THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 The MERCIAD Vol. 78 No. 18 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie, Pa. 16546 April 13, 2005 ’Hurst plans Springfest considered, such as making sure there is By Amanda Orendorf enough power in the MAC. to accom- Contributing writer modate the lights on the stage, designing the T-shirts, setting up volunteer com- The end of the school year is fast mittees, working with a budget, as well as approaching and like always there are keeping the communication lines open many events happening in and around with the people you work with,” said Mercyhurst’s campus. One thing that Mollie Burns, Student Activities Chair. students can always count on enjoying “I could never do this without the is Springfest. help of MSG, SAC, and all the volun- On May 7, the college will be host- teers.” ing its annual Springfest; a day of fun According to Burns, the band was planned for the student body. chosen by a poll that was given out at a The daytime activities, which will be student government meeting and also at held in front of the Student Union and a SAC meeting. Garvey Park, run from 3 p.m. until 7 The poll contained a list of popular p.m. bands and the groups chose their favor- The events for the day include: toilet ite to perform at Springfest. seat racers, bungee bull, Sumo wrestling, Students around campus are getting Dance Dance Revolution, human bowl- excited this year’s event. ing, a Velcro wall, bungee run, infl ata- “I am really looking forward to the a-hoop, slip-n-slide, old car smashing, day’s activities because last year we just a cook out (4 until 6 p.m.) and a DJ had the band,” said Ashley Breen, a throughout the day. senior. “I am sure that the concert will After the day’s activities, there will be amazing too.” be a concert in the Mercyhurst Athletic The SAC and MSG want Springfest to Center from 8 p.m. to approximately be a success for the students. It should 11 p.m. be a time when memories between The concert will open with the win- friends are made. ning group from the Battle of the Bands, “On May 7, when I see all the students which will be held on Friday, April 22, having a great time and making unfor- from 10 p.m. to midnight in the M.A.C. gettable memories here at Mercyhurst, After the opening band has performed, I will know that all the hours put into Reel Big Fish will take the main stage. Photo courtesy of Amy Hopta this event were worth it and that we were Each student will receive a ticket to Students enjoy different events during the annual Springfest weekend. One past favorite was a slip-n-slide successful,” said Burns. the concert compliments of the college, set up in the Grotto. Keep May 7, open for Springfest; and there will also be an extra 350 guest come rain or shine. If it happens to tickets. term and takes a lot of thought and government. think of every little detail that needs rain (or snow!) daytime activities will be Preparation for Springfest begins consideration on the part of the Stu- “Planning Springfest takes a lot of to happen in between now and then. held in the Rec. during the middle to end of winter dent Activities Committee and student time and effort, and you really have to There are many things that need to be Grace Paley is second lecturer ’Hurst TV, back and better than ever during Annual Literary Festival the Mercyhurst By Jaime Myers Communication As Mercyhurst’s English professor, Contributing writer By Chelsea Boothe Department. Contributing writer Dr. Ken Shift said, “Grace Paley is one of the great American short story writ- He left Fox 66 ers and one It disappeared for awhile, but ’Hurst as a news anchor What did you do last night? If you of the fore- TV is back and running. Shows are back to begin teaching did not attend the fi rst in a series of runners of on the air Monday, April 4, so tune into in the winter term. three authors for the Literary Festival the women’s channel 19 to watch. He is also a gradu- then perhaps you should consider movement in The communication department’s ate of Mercyhurst attending the second, a reading by America.” television studio has had some problems College. Grace Paley on April 19, at 7:30 p.m., She is this year, but a lot of work has been But the people in the Walker Recital Hall. a woman done to get it together again. With the of the department Paley is considered the consummate of many help of many people, the studio has decided to look Katie McAdams/Photo editor New York author. Vivian Gornick impressive new features. for outside help from the Village Voice said, “Grace talents, but Communication department profes- to make sure that The newly renovated and rewired TV set. Paley is to New York what William her writing Photo Courtesy of Dr. Ken Schiff sors Dr. Melissa Gibson, Mr. Dennis everything was Faulkner is to Mississippi.” truly speaks Grace Paley Lebec and Mr. Brian Sheridan have done right. WJET-TV came to the rescue. He And it is with little wonder that for itself. put time and work into repairing the Everything needed to be rewired and worked on rewiring and organizing such a high honor should be bestowed Come and studio. connected in the simplest way. everything. upon a woman with such an outstand- discover why so many people have Sheridan is the newest addition to Mike Kobylka, an engineer from Please see ’ Hurst on Page 3 ing record. Not only have her short become enamored by her. stories been in The New Yorker, Ms In the story “A Conversation with Model UN team presents nuclear proliferation Fiction, and Mother Jones, but she My Father,” Paley sets up the scene has published several collections of where the character’s father wants her As part of Academic Celebration Mercyworld sought to ratify the nuclear short stories. By Brent Vlcek 2005, Mercyhurst’s Model UN Team nonproliferation treaty. Unfortunately, to write a different kind of story and Contributing writer Paley has also taught at Columbia, she replies, “if he means the kind that presented “Nuclear Proliferation and the for the third year in a row, that effort Syracuse University, and Sarah Law- begins: ‘There was a woman’ followed United Nations: Iran and North Korea” failed. rence. She received a Guggenheim by plot, the absolute line between two On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, diplomats to the college community. Nonetheless, the event proved ben- Fellowship in Fiction in 1961 and the points which I’ve always despised, from China, France, India, Russia, Syria Mercyhurst faculty members played efi cial for attending students. National Institute of Arts and Let- not for literary reasons, but because and the United States convened in the the role of international diplomats from “The large number of attendees sug- ters Award for Short Story writing it takes all hope away. Everyone, real Mercyhurst Heritage Room to discuss China, France, India, Russia, Syria and gests they have found the past two years in 1970. or invented, deserves the open destiny nuclear proliferation. the United States. worthwhile, and I suspect next year there But Paley’s grandeur goes beyond of life.” While the United Nations governs Diplomats included Dr. Brian Ripley will once again be a good crowd, said her literary talent. She has protested The 1993 Rea Award Jurors agree the rules of international discourse, the (China), Attorney Tina Fryling (France), Clemons. “My sense is they fi nd it both against the Vietnam War, been a that she is a natural in the same con- meeting was anything but diplomatic. Dr. Bud Brown (India), Dr. Christine entertaining and educational.” member of a peace mission to Hanoi, text as an athlete can be considered Diplomats hurled accusations, alle- Colin-Burns (Russia), Dr. Randall Clem- Dr. Colin-Burns agreed. “I think attended the World Peace Conference a natural. They considered her to gations and charges of misconduct at ons (Syria) and Mr. Kristan Wheaton that the Mercyhurst Model UN was a in 1975 and, perhaps most impres- be humorous and wise, tough and each other. (United States). great opportunity for our students to sively, is said to be one of “The White compassionate and she is coming to Finger pointing ensued. In the end, Senior Model UN members J.J. Miku- see a microcosm of how world politics House Eleven,” who in 1978 put an share her New York voice with the the mood lightened as diplomats and lec, Nicole Repass and Kimberly Gra- works,” she said. anti-nuclear banner on the White Mercyhurst campus. the audience mingled with plates full belski presided over the event. House lawn. of fi nger food. For the third year in a row, Model Please see Model on Page 3 News Opinion Features Index � Take your best shot and enter � Find out why the majority of col- � Historical geology teacher Mr. News.....................................2 the Mercyhurst photo contest. leges and universities are liberal, and McKenzie is a great fi nd for Mercy- News.....................................3 Page 2 why it is a good thing. hurst. Features.................................4 Page 7 Page 4 Features.................................5 � Communication Department Opinion..................................6 visits the nation’s capital. Find Opinion..................................7 Arts & Entertainment Sports A&E.......................................8 out the details of the exciting �Burning River Brass performs at �Women’s lacrosse picks up two A&E.......................................9 trip.