Merciad MercVol.82,ia No.23/5.6.09d/Free The ‘Eye’ of the storm: 3EB headlines Tropical Thunder Springfest Freshman Tw enty-six FSATs take New Athletic residence hall students headed students to Director Joe named to Dungarven, Greece, Kimball Ireland Galapagos, Egypt interviewed Page 2 Page 5 Page 7 Page 13 Page 2 NEWS May 6, 2009 SAC rocks ‘Tropical Thunder’ theme for Springfest By Kelly Luoma Staff writer The end of spring term is Thunder theme, SAC and Mer- almost here. This year’s weekend- cyhurst Student Government long Tropical Thunder Springfest (MSG) are “trying to make it look is a great way to celebrate the like a beach boardwalk theme,” completion of the school year Fleisner said. and the beginning of summer. Cotton candy, funnel cakes, The Third Eye Blind concert popcorn and Rita’s Italian Ice starts the events for the weekend. will be provided. The infl atables The concert begins at 8 p.m. on include Bungee Run, Rock and Friday, May 8. Third Eye Blind Joust, Sports Challenge, a slip n’ performs after the opening band, slide and Pirates Cove Obstacle The Upwelling. Course. Besides the infl atables, If tickets for the concert are there will be opportunities for still available, they will be distrib- students to decorate fl ip fl ops Contributed photo uted on Thursday, May 7, from and cover themselves in airbrush Students can race friends through the Pirates Cove Obstacle Course at this year’s Springfest. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to tattoos. 7 p.m. The barbecue starts at 4 p.m. Springfest T-shirts are available and will include hamburgers, hot- during these times for $5. dogs and nachos. “We have been distributing lots “Student Government and of tickets for Third Eye Blind, SAC have worked really hard. … and I’m sure we are going to sell Hopefully students will enjoy the out,” Student Activities Council hard work we’ve put in,” Fleisner (SAC) Chair Vicky Fleisner said. said. “Students are very excited about Fleisner and MSG events coor- the band this year.” dinator Jax Brown planned the Outdoor Springfest activities event. continue on Saturday, May 9. To show MSG and SAC you Contributed photo There will be food, infl atables and appreciate their work, celebrate The Sports Challenge infl atable lets students show off their athletic abilities. activities from 1 to 5 p.m. school coming to an end at To go along with the Tropical Springfest. Possession of Marijuana First-year professor receives 3810 Briggs Avenue Tuesday, April 28 College discipline $137,000 NASA grant The money will be used a few different ways. By Amanda Valauri Possession of Marijuana 380 7 Briggs Avenue Some of it is allotted for Lang’s salary and News editor Tuesday, April 28 for six undergraduate students’ salaries. Referred to Erie Police The team will travel to conferences across For some people, the first time is the the country where they will present their most Harassment by charm. recent findings. The money to pay for this is Communications 3926 Briggs Avenue Assistant Professor of Geology Dr. Nicho- included in the budget. las Lang wrote his first proposal about Mars Lang is looking for a diverse student group Wednesday, April 29 Continued investigation research to NASA and was awarded a grant to to make up his team. follow through on his research. “I want to work with anyone who has an “I was really surprised,” he said. “I’m really interest in Mars,” Lang said. “I would love to April 28 - 29 2009 excited to start work on the project.” pull from the Intel and math depa rtments.” Over the next three years, the $137,00 grant Any students interested in working on the Mercyhurst College from NASA will go towards research about project should contact Lang at nlang@mercy- Mars. hurst.edu or at extension 2076. May 6, 2009 NEWS Page 3 New freshman dorm gets ‘new’ name ters of Mercy. in Pittsburgh, Pa. By Amanda Valauri Born in 1810 in Ireland, In her lifetime, she estab- News editor Warde and Catherine McAuley lished over 100 foundations in moved into the House of Mer- Ireland and the U.S. So what’s in a name any- cy on Baggot Street and began While there is another resi- how? dence area named after Warde When it comes to naming To instruct is an easy (the Warde Townhouses), To- the new freshman dorm, a lot bin explained how the name of Tyler Stauffer photo “matter; but to educate actually. the building fi ts into the strate- Senior Lindy-Jo Smart, senior Hazel Jennings, senior Nick requires ingenuity, Gutowski and junior Kyle King display their awards alongside With Mercyhurst College gic fi ve-year plan. retired Mercyhurst professor Paul Barry McAndrew, center. President Dr. Thomas Gam- energy and persever “Another key reason the ble’s suggestion, the board of ance without end. name fi t was because the Warde trustees approved the name Townhouses may eventually be Frances Warde, 1843 Frances Warde Hall. ” replaced with another build- Students awarded “The name was chosen in caring for the poor of Dublin. ing,” he said. The strategic plan order to remain consistent with In 1833, Warde became the is being discussed this summer Mercy Heritage,” Vice Presi- fi rst Sister of Mercy named by for reevaluation. for Lumen writings dent of Student Life Dr. Gerry McAuley. As of March 31, the cost for her sincerity.” Tobin said. A decade later, Warde came the new freshman dorm, now By Kelly Luoma Junior Kyle King was Frances Warde was the to the United States and fur- known as Warde Hall, is $14.7 Staff writer announced the winner of the American founder of the Sis- thered the Mercy mission, fi rst million. P. Barry McAndrew Essay and Students received awards and Literature Contest. had the opportunity to read their Paul Barry McAndrew is a original writings to an audience retired Mercyhurst professor. Students protest tire plant at the unveiling of Lumen. After the winners received everyone,” Miller said. “The issue of the tire plant By JoEllen Marsh Lumen is a literary magazine their awards, students had the is the matter of life and death for all of us.” Managing editor and disc produced by Mercy- opportunity to read their writ- Protesters stood near the road with pickets and hurst College students. ings to the audience. posters while many passing drivers honked to show The English Department Jennings told a story about Students and faculty from Mercyhurst College their support, and a high school guitarist played judged the work submitted to the reality of being an English joined more than 50 other protesters to demon- power chords while Mercyhurst students chanted Lumen, and awards were given major in the workforce. strate against the proposed tire burning plant last “put your rubber somewhere else” and “save the for the best submissions. “I have focused my creative Friday. tires from the fi res.” Senior Nick Gutowski was writing studies on the art and The rally, organized by Mercyhurst professor The plant would burn 100,000 tires per day for awarded third place for his short practice of live storytelling,” Keiko Miller, was held outside the Boys & Girls several decades, and release 23 chemicals including story, “One Cold Night.” Jennings said. “It was a great Club of Erie near the proposed site of Erie Renew- carbon monoxide, mercury, zinc and dioxin, on a The department awarded evening and I’m glad everyone able Energy’s future plant. daily basis. senior Hazel Jennings second enjoyed my story.” “The spirit of the rally was extremely uplifting, For more information about the fi ght against the place for “Refl ections on Eye Eight students went on stage not angry, because we knew it was meant to benefi t tire burning plant, go to stopburningtires.com Drops.” to read their work. “I was excited and surprised “Since I came to Mercy- that I won an award,” Jennings hurst, the Lumen has been said. something I’ve looked for- Senior Lindy-Jo Smart won ward to year long,” Smart said. fi rst place with her poem, “A “From submitting, to fi nding Letter from Kenton, TN.” out I had been accepted, to Smart explained her poem. gaining the courage to read “The poem itself, ‘A Letter at the event has all been a from Kenton, TN’ is from a great experience.” collection of letters my friend The event took place on has written to me,” Smart said. Thursday, April 30, in Taylor Contributed photos “Her letters seemed so sim- Little Theatre. The children of Campus Minister Greg Baker (left) hold up a sign. Junior Jordan Zangaro, senior plistic, yet completely genuine; Lumen is the capstone event Nicholas Thompson, senior Robbie Kennerney and junior Holly Hayward (right) protest the tire I liked being able to capture for the Literary Festival. burning plant. Page 4 NEWS May 6, 2009 Hayes’ lecture concludes ‘Beyond the Dream’ series see here at Mercyhurst in the es, but she spoke specifi- By Alaina Rydzewski aspect of Catholicism,” junior cally about womanist theology Staff writer Cerissa Lynch said. courses. These courses use Hayes’ speech started by women’s stories to promote Throughout the school year, reminiscing about King and participation in religion. Mercyhurst College has been moving to Obama. “Now is the time to make celebrating the life and legacy “Forty-fi ve years ago, a man real the promise of democracy. of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went on stage and proclaimed … There is no time like the in a series called “Beyond the his dream.