The Merciad February 15 Issue

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month

By Megan Mckay Staff writer

February is Eating Disorder

Awareness month, which marks a crucial time of the year to acknowledge and support millions of people dealing with health issues involving eating disorders.

The mission of the annual month and week starting Feb. 27 is to provide education, awareness and empowerment to the 30 million Americans suffering from an eating disorder.

By raising awareness we can ensure future preventative measures are in place along with early diagnosis and treatments for anyone struggling.

Eating disorders are complex mental disorders that cause people to have excessive fear and anxiety.

Their fears and anxiety emanate from eating, body image and weight gain that lead to unhealthy behaviors.

The goal of Eating Disorder

Awareness month is to start a conversation around things that are hard to talk about, and therefore often not discussed.

Eating disorders and many mental health disorders have a negative connotation and therefore are not supported or talked about enough.

Many people have a difficult relationship with food, body image, exercise and appearance. It is because of stigma and shame that many do not get the help they need and deserve.

It is crucial to know that whether it is you, a friend or a loved one that is struggling, they should never feel like they are alone or not worthy of help.

The first step is always to start a discussion about eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder as they are all very serious and should never be overlooked.

Eating disorders are life threatening conditions that affect the lives of millions of Americans and their families each year.

Many college students face eating disorders but suffer in silence.

Specifically, 10-20% of college women have eating disorders. It is important for those struggling to seek treatment and not hesitate for guidance.

The generations to come are even more likely to face eating disorders because of the world we live in where social media is a prime factor for comparing oneself.

We often see certain body types through a screen that are very artificial and encourage people to base their self worth on body weight and shape.

It is important that students, especially at Mercyhurst, understand they should never feel ashamed if they do not fit these unrealistic ideals.

Linda Graves works at the Mercyhurst Counseling Center and has taken the initiative this month to promote Eating Disorder Awareness. Graves

described the issue, “College brings many new experiences, which can be both exciting and stressful. Students are learning to balance school, friends, sports, managing time for meals, laundry, homework, all while adjusting to being away from home possibly for the first time.”

A crucial part of raising awareness is being able to encourage people to recognize these signs. Sometimes friends are the first ones to notice a concern.

Sharing the concerns with your friend sometimes helps them reach out for assistance. Sometimes friends just do not know what to say or do.

“Students sometimes feel unhappy with themselves or develop an unhealthy focus on body image or weight.

When this happens, the student may try to make changes

using unhealthy behaviors. It can be hard to tell when habits have turned into a serious problem or eating disorder,” said Graves.

The Counseling Center can offer some ideas, Graves mentioned.

There are many resources both on campus and throughout the world whose main priority is to help people struggling mentally and physically.

Mercyhurst’s Counseling Center works tirelessly to ensure students have a safe space to go to when they aren’t feeling at their best.

The counseling center is on campus, plus it is very discrete and free.

It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Students can make an appointment by calling 814-824-3650.

Maintaining a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-worth is a crucial step in ensuring you can live your life as your most loved self.

Mercyhurst is joining this national campaign by bringing speakers and other activities to our campus.

Look for tables outside the Grotto that week with information pamphlets and resources you can take with you.

Graves along with other very qualified staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have and tell you what else is planned for that week.

On Thursday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room, there will be an Eating Disorders Presentation for Mercyhurst employees by the Renew Center for Eating Disorders.

On Thursday, March 2 at 7:30

p.m., the White Pines Center for Healing will give a presentation on Eating Disorders & Body Image for students in the Student Union Great Room.

Finally, Parkhurst will be joining the national “light it up” campaign to raise awareness about Eating Disorders by lighting up the Grotto with blue & green lights during NEDA week. During February, take a few minutes to reflect on your eating habits to ensure you have a healthy mindset towards food. And be sure to keep an eye out on your friends to make sure their eating habits are healthy for them.

Alliance for Eating Disorders Photo

An infographic that describes the most common signs of an eating disorder that helps you to recognize your own symptoms or those of your friends.

Laker Leader applications now open

By Hailey Steidle Staff Writer

Every year Mercyhurst University invites its sophomores, juniors and seniors to take part in a program called Laker Leaders. Laker Leaders are the first friendly faces that many of the incoming first year students will meet.

The program itself comes with a multitude of benefits for both the students partaking and the first years that will experience these leaders firsthand. The importance of these individuals who take part in the program is unmatched.

They are put in a place that allows for incoming Lakers to connect with them in hopes of creating an easier transition into college life. Throughout a student’s first week on campus the Laker Leaders will lead orientation groups which help people create a community, meet friends and also get to know one another better.

They also act as a point of contact for the entirety of New Student Welcome and help answer any possible questions that freshmen may have. Laker leaders also work as teaching assistants in iMU courses where they help the facilitator and students answer questions and set up a curriculum of things that they believe may be

important for freshmen to know, or add in points that they wish someone had told them.

If you or anyone you may know are interested in joining the Laker Leader team, there are multiple ways to go about it.

The first way is by being nominated. Laker Leader nominations

are usually through faculty, staff or current Laker Leaders. These people may think you are a good fit and nominate you, however, just because you were nominated does not mean that you got the position. The other option is applying through the application form on the Student Hub page.

The first step from there is creating a FlipGrid video where you will answer basic questions to see how you would handle certain situations, which will allow for the selection committee to gain a better understanding of who the applicant is as a person.

The final round of interviews

will be an in-person group interview where the selection committee will be able to see how you interact in a group that is in person rather than online.

An interview with current Laker Leaders and Katie Neely, who currently runs the Laker Leader program, revealed some of the major benefits to joining the team that people may not have realized.

Neely said, “when joining the team it automatically connects you with a community and allows you to gain a better understanding of who the new individuals on campus are. Those with firsthand experience say that they feel as though they are genuinely making a difference in the lives of the incoming freshmen. It is also a great resume booster for those that are beginning to look for ways to enhance their resumes around campus. This is a great non-demanding way to add the word leader into your resume.”

The deadline for applications this year is March 3rd and selections will be made some time in April, for more information on joining the team go to the Mercyhurst University Hub page and look for Laker Leaders.

Consider taking part in this Mercyhurst tradition all while making new friends.

Airbnb’s co-founder contributes to clean ocean efforts

By Eva Philips Staff writer

Airbnb is well-known for providing access to vacation housing around the world, but the company recently made headlines for a reason unrelated to its business mission.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, Airbnb’s co-founder Joe Gebbia donated $25 million to nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup. Gebbia’s donation was the largest in the history of the nonprofit, which was founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, a Dutch entrepreneur.

The Ocean Cleanup’s mission is to remove plastic and waste from the world’s waterways, especially its oceans. This is particularly important cause because it is frequently overlooked. Of the Sustainable Development Goals designated by the United Nations, the cause of ocean sustainability is the least-funded.

Just $10 billion was devoted to ocean protection between 2015 and 2019, a tiny fraction of the estimated annual $175 billion necessary to keep the oceans healthy and clean.

Gebbia cited the effectiveness of The Ocean Cleanup’s methods as the reason for his contribution, saying that the technology that the nonprofit uses is viable but needs additional funding so that it can be implemented on a large scale.

A major focus of the Ocean Cleanup is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is comprised of roughly 220 million pounds of plastic waste. So far, The Ocean Cleanup has removed over 400,000 pounds of that plastic.

The Ocean Cleanup also tries to prevent plastic from entering waterways and oceans in the first place.

The nonprofit’s founder and

CEO, Boyan Slat, issued a public expression of gratitude thanking Gebbia for his donation. Slat said that the funds would help The Ocean Cleanup in its mission of eliminating plastic from the oceans of the world.

Slat was inspired to pursue this mission as a teenager, when a scuba-diving trip made him realize the volume of plastic waste in the ocean. While pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering,

he participated in a TEDx conference in which he presented his concepts for ocean cleanup. When the video of his presentation went viral in 2013, he stopped pursuing the degree and founded The Ocean Cleanup to put his ideas into action.

Slat initially lacked the financial resources to start a nonprofit from thin air, but volunteers and a donor network provided the resources that allowed him to

launch the project. The Ocean Cleanup has continued to grow and deploy its technology to help the earth ever since.

Gebbia’s donation reflects an increasing trend of philanthropy by the wealthy, particularly in the realm of climate change. Since 2015, donations from philanthropic foundations to organizations battling climate change have risen significantly from $900 million in 2015 to over $3 billion in 2021. Multiple foundations have announced their intention to divest from fossil fuel companies.

Other wealthy individuals like Gebbia have also committed funds to mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, Michael Bloomberg donated $500 million, Laurene Powell Jobs donated $3.5 billion and Jeff Bezos donated $10 billion.

Major corporations like Facebook, Google, Dove and Budweiser have all taken steps to reduce plastic pollution, while some major cities and states have restricted single use plastics.

The increasing trend of philanthropy reflects the increasing public consciousness of climate change, and it provides hope that unified effort can prevent climate change from forever altering our world.

Contributed photo

Laker Leaders pose for a picture on Presque Isle Beach during some training and team bonding.

Contributed photo

Joe Gebbia is pictured above, who recently donated a large portion of money to help Ocean Cleanup’s mission.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Laker Showdown

A long-loved tradition at Mercyhurst, Laker Showdown allows sports teams on campus to participate in a ‘talent show’ of sorts. Skits, songs and dances are all welcome.

Tickets are on sale for $5 each, and all the profit will be going to a charity.

This is a highly entertaining event that many students consider to be the highlight of the semester, so consider attending!

You get to see some people you know get down and groovy on stage, and it always has a high energy appeal to it.

New Campus Ministry

Times

Although most times remain the same, there are a few time changes to keep in mind for this semester regarding campus ministry events.

Catholic devotions have moved from Tuesday evenings to Thursday evenings at 5 p.m.

There is also a time change for masses on Sunday. The previous 7 p.m. mass time has been updated to 4 p.m.

Consider taking part in some of campus ministry’s weekly events! Stay updated by following @hurstcampusmin on Instagram.

Spring Fest Artist

The Spring Fest artist was announced at the Spring Involvement Fair.

Alec Benjamin will be performing. He is an artist who has over a billion streams on Spotify and has had successful tours in the past.

His hit songs include “Let Me Down Slowly,” “Must’ve Been the Wind” and “Jesus in LA.”

He is known for his mellow sounding voice and painfully true lyrics that many people can relate to.

Start listening to his music now so that you can sing along when he performs in April at Spring Fest!

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events?

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Want a weekend getaway?

By Eva Mihelich News editor

Mercyhurst University offers a retreat each semester that gives students the chance to take some time away from their busy lives.

Being a college student is not easy – it comes with daily struggles, difficult situations and new circumstances that nothing can fully prepare you for.

You get caught up in clubs and activities, all while trying to balance your academics, mental health and for some, your spirituality.

Mercyhurst is a Catholic institution but welcomes people of all faith backgrounds.

Because it is a religiously affiliated university, there are many opportunities offered to grow in your faith. Campus Ministry is very active on campus, with the Carpe Diem retreat being one of the many things that are offered to all students, even if you are someone who has never been involved with their faith before.

If nothing else, consider going on this retreat to get off campus for a little bit.

It is an overnight retreat, and transportation is provided as the drive is a little under 2 hours away. It will take place at the Villa Maria Retreat Center.

Retreats are uncomfortable for some people due to the vulnerability of it, but embracing that discomfort can lead to great growth in your spirituality and human experience.

Part of being human is our interdependency and finding beauty in our shared experiences, so consider taking that step

and going on a retreat.

Michelle Scully, Campus Minister, said this retreat is a great way to learn about yourself and those around you.

“Student leaders will share talks, there will be small group conversations, and plenty of opportunity for fun. There’s a basketball court and a pool!” said Scully.

Although Mercyhurst is a smaller university, there are many people who you pass by each day and who you know nothing about.

There is something very special about going off campus and sharing your thoughts and feel-

ings that creates a bond in the community.

Scully said that this is an opportunity that is open for everyone, “We say that this retreat is ‘as religious as you want it to be.’ This particular retreat is not modeled for people coming from any specific religious background, and is not trying to lead anyone to a certain (or any) religion. Rather, it is a place for self-reflection, community building, and a time for rest.”

If you have any questions about this opportunity, reach out to Scully.

Additionally, you can stop by the Campus Ministry student

lounge at any time to chat with students involved with the various activities offered.

Consider signing up for the weekly newsletter for Campus Ministry as well to stay up to date with the many spiritual opportunities, such as Catholic Devotions, Wednesday Night Fellowship and the Bible Study on Thursdays.

No experience with campus ministry events is necessary — show up and see why so many students enjoy the community while also learning more about yourself and your spirituality.

New STUNT coach joins the community

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

New this year to Mercyhurst is a STUNT team.

For those who do not know, STUNT is a way for students who want to participate in a sport that is similar to cheerleading.

The NCAA does not recognize cheerleading as a sport, so the governing body of USA Cheer created STUNT for these athletes to be recognized by the NCAA.

Ruthanne Mineo will be making history as the first coach of the STUNT team at Mercyhurst. Mineo is no stranger to the Mercyhurst community as she graduated from here in 2017 with a degree in biology.

After getting her undergrad, she went on to get her masters from LECOM Bradenton. She and her husband lived in Florida for three years before returning to Erie.

She was offered the cheerleading coach position which she said was her dream job. Life kind of came full circle for her as she was

a cheerleader during her time at Mercyhurst as a student.

Mineo said, “I love having the opportunity to build up our current team.”

STUNT is a four-quarter game with each quarter focused on a different event.

The first quarter is Partner Stunts, the second quarter is Pyramids and Tosses, the third quarter is Jumps and Tumbling and quarter four is the Team Routine.

Quarters 1-3 have four rounds while quarter four has three rounds.

Each category has eight routines; 1 is the easiest and 8 is the hardest. Each team is required to know all eight routines.

To start the match, there is a coin toss to determine who starts with possession.

The teams then alternate possession and the coach with possession will call a routine number. Both teams then have 20 seconds to get on the mat and perform the specified routine simultaneously.

The teams are deducted points based on mistakes they make, so

the team with the least deductions is the one that receives the point for that round.

In quarter 4, there are only three rounds of play. The coach with possession will call a routine, let’s say for example routine 2, then both teams will perform Partner Stunt 2, Jumps and Tumbling 2, and Pyramids and Tosses 2 one right after the other as one routine.

Points will be awarded for each section for a total of 3 points possible.

Mineo is currently still recruiting players for the team, but hopes to have 35-40 athletes on the roster.

Each player has their own number and the uniforms are similar to volleyball uniforms.

Mineo said, “I am so excited to be making history here at Mercyhurst building and coaching the inaugural STUNT team.”

Mercyhurst is the first in Pennsylvania to have a STUNT team since it was just passed by NCAA for Division II in January.

The team will compete in the

Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). Since they are still recruiting, next spring will be their first official competition.

“We have athletes coming in who are strong elite tumblers, others that have been on STUNT teams at the high school level, along with a strong group of allstar and high school cheer athletes,” said Mineo.

There is a recruitment camp for both STUNT and Cheer on Saturday, Feb. 25 for anyone who is interested in joining.

According to Mineo, this new sport allows cheerleaders to be “recognized for their incredible athletic ability in stunting and tumbling.”

Mineo is really passionate about this team and hopes to create a strong start to STUNT here at Mercyhurst!

Be sure to keep an eye out for the big things that STUNT has upcoming in the near future.

Contributed photo

Students pose in front of the retreat center for last semester’s Carpe Diem Weekend Retreat.

First Aid Mental Health trainings offered for MU community

By Nadine Fox Staff writer

In an emergency—for example, if someone is having a heart attack—typically you will find someone who already knows CPR, or at the very least, would know how to call 9-1-1.

However, very few people are informed how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack or concerned that a friend or co-worker might be showing signs of alcoholism.

This is where Mental Health First Aid comes in to start conversations about mental health and substance use problem. It improves an individual’s understanding and provides an action plan to teach people how to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.

The Mercyhurst Department of Nursing and individuals from the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) will host a number of free training sessions for Mental Health First Aid certification (MHFA).

Both students and employees are welcome to attend these sessions that will be held throughout the spring. Those interested should plan on attending both sessions to complete their certification.

The first set of sessions will be held Tuesday, March 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as well as Thursday, March 30, from

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be another set of training sessions on Tuesday, March 28, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, March 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. As well as on Saturday, March 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which will be just one session.

In the Mental Health First Aid course, you will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations and where to turn for help.

The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan includes assessing for risk of suicide or harm, listening non-judgmentally, giving reassurance, encouraging appropriate professional help, encouraging self-help and other support strategies.

Students will learn how to apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan in a variety of situations, including when someone is experiencing: panic attacks, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, non-suicidal self-injury, Acute psychosis (e.g., hallucinations or delusions) and overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drug use.

Mental Health First Aid was created in 2001 by Betty Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education, and Anthony Jorm, a mental health literacy professor.

Together they ran a national nonprofit health promotion

charity program in Australia focused on training and research. Now, Mental Health First Aid has been adapted to the U.S. and many other countries. If you have more interest in this event, reach out to Nicole Moore, an Assistant Professor of

Nursing at Mercyhurst University who has over 12 years of experience working with individuals living with serious mental illness and experiencing crisis situations herself.

This is a great opportunity for the Mercyhurst communi-

LAKER MOMENT

ty to ensure that people can be prepared for any mental health scare if it were to come up.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Mercyhurst hosted their annual Spring Involvement Fair from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union. The fair hosted many of the school’s 80 clubs, such as the Latin American and Spanish Studies Association, Pre-Health Honor Society, Photo Club, Soccer Club, Tabletop Gaming and the Modern Cinema Club.

The event also announced the artist for a major activity on campus that many of the students know and love: SpringFest. At 3:15 p.m. the hosts of the event announced that for our 2023 SpringFest the featured artist would be Alec Benjamin who has recently grown to fame on TikTok. Be sure to check back in during the fall semester for yet another involvement fair which will be sure to introduce you to a multitude of ways to get involved!

Hailey Steidle photo

Students represented their clubs at the fair to promote campus involvement.

RSCO FEATURE GIRLS WHO CODE

MU celebrates Girls & Women in Sports Day

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is recognized on Feb. 1. This year marks the 37th annual celebration. Mercyhurst hosted its 10th Girls & Women in Sports day, which was one of over 1,000 events that occurred throughout the country.

were even some Girl Scout troops that came together to demonstrate the importance of female athletics from a young age.

character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.”

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

Are you a girl, female-presenting or non-binary individual that has an interest in coding, computers, and the field of STEM? If you are, there’s a new club at Mercyhurst that might just be for you.

Girls Who Code is a new club committed to “rais[ing] awareness and interest in programming and computer related careers, particularly among women who tend to be underrepresented in these field,” said Lauren Williams, Ph.D., Chair of the Mathematics Department and advisor of the club.

According to the Girls Who Code website, 24% of computer scientists were women, compared to 37% in 1995. “We acknowledge that historical and institutional barriers—particularly racial bias and discrimination—play a role in the widening gender gap in computer science and who has access to opportunities in these fields,” said the inclusion statement of Girls Who Code.

“Girls Who Code focuses our work not only on gender diversity but also on young women who are historically underrepresented in computer science fields, specifically girls who come from underrepresented minority groups, including African American/Black, Hispanic or Latina, Bi/ Multiracial, Native American/Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander; come from low-income backgrounds, specifically free and/or reduced lunch eligible; and have had a lack of exposure or access to computer science,” continued the statement.

“Girls Who Code has many purposes, centered around increasing and connecting women in programming and technological career fields,” said Sakura Gavin, junior Mathematics and Data Science major and President of the club. “The purpose of the club at this campus is to connect female-identifying or non-binary students in the technological majors, or others interested in joining those career fields. I found that there weren’t any clubs or programs made to help connect and support women in technology, and wanted to create a place where we can meet, share advice, and have fun.”

While the club is relatively new, with only two meetings so far, there are more plans to meet up, with the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. and subsequently held biweekly.

“Right now, we have a plan to have a meeting where we will hold a small competition centered around members creating their own program, whether it’s a skit or mini game, on a website designed to introduce people to coding,” said Gavin.

“Students at Mercyhurst should join if they’re interested in connecting with others passionate about increasing and supporting women in technology,” said Gavin. “Our club is still at our beginning stages and would love for students to join, regardless of experience in programming.”

If this is a club that potentially interests you, reach out to Gavin or Dr. Williams! This is a new club, so they are actively welcoming new members!

On Saturday, Feb. 11, Mercyhurst hosted a day for young girls to come and interact with the women’s sports teams on campus.

“We are thrilled to salute the progress of girls and women in sports and encourage our student-athletes to share the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to their lives,” Bethany Woods, co-director of the event, said in a recent Mercyhurst press release. The teams that participated were Cheer and STUNT, Soccer, Dance, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Golf, Rowing, Bowling, Figure Skating and Equestrian.

“All the girls were very enthusiastic to be there and to try new sports,” said Veronica Kibbe, a junior member of the Figure Skating team. Each team had a station for the girls to try what their sport is like. There were a lot of girls who came to participate in the event and there

“It is important for these girls to come here and see us as role models, and knowing that this is something that could be in their future too, that sports are not just for men, but women can excel in them too,” said Kibbe. After the girls went around to the stations, there was a reception with pizza and treats for the girls to celebrate their hard work throughout the day.

The girls who participated then received free admission to the Women’s Basketball game at 5:30 that night. This was a great opportunity for the girls to see some collegiate female athletes as many of them probably want to play a sport in college.

“My favorite part was seeing how excited they were to try everything and the confidence they had in trying new things. I especially loved all the girls claiming they were going to come to Mercyhurst to be just like us when they were old enough,” said Kibbe.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, NGWSD “inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and

NGWSD started in 1987 in Washington D.C., to recognize women’s sports. The first day also remembered Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality in women’s sports; she passed away in 1986. Last year, the Women’s Sports Foundation had a year-long celebration of Title IX’s 50th anniversary.

NGWSD strives to, “honor the achievements of girls and women in sports and continues to Lead Her Forward by acknowledging the power of sports to unlock her limitless potential.”

There was even a commercial during the Super Bowl that showed the NFL supporting women who play football and flag football. The commercial featured current and former NFL players and at the end, there was a message that appeared on the screen that said the NFL can’t wait to see what they can do next.

The event was a huge success and everyone who participated in the event is excited about next year’s events

MercyhurstU Instagram photo

The Women’s Rowing team shows a young girl how to row using one of their machines.

CLASS CATALOG: GEOL 101: DYNAMIC EARTH

By Bella Lee Staff writer

As all Mercyhurst students know, one of the requirements for REACH is a science with a lab. One can take various sciences to fulfill this requirement, ranging from Biology to Chemistry to Physics and much more.

Another option that is available is Geology, with one of the sciences with a lab being offered this semester being Dynamic Earth.

Scott McKenzie, Assistant Professor of Geology, teaches this course. For those that are interested in pursuing a degree in Geology or are interested in learning more about rocks and what forms the Earth, this is a great class to take.

“The significance of the rocks and minerals that form the earth; the plate tectonic processes that have built the continents and ocean basins; and the forces that shape them into their characteristic landscapes in the process of their creation and destruction” are what is taught in this class, according to the syllabus. “The basic understanding of earth processes for environmental reasoning and/or archaeological studies is emphasized.”

This is a great course to take if you want to delve deep into a topic that is commonly not discussed.

“Dynamic Earth deals with the science of the Earth including its structure, materials, and the processes acting upon them,” says the syllabus.

“This is a very broad topic, so, by necessity, this is a survey course. Topics we will cover include the Earth’s origin, meteorites and space, Earth’s internal structure, plate tectonics, minerals, gems, rock types and their origins, the rock cycle, glaciers, groundwater, geologic resources, mountain building, geologic time and life, and earthquakes. Much of the science of geology is directly relevant to our lives.

Consequently, in this class, you will learn fundamental concepts used by geologists to understand how the Earth operates. You will then use those skills to comprehend how geology impacts the world in which we as a society live.”

Dynamic Earth is open to everyone and is a required course for the Geology major. However, as this class will not be offered in the future, there are still a variety of Geology classes that one can take to fulfill their science with a lab REACH credit.

Geology classes offered in the Fall 2023 semester include Megafauna (offered in the first mini), Geomorphology and Energy and Environmental Justice. Be sure to keep an eye out for them if you are interested in fulfilling your science with a lab soon!

Sweeney promotes campus well-being in new role

By Madeleine Plourde Staff writer

Sue Sweeney was recently announced Campus Health and Well-Being Director here at Mercyhurst. She currently holds the position of Assistant Athletic Director. She will continue her work in athletics until she officially takes on her new role in health and well-being on June 1.

In preparation for her work, Sweeney has been hearing from as many groups as possible around campus.

“My main thing right now is creating a foundation for our work and listening,” Sweeney said.”

Sweeney has talked about campus health and well-being with Mercyhurst Student Government, Staff Senate and Dean’s Council among others. Understanding the needs of people is important, Sweeney said. She wants to hear their needs and help them to see where campus is moving.

“We’re a community,” she said.

She wants to improve student well-being but also the well-being of staff and faculty on campus too. If any part of the community isn’t having their needs met then the community as a whole won’t be totally healthy, Sweeney said.

Sweeney has a strong holistic mindset when thinking about health and well-being. She thinks schooling and education should develop the whole person physically, mentally and emotionally. Health and well-being aren’t addendums to a good life Sweeney said.

“It can’t just be programs about health,” Sweeney said. “It has to be embedded in what we do.” She wants to infuse wellness into courses and the curriculum at Mercyhurst.

“We need to figure out what engages [students] and who they are,” Sweeney said, “which has been lost in just checking the box.”

But she said you can’t put health and well-being into a box. It has to do with everything from

your outlook on life to how you deal with relationships.

Eventually, Sweeney hopes to be able to put together programs and activities students really want to be a part of. Among other things, she hopes to help students leverage social media for their benefit. Instead of letting social media lead to a downward spiral, Sweeney hopes to help students use it as a tool for good.

Mercyhurst is working with the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network to promote these goals. This network helps connect schools and find out what works and what doesn’t work. It also promotes the Okanagan Charter which is framework to support the holistic ideas Sweeney hopes to implement.

Sweeney also really wants to bring back the idea of Hurst Is Home to the students, staff and

faculty here. COVID took away a lot of that feeling Sweeney said but there are ways to bring it back.

“I want students to have that feeling of belonging,” Sweeney said, “to feel safe and at home here.”

She then hopes students can bring those feelings and ideas into the world wherever they go next. Higher education shouldn’t just be about the four years students spend at a university, Sweeney said. It should be about something more than that.

“Everything we do here should be preparing [students] for life after Mercyhurst.” Changing the ideas around health and well-being to cultivate conscious, holistic people is one way Sweeney hopes to do that.

Mercyhurst University photo

Sue Sweeney will assume the role of Campus Health and Well-Being Director on June 1.

The press release cover of The Okanagan Charter.

Kingdom Choir to bless the PAC with their voices

By Eva Philips

Staff writer

They have traveled worldwide to uplift people through their beautiful performances, and their next stop is at Mercyhurst.

On Feb. 21, 2023, witness the talent of the Kingdom Choir as they perform a concert for the Erie community in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

The Kingdom Choir is a British gospel choir founded in 1994.

The singers all hail from southeast England. Karen Gibson, a conductor who has received praise for her skill and artistic vision, founded the group.

The choir’s performances reflect Christian religious beliefs, but the group’s message of hope and inspiration is universal.

The Kingdom Choir’s website declares that it is “passionate about producing a sound that resonates in people’s hearts.”

While the group has been touring around the United Kingdom and internationally for more than two decades, they gained widespread publicity after performing at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Their performance of “Stand By Me,” originally written and performed by Ben E. King in 1961, awed viewers around the

world.

Over two billion people watched the televised broadcast of the royal wedding from St. George’s Chapel in London, where the voices of the Kingdom Choir filled the space.

Gibson conducted the performance, after which she was praised as “Britain’s godmother of gospel.”

Her influence in the realm of music was recognized in 2020 when she was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

After their performance at the royal wedding, the group went on to tour North America, making television appearances on the “Today Show” and “Good Morning America.”

The Kingdom Choir is slated to perform in 22 cities across North America in just a little more than a month.

The choir’s appearance at Mercyhurst on Feb. 21 will be one stop on the group’s latest North American tour.

The tour will also take the choir across the continent to cities like Montreal, Chicago, Birmingham and San Diego.

So far, the group has released two albums.

The first came out in 2018.

Titled “Stand By Me,” it features traditional Christian songs like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Amazing Grace.”

Additionally, it has the Kingdom Choir’s performances of

popular songs like Beyonce’s “Halo” and John Legend’s “All of Me.”

And, of course, it opens with the group’s “Stand By Me” performance.

With its gospel style and harmonious approach, the group puts its unique spin on these classics, elevating them to become especially impactful.

The second album was 2021’s “Together Again” extended play album.

While the size is reduced, with five songs on the record, it is no less impactful.

Released in late November of 2021, “Together Again” is more geared toward holiday listening.

It features the Kingdom Choir’s take on songs like “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

The group’s rich, layered harmonies and unmatched spiritual energy make its performances unforgettable.

Indeed, the group’s performance at Mercyhurst will be an unparalleled experience.

The concert will be a great way to beat the winter blues with the power of music, and you will not want to miss it.

Ticket prices range from $20$45, but Mercyhurst students receive a discount.

Be sure to check out this once in a lifetime opportunity that is coming right to our community!

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Eva Philips Staff writer

This week in Mercyhurst history, the Archives give us a look back at a renowned Black composer from the Erie area.

Harry T. Burleigh was born in Erie in 1866 and went on to become an influential musician and composer.

His work helped shape American classical music as it developed stylistically.

He also influenced the work of Antonin Dvorak, who credited Black music as foundational for American classical music.

On Feb. 11, 1991, Mercyhurst established the Harry T. Burleigh Memorial Center in the Hammermill Library to preserve and promote information about the life of Harry Burleigh.

Today, those materials are housed in the Mercyhurst Archives as the Harry T. Burleigh Collection, paying tribute to an accomplished individual whose talent forever altered the landscape of American music.

IMG Artist photo

Picture of the talented Kingdom Choir that will perform soon here at Mercyhurst!

Mercyhurst archives photo

Photo of Harry T. Burleigh, a famous Erie native.

Hurst Hot Take: old, classic TV show “South Park”

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

Several shows have been around for over 25 years that, regardless of whether they’re still airing or not, remain beloved by many.

“Saturday Night Live” has been running for almost 50 years and continues to make audiences laugh. “That 70s Show,” which ran from 1998 to 2006, is enjoying a surge in popularity following the release of its sequel, “That 90s Show.”

However, despite its raunchiness and the number of times it offends people, one show that has prevailed is “South Park.”

“South Park” was initially released in 1997 and followed four young boys, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny, living their lives in their titular Colorado town.

As per the wishes of creators Matt Parker and Trey Stone, this show ridicules and makes fun of just about everyone, from members of the LGBTQ+ community (the boys’ teacher, Mr. Garrison, is gay and at one point transitions into a woman, although he ultimately transitions back to a man) to entire religions (one epi-

sode poked fun at the Mormons, as Stone and Parker were also the masterminds behind the musical “The Book of Mormon”).

On Feb. 8, Comedy Central released the first episode of the 26th season of “South Park.” The episode “Cupid Ye” begins with Kyle and Tolkien being praised for

their TikToks and Stan feeling left out because he and Kyle are best friends.

Noticing Stan’s dismay, Cartman, known throughout the series for his dislike of Kyle due to the latter being Jewish, decides to take matters into his own hands. After failing to convince Tolkien that the

Jews took away the culture and beliefs of the Black population, Cartman spreads a rumor that Jews, in this case, Kyle, run Hollywood. Meanwhile, Cartman’s angel on his shoulder, named Cupid Me, has found Christianity and has become extremely anti-Semitic, calling himself Cupid Ye (poking

fun at Kanye West’s very anti-Semitic views). Cupid Ye manages to escape Cartman’s conscience and create an anti-Semitic shrine in the boy’s bathroom at school, crafting arrows to shoot at students and turn them against Kyle. However, Cartman saves the day by forcing Cupid Ye to take his medicine, transforming him into Cupid Me again.

If you enjoy dark humor and don’t get offended quickly, “South Park” is a great show to watch and laugh at. Stone and Parker, 26 years after the release of their creation, continue to not hold back on anyone they intend to insult.

This is not the first time they’ve made fun of Kanye West, either; one previous episode of “South Park” included West consistently questioning whether his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, was a Hobbit. I had been familiar with the show before, but it wasn’t until I met my current roommates that I began watching it regularly.

They even had me watch the episode on Mormons, as I was raised Mormon, to make sure it got everything right (spoiler alert: it did).

Sweet movies to watch on Valentine’s Day

By Megan McKay Staff writer

During this Valentine’s Day season, love stories are filling most peoples’ screens.

The obsession with watching these types of films during the end of January and most of February is typical for a lot of people.

Watching others fall in love, out of love, and witness heartbreak and growth can be addicting. The movies that some may watch can range from classics all the way to new Netflix Originals.

Love stories have existed for centuries, so finding one you want to watch may be difficult because of the sheer number of options available.

If you want to enjoy a movie this holiday season, these options may be an excellent place to start looking.

There are plenty of options for those who may love classic romance movies. Movies like “The Notebook” are about a poor young man who falls in love with a rich young girl. When the two are separated he writes to her for 365 days straight, but the girl’s mother intercepts the letters.

Another amazing classic to watch on Valentine’s Day is

“10 Things I Hate About You,” a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” set in a 90s high school. The new kid in school, Cameron, falls in love with the school’s sweetheart Bianca.

However, when he finds out that Bianca’s dad will only let her date once her older sister Kat starts dating, he plans to set Kat up with the school’s bad boy.

This last movie was so popular that it created an almost cult-like following.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” follows the life of a young New York socialite who becomes interested in a young man that has recently moved into her building.

However, as she tries to move forward with the relationship, her past seems to get in the way.

For anyone looking for movies that may be a bit more accessible for viewing, Netflix is a great place to look.

The selection of romance movies among the Netflix Originals has a wide range of titles.

Movies like “Someone Great” follow the life of a musical journalist turning to her best friends after her long-term boyfriend dumps her just before they move to a new city for her dream job.

To movies like “Love Simon,”

a coming-of-age tale about a teenage boy who finds support in the form of an anonymous boy online whom he ends up falling in love with, having never met him.

Suppose you like a little bit of comedy in the romance movies you watch.

In that case, watch “Set It Up,” about two personal assistants who attempt to set up their workaholic bosses to get more free time but end up falling in love themselves.

There are many good movies to watch and enjoy around this season of love.

The cover poster for the movie “The Notebook.”

The cover poster of the TV show South Park

The cast of the classic movie “10 Things I Hate About You.”

MAC/SAC’s Y2K event was a Partay

By Francesca Divincenzo A&E editor

Imagine stepping into a time machine and traveling back to the early 2000s.

Back to a time where everything was so “Fetch,” the clothes, the snacks and who can forget about the amazing TV shows.

That is what the MAC/SAC Y2K event this past Saturday was like.

When I walked into the event it was just full of nostalgia from “Kim Possible” and “That’s So Raven” displayed on the TVs to the tables filled with activities such as bedazzling your hair, hair chalk, decorating slap bracelets and making friendship bracelets.

But that was only the beginning as you made your way down the line there were more memories waiting for you such as a variety of lip smackers lip balms.

Then there was a big display of candy from Juicy Drop Pop to Baby Bottle Pop and who could forget about the Hubba Bubba. Finally there was a table filled

with Lunchables in all kinds of flavors.

Along with the displays there was karaoke and a photobooth where you could use different Y2K props such as flip phones and you also got your pictures taken with a polaroid camera. There were even little polaroid frames to decorate to display your picture.

Even though all of that memorabilia was great I think my favorite part was having conversations with other people about our favorite tv shows growing up and who our Disney crush was. If you are wondering about mine, it was Justin Russo from “Wizards of Waverly Place.”

We also talked about what movies were great in the early 2000s like the “Lizzie McGuire” movie.

Every now and then I would look up at the “That’s So Raven” episode playing on the TV and I never realized how many crossovers there were for that show including the “Cheetah Girls.” It was really funny because I feel like today Disney and other channels do not have that magic

they used to have.

Another great part of the event was listening to the music because even though I had not heard the songs in a while I still knew all the words.

There was a lot of throwback music being played. From OG Taylor Swift to songs from the Disney original movie “Lemonade Mouth.”

But it is funny that while the event was going on all I could think about were the days playing Disney games on the desktop computer to making friendship bracelets while watching Disney crossover episodes.

I believe that Disney’s golden age was the early 2000s from the shows to the movies where everything was just funny and carefree.

Overall I think the event was a huge success.

Everyone seemed to be having a great time at the event and I know I had a great time. It was just fun to reminisce on our childhood.

I had a lot of fun and I cannot wait for the next nostalgic event.

I enjoyed being able to take

a break from classes and spend time back in the era of my childhood. The MAC/SAC events are always a lot of fun and provide great experiences for students to have a good time on the weekends.

Be sure to check out this weekend’s events that are Painting, Popcorn and Pottery on Friday night in Luke’s Landing at 7 p.m. Comedy & Cookies will be

on Saturday night at 7 p.m. They also have many fun events planned throughout the semester so be sure to keep your eye out for those on social media and Laker Launchpad.

“Ballet Hispanico” rocks the stage

The Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture welcomed the dance company Ballet Hispánico to Mercyhurst University at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Ballet Hispánico is breaking stereotypes and celebrating the beauty and diversity of Hispanic cultures through dance.

Ballet Hispánico is known as the largest Hispanic cultural organization in the United States and is one of America’s Cultural Treasures.

The company has been bringing communities together for 50 years to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training and community engagement.

Ballet Hispánico’s three main programs include the Company, School of Dance and Community Arts Partnerships.

Ballet Hispánico’s headquarters in New York City provide a haven and cultural heart for Latin dance in the United States.

It is a space that initiates new inclusive cultural conversations and explores the intersectionality of Latin cultures.

Ballet Hispánico welcomes and serves all, no matter their background or identity – Latine, Latino, Hispanic.

Tina Ramirez, Dance visionary

and National Medal of Arts recipient, founded the Ballet Hispánico in 1970, at the height of the postwar civil rights movements.

She wanted Ballet Hispánico to be focused on creating a safe place for Hispanic dance and dancers to flourish.

Later in 1985, Eduardo Vilaro joined Ballet Hispánico as a Company dancer.

In 2009 he was promoted to the organization’s second Artistic Director and eventually became the CEO in 2015.

Vilaro said, “The extraordinary act of a Latina immigrant embarking on a journey of access to the arts for a community is a heroic

example of arts advocacy.

When thinking of the years, the families, the students, the artists, and the administrators whose lives Ballet Hispánico changed, one cannot help but wonder at the power of such a vision. It was this idea of service for a marginalized and silenced community that made Tina Ramirez’s founding of Ballet Hispánico unparalleled.”

He is currently building on Ramirez’s impact by expanding and deepening the legacy of visualizing Latin cultures and exposing the intersectionality and depth of diversity found in the Hispanic cultures, Vilaro’s vision has elevated a community from the margins

to its place ingrained at the center of the American cultural landscape.

Today Ballet Hispánico is a catalyst for social change.

Their mission opens a platform for new social dialogue.

Ballet Hispánico nurtures and sees a community in its fullness through its exemplary artistry, distinguished training program, and deep-rooted community engagement, Ballet Hispánico champions and amplifies Latine voices in the field.

The Mercyhurst Dance Department was extremely grateful to have received free tickets to encourage students to perform Bal-

let Hispánico and experience the work this company is doing in the dance community.

The Dance department also had the opportunity on Thursday morning to have a Master Class taught by the artistic staff of Ballet Hispánico.

The performance was breathtakingly beautiful, with stunning lifts and flowy movements, as well as being bright, fun, and had a sharp sense of musicality.

Be sure to follow Ballet Hispánico on their upcoming adventures to show your support!

Nadine Fox Staff writer

Contributed photo

All the activities they had to offer at the event.

PBS Contributed photo

Picture of dancers performing Ballet Hispánico

The weather is warm this week!

Social media has intoxicating hold on young people

By Bella Lee Staff writer

especially younger folks, are addicted to TikTok. I say yes.

I have a TikTok account, but I do not post any videos nor do I follow anyone.

We still have a few weeks until spring break.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully Rhianna still releases her new album even though she is pregnant again.

Before TikTok there was Musical.ly, and before Musical.ly, there was Vine.

For the past ten or so years, we have had some form of social media service that has delighted us in the form of short videos.

Vine, which brought us an onslaught of celebrities including King Bach and Nash Grier, made millions laugh in a barrage of six second videos.

Musical.ly, the direct predecessor of TikTok, had videos that would range between 15 seconds and one minute.

However, TikTok has made it known to all just how strong their grip is on social media.

Recently, they increased the maximum length of their videos to three minutes.

This allows for users to spend countless hours watching comedy sketches, commentary videos and much more.

This raises the important question of whether people,

I only use it to send videos to and receive videos from my boyfriend. Whenever he and I hang out, we will spend hours watching and laughing at TikTok videos, but it is only every so often that it happens, since we are long distance at the moment.

However, seeing the types of videos that are out there on TikTok leads to a variety of concerns being raised.

Andrew Tate, the infamous kickboxer turned media personality, used TikTok as a way to spread his message of being an “alpha male,” which included virulent misogynistic messages.

Due to younger people, such as middle and high schoolers, having access to TikTok, a disturbingly large amount of younger boys are being exposed to, and subsequently being poisoned by, views and beliefs that women deserve to be taken advantage of by men in every sense.

Additionally, there are a plentiful amount of TikTok creators who spread false information, usually

anti-LGBTQ+ or racist content, that users will eat up because, apparently, they never heard the phrase “do not believe everything on the Internet.”

In fact, I would even go as far as to say that young people are too addicted to all social media, not just TikTok.

The acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk of course does not make things great, since people are using that to their advantage in the form of spreading misinformation and extremely offensive material. Also, the use of social media apps such as Instagram and Snapchat leads to self-esteem issues in young people, especially girls, since those two apps heavily rely on filters.

Overall, social media is prone to being toxic to younger generations. I may be young, but I have already determined that when I have kids, they will not have a cell phone (as in a mobile phone) until they are 13 and they will not have access to social media until they are at least in high school.

TikTok and other social media have the tendency to become extremely toxic, and I do not want to subject them to that at a young age.

Rihanna’s Superbowl halftime performance was a super slay

By Christina Judy Staff writer

stated that she would have a special guest be a surprise onstage.

The Merciad

STUDENT EDITORS

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

The fifteen minutes of bliss that Rihanna gave us during the Superbowl fifty-seven halftime show proved to not be long enough.

From the moment the spotlight found her, suspended on a platform over the stage, she slayed and continued to do so until the end of the show.

Rihanna’s empowering red outfit radiated throughout her performance as she danced with her innumerable amount of backup dancers.

In spite of being surrounded by her dance crew, nine-time grammy-winning artist Rhianna seemed like the “only girl” in the entire stadium as her vocals silenced any other noise in the area.

Her 12-song setlist was absolutely incredible and gave so many audience members what they wanted as they sung along to her timeless tunes.

In an interview conducted prior to the halftime show, Rihanna

Fans later found out that special guest is her second child! Friends and family of the celebrity are surely pouring it up in celebration of Rihanna’s heartwarming news.

It is safe to say, 2023 has already been an eventful and fulfilling year for Rhianna after putting on such a stunning performance in an equally entertaining NFL game.

One of the best, but unexpected parts of her performance was that she joined her dancers in bumping to her own hits at multiple points. Her dancers brought high energy to the stage—and even in the air, not letting up for one second.

Their hip-hop style helped mesmerize the fans and pump them up.

Rihanna encouraged her dancers by participating in a few moves herself and her dance crew had no issue stepping aside to let the queen herself have some fun.

Once Rihanna sang the first note, they were fully enthralled in her show.

She turned to all sides of the stadium and went on the same level as the nosebleeds to ensure that every person felt a part of the experience.

My absolute favorite part out of her whole setlist was when she sang “Diamonds in the Sky.” One reason is because she put on this glamorous jacket and hopped back onto the platform to rise into the evening air.

Rihanna and her talent were the only focus. No backup dancer was shown, no member of the crowd, all that could be seen was Rihanna and the brightest lights behind her that were meant to resemble the shine of a diamond.

Finally at the very end of the song, she held the last note and looked upward at the sky, which drew fans to believe she saw the stars as she painted them in her song. She must have felt in that moment “as diamonds in the sky.”

Although it felt like her stage time came and went, I truly savored every moment.

I, like so many others, was unable to look away from the screen or engage in any small talk because Rhianna put on a show that felt like a concert.

All of the songs she sang were well known and wonderful singa-long songs, so even if you were unfamiliar with her newer hits, you could still enjoy her time during the Superbowl halftime show.

The silent epidemic on college campus: eating disorders

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

As we enter into February it’s important for people to recognize the epidemic of eating disorders on college campuses.

February is national eating disorder awareness month which comes with quite a few stigmas.

Many think that eating disorders are talked about too much, or that by talking about them it glorifies them, however the truth of the matter is that eating disorders are not spoken about nearly enough.

Do you as a college student know the average age that eating disorders start for most individuals? If not, the answer is freshman year of college. Do you know what resources are available to you or your friends and loved ones? Do you know what signs to look out for among those around you? Or are you yourself dealing with disordered eating and not even realizing it?

Roughly 1 in 10 college students experience an eating disorder or disordered eating during their time at college. A major factor for this is the environment that many colleges create on a day-to-day basis that many are not used to.

An excuse to skip a meal is suddenly incredibly easy to

come by now that individuals do not have to have sit down meals with their family.

Now students can use excuses like having too much homework, being too stressed or even wanting to be able to get drunk quicker.

Students are dealing with new social settings and friends, they are living independently for the first time in their lives, they are able to make their own decisions about the meals they eat and not have to answer to anyone.

For many, these major life changes can cause a multitude of stressors and anxiety as well as causes for new mental illnesses that many struggle to work through.

Because of these factors eating is the last thing on many people’s minds, or it becomes the only thing that they can think about.

A major struggle with awareness for eating disorders on college campuses is the definition of an eating disorder.

It only allows for a very narrow window of things to be considered an “eating disorder,” rather than disordered eating.

Things such as bulimia or binge eating are often not spoken about or not considered real issues when compared to things like anorexia.

This line of thinking is extremely harmful when you take into account the fact that everyone deserves help, and if people are only looking out for one kind of eating disorder in

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

their friends or if individuals do not even consider what they are doing an eating disorder, then they may never get the help they truly want and need. Many college campuses do not provide nearly enough awareness or help for those struggling.

A plethora of options are available to colleges if they choose to listen to those who need it most.

They can encourage campus counselors to get proper training in eating disorders, set up 24-hour crisis hotlines on campus where students can call to receive help whenever they need it and most importantly they can better educate their students on what to look out for in their friends.

If anyone is going to recognize what is going on and be able to get you in contact with someone who can help, it is going to be those closest to you, and on college campuses that is often the people you surround yourself with every day.

If you or someone you know are dealing with an eating disorder, you are not alone; resources are available to you. Reach out to the counseling center or the 24/7 eating disorder hotline: (866) 8846139.

We asked: What is your favorite part of the Superbowl?

Thea Johansson, freshman Sports Business Management major: “I watched the Super Bowl for the first time and my favorite part was the halftime show. I was shocked by how many commercials there were.”

Sydney Wegner, sophomore Pre-Med major: “My favorite part of the Super Bowl was the game when the Eagles were winning! I also enjoyed the halftime show and Rihanna revealing her baby bump.”

Jonathan Bendorf, senior Business and Sports Business Management major: “My favorite part was the game, especially when Jalen Hurts tied up the game with 5 minutes left when he ran it in for the 2 point conversion.”

Harden Gage, sophomore Sports Business Management major: “My favorite part was watching the game and the commercials, especially with all the celebrity appearances in both.”

Alec Benjamin is the next SpringFest artist!

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

The news has dropped, Alec Benjamin is the artist performing at this year’s SpringFest!

When I first heard his name, I had no idea who Benjamin was, but after further investigation I realized I actually do know some of his music.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this out because I did not know who Bryce Vine was last year, so I spent some time trying to listen to his more popular songs so I could recognize them while he performed.

No hate to Bryce Vine for that though, he was great last year and really knew how to entertain crowd.

If I am being honest, I was not on the edge of my seat waiting to find out who was going to be performing.

Of course, I want to be able to listen to the artist’s music so I know it when it is sang, but I like the vibes of SpringFest more. I do not mean this in a mean way, but I do not really care who performs as much as I think it is just fun to be there.

Last year was my first SpringFest because we did not have one my freshman year, so I did not know what to expect. I thought it was funny that they made us walk through Zurn to get to the parking lot of Warde, it was so sophisticated, which is what made me laugh.

It was very high energy, and it was cool to go to a concert where I did not have to drive or find parking, I could just show up and hang out.

To my surprise, Benjamin has quite a few popular songs. “Water Fountain,” was the one that jumped out at me right away, I have always liked that song.

I think it will be really cool to

hear in person, it might even be something I will brag about in the future. The song came out in 2018 but honestly, I thought it had been out for a lot longer.

Another one is “Let Me Down Slowly,” which is another one of his most popular songs. I have heard it many times on TikTok and in edits on Instagram, so was surprised when I found out he sings it.

One song I hope he sings is “If I Killed Someone for You,” because I like the beat of it and I think it is an underrated one by him.

I heard SpringFest is inside this year, which I think fits with the vibe of Alec Benjamin. A lot of his songs are slow and honestly kind of sad, so I am thinking it will be more of a chill vibe as opposed to the hype vibe last year.

I am kind of disappointed that it is inside because it was really fun outside, but I suppose it works out in case it is still kind of cold or the weather is bad.

Overall, I am excited to have someone I recognize at SpringFest and I am definitely looking forward to it this year.

I think Alec Benjamin was a great choice, and I hope he sounds just as good in person as he does on Spotify and Apple Music.

Mark your calendars and clear your schedules; Alec Benjamin will be performing here on April 28 in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center!

Compiled by Megan McKay

Women’s Basketball: Playing Tough

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Mercyhurst Women’s Basketball has had a packed schedule this past week with games both home and away.

On Monday, Feb. 5, Mercyhurst faced off against IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) but after a hard-fought battle at home, they fell 64-82.

The Lakers had a good push from the start as they were able to put up a 9-0 lead and after the first quarter were winning16-13. Before the half IUP started to change the tide as they had the lead by a small margin 27-28.

Both teams played well in the third quarter as Laker Julia Buchman, hit three three-pointers. One of which was off a nice pass by Lexi Wagner who had 10 points herself.

In the fourth quarter, IUP extended their lead but not without a solid effort by the Lakers.

Despite the loss the Lakers showed resilience throughout the game.

Sophomore Julia Buchman led the charge with 13 points followed by Bailey Kuhns (11), and Lexi Wagner (10).

Looking to bounce back, the Lakers traveled to Slippery Rock Wednesday Feb. 8, but fell by a score of 52-67.

The Lakers once again had a great push at the beginning of the game when another crucial three-pointer by Julia Buchman gave the Lakers the lead for a

short period before Slippery Rock took over. Jayde Boyd and Danielle Grim both had great two-way efforts to keep the Lakers in the game by half trailing 30-39.

Boyd and Grim kept the momentum going in the second half when the pair had crucial baskets to put the Lakers within three, 41-44.

Despite strong defense by the Lakers, Slippery Rock remained in the lead after the third quarter, 46-52.

The Lakers fought hard in the last quarter to cut the lead down but fell for a second night.

Forward Grace Centrulla led the charge with 17 points followed by Danielle Grim (11).

“Monday’s game was disappointing for us for sure, but playing at home in front of a pretty big crowd was an awesome atmosphere for us,” Centrulla said. “Against Slippery Rock, I just went into the game with an aggressive mindset and my teammates gave me great passes to score effectively. In order to win our upcoming games we have to play aggressively and confidently and leave it all on the floor with no regrets.”

Centrulla described the team’s goal for the end of the season saying, “We have to play strong and play for each other, especially for some of the graduating seniors, we owe it to them to give 100% effort these last few games left in the season. As a team, we have great team chemistry off

the court which I feel has translated into how we connect on the court.”

The Lakers now sit in the eighth spot of the PSAC standings and have a difficult road ahead to the postseason playoffs.

On a positive note, Mercyhurst closed out the week as the Lakers hosted California University of Pennsylvania Saturday earning a win.

The Lakers held the lead early in the first quarter and into halftime 27-21.

In the final minutes of the third quarter the Vulcans were able to take the lead but not

long before Bailey Kuhns tied it up 38-38.

The fourth quarter then ensued and with four minutes remaining the Lakers were winning by a small margin before they were able to close out the game with a tough defensive effort. The Lakers secured their twelfth win of the season by a score of 57-46, putting the team 12-11 on the season and 9-9 in conference play.

Mercyhurst has been struggling to get out of a losing slump as of recent, but with Saturday’s win they showed they are capable of piecing together wins.

The Lakers have put themselves in very close games but have struggled to close them out.

However, Mercyhurst has proven to dominate offensively while playing structured.

The remaining games in their season will prove very important in order to secure their post season playoff push.

The Lakers take the court again today, Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. against the University of Pittsburgh, followed by another home matchup Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. against Clarion.

Super Sunday brings thrilling win for the Chiefs

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Sunday, Feb. 12: a date most sports-lovers would know of as the day the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles competed head-to-head in the 57th annual Super Bowl.

The momentous day of festivities was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Before the day had even begun it was breaking records as the first Super Bowl in history to feature two Black starting quarterbacks.

The Chiefs were led by their head coach Andy Ried who is on his eleventh season with the team.

The Eagles were led by their head coach Nick Sirianni who is now on his third season with the team.

With a final score of 38-35, the Chiefs took home their second Super Bowl title in just four years.

Shortly after the national anthem was sung, the Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the second half, which allowed for the Eagles to have the first offensive

possession.

The first quarter ended in a deadlock with the Chiefs and the Eagles tied at a score of 7.

Both teams scored those first seven points during their opening drives, which set the tone for the rest of the game.

The fourth quarter of the game was a nail biter after the

Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts, tied the game at 35 with just 5:15 left on the clock after he scored both a touchdown and a two-point conversion. However, the Chiefs were able to secure a remarkable comeback in the last second of the game after Harrison Butker scored a game winning field goal with

just 8 seconds left on the clock.

This wild comeback came as a shock to many of their fans after Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback, appeared to sustain an injury to his right ankle late in the second quarter, which ended with them down by 10 points.

The injury occurred during a

third-down scramble when he was grabbed around both of his ankles by the Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards.

Mahomes was then seen limping off the field and sitting on the Chiefs bench. It appears that he had re-aggravated a prior injury that he had sustained.

Jalen Hurts, who was able to tie a Super Bowl Rushing Touchdown Record with Denver Broncos’ Terrell Davis during Super Bowl XXXII. Along with this, Hurts threw for 304 yards and threw one touchdown.

Chiefs player Kadarius Toney had a 65-yard punt return—the longest in Super Bowl history.

Then there were the brothers Travis and Jason Kelce who were on opposing teams and were both competing to claim their second championship title. It was an emotional ending for the Kelce family, a bittersweet moment capped off with a hug from their mother.

Finally, Patrick Mahomes who became the 13th quarterback to win multiple Super Bowls and was named as the league’s MVP.

Contributed photo

Hurst Athletics Photo

Mercyhurst Women’s Basketball having some fun before they take the court.

Two-time Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes proudly holds the Lombardi Trophy.

Kyrie Irving traded from Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

One of the most exciting aspects of the sports world is the trades that occur.

Whether teams trade amongst each other for draft picks or for superstar players, there is always a trade that is bound to happen that will either baffle, excite or anger fans.

Perhaps it will even do all three. In this case, the trade that is the talk of the town is point guard Kyrie Irving being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Irving, who had been with the Brooklyn Nets since 2019, is being traded alongside power forward Markieff Morris to the Mavericks in exchange for point/shooting guard Spencer Dinwiddie, small/power forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 second-round draft pick, a 2029 first-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round draft pick.

Ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline for the NBA, Irving had requested a trade from the Nets. “Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the Love on and

off the court,” Irving tweeted in the early morning on Feb. 6. “I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y’all. It will always be Love from me and my family.”

In 2019, Irving had signed with the Nets, his favorite team as a child, in the hopes of winning a title whilst playing alongside small/power forward Kevin Durant, who was recently traded to the Phoenix Suns.

However, Irving was met with an onslaught of road barriers, highlighted by him having to miss almost the entire home schedule last season over his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and an eight-game suspension earlier this season after the team said it was dismayed by his repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs” following his posting of a movie link on Twitter.

However, despite his setbacks, Irving could see a chance at going far in the NBA playoffs, if not maybe even winning a championship.

Also on the Mavericks is Luka Dončić, a point/shooting guard

who is a superstar himself. Although he has yet to win a championship, Dončić has a long career ahead of him and is destined for success, and Irving could very well serve as a support during the time he’s with the team.

The NBA season will conclude

on Apr. 9, with Irving becoming a free agent afterwards.

This will certainly be an exciting second half to the NBA season.

Be sure to keep an eye out on any news about Irving’s new career with the Mavericks as it is

Grit on Ice: Women’s Hockey Dominates

By Christina Judy Staff writer

The Women’s Ice Hockey team took on Syracuse University this past weekend and snatched a couple of wins on the road to improve their season record to 17-13-2. In a 4-2 victory over the Orange on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Lakers received their third win against Syracuse this season. Mercyhurst came out of the locker room and onto the smooth ice dictating the energy and momentum. In the opening minutes of the first period, freshman Megan McKay shot the puck and put it in the back of the net to give the Lakers the lead. Junior Jersey Phillips and freshman Riley Johnson worked together to assist McKay in that goal. Just moments later with 3:18 remaining in the first period, Liliane Perreault scored her second goal of the weekend to increase the lead to 2-0.

Later in the game, Sara Boucher a lefty forward for the Lakers, notched a goal at 15:20 with an assist from Perreault, giving Perreault her second point of the game. Syracuse gathered themselves between periods and mustered up enough strength to compete with Mercyhurst in the second period. The Orangemen had a powerplay at 15:28 in which they scored their first goal of the game. They were able

to carry that momentum into the third period as they found the back of the net again to increase their score to two points at 18:40. With their team only leading by one the Lakers geared up and showed up later in the last period. Perreault put herself on the stat sheet again with another goal at 19:08 on an empty netter. Her goal was assisted by Alexandria Weiss and Chantal Ste-Croix. The Lakers goalkeeper, Ena Nystrom kept her team at bay with a 0.938 save percentage and stopping 30 shots to close out the game.

With a weekend full of wins,

the Lakers look excitedly to their last matchup of the regular season against the Lindenwood Lions. The games will be played in Erie on Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 2:00 p.m.

After these games, Mercyhurst has a solid playoff slot as they currently hold second place in the Collegiate Hockey Association (CHA) with their 20 points and 9-3-2 conference record. The Lakers set themselves up nicely during their regular season with their efforts giving them a home rink advantage for the playoff semi-finals. These games are scheduled for Feb.

24 and 25, 2023 with Feb. 26 reserved should a third game be needed. Hopefully the Lakers will absolutely dominate their competition, and put it away after

The final game of the season, the 2023 CHA Championship game is a single game that will be held on either March 3rd or 4th.

sure to be an interesting one. As the season comes to an end, it will be interesting to see if Kyrie stays with the team or continues his journey around the NBA.

Hurst Athletics photo

Lakers Women’s Hockey Team this 2022-23 Season.

2 of the best: Kyrie and Luka showing great chemistry as teammates in Dallas.

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SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230213

FOR RELEASE FEB. 13, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of Feb. 20, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The changes you’ve waited to see in your work situation might not be happening quite as quickly as you hoped. Although the pace is slow, it’s ongoing. Expect to hear news soon.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

You should be feeling very proud of the fine effort you’ve made to get that important project done. Now take some time out to celebrate with family and friends. You’ve earned it.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)

You’re close to reaching your objectives. That’s the good news. But be careful: Your aspects show lots of potential distractions looming. Stay focused and keep your eyes fixed on your goals.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be careful not to let that suspicious Cancerian mind create a problem where none exists. What you might believe is an act of betrayal could be nothing more than a misunderstanding.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your Lion’s heart overflows with selfconfidence. All you need to do is tap into it, and you’ll be able to handle any change that must be made regarding that recent surprise development.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The need to watch what you say becomes increasingly crucial this week. Be as temperate as you can with your comments and avoid arguments for the sake of controversy.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A longtime family problem presents new demands. But this time, you won’t have to go it alone: Someone else is asking to help share your responsibilities. Let it happen.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A period of feeling vulnerable is about to give way to a stronger, more-self-confident aspect. Use this new strength to reaffirm promises you’ve made to others and yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A creative dilemma stalls your progress. Instead of letting it raise your ire, use the time to reexamine your aims and perhaps come up with a new target.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your nimble will might find a way for you to work out those newly emerged problems plaguing your new project. Stay with it. The results will be well worth your efforts.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You might feel overwhelmed with having to decide which new opportunity you should follow. Best advice: Check them all out and see which offers what you really want.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Continue to tread water before you even consider plunging into something that never seemed quite right. Some facts will emerge soon that can help you make a decision.

BORN THIS WEEK: You are a natural-born peacemaker. You value truth and have little patience with those who lie to you for their own purposes.

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