MERCYHUR5T SPRING 1990 M AG AZIN E VOL. 8, NO. 3 ... *• " ^f-rM^i*'^"'' rtKtt; • CA TORONTO LtM+w*****-*V««V«YW^K;(M^^^- -«- Pfff^ffrm LAKE ER\E. • Mfcl> II 'it'l4Hik^t>tt^frilMtf ,**i** F/4»;,*v;^ '---.ftn f{J CKER /\FTER 5re://V££^ AND FLOW OF SOUL A pictorial journey through this year's Academic Celebration by Gloria Knox There were 29 speakers and 13 events featured at Mercyhurst College's fourth annual Academic Celebration. The celebration spawned a dazzling array of food for thought, sprinkled with a rebirth of sensitivity to world concerns. It was as if Mercyhurst spread a banquet table, and the Erie community feasted. Besides the intellectual, there was a focus on the artistic and cultural life of a person. Included in the lighter side of the celebra­ tion were dance students display­ ing their various abilities and skills; art exhibitions by two former art graduates; movies; a wine and cheese tasting demon­ stration, and light-hearted discus­ sions such as the evolution of political cartooning and irreverent poetry of school children. Continued on page 5. Mercyhurst Spring 1990 ABOUT THE COVER Saul Steinberg's now-classic "map" of the United States as seen by a New Yorker has MERCYHURST'S spawned countless imitations. The most THREE SPRINGS recent being the cover of Mercyhurst When asked what it takes to make a Magazine as drawn by Erie illustrator Tom university great, A. Lawrence Lowell, Tucker. The Steinberg original was used as president of Harvard University from the March 26, 1976, New Yorker magazine 1909 to 1933, answered "300 years. cover. Imitations have been used for other At Mercyhurst, the answer is "Three magazine covers, posters, and promotions Springs. for universities and their alumni associa­ tions including Stanford, Princeton and Berkeley. Chairman of the Board of Trustees How TO SUCCEED James A. Zurn IN BUSINESS President No discovery is more treasured than learning how the Dr. William P. Garvey world of blue chip stocks and balance sheets work. Senior Assistant to the President Mary Daly '66 Director of Publications Kimberly Dillon Contributors Gary Bukowski '73 MERCYHURST HOCKEY Louis Caravaglia Bonnie Clark '84 Games played with a stick are as venerable Dorothy DiSanti as ancient Persia. They have been played by Ken Floss '91 American Indians to the Greeks themselves. Rich Forsgren '84 Hockey, one of the oldest games in the Sr. Mary Lawrence Franklin world, is about the best-known of all games Gloria Knox played with a stick. Robert Lowry Kimberly Malinowski Karen McGuire '92 Mercyhurst Archives Rob Ruky Times Publishing Co. Designer ii Diane Morschhauser Printing CAMPUS ACTIVISM Seneca Printing, Oil City, PA REBORN In the 1990s, college students nationwide are earnestly trying to help others less fortunately situated or in need of help in one form or another. Mercyhurst's campus is no exception. Mercyhurst Magazine is published three times yearly in Winter, Spring and Summer/Fall by Mercyhurst College. The magazine is published by the office of external affairs, Mercyhurst College, Glenwood Hills, Erie, PA 16546. MERCYHURST MAGAZINE SPRING 1990 NEXT GENERATION hen asked what it takes to make a university great, A. Lawrence Lowell, president of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933, answered "300 years/7 At Mercyhurst, the answer is "Three Springs — for a start." As Mercyhurst heads toward the 21st others, trudged the streets of Erie in all century, it stands on the edge of true kinds of weather to interest local busi- distinction. But, how it got there is the nesspeople in the bond issue that would story of three periods of significant finance the construction of Mercyhurst. growth where the college expanded en­ These founding sisters each gave birth rollment, increased its financial strength, to the college in her own way — giving added to its physical campus, and de­ of themselves physically, mentally and veloped new curriculum and programs. emotionally, and the college owes not The three springs that Mercyhurst only its existence, but also its atmos­ has experienced are its birth and devel­ phere and ideals to these foresighted opment under Mother Borgia Egan and courageous women. (1926-1959), the growth of the physical Thanks to the persistence of those plant and challenge of co-education same founders, Mercyhurst was granted Mother Borgia Egan under Sr. Carolyn Herrmann (1963- a charter from the state of Pennsylvania 1972), and the current vitality and grow­ to grant a bachelor of arts degree one ing maturity of the institution under year before its first students graduated and its striking tower — now the most president Dr. William P. Garvey (1980 in 1929. From its opening in 1926, there recognizable symbol of the college. The to present). was an emphasis on the importance of a tower and chapel were built in 1933 liberal arts education with the related through a gift by Mrs. Orva Coyle O'Neil, option of preparing for a career, of which and, that same year, the Lourdes Grotto, DECADES PAST teacher education was the foremost for a was designed and built by Father Wil­ Beginnings are always exciting peri­ good many years. A critical recognition liam Sullivan, the college's first chap­ ods, and Mercyhurst's was no excep­ milestone was reached when the college lain. Next came the imposing college tion. The decision to found a college was accredited by the Middle States As­ gates, which were purchased in 1950 was a dream come true in the early 1920s sociation of Colleges and Universities in from the estate of Pittsburgh millionaire for the Sisters of Mercy headquartered 1931. Harry K. Thaw. Then, in 1953, Weber in nearby Titusville, PA. Fortunately, The first, and still most prominent, and Preston halls were built followed by the Sisters of Mercy, under the leader­ campus building constructed during that McAuley Hall in 1959, which was the ship of Mother Borgia Egan, had the First Spring was Old Main and Egan college's second residence hall. foresight to invest in a great location as Hall. It was designed by F. Ferdinand By the early 1960s, Mercyhurst's en­ they traveled to Erie and paid the then Durang, a Philadelphia architect who rollment had grown from 25 students in handsome sum of $51,000 for a 76-acre was recognized as one the country's fore­ 1926 to about 500 as a result of its grow­ farm high on the southern ridge over­ most designers of educational buildings. ing reputation as one of the best Catho­ looking Lake Erie. That decision, along At the same time Old Main was built, all lic women's colleges in the region. with the original Tudor Gothic architec­ the bright young architects were begin­ The First Spring ended when Mother ture of the first building, Old Main, laid ning to produce Bauhaus boxes, neat Borgia Egan died in 1962, having earned the basis for the uniqueness of the Mer­ and rectangular and concrete. How­ an immortal place in Mercyhurst his­ cyhurst College campus. ever, Old Main was built to create a tory as the founder who not only gave Building a college, however, proved view for those driving up the hill, and to the school its birth, but also its spirit as a to be no easy task, and Mother Borgia, inspire students with the dignity and place where the development of the in­ an indomitable woman, large in size, grace that was to be the essence of a tellect was marked by both dignity and vision and heart, accompanied by Sis­ Mercyhurst education. grace. ters Pierre Wilbert, Agatha Hogan and Old Main was followed by the chapel MERCYHURST MAGAZINE SPRING 1990 A WHIRLWIND OF CHANGE In the early 60s, another remarkable woman arrived to assume the leader­ ship of Mercyhurst's Second Spring — Sr. Carolyn Herrmann. A leader of unusual vision and determination, Sr. Carolyn's tenure was one of high risks, but, true to the school's motto, Carpe Diem, she seized the opportunity to position the college well to meet the chal­ lenges of the 20th century. A native of Erie, Sr. Caro­ lyn was edu­ cated at Mer- cyhurst Col­ lege where she earned her bachelor of controversial subjects during the con­ arts degree. troversial 60s. It not only attracted stu­ She received dents from all over the country, but also her master of garnered media attention. "My attitude science degree now as it was then was to allow students Sr. Carolyn Herrmann at the Univer­ the opportunity and academic freedom sity of Minne­ to experience some of the difficult topics sota and her in 1971; Baldwin Hall, built in 1970; eight of the 60s in an environment where fac­ South Briggs Ave. Townhouses, leased Ph. D. in ulty and administrators could interact," chemistry at in 1971; Tullio Athletic Field, created in said Sr. Carolyn. "It brought a lot of 1971; three on-campus (Sesler) apartment the University of Notre Dame. She was criticism, but, at the same time, it was a faculty member in the departments of buildings, built in 1972; and Garvey Park, important to demonstrate that Mer­ built in 1973. chemistry and biology from 1939 until cyhurst was open to new ideas." After 10 highly productive years, Sr. 1961, when she was appointed execu­ The mid-60s were also a time when Carolyn resigned in 1972 having tive vice president and dean. In 1963, many women's colleges throughout the achieved a secure position in Mercyhurst she was appointed president and began country were experiencing a drop in history as the person who saved the col­ preparing the college for growth and enrollment, and Mercyhurst was no ex­ lege from the fate suffered by many change.