College OKs green roof; ‘green’ fund covers cost NEWS 2 Merciad photo Students and faculty participate in an Earth Day interfaith service in Munson Plaza Tuesday afternoon. See page 2 for a list of events scheduled for “Earth Week.” PAGE 2 NEWS April 23, 2008 ’Hurst ups its eco-friendly commitment College approves green roof installation, wind energy investment member junior Dustin Snyder said the proposals for the administration to gain ecological footprint of the By Casey Greene Hankinson. the green roof and wind energy support,” Stepherson said. school, but also to provide Managing editor Each term, traditional students agreement recently passed Pekor submitted Green models of projects and practices pay a $5 fee that is put directly unanimously. Energy Fund Request form that can be used by others in our The ambition of Mercyhurst into the Green Energy Fund, “They went through months to GERB, proposing the community.” College students has led the which is then used to increase of development by students, installation of a green roof. The roof will “…slow storm college to increase its eco- sustainable efforts on campus. faculty, staff and administrators The proposal was unanimously water, moderate temperature of friendly dedication. The board reviews proposals to make sure they satisfi ed the supported by the board. buildings and reduce outside The Green Energy Review and decides how to disperse wishes of the students,” he said. “I chose a green roof mainly noise, among other benefi ts,” Board (GERB) recently passed money in the fund to support “The College would not have because of its aesthetic value Pedler said. proposals for the installation sustainable efforts and projects taken these steps if it were not and the ability to increase the Please see Mercyhurst on Page 6 of a green roof and increased on campus. for the student body and a totally sustainable efforts on campus,” investment in wind energy. According to the Green committed core of Green Team Pekor said. “It is also a growing The board is designed to Energy Fund Request for students.” technology, which shows that Earth Week Events review submitted proposals Proposals, “All members of the Green roof Mercyhurst is keeping up with April 23 - April 28 focused on sustainable measures College community (students, A section of Zurn’s roof will the times.” and decide in what ways the faculty, administrators, and be getting an upgrade soon, an Other colleges such as Wednesday, April 23 - 4-6 p.m. college can support eco-friendly staff) are eligible to participate eco-friendly upgrade. Carnegie Mellon University, Hunger banquet led by student projects. in proposals. Because this is Within the next two years, Penn State Univerity, Slippery Green Team members in the Members of GERB include a student fund, however, the the roof of the ceramics lab Rock University and Oberlin Mercy Heritage Room. Executive Vice President for project initiator must be a will become the new location College have at least one green Administration Tom Billingsley, currently enrolled Mercyhurst for a “green roof,” a living roof on their campus. Thursday, April 24 - 4:30 p.m. Director of the Physical Plant student. There must also be a lawn or garden placed on top Junior Ricki Proper said she Lecture in the Mercy Heritage Ken Stepherson, Sustainability project supervisor who may be of a building to help replace thinks the green roof project is Room titled, “Environmental Coordinator Cathy Pedler, a faculty member, administrator the carbon footprint a building a great addition to the campus. Well-Being: Ecological Design for Professor of Chemistry Dr. or staff member.” creates when it is built. “I hope other schools follow Wicked Problems,” presented by Ron Brown, Green Team “This fund is open to Stepherson said Pekor is our lead and create more green Dr. Robert Mugerauer, professor Chair Dr. James Snyder, MSG everyone,” Pekor said. “Anyone responsible for bringing the projects,” she said. of urban design, planning and representative junior Zach can fi ll out the form, which has green roof project, which has The roof will come with architecture at the University of Pekor and Green guidelines included and write been discussed for over a year, many ecological, economic and Washington. Team a proposal for a green to the attention of GERB. aesthetic advantages. project.” “Zach worked very hard Pedler said the goal of the Friday, April 25 - 4-6 p.m. gathering information and project is “…ultimately to Zurn 121 discussing the reduce the A papermaking workshop led by project with Camille Nischal in Zurn 121. All supplies will be provided. Saturday, April 26 - 11 a.m. Dr. Mike Campbell will lead the Hike for Haiku event, including a walk through Wintergreen Gorge identifying various species of plants and fl owers. Students will later write a Haiku poem based on their expe- rience. Bring a bag lunch. Monday, April 28 - 7:30 p.m. Mercy Heritage Room The Sr. Maura Smith Earth Day Lecture, “Foundations for a Sustainable Future: Cosmology, A Sense of Place and the Sacred,” will be presented by Sr. Miriam MacGillis. April 23, 2008 NEWS PAGE 3 Service Learning Science Fair success proved by the college president’s By Emily Grabowski office, to sponsor three fairs Contributing writer throughout the year. An art fair and a literacy fair have already Students had the opportunity taken place earlier this academic to mock Bill Nye for Erie’s un- year. derprivileged recently. The fair was designed to show On Monday, April 21, a sci- children, from third to sixth ence fair was held in the Great grade, the wonders of science Room of the Herrmann Stu- and nature. dent Union from 3:30 p.m. to Different activities were set up 5:30 p.m. throughout the Great Room for Sr. Michele Schroeck and kids to participate in, including Colin Hurley, a VISTA member planting seeds in cups, recycling working in the service learning races, liquid-nitrogen ice cream, offi ce, organized the fair. fossil digging in a sandbox and Mercyhurst College student more. volunteers, some from campus Pizza and beverages were clubs, helped plan the activi- made available to the children ties. and volunteers. The Chemistry Club, Green “This is the best fair we’ve had Contributed photo Team and Anthropology Club so far this year,” Schroek said. Juniors Margaux Valenti and Zach Pekor represented the Green Team at the Science Fair on are just a few who gave some of “We’ve gotten a lot of positive Monday where they showed children from Erie how to plant seeds. their time to help. feedback from the kids, part- This was the third in a series of ners, faculty members and the the college,” junior Margaux was very pleased about the ex- to gain an interest in higher edu- fairs held by the college as enrich- students involved.” Valenti said. citement the kids showed toward cation by visiting a college for a ment opportunities for children Hurley shares a similar view Junior Zach Pekor was thrilled their activity. few hours, maybe even for the involved in Mercyhurst’s comm- about the event. at the opportunity to engage “The Chemistry Club was fi rst time,” Hurley said. unity partners. “I’m very thrilled to give kids the children in the world of a huge hit, especially because Schroek and Hurley were The organizations involved the opportunity to touch and science. of liquid nitrogen ice cream.” pleased with the turnout. About are the Mercy Center for Wom- experience science with all fi ve “Math and science don’t get Handzel said. 30 children attended, coming en, John F. Kennedy Center, of their senses,” Hurley said. a lot of attention anymore, and On top of giving the children from several of the community John Horran YMCA Kids Club, The student volunteers said that’s a shame,” he said. “I think hands-on experience with sci- partner facilities. House of Healing, Trinity Cen- they were excited about the ex- it’s important to explain the love ence, the children who visit get a “It went so smoothly and it ter and the Boys and Girls perience and the enthusiasm of of science to the kids and let look at a real college campus. seemed both the younger kids Club. the kids involved. them experience it fi rst hand.” “Besides the engaging activi- and the ‘older kids’ enjoyed The fairs were made possible “This is the perfect activity Junior Michele Handzel, a ties that student volunteers plan themselves. I know I did,” through a diversity grant, ap- to connect the community and member of the Chemistry Club, for the event, it serves as a chance Hurley said. Students protest for concealed carry on campus The SCCC was founded the would make a difference in the cyhurst College SCCC sponsor Devon Ruic expects numbers By Nicole McIntyre day after the Virginia Tech safety of college and university freshman Devin Ruic, “as well under 25 to participate consider- Contributing writer massacre. students. as a written test and a shooting ing it is not a student recognized It is the opinion of the stu- Currently, 11 states allow range test.” club or organization. Mercyhurst College students dents in this origination that by students to carry concealed The national SCCC con- When asked whether or not are staging a protest this week in disarming students, they are not firearms on campuses with sists of over 27,000 members, students should be able to carry order to acknowledge Students protected from other individuals the successful completion of a 97 percent consisting of stu- concealed weapons on campus, for Concealed Carry on Campus who intend to potentially harm background check.