THE News ................2-5 Features ...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion ........12-13 Sports .........14-15 Laker Living ......16 MerciadMERCYHURST UNIVERSITY | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 | VOL. 91 NO. 16 Water Dance splashes into Erie PAGE 10 Online poll results Are you ready for Advising Day? 2: Bhattacharyya talks about world Yes, I have my schedule planned! (47%) religion and ethics in health care I am a senior, so no advising. (22%) Advising Day already? (17%) No, I am never ready. (14%) 7: Football comes out on top in the annual Laker Showdown This week’s What do you think about Ryan 14: Softball’s Pierucci named Hall meal plan changes? pitcher of the week POLL merciad.mercyhurst.edu Contributed photo PAGE 2 NEWS Wednesday, April 11, 2018 Kristian Biega photo Swasti Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., professor of Philosophy and Religion at Buena Vista University, discusses the role of world religions in health care during her April 7 lecture, “Converging Rivers: Healthcare and the Intersections of Religion, Culture, and Ethics.” Health care’s ‘Converging Rivers’ By Kristian Biega often in the medical field. For could still be relevant with today’s Staff writer example, if a Muslim man refus- health-care, technological, racial es to take insulin because it was and religious issues. On April 7, the Mercyhurst processed with pork products but “Whatever is here, on law, on Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Eth- does not make it known that this profit, on pleasure, and on Salva- ics and Society (ELIES) hosted is for religious reasons, the doc- tion, that is found elsewhere. But Swasti Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., pro- tors think that he is not cooper- what is not here is nowhere else,” fessor of Philosophy and Religion ating. she quoted. at Buena Vista University in Iowa, Another issue facing Hindu To illustrate her point, she to discuss the role of world reli- and other eastern traditions of pointed out that the stories of the gions and ethics in the health-care believers is the fear that they will Birth of the Pandavas (Kunti’s field by means of traditional sto- not be treated as well or equally in Boon) and the Birth of Kauravas rytelling. life-threatening situations due to (Gandhari’s 100 sons) both deal The ultimate goal of Bhattacha- their belief in reincarnation. with women struggling with infer- ryya’s lecture, “Converging Rivers: Bhattacharyya hopes that doc- tility, conception and pregnancy. Healthcare and the Intersections tors do not overlook these im- Kunti calls upon the help of the of Religion, Culture, and Ethics,” portant aspects of the lives of gods when she and her husband was this convergence of cultures their patients based on assump- cannot conceive and they make and understanding to create a tions. These fears for a represen- sure to provide the couple and the more positive health-care envi- tative group of practicing Hindus world just and noble children that ronment for all those involved. came to the forefront in Bhat- would ultimately help the world. To do so, she emphasized a tacharyya’s 2015-16 survey asking Gandhari gives birth to 100 em- need for not cultural competency, participants about their stances bryos of children that eventually which is learning about another on medical practices in relation become her 100 sons as promised culture to gain a mastery of the to faith. Some common concerns — a traditional look at in vitro topic, but for cultural humility were end-of-life-care issues, iden- fertilization and other forms of — learning for the sake of under- tity and family concerns, general conception. standing. emotional stress, monetary con- Bhattacharyya hoped that “Cultural humility is not a skill cerns and trusting medical staff. through these illustrations, she to be mastered, rather a way of Some also believe in the con- gives people a fuller understand- being that begins with self aware- nections to karma of the family ing of cultural humility and ness. It can open areas in your experiencing medical needs and Kristian Biega photo themselves. By first understand- mind for new ways to think of the dharma, or established righ- ing oneself, one can then better things that acknowledge the com- teousness of the world, of the Swasti Bhattacharyya used traditional Hindu storytelling to connect understand others and how their plexities of reality,” Bhattacharyya children or families playing a role wisdom of the past with ethical issues of today’s health-care system. similarities and differences can said. in the outcomes of some medical work together or become places Bhattacharyya framed the lec- procedures and care. based on this fact.” Just as the characters in the an- of conversation. ture through the lens of people The ultimate concerns about To combat these misunder- cient Mahabharata text are unique, “The current lack of conversa- practicing the Hindu faith tradi- religion in the health field comes standings, Bhattacharyya used the yet interwoven and connected to tion that is happening today has tion and their ancient stories and down to what health-care provid- five characteristics of thought, one another, so is the nature of people so involved with their own narratives. Through these stories, ers should know about their pa- starting with the idea that all hu- the world. views that they don’t listen to the she discussed the five characteris- tients’ faith. mans are interconnected at the Bhattacharyya stated that there other side. The lifelong commit- tics of Hindu thought: the under- “Don’t assume that just be- fundamental level of life. was great wisdom in texts such as ment, attitude, mode of being lying unity of life, the centrality cause we believe in reincarnation, “We ask, ‘Are all religions the the Mahabharata that present an that is committed to hearing oth- of society, dharma, multivalent we are fine with death. Family is same?’” said Bhattacharyya. “If by opportunity to open controversial ers begins with the knowledge of nature and karma. very important,” answered one that you mean the space in which conversations about religion in the ourselves,” said Bhattacharyya. “It She sought to start a conversa- participant in Bhattacharyya’s we discuss these larger questions, modern world. She emphasized allows us to let out our prejudices tion about certain stereotypes or survey. “We are afraid that health- then yes; but our answers are rad- this quote from the Mahabhara- so that we can see, assess and en- pre-judgments that happen too care providers are judging Hindus ically different.” ta to explain how an ancient text gage the person before us.” FOLLOW THE MERCIAD ON TWITTER AT @THEMERCIAD Wednesday, April 11, 2018 NEWS PAGE 3 Erie ID collaborations to enhance small businesses By Kristian Biega Eie ID. “To make improvements “We want people to think of Staff writer and gain insights as to what your Erie as a destination for cyber business needs to be more effec- and connected services and a vi- The Erie Innovation District tive. It is a more rounded educa- brant startup community that is has announced a new collabora- tion.” focused in that area,” Sancheck tion in its efforts to breathe new Some companies receive incu- said. life into downtown Erie by means bation for one to five years in this The Erie ID also notes that lo- of improving education, technol- learning phase, but accelerators cal organizations like Mercyhurst ogy and economic opportunities. are a more concentrated program University are a key component in The district announced its that hope to give companies the the technological advancements collaboration with Singularity means to move on individually. and business and job stimulation University to create a 10-week This 10-week accelerator pro- that continues to grow over the accelerator program to help en- gram will bring together 10 com- years. trepreneurs create successful panies as one cohort to be men- “Mercyhurst has been a huge start-up businesses. In the hopes tored and trained in workshop champion for the Erie Innova- of advancing these accelerator settings from July to September. tion District in designing a lot programs, the district also has Singularity University is a Sil- a huge mentor network.” to the district to help with the ef- of its new programs that will ul- partnered with Dell EMC. icon Valley company with a As the age of interconnect- ficiency of the projects. timately come out of the district Mercyhurst is a partner in Erie long-standing reputation for cre- edness through technology only The companies that Sancheck as jobs,” said Sancheck. “The stu- Innovation District, or Erie ID ating a future in high-end tech- grows, Erie ID’s intentions with and his team are seeking to par- dents Mercyhurst graduates each for short. nologies such as artificial intelli- the accelerator and partnerships ticipate in the accelerator are year are the exact kind of people The role of the Erie ID acceler- gence. Sancheck’s goal is to turn are to improve cyber security in startup businesses that already we are looking for for these types ators is to sponsor and encourage Erie’s “rust-belt” reputation into connected products, devices and have a prototype and proof of of jobs.” business and technology startups a place of competitive cyber and systems across the country. This concept as well as an initial test Sancheck is hopeful that these to create more job opportunities data services. involves looking into the current market or customer in mind as a new opportunities with Dell and for the people of Erie. An accel- “It is exciting for Erie to have state of products and finding means of evaluating the effective- the accelerator program are a step erator program is a faster way to this collaboration,” said San- the strengths and weaknesses of ness of the product or service.