• 1 Vol 73 No. 9 Mercyhurst College • 501 R 38th St. • Erie, Pa. 16546 January 12,2000 Students support newspaper Tuition increases, fHurst J program despite lack of funding still considered a "bargain" By Carrie Tappe By Jen Harwell i Editor-in-Chief increases total $4,866, up $234. News Editor Despite the extra charges When students returned to students will be seeing, it could campus after the holiday break, With the beginning of the 2000- be worse judging from the prices Mercyhurst had begun a pilot 2001 school year comes along a^ of the top 20 liberal arts colleges program through which The new sticker price as well. in the North competing with Morning News, USA Today and Tuition, room and board and fees Mercyhurst The Wall Street Journal would will face a 5.2 percent increase. ^Mercyhurst's costs are 8.5* be delivered daily to apartment "Mercyhurst continues to be a percent of the average," said Lee. buildings and dorm lobbies bargain," said Tom Lee, director Total cost for residents for the across campus. The program, of finance. "Mercyhurst is the 2000-2001 school year (includ- modeled after a similar program 12th lowest-price college of all ing fees) will be $19,554 up at Penn State University, and in the independent colleges in $969. Mercyhurst North East place at 10 other colleges in the Pennsylvania." country, is an effort to keep residents will now pay $594 students more informed about Traditional students will pay an more, totaling $13386. the world outside of Mercy- additional $630 for tuition, Tuition, room, board and fees hurst totaling $13,290, while adult for the 1999-2000 school year I can read the paper on my J f Gerrit Shuffstall/Merclad photographer student tuition will be raised were raised 5.16 percent from the own free time, and not get the Andy Crane enjoys reading a national newspaper provided $480 totaling $10380. Students previous year. While the changes news sporadically when it is on through the pilot test program. News stands seem to be busy. attending Mercyhurst North East may seem insignificant from one V*" Caria Sabatowski, Si uMoore a return sheet to determine going anywhere. I guess the • campus will receive a $360 year to the next, a 10.4 percent freshman, said. "It really gets the readership. I f readership is administration has money for itjg increase up to $7,620. increase over two years may students in touch with reality." high, the administration will if it is going to be continued." Room and board increases in cause students and their parents "The program is a positive consider j o i n i n g forces with MSG According to Nardi, for the Erie will become $5364, up to do a double-take with sticker trjaddition to make students more to form a partnership in the program to continue, it would $258, and in North East the shock, "bargain" or not aware of their immediate and* funding of the program. Accord- cost all of the 1600 students on hworldly surroundings," Tyrone ing to Moore, if readership is campus $ 17 per year to have the Moore, associate vice president limited, satellite sites may be three papers delivered. of administration, said. established across campus "The cost is high considering "It's a trial for 30 days to that 1600 students pay $17 each Census 2000 needs see if students read the paper," This program is a and only 250 students can get the Dr. William P. Garvey, presi- papers," Nardi said. "Having student help on campus dent of the col lege, said. "If positive addition newspapers on campus has students like this service, they potential, but there has to be By Jen Harwell Census Bureau employment need to voice their opinions to to make students more planning." News Editor must take a written test to assess student government Student Many students have already basic skills. The test may be government will have to debate moreiaware of shown great interest in the new The Census Bureau has already retaken as many times a s the cost and decide how it will immediate program. * begun its effort to conduct and necessary in order to pass. be funded." :}* * j i their "I give it two thumbs up," chart the nation's head count Legal residents aged 18 and Talk about initiating the | and worldly sur- Mike Guffey, sophomore, said. Due to the amount of students older are eligible to work for the program at Mercyhurst began in "I am not a big reader, but it's living on campus, positions are Census Bureau. They do not late August 1999. Student roundings. nice to have it there when you available for employment to help need to be citizens, which may government had originally need it for class." the census undertaking which be the perfect opportunity for discussed the program with Tyrone Moore "The sports section is a will take place in February and international students who are newspaper representatives and where students would have access definite plus," Patrick Carr, March. not able to acquire a work visa. were hesitant to make any to the newspapers. If readership is sophomore said. j What many Mercyhurst Work schedules and hours are comrnitmellPbntil modifications low, the program will be discon- In the initial week of the students don't know is that they flexible. Pay varies from $8.25 to in the original plan were made, tinued. program, students did not receive will be counted as residents of $ 18.50 per hour, depending on the pilot test done, and costs "There are a lot of small things the weekend papers. According Erie Country regardless of where the positions such as census analyzed. II we can do to get the right a p - to Moore, with over 50 percent: takers, crew leaders and office of the student body involved in they are from, or where their $M In December, Colleen Nardi, proach," Moore said. "If students parents are living. Every college clerks. MSG president, recommended are interested, they should prompt athletics in some way, it would student governmen t to support it be beneficial for students to get student in the United States will Anyone interested in four to that students have access to be counted as a resident of the six weeks of short-term work three publications that are now The administration is willing to the weekend papers. Moore is assist in the program, but MSG working with Times Publishing city where they attend school. should call the Bureau of the being delivered. According to The Census Bureau wants Census toll free number Moore, the program is meant to needs to step forward." £' Co. to facilitate this need. Despite the flyers received by The bottom line — "Students Mercyhurst students to partici- 1-888-325-7733 to find o u t how be a collaborative effort but so pate in helping to determine the and where to apply. far, "student government is yet I every dorm and apartment on need to petition MSG if there is campus regarding the program, an interest to continue this population of Mercyhurst. In Applications may also be f to determine if it wants to pay < order to qual i fy for a position, a obtai ned in the hallway near for the program." flH-^ 3 Nardi claims at this point that program," Moore said. MSG is not the sponsor of the The pilot tests runs through few simple requirements need to career services. During the pilot program, the be met Each applicant for Times Publishing Co. will send! program. "1 did not know it was Feb. 5. PAGE 2 THEMERCIAD JANUARY 12, 2000 CAMPU S NEWS Class of 2000 pledges for patio Musical Theatre added to Performing Arts By Carrie Tappe **¥*It» s a nice addition and compli- By Jen Harwell expertise in directing a musical tive j o b market, we are pleased to Editor-in-Chief ments the bridge which was News Editor threatre program at the college be able to offer students a new donated last year." level," said Gower. "With our* degree program that will provide As is tradition at Mercyhurst, To identify the patio with the An increasingly large demand in 850-seat Mary D' Angelo more opportunities beside the every senior class raises money class of 2000* s, a class picture the performing arts profession Performing Arts Center, Taylor classical music world," Kwok for a gift to the college that will will be taken and donors to the i gave Mercyhurst the idea to Little Theatre and two new said. add beauty to the campus. The project will be invited to sign the introduce a new program. dance studios, we certainly have Class of 2000 is no exception matting around the picture. Beginning fall 2000, Mercyhurst the facilities for a successful and work on a gift to benefit the "We wanted to do something will be the only college in program in musical theatre. entire Mercyhurst community is special, seeing how we are the northwestern Pennsylvania to Musical Theatre is a very Events On Campus underway. class of 2000," said senior Scott $ offer a Musical Theatre program. exciting prospect for students Wednesday 1/12/00 * i The "Mercyhurst 2000" Koskoski, chairman of the "This is one of the fastest- and faculty alike. "This is one of committee, with the suggestions committee. 'The patio is a growing majors in the arts," said the hottest programs in the arts, Coffeehouse: Organic Voodoo of classmates and administrators, neutral thing that adds beauty to Dr. Joseph F. Gower, viceff said Glenn Kwok, director of the Machine at 9 p.m.