakers, Lake Erie held on
for the 3-1 victory.
Although an upsetting game
for the team, the men’s team still
concluded their regular season
with an impressive 14-5 record
and an even more impressive
one seed in the PSAC West.
Today, the Lakers will host
Slippery Rock in game one
of the PSAC semifinals as the
Lakers make their playoff run.