THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 A & E SPORTS East Village Opera Women’s hockey Company to ranked No. 3 in perform in PAC United States Friday Page 8 Page 10 Vol. 80 No. 4 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie Pa. 16546 October 4, 2006 THE MERCIAD Forensic students investigate homicides it, we continued with the excavation of the grave,” Dirkmaat said. The students used the same procedure for a shallow grave or a deep grave, one that Dirkmaat began developing during his time at graduate school. “We here at Mercyhurst are setting the standards for forensic archaeology for outdoor crime scenes,” he said. “The local law enforcement is starting to realize this and they benefi t from our services. I’ve been here for 15 years, and we do a few every year.” Dirkmaat believes that hands-on experience is necessary for learning forensic archaeology. “Forensic archae- ology has simulated, mock scenes, because you can talk about it in class, but you don’t actually learn it until you have the experience,” he explained. Stephanie Super, a fi rst-year forensic anthropology graduate student, agreed with Dirkmaat that there are many “This past Tuesday and Wednesday elements present at a crime scene that By Jen Helbig the coroner’s offi ce, state police and cannot be duplicated in simulation. Contributing writer district attorney’s offi ce asked us for “You can’t learn something like this help,” said Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, associ- unless you do it. When you have a mock Students in Mercyhurst’s department ate professor of anthropology. excavation you don’t know what it’s of applied forensic sciences are learning The team follows a standard protocol like to work with the people from law hands on that the dead do speak. that they have learned through their enforcement and stay on your feet all The 14 graduate students in the pro- classes at Mercyhurst. day,” Super said. “When it’s simulated, gram, as well as advanced undergradu- “We started with a search of the area it’s only two hours long and you can go Jack Hanrahan photo by permission of Erie Times-News ate students who have completed pre- on Tuesday by looking for footprints for a bathroom break if you need to.” Students in the applied forensic sciene major had the oppurtunity requisite courses, have traveled to local and disturbances in the vegetation. We to travel with Associate Professor Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, the program death cases to aid in and learn from the then cleared the vegetation around the director, to a crime scene in western Erie County. procedure of processing a grave. potential burial feature. When we found Please see Students on page 2 Committing to hospitality means of getting this out to the stu- By Sarah Caram dents…bringing this commitment to Contributing writer campus.” Michelle Ellia, an RA at Mercyhurst, “Imagine a Mercyhurst where hate believes that it is important to have resi- has no place. Imagine a Mercyhurst dential students sign the pledge cards. where everyone is greeted openly, “I feel that these forms help students regardless of race, religion, disability, understand the importance and sincer- ethnicity or sexual orientation. Imagine ity of Dr. Gamble’s commitment to a Mercyhurst where mutual respect hospitality. I also feel that the forms are underpins every interaction.” a true sign of how powerful the student These are the goals that Mercyhurst voice is here at the college. Without the hopes to make a reality, according to participation of the students, it would Dara Zirkle, assistant director of Resi- be hard to ensure the commitment of dence Life and Student Conduct. hospitality would truly be carried out,” According to Zirkle, Gamble and the Ellia said. Residence Life and Student Conduct File Photo Like Zirkle, Ellia hopes that the Photo courtesy of Archaeology Institute offi ces decided to create a pledge card thoughts of Mercyhurst students will called “Commitment to Hospitality” change in a positive way. Adovasio succeeded in getting $2 million to build the structure. to be signed by willing Mercyhurst stu- Mercy hospitality goes beyond “My hope is that the attitudes of the dents after hearing President Gamble’s tolerance in much the same way students will change. I hope that they Inaugural Address. realize how powerful this campaign is “Mercy hospitality goes beyond toler- that Mercy itself goes beyond and work to ensure its success,” Ellia Adovasio’s efforts ance in much the same way that Mercy justice. While we say we want said. itself goes beyond justice. While we say The signed pledge cards will be hung we want tolerance, what we really crave tolerance, what we really crave up on the walls that line the hallways of make ‘Meadowcroft’ from one another is not mere toler- from one another is not mere the Resident Life and Student Conduct ance, but a warm and understanding offi ces, and those who sign the card hospitality,” Gamble stated during his tolerance, but a warm and receive a sign to put on their door that people friendly inaugural address. understanding hospitality. states “My room is hate free.” These words sparked the inspiration The response from residential stu- hog dig up ancient artifacts and since of the creation of the pledge card and dents on campus has been a very posi- By Jessica Kocent then the site has been an archaeological -Dr. Thomas Gamble News editor can be found on the card under his tive one. and anthropological haven. picture. Inaugural address “Most people have been very willing Adovasio worked on with the site Residence Life and Student Conduct Sept. 16, 2006 to sign it and those who haven’t—it’s To the average person, the word from 1973 until 1989. In 1990, with teamed up with Vice President of their right not to,” said Zirkle. Meadowcroft probably does not mean Adovasio’s effort, Mercyhurst College Student Life Jerry Tobin and Associate The overall goal hoped to be reached much. But, thanks to the recent efforts has actually been in charge of the site, Vice President of Student Life Laura to offer all a ‘warm and understanding by having students sign this form is of Dr. James Adovasio, the Dean of and has put forth a lot of logisitic and Zirkle to create the Commitment to hospitality.’” stated on the pledge card in fi ve bulleted the Zurn School of Natural Sciences fi nancial effort. Hospitality pledge card. “I think this will be something we points right above the signature. and Mathematics and director of the The project has also had funding- According to Zirkle this pledge card, continue to do,” said Zirkle, who When one signs this pledge, they are Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, it from the University of Pittsburgh, which was approved by Gamble, was believes that this pledge card will be a pledging to set a positive example, speak might someday soon. the National Science Foundation and made in support of Gamble’s ideas of good way to start the year off on the out against hate and injustice and work Western Pennsylvania’s Meadowcroft the Western Pennsylvania Historical the ideal Mercy community. right foot. together as a community. Rockshelter is a shallow cave that was Society. According to the Commitment to The fi rst step in the effort to make The goal of the pledge cards is to inhabited nearly 16,000 years ago. It Most recently, Adovasio has been Hospitality pledge card, when students Mercyhurst a campus in which hos- inspire students to be positive role is, in fact, the oldest record of human integral in getting $2 million in state sign it they are individually agreeing to pitality is valued is to have residential models and “…to get people to think visitation in North America and was capital funds to have a state-of-the- “…pledge to have respect for people students sign the pledge card. about how they will act and behave,” instrumental in changing the ideas art visitors’ center constructed at the whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, “The next target will be the commut- Zirkle said. about early Native Americans. Washington County site. sexual orientation or other character- ers,” said Zirkle. It was discovered in 1955 by farmer istics are different from my own and According to Zirkle, “RAs are our Albert Miller as he watched a ground- Please see Meadowcroft on page 3 PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD October 4, 2006 NEWS To contact: [email protected] Res life warns Police and Safety Log World Briefs students of date September 26 September 28 International news Theft Liquor law Violation 3907 Briggs Mercy 300 Compiled by South Korea may win Open Closed Jessica Kocent U.N. secretary general rape drug use Pending Investigation College Discipline From BBC News South Korea’s foreign minister partygoers may not know what September 27 October 1 By Noelle Lelakus has won the support of the Se- is in them. Theft Theft Copy editor curity Council’s fi ve permanent If you are out and believe your Zurn Hall Preston Hall members in an informal vote on beverage has been laced with a Closed Open the next U.N. secretary general. In response to rumors circling date rape drug, do not drink it. Pending Investigation Ban Ki-moon was the only one around Mercyhurst campus Call the Mercyhurst Police and September 27 of six candidates to escape a veto about the use of date rape drugs, Safety Department at extension Harassment in the informal ballot. police and safety sent out a 2304, states the fl yer. Mercy 200 The poll is non-binding but, campus wide e-mail to remind Save the drink if possible so Open barring a major surprise, Ban students to take precautions that it can be tested for drugs Pending Investigation looks set to take the top role.