THE News ................2-5 Features ...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion ........12-13 Sports .........14-15 Laker Living ......16 MerciadMERCYHURST UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 | VOL. 92 NO. 11 Love is in the air PAGE 10 Online poll results We asked: What is your dream vacation destination? Sunbathing in the Bahamas (43%) Eating fresh pastries in Paris (35%) 3: Mercyhurst announces Going on an African Safari (13%) “Laker for Life” campaign Skiing in the Rocky Mountains (9%) 8: Athletics celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day This week’s What are your spring break 14: Nuutinen and Duszak plans? receive hockey honors POLL merciad.mercyhurst.edu PAGE 2 NEWS Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Fashion goes red for a cause By Jordan Kessler has since become a nationally known day Staff writer of awareness. With Valentine’s Day as a popular Feb- Feb. 1 marked the 2019 National Go ruary holiday, the entire month is focused Red Day. Red Day is celebrated on the on the heart. It only fits in that National first Friday in February each year, repre- Wear Red Day would be in the beginning senting support for women’s heart health. of the month. More than 500,000 women die of heart “The event was important because I disease each year, so the Mercyhurst Fash- personally know people who have been ion Council wanted to help spread aware- affected by heart disease,” Rzyczycki, , the ness about this silent killer. Fashion Council adviser, said. This campuswide movement was start- The event welcomed everyone and ed by the Mercyhurst Fashion depart- focused on how heart disease affects so ment, more specifically, the Mercyhurst many people around the world. Fashion Council. “Everyone has their own story, and if I The Fashion department used social can help one student become aware, that’s media such as Facebook and Twitter to a win for me,” Rzyczycki said. spread the news of the event. Rzyczycki incorporated fashion into On the Twitter page, the Fashion Coun- the lives of faculty around campus as well cil used a very empowering statement: by encouraging participation in an event “Join us for a women’s empowerment called “Dress Down for a Cause,” which event to demonstrate that there is nothing is a fundraiser that provides money for women cannot do, cannot face and can- certain charities throughout the year. This not overcome when they stand together!” time, the donations went to the American Senior Fashion Merchandising major Heart Association. Alexa Crusciel hosted the event. Additionally, the Mercyhurst Fashion “As president of the Fashion Council, I Council made a promotional video for the worked with my adviser, Ashlee Rzyczyc- event called “I Go Red Because ... .” This ki, and the rest of the e-board members video featured several students and facul- to host an event for Go Red For Women,” ty members in the Fashion department. Crusciel said. Each person gave a different reason why They organized the Day in Red and held they went red for the day. an event in Old Main 312 at 3 p.m. They “It started off as a fun initiative, but had a speaker, blood pressure screenings turned into something impactful,” Rzy- and healthy snacks. Students and faculty czycki said. from all over campus came together to The video was shown at the event and support the wear red cause. can be viewed at the Mercyhurst Fashion “It was a really positive atmosphere for Twitter page as part of their promotion all of us to get together in support of one for the day. Jordan Kessler photo another to become more educated on For more information on Go Red For such a heavy topic,” Crusciel said. Women Day, visit the American Heart Amy Weaver-Kaulis, M.S., Fashion Merchandising chair, and Ashlee Rzyczycki, M.A., National Wear Red Day started in 2004 Association’s page, www.goredforwomen. instructor of Fashion Merchandising, show their support for the Go Red cause by looking by the American Heart Association and org. their best in red. Polar vortex brings fire and ice to MU By Michael Mongera endangered many others across before returning inside for anoth- selves unable to hide away in their “Typically that is a 400 amp ser- Contributing writer the nation. Frost bite could oc- er 30 minutes. Without classes in residences. An electrical fire broke vice coming in at the time we were cur within minutes, causing many session, there was more flexibility in the basement of the Wayne 745 drawing in 600 amps,” Fabrizio 2019’s polar vortex did not other midwestern schools and to clear the walkways without stu- apartment, causing power outag- said. “It melted the lines under- leave Erie unscathed as both the universities to close for a few days. dents walking to and from class. es in some adjacent Wayne apart- ground that go to the transform- northern United States and Can- “I’m glad the school cares about Students were advised to stay ments as well. er. It fused the line right to the ada froze up during the last week our safety on those days because inside as much as possible to Residents were evacuated from pipe and basically welded itself.” of January. often over where I live, they don’t avoid the dangers that the bit- Wayne 745. Students grabbed as A new electrical service was put Due to the exceedingly cold shovel by the time I leave for ter cold brought. For a majority, many of their belongings as they in to combat the issue. Mainte- temperatures Jan. 30 and 31, all class,” senior anthropology ma- the student body took the time could before the building was nance was initially concerned with classes were canceled on all Mer- jor Lauren Harrison said. “Since to keep on their studies or enjoy closed for the weekend. water pipes freezing. Faucet lines cyhurst campuses. many of the students walk a lot spending time inside relaxing. Senior Intelligence Studies ma- were turned on to prevent this President Michael T. Victor to and from class, being outside in Senior Music Therapy major jor, Alyssa Kerns vividly remem- from happening. sent out a campuswide email on those temperatures is dangerous.” Josh Phillips spent most of his bered what happened the morn- Mercyhurst provided hotel Jan. 29 addressing the situation. Even though classes were can- time in the Mary D’Angelo Per- ing of the fire. accommodations for those dis- “The safety of our students, celed, dining halls remained open forming Arts Center. “I was in my room when it all placed by the fire. Kerns reflected faculty and staff is our highest during normal hours and essential “I locked myself away in the happened, and I live across the on her time away from Wayne. priority. Due to the impending personnel, including Police and Music department and worked on hall from the electric closet, so I “They were great with provid- brutally cold weather, Mercyhurst Safety, Maintenance and Resi- music for senior composition re- was one of the first to smell the ing us with accommodations,” University and its campuses will dence Life, were still on campus cital,” Phillips said. smoke,” Kerns said. “I remember Kerns said. “They gave us free close Wednesday and Thursday, and available for student access. While Phillips evaded the cold the power went out in my room, meals until Sunday and even paid January 30-31,” the email said. All events for clubs, academics in favor of his studies, freshman so I went out to check the living for us to stay in a nice hotel about This cold weather phenomena and athletics beginning the eve- Education major Alyssa Norcross room and that’s where I could 10 minutes from campus.” happens when low pressure con- ning of Jan. 29, except for the took the time to communicate smell the smoke.” Students had access to a free tained by the north pole weakens. Postmodern Jukebox concert, with her fellow Warde Hall resi- That specific apartment com- continental breakfast and to the This causes the jet stream to falter were canceled for the two-day po- dents and make some new friends. plex is all electric. With everyone pool and hot tub. The misplaced and deliver arctic air southward. lar vortex. “I spent time with friends and home and using furnaces, stoves students have since returned to During this time, temperatures Mercyhurst maintenance em- got to meet some people on my and other electrical appliances, Wayne. ranged from minus 4 to minus 61 ployees followed a specific pro- floor that I never got to meet be- it over-loaded the circuit. Mer- The hot and cold of the polar across the United States. tocol to protect themselves while fore,” Norcross said. cyhurst Facilities Manager Tom vortex certainly will be an event Added with wind chills, the ex- working outside. Workers only However, some Wayne Street Fabrizio explained in greater de- that Mercyhurst will not soon for- treme cold has killed dozens and went out for 30 minutes at a time apartment residents found them- tail how this happened. get. FOLLOW THE MERCIAD ON TWITTER AT @THEMERCIAD Wednesday, February 13, 2019 NEWS PAGE 3 Generous donation launches ‘Laker for Life’ campaign By Marco Cicchino luxury suites, the expansion of the Staff writer reserved space for the ice resur- facing machines and addition of a At a news conference on Feb. 5 second machine, potential seating in Ryan Hall’s Waterford Room, changes with chairback seats to the Mercyhurst Athletics depart- replace the existing metal bleach- ment, in conjunction with Presi- ers and a new aesthetic appear- dent Michael T.