In need of Wayne apartments spring leaks more light? NEWS 5 Energy-effecient bulbs could be the cause of headaches, migraines, say experts. NEWS 4 Professor performs at awards DANCE 14 From the editors: The Merciad’s new look OPINION 18 Also inside A&E 13 CD 15 SPORTS 19 Senior gift: Available online: merciad.mercyhurst.edu Plans call for 24-hour lounge NEWS 2 PAGE 2 NEWS Jan. 9, 2008 24-hour lounge chosen as senior gift By Liz Maier Staff writer Students of Mercyhurst College will soon be able to relax and pick up a cup of joe other than in the bookstore Mercyhurst College President Dr. Thomas Gamble has approved the Senior Gift Committee’s plan for a 24-hour lounge and café on the fi rst fl oor of the library. Chairman of the Senior Gift Committee senior Marty Wallenhorst said the new lounge and café will be placed where Café Diem currently is located, as well as three stacks of books outside of the café. “The fi nal product will be double the size of Café Diem,” said Wallenhorst. “The lounge will house not only a comfortable 24-hour resting and relaxing place, but also a new and improved Café Diem.” Wallenhorst also said a bathroom will be constructed into the facility. Senior Gift Committee or “Steering Committee” includes Wallenhorst, seniors Joshua Wilwohl, Kelly Cofrancisco, Jeff Allen, Ashley Gabriel, Katie Zinn, and Deanna Fletcher. Together, the committee chose the gift and will coordinate the fundraising process. “We chose this gift for Contributed photos a variety of reasons,” said The 2008 senior gift is a 24-hour lounge and café. The renderings shown above are the preliminary plans for the lounge. Wallenhorst. “One of the main The new lounge and café will be located on the fi rst fl oor of the library. concerns with student life on campus is the lack of space for Briggs and Lewis apartments because Mercyhurst needs a administration,” he said. the college. students. In addition, there is to banners for the academic place for students that will be Feltcher agrees with “I think a 24-hour group absolutely no area on campus schools of the college. open 24 hours.” Wallenhorst. study area with internet access, that boasts 24-hour access,” said Senior Erin Ratacjzak said Wallenhorst said the lounge “I think it is great that our coffee and companionship will Wallenhorst. she supports the committee’s was the best choice. school will fi nally have a place be a wonderful resource for At Mercyhurst, it is a tradition decision. “After some studying we for students to study at all Mercyhurst students,” he said. that each senior class organizes a “I think the gift is an awesome discovered that the idea of a hours of the day,” she said. “It Gamble said the Senior Gift committee to present the school idea and I defi nitely would be 24-hour student lounge falls in was always hard to study in the Committee presented two gift with a gift. interested in donating money line with the strategic plan of dorms and apartments while ideas to the administration, the Past senior gifts at Mercyhurst for its construction,” she said. the college, so we knew that by everybody else is being loud.” other being a fi re pit. have varied from new multi- Senior Annie Dragolich agreed. choosing this option we could Gamble said the lounge recreational facilities in between “I think it is a good idea get the support of the college is a great investment for Please see 24-hour on page 7 PAGE 2 NEWS Jan. 9, 2008 Jan. 9, 2008 NEWS PAGE 3 24-hour lounge chosen as senior gift Are students By Liz Maier recycling? Staff writer Walter Ozanick agreed with By Jen Helbig Students of Mercyhurst Hicks. Contributing writer College will soon be able to “I try to recycle but it seems relax and pick up a cup of joe like if I need to throw away a other than in the bookstore Pop-culture is paying atten- bottle the only trash cans are for Mercyhurst College President tion. paper or something weird,” said Dr. Thomas Gamble has Television, newspapers, poli- Medernach. approved the Senior Gift ticians and even celebrities are Ozanick said, “It’s annoying Scoot Williams photo Committee’s plan for a 24-hour talking about it - the environ- to want to recycle but to have to Mercyhurst College Police and Safety offi cers can be seen driving around campus in SUVs. lounge and café on the fi rst ment. fi nd the right place.” fl oor of the library. Whether students at Mercy- Maier said that she believes Chairman of the Senior hurst College are interested or many students are wasteful. Gift Committee senior Marty not, the college’s attempts to go “At the end of the school year Police and safety regulations Wallenhorst said the new lounge green cannot be avoided. when everyone is throwing away Police and safety also has on Police and Safety are an inte- By Tim Hucko and café will be placed where Geothermal power, new solar their notes and notebooks, I tear board three security offi cers who gral part of everyday life at the Contributing writer Café Diem currently is located, panels, energy-effi cient washers out all of my unused paper and have the same jurisdiction and college. While not out fi ghting as well as three stacks of books and dryers, recycling bins and a keep it for the following school power as a Erie city police offi - crime or issuing parking tickets, outside of the café. student and faculty organization year.” Many students have had a cer, except that security offi cers offi cers lock and unlock every “The fi nal product will for environmental action exist A fi ve minute walk on Briggs run-in with Mercyhurst College cannot make arrests. building on campus, direct traf- be double the size of Café on campus for the benefi t of the Avenue on Saturday revealed that Police and Safety at some point In addition, Mercyhurst fi c, monitor security cameras and Diem,” said Wallenhorst. “The environment. some students are not doing all during their stay at the college. employs off-duty Erie city police assist students in need. lounge will house not only a Choices that will determine they can. Whether it be a simple pass- offi cers to patrol campus and Junior Amy Breininger said she comfortable 24-hour resting the environment’s future face Four different apartments ing on the sidewalk or an unex- keep the peace during what Sidun calls for unlocking the fashion and relaxing place, but also a every student on a daily and were spotted with their windows pected visit at a Friday night called, “highly critical” times. lab on a regular basis and really new and improved Café Diem.” sometimes hourly basis. open. party, students are well-aware Highly critical times specifi - appreciates the quick response Wallenhorst also said a How do students’ lives on The students inside might of the police and safety staff. cally refers to the beginning of from the offi cers. bathroom will be constructed campus measure up to the ideals enjoy the brisk winter weather or Beyond these brief - and some- the school year, Halloween, St. Sidun pointed out the last into the facility. presented by the college? possibly they have not thought to times unfortunate - encoun- Patrick’s Day and the last three paragraph of the Mercyhurst Senior Gift Committee or Do students show that they call maintenance to help them fi x ters, students may not have any weeks before graduation. College Police and Safety mission “Steering Committee” includes care with their actions? or turn down their overzealous knowledge of the organization In light of recent incidents statement. Wallenhorst, seniors Joshua “I like that the college works radiator to conserve energy. behind the badge. on college campuses across the The paragraph reads, “Al- Wilwohl, Kelly Cofrancisco, so hard to recycle,” said fresh- Two students were seen pull- Mercyhurst Police and Safety country, the safety of college though the Mercyhurst College Jeff Allen, Ashley Gabriel, Katie man Ryan Raven. ing plastic bags of groceries from was established in 1998 with the campuses is being questioned. Department of Police and Safety Zinn, and Deanna Fletcher. Junior Kyle Hicks has recy- their cars. college petitioned Erie County Despite popular belief, giving performs a law enforcement and Together, the committee cling, one of the fundamentals The bags could be replaced to form a privatized police force. out parking tickets is not a pri- security function, the department chose the gift and will coordinate of environmentalism, down. with reusable cloth bags or the Despite what some students may mary concern. The primary and its personnel strive to be the fundraising process. “My family has always recy- students could carpool since believe, the up to 10 Police and concern of police and safety is viewed as advocates for, and not “We chose this gift for Contributed photos cled, so it was never something they both had bags from the Safety officers have the same to protect the college commu- adversaries of the Mercyhurst a variety of reasons,” said The 2008 senior gift is a 24-hour lounge and café. The renderings shown above are the preliminary plans for the lounge. I had to learn,” Hicks said. same store. powers and authority as City or nity from threats and potential College community, and strive Wallenhorst. “One of the main The new lounge and café will be located on the fi rst fl oor of the library.