Weekly news from Mercyhurst College

Vol. 24, No. 12 December 4,2006 Women's hockey team makes history: We're #1! For the first time in history, Mercyhurst's women's hockey team took to Mercyhurst becomes the tenth. The biog also notes that it's unusual for a the ice over the weekend ranked number one in the nation in Division I team to rise to #1 in midseason without having previously won a national hockey. championship. (The Lakers were rated #5 in the preseason poll.) The USCHO.com poll, released last Monday, was the first to give the learn captain Julia Colizza is thankful for the recognition, but quickly

fc Lakers the nod; the USA Today poll confirmed the points out, "We can't get swelled heads. We still have a lot of work to do and a top status the following day. The votes followed a lot of tough opponents to play." Laker sweep at the New Hampshire tournament Coach Michael Sisti, who has led the women's hockey team since its the previous weekend with wins over both #8 inception in 1999, agrees. Boston College and #3 New Hampshire. "I'm very proud of how the team has played so far. And I'm grateful that 4 Mercyhurst replaced Wisconsin atop both the voters respect our program enough to give us this honor," he says. "I also polls after the Badgers split a pair of games realize that there's a lot of hockey left. We're simply trying to get better each with Minnesota-Duluth. week." According to a women's hockey biog Sisti says he's been receiving congratulations all week from students and at USCHO.com, only nine teams staff as well as from alumni and former hockey players. "All our past coaches *W have ever occupied the top and players share in this," he adds. ->* *v ^ spot since its poll began Sisti is part of the selection panel for both of the women's hockey polls; he W during the 1998- voted last week for Wisconsin. Senior 99 season. "We each have one loss and one tie, and they are the defending national Michelle Bonello champions," he explains, (com. on page 3)

» * * « • • • • + * « * * # » » + * < * * * * * * * 9 * ft # ft*« + t*«ft*4«*» * # * * Dino-size collection brings natural history alive at Mercyhurst If you thought you had to travel to the The collection is a gift of Michael and Barbara Smithsonian to see a museum-quality specimen of Sincak, who have spent nearly 20 years traveling the Tyrannosaurus Rex, put your MapQuest® away for globe to acquire specimens for their business and another day. The big guy's skull has found a new personal collections. The Sincaks own and operate home right here, thanks to a spectacular natural Treasures of the Earth Ltd., near Johnstown, Pa. history collection of casts and fossils being donated "This is a unique opportunity for Mercyhurst and to Mercyhurst. the Erie community to appreciate a museum-quality Perhaps no other species fires t h e public collection of natural history materials that is as much imagination quite like T-Rex- a seven-ton carnivore a learning experience as it is a rare and wonderful with six-inch teeth that prowled the earth more treat for the imagination," said Mercyhurst President than 65 million years ago. Now, Mercyhurst students Dr. Tom Gamble. "We are indeed grateful to the can study first-hand a cast of a T-Rex skull as well as Sincaks for their generosity." casts of several other skulls of large reptiles from the With the of sharing their legacy, Michael Jurassic Period, a two-ton section of petrified wood Sincak, a professional geologist, and his wife from Indonesia, a fossilized elephant specimen from have donated parts of their collection to other Java, a dinosaur egg nest and a stalactite from China. colleges and universities over the years, however Once the collection is catalogued and placed on none as sizeable as the one they are bestowing on display, it will be made available for public viewing. Mercyhurst. instructor The treasure trove is valued near $100,000 - and Sincak credited his friend and colleague, geology Scott McKenzie that's just the first i n s t a l l m e n t . Future contributions instructor Scott McKenzie, with bringing the - and friend! are expected during the next several years. college and the collection together. (com. onpage3) DID YOU Dance dept. welcomes Sister Angelica still international guest inspiring college

Dance chair Tauna Hunter and American A painting that The Zurn School of Natural ballerina Valerie Valentine danced together as hangs outside the children in ballet classes in Salt Lake City, Utah. President's Office Sciences and Mathematics The two reunited during the summer of 2005 - "Madonna and when Hunter traveled Europe on sabbatical Child" by Sister is the fastest growing school * leave. Angelica Cummings at Mercyhurst and has the Now, Valentine, who performed as a principal — has provided dancer with the Dutch National Ballet for 27 the inspiration second highest number of years and has recently opened her own school, for (he Christmas DanceStreet, in Amsterdam, will visit Mercyhurst decorations in Old majors on campus with 522, Dec. 4-8 as an international guest teacher. While Main this year. she's here, she'll also meet with the Office of Mary Gamble. according to Vice President International Studies and the Office of Academic wife of col lege Affairs to lay a foundation for a Study Abroad President Tom for Academic Affairs Dr. program in Amsterdam for Mercyhurst dance Gamble, says she majors. ] ;^^K chose a theme of Barbara Behan. The Walker Valentine has worked with internationally "Peace on Earth" because it represents the wish of Mary - and of every School of Business and acclaimed choreographers, appeared in films, and toured Europe dancing in contemporary dance works mother — for the world. Communication is the largest as well as major roles of the classical ballet repertoire. Blue and green ribbons pick up the colors In 1998 she was knighted by the Queen in the Order predominant in Sister Angelica's oil painting. The school, with 640 majors, of the Dutch Lion in recognition of 25 years of tree in the chapel foyer uses floral decorations rather significant contribution to the art of dance: "Admired than traditional hanging ornaments. It's filled with Behan says. "When you for her energy and dedication to her work, Valerie poinsettias, hydrangeas, eucalyptus, sea grass, spray Valentine's beautiful sense of line, strong technique roses and peonies, as well as peace doves. consider where we were in the and expressive, magical stage presence have inspired Swags of long needle pine and pepperberry adorn not only choreographers, but photographers and the first floor corridor as well. mid-90s with very few science "Madonna and Child" is the cover art on both the filmmakers as well." Christmas cards being sent out by the college and on majors, we are certainly During her residency at Mercyhurst, Valentine will teach master classes the invitations to the President's Christmas Party, set realizing the fulfillment of our in ballet and pointe for Dec. 15. technique. She will The "peace on earth" motif will fill the party as well, ongoing commitment to grow also present repertoire including ice sculptures of peace doves. unique to European Another "Peace on Earth" tree has been placed in the sciences at Mercyhurst," choreographers and the Cummings Gallery - named for Sister Angelica speak with dancers in Cummings - where an exhibit of works by Mercyhurst she says. a Guest Artist Chat on art faculty opened last week.The faculty members Wednesday. and their students are continuing to add handcrafted ornaments to the tree, including everything from Valerie Valentine origami designs to ceramic pieces.

Happenings on the Hill will fulfill the obligation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Friday, Dec. 8). Mass will also be celebrated in the chapel on Friday at 12:30 p.m. WELCOME BACK: Sister JoAnne Courneen, RSM, has returned to Erie after a two-year term as NEW PHONE BOOKS IN: The Verizon and Talking Phone books are now finance director of the Mercy International Centre in available in the mailroom in Preston Hall. Once you have your new books, be Dublin, Ireland, and set up office in Preston 105 as sure to recycle the old ones in the bright green labeled recycling bins found new director of the Mercy Institute. You can reach in Zurn (first floor, front entrance), Hirt (next to Walker Recital Hall doors), her at ext. 2572. Preston (mail room, first floor, second floor), and Old Main (Preston stairwell foyer and first floor next to Merciad rack). Erie Energy Products makes a FOUNDATION DAY: The annual Foundation Day donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank for all phone books collected, and SisterjoAmie Coumeen Mass commemorating the founding of the Institute then recycles them into insulation for homes and businesses. of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland - and honoring the Sisters of Mercy today - will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. in STUDENTS PRESENT RESEARCH: Iwo senior chemistry and biochemistry Christ the King Chapel. The entire community is invited to attend the Mass students were chosen to present their research at the University of Maryland and the reception that will follow in the chapel foyer. Attendance at this Mass Baltimore County's (UMBC) 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium Applause! Applause! We're #1... (from page 1) The English Department was recently recognized While he's happy that the panel chose Mercyhurst, he bv Second Harvest Food Bank with a Bread Board says that the women's hockey competition is so strong 4 of Honor award for the 80 service learning hours that a case could be made right now that any of the top completed by students in Dr. Marnie Sullivan's eight teams is the best in the nation. college writing II classes last year, and for the 289 Sisti says his long-range goal is "to do the impossible: pounds of food collected last winter by Dr. Ericka to establish us as the best program in the country at Hoagland's college writing II courses. the Division I level." Many of the team's competitors enjoy much larger budgets - and facilities. And he faces Dennis Lebec assistant professor of : a name-recognition problem when he competes for communications, attended the Region 1 convention recruits against powerhouses like Harvard, Dartmouth of the National Broadcasting Society November 3-5 and Princeton. at Shippensburg University. As the Mercyhurst NBS I lis more immediate goal is to return his team to the adviser, he helped judge several categories of awards NCAA playoffs. The Lakers made the playoffs for the for students and faculty. first time in school history in 2005, losing to Harvard Dr. Mary (Missy) Breckenridge, D'Angelo music faculty Ken Johnston, violinist, 5-4 in an epic triple-overtime thriller at Harvard. They and Nathan Hess, pianist, performed with the associate vice president for lost a heartbreaker last year to eventual national champ North Coast Chamber Players Nov. 12 at I.akewood academic affairs, and former Wisconsin. 2-1 in double overtime. Congregational Church in Cleveland. They performed v member Melissa Gibson- The team's record (before the weekend contests with works by Bach, Elgar. Brahms, Ponce, and Debussy. Hancoxpresented a paper entitled Princeton) was 12-1-1. They're on the road through much of December, returning home to host Cornell in a Drs. Peter Benekos and Frank Hagan attended "Women and Leadership at a weekend series Jan. 4 and 5. the American Society of Criminology Meetings in Crossroad: Reflections on Past Los Angeles, Calif. Nov. 1-4. Benekos, dean of the Influences and Present Practices" School of Social Sciences, coauthored a paper with Dr. at the International Leadership Alida Merlo (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) titled Association's annual conference USCHO.com USA Today "ACJS Application and Self Study for Certification.^ 1 - Mercyhurst 1 - Mercyhurst He also chaired a session called "Is It Time to Chart in Chicago, III., Nov 2-5. The it- 2 - Wisconsin 2 - Wisconsin a New Course for Juvenile Justice Policy?" during paper highlighted the work of 3 - New Hampshire 3 - New Hampshire which he presented a coauthored paper with Merlo organizational leadership graduate 4 - Minnesota 4 - Minnesota 5 - Harvard 5 - St. Lawrence on "Assessing Trends in Juvenile Justice: Is Juvenile students Michele Wheaton '05, Justice Charting a New Course?" Hagan, dean of the Meghan Corbin }()6, and Hill School of Graduate Studies, presented a paper titled Gonda, as well as Janet Wojtalik, a "A Content Analysis of Organized Crime Definitions Duquesne doctoral graduate. in Criminology and Criminal Justice." This paper has also been published in the latest edition oVlrends Source: hurstathletics.com in Organized Crime, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime. He also chaired and was a panelist at a session % (from page 1) called "Author Meets Critics: The Confessions of a Dino-size... H Dying Thief" Hagan nominated the book and it "I have always admired Scott," Sincak said. "He has an received the American Society of Criminology award instilled desire to teach and to share. When I visited him at

for best new book in 2006. 1 < ' "' Mercyhurst, I fell in love with the college. It seemed like a

• setting that would nurture and celebrate a collection like ours. And maybe, just maybe, it will stir in someone their life's calling." in the Chemical and Biological Sciences. Sarah Herrle and Amy Opest, along with McKenzie, meanwhile, called Mercyhurst's imposing Dr. Melissa Barranger Mathys, traveled to Baltimore to present their research results. new collection "the largest of its kind in the area," and Herrle's poster was titled "Quantification of Sulfur Compounds in Commercially Available added, "This is such a great opportunity for Mercyhurst Garlic Supplements Using Headspace Analysis." Sarah will begin a senior research project and for Erie. People can come here with their kids on a with Dr. Barranger Mathys concerning proteins and type II diabetes. Opest's poster, titled weekend and view a collection of natural history materials "Investigation of Anti-aggregation Properties of a Novel Beta-sheet Breaker," earned second that ordinarily they would have to travel around the world place and a cash award. She will continue her Alzheimer's project as her senior honors thesis. to see." The collection is expected to be installed on the walls GRADS PLAYING PRO HOCKEY: Twelve former Mercyhurst hockey players, all alumni of and in the science laboratories of Zurn Hall, with many key the Atlantic Hockey Association, are currently playing professional hockey. Jamie Hunt, who pieces showcased in the new half-million dollar geology lab. inked a two-year deal with the last spring, and T.J. Kemp are competing "The addition of this impressive collection is yet in the . Preston Briggs, Mike Carter and Rich Hansen are another indicator of the radical growth of the sciences laboring in the Central Hockey League while Dave BorrelH, Andy Franck, Louis Goulet, at Mercyhurst, about which we are extremely proud," Erik Johnson, Conrad Martin, Scott Reynolds, and David Wrigley are wearing East said Dr. James Adovasio, director of the Mercyhurst Coast Hockey League attire. Archaeological Institute. This Week at the'Hurst Dec. 4-10,2006 The Arts Sports at Home FILM: L'ENFANT • WEI)., DEC. 6, 2 & 8 P.M. TUES., DEC. 5 Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center Women's basketball vs. Ohio Valley 7 p.m. Bruno and Sonia live in an eastern Belgian steel town, surviving on Sonia's FRI., DEC. 8 unemployment benefits, panhandling and petty theft - but their lives Men's vs. RIT 7 p.m. change forever when Sonia gives birth to their child. General admission: SAT., DEC. 9 Adults, S5; seniors, non-Mercyhurst students, and youth 15 and under, S4; Women's basketball vs. Grand Valley State 1 p.m. President's Cardholders, $3; Mercyhurst students with ID, free. Men's basketball vs. Grand Valley State 3 p.m. Men's ice hockey vs. RIT 7 p.m. , For more information on the PAC's 2006-07 season, v\s\X pac.mercyburst.edu Open skating at the ^. YOUNG ARTISTS DEBUT ORCHESTRA • TUES., DEC. 5, 7 P.M. Mercyhurst Ice Center \\ ^ Mary DAngelo Per forming Arts Center Tues., Dec. 5, noon-1 p.m. \\ •- Wed.,Dec.6,11:30a.m.-lp.m. Jfi \ \ Frank Collura directs the YADO, in residence at Mercyhurst. Holiday con- Thurs., Dec.7, noon-1 p.m. •*•'• '^-^4\-. cert also features "Strings of the Heart" Orchestra directed by David Sinclair, Sun.,Dec. 10,6-7:30p.m. ksSSt^m^--"- ! Carpe Diem Chorale directed by Rebecca Ryan, Nicholas Kovach in 'The V Worried Drummer;1 and a holiday sing-along. MERCYHURST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA • THURS., DEC. 7, 8 P.M. Meetings and Events Walker Recital Hall Frank Collura conducts the orchestra in works of Haydn, Bach and Rossini. MON., DEC. 4 Free and open to public. GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM BARRY GROSSMAN: CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS' 'MID-TERM ELECTION RESULTS' 11:30 A.M.-l P.M. SUN., DEC. 10, 7 : 3 0 P.M. Mercy Heritage Room Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center TUES., DEC. 5 Mercyhurst College Choir, Carpe Diem Chorale and Mercyhurst College FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH GROUP Orchestra perform, conducted by Rebecca Ryan. Holiday concert ON SPAIN AND LATIN AMERICA 3:30 P.M. features "Fantasia on Christmas Carols" and "Dona Nobis Pacem." Faculty Dining Room Free and open to public. WED., DEC. 6 ART FACULTY EXHIBITION • NOW THROUGH JAN. 10 HOCKEY TALK 11:30 A.M. Cummings Gallery Student Union, lower level Gallery open Tues.-Sun. 2-5 p.m., and Thurs. 7-9 p.m. Admission free. THURS., DEC. 7 FOUNDATION DAY MASS 4 P.M. Milestones Christ the King Chapel (reception follows in foyer) Congratulations to: SAT., DEC. 9 Amy Eisert, assistant director of the Mercyhurst Civic Institute, and her CHRISTMAS ON CAMPUS NOON-3 P.M. husband Mark on the birth of their son, Owen Matthew, on Nov. 14. Student Union Tina Fryling, chair of the Kinnane department of criminal justice and affirmative action officer, and her husband William on the birth of their son, Mason Henry, on Nov. 14. Haley Coletta, assistant manager of the bookstore in Erie, and Jim Coletta, administrative assistant at the bookstore in Erie and at Mercyhurst North East, on the birth of their son, Maximo James, on Nov. 21. In Memory

Condolences to: Weekly news from Mercyhurst College Darryl Grace, housing/maintenance foreman, on the death of his father, Monday Morning is an internal publication published weekly Willie Grace, 89, on Nov. 18. during the academic year by Mercyhurst College. Contact editor Susan Corbran at 824-2090 or e-mail [email protected]