mercyhurst magazine - winter 1995-96

8/6/2019 Mercyhurst Magazine - Winter 1995-96

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See Journeys of the Heart, paae 12


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W hat's In A Name?When Mercyhurst became a

coeducational institution in1969, there was a measure ofpressure from some factions atthe college to change theschool's name. Mercyhurst, theyreasoned, was too widely identified as a 'girls' school andmany worried that men

x would never opt toattend a collegewith that identification.Twenty-six years later,everyone on campus isbreathing a sigh ofrelief that the collegename remained as thefounding Sisters

intended. For it isbecause of its namethat Mercyhurst willsoon be coming toa theater near you, as afeatured location in the currentfilming of Tom Hanks * ne wmovie, "That Thing You Do!"According to the film's publicist, Marsha Robertson, theselection of Mercyhurst as thesite for some o f the movie'searly scenes is due almostentirely to its name. "(TomHanks) was given a list of thecolleges in Erie and it was hewho chose Mercyhurst, " sheexplains. Hanks is not only thefilm's star, but also its writeran d director, and so the decisionwas ultimately his.College officials were firstinformed of Hanks' interestwhen representatives ofTwentieth Century Fox contacted Dr. Joseph Gower, vice president of academic affairs,requesting formal permission toidentify Mercyhurst by nameand to use the college'sinsignias in the film.The film is being shot almostentirely in California, w ith a

Mercyhurst facsimile havingbeen re-created 3,000 milesfrom Erie. Scenes taking placeat the college w ere shot in mid-December.The movie is about a smalltown musical group, TheWonders, who, in the summer of1964, cut a demo of the songuThat Thing You Do!," whichhits the charts and changeslives.

The adventure begins in thegroup's hometown of Erie,where their first success is at acollege music competition.That's where Mercyhurst comesin. From there the film followsthe band members as they learnto cope with the demands of lifeon the road, performing on thestate fair circuit before finallyarriving in Hollywood andappearing on television.Unprepared for sudden fame,The W onders' popularity isshort-lived. Their hit singleslides down the charts as rapidly as it once rose to the top.

Now that we know whyMercyhurst was selected, thelarger question is, why Erie?The answer to that is almost assimple. "Tom thinks Erie isindicative of a certain middleAmerican, industrial town; ithas the feel of the time,"Robertson explains. "And heremembered driving throughonce on his wayfrom Cleveland tosomewhere."

He may haveonly passedthrough, butsomething heremade Hollywood'sbiggest star want to put Erie-an d Mercyhurston the cinematic map.


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M e r c y h u r s tI hA S\


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O N T H E C U T T I N G EDGEIntelligence Analyst Program

B Y D O N M C Q U A I D

In the fall of 1992, the crisp red andgold leaves weren't the only things thatwere rustling across the M ercyhurst campus. There was a brand new program at thecollege, the Research/Intelligence AnalystProgram (R/IAP)the only one of its kindin the world. And the rumors as to w hat itwas, who was in it and who was behind it,were flying thick and fast."I heard it's some kind of school forspies," was the comment most frequentlyoverheard at the Laker Inn and other spotswhere students congregate."Yeah, I heard the CIA's behind it," wasa typical response. "I read somewhere thatthe guy who's running it was one of theFBI's top agents in counter-terrorism.Wonder if he still carries a gun to work."Despite a concerted effort by R/IAPdirector Robert Heibel and the college'spublic relations department, the JamesBond image of the program persisted formost of that first academic year, helpedalong no doubt by the med ia's referencesto that pop culture icon.

"Inaccurate as it was, we more or lessanticipated that kind of initial reaction tothe program," said Heibel, a retired FBIagent who served as the Bureau's deputychief of counter-terrorism.

"The first thing most people think ofwhen they hear the word 'intelligence' isthe cloak and dagger aspect of it," Heibeladded, "while in reality only about 20 percent of all intelligence is gathered throughclandestine means."This is not to say, however, that thework of the intelligence analyst is lackingin excitement. To the contrary, it is on thecutting edge of both the intelligence fielditself and the whole realm of informationtechnology, which is revolutionizing every

facet of our society."For the record, then, an intelligenceanalyst is not an agent, not a spy. He or sheis a highly trained professional whose job,whether related to national security, criminal investigative activities, or the corporatesector, is the preparation of assessmentsbased on the collection, correlation andanalysis of information from diversesources.Eighty percent of the raw data withwhich analysts work is gathered from"open" or non-classified sources, such as

newspapers, periodicals, professional jour-[ R ( ! I H i I m U (1 Z I II E


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nals and, increasingly, information availableon the Internet.Last year, R/IAP entered an agreementwith IBM Federal to develop a national

T h e l a m e s B o n d i m a s > e o f t h ep r o g r a m p e r s i s t e d f o r m o s t o f

t h a t f i r s t a c a d e m i c t j e a r ,h e l p e d a l o n ? n o d o u b t b y t h e

m e d i a ' s r e f e r e n c e s t o t h a tp o p c u l t u r e i c o n .

intelligence laboratory and testbed atMercyhurst, where the tools of the intelligence process can be developed, evaluatedand demonstrated. As its part of thearrangement, IBM provided the operatingplatform and operating system for the testbed."One of the primary goals of this relationship is to develop an environmentwhere an analyst can sit at a computer workstation that is capable of addressing eachphase of the process /' Heibel said. "Ourgoal is to mirror the highest levels of capability within both government and the pri

vate sector. Students in our program will betrained in a real world environment, whichwill give them a tremendous advantagewhen they enter the job market."Another feature of the Mercyhurst program that will help to ensure employmentfor its graduates is an internship with a suitable organization which all seniors mustsuccessfully complete."Since the program's inception, w e'vebeen in contact with major organizationsthat employ analystsnot just in the area

of national security, but also in law enforcement and the corporate sphere," Heibelsaid. "We're confident that we'll be able toprovide good, valuable internships for allour students who qualify."Last year, the first undergraduate internship in intelligence analysis ever offered bythe United States Secret Service was filledby Steven J. Brenden '95. In addition to theongoing Secret Service internships, newinternships were developed with the Officeof Naval Intelligence, National DrugIntelligence, the Library of Congress, thePittsburgh Police Department IntelligenceUnit and with a violent crime task force.

Heibel said the goal of the program is toproduce a graduate who is qualified forentry level employment and has the following skills: The ability to read one foreign language (Mercyhurst is now offeringMandarin Chinese, for example). A broad understanding of U . S . andworld history, government, politicalphilosophies and the roots of religiousconflict. A proven ability to produce written andoral reports and assessments, based on

research, correlation and analysis. A familiarity with the computer asa tool in the intelligence process. A general understanding of statisticalmethodology and macro-economics. A successful completion of aninternship.To date, four students havegraduated from the R/IAPprogram. Steve Brenden'95 is slated to becomean analyst with theBureau of Alcohol,Tobacco and Firearms inEl Paso, Texas. Todd D.Palmer '9 4 is an analyst withthe Kroll & Associates inVienna, Va.,while two othersof the first graduates joined the U.S. Army as 2ndLieutenantsJohn W. Cegielski,Jr. '95 is with the Army MilitaryIntelligence at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona andJames Van Slyke, '95 is an infantry officer

who will be joining the Adjutant Generalcorp.Currently 40 Mercyhurst students areenrolled in the R/IAP program. These students range in age from 18 to 47 years,have average SAT scores of 1100 plus andcarry an average grade point average of 3.3.Despite the vital role of intelligence analysts and an increasing demand for theirskills, until the launching of the Mercyhurstprogram, there was no program outside ofgovernment designed to prepare studentsfor entry into this fascinating career field.And while it is not a "school for spies,"Mercyhurst's Research Intelligence AnalystProgram is, in fact, the only undergraduateprogram in the world that combines a solidliberal arts education with the highly specialized training required of intelligence

a n a l y s t s .

Do n McQuaid is awriter for the externalaffairs office and iseditor of the weekly-college publication"Monday Morning"

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Deep in theheart of winecountry,where autumn harvests meet lakeshorewinds, an innovativeidea rides the crest ofa brisk breeze.Buoyed by community support and embraced by the educational community, theCulinary and Wine Institute of Mercyhurst College has become areality.

Tucked behind the majestic granite walls of the college's NorthEast campus, where the seminarians once studied for the priesthoodand German nuns prepared their meals, 15 students enrolled in theinaugural year's culinary program hope to become the best trainedcooks in town.At the helm of this historic venture is chef Steve Fernald, a 25-year veteran of the food service industry. Having spent the last 14years in St. Augustine, Fla. working for the American CulinaryFederation, the largest professional organization for chefs in thecountry, Fernald was looking for a new challenge as well as a newjob earlier this year and found the local opportunity too good topass up.

As director of the newly formed Culinary and Wine Institute (adivision of Mercyhurst's Hotel, Restaurant and InstitutionalManagement Department), Fernald is building the foundation ofwhat he hopes will be "an innovative program in a burgeoningfield." And he's working at it from the ground floor up.With three state-of-the-art kitchens installed in Karsh Hall, thewing of the former St. Mary's Seminary that housed the

German sisters' convent and chapel, Fernald is busilytransforming century-old rooms into a high-tech culinaryschool.Having initially obtained a degree in studio art fromthe University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., Fernalddecided in the '70s "that the jobs just weren't there. Andthat's when I realized that every job I ever had andenjoyed, was in a kitchen."

The Best TrainedCooks in TownB Y R H O N D A M A H O N E Y S C H E M B E R

So, after getting abachelor's degree, thePittsburgh native started over and enrolledin the apprenticeshipprogram at AlleghenyCounty CommunityCollege for an associate's degree and eventually became a certified chef de cuisine."After spending seven years with the American CulinaryFederationfirst as director of the National ApprenticeshipProgram and then as director of education and accreditationI

Steve Fernald, directorof the newly formedCulinary and WineInstitute

Rhonda Mahoney Schemberreceived her bachelor'sdegree in home ec onomicsfrom Mercyhurst in 1971.Originally from North East,she is one of six childrenfrom the Mahoney familywho graduated fromMercyhurst. She is a freelance foods columnist for theErie Dailx Times.

saw this job as an opportunity to be more directly involved withthe educational process," the 43-year-old father of two explained.Although his audience no longer numbers in the thousandsfrom all corners of the country, he is able to work with studentsindividually in an instructional kitchen for the first time.

"The food service industry is looking for people who are bettertrained. If a chef doesn't know what he's doing or how to managea kitchen, a business can lose a lot of money," Fernald acknowledged.So, dressed in chef's coats, black checkered pants and purewhite toques blanches (cook's hats), these students will learn howto be good cooks."And when they're done (with this program) it will be a natural

link to the four-year Hotel, Restaurant, and InstitutionalManagement Program currently offered at the main campus," headded.

Course work will focus on such culinary foundations as theprinciples of cooking vegetables, starches, potatoes,and eggs. Then it will move to soups, stocks, meats,sauces, baking and butchering while stressing nutrition and sanitation throughout.Referring to the adage that the best way to judgethe quality of a restaurant's food is by sampling thesoup, Fernald said "A good soup is usually an indicator that there is a good cook in the kitchen."

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Mary D ' A n g e l o

B Y D O N M C Q U A I D

With every brick of the newMary D'Angelo PerformingArts Center that was laid during the fall and early winter, expectations for the grand opening of this dazzling addition to the Mercyhurst cam puscontinued to rise.Not since the building of the CarolynHerrmann Student Union in 1990 hasthe construction of a building on thecampus generated such excitementamong the college community.The performing arts have a long tradition at the college, going back to wellbefore the building of the D'AngeloSchool of Music in 1988, Zurn RecitalHall in 1968 and even the Little Theatrein 1953.But it became apparent in recentyears that existing facilitiessimply could not keep pacewith the accelerated growthof the college. 'Th e largestperformance facility on thecampus was Zurn Hall, with aseating capacity of 250, and itwas built when M ercyhurstwas an all-women's schoolwith an enrollment of 600,"said Mercyhurst President Dr.William P. Garvey.

"There was no questionthat if we were to continueour long-standing commitment to the performing arts,we had to have a facility that could handle a considerably larger audience andin which we could mount first-rate productions," Garvey added.

According to Sam Rotman, assistantprofessor of music and director of themusic department, the idea of a multiple-purpose-centerone that could handle the specific needs of all types ofmusical performances, as well as opera,musical theatre and dancehas been inthe works for the past seven or eightyears."The original idea was to build a newconcert hall with a music departmentwing," Rotman said. "But mainly

because of budget problems it wasdecided to forego the concert hall forthe time beins and build an entire musicschool, not just a new w ing."Rotman said that after the completionof the music school different ideas wereexamined, including a freestanding concert hall not connected to Zurn Hall andone adjacent to Zurn going out towardBaldwin Hall. Finally, the decision wasmade to re-do and greatly expand theZurn Recital Hall.The new center will seat 875. Thisincludes six boxes with four seats each,

a balcony with over 200 seats, a backsection on the first floor of 226 and afront section of 391. "There won't be abad seat in the house," Rotman saidenthusiastically, "and the combinationof the height of the hall and other features, like the 24-feet high prosceniumand the relatively high placement of thebalcony, create a sense of grandeur normally associated with larger halls."

Befitting the inauguration of such animposing facility, Rotman has lined upa truly star-studded first season for theMary D'Angelo Center. In the spotlightat the dedication concert on March 2will be internationally acclaimed pianistAndre W atts. The next weekend onMarch 10, pianist Andre Shibko, winnerof the 1995 D'An gelo Y oung ArtistCompetition, will be featured with theD'Angelo Symphony Orchestra.Shibko, who studies at the MoscowConservatory in Russia, will make asecond appearance in a recital on March17. Following later in the month will bethe D'Angelo Opera Theatre's production of Madama Butterfly featuringLouisa Jonason as Butterfly; and therenowned Juilliard String Quartet.

In April, to commem orate the 20thannual D'Angelo Young ArtistCompetition, the vibrant new hall willring with the sounds of eight formerfirst place winners and the 1996D'Angelo competition in voice. TheGreat Performers Series resumes onApril 28th with renowned sopranoKathleen Battle and concludes on M ay5th with one of the world's great cellists, Janos Starker."One of our primary goals in puttingtogether this first season was to showcase the center itself," Rotman said. Wenow have a facility that is a suitable setting for the greatest artists and thegrandest works in each of the performing arts disciplines."

The Mary D'Angelo Center hasmany years and untold performancesahead of it, but for sheer excitement andthe sense of being part of a grand newventure, none will rival its stellar inaugural season.

As Mercyhurst nears its 70th year ofexistence, the Mary D'Angelo Centerfor the Performing Arts stands as a boldctestimony to a potential that has beenrealized, a promise kept. All performance sites are subject to changepending completion of the building. Ticketinformation on the inaugural season at theMary D'Angelo Performing Arts Centermay be obtained by calling (814) 824-2364. See page 20 for the 1996 schedule.

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oyvtiyzvuiyv^ ir&cuywB Y M A R Y D A L Y

In Walt Disney's wonderful classic Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket ends thetimeless musical fantasy singing, "When your heart is in your dream, norequest is too extreme." When Mercyhurst College embarked on its ambitious $6.2 million Continuing the Dream Campaign in "blitzkrieg" fashion 14 monthsago, there were some who thought we were singing the Jiminy Cricket lyric withcockeyed optimism.Dreams do come true, but it takes more than "wishing upon a star." It takes hard

work and tenacity and the Continuing the Dream Campaign is proof of the pudding.At the end of December, the college had surpassed its initial campaign goal with totalsreaching over $8.5 million."This is a very gratifying moment," said Dr. William P. Garvey, as he told the college community at the President's Annual Christmas Party that the campaign hadreached $8,513,247the largest amount ever raised in Erie in such a short period oftime. "It is even more heartwarming to tell you that one-half of that total was given bythe trustees of Mercyhurst College. There are still gifts coming in as the year ends,and we expect to be able to announce the conclusion of the campaign sometime in theearly months of 1996," Garvey said.

The college launched its campaign in October 1994 to build a new Performing ArtsCenter, endow a School of Business, expand its Hammermill Library and human ecology facilities, and to provide scholarship endowment and resources for improved science equipment. Midway into the campaign, two other donor categories were addedfor a new culinary school at the Mercyhurst-North East branch campus and for muchneed improvements to Christ the King Chapel."In almost every category we've met our goal and in one category,

scholarship/endowment, we surpassed our totals in stunning numbers," Garveyexplained."This is one of our finest momen ts and a great accomplishment that we should allbe proud of because each of us has played a part in its success," he added. "To ourTrustees, our President's Associates, our Alumni, Parents, the immediate CollegeFamily, and to our close friends in the community who so magnanimously supportedthis drive, we extend our heartfelt tha nks."

Like Disney's Pinocchio, which carved an honored place for itself in motion picturehistory, the Continuing the Dream C ampaign has etched an honored place for itself inMerc yhurst history as the colle ge's most successful fund raising effort.

THANKS A MILLION

"Amounts Raised ToCategoryConcert HallLibraryScholarship/EndowmentCulinary SchoolBusiness ChairScience ImprovementsHuman Ecology ExpansionChapel ImprovementGoal vs Amount Raised To date

Da te b y Ca te g o r ie s 1Goal

$3,000,000$1,750,000

$250,000$450,000$500,000$150,000

$50,000$50,000

$6,200,000

Raised$3,104,389$1,750,000$2,486,386

$450,000$505,943$124,549$41,980$50,000

$8,513,247Mary Daly is vicepresident of externalaffairs at Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst received its fourth$1 million gift in 14 months, thanks tothe generosity of one of our youngalums7parents. Herbert andCatherine Hafenmaier, whose daughter Leslie earned degrees fromMercyhurst in 1987 and 1994, set upa $1 million irrevocable CharitableRemainder Trust naming MercyhurstCollege the beneficiary after the lifeof the couple. The Hafenmaier giftwill then be used to endow the college's education department, whichhas 200 majors and was one of theoriginal majors at the college.

Dr. William P. Garvey, president o fthe college, stated that for manyyears, Mercyhurst's reputation wasbased primarily on the exceptionalteachers it produced . "Teach ing isone of the missions of the Sisters ofMercy, and this gift will ensure thattheir mission at Mercyhurst will beenhanced for the 21st century," hesaid.

"Our education department was anatural giving opportu nity for them,"Garvey explained, as their daughterLeslie received her master's in specialeducation at the college. Leslie ismarried to atty. David Armstrong '86,director of the annual fund and alumni relations.

The Hafenmaiers lived in the Eriearea for 17 years but moved to Texasin 1992 , where they reside just outside of Houston.

"Amounts as of December 15, 1995E K f i i n i II Z I II E


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B Y M I C H A E L F E D E R I C I , P H . D .

Education inChristopher Lasch has published abook entitled, The Revolt of the Elitesand the Betrayal of Democracy. It is afascinating commentary on the state ofAmerican culture. Our culturethecommon attitudes, traditions, and customs that make us what we areis thefoundation for our system of government. It is inconceivable to think thatthe American political system couldhave been created apart from the cul

ture of 18th century America or fromthe culture of Western Civilizationmore generally.The current state of our culture, asLasch points out, seems unable to support our political institutions.Crime, drugs, corruption, teenage suicide, illegitimacy, and a hostof other problems call into question the viability of Americandemocracy.These are not the symptoms of a disordered culture, they ar e thedisordered culture. The crisis of American culture and, more broadly, of Western culture, are widely acknowledged. Concern is foundin a variety of political, ideological, religious, and social circles.We are beyond the point of denial. Our culture and politics are inneed of serious reform. On this point a consensus has been reached.Our political system has only a faint resemblance to the one created by the American Framers. It is not possible to restore the political system to its original state, as our culture is incapable of supporting such a system.What is the cure for these cultural and political maladies? Onthis question there is no consensus. One thing, however, is quiteapparent. If America is to recover from its "malaise," to useLasch's word, education will have to play a prominent role. It must,in fact, rebuild the American cultural foundation.Education in democracy is important for a number of reasons,but rarely do we hear anyone mention one of its primary purposes:to create a ruling elite. Instead, we shy from discussions aboutelites and are even cautious about using such language. "Elite" car

ries a negative connotation for most Americans because we are,after all. "democratic" and we value its promise of "equ ality." Weconsider it a sacrilege that in a democracy social classes wouldexist.The American Framers were well aware that education was necessary to provide a ruling class. By "ruling class" I don't just meangovernment officials, but also, the leaders in art, music, science, education, sports, literature, religion, business, and inevery other aspect of life.The Framers called this class the natural aristocracy. Thedifference between the American elite, or a democraticelite, and previous class systems was that our ruling classwould not be limited by birth, wealth, or any other factor.

Di: MichaelFederici is anassistant professorof political scienc eat Mercyhurst.

Merit would be the only qualification. This idea was the culmination of a political, social, economic, and philosophical evolutionthat had been taking place for centuries in Western Civilization.This elite class is important because it provides leadership. Itprovides examples of human character that will be imitated bythousands and even millions of people. Reality and experienceteach us that all societies have and need elites. Our culture and politics are in the state they are in because we lack leadersh ip. Welack good elites.Cynicism regarding our leaders is common. It is also common toconclude that elites are inherently corrupt and that they should bereplaced by empowering the people, i.e., more democracy. It isthought that the people are the salvation of the nation. Populism,for example, has become a major ideological force in Americanpolitics. Its goal is to tear down elites and let the people literallygovern themselves.I strongly dissent from this view. I believe that what is needed isnot to replace the old elite with the masses but to replace the oldelite with a new elite. The question, therefore, becomes not whetherwe will have elites, but rather what kind of elites we will have.As teachers and educators, the test before us is to challengetoday's Mercyhurst students to become leaders of the next generation, to develop them as America's new elite. The responsibility to

others begins with an obligation to self. The prerequisite for serving others is to put our own house in order so that we m ay becomean example worth emulating. This is the essence of leadership.We must continue our mission of providing Mercyhurst studentswith the opportunity to achieve academic excellence. This includesinstruction in the lasting values of the liberal arts. We must givethem both the tools and the talent needed to lead. And wemust be sure that their talent is tempered by character.By doing so they will be a source of pride to our college, to their communities and to their country. To do anything less, would be to fall short of doing our part torebuild America's cultural foundation. JL

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and Contemporary"... o n e d o n o t h a v e t o b e a

r e c o g n i z e t h e p e r v a s i v e p u n i t i v e a t t i t u d et o w a r d t h e a n a w i m t h a t h a s b e c o m e

n the prologue to his mostrecent book, Jesus: ARevolutionary Biography,the preeminent biblicalscholar, John Dominic Crossan, reproducesan imaginary dialogue he had with the historical Jesus which previously appeared inthe Christmas 1991 issue of the ChristianCentury. The dialogue is pertinent to what Ihave to say about Mercy values and contemporary culture. The dialogue beginswith Jesus remarking:

I've read your book, Dominic y an dit's quite good. So now you're readyto live by my vision and join me inmy program?I don't think I have the courage,

Jesus, but I did describe it quite well,didn 't /, and the method was especially good, wasn't it?Thank you Dominic, for not falsifyingthe message to suit your own incapacity. That at least is something.Is it enough, Jesus?N o , Dominic, it is not.

While Crossan may not have 'falsifiedthe message of Jesus to suit his own incapacity,' I am wondering if the same could

be said of us with regard to theMercy charisma and the institutions of higher education whichwe claim uphold it. Thus, letme rephrase the question:Have we falsified the message of Catherine McAuley,founder of the Sisters of Mercy,and Frances Warde, Americanfounder of the Sisters of Mercy,to suit our own incapacity giventhe cultural milieu in which weare living?To respond to this question,first, I will present three characteristics of contemporary culture which Ithink may be contributing to our incapacityto be true to their message. Second, I willoffer three countercultural values that mes

sage gave birth tovalues which I believeshould permeate Mercy institutions of higher learning.Initially, I submit that contemporary USculture worships, among others, the following values:1) A contempt for the spiritual dimen sion of human being.2) A preoccupation with security, and,3) A punitive attitudetoward the anawim.One of the cultural corruptions resulting from the failure

of the Enlightenment Projecthas been the d eification of reason and, therefore, a sweepingrejection of all things connected with religion and the Spirit.Faith in science and technology thus replaced faith in God.The spiritual dimension ofhuman being, in ensuing dual-istic thinking, was relegatedto the world of women andclerics. Authe ntic religion and spiritualityare just beginning to recover from the his

torical aberrations that led to such d enigration and distortion of this aspect of ourselves, but its cryptic presence, particularlyin academia, endures.Contempt for the spiritual dimension ofhuman being has also spawned a secondvalue of our contemporary culture, namely,a self-absorbing preoccupation with security. We are an insecure people who havecome to idolize a "predatory individualism." We spend our lives building barriersinstead of bridgespolitical, social, psychological, emotional, and religiousbarriers that succeed in preserving our power,our prestige, our property, and our prejudices.

We are afraid of differences and afraidof transformative change. Our collegesoften reflect this by discouraging genuinedialogue, diversity, collegiality, and institutional honesty, in myriad ways. This is quitecontrary to the expansive risk-taking andcourage exercised by Catherine McAuleyand Frances Warde who unashamedly centered their personal and institutional security in God.

Finally, one does not have to be a devotee of Rush Limbaugh to recognize the pervasive punitive attitudetoward the anawim that hasbecome culturally fashionabletoday. Eight years ago, in theirpastoral letter on the economy, the bishops warned us notto succumb to this. It is blatantly anti-evangelical andblatantly anti-Mercy!

Biblically, the anawimrefer to widows, the orphans,the strangersthose withoutvoice and without powerMother Frances Warde who live precariously at theedge of the community. And itis these voiceless and powerless "non-persons" who have always been at the center

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B Y M A R Y H E M B R O W S N Y D E R , P H . D

of the Mercy charisma.Undoubtedly, these contemporary cultural values stand in direct contradiction tothe message of Catherine McAuley andFrances Warde. Succinctly, that messagew a s : union with God and service to God'spoor. sick, and ignorant.Three contrasting values their messagegave birth to include:1) A contemplative vision of reality.2) A commitment to life long conversion, and,3) A radical compassion for theanawim.Catherine McAuley and Frances Wardewere deeply contemplative women. By thatI simply mean that their lives were centeredin God. And, like Jesus, their intimate relationships with the Holy One enabled themto grasp deeply what the reign of God wasall about. The heart of their legacy to us,then, is the recognition that the deeper ourunion with God, the deeper our consciousness of what the reign of God demands ofu s . Without this union we are vulnerable tobetraying their vision.

Being brilliant administrators and creative educators is not enough; good worksalone will not sustain their vision. Aswomen and men of Mercy we are responsi-

plex phenomenon. It is apermanent process of bothturning away and turningtowardturning away fromall that intellectually, morally, and spiritually keeps onemired in abusive relationships characterized by domination, intimidation, fear,or dishonestyand turning toward theunlimited grace of God ever calling us torelationships characterized by mutuality,respect, courage, and truthfulness.Their personal and professional commitments reflected such ongoing conversion.Both constantly turned away from fear andrefused to be either dishonest or intimidating in their exercise of authority. Theytreated all people, whether beggar or bisho p , with profound respect and dignity.When their vision of what could be wasmisunderstood, or perhaps incomplete, theywere open to dialogue, challenge, and adaptation.Finally, a radical compassion permeatedtheir ministries to the anawim. Sr. CarmelBourke testifies to this when she refers toCatherine as, "a woman of great compassion of heart, whose compassion deepenedas her work among the poor grew..."

Mother Catherine McAuley

H a v e w e t a r r e d o u r h e r i t a g e o f c o m p a s s i o n i n t h e n a m e o fe x p e d i e n c y a n d c o n f o r m i t y t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l w i s d o m o f t h e d a i j ?ble for more. And that more is the counter-cultural practice of the presence of God inall we undertake. Unapologetically,unequivocally, unashamedly.The second countercultural valuebequeathed to us by Catherine McAuleyand Frances Warde was a commitment tolife long conversionthe opposite of theself-serving security our society cultivatesso extensively. Conversion is a very com-

And of Frances Wardens compassion Sr.Kathleen Healy writes: "No woman founded personally more convents and institutions for the service of the poor, the sick,the illiterate, and all those in need...Perhapsno woman ministered more to sufferinghumanity in America."Consequently I ask: does such compassion mark our Mercy institutions of higherlearning in every respect? With regard to

the kinds of students werecruit, the quality of thesupport services we offerthem, and the values weemphasize through our corecurricula? To the way wenegotiate complex issuesbetween faculty and administration? To our policiestoward the less professionally trained wholabor in our institutions? Or, influenced bya culture that is increasingly corporate andclassist, have we betrayed our heritage ofcompassion in the name of expediency andconformity to the conventional wisdom ofthe day?Thus, as women and men committed toand responsible for the message of Mercy

handed down to us, we must ask ourselvesif our incapacity to be faithful to the spiritual legacy of Catherine McAuley andFrances Warde has led us to falsify theirmessage? The cultural temptations to do soabound. I have only cited three.What are we soine to do about this?Clearly, we must help one another beaccountable. Otherwise we may betray theirvision and dishonor their message becausewe have too uncritically accommodatedourselves and our Mercy institutions ofhigher learning, to the unspiritual, self-serving, hard-hearted values of our age.If we do this we will have forfeited ouropportunity to make a unique historical andspiritual contribution to our cultural context. May we have the courage to embracetheir breadth of vision and to cultivate theirbreadth of soul!Carpe Diem! 9 Dr. Mary Hembrow

Snyder is the directorof the department ofphilosophy andreligious studies atMercxhurst.

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EuthanasiaB Y T H O M A S D O N A H U E , P H . D .

TaDoctorAssistedSuicide

I do not know anyone who is satisfiedwith the level of our current public discourse. Numerous complaints have beenraised about the lack of civility and goodsense which seem to characterize our effortsas a society to reason together. Actually,therein lies the problemwe aren't reasoning together in the sense of reasoning withone another. On the contrary, we are reasoning (or at least talking) at one another andpast one another, thereby generating a lot ofheat but very little lightand even lessconsensus.

Extreme advocacy untempered by basicstandards of rational thought has led to incivility and is now beginning to lead to violence. The only viable solution, short of virtually universal agreement on fundamentalbeliefs and values (which is not likely to beforthcoming in our diverse and pluralisticsociety), is a reassertion of the importanceof genuinely rational thought and reasoneddebate.This is not just a matter of theoreticalconcern. It is also of great practical importance. If we were to have a reasoned debatein which the reasons on both sides were putforward and then fairly considered even bypeople on the other side of an issue, itwould then be possible to view one's opponents as reasonable people sincerely arriving at and advocating their positions on thebasis of reasons which have at least someplausibility.Surely, we can do better than to engagein a style of public discourse which needlessly fans the flames of conflict and hatred,

undermines cooperation on vitally important issues and renders us unable to proveanything on any issue. The importance ofthe major issues of our day demands thatwe move beyond such one-sided anddestructive rhetoric.One of the issues which dominates theheadlines and inflames partisan passions isthe topic of euthanasia/doctor-assisted suicide. Unfortunately, the gravity of this life

or death issue is often betrayed by a lessthan dignified public debate.Our society has arrived at a consensus onthe issue of passive euthanasia, i.e., on themoral legitimacy of withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining care when suchintervention is merely a pointless prolonging of the dying process. After all, a mentally competent adult has a legally protectedright to refuse medical care even when thiswill inevitably hasten death.Many states, including Pennsylvania,allow individuals to set into motion thedecision not to employ life-saving medicaltreatment should they become irreversiblyill and incompetent via advance directives(a living will or a durable power of attorneyfor health care).An intense and bitter controversy, however, still rages when we talk about activevoluntary euthanasia (the active killing of apatient by another person at the competentrequest of the patient) or doctor-assistedsuicide, (the self-killing of a patient withthe competently requested assistance of aphysician who makes available lethalinstruments of death to the patient). Active

voluntary euthanasia is illegal in all 50states and doctor-assisted suicide is legallyprohibited in most of the states of our country.When there is a controversy or a clash ofcontending opinions, you can show yourview to be the rationally superior one only by thoroughlyand fairmindedly laying outthe reasons on both sides andthen revealing why the reasonson your side outweigh those onthe other side. Obviously, thiscan't be accomplished if younever fairly consider youropponents' reasons.

People who oppose activekilling of the terminally illinsist that we "can't playGod"that human life issacred and, therefore, shouldnever be intentionally terminated and that such deliberatekilling of the innocent (evenwhen the patient competentlyand earnestly wants to die) willcreate a "slippery slope" ofgrowing disrespect for humanlife (leading eventually to thekilling of those who don't really wish to die).

The proponents of activevoluntary euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide contendthat our overriding duty insuch tragic cases of agony-filled terminal illness is to-i:

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compassionately assist suffering people inretaining some measure of control, autonomy and human dignity by helping them tofulfill their wish for merciful release fromwhat they believe to be needless and pointless suffering.Under other conditions, such a sinceredifference of opinion could be the occasionfor an enlightening and noble debate aboutprofound human q uestions. Questions suchas: What makes human life valuable? Is itthe fact of human life itself or the existenceof a tolerable quality of life which makespossible human fulfillment and human dignity? How can we best show our respect forthe terminally ill, suffering person, whocompetently requests active assistance indying? Is it by granting their wish out ofrespect for their right to autonomouslydetermine their own fate, or by refusing toparticipate in terminating their life out ofrespect for the infinite value of their lifeitself?In the current context of uncivil and poisoned debate, however, such momentousdilemmas are reduced to festivals of malicious and simplistic sloganeering and thereby debased. For exam ple, Dr. JackKevorkian, whose concern for the sufferingand the autonomy rights of the terminallyill is attested to by his willingness to risk

considerable legal punishment, is labeled,"Dr. Death."Evidently, his critics choose to ignore hisapparently sincere commitment both to thefundamental value of compassion and to theinalienable right of the individual to freelyconduct his/her own life without undueinterference from the Statecommitmentswhich many of these very same criticstrumpet in other contexts as being essentialto Christian values and to the Americanway of life.Why not call Dr. Kevorkian, "Dr.Comp assion" or "Dr. of PersonalAutonomy" or "Dr. Mercy"? The reason iscleardesired rhetorical and politicaladvantage. Such unfair name-calling debases what could be a serious and searchinghuman inquiry into a crassly opportunisticspitting contest.On the other side of the issue, there areserious pro-life people who are earnestly

committed to their belief in the infinitevalue of human life and who are genuinelyworried about any change in our law, publicpolicy or societal moral code which couldfurther erode respect for human life.This is not a frivolous concern, for inmany quarters and on many issues, respectfor life has already been compromised.Whether we are considering issues of abortion, suicide, workplace safety, crime, thetendency to prematurely use deadly force tosettle international disputes or our reticenceto assist the oppressed (e.g., those who arebeing "ethnically cleansed"), one cannothelp but think that respect for the value andthe dignity of human life is not what itcould or should be.When the proponents of active, voluntaryeuthanasia and physician-assisted suicidedismiss this concern and portray the pro-lifeadvocates who raise it as nothing but control-freaks who are merely trying to arbitrarily impose their values on others, wehave yet another example of unfair characterization and debased rhetoric. Sometimes,such criticism takes the form of thinly-veiled anti-religious bigotry.Instead of realizing that there are goodand serious reasons on both sides, insteadof conceding that both human life itself isprecious and that merciful release from suf-fering and personal autonomy over one'sown life are desirable, partisan advocatesdemonize one another and treat the thinkingof their opponents as trivial or dangerous.This unhappy situation pre-eludes the creation of a mutuallyrespectful dialogue which mightuncover some common ground,or, at the very least, ens ure that ifwe were to embark on the course

Dr. Thomas Donahue isan associate professorof philosophy atMercyhurst.

of legalizing active, voluntary euthanasiaand/or doctor-assisted suicide, we would doso in a careful way which would minimizethe chances of sliding down a "slipperyslope" of disrespect for human life.Wouldn't it be much better if all partiesto this controversy honestly conceded therelevance and importance of the reasons onboth sides and then began to conduct aninformative debate on the issue of which ofour fundamental values (human life itself orquality of life and personal autonomy)ought to take precedence in those tragiccases of incurable suffering and terminal illness, when not all of these value commitments can simultaneously be fulfilled?At the very least, we would be provokedinto conducting a thoughtful examination ofwhat makes human life valuable and howwe can best show respect for the terminallyill. Moreover, what better way could therebe to prevent a "slippery slope" disaster

than to reaffirm our common agreement onthe value of human life and the value ofpersonal autonomy?Such a reformed debate might evenuncover some practical common ground,for example, on the imperative of uniting topetition the medical establishment to takemuch more seriously the often neglectedarea of pain management. What could be abetter testament to our mutual commitmentto the value of human life, to the importance of quality of life and to the imperativeto improve the options and autonomy ofpatients, than to earnestly lobby the medicalestablishment to provide merciful releasefrom pain short of taking life?The sad fact is that many doctors whotreat the terminally ill are not adequatelytrained to control and manage pain. Surely,all parties to the euthanasia/doctor-assistedsuicide debate would agree that there is aclear moral imperative to do better on theissue of preventing avoidable agony. Sadly,our poisoned and mutually denigratingdebate prevents us from seeing, much lessworking, to promote this common purpose.The philosopher George Santayana

defined a fanatic as a person who redoubleshis efforts while forgetting his original aim.Unfortunately, this definition finds all-too-frequent application in our current debateover active, voluntary euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.Those who are suffering from painfulterminal illnesses deserve much better. It isour responsibility, as people committed to both compassion andrationality, to see thatthey get it . J^

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B Y D O N M C Q U A I D , Y V O N N E M A H E R & M A R Y D A L Y

ome of them have been gone for only a few years, manyfor 10 to 20 years, and several for as long as 40 years. Allreturned, in a different role, to the place where they had

learned to study and to struggle for a sense of them selves and todream the dreams that students need to grow.They are "the grads who came back, "former Mercyhurst stu

dents who, following graduation, went off to pursue their personal goals to work.

Taken together, their professional achievements and life experiences constitute a reservoir of knowledge, wisdom, skills and contacts from which the college d raws a s it seeks to realize its visionsfor the future.

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Journeys of the HeartDr. Barbara Behan '64Director of mathem atics/compu ter mana gem ent informationsystems and associate professor of computer systems

I came back to M ercyhurst in'85 after working for the aerospace division of GeneralElectric, teaching a year of seniorhigh mathematics, serving for 11years as director of the computercenter at Edinboro University andworking at Hamm ermill as asystems analyst for the corporate treasury department.

I knew I really wanted tobe back in education, so whenthere was an opening here, Iapplied. My work experienceenables me to give studentsinsight into what work in the computer field is like, and my contacts in business and industry are helpful to students in terms ofsetting up interviews and mentoring-type relationships. ComputerManagement Information S ystems is the type of program w hereyou have to meet the challenge of new technologies and employment needs.

I wasn't from the era of the hat and white gloves at Mercyhurst,but I started college here not long after that, so I've seen tremendous change at Mercyhurst. Despite all the change, I feel the college still reflects the ideals and excellence in academics instilled bythe Sisters of Mercy.James Lieb '74Associate director offinance

Although I startedworking at Mercyhurst in1 9 7 6 , my affiliation withthe college goes backmuch further. My mother,who graduated in theclass of '42 , worked herein the development officefor many years. I grew up on33rd and Parade and workedfor the Mercyhurst maintenance department during my freshman yearin high school. Through an instructor I had at the college, I got a part-time jo b with Root Spitznas and Smiley certified public accountants,then started full-time with them following graduation in June of 1974.I stayed with them until 1976, when I saw an ad for an assistantcontroller at Mercyhurst. Although I eventually realized that I was notcut out for public accounting, working as an auditor in an accountingfirm gave me the background I needed to pursue a career in finance.The atm osphere at Mercyhurst is friendlier and less stressful than it isin the business world, which is a factor in my staying here.One of th e great strengths of Mercyhurst has been its ability tochange with the times. The kinds of changes we 've experienced in thepast decade are necessary to our survival in these highly competitiveeconomic times. Even with the changes, however, there is a continuitymade possible by a core of people who have been here for years.

Patricia Liebel '53Director of alumni services

I'm a people-orientedperson, and the many contacts I developedboth inthe Erie community andbeyondin my work withthe city of Erie, in themayor's office in particular, has proven very helpful in my work in alumnirelations.You can't work inmunicipal government for aslong as I did without becoming knowledgeable about theneeds of comm unity, and Ithink this enables me to help

the college meet those needs.Although there has been tremendous change at Mercyhurst sinceI was a student here, the college has never forgotten the mission ofthe Sisters of Mercy to provide a quality education and to instillvalues that are applicable over the course of one's life.Matthew Whelan '86Director of adm issions

I was away from the college for five and a half years beforereturning this past fall. It's amazing how the physical plant haschanged! When I started at the college in 1982, the Briggs AvenueApartments were still owned by Baldwin Brothers, the StudentUnion and Ice Center didn't exist, neither did Sullivan, D'Angeloor the third floor addition to Preston Hall.I had stayed on after graduation as an admissions counselor atMercyhurst until 1990, when I returned to my homestate of NewJersey where I was the director of alumni and admissions at a localcollege. And while that school had everything it needed in terms ofresources, budget and access to the latest technologies, the admissions process was so automated that there weren 't enough opportunities for personal interaction withstudents. It certainly was not what Iwas used to from my years atMercyhurst. It feels good tobe back. There 's a real senseof community here and I'vealways liked the personalattention we give our students. Now days, yprospective students Iaccess the Mercyhurstadmission officethrough E-mail andthe World Wide Web.It's a whole newworld out there andMercyhurst is keeping pace.

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Journeys of the HeartDr. Helen Fabian Mullen '47Dean of graduate programs and chair of the Walker School ofBusiness

Dr. Garvey asked me if I'd take acouple years after I retired to work withthe two-year programs in M ercyhurst'sMcAuley Division. That'show I came back threeyears ago.I retired from RobertMorris College after a 28year association. When Ibegan there it was a two-year college. I worked onits transition to a four-yearinstitution, so I had muchto offer in guidingMercyhurst's McAuley

Division. It was all sofamiliar to me that Ithought it would be a comfortable way to spend my early years inretirement.One year later, however, while the college was looking for a successor to Academic Dean Michael McQuillen, Dr. Garvey askedme if I'd accept the job on an interim basis. Year three finds me asdean of the graduate programs at the college and head of theWalker School of Business.In some respects Mercyhurst is a very different college from theone I attended, but the spirit of the school has endured. I see that inthe kinds of programs we offerfor example, philosophy and theology, which I think are essential to the development of the wholeperson. The influence of the Sisters is still felt today because theyare active on both the board of trustees and the staff of the college.My heart never left Mercyhurst, so I didn't have to be asked twiceto come home.

Jay Kirk '77Instructor in dance

In college you get theidea of the work ethic, butit can't teach you everything you need to know. Inthe field of dance at least,there's nothing like on-the-job training to polish yourskills to a professionallevel.I've found that my experience as a performer with professional companies gives me credibility with the students and helps them know what to expect. I tryto instill in them the idea that a college education is something tofall back on. I know many dancers in their thirties and forties whohave to keep on performing because they don't have other options,and it's a terrible situation to be in.I'm doing exactly what I want to do at this point in my life, andI try to share as much of my experience as possible with our students so they won't have to go through quite as much as I did.

Phyllis Aiello '65Director of transfer student services

My relationship with Mercyhurst College is different and maybeunique. I've been associated with the Sisters of Mercy since 1954,because at that time I was a Sister of Mercy. I came to the collegein September 1973 as an instructor in French and as a Hall Directorin Egan. I've seen two reallysignificant changes since I've been here. The first was whenwe changed from being an all-women's college to coeducational in 1969. The second isthe tremendous growth of thecollegenot only in the number of buildings and students atthe college, but also in theatmosphere among the students. Mercyhurst Collegemeans tradition. My currentposition as director of transfer student services allows me to continue the traditions established by theSisters of Mercy. By dealing one-on-one with these students, I am carrying on the concern the Sisters had for the individual student. Mercyhurst College has always been there to meet theneeds of the students and we've changed when we've needed to.The college is a living, changing entity, and I'm proud to be a partof it.Randall Rinke '88Staff accountant

I started working at General Electric inErie as an intern while atMercyhurst. After graduation, Itook a full-time position there as aspecialist in customer billing, andlater worked in accounting servicesas a customer account specialist, returning to Mercyhurst asan employee in '92.In addition to getting memy job at GE in the firstplace, I feel my liberal artseducation helped me dealmore effectively with the variety of people you encounter in theworkplace.My experience in the business world has helped me in my present position at the college by enabling me to understand andempathize with the challenges confronting the businesses we dealwith. I love working at Mercyhurst. Even with all the growth inrecent years, we'v e managed to keep a small college atmosphere.There 's a lot of cooperation between departments, and people don 'tget lost in the shuffle.I plan to work in my present position for a few more years, buteventually I'd like to teach in the business division here.

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Journeys of the HeartDr. Vivetta P etronio '58Director of foreign language and culture department and professor French

After graduating fromMercyhurst, I had a Fulbright yearin France at theUniversity of Lyon.Then I taught a year atStrong Vincent HighSchool in Erie. Towardthe. end of that year,Sister Gabriel Kochasked me to come toMercyhurst to teachFrench and Englishon the condition thatI begin graduatestudy that summer.I've had the fascinating experience of seeing Mercyhurst go through many changes.From a good college for women (with several finishing schooltouches), it became an active, involved 60s college, then a coeducational school, later a virtually open admissions college and, finally,a college again aiming for excellence.But through the years there has always existed what we calledthe "Mercyhurst Mystique." It's a feeling of belonging to a placethat has class, high ideals and high potential. It's feeling committedto the institution, not just to teach your classes well, but to gobeyond to do more than what's expected because of the spiritualidentity of the school and the need to contribute to its survival.Gary Bukowski '73Vice president of institutional advancem ent

When I came to Mercyhurst I waswith 11 other pilgrims, so to speak.Other men came as transfers, but we were the originals. When we came in1969, there weren't anyathletic teams or recreational activities for men.The student union consisted of a jukebox in thebasement of Zurn and ourbookstore only sold books!It makes me laugh todaywhen I hear the studentssay that they have nothingto do!

Annual giving at the college has grown pheno menally in the past years. This is due to the dedication of the department, the forward momentum of the college, the positive imageMercyhurst projects in the community and the dedicated donors. Ithoroughly enjoy my job and I thrive on the challenge. It feelsgreat knowing that I'm contributing in some way to making ourinstitution a b etter place.

John Leisering '8iWMC E manager and director of veterans affairs

My association withMercyhurst began in the late70s when I announced somemen's basketball games whileworking for a commercialradio station in Erie. I was soimpressed with the collegeand its people that I decided to finishmy college education here while stillunder the GI Bill. I graduated fromthe college in 1981 and five years later, I was offereda full-time position with the college and I've been here ever since.I've learned a lot about myself over the last ten years and I've hadsome wonderful moments.The hours have been both long and erratic at times, but I take agreat deal of pride in educating and training our students for lifeafter Mercyhurst. I believe in the things for which the collegestands, so it's easy for me to promote Mercyhurst in the Erie areaand elsewhere.The dramatic increases in enrollment and new buildings over thepast 15 years are evidence of Mercyhurst's growing reputation andpopularity.

Lillian Egnot Cohen '61Guidance and counseling coordinator, McAu ley

Whether you come through the impressive front gates as a student or as an alum, the very special feeling Mercyhurst exudes isevident. I graduated from the college in 1961 and moved toMemphis, Tenn. and later to Sioux Falls, S.D. I moved back to Eriebecause of my husband's job . We bought a house close to the college where we still live. When my children were in school, I wouldspend some of my time meandering through the college grounds orvisiting the library and chapel. It was on one of these walks that Icame upon a posting for a position in the career planning and placement office, and my heart took a leap. I applied and got the job.One of my fondest memories of the college is that of the late Sister GabrielKoch, who was the treasurer of thecollege when I was a student. Shetook me under her wing when it didn't look very promising that I could

complete my education because offinancial reasons. Sister Gabrielexemplified the wonderful philosophy of the Sisters of Mercy "to staythe course" and instilled in methe spirit of "never giving up,ever." I don't know how she didit, but she arranged a loan forme so that I could graduate.That's a memory that willremain with me, and for which Iwill be grateful the rest of my life.

:f*\t>*-fr

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Journeys of the HeartMary Ellen Dahlkemper '73Director o f the Adult College

I'm strongly rooted in the liberal artstradition. Everything I learned atMercyhurst as a studentwas somehow applicable tothe business world inwhich I worked for morethan two decades. Mycollege education mademe more flexible andadaptable in the rapidlychanging and increasingly complex businessworld.

With 25 years ofhands-on experience inbusiness management andorganizational development, I was able to bring these skills to Mercyhurst and my workhere in adult education. There is an entrepreneurial spirit here that Ican really relate to. Mercyhurst is a progressive institution and isright on top of things.John Melody '90Mana ger of the Laker Inn and assistant m en's soccer coach

I was one of the pioneer students who crossed the waves fromIreland to America to attend Mercyhurst College. After graduatingfrom the college in the spring of 1990 with a degree in hotel,restaurant management, I stayed an extra term to complete a minorin business and played one more season of soccer. I then went backto Ireland for Christmas and shortly after the new year, my bagswere packed again and I was on my was to Antigua, an island in theBritish West Indies, where I was the general manager of a 26-roomresort hotel for three years and played semi-professional soccer.During that time, I kept in touch withthe college because I loved the years thatI spent there as a student. Onone occasion, I heard thatMercyhurst had an opening inits soccer program, so Iapplied. The gods were smiling on me, because I laterlearned there was an openingas manager of the Laker Inn inthe new Student Union. Iwanted to keep up to speedon both aspects of my career,and while some people maycall it the 'luck of the Irish,' Igot both jobs. I am veryhappy being back atMercyhurstit's like havingthe best of both worlds.

Tom Hubert '77Director of the art departmentand assistant professor of art

I was raised a block awayfrom Mercyhurst College onSunset Blvd. When I enrolledat the college as a student,Sister Angelica was exactlywhat I needed at the time:strict, demanding, energetic,yet supportive and approachable. She was a great womanand it is very humbling to think that the responsibility for thedepartment which she founded and so capably headed for so manyyears, is now in my hands. After receiving my M.F.A., fromRochester Institute of Technology, my wife and I moved back toErie and rented a house where I set up a studio and started workingas a potter. During gradu ate school I visited Ed Higgin s, my former ceramics professor at Mercyhurst, who had been instrumentalin getting me interested in ceramics. I mentioned that I was available if any part-time teaching positions opened up. I was hired thenext term as an adjunct professor and for 12 years I worked part-time at the college. As a student, I remember Ed Higgin's smalloffice in the ceramics lab as his special place filled with num eroustreasures representing his years at the college. Sixteen years later,it's my office and I've filled it with my own wonderful memoriesas a teacher of the discipline I so love.Matthew Nesser '87Assistant men 's basketball coach

Following graduation, I moved to Florida, where I accepted ajob as an account executive for a radio station. After working therefor about a year and a half, Iwent into business for myselfby starting the Showtime IceCream and Yogurt Store. Isold the business after twoyears and returned to myhome town of Rochester, N.Y.to take a part-time coachingjob at Monroe CommunityCollege.While I was there, I heardof a full-time assistant coach

ing position at Mercyhurst, soI applied and got the job. Inaddition to the expertise Igained in basketball while a student at Mercyhurst, the liberal artsbackground I acquired here helped me to deal with the diversity ofpeople I found in Florida.The experience I gained in the different jobs I held in the fiveyears I was away from the college broadened my outlook andstrengthened my people skills. I love what I'm doing now andthink our basketball program has great potential. There's still nothing quite like the Mercyhurst-Gannon game. The college's new pepband is a terrific addition at our games this season. We even have afight song!

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Journeys of the HeartBeverly Heintz DiCarlo '67Associate professor ofbusiness

I left Mercyhurst Collegein 1980 to start a one yearsabbatical that would stretchinto an 11-year hiatus. Atthe time, I was teachingtyping, shorthand, officepractice and observing thebusiness education student teachers. Our business lab was an old storage room tucked underthe eaves of third floorOld Main. The heat waspoor at best and many times, the students wanted to type with theirgloves on! The newest typewriters were IBM selectrics and we hada total of 25 plus six adding machines, a mimeograph machine andan off-set printing press. When I returned to Mercyhurst in the fallof 1991, the changes were impressive. The Business Division hadits own floor on the third floor of Preston Hall which houses large,modern classrooms that have heat as well as air-conditioning, andthose old typewriters have been replaced with computers! The business curriculum has expanded and I now teach classes such aslabor-management relations, human resource management, andcompensation and employee benefits. New majors in advertising,finance, sports organization management and business/chemistryhave been added. There are now about 450 b usiness students.

The equipment might have changed, the environment might havechanged, but some things have not. Mercyhurst is still the samecaring, helping, growing, succeeding institution I knew as a studentand as a young teacher.Rodger Cregorich 9JJDirector of public safety program s, M ercyhurst-North East

My decision to retire from the Pennsylvania State Police after 26fulfilling years was difficult, but the ch allenge of directing the public safety programs for my alma mater wastoo exciting to ignore.I believe my experience as both aline officer and as an administratorfor the State Police has promptedme to ensure that credibility, integrity and professionalism is inherent inall training provided by theMercyhurst Municipal PoliceTraining Academy.The college has grown immensely since I was a student here. I canhonestly say it's a joy coming towork everyday at the beautifulNorth East campus. I m ade theright decision in coming back toMercyhurst.

Michael Fuhrman '85Director of the Mary D'AngeloPerforming Arts Center anddirector of fine arts recruitment

Mercyhurst College offered methe opportunities to bring out thebest in me. The n urturing, challenging academic environmentmixed with that distinct sense ofclass, characteristic ofMercyhurst, stimulated me togrow beyond all expectation. I wentfrom being a football player to aballet dancer, to a teacher, and currently an administrator. After two and a half years in Europe, I returned to Erie as theprincipal dancer for Lake Erie Ballet Company. When I retiredfrom dance as a performer, I returned to the Hill to mature my loveof literature and to pursue a profession in higher education. Thefirst class I took upon my return was Shakespeare with SisterEustace Taylor, who is the embodiment of a classically trainedmind. For me, the tradition associated with Mercyhurst and the history of the college make me realize how fortunate I am to be associated with the school.David Armstrong '86Director of alumni relations an d annua l giving

When I was six years old, I knew Iwanted to be an attorney. After graduatingfrom Mercyhurst, I pursued that dreamand went to Cleveland Marshall LawSchool in my hometown of Cleveland,Ohio, where I followed in my uncle'sfootsteps and received my juris doctoratein 1989. While prosecuting cases inCleveland and coaching high school football, I discovered that I could make a dif-ference in a young person's life as a coachin a much more positive way than I couldas a prosecutor putting them behind bars.That was a turning point for m e. W hile Istill love the practice of law, the rewardsof coaching energized m e and drew melike a magnet. I had played football for Mercyhurst and wantedto be part of the program again. To do so, I took a job at the college in1989 as an academic adviser in the ACT 101 program and was the directorof the McAuley m en's dorm. That led to a coaching position with theLakers as the offensive assistant and head jv coach. I just finished my lastseason on the coaching staff as the offensive coordinator and moved overto a full-time position in the institutional advancement office. M ercyhurstis 75% larger than it was when I was a student and the campus is muchmore beautiful. The institution as a whole has certainly become morerespected in the higher education community and certainly more wellknown than it was during m y college years. I feel that in coming back toMercyhurst I accepted the challenge of the Carpe Diem Award which Ireceived at graduation. I seized what has been a wonderful opportunity forme by following my heart.

See Part II of Journeys of the Heart in"Mercyhurst Today" March 1996 issue.H T E R 1 9 9 5 - 9 6 17


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R E M E M B E R W H E N

B Y L A R I E P I N T E A

When Sister Ligouri Robinson dispatched thelast clutch of Rhode Island Reds from h er campuschicken coop to a dining room dinner, she had noidea her poultry domain would become anotherlandmark in Mercyhurst College history.It was the depths of the Great Depression in1933, when a small delegation of women studentssomewhat cautiously asked to talk with MotherBorgia Egan, the president of Mercyhurst College.All proper young ladies, they had a petition to

present. Would it be possible, they pleaded theircase, to have a properly designated place on theMercyhurst College campus w here they couldsmoke cigarettes without being chastised?It is reported that there was a long silence whileMother Borgia looked from one to another of theyoung ladies, none of whom, by the way, wouldhave given the smallest consideration to wearingjeans, blue or otherwise, to class or on cam pus.There were some things unacceptable and sm okingand wearing jeans were pretty near the top of thelist in the 1930s as the school was finishing its firstdecade of existence.

Sister Ligouri was a chicken farmer by avocation. Her real job was as librarian of the college.Can you imagine her sigh of relief when it wasdecided to buy eggs and chickens at the marketrather than to raise them in the chicken coop located in the area now the parking lot immediatelybehind the Zum building? The coop was closed,swept out and used as a storage area.Mother Borgia surprisingly indicated she wouldgive real consideration to the unusual idea ofMercyhurst students smoking somewhere on campusbut certainly not in the main building!Marjorie Alge '37, one of the nervous petitioners, remembers their great satisfaction on being toldthey could have the old chicken coop to use as acampus lounge, if they would clean it, paint it, decorate it and make it generally safe enough to lightup a Chesterfield.

Smoking for women was encouraged by the liberated women of the time and the ladies of theSilver Screen of HollywoodMyrna Loy, BetteDavis and Katharine Hepburnhad a great deal todo with young ladies sitting with a lighted cigarette

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'THOMAS JEFFERSON WISHED T OJ1 BE REMEMBERED MORE FORTHE FOUNDING OF A COLLEGETHAN THE FATHERING OF A COUNTRY.

Close to the s tockade walls of the American>

fort near the new village of Erie, there stood alog cabin school where the idea of Erie educat ion was born and thr ived with each new gen-era t ion . p I t took a century and a quarter forErie 's classrooms to reach the r idge crowningthe ci ty. In 1926, Mercyhurst College openedits doors on a wind-swept hil l overlookingLake Erie, just twelve blocks away from theci ty 's south boundary. * From i t s humble ye tinspired beginnings, shaped by the hands andminds of the Sisters of Mercy, the college has become a major ingredient in the city's educationalambit ions. From that f i rs t year , Mercyhurst College has been aware of i ts responsibi l i ty to the com-munity that helped create i t and to the wonder of opening young minds to new ideas and old moralva lues . W Like the col lege 's 7,100 alumni, today's Mercyhurst s tudents have the opportuni ty to dis-

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cover themselves through an educat ion grounded in the l iberal ar ts and taught by facul ty memberschosen for their abi l i ty to convey ideas, information, and beliefs, ? Wars , hunger and pes t i l enceour graduates of past generations have dealt with them all fortified by moral convictions, a belief inGod, and an understanding that digni ty, class , and a concern for others is why people such asThomas Jefferson, Catherine McAuley, and the Sisters of Mercy bel ieved that founding a col legewas as important as founding a country. Armed with these convict ions, Mercyhurst s tudents wil lseek the good life and the pursui t of happiness in the 21 s t century .

MERCYHURST COLLEGEThe Mercy College of Northwestern Pennsylvania


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M e r c y h u r s tl~7v\ A G A Z I M E IErie, PA 16546Forward and Address Correction

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GO I N G U P 1-

See related stories on pages 5 and 20

Construction Is Well Underway OnMercyhurst's New Performing Arts Center

Mercyhurst has long dreamedof an enlarged concert hall toenhance the cultural activitiesof the college andsoon it will be areality. The S3.5million Mary ]D'Angelo JPerforming IArts Center isunder con- Istruction on the backcampus where it willblend with two existing facilitiesZurn 1Hall to its north and the

been designed for music, danceproductions, films and lectures. Itwill open in 1996 in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of theD'Angelo YoungArtist Competitionwith a week-longmusic festival in thefacility. Gary L.Bukowski '73, vicepresident of institutional advancement atthe college, is picturedat the construction siteenjoying the fruits ofhis labor, the

mercyhurst magazine - winter 1995-96

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