Smoked No Money out If You Don’T Sign by Liz Maier
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Junior Jennifer Jerema tells Field hockey crushes the about the Democratic Rock in home opener, 2-0 National Convention Read more on Page 9 Read more on Page 16 Vol.82, No.3/09.17.08/Free Mo’ money? Tyler Stauffer photo Smoked No money out if you don’t sign By Liz Maier The clock is ticking. Time is running out for college students to sign their Master Promissory Note. “The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is the legally binding agreement issued by the Department of Education to repay a student loan,” Mercyhurst’s Financial Aid Advisor and Coordinator Kelli Carpinello said. Carpinello said students only have to sign their MPN once, because it is effective for 10 years and those who fail to sign it will not receive their student loan. “We’ve sent out e-mails numerous times,” Carpinello said. “It is scary to think there are still stragglers who haven’t signed it yet.” In the spring, Mercyhurst switched from using the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) to the Federal Direct Loan Program Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Jane Tyler Stauffer photo Kelsey said Mercyhurst decided to switch loan Freshman Breanna Krownenwetter, along with other smokers, will programs due to the instability in the student be spending more time outdoors now that Pennsylvania has started loan market. enforcement of the Clean Indoor Air Act. Continue reading NO SIGNATURE on Page 3 Continue reading CLEAN on Page 2 Page 2 NEWS September 17, 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act restricts smoking in Erie hot spots These places include estab- By Ashley Pastor lishments like the Cellblock. Staff writer com and Park Place. However, Mercyhurst Thursday, Sept. 11, marked student favorites like the fi rst day of the Clean Plymouth Tavern and the Indoor Air Act, the smok- Cornerstone are now smoke- ing ban in restaurants across free. Pennsylvania, 90 days after Senior Walt Ozanick from the bill was signed into law Pennsylvania thinks the on June 13. restriction could have been Pennsylvania joins 32 other tougher while still allowing states that have prohibited smoking. smoking in most workplaces “I think having the 20 and public spaces, from res- percent rule would be OK; taurants and train stations to just have designated places offi ce buildings and sports for people to smoke. It just arenas. seems like those places are Businesses or people who where the most smoke is, so break the law face fi nes of why put a ban in place and up to $250 for a fi rst offense not take care of one of the and up to $1,000 for repeat bigger problems?” Ozanick offenders. said. Senior Joanna Sanzo from The Health Department New York agrees the law has produced information should have been passed. packets for businesses that “I don’t know why it took explain the ban, address fre- so long for Pennsylvania to quently asked questions and pass smoking ban laws, espe- provide tips for how to tell cially if New York and Ohio patrons about the change. Tyler Staufer photo have them already in place,” Online, it has made avail- Pennsylvania is now on the list of 32 states in the country to ban smoking in some public Sanzo said. able downloadable “No places. Critics of the Clean Indoor Air Act say it is not strict enough while opponents say it The Pennsylvania law is Smoking” signs. inhibits their freedoms. not as strict as many other There won’t be compli- states. ance offi cers monitoring places with few or no excep- ment. Ohio’s signs carry a bans. In fact, it has so few businesses, so health offi cials tions. toll-free number to report Saint Vincent Health restrictions the American are counting on the public According to the Erie violations. Center and Hamot Medi- Lung Association declined to to report people or places Times-News, Erie County Establishments have to cal Center banned smoking endorse this law. violating the ban say Health Executive Mark DiVecchio remove ashtrays and other on all hospital property for Senior Christina Fernan- Department offi cials. and others who fear the ban smoking receptacles. patients, employees and visi- dez, a Pennsylvania native, Senior Rainey Murdock, should be reassured in that The Erie Times-News tors. says the state was overdue from New York thinks the the two biggest states bor- reported that DiVecchio has Mercyhurst College has on passing this legislation, ban will be successful despite dering Pennsylvania, Ohio expressed concern that the taken measures to provide but thinks it could have been not having monitoring of and New York, have man- new law will cost the county substance-free housing. more restrictive. businesses. aged to pass and enforce money. This means all of the stu- “It is a step in the right “New York has had the 100 percent smoking bans in He claims the fi nes do not dent smokers on campus direction, but going down- 100 percent smoking ban for restaurants, bars and work- look like they will keep up must exit buildings to smoke, town on the weekends we still a while now. I think people places. with the costs. preparing them for the are around all the smoke.” just know it and respect it New York state requires He says violators are not ban in off-campus public Even with the new law, and that’s enough,” Murdock that establishments affected fi ned more than $250, leaving locations. smokers in Pennsylvania said. by the ban post prominent the district judge the option Senior Jenna Barone of could continue lighting up Twenty-three states and the signs with the “no smoking” of fi ning them as little as $10 Pennsylvania sums up her in some hotel rooms, pri- District of Columbia have symbol. if he deems necessary. relief of the law being vate clubs, casinos, nursing what the Lung Association Ohio’s smoking ban However, some establish- passed. homes and bars where food categorizes as comprehen- requires noticeable anti- ments in Erie did not wait “It’s nice to come home accounts for no more than sive bans, which effectively smoking signs in all public for the Clean Indoor Air Act at night and not smell like 20 percent of annual sales. outlaw smoking in all public places and places of employ- to be passed to initiate their smoke,” she said Page 2 NEWS September 17, 2008 September 17, 2008 NEWS Page 3 Clean Indoor Air Act restricts smoking in Erie hot spots No signature can mean big These places include estab- By Ashley Pastor lishments like the Cellblock. Staff writer trouble for students with loans com and Park Place. However, Mercyhurst ing and sign a Master Promis- the cash,” said Kelsey. By Liz Maier Thursday, Sept. 11, marked student favorites like sory Note,” Kelsey said. Financial Aid Services will Staff writer the fi rst day of the Clean Plymouth Tavern and the If the loans are not fi nal- continue to contact students Indoor Air Act, the smok- Cornerstone are now smoke- ized, the student may be who haven’t signed yet Carpi- ing ban in restaurants across free. Continued from MO’ MONEY prevented from registering nello said. Pennsylvania, 90 days after Senior Walt Ozanick from on Page 1 for winter term classes, she “The sooner they sign, the the bill was signed into law Pennsylvania thinks the said. better,” Carpinello said. on June 13. restriction could have been “Because we moved from the “It is a federal requirement Junior Cara Adamus already Pennsylvania joins 32 other tougher while still allowing FFEL program to Federal Di- to complete both the Entrance signed her MPN. states that have prohibited smoking. rect Lending, all students, even Loan Counseling and the Mas- “I signed my Master Prom- smoking in most workplaces “I think having the 20 returning students, must com- ter Promissory Note before we issory Note shortly after I re- and public spaces, from res- percent rule would be OK; plete Entrance Loan Counsel- can fi nalize the loan and access ceived an e-mail from fi nancial Contributed photo taurants and train stations to just have designated places aid,” Adamus said. Mass of the Holy Spirit was held Thursday, Sept. 11, in Christ offi ce buildings and sports for people to smoke. It just Student Financial the King Chapel and attracted more than 600 attendees. arenas. seems like those places are Advisor, Emily Sem- Businesses or people who where the most smoke is, so rau said, “As of Sept. break the law face fi nes of why put a ban in place and 12, 744 students in Mass of the Holy up to $250 for a fi rst offense not take care of one of the the total student body and up to $1,000 for repeat bigger problems?” Ozanick have not yet, either offenders. said. signed their MPN or Spirit celebrates the Senior Joanna Sanzo from The Health Department decided to decline the New York agrees the law has produced information loan.” should have been passed. packets for businesses that “That breaks down start of 2008-09 “I don’t know why it took explain the ban, address fre- to 23.9 percent,” Sem- Creative Arts division in addi- By Tim Hucko so long for Pennsylvania to quently asked questions and rau said. tion to our own college choir Staff writer pass smoking ban laws, espe- provide tips for how to tell Senior Julian Dun- who graced the service with cially if New York and Ohio patrons about the change. Tyler Staufer photo lap-Smith is one com- serine song.