THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 The MERCIAD Vol. 78 No. 21 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie, Pa. 16546 May 4, 2005 Mercyhurst buys land for $1.8 million began when Fairview and Girard High By Josh Wilwohl School superintendents, who, accord- Layout assistant ing to McQuillen, spoke to Mercyhurst about mirroring a North East to stu- With the decision to purchase 400- dents in the west county. acres of land in the western county for “They were an important voice in the new Girard campus, Mercyhurst set urging the college to offer programs (in into motion only the beginning stages that area),” he said. of a lengthy and diffi cult process. McQuillen feels that with the expan- Last week, the board of trustees voted sion of such programs will help increase to pay $4,500 per acre, or $1.8 million, the student population. to the Society of the Divine Word, in “With this new campus, we hope to order to purchase the land. attract a regional and national student According to Interim President population,” he said. Michael McQuillen, the purchase was However, in contrast to North East, fi nanced by transferring monies to the which has around 1200 students, Mer- endowment fund. cyhurst West plans to only begin with The idea, according to McQuillen, is 500 to 600 students and “later expand,” to sell a part of the land to regain the said McQuillen. money. Even with the buying of such a large “We can sell a portion of the property property, McQuillen noted that there to other developers and form more seemed to be “no opposition,” just money from the land in the endowment, some concern. instead of cash,” said McQuillen. “There was some concern in the According to McQuillen, there have beginning, but the board wisely decided been enough studies to warrant the it was best to buy the land,” he said. purchase. “We now just have to work on the “There was suffi cient information to major plans and decisions for the BSI photo buy (the land) and now we just need to campus.” The rendering above shows what a Mercyhurst West building would look like. plan ‘Mercyhurst West.’” The idea of Mercyhurst West campus Please see College on Page 3 Who is this colorful pair? Neighbors speak out Over 200 neighbors of Mercyhurst voice concerns to Erie City Council on the situation, according to Assistant By Kelly Rose Duttine Director of Residence Life, Joe Howard. Editor-in-chief Howard attended the meeting last Friday, along with other members of the Real world neighbors are complaining Mercyhurst College Residence Life staff, once again about “MercyWorld” to the Administration and some concerned City Council. students. According to the Erie Times-News in “It was mostly the same complaints an April 30 article, nearly 200 neighbors of inconsiderate behavior that we have of Mercyhurst College attended an Erie heard all year,” said Howard. City Council public hearing last Friday The city has already proposed some at St. Luke’s School to complain about changes to pacify neighbors for the the destructive nature of Mercyhurst remaining weeks of school. students, including students that live off One way the city will try to help campus and those traveling to and from neighbors is through a Neighborhood off campus parties and bars. Action Team (NAT) who will patrol Neighbors cite everything from the the area around Mercyhurst College. littering of beer cans to students ruin- Typically, a NAT is used in inner-city ing fl owers and plants in their yards neighborhoods to deal with drugs, crime from passing out or vomiting, said the or violence. article. The NAT is only responsible for a City Council President Jim Thomp- particular neighborhood, and does not son, along with the Erie Police Chief have to answer other police calls, so they Charles Bowers promised to crack down can devote more time and attention to on students based on a growing number one area. of complaints by neighbors, according “The NAT will be used where neigh- to the article. bors complained most heavily,” said Mercyhurst College’s Offi ce of Resi- Howard. Melissa Jack/contributing photographer dence Life is also trying to crack down Please see Neighbors on Page 3 Jesse and Ricardo are regularly seen riding around campus. Find out all about them on page 4. Seniors pledge to stay green at heart even after graduation By Jennifer Ciccone But getting a job is not the only thing Mercyhurst in 1998.” tion at Mercyhurst,” states the opening seniors to put the values they learned at Contributing writer seniors are considering at the moment. In early May, seniors will receive a paragraph of the letter all seniors are Mercyhurst into practice.” There are a lot of loose ends and fi nal letter explaining the origin of the Gradu- soon to receive. The mission statement complements commitments that are in need of some ation Green Pledge and what exactly it This year’s pledge committee has Mercyhurst’s own mission statement and Underclassmen are ready for classes serious attention. entails when committing the pledge. been working hard trying to get the goals for what it wants to instill in it is to be done and for summer to begin. The Graduation Green Pledge is one Seniors will soon be among millions word out to inform graduating seniors students. The Green Pledge mission Seniors, on the hand, are packing up of those things seniors are being asked of Americans that are working to make of their options. The pledge commit- statement reads as follows: “I pledge to their belongings for one last time at to refl ect on as they embark on the new a living and the letter explains why they tee consists of: Amelia Vanessa Diaz, explore and take into account the social the Hurst. stage of their lives, what life is like after want people to sign the pledge prior to Matt Goodrich, Jen Helbig, Ashley and environmental consequences of any The truth is they will not be returning Mercyhurst. According to Sister Michele graduation. Herrmann, Dana Hyland, Tara Tel- job I consider and will try to improve come fall, they will be in the “real world,” Schroeck, “The Graduation Green “The college hopes that you will lerito, JoEllen Taylor, and Sister Michele these aspects of any organizations for working to make a living and executing Pledge is a national effort to promote continue to carry out the social and Shroeck, RSM. which I work.” the skills that they have learned through civic responsibility among graduating environmental responsibility that you Schroeck reinforces the concept by their four years at Mercyhurst. seniors. It was started by a student at learned as part of your liberal arts educa- saying, “It is an excellent opportunity for Please see Green on Page 3 News Opinion Features Index New programs, summer Find out what some ’Hurst Learn about the differences News...............................2 courses? There is a lot seniors have planned after between school in Poland and News...............................3 going on with the Mercy- graduation. the U.S. Feaures..........................4 h u r s t g r a d u a t e p r o g r a m s . Page 4 Feaures..........................5 Page 2 Page 6 Opinon............................6 Arts & Entertainment Sports Opin................................7 A&E................................8 It’s almost time to move Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ will be per- Softball fi nishes with 7-1 A&E................................9 out, but your garbage may formed by the Erie Opera The- stretch to make GLIAC Playoffs. Sports...........................10 be someone else’s treasure. atre, featuring many Mercyhurst Sports...........................11 students, faculty and alumni. Page 12 Sports...........................12 Page 3 Page 9 inside this issue editor McAdams/Photo Katie PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD May 4, 2005 NEWS To contact: [email protected] Students help with Special Olympics classes, as well as at other com- chalk, artwork, making s’mores By Missy Mulvihill munity events we volunteer for and much more. The hardwork- Contributing writer (E.S.O. Dances and SABAH),” ing volunteers also grilled hot said Dombrowski. dogs and made lunches for all of On Wednesday, April 27, “We are able to develop greater the hungry athletes. education students, members relationships with the students Not only did the student of the Council for Exceptional we teach at our practicum place- athletes have a great time, the Children and volunteers alike, ments, because we get to know volunteers did as well. came together to take part in their interests and are able to “It was a truly successful track the Special Olympics Track and connect with them at more meet,” said Dombrowski. Field meet held at Penn State events instead of just within their The track and fi eld meet is not Behrend’s Junker Center. classroom.” the only Special Olympics event The event was organized by The students competed in held annually. Special Olympics coordinator, events such as the 50-meter dash, Every February, volunteers adjunct professor Kim Whalen, 100-meter run, softball throw participate in the Winter Olym- and junior Kelly Dombrowski, (similar to the shot-put) and the pics at Peak ‘n Peak Resort and the Special Olympics officer long jump. volunteers are always welcomed for the Council for Exceptional “The athletes were so proud and needed. Children, or CEC. of themselves no matter what You do not have to be an “It’s great to be able to be a place they took. They wanted education student or member of part of something so special to to show everyone their award CEC to volunteer.