THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 OPINION SPORTS MSG responds Men’s basketball to impeachment downs Edinboro issue in overtime Page 6 Page 11 Vol. 79 No. 9 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie Pa. 16546 December 14, 2005 THE MERCIAD Secretary’s probation under way MSG reps pledge to strive for open communication The probation, according to the By Joshua Wilwohl proposal, is a “…reasonable action, Editor-in-chief given that removal from offi ce did not take place.” In a 37-1 vote, the Mercyhurst Student The new deadlines and probationary Government passed the probation- conditions, according to the document, ary stipulations – as set by the judicial will be regulated by fi ve MSG represen- committee – for impeached Secretary tatives, MSG President Dan Schuler and Katie McAdams/Photo Editor Jennifer Ciccone. MSG advisor Darcey Kemp. Junior Melissa Vasquez spent a fun-fi lled day with her buddy engaging in various activities and crafts. The fi ve-page document outlines the According to Schuler, student govern- responsibilities that Ciccone neglected ment developed such a committee to and must complete so as to avoid regulate the probation period. “MSG, immediate removal from office, as through its ad-hoc Probation Com- Christmas on Campus success outlined in the probationary stipula- mittee (now the Judicial Committee), There was not one person without arts and crafts for the children to tions’ proposal. has set and agreed upon a probation By Sarah Sheehan a smile on their face. Everyone was design. The application states, “Because of system that we believe will help us work Contributing writer excited to be there and helping out. The activities let the children expand the severity of the action and the fact through this situation,” he said. This year’s planning committee was their creativity and imaginations to that the MSG body did not vote to Judicial Committee Representative Christmas on Campus took place in very organized and had the event details make homemade keepsakes to share relieve the offi cer of his/her duties Eric Squatrito wants to ensure even- the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union planned far ahead of time which made with their family. through a dismissal from offi ce, it is handedness during this process. “It was Saturday, Dec. 10, and it was a great the event run very smoothly. The dance program organized dances imperative that the committee assigned a reasonable and necessary probation,” success. About 30 of the 80 clubs on campus to perform and the choir sang Christ- to create an alternate consequence he said. “The MSG body voted to place Darcy Kemp, director of the stu- participated. mas carols while the children raced produces a system that fi ts a degree of us on this (probationary) committee dent union and advisor for this event There were a little fewer than 100 around from activity to activity. sternness that is in accordance with the and to make sure of fairness.” said that the event had more student children that attended the event from The children could also get their pic- severity of an impeachment.” Schuler wishes to make sure equality is involvement better organization, and different agencies such as the MLK and ture taken with Santa and later received The document also includes a judicial given, but hopes to move on from this club participation than in years past. the JFK centers. gifts that were donated by students, proposal and past due work, duties issue and help promote ways to reach The event went off without a hitch. Every child had a buddy that was either faculty and professors on campus. and responsibilities that Ciccone must more students around campus. The atmosphere in the student union a faculty or student body member. complete on new deadlines throughout on Saturday was amazing. Each club had an activity table with Please see Christmas on page 2 the rest of her term in offi ce. Please see Probation on page 3 College does its part for city fi nances, offi cials say and declare bankruptcy now.” ask surrounding colleges and other non- car worth $30,000 to the Erie Bureau Indirectly, the college has an impact By Amanda Harnocz Joe Sinnott, Erie’s mayor-elect, said profi t organizations for fi nancial help. of Police. on the region and state of over $84 Contributing writer the only solution might be to have the Mercyhurst College President Dr. The college also paid $133,040 in million. state government step in under Act 47, Michael McQuillen said, “We would property taxes during 2005 for houses Tom Billingsley, Mercyhurst’s execu- The city of Erie faces a $10 million the distressed cities act. be happy to help with the city and talk and other off-campus properties owned tive vice president for administration, budget crisis and Mercyhurst College Sinnott stressed that this is the last with Mayor Sinnott.” by the college. noted that while the college is happy may be able to help curb some of this possible option and that the city should He also added that the college is now Each year the college contributes to help the city, it poses the question debt. avoid it. Raising taxes and cutting back working on a pamphlet to show the around $75,000 to the Old-Fashioned of charitable versus educational on The current mayor of Erie paid for on salaries and personnel across the college’s fi nancial impact on the city. Forth of July Celebration in both Erie taxation. He said, “Wouldn’t that be many of the city’s needs with money city government was the most attrac- Sinnott said that Gannon and and North East. defeating the whole purpose?” from a reserve account. This is among tive option. Mercyhurst have done their part to Taxes paid to local municipal govern- If the city is considering asking the top reasons given for why the city Fire and police services have already help the community. He said, “Their ments from payroll accounts add up to colleges for help, some people fear is facing such a large defi cit. been cut back as much as possible. support is important to the city.” $209,000. churches will be asked next. While At Monday morning’s Erie City Coun- An Erie police offi cer’s average yearly While McQuillen is open to helping According to the Association of Mercyhurst has done its part fi nancially cil budget planning session, Council salary, including benefits, is around Erie, Mercyhurst College has already Independent Colleges and Universities for the city, the college also donates time President Jim Thompson said, “If we $70,000. done many things to help the city fi nan- of Pennsylvania (AICUP), Mercyhurst’s and service to the community. don’t fi gure this (budget crisis) out this Rumors circulated in early autumn cially and in other ways. direct impact on the regional and state year, we should walk across the street that the city offi cials were prepared to Last year the college donated a police economy is $60 million dollars. Please see ‘Hurst on page 2 Wilson Scholar educates and enriches Mercyhurst campus Egypt, Indonesia and Kuwait. or negative effect, Dr. Norton said, “We By Christina Ferranti The survey was in regards to what the have a big mess on our hands; the Bush Contributing writer people of these countries thought about administration has made a foolish and several subjects: American movies, tele- monumental mistake by intervening in Dr. Richard Norton visited Mercyhurst vision and products, American freedom Iraq’s affairs.” College last week to lecture and inform and democracy, and America ‘s invasion He went on to say that there seems students about Arabic nations and how into Iraq. to be a particular antagonism towards citizens, particularly Muslims, view In each category, except America the United States all over Europe as a Americans. invading Iraq, the multitude of people result of us going to Iraq. Last Tuesday, he spoke about his responded positively and energetically, When asked what he thought about experiences abroad as well as the highly emphasizing American culture American foreign policy he said that general feeling towards America and in their society. our country needed a “more realistic its policies especially in regard to the In regards to their feelings about approach to deal with foreign policy, situation in Iraq. America invading Iraq, all responded especially because federal offi cials are He displayed an interesting survey that negatively and seemed upset at the extremely puzzled on what to do about polled citizens from 10 different coun- present situation. Iraq. We have backed ourselves into a tries including Venezuela, France, Iran, When addressed with whether Ameri- Katie McAdmas/Photo editor Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, can presence in Iraq has had a positive Please see Scholar on page 2 Dr. Richard Norton lectured on America’s image in the world. PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD December 14, 2005 NEWS To contact: [email protected] World Briefs Providing holiday cheer International news Ambassador Club donates gifts to needy families in Erie area Compiled by ambassadors are making a mon- Corrie Thearle By Jonelle Davis etary donation in Sr. Kathleen WTO talks Contributing writer Six days of world trade talks Marie Leap’s name. have begun in Hong Kong amid “We are collecting money violent clashes between police The Ambassador Club is from the ambassadors for this. and protesters. spreading Christmas cheer by However we also have asked World Trade Organization sponsoring children at the Mercy employees to get involved,” said (WTO) members were quickly at Center for Women this Holiday Wilson. loggerheads, with agriculture the Season.