'Hurst Gets a Visit from 'The Most-Trusted Man in America'
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Vol.82, No.12/12.17.08/Free Mercyhurst ‘jazzes’ up WMCE Read more on Page 3 ’Hurst gets a visit from ‘the most-trusted man in America’ Frank Warren, creator of PostSecret – a community art project turned world wide that allows strangers to let go of their secrets – spoke to an audience of more 750 people Tuesday in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Read more on Page 2 Page 2 NEWS December 17, 2008 ’Hurst tells its secrets to Frank Warren dont even know,” Parker said. By Casey Greene “It’s pretty amazing and it Editor-in-chief makes me feel better about myself knowing that people are going More than 750 audience members fell through the same thing,” Leonard silent in the Mary D’Angelo Performing added. “It makes me have more Arts Center when Frank Warren, “the trust in people.” most-trusted man in America,” took the Warren called it “tragic” that stage on Dec. 16. people are not more open and Warren is the creator of PostSecret willing to share their secrets. – a community art project turned “There are two types of secrets,” world wide, which allows strangers Warren said. “The secrets we keep to send funny, sad, intimate, angry or from other people and those we happy secrets to 13345 Copper Ridge hide from ourselves.” Road, Germantown, Md. 20874-3454, Warren said it is “our secrets Warren’s home. that connect us.” Thanks to an invitation from “There’s a kernel of truth or Mercyhurst Student Government, wisdom you can draw from each Warren welcomed many members of secret,” he said. the Mercyhurst and Erie communities Over the past four years the but some audience members traveled community art project has grown much further for the presentation. into a world wide phenomenon. “We’ve received calls from people Shortly after the project began, Scoot Williams photo as far away as Texas, Tennessee and Warren launched PostSecret. An audience of more than 750 people listened to a presentation by Frank Warren, Toronto who said they planned to com, an open blog site he updates the creator of PostSecret. attend,” Assistant Director of the PAC every Sunday with new secrets. Bruce Parkhurst said. The project has also made it to the people. I just wanted to hug them.” After each person shared, Warren Over four years since the project was MySpace and has several published Others shared more lighthearted replied with “Thank you for trusting launched, Warren has received more books. “PostSecret,” “My Secret,” “The secrets that made the audience laugh. us with your secret,” as the audience than a quarter of a million secrets. Secret Lives of Men and Women,” and “A “It was really empowering to hear applauded each individual. “I feel a real connection to people Lifetime of Secrets” each tell a different other people’s secrets. It made me feel Warren said he never imagined the who trust me with their secrets. It’s a story through the common thread of more comfortable with my own secrets,” project would grow so large but over great honor and I treat all secrets in a secrets sent from all over the world. freshman Michele Colangelo said. the past four years his expectations of non-judgmental way,” Warren said. Warren said publishing the books Junior Sarah Warthen agreed. humanity have been expanded. The secrets arrive on postcards, allowed the secrets to tell a larger, more “It was so moving,” she said. “It “The children most broken by the defl ated balloons, hotel card keys, Post- connected story. helped create a sense of solidarity in the world become the most likely adults to Its, greeting cards, fruit, vegetables and “In our everyday lives we often forget Mercyhurst community.” change it,” he said. anything else that can be mailed. that just beneath the surface we’re all “The cards are more beautiful when so connected by common experiences, they show evidence of their journey; emotions and humanity,” he said. PostSecret has been nominated for a like they have their own life,” he said. Warren welcomed audience Warren said he believes the experience members to come to mics placed MySpace Impact Award. of sending a secret is different for around the PAC and share their stories everyone. and secrets. If the PostSecret page wins, Warren has “I’d like to believe when people face a “It was cool how people could get secret on a postcard and then physically up and share in front of a large group pledged to donate the $10,000 cash prize that let it go… it allows the possibility for with no censorship and everyone healing.” knew their identity,” freshman Katie comes with the award to HopeLine - a suicide PostSecret has developed a large fan Chandler said. prevention hotline PostSecret often partners base. Many audience members were Those brave enough shared secrets regular visitors of the PostSecret Web about their own experiences with with. Warren asked members of the audience site. suicide, heartbreak, fear, drug addiction and others in the Mercyhurst community to Tanya Parker, 18, and Kailee Leonard, and death. 17, drove an hour and a half from Perry, “It was very emotional,” senior vote at www.myspace.com/impactawards to Ohio to see Warren’s presentation. Heather Schwager said of the public “I feel like I can relate to people I confession. “I felt very bad for some of ensure PostSecret receives the most votes. Page 2 NEWS December 17, 2008 December 17, 2008 NEWS Page 3 ’Hurst tells its secrets to Frank Warren College radio goes from classy to jazzy dont even know,” Parker said. classical music extensively. We have researched the tainly hope to provide that by informing the com- By Casey Greene By Julie Hranica “It’s pretty amazing and it jazz format for about a year, so this was defi nitely munity whether that be by broadcasting sporting Editor-in-chief Staff writer makes me feel better about myself not an overnight decision.” events or public service announcements.” knowing that people are going This decision was made based on input from com- Junior Alicia Rankin has taken note of the change. More than 750 audience members fell through the same thing,” Leonard In February 2009, Mercyhurst College radio sta- munity members and Mercyhurst students. Students “It is really interesting that they have decided to silent in the Mary D’Angelo Performing added. “It makes me have more tion WMCE (88.5 and 104.9) will begin broadcast- from the communication department provided switch genres. I hope that it will bring in new listen- Arts Center when Frank Warren, “the trust in people.” ing a new style of music. opinions as well as work study students at the radio ers for the station,” Rankin said. most-trusted man in America,” took the Warren called it “tragic” that Station Director Michael Leal said the station has station. Classical and jazz music and current station Freshmen Adam Hausman agrees. “I think that it stage on Dec. 16. people are not more open and selected jazz as the new style. listeners infl uenced the station’s music selection. is cool that they are switching to jazz music. I also Warren is the creator of PostSecret willing to share their secrets. WMCE is currently broadcasting classical music. Leal said the goal of the station is to provide pro- appreciate that they are still supportive of Mercy- – a community art project turned “There are two types of secrets,” Leal said, “In the past ten years, we have noticed gramming that is not offered to the Erie community. hurst and are planning on continuing to broadcast world wide, which allows strangers Warren said. “The secrets we keep at the station that classical music was not attracting “In the past two years, people have complained Mercyhurst events,” Hausman said. to send funny, sad, intimate, angry or from other people and those we a very large audience. This has been pretty stable that the stations are all the same in Erie. For ex- Leal emphasized the availability of work study happy secrets to 13345 Copper Ridge hide from ourselves.” and so we decided to look at alternatives for a for- ample, we have two rock stations. Jazz is one for- jobs for students of all majors, as well as jobs to Road, Germantown, Md. 20874-3454, Warren said it is “our secrets mat change.” mat that would not duplicate another station,” Leal students who do not have work study. “We are look- Warren’s home. that connect us.” Leal said the change was considered for a very said. ing for all kinds of help, whether it be behind the Thanks to an invitation from “There’s a kernel of truth or long time and many different alternatives were ex- According to Leal, the station will continue to scenes by helping with production or by hosting a Mercyhurst Student Government, wisdom you can draw from each amined. provide programming for Mercyhurst College. “It jazz program,” Leal said. Warren welcomed many members of secret,” he said. “Jazz was not the only format researched. We is important for the station to promote the activities Anyone interested in helping with the new format the Mercyhurst and Erie communities Over the past four years the examined modern music, as well as other kinds of of Mercyhurst College to the community. We cer- should contact Michael Leal. but some audience members traveled community art project has grown much further for the presentation. into a world wide phenomenon. “We’ve received calls from people Shortly after the project began, Scoot Williams photo as far away as Texas, Tennessee and Warren launched PostSecret.