'Full House' Star Jodie Sweetin to Speak In
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:Features On Page 3: Arts & Entertainment On Page 5: Sports On Page 7: VIBEs were Kneer to play Women’s basketball good at MAC in faculty recital scores big this season event Read more inside & online EST. 1929The VOL. 89 NO. 12 MERCIADMERCYHURST UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016 Faculty on chopping block University reduces number of faculty to help cut costs day, Feb. 4, the second day of comes from a small depart- By Catherine Rainey spring term. ment, Mathematics. News editor “While we can understand “I understand why they the necessity to do this, it nev- might need to make cuts but Mercyhurst will undergo ertheless is a gut-wrenching just because a department more restructuring as it plans thing to have to face the real- is small shouldn’t make it a to “right-size” its faculty and ity,” said Joanne Hosey-Mc- target,” said Jaskowak. “To keep up with market trends, Gurk, Ph.D., president of the let go of exceptional teach- university officials announced. Faculty Senate. “We know ers because we can’t afford to The university will take a that students and faculty have employ them is not fair to stu- “multi-faceted approach” close relationships so people dents who won’t get to benefit to reducing the number of are going to be very seriously from them like I have.” faculty, according to David affected by this. We were cer- Cutting majors or academic Dausey, Ph.D., provost and tainly shocked by the necessity programs will be a last resort, vice president for academic for this.” Dausey said. affairs. “There are often times for “What’s happened organ- Mercyhurst University photo the reinvention of things, you While we can under- know the digital humanities, ically, probably over the last Mercyhurst is offering incentivized retirement to senior faculty members. Fewer faculty will be stand the necessity to media studies in general,” said five years, has been that the “ attending commencements in 2017. faculty growth has outpaced do this, it nevertheless Dausey. “We may take those student growth,” said Dausey. is a gut-wrenching actions to re-brand or to shift “Our student numbers have thing to have to face resources in such ways that it dropped by nine percent. Our the reality. is represented of what we feel faculty grew by 20 percent.” ” is the new thing.” To begin adjusting this - Joanne Hosey-McGurk According to Hosey-Mc- imbalance, the university will Gurk, making these changes offer incentivized voluntary Administrators discov- is a crucial part of keeping retirement to older faculty, he ered the need to make these up with the changing financial said. changes very recently, accord- climate and market trends of “We feel it’s consistent with ing to Hosey-McGurk. She higher education. our Mercy Mission. We feel said she was notified of the “I think these changes, while it’s a fair and honorable way to situation in early January. they’re going to be hard, if we offer somebody recognition “We had suspected, many don’t do it then there won’t be for their service to the organi- of us, that things were not a Mercyhurst to make changes zation,” Dausey said. going in the right direction in of any kind,” Hosey-Mc- Another part of this strat- with the previous adminis- Gurk said. egy is not renewing year- tration but we didn’t realize Dausey said the administra- to-year contracts for some how serious the situation had tion take the caretaking of the become,” she said. institution very seriously. non-tenured faculty members. Margaret Urso photo Cutting majors or programs The entire faculty and staff “It doesn’t happen by acci- remains a possibility, he said. have had a freeze on salary for The university’s administration will make decisions about faculty changes by the end of this dent. The Sisters (of Mercy), The reductions in faculty three of the last four years, semester. through blood, sweat and would take place in the 2016- and there is currently a hiring and they decide whether status. said she is concerned about tears, kept this place humming 17 academic year. freeze in place. Dausey said or not they want to accept All decisions will be made which professors are still and it’s our job to do the same “Our primary focus is to be the university will be creative them,” he said. by the end of spring term, going to be here next year. thing and that sometimes responsible stewards of our with the resources it has now Dausey said he hopes senior Dausey said. “Although there are still involves making hard deci- money,” Dausey said. until it is in a position to hire faculty who choose to accept Some students are con- some really great older faculty, sions,” said Dausey. “Those Dausey met with several responsibly. the retirement incentives stay cerned about their professors some of the younger profes- hard decisions, as challeng- Merciad editors on Friday. “It’s hard to know (how in close contact and come and departments. Sophomore sors I’ve had have been some ing as they be, are ones that The administration called many faculty will be cut) until back to the university and Competitive Business Intelli- of my favorites,” Harms said. are for the betterment of the a faculty forum on Thurs- we present people with offers serve in a professor emeritus gence major Rebecca Harms Sophomore Mary Jaskowak institution.” ‘Full House’ star Jodie Sweetin to speak in PAC on how we can just really mean they can’t take some- very curious and excited to “We are really hoping she By Melanie Todd take on life,” Garret Erwin, thing from it. If you find meet her myself,” Erwin said. touches on ‘Fuller House’ a Staff writer Mercyhurst Student Govern- yourself in a situation where After the event, SAC will little bit,” Erwin said. ment events coordinator said. you need help and to have host Sweets after Sweetin fea- There is no word on whether “Full House” and “Fuller After “Full House,” Sweetin the strength to seek out that turing Romolo’s chocolate in Sweetin will be talking at all House” star Jodie Swee- struggled with addiction but support, you do and you stick the Student Union. about the new series. tin will speak at Mercyhurst after rehabilitative therapy she with it,” Erwin said. “We wanted to make sure we “‘Full House’ is obviously about combating challenges was able to overcome it. Doors open for the event at still accounted for the Annual our generation’s program. I life presents and her own per- “She went from being a 6:45 p.m. The event is open to Chocolate Night because think students will really enjoy sonal struggle with alcohol young star and now she’s a all students. that’s an event students really her speaking. We are really and substance abuse following mother and back at it. She “The earlier you get there, love,” Erwin said. honored to have her,” Erwin the popular sitcom. really has come full circle,” the closer you will get to the The new series “Fuller said. Her speech, taking place Erwin said. Contributed photo stage. I really suggest students House”, starring Sweetin and Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Sweetin has taken on life’s Sweetin will reprise her role get there early,” Erwin said. many others from the original Performing Arts Center, is challenges and continues to as Stephanie Tanner in “Fuller There will be an open meet “Full House,” will premier on titled “A Young Star’s Road to follow new opportunities. House” on Netflix. and greet with Sweetin. Netflix Friday, Feb. 26. She Recovery.” “I’m really hoping students Just because she’s speaking “She seems very open and will reprise her role of Steph- “She’ll really be touching can gain something from it. about her addiction, doesn’t in touch with the crowd. I’m anie Tanner. @TheMerciad Merciad Index Chart Title Online Poll Results How do you enjoy the snow? News 1-2 I don’t. (33%) Features 3-4 Drinking hot chocolate by the radiator. (27%) A&E 5 I shovel it...to get my car out. (21%) Opinion 6 Building snowmen and sledding. (19%) Sports 7 Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: Laker Living 8 Do you plan to watch “Fuller House” on Netflix? 1 2 3 4 merciad.mercyhurst.edu Page 2 The Merciad February 10, 2016 News ’Hurst receives 5 grants President Victor raises over from Erie Arts & Culture $1.2 million for university With less than six months in dents obtain jobs after gradu- coach Rick Gotkin and wom- office, Mercyhurst University ation. en’s head coach Mike Sisti and By Adrian Monty President Michael T. Victor Perhaps the most awaited their respective staffs. Staff writer has raised more than $1.2 mil- contribution came from an While the latest contribu- lion, arguably one of the most anonymous donor, who has tion will allow Phase II to After submitting five grants successful major-gifts fund- gifted $250,000 for renova- proceed with the basics, the to Erie Arts and Culture, raising periods in Mercyhurst tions to the Mercyhurst Ice advancement team will con- Mercyhurst receives all five of history, and he has commit- Center, home to the universi- tinue to fund-raise in hopes of them, totaling $10,200 to use ments for $1 million more. ty’s men’s and women’s Divi- making even more significant towards various projects. The effort did not come sion I ice hockey teams.