The Highlander

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March 26, 2013 highlandernews.net

Donation Leads to Arch, Cross Repair

By Shawn Kellmer, Web Editor

The arch at the entrance of the university will again be adorned with a cross.

Officials plan to have a new cross in place by commencement on May 18.

“Everyone can see it when they come to the campus (for commencement) which would be nice,” said Peter Calkins, the university’s project manager in the facilities planning, design and construction department.

According to President Michael

MacDowell, the new cross became a reality because a 1950 graduate and the parents of a current student donated the funds needed for the project.

The $14,500 project includes the design, manufacturing and installation of the cross.

Masonry Preservation, Berwick, is performing the work, but needed to have the cross manufactured

by Baut Studios Inc., Swoyersville.

Calkins said officials hired Masonry Preservation because

the cross is a custom piece and the business has done a lot of work for the school before.

“They do a lot of custom work.

They have done a lot of church work and monumental type buildings. This isn’t a building, but it’s a very custom structure. It’s their forte. They specialize in this sort of thing,” Calkins said.

Calkins’ coordinated all of the work with the vendors on the details of the cross, and he had details of the cross reviewed by the

university’s image committee. He is also overseeing the timeliness of that the cross is manufactured on time so it can be up by the May deadline.

During the fall semester it was reported in The Highlander that the arch has been missing for roughly 40 years and that there are concerns about the condition of the arch.

Danny Wengiel, a first year communications major, was unaware of the missing cross as well as

Home is Where the Tools Are

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

ARTHUR DOWELL/THE HIGHLANDER

Juniors Jared Butala and Doug Ranson bend metal pieces that will eventually be used as siding for the house in Mobile, Alabama.

Top, Sophomore Kaleigh Reynolds and junior Courtney Bieber mark the metal strip that will be bent and used for the house.

Center, Junior Danny Price grabs a piece of wood that would be used as roofing support and capable of withstanding 140 mph winds.

Bottom, Volunteers work on soffiting pieces that are placed on the eave of the house.

By Arthur Dowell, Web Master Thirty volunteers spent their spring break holding construction tools for Habitat for Humanity in Mobile, Alabama.

Students on the Campus Ministry service trip originally thought they were starting on a new house, which was nothing more than a concrete slab. Instead, they helped to continue work on a house that needed roofing, siding, and house support pieces because the Mobile area was hit with rainstorms that made the work a priority.

Group members said they knew that one week of their time would change the lives of a family.

Junior sports management major Danny Price said he went in with an open mind.

“I knew going down, I was going to get a different perspective on life,” says Price. “I had learned that it was one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the United States and I knew I was going to learn to adjust to seeing a different lifestyle when I was down there.”

Once the group arrived in Mobile, they enjoyed a free day to bond and experience the Mobile lifestyle.

The group visited a swampland and viewed swamp wildlife as they rode on canoes and kayaks.

Others group members went on a pontoon, and a few were even permitted to drive the vessel.

The group also wandered downtown Mobile and visited stores, restaurants, and the local park.

“This was a great opportunity to experience first hand the culture down south, not to mention the amazing food as well,” said junior Doug Ranson.

The group also stopped at the beach and ate barbecue at the famous The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint, which has won many local and national awards for its food and sauces.

Once the group got to work, they toiled from 8 a.m. until cleanup time around 4 p.m, and many did not leave or take a lunch break while they were in the middle of a project because they said they took pride in their hard work.

There was no shortage of it.

The roof was the job for the first day. The group installed shingles, vented the house, and installed roof supports, a particularly important task because it must

Viewfinder: Students Scout Jobs Look for photos of students searching for their future jobs at the Insalaco Hall job fair on March 19.

Page 2

withstand Mobile’s high winds.

The roof was to withstand gusts up to 140 miles per hour.

“The job was something I had never done before and I had a fun time with it,” said Price. “The task at hand went smoothly as everybody did their share of the job and we finished before lunch break.”

The remainder of the week consisted of siding. More than half of the volunteers installed siding on all four sides of the house from ground-to-roof.

Another group worked on a shed that stores tools and housebuilding materials. Volunteers built a new shelf to replace an old one that shook when the site supervisor went around corners with his truck.

Volunteers stayed at a camp provided by a Southern Baptist church where they bunked with seven student volunteers from Vanderbilt University. Volunteers built a fire each night night and shared their work stories, and during the day, volunteers could squeeze in some basketball, volleyball, and football. They enjoyed home cooked meals by chaperone and communications professor Dan Kimbrough

‘NO BUTTS,’ SAY STUDENTS

By Ellen Hoffman, Editor-in-Chief

Smokers on campus are not following the university’s smoking policy and students are complaining about the trash and odors they leave behind.

The campus smoking policy states that smokers must remain at least 20 feet away from building entrances and windows. Sophomore Nick vonEgypt, a resident of Gildea Hall, sent a complaint to Student Government Association in October about smokers not maintaining the required distance from entrances. He said he has not seen a change.

He said smoke enters into his roommate’s room if a window is left open. He expects the same problems will occur once the weather gets warmer.

“It (smoking policy) definitely has to be enforced because it is a serious issue,” he said. “Smoking causes cancer. Second hand smoke causes cancer. It’s an issue. I’m an athlete and I don’t want to be putting that into my body.”

Paul Murphy, Director of Facilities and Campus Safety, said everyone on campus is responsible for enforcing the smoking policy.

“The way the policy works is that we all have the responsibility to report people. Students can report each other, employees can report employees, employees can report students and students can report employees,” Murphy said.

“It needs to be a concerted effort to keep the campus clean and not just on one particular entity. I strongly urge all students and all employees to report anybody who is not adhering to the policy.” vonEgypt said he will not hesitate to voice his opinion.

“I would definitely not have a problem saying to someone ‘Why don’t you get away from the building?’ or something.”

Murphy said the littering and trash policy should be enforced along with the smoking policy.

There are more than 30 cigarette butt receptacles and more than 60 trash receptacles around campus, according to Murphy, who said there should be no reason for littering on campus.

“They should abide by the policy and not infringe on the rights of other people and smoke so close to the building that the smoke would go into the building, and then they need to dispose of their

butt the same way you and I would dispose of a coffee cup or a soda bottle,” he said.

Murphy suggests residents report problems to their residence directors or residence assistants first. Then, if nothing changes, he suggests directing complaints to Dean of Students Kit Foley.

SGA president Catie Becker said she has heard talk of creating centralized smoking huts on campus, which would eliminate the problem of smokers being too close to buildings. She said the suggestions have mostly come from other students, but she is unsure if officials will act on them.

“Even if they have these huts though, smokers are still going to have to walk there in the bad weather, in the snow, in the cold,” she said.

Murphy is unsure how smoking huts would fit with the environmental aesthetics of campus, and where huts would be placed to benefit everyone in the campus community.

“Maybe not one for each building but have them somewhere strategically placed,” he said. “But if they are on the center of campus, then they begin to smell and it could be offensive to people. Then if we put them in parking lots, then the smokers would get upset with us.

It’s a very delicate balance.” vonEgypt suggests Campus Safety speak up when on rounds during the day or late at night.

“Campus Safety makes their rounds. If they could say something, like roll down their window and say, ‘Can you get away from the building?’” he said. “And if they see it multiple times, then something more serious has to be done, such as a fine because I know something as being loud in your room gets you a $25 fine rather something that’s against the law does not get you anything.”

Becker feels it is in the best interest of everyone to support the policy.

“So really, it’s about student integrity and upholding the policies for people who aren’t smokers but especially for the people who are. If they want to do this, then they should be compliant with the policies,” Becker said.

Hoffmae3@misericordia.edu

Junior government law and national security major Shannon Joyce and senior professional studies Kelly Habernern began planning the trip in September.

The two selected the location, found a place for the group to stay, and raised money to pay for necessities such as food and hygiene products. The group raised over $600 dollars.

“The planning from the beginning was stressful, but it was a huge accomplishment to see that all of our hard work had paid off in the end,” says Habernern. “The students, chaperons, and my coleader helped make all of this happen.”

Out of the 30 student and staff volunteers, only 11 had experience on a Habitat for Humanity trip.

“I think the biggest thing for me was making sure I didn’t try to compare this years trip to last years,” said Ranson. “I was with an entirely new group in a different location so going to Mobile was a fresh start. I wanted to have a new experience.”

Dowella@misericordia.edu

Exclusively on highlandernews.net

MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER

Cigarette butts litter the mulch behind Gildea Hall after snow melts.

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March 26, 2013

News

SOAR gives PARKING PROBS ROOM LOTTERY students adventure

By Christa Porosky, Reporter

By Dana DeLucca, Reporter

By Lindsay Usarzewicz, Reporter Student Outdoor Adventure Recreation (SOAR) has outdoor activities in store for students this season.

Planned activities include day and night hikes, wall climbing and climbing instruction, repelling, camp-outs, and other events that students suggest, and most activities do not require experience, said Patrick McKamy, who directs the activities.

“I discuss with students the types of interests they have,” said McKamy. “We go from past experiences and from what’s been popular with the students.”

SOAR has held events in the past like kayaking, sledding and snowshoe hikes in the forest.

He said these activities give students the chance to do something they enjoy or help provide others with an experience they have never had.

Fees are required to participate in some events, but most are free to students. SOAR provides transportation and all equipment needed for activities such as rock climbing or kayaking. SOAR club also has a fully stocked gear

shop if students wish to purchase equipment. Food is also provided during events that take place over longer periods of time.

Events take place both on and off campus, depending upon the weather, to make it easier for students to get involved.

“It depends on the semester.

Spring is a toss-up. It depends on the event,” said McKamy.

One special event planned for this semester is an end-of-theyear campout on the last day of the semester. There will be swimming, and hiking and a fire at night for socializing. McKamy said the campout is a time for students to relax after they finish finals.

The next event, a night hike, will take place Thursday April 11 at 9 p.m. at a mystery location, McKamy said. Space is limited. Interested students should visit the Student Activities office to sign up for the night hike or to receive activity schedules for each week.

Usarzewl@misericordia.edu

PATRICK MCKAMY FOR THE HIGHLANDER

From left, SOAR leaders Julia Boyd, Kaleigh Killian, Holly Reese, Mike Skasko and Sarah Iches pose for a photo during a hike on a frozen lake on Jan. 20.

Officials say there is not enough demand to increase parking.

“If we go strictly by the numbers, parking on campus is adequate,” said Bob Zavada, Associate Director of Campus Safety.

Zavada admits parking can be hard to find at times.

“It’s tight at times. That’s for

then some.”

Zavada said that there is not enough green space left on campus. He said the new football stadium was the last of the green space, and even space for the field was limited.

Zavada also said if there were space, the university would have

ELLEN HOFFMAN /THE HIGHLANDER

Cars fill the parking lot behind McGowan/Alumnae Halls. sure. I have encountered it myself.

Parking is tight on particular days.”

Zavada said a lot of students are reluctant to use the shuttle from Passan Hall to upper campus because they have to schedule their days according to the shuttle times. This might cause students to arrive on campus as much as 30 minutes before their classes start.

Some students think parking should be expanded because of the growth of admitted students.

Junior Daniella DeVivo said she has had difficulty finding parking, and she feels unsafe when she cannot find a spot near her dorm.

“Every time I come back from home or I just go out with my friends, it takes forever to find a parking spot. Sometimes there is only parking down by Anderson, and if it is dark out I don’t want to walk by myself all the way across campus. I wouldn’t feel safe.”

She said the university is expanding the number of enrolled students and so parking should be increased to accommodate them.

DeVivo suggested the university build a parking garage on one of the larger lots. “Misericordia is always saying that they don’t have enough room, but if they just turn one of the bigger parking lots into a parking garage, then it wouldn’t be taking up any more additional space and there would be enough parking spots for everyone and

to explore environmental regulations, so any project would take time to plan.

“It’s not as easy as saying, ‘We are going to pave over an area.’

You can’t make an adequate area on a field just because you feel like doing it,” he said.

Zavada said Campus Safety does not plan to allow sophomores to have vehicles on campus. Zavada said the idea has been suggested.

He said careful planning on the part of students would alleviate parking woes.

“I think proper planning would avoid some of that, if people got more accustomed to the option of taking the shuttle,” said Zavada.

Zavada noted that a source of parking problems is students who do not follow policy and register vehicles, and he said Campus Safety will become more strict in enforcing the rules.

“People may come up here as a freshmen and say ‘Oh I’m just not going to register my vehicle and I am just going to park it unlawfully against university rules,’” he said.

Zavada said people do tend to bring their cars on campus when they should not, and students who violate the campus’s parking rules and restrictions face fines or the possibility of having their vehicles towed at their expense.

Deluccad@misericordia.edu

The annual dorm room lottery is now online.

Students will no longer participate in person in the Lemmond Theater, as they have previously.

Officials hope the web-based system will be more efficient for students.

Assistant Director of Residence Life AJ Nudo said the process is going to be a challenge, but he thinks it is for the best.

“What we’re implementing this year is an online system, so it’s going to work very similar to how it used to. The only difference is students are going to do it from their rooms, or their computers, and not having to show up at a specific place,” said Nudo. “Students will have, similar to class registration, to be unlocked at a certain time according to the order of selection.

Seniors are first, and then so on and so forth.”

The former in-person system was an all-day task, he said.

“Students would physically come to a room on campus in the order of selection, and would come and pick their rooms in person.”

Nudo said the university chose the online lottery to remain in step with procedures at other schools.

“We are changing because we are trying to keep up with the times of what other schools are doing.

This is the way many schools are functioning. They are not doing in-person room selections anymore.”

Nudo added that tech savvystudents will be comfortable with the new web-based system.

“It’s more convenient for the students to do this rather than to go to a certain place, sit in a room for who knows how long, waiting for our time to come up, because inevitably these things run long.”

Nudo said the process is simpler.

“Students can do it in the comfort of their room. If they’re not on campus, they can use their iPad’s, their phones. It will be more easily accessible for students to be able to do it from wherever.”

To participate, Nudo said students will be provided with a key code and a time-frame to participate.

He said there are also ways some students can receive room assign-

ments even earlier.

“Say you wanted to live with someone who had a better selection time, or they were older, you would give that person your key code, and they would put you in to their room, or their room in the townhouse, and that would be your room for next year.”

While he said there are some concerns about the process, such as possible Internet outages or too many people overloading the server, he hopes to have worked out the kinks.

“We think we put a system together this year to space everyone out that there’s not going to be a massive flood of people into the system at one time.”

He said it may take a little time for upperclassmen to get used to.

“For the upperclassmen it will be a transition because it’s something different. But I think overall it’s going to be more convenient to the students to do it this way.”

Officials have been working on the new lottery process for about two years.

“We didn’t want to rush the system out and have a lot of problems, so we put another 12 months into working on it, and we think we’ve got it to a point where we’ve hopefully worked out the majority of the bugs.”

“We think we’ve gotten it to a place as user-friendly as possible, as simple as possible for the students to be able to go in, and easily select their rooms, select their roommates, select their meal plans, and have it done as quickly and easily as possible,” he said.

Sean Vitale, resident advisor in Alumnae Hall, said it’s important for students to plan their housing choices early.

“I haven’t seen the new system yet, but from a residence life perspective, I think it’s going to be a lot easier. We talked about the new system with the director and it’s going to be cleaner, but it’s going to require a bit more planning on the part of the students. You’re going to have to have back-up plans, and you’re going to have to be ready to make your selection.”

Poroskc@misericordia.edu

Viewfinder: Students search for employment at on campus job fair

Left, seniors Joe Marra and Sean Bieski talk to a SallieMae representative during the job fair in the Insalaco Center.

Above, Jennifer McMonigle, a talent acquisition specialist from TMG Health, talks with senior Kelsie McNamara about the benefits of working with TMG on March 19.

ELLEN HOFFMAN /THE HIGHLANDER

INTEGRITY

STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Ellen Hoffman - Editor-in-Chief Nathan Brown Morgan Harding - Print Editor Jennifer Cory Dana DeLucca Shawn Kellmer - Web Editor Tori Dziedziak Mary Bove - Multimedia Editor Arthur Dowell - Web Master Robert Evans Alexandria Smith - Content Manager Jimmy Fisher Alexa Cholewa - Business Manager Jevin Fluegel Gabriella Lengyel - Social Media Manager Andy Gonzalez Melissa Sgroi - Advisor Misericordia University 301 Lake Street Dallas, PA 18612

CONTACT US

The Highlander works to produce up-to-date, clear, accurate reporting. If any information is inaccurate or not covered thoroughly, corrections and information will appear in this area. Opinions and views expressed in The Highlander in no way reflect those of Misericordia University or the Sisters of Mercy. The Highlander Staff welcomes students, faculty and reader response.

The Highlander reserves the right to edit submissions for grammatical errors and length. All submissions must be signed. Letters to the Editor and/or materials for publication may be submitted by any reader. Items can be sent via e-mail.

Josh Horton Brittany Lovette Gia Mazur Patrick McKamy PNC Field Christa Porasky Tyler Rowe Lindsay Usarzewicz Danny Wengiel

The Highlander is a free, biweekly publication produced in conjunction with MU Communications Department.

Any full-time student is encouraged to join the staff. We are a member of the American Scholastic Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

570-674-6400 570-674-6737

hoffmae3@misericordia.edu hardinm2@misericordia.edu bovem@misericordia.edu

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March 26, 2013 3

News

highlandernews.net

Not so happily ever after

By Gia Mazur, Reporter

It was everything she imagined she would wear when she played dress up as a little girl, except instead of her favorite white, flowing nightgown – the one with little pink stitched flowers and cap-sleeves with a lace trim – she was wearing a fitted dress, with hand-stitched lace sleeves, layers of satin around the bodice and a full skirt that barely grazed the floor like a fluffy, low-hanging cloud.

Instead of the polyblend Playskool one that came in a “Her Special Day” play set, she wore a long, lush veil passed down through generations. Her grandmother wore this veil, her mother donned it during her nuptials, it sat upon her sister’s head on her big day and now she wears it – a tiny crown of pearls and translucent, white tulle cascading down her back. This was a day she had been preparing for since she was six years old: her fairy tale wedding.

Fairy tale: “an interesting, but highly implausible story; often told as an excuse, a story - as for children - involving fantastic forces and beings, or a made-up story usually designed to mislead.”

That’s what the dictionaries say.

In other words, a fairy tale is something that doesn’t exist beyond a child’s realm of make believe.

There were 2.1 million marriages in 2009, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. There were nearly one million divorces

that year - 2.1 million fairy tales, one million fairy tales without happy endings.

Of those women married that year, 27.9 percent of them were between the ages of 15 and 24.

Just under 6 percent of that age group was also divorced that year.

Joelle Caputa, author of “Trash the Dress: Stories of Celebrating Divorce in your 20s” and the subsequent website “Trash the Dress” online, said while fairy tale romances can exist for couples, “happily ever after Hollywoodstyle” marriages are fiction and “far from a Disney production.”

“There will be disagreements and sudden obstacles. You will have to make sacrifices for your partner and you will be the one scrubbing the bathroom sink after your husband shaves and doesn’t wipe it down,” said Caputa Hannah Rosin, senior editor of The Atlantic and author of “The End of Men”, argues in her book that women are becoming big players at school, at work and in society while men are starting to fall behind. With women making more money than their husbands, and coming home to deal with traditional duties, like cleaning, cooking and taking care of the children, women are realizing they don’t need a husband who isn’t doing his share.

Rosin write that the flailing economy caused more women found their place in traditionally “male” industries, like technol-

ogy, construction and finance.

Companies took notice and having women on their boards caused them to outperform similar-sized firms with all-male boards by 26 percent.

“There are women out there earning millions more than men, who are really high-end real-estate lawyers, with husbands doing a lot less, who are still not letting go of the domestic sphere,” Rosin said in an interview with The Washington Post.

However, peer pressure, the media and social networking can make women more eager to get married younger. Caputa said that most women dream of motherhood and a woman’s biological clock is always ticking. There are risks involved with being pregnant over 35 and women who want to have families feel they have to get married and have babies before it’s “too late.” Pressure from peers, like seeing high school friends getting engaged, married and having children can make a woman feel like she is falling behind.

“Really, we just need to take a deep breath and realize everyone moves at their own pace,” she said.

Caputa found a few common themes among those who were married and divorced before 30.

She discovered that women were getting married because it was convenient, a previous relationship had left them heartbroken, they hoped marriage would solve problems in the relationship, they

had low self-esteem, or they were experiencing pressure from family members.

However, she said some young women are lured into marriage by the fantasy of a wedding, herself included. Caputa admits she “wasn’t overwhelmed with joy” as she walked downed the aisle toward her groom, but “was seriously hoping everyone loved my dress.” She said she was so enthralled with the plans for her big day that she let her relationship take a backseat.

In an article Caputa wrote for “The Huffington Post” divorce section, she referenced Kim Kardashian’s $10 million wedding and 72-day marriage. Kardashian wrote in her blog that she wanted a “real life” so badly, even though she was having doubts, she felt she didn’t have the control to call off the wedding once everything was set in motion.

“Sometimes, during the wedding planning process, a woman will realize that she’s making a mistake, but forges ahead because everything is booked, etc. and she doesn’t know how to cancel,” Caputa said.

A recent survey in Forbes magazine reported 70 percent of Millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, also referred to as Generation Y, definitely want to be married at some point.

Twenty-five percent aren’t sure if they want to get married, and five CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Viewfinder: Students learn foreign policy

CAPS CORNER The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses Myths about grief: · Time heals all wounds · Replace the loss · Grieve alone · Be strong for others · Bury your feelings Your feelings are normal and natural. The problem is that we have been socialized to believe that these feelings are abnormal and unnatural.

Whether your loss is from: · Death · Divorce or end of a relationship · Loss of trust · Loss of safety · Loss of health The program will run WEEKLY for 1-1/2 TO 2 HOURS per session IN THE CAPS CENTER (McGowan Hall lower level).

People say you have to let go and move on in your life, but they don’t tell you what you need to do to accomplish that. The Grief Recovery Method* not only makes that possible, but provides partnerships and guidance to ensure that it happens.

If you have questions or are interested in being part of this group please contact: Courtney Burgess-Michak, MS, NCC Professional Counselor & Certified Grief Recovery Specialist* (570) 674-6318 or email cburgess@misericordia.edu

Student on the Street

Everyone needs a good laugh every so often. We asked students what Twitter accounts are the best for a good laugh. If you have a question you would like us to ask email us at Highland@misericordia.edu.

SLP major Abbey McCann follows @YaBoyBillNye.

Nursing major Chuck Bressler follows @FunnyTweetsMan.

PT major Gabi Trepper follows @JustinTimberlake & @GrumpyCat.

English major Julia Whitesell follows @Mountain_Goats.

Communications major Lindsay Usarzewicz follows @Snooki.

Business management major Tracey Gavlick follows @PerezHilton.

MORGAN HARDING /THE HIGHLANDER

Clockwise, Sue Uoo-Jin, the United Nations tour guide assigned to Dr. Wright’s tour group, talks about the struggles of Palestinian refugees.

Senior Christelle Patrice takes a picture of the 2012 summer olympic torch that was carried by the Secretariat-General and the jersey he wore during the running of the torch.

Uoo-Jin tells members of the tour about the trauma caused by a nuclear weapon. The statue of Saint Agnes stands in the center of the ruins of a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan in 1945.

Attendees of the trip to the United Nations pose in front of portraits of the Secretarit-Generals past and present.

Safety comes first at Campus Ministry

By Brittany Lovette, Reporter

Students who want to participate in Campus Ministry activities that involve children face new clearance procedures.

Members of the three Campus Ministry groups, Girl Power, College Kids for Girls and College Kids for Boys, are now required to get the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and the Pennsylvania State Criminal Background Check.

“They just tell the employer that you do or do not have a history of child abuse or that you do or do not have a criminal history,” said junior Amanda Lee. College Kids for Girls and College Kids for Boys are programs in which young children from the McGlynn Center in Wilkes-Barre come to campus and interact with students through different activities and programs.

The Girl Power program is based at the McGlynn Center where students go to provide activities and games for the young girls.

Students were supposed to get their clearances beforehand but a new supervisor at the McGylnn Center now requires two clearances before they can attend the programs.

“The reason Girl Power, College

Kids for Girls, and College Kids for Boys programs now need clearances for the volunteers is because there is a new Sister in charge of the McGlynn Center where we volunteer, “ said Lee. “It is technically required by law that anyone who spends a lot of time with the children needs to have all of their clearances in just in case something happens.”

These clearances last for an entire year. Any student who wants to volunteer with children is required to get the clearances, as are students in education and other majors that involve interaction with children.

“It just means that you have a clean record and you’re trustworthy around the kids,” said junior and Girl Power/College Kids for Girls member Megan Lagé.

Lagé feels the clearances are necessary to protect children because students work very closely with younger kids.

“They (clearances) can be a bit of a hassle just because some of us far away from home,” said Lagé.

Lee said that after she learned that she would be running Girl Power, she was required to get her clearances over the summer. She also needed them for a class.

“I also needed my clearances for my service learning class this semester, but because I already had them completed within the year I did not have to get them redone,” said Lee. Similarly, Lagé said she was required to have them for a service program.

“I actually got mine done last year because I was a SISPA (Scholars in Service of Pennsylvania) member so my clearances were able to just roll over because Campus Ministry had a copy of mine, “ said Lagé.

According to junior and another leader of Girl Power, Christina Tucci, there are two ways for a student to get these clearances.

“They can either go through Campus Ministry, which has the paperwork. Then you send it in yourself or you can do it all online,” said Tucci.

Information is available on the Campus Ministry website.

“The websites are listed on the Campus Ministry page and everyone even if they are out-of-state should complete the Pennsylvania State Clearances,” said Lee. “The Criminal Background Check comes back pretty quickly, but the Child Abuse clearances take about two

weeks.”

Students must pay a fee for the clearances.

“Each one is I believe $10 but they are good for a year and you need a lot of them for your majors that can work with children or possibly will work with children,” said Tucci.

The background check can be completed all online, but the child abuse clearance must be sent to Harrisburg for approval and applicants must submit a money order.

“The Background Check was completed within the day. However, the Child Abuse Clearances took about three weeks to be mailed to the campus,” said Lee. “The child abuse clearances must go to Harrisburg and the beginning of semesters is when the State receives a large amount of clearances to be completed.”

“And then the other one is the child abuse clearances and for that you have to like send out a form and then I can’t recall if you have to go for fingerprints for that one or not. But there is two different forms to fill out,” said Lagé.

“It’s basically just for the safety of the children, ” said Tucci.

Lovetteb@misericordia.edu

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COUGARS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

By Jimmy Fisher, Reporter

Baseball players are set to walk on the turf of a bigger league when they play at PNC Field, home to the Scranton/WilkesBarre RailRiders.

The team will participate in the Bill Howerton Inaugural Strikeout Cancer Weekend for high school and college teams on April 13 and 14. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society and honor the late Bill Howerton, former University of Scranton baseball coach who passed away earlier this due to brain cancer.

The event is organized by North Pocono High School head baseball coach Brian Jardine who was a pupil under c oach Howerton.

“We want to get his name on a well-respected basis,” said Jardine.

Coach Jardine has organized previous events to benefit the

team is looking forward to the return to PNC field.

“I’m sure it’s really exciting for them,” said Egbert. “The playing surface itself is just incredible, but now that they’ve just undergone a $40 plus million renovation they’re looking forward to that.

It’s a thrill for them. I think it’s something that they’ll remember forever.

Egbert said players will get a feel for different fields.

“We were trying to get a game at PNC field all year, just again, for the opportunity for our guys to play at a first class facility,” said Egbert. “Speaking with coach Jardine down at North Pocono and the folks at the Railriders, this opportunity opened up and it was a natural fit for us.”

Egbert said current first year pitcher Justin Haddicks is a

COURTSEY OF PNC FIELD

Rob Crain, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders President, and Dave Martin, Misericordia director of Athletics, announce event.

American Cancer Society, but the Bill Howerton Inaugural Strikeout Cancer event will be the first, and Jardine wishes to make an annual thing.

“I’m hoping to make it an annual thing at PNC,” said Jardine. “With all the colleges and high schools, they can get some neutral sites in and make it an annual and bigger thing.”

Jardine’s North Pocono high school will team will play the first game against Pocono Mountain East, and Misericordia will kick off day two against number one nationally ranked Cortland.

Keystone College and Marywood University will also participate..

Playing on PNC field is not new to the Misericordia Baseball team, which has played on the turf against Marywood. This is the team’s first time since the field was renovated. The work had forced the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to play on the road, with “home” games at Frontier Field in Rochester, New York.

Coach Pete Egbert said t his

former player for Coach Jardine at North Pocono and that connection played a significant role in getting the coaches together to organize the event.

Egbert said the event benefits a good cause.

“It’s a great event,” said Egbert.

“I’m hoping that it’s well attended.

It’s an opportunity for eight teams to play on a facility unlike any other they’ve ever played on and it’s something that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Egbert said playing against the number one ranked Cortland on a big time field is welcome challenge.

“For us Cortland is right now number one in the country,” Egbert said. “Not that we need to give them anymore reason to fire them up to play us, but for us it will be a great challenge, you know, we’re playing the number one team in the country on the best AAA facility in the country.

Originally it was our home game but because we were able to switch it there, we decided to do that.”

Sports

March 26, 2013

Injured player back and swinging

By Josh Horton, Reporter

Just over one year ago MU graduate student Andy Gonzalez was in a car accident, which had doctors worrying whether or not they could save his life, let alone his baseball career.

He suffered a C2 vertebra fracture – an injury Gonzalez didn’t know was so serious. He thought he would be back on the diamond by the end of the season.

Instead he spent the month of April in a halo brace, while sitting in the dugout watching his team win its third consecutive MAC Championship.

Head baseball coach Pete Egbert went to see his catcher lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by doctors telling Gonzalez his days of crouching behind the plate were over.

He wanted to make sure his coach knew he wouldn’t be making the day’s practice. Gonzalez also wanted Egbert to know he would be back on the field again.

He didn’t care what anyone said.

“I got to the hospital and he could barely talk and he just wanted me to know he wasn’t going to be at practice today,” Egbert said with a wide grin. “His determination in the offseason was just incredible and when he came back for the second semester I knew that now it would be a reality. He proved me wrong on top of anyone else that questioned him.”

The comeback was complete on March 2 when Gonzalez stepped into the batter box against John Jay College in Florida, knocking a single into left field, which was greeted with an eruption from the Cougar’s dugout.

At the time it was just another hit in another game. The emotions set in afterwards.

“The dugout was going crazy after I got that hit,” Gonzalez said.

“I was so into the game I wasn’t really thinking about it. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a sign. After the game it kind of sunk in and I told myself I still got it and I was going to be OK.”

His yearlong trek to get back in the box was complete, but he knew it as soon as he got off the plane in Florida.

“Going to Florida is a traditional thing for the team, because we go and everyone’s family is there.

We get to play some good baseball and it’s just kind of like a family

the door locked so he could try to figure things out.

“It was a dark time and I was really upset. The team was having a great season and all I could think about was my run is done. I felt helpless and hopeless,” Gonzalez said.

It was a short phase, thanks to

Andy Gonzales throws a ball pre-accident.

Christmas that you miss one year,” Gonzalez said. “It’s real sad, but you come back the next year and it’s nice. Just getting off that plane, even before getting to the field, just walking to the hotel was like the best feeling ever.”

His feelings couldn’t always be categorized as the best feelings ever. There were times when he questioned whether it was all worth it, or even whether he could do it.

The worries wore on Gonzalez, causing him to lock himself in his townhouse with no lights on and

COURTSEY OF ANDY GONZALES

something his dad told him.

“I talked with my parents and my dad said Gonzalez don’t quit.

I took that to heart and woke up the next morning and told myself I had to try,” an emotional Gonzalez said. “I came this far, a few more weeks is nothing when you have plenty of time.”

Another dark time came when his doctors couldn’t tell whether the injuries were healing on their own, or if he would need a neck fusion.

“When I got that news I thought it was going to be pretty much

over. The fear at that time was that it wasn’t going to heal on its own and that I might have to get a neck fusion, which would have ended my career,” Gonzalez said.

“This can’t work and I need to throw in the towel.”

Instead of throwing in the towel he can now fire a baseball down to second base to catch an opposing runner attempting to steal second.

The throws may not be quite as strong as they once were, but the fact he is playing collegiate baseball is enough to amaze his coach.

“He is a lot closer today than he was yesterday, and he was a lot closer yesterday than he was the day before. We see that every day.

He is getting better and better,” Egbert said. “I think that is one of the things he lost sight of in all of this.”

As with all ballplayers, Gonzalez has his good and bad days. The only difference is that no other player displays a photo of himself lying a hospital bed.

“I hung a picture in the locker room of me lying in the hospital bed and I look at it and remember how badly I wanted to be back on that field,” Gonzalez said. “Now that I am physically able to play, how could I look at that picture and quit? I thought my career was over and I never want to feel that way again.”

It wasn’t just a baseball lesson he had learned but also a life lesson, one he feels many people need before it’s too late.

“You take little things like that for granted. Once it’s gone, you find out how much you enjoy doing it,” Gonzalez said. “I hang that picture up and it helps me remember that it could be gone real quick again.”

Now he knows if he ever loses something, he has the strength to get it back. Nothing can get in his way.

Gonzales knows this because he never quit.

Hortonj@misericordia.edu

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March 26, 2013 5

News

NCAA changes pace of lacrosse Viewfinder: Men’s

By Danny Wengiel, Reporter

New NCAA lacrosse regulations will change the pace of the game during the 2013 season, speeding up transitions and making the game more exciting.

The substitution box is growing in size, extending now 20 yards in length from the original 10 yards.

This means that the substitutions can be used as an advantage to move players up the field faster.

The sticks must have less hold, which means players can drop it more easily. The shooting strings must be no more than four inches from the top of the head. This makes it harder for offensive players to run through groups of defenders and still carry the ball.

There are no more horns or stoppage of play if the ball goes out of bounds on the sidelines.

This makes substituting harder to do, and creates a need for two way midfielders, according to Jim Ricardo, head men’s lacrosse coach and equipment manager.

“The new rule changes are definitely exciting. There’s a bunch of rule changes for example the

extension of the box, the box is now going to be twenty yards,” said Ricardo. “That will result in faster substitution, faster game play. A little bit more of up and down style of lacrosse, accompanying that with the no horns on the sideline, the game will be at a lot faster pace.”

Ricardo looks forward to what fans will think of the new way of playing.

“The new rule changes are definitely exciting,” said Ricardo.

“With all this new speed and scoring, it will be more fun for people to watch.”

The game’s faster pace will force players to move more quickly and be more direct with their execution of clearing and possessing the ball.

“The new regulations are going to speed the game up a lot. The quick whistles and there is no horn when the balls go out of bounds,” said Josh Shanker, a first year goalie. “In the past years the offense has had an advantage where the sticks could have a lot

more hold, and it would be virtually impossible for the defenders to take it away.”

Now with the faster whistles teams will not be able to make substitutions as quickly. A twoway midfielder must know how to play good defense and be able to run plays, cut, and know where to be and what to do on the offensive side of the ball, said Ricardo.

“I have always liked having versatile middies, I think it’s important that middies can play both offense and defense. I think the two way middies are going to start to show a lot more now.”

With this being said, one sided midfielders will not disappear, teams still have a need for them.

“They are not going to go away, you are always going to want d middies on the field. The situation now, is how do you sub them on the field on the fly,” said Ricardo.

“That would be through the box, through the midfield line as we normally do, and it will have to be quickly on the fly.”

Defensive specialists will always

be something that teams at least try to use because of their skill level in that side of the ball.

The new regulations might seem like a disadvantage, but some might help different aspects of the game.

“I think the stick changes work in my favor, and the defenses favor,” said Shanker. “Now with the new rule changes, I think it will be more of a challenge for the offense, and more fun for the defense because they will be able to get more stops whereas before, the offense could control the game.”

The changes can be looked at as a positive from many different aspects, including the perspective of the spectators.

“It could catch on with more excitement for more people watching it and seeing a faster paced game with more scoring,” said Ricardo.

Wengiele@misericordia.edu

Lacrosse Scores

SGA surveys students about gym hours

By Robert Evans, Reporter

The Student Government Association is speaking out as a result of students lobbying for expanded gym hours.

A survey sent to students by the SGA revealed that they are unhappy with hours of the Anderson Sports and Health Center on the weekend, particularly on Saturday.

SGA sent the survey with a mass email Feb. 8 SGA president Catie Becker said complaints came to her attention in recent weeks.

“We actually just got a couple of complaints last week, last Friday during our meeting,” Becker said.

“It was brought up by a couple of members of the SGA board, and we just decided to do a survey about it to see if students felt that way.”

Becker said the SGA has received a strong response to the survey.

“We printed out all the results from it. We got over 300 responses so now we just have to go through it.”

She said complaints also involved overcrowding at the facility.

“I’ve heard complaints about the weight room and the gym in gen-

eral, and with the teams being in there with it just being crowded.

I mean, there are certain times a day, you’re going to go there and there are going to be a lot of people at four in the afternoon and you’re just going to have to accept that. And then I’ve heard other complaints about courts not being open because there’s team practice or different things like that,” she said.

Becker thinks students have a legitimate gripe. “ I think that the hours need to be changed so that students can utilize the gym more especially on Saturdays. So, weekend hours, I think. I know it’s a topic I’ve been talking about with my friends for a little while and now that it’s been brought up, I think the hours should be altered a little bit so that students have more of a chance to use the gym. “ Becker said she does not believe expanding hours will be an easy task. “ I wouldn’t say it would be easy by any means because it would involve a lot of different people – who has to be there, to have to open and take care of it.”

Safety officer Dan Williams, who has worked at the front desk in Anderson for three years, said hours are fair to students and faculty.

“The place is open from seven in the morning until 10 at night – that’s 15 hours,” Williams said.

“And on the weekends, I know from experience, a lot of times when the weather is nice, this place is dead on a Friday night by nine.”

Williams said that sometimes too few students are on campus to justify longer hours.

“A lot of times I can close up at 9:15 or 9:30 because no one is in there, and on the weekends, when the weather is nice, there are a lot of kids that go home. And then you have your regular games -- baseball games played on the weekends, lacrosse, soccer. You know, so that kind of compensates from the gym hours because the students can still attend a sporting event on campus.”

He added that extending gym hours would mean longer shifts for the safety officers.

“Yeah, they (officials) would probably have to look at schedul-

ing for safety office personnel, where they can afford to put another officer for another eight to ten hour shifts.”

He said student workers would not be able to fill the staffing gap.

“The reason the officers are here is in case of an emergency, or an injury or something. We don’t have to dispense an officer. An officer may be down on Machell Avenue in a patrol vehicle checking the dorms. If you have one close by, they can get medical personnel on site, call 911, let the office know what’s going on – something like that.”

Becker suggested that students try to make do for the time being.

“We have one gym – this is where we’re at and you sort of have to work around that. If you’re not going to be able to go around basketball season, then you have to find an alternative and unfortunately there’s really nothing we can change about that in the immediate future to take care of the students who are here right now.”

“It is what it is,” she said.

Evansr4@misericordia.edu

TORI DZIEDZIAK/THE HIGHLANDER

Top left, junior Nicole Korjeski does a reverse push-up in the Anderson Sports and Health Center.

From left, first years Megan Stack and Shannon McBride perform abdomen workouts as part of the volleyball workout assigned for the upcoming spring season.

Bottom left, Stack performs push-ups with a medicine ball as part of a mandatory pre-season workout session. Other members of the volleyball team are elsewhere in the gym.

Not so happily ever after series continued Continued from page 3 percent definitely do not want to get married. Dr. Bella DePaulo, a psychology professor at University of California, Santa Barbara and an expert on singles and marriage, said Millennials are not taking marriage for granted anymore, especially the two latter groups. It used to be assumed that everyone would find himself or herself married with children because it was the norm and everyone did it.

“Now we think about it more carefully, and some of us realize that we like living single. The Millennials are young. As they get

older, more of them will decide that marriage is not for them,” she said.

Most young women know what they want in life, according to Caputa, but echoes DePaulo’s thought that what a young women wants can change between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. She feels women grow and learn so much every day that they cannot be the same person at 28 that they were when they were 21. She admits she was so wrapped up in being in love for the first time, she didn’t realize how much was

wrong in her relationship. After a terrible breakup, she dated other men and learned what healthy relationships are.

Caputa believes marriage requires compromise and sacrifice, but a healthy marriage will also make you a better version of yourself. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to move on and chock it up to experience.

“I’m so grateful for my divorce.

It allowed me to meet my real perfect partner and I’m actually planning our wedding right now.”

Modern day women in their

twenties are “independent dream chasers,” said Caputa. While they might enter a marriage thinking they need Prince Charming to save them from the tower, when things get rough the princess ends up realizing she is her own heroine. She must slay the dragon herself.

“They’ve lived and learned and won’t settle for anything less than they deserve. If a man comes along that complements them, great. If not, they know they will be happily ever after divorce.”

Mazurg@misericordia.edu

JENNIFER CORY/THE HIGHLANDER

Top, the team huddles during the game against the Hood College Blazers on March 13 at the Manglesdorf Field.

Bottom, junior Nick Santillo takes a shot during the win over Hood.

STUDENTS SHAKE INTO TROUBLE

By Tyler Rowe, Reporter

The revitalized Harlem Shake maybe a fun way to show school spirit, but the dirty dance has caused student athletes to be removed from their team.

Eleven Susquehanna University football players were removed from the team after posting a Harlem Shake video filmed in their weight room. The film begins with one student dancing in the middle of other players who were working out. Soon all students started to dance provocatively while wearing little to no clothing.

According to a Susquehanna University statement, officials hope students will learn from the experience.

“Susquehanna University promotes a culture of respect and personal responsibility. Participation in intercollegiate athletics is a great privilege. The student-athlete handbook calls upon studentathletes to be exemplary role models by demonstrating respect for others and acting in a firstclass manner,” stated in the press release. “We are disappointed by this behavior and the way in which these student-athletes represented our teams and the university.

We hope that they learn from this experience, and that they will earn their way back to representing Susquehanna as members of The Harlem Shake, in existence since the 1980s, was made famous

by Albert Joseph Brown III [Al.B Sure!] an American singer, songwriter and record producer who performed it in new York City park in between basketball games.

The dance regained the spotlight in 2001 when the choreographer Moetion introduced it to back up dancers for a music video. It still did not catch on with the rest of the American population until it was re-invented in 2012 when 23-year-old music producer Harry

Rodrigues [Baauer] came out with the song “Harlem Shake.”

The Harlem Shake recently increased in popularity when the comic producer “Filthy Frank” used the song for a video he posted on Twitter. The 30-second video shows men dressed as power rangers, and morph suits who dance to the song.

Some students question the severity of Susquehanna’s actions.

“I’ve seen other sports teams do a video, like the University of Georgia had a couple teams do one like their football team and swim team did one. Why didn’t they get kicked off?” said first year Jeffrey Puckett.

Some students are wondering what type of consequences they might face if they performed the dance.

“It comes down to how do you want your program to be portrayed,” said head strength and conditioning coach of the football team Chris Gray. “I watched the video of the Susquehanna football team and their Harlem Shake, and to be honest I would levy the same penalty against our players” he said. “The way the student athletes were dancing in the video was not something you want representing your program going forward.”

Strict penalties may serve as a deterrent, said first year player Connor Duffy.

“After seeing the video and the result of it I can say solidly that I will never be apart of a Harlem Shake video,” he said.

Two videos of MU students performing the Shake in McGowan and McHale Halls are posted on YouTube, but students in the videos are wearing commonly acceptable attire.

Rowet@misericordia.edu

Donation continued

Continued from page 1 of the missing cross as well as plans for a new replacement.

“I found out it was missing through The Highlander and I think Darcy (Brodmerkle) said something about it,” Wengiel said.

“Is it all of a sudden there? I knew it was missing, but didn’t care to see if it was replaced.”

Even with the concerns of the arch’s structure there are no plans of repairing the arch in the near future.

“There will not be any work

done to the arch itself prior to the cross going on. We have to do some localized work right where it attaches, but there is no overall work being performed at this time,” Calkins said. “We know we have some work to do on the arch, but the nature of what we are doing now is planning for some work on it in the future. As you can imagine that arch is quite a project to work on.”

Kellmers@misericordia.edu

#MUProbs Inks Book Deal...P9

Football Requirement: Ballet...P17

April 1, 2013 highlandernews.not

Professors Starts Cinderfellas’ Midnight Miracle ‘Oinker Joe’s’

By Michael Mauti, Sports Reporter

Curran stands proudly behind his ‘Oinker Joe’s’ food section in the John and Mary Metz Dining Hall.

By The Barefoot Contessa, Food Critic Dr. Joseph Curran’s special brand of oinkerism is a dish best served on a bun, and soon students and staff will be able to get it every day in the John and Mary Metz Dining Hall.

Metz Food Service has hired the religious studies department chair to take over J. Clark’s Grill so he can serve up his specialty pulled pork sandwiches that have students and staff oinking for more.

Curran’s sandwiches, called oinkers, began to gain fame around campus after he brought a batch to a class. Students went wild over the sammies and before long, staff members were wondering what all the hub-bub was about. “I brought a tray to the faculty senate one day and the rest is history,” said Curran.

A Metz employee, curious about the entree that was not provided by the food service, stole a sandwich and brought it to the dining hall. “Originally, Metz wanted my recipe. I clearly was not going to divulge a family secret so we negotiated a deal,” he said. Curran, finally finding his life’s passion, made the decision to leave academia and enter the over-saturated world of sandwich-making.

Metz has already replaced the signage in the dining hall. The wooden sign that previously read “J. Clark’s Grill” now advertises for “Oinker Joe’s.”

“I don’t quite remember why I chose that name. It’s very catchy,

though - don’t you think?” asked Curran. “Whenever I see that sign I just think - this is just want the world needs, a bit more oinkerism.

Call me biased, but I think it’s that my oinkerism is the best oinkerism.”

Students and staff agree - this is one sammie that cannot be found at Subway. Curran credits his signature spice blend for making his pulled pork stand out from the rest.

According to Curran, oinkerism can be served several ways.

“Most people don’t like my spicy oinkers because they are just too hot for most to handle. I try to be subtle with my flavoring - hints of rosemary or cumin go over much better than an oinker that is saturated with jalapenos.”

Curran hopes to expand the sandwich flavor palate over the next several months and is aiming to be featured on an episode of”Food Network Challenge” this summer.

“I personally feel that you can’t find oinkers better than those on this campus anywhere else, and I think that’s my doing,” he said.

He has faith that the popularity of his sandwiches will grow as he pursues his new dream.

“My greatest wish is that my special brand of oinkerism runs rampant and that members of our global community soon consider themselves oinkers.”

The Cougars claimed the Division I Football National Championship after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“Underdogs Times a Million,” read the New York Times following the title game.

The Cougars faced 8 million to 1 odds of dethroning powerhouse Alabama in Miami Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.

This miracle Cinderella story would not have happened if it weren’t for redshirt junior running back JaSean LaMarr, who was crowned the Heisman Award recipient following his recordsetting season.

LaMarr, deemed the most valuable player in the entire nation, rushed the Cougars to a BCS crown as he literally put the team on his back.

LaMarr rushed for 483 yards under the biggest spotlight in collegiate sports as 26.4 million people around the world looked on.

“Breathtaking,” said LaMarr of his stellar performance. “I just wanted it more than anyone, I guess.”

LaMarr has all but 23 yards for the Cougars on the way to the title.

“A performance for the ages,”

said Mike Bellotti, ESPN College Football Analyst.

The Tide struck first during the game as quarterback AJ McCarron found wide receiver Billy Napier in the corner of the end zone to take a quick 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the game.

The Cougars seemed a little shaken at the beginning of the game and a little starstruck as they took the field before 80,000 fans in attendance.

It wasn’t until the second quarter that the Cougars were in business.

LaMarr received the kick 9 yards deep of the Cougars’ endzone.

With his entire team and coaching staff yelling at him to take a knee to advance the ball to the 20-yard line, he refused to listen and entered the field of play.

LaMarr would then make a few Alabama players miss with his stellar jukes and side-steps, and suddenly he was in the open field.

The rest is history.

LaMarr ran his way into the record books with the longest kick return for a touchdown in not only BCS National Championship Game history, but NCAA history.

LaMarr’s historic night did not stop there.

The Cougar’s defense, playing

with a purpose following the LaMarr touchdown, shut down the Crimson Tide and forced them to a three-and-out.

This became a common trend for the Tide as the Cougar’s defense, led by standout inside linebacker, Jeremy Tompson, controlled the game from there.

The defense kept giving the Cougars’ offense the ball, and LaMarr would capitalize on the chance.

By halftime, the scoreboard read 28-14 in favor of the Cougars, all four scores coming from the feet of LaMarr.

The Cougars dominated the game and ultimately won with a final score of 63-14.

LaMarr cored all nine touchdowns.

“Heart, Soul, and a firing passion,” said Thompson on the great play of the Cougar’s defense.

LaMarr now holds four single game records: rushing yards in a single game, rushing touchdowns in a single game, rushing attempts in a single game, and longest kickreturn for a touchdown in NCAA history.

“It was simply impossible,” said Dee Milliner, cornerback of the Crimson Tide. “The man was on fire. There was no stopping him.”

As the confetti fell on the field

and the crystal football, the trophy presented to the BCS National Champion was given to Cougars head coach Mark Ross, almost every Cougar player was in tears.

“It means the world to me,” said Ryan Thorton, senior center.

Misericordia may be the greatest underdog story in sports: The little private school in Dallas, Pa. dethroned one of the biggest football powerhouses in NCAA football history.

According to WNEP TV, approximately 20,000 people lined the streets as the Cougars’ made their way home to celebrate their achievement.

Misericordia’s highest officials, most notable alumni, faculty, and students lined the roadway leading to Mercy as the players headed onto campus.

Members of the media swarmed the students as they enjoyed their new celebrity status, and no one out-shined LaMarr.

The Crystal Football is in the trophy case, next to LaMarr’s Heisman trophy and a team photo.

Next to that is the team photo, which reads, “Impossible is nothing.”

University officials banned most types of “comfortable” clothing as of April, and some students are grappling with the new dress code.

The dress code bans sweatshirts, sweat pants, yoga pants, and anything else made for “comfort,” according to the policy.

Students have mixed emotions about the new rules, and many say they have to buy new wardrobes.

“I think it’s awful. We should be able to wear what we want, when we want,” said first-year student Bill Kennedy. “I can’t believe they are forcing us to dress up for an 8 a.m. I’m transferring.”

But transferring to other school may not be an answer. Colleges and universities throughout Pennsylvania are beginning to ban comfy duds. Officials say the dress code is a trend that will spread across the country as an objection to sloppy student attire.

Dean of Students Kit Foley said she supports the code.

“Basically, we are doing it because other schools are doing it. We are trying to be in touch with the other universities in Pennsylvania. It makes sense to get students that much closer to

the professional world. They need to start acting like professionals,” said Foley.

The code is chock of full details: Jeans are not accepted. Neither are UGG brand boots, obnoxious jewelry and revealing attire.

Foley said wearing professional attire is good student training.

University, and we want to make sure it looks and stays that way.

This new code is definitely the best decision for our campus,” says Foley. “We want everyone on campus to really shine on the outside as well as the inside.”

Senior Sandy Wilfred said she is happy with the change, and hopes

“I think it’s a great idea to get students into the swing of things for their future careers. A more professional look will motivate them.”

This dress code is also in effect for teachers and staff.

“We have a safe and proficient environment here at Misericordia

for the best.

“I can’t wait for the change! It’s so exciting how we all get to dress up for school now. I always like to dress up, especially for my morning classes. It shows my professionalism!”

But junior Casey Clementine said she resents having to pur-

chase new clothes.

“This is absurd! If the dress code wasn’t bad enough, they add in the fact that we must pay for everything? What are they going to take away next, my freedom?”

Violations of the dress code include warnings, and officials said they have not yet decided further consequences.

“We are taking this more seriously than ever. Students need to understand that this isn’t something to mess around with. Punishment will follow,” said Foley.

For as long as Misericordia has been a school, there has never been a specific dress code.

Change for a new dress code has been discussed for a long time, and is finally becoming a rule affective immediately.

Officials lan to send an email to students that contains a listing of approved store at which they may purchase clothing. The list includes Abercrombie and Fitch and Banana Republic.

The email also specifies that clothing must match, and a ruler will be provided to students to ensure their garments fit.

ence. He said he thought he put it in his pocket, but it must have fallen out while he was enthusiastically waving his hands in the air and jumping up and down.

“Of course I bought my diary, I wanted every second of the concert to be written in it so I can look back and feel those butterflies in my stomach that I felt when she first strummed her guitar. When I realized I forgot it at the show, my stomach was in knots,” said Hamilton.

Swift posted a picture of the diary on her fan page and offered to mail to its owner. Hamilton recognized it right away, but Swift said she had a hard time believing it was Hamilton’s.

“I got my diary back and I thought that was the end of it. She

included a signed picture, which is now framed in my office,” said Hamilton.

Swift recently apologized to Hamilton for using his life as inspiration as she visited campus and interrupted one of his classes.

“Taylor Swift walked in, and we all started clapping and cheering because we knew that Hamilton would be so happy. I looked over to see Hamilton and he had already passed out,” said Kate Highton, junior communications major.

“Many people told me to sue Taylor for doing this to me. I just couldn’t do that to T-Swift. She is my hero,” said Hamilton.

Students in class were shocked.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I knew he was a fan. I think he must have

every poster of her in his office,” said Ron McDonald Freshman Physical Therapy major.

Hamilton has now adopted the use of Swift’s music into his class content.

“We listen to at least one Taylor Swift song per class. I tell my students to try to analyze the themes and such, but it’s mainly because I just can’t go an hour without Swift’s beautiful voice,” said Hamilton.

But students are not happy with the new curriculum. “[Hamilton] thinks that we are tricked and that we really analyze the music. Most of us just zone out or text. He has his eyes closed anyway,” said Sara Somak, senior occupational therapy major.

Hamilton’s fellow faculty

Fashion Police Declare Dress

By Rachel Zoe, Style Guide

Hamilton’s Life is Muse for Swift’s Album

By Harry Styles, Music Guru

Taylor Swift has based her latest hit album on English professor Dr. Patrick Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton was surprised to find out that his favorite singer has based her entire album on peculiarities of his life.

“I was so excited when T-swift said she was going to be releasing another album. Then I listened to I Knew You Were Trouble. I knew it was based on my life,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton said he listened to the whole CD and can pick out songs that directly apply to him.

“When she mentioned that ‘we haven’t seen each other in a month when you said you needed space,’ my heart just sank. It brought back the memories of my ex,” said Hamilton.

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Swift admits that she did find artistic inspiration from the teacher.

She said each track recounts a specific entry in Hamilton’s journal.

She said names have been omitted and sexes have been changed for the protection of everyone involved. She said he happened upon the journal by accident, or, as she explains it, “a miracle.”

“My crew found a diary in the front row of seats. I decided to see what a fan’s journal had inside.

The stories told inside that diary really struck a chord with me.

I didn’t realize that the diary belonged to a middle-aged English professor,” said Swift.

Hamilton went to a Swift concert in early 2011, and he took his diary to make sure he made mention of every detail of his experi-

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members have grown tired of his fandom for T-Swift.

“I mean it’s every day with him, blasting that music or listening to the same interview over and over,” said Dan Kimbrough. “I at least close my door when I listen to Sarah McLachlan’s Angel.”

Dean Russ Pottle said he struggles to talk to Hamilton now that he knows that he is subject of Red. “It is almost impossible to have a conversation with him without his sneaking in the fact that he is the inspiration for Red. I don’t even listen to Taylor Swift,” said Pottle.

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Love, The Highlander