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Features On Page 3: Arts & Entertainment On Page 5: Sports On Page 7: Alumna receives Bobick performs Men’s basketball green leadership in three different ranked eighth in award languages preseason poll Read more inside & online EST. 1929The VOL. 90 NO. 9 MERCIADMERCYHURST UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2016 University acts swiftly Administration forms united front in response to bias-based incident By Karah Hollis Editor-in-Chief Late last Tuesday, a student brought a racially charged Snapchat to the attention of Mercyhurst University via Twitter. Immediately, the uni- versity began responding to concerned students on the social media platform. Fac- ulty and staff quickly rallied behind the scenes to address the issue. On Wednesday morn- ing around 9:30, students received an email from Pres- ident Michael T. Victor who voiced his disdain for the post and his support for the affected community. A second email followed that morning announcing a forum in the Performing Arts Center that students could attend that afternoon to ask questions and to hear from Victor and other student life administra- tors. “I was sickened last night to learn of a student’s racially charged social media post that went far afoul of our core values,” Victor said. “I cannot erase the pain, the anger, frus- tration that this offensive post has brought to bear on our Miranda L. Miller photo University family. Particularly The racist post made on social media was handled swiftly by administrators. A university panel addressed the issue and answered questions at a forum Wednesday. for members of our African American community.” hearing which is overseen by as students,” said Laura Zirkle, Marrero had a collective dis- people aren’t left out there in who we are, and not let this be The act was determined to a Student Conduct Panel. The vice president of Student Life. cussion, the Student Life staff, a vacuum like their opinions a wasted moment.” be a bias-based act. The stu- panel is made up of two fac- “They are not allowed on including Zirkle, met with don’t matter, because they do Sister Lisa Mary McCartney, dent handbook describes this ulty members, two staff mem- campus, they are not going to Victor to brief him on the matter,” Zirkle said. one of the Sisters of Mercy, type of act to be anything bers and two students. Each class, they are not allowed to incident. The forum was the Chris Norris, web/social was part of the forum panel. that “violate(s) another per- individual has gone through go to any of our events or the result of this meeting. media/video coordinator, McCartney stated that 10 son’s rights…(i.e. Race, sex, training and has sat on the library or anything like that. “We called up MSG, and the emphasized the impact of years ago, the Sisters of Mercy gender, sexual orientation, panel before. A facilitator is They are not permitted here MSG people who responded social media and how the uni- met to establish five critical color, creed, religion, disabil- typically present, but does not at all.” were the ones we were able to versity responded. concerns for the 21st century. ity, national origin, age, or have any voting rights. Because of the severity of get,” Zirkle said. “We put a high value on One of those concerns was status as a veteran).” A $250 Any other individuals par- this offense, the Student Con- Some students were con- social media as a tool to com- racism. fine, disciplinary probation ticipating in the hearing are duct Office moved swiftly. cerned about bias by those municate and engage with our “The best thing you can and possible suspension are invited and approved by the Megan McKenna, director of assisting in sorting the ques- students, families and commu- do to further the mission of also possible repercussions adjudicating authority. Wit- Residence Life and Student tions written down by stu- nity members. That means we Mercyhurst and the Sisters of for committing a bias-based nesses may also be called in. Conduct, was notified by one dents at the forum. strive to reply to every single Mercy is to search out your act. Questions are then asked to of her assistant directors. She “They weren’t picking and tweet, post or comment,” said own racism and to expel it and According to the handbook, help determine what exactly then spoke with Zirkle and choosing the questions that Norris. “Due to the nature to turn to ways of love. Love the conduct process begins happened. Punishments can Pertrina Marrero, director of would get answered, they were of what was shared, we felt is the only thing that is going with the documentation of the include but are not limited the Multicultural Center, the collating because we had 10 that everyone deserved to be to get any of us away from event. The report is then sub- to suspension and expulsion. same of evening of the inci- people asking about the same acknowledged with their con- our prejudices. Love is very mitted to the Student Conduct Students are able to appeal any dent. thing,” David Dausey, provost cerns and questions and we effective at bringing healing Office. A preliminary review decisions made by the board. “I think it’s crucial (to move and vice president for Aca- did our very best in communi- and harmony among peoples. is conducted by the assistant Normally, students are on quickly with this type of issue). demic Affairs, said. cating a resolution.” So, I would ask you to think in director of Residence Life campus for the entire pro- We wanted students to know The Marketing and Public Although this incident your own hearts about where and Student Conduct. If the cess. Due to the specific con- that we were aware, and by the Relations department did not has negatively affected the racism resides and to ask God incident is found to be sub- ditions, the students involved responses (on Twitter), it was waste any time responding to campus, it has sparked posi- for mercy,” she said. stantial, it is then passed to a were suspended. letting students know that we students on Twitter. Accord- tive conversation. Students did step out on Student Conduct Panel or the “In this case we felt that are aware and that we are in ing to Zirkle, they attempted “I think it’s also import- Twitter, exemplifying the director of Residence Life and a hostile environment was the process of fact-gathering to respond to every student ant when really bad things Mercy Mission, according to Student Conduct. The student created, and that it was such and trying to find out infor- post whether it was thanking happen, to find a way to Norris. or students involved will be an egregious act that we felt mation,” McKenna said. “It them for their support or clar- make good things come from notified and will be requested we needed to suspend them is important students know ifying misinformation. them,” said Zirkle. “We need to schedule a meeting to talk immediately and have them that we’re on it. And that it is “Some have questions and to not let this be a moment about the issue. off campus, which means, just important to us.” they have tried to respond that happens in passing, but Continued on page 2. The case moves on to a for clarity, they are not acting After McKenna, Zirkle and as quickly as possible so that a moment that kind of forms Merciad Index Online Poll Results Are you happy with the new president?? News 1-2 Yes! It was the result I was hoping for. (18%) Features 3 No! I am outraged at the results. (74%) A&E 4-5 There is a new president? What happened to Obama? (6%,) I didn’t vote and didn’t really care.(2%) Opinion 6 Sports 7 Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: Laker Living 8 Are you ready for the impending snow? merciad.mercyhurst.edu Page 2 The Merciad November 16, 2016 News Administration responds swiftly Continued from page 1. next steps are. Especially me being new to Mercyhurst, I’m “I would like to thank the taking cues from students as students who stepped out to where do we need to go and shared words of encour- from here,” McKenna said. agement and reassurance in Although Residence Life Mercyhurst,” said Norris. is taking steps to curb bias- “Your Laker Spirit and Mercy based acts, students can take Pride helped to combat the action in the moment to stop negative nature of what was these offenses. McKenna and spreading across social media. Zirkle encourage students to If our founding Sisters had call each other out when an Twitter, they would have insensitive comment is made. favorited all of your tweets!” There is even a “Step Up” According to McKenna, program in place to help stu- Residence Life is taking steps dents with this. to help students who feel “It is about encouraging unsafe or just need someone people to bring it up. So if to talk to. you are comfortable, call it “More immediately we were out. Sometimes if you are not trying to—I don’t want to say comfortable confronting it, calm as in pretend it didn’t bring it to somebody else— happen—but make sure the ask for help,” said Zirkle. immediate students felt safe “The biggest thing that we because some people do con- don’t want to have happen is sider (campus) as a safe space it be ignored.

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