The Merciad, Dec. 14, 2011
The Merciad, Dec. 14, 2011
The Merciad, Dec. 14, 2011
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NEWS
used in the Great Room. The space will be still used for events and renovated in a fashion that furniture and the set-up can easily be changed to host events as it does now. The room will also be sound proofed and enclosed in order to not disturb the activities occurring in the Great Room like movies, events or yoga. As ideas were discussed and the Senior Class Committee spoke with Vice President for Student Life Gerard Tobin, Ph.D., it was realized that Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) also had plans of developing a game room on campus. It was then decided that MSG and the Senior Gift Committee would work together on the senior gift, since both had similar plans and ideas and more funds would be available. This is the rst time the two organizations have worked together on this project. It will be more successful working together with MSG and will make it an ultimate space, Cox said. MSG developed the idea to renovate the Great Room at their Fall Retreat. Discussion of the idea continued with Tobin and MSG adviser Sarah Allen. We all wanted to ensure the space would be utilized to the best of its ability, MSG President Meghan Hess said. MSG was broken up into three groups in order to dedicate full focus and attention to different aspects of the project. These included a group to work on the replace, one for furniture and one
This years senior class will renovate the Student Union Great Room and add a game room. This early rendering shows how the game room will be enclosed.
for architecture of the room. MSG Public Relations Coordinator Jeremy Dickey was placed in the furniture planning group. When we thought about it, we felt the current room had kind of a cold feel, and we wanted to make it more inviting. We want to make it more of a coffee shop lounge, Dickey said. More of a Starbucks feel is the aim for the room with browns and greens being the main colors. It is also hoped that the room will become more of a social outlet. The room should give upperclassmen a space to hang out and for freshmen a place to meet new people, Hess said. In order to become a part of the Senior Gift Committee, seniors could voluntarily attend meetings that were publicized to help with the senior gift plans. This year, a committee of 25 students was developed to attend meetings and make the senior gift possible. I think the senior gift is a good idea and is most successful when the school can have something nice to enjoy, senior Katie Wagner said. The slogan selected for the gift this year is Living the Dream, which represents the message of the type of gift chosen. The aim this year was to follow the slogan and the gift to be student-oriented. We wanted it to be something students could benet from and enjoy, Cox said. This gift is different from those in the past, as this one will require upkeep from MSG much like the multimedia room in Warde. MSG will be in charge of dealing with issues like replacing batteries, xing broken items and paying bills for the Direct TV package. There is no set budget for the senior gift. The committee starts out with nothing and then sets a goal, this year being $16,000 with an expected rate of 55 percent participation from the senior class. The money is raised through fundraisers, events and donations from seniors that can be given through cash, check or from their housing deposit. The students that donate a substantial amount will be featured on a plaque in the Great Room for the contribution. Its so good to allow students to get in the mood to give back. In a few months well be alumni, and we should stay connected to the school for projects and events, Cox said. Seniors seem to have mixed feelings about the gift. The senior gift was news to me, but Im glad were getting one, senior Gilbert Alderman said. The gift does not matter to me. As long as its something that can be used, senior Taylor Murray said. Senior Steve Bukowski said, I think a game room is a little trivial for a college setting. But if its done well and the majority is happy, then thats what really matters. The collaboration of the Senior Gift Committee and MSG is working well and may continue in the future. There were more minds for a better outcome, said Cox. The collaboration worked well, and I can see it continuing. MSG is working closely with the architect Shelly Buehler. The project and renovations are planned to start in the spring. Buehler is the same architect working on the Center of Academic Achievement building currently in construction. The completion of the improved Great Room will be nished sometime this summer for students to enjoy the following academic school year.
NEWS
A fundamental shift
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The fundamental shift here is to try to use the performance culture and artistical performance that occurs at the PAC to enhance experience at Mercyhurst.
Dave Livingston
sible for bringing in shows. That will be the responsibility of an advisory board made up of students, faculty, community members and donors. One of the new directors responsibilities would be to increase student attendance. This is a cultural shift, and it doesnt happen overnightits not easy, said Dean of Arts and Humanities Jeff Roessner, Ph.D. But a question being asked of potential candidates is how they envision it working and what plans they would have to increase student attendance. There are all sorts of ideas out there, he said. Livingston said that there is a desire to create a new major in arts management that students in any area could pursue. The end of an era This means the end of Michael Fuhrmans 26-year tenure at Mercyhurst. Fuhrman received his bachelors degree from Mercyhurst College and has been an employee of the college since then. He was the director of the PAC and is now the interim director of the Institute for Arts and Culture until the end of December, when he will leave the college. The advisory board is ready to assume Fuhrmans responsibilities if no one is hired before he leaves. Livingston said Fuhrman was encouraged to apply for the job but he chose not to. According to Fuhrman, he decided not to pursue the new position because this is not the direction we should go in. A university or college should be a force for truth, a positive interaction with the community and a source of civic pride, he said.
There is a basic shift occurring in the priorities of the PAC, according to Fuhrman. Instead of being a primary source for the community, it is now a secondary source, specically directed to faculty and students, Fuhrman said. This is admirable, but also a fundamental shift. The college has the right to chart their own course. I dont go against that, but that doesnt mean I agree with it, he said. We are a nonprot organization. That means we dont pay taxes, and they are very important for a city. In order to justify not paying taxes, one of the ways to do this is offering something unique to the community. Fuhrman said the PAC is able to offer something unique to students and faculty, if they choose to partake, but more importantly, is what is offered to the community. Even with the emphasis on increased student and faculty participation, Livingston said, We dont want to see people from the community not comewe want it to be lled with students and the community. Livingston continued, We want it to be an enhancing experience for studentsthe goal is to create future patrons of the arts.
The Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center is now the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture.
Donors feel unappreciated For example, The name of the lm series will be changing, but the lm series will continue, Livingston said. There are currently negotiations with two different people to fund the series, but as of now, none are nal. This is because the Guelchers, who were the donors of the Guelcher Film Series, have chosen to withdraw their funding for the next academic year. The Guelchers have supported the series with substantial annual gifts for nearly a decade. The reason we were interested in the lm series is because it was a regional asset, and they seem to be pulling away from that ideaof involving the community. We didnt sign on for that. Its not that we dont care about the students and facultythats an integral part of a collegethe interest in community is what intrigued me. Other colleges dont have that. We feel the new direction is a mistake, Elizabeth Guelcher said. She said that she doesnt think the college realizes how much the community appreciates the PAC. Its a real blessing for the communitysomething that the community appreciates. I dont think the administration understands, and I dont understand their motivation, she said. Her confusion is from the lack of explanation that she and her
This is not the direction we should go in. A university or college should be a force for truth, a positive interaction with community and a source of civic pride.
husband received from the college. There was no attempt to talk to us before the changes were decided upon, and we got the feeling that what we did doesnt matter. We felt unappreciated, Guelcher said. Livingston thinks the mission statement for the PAC has focused on the balance between the community and the Mercyhurst community, and that has become unclear. We are trying to get back in balance, he said. Livingston also showed his appreciation for the work Fuhrman has done. Michael and his staff have provided an excellent quality and diversity of shows, Livingston said. He said they want to continue to try to offer that type of quality. Opportunity for input excites Students are excited they will have more of a say in the types of shows brought in but are also noting the effects a decrease in community attendance could have. Senior Clare Meccariello said, If we ignore the community, we ignore the opportunity for Mercyhurst to grow and really connect with the people around it. Junior Matt Teleha is enthusiastic about more student involvement. As a student, I always like to see events that appeal to my generation instantly. So in this way, I know more people on campus will enjoy the performances when they start having a say in what artists are performing.
Besides this new focus, none of the other changes will affect the experience of the students or of the community, said Livingston. Roessner agreed with Livingston. I would say that for students and the community, they are going to notice very little difference in the programming of artists that come in. We want to maintain the quality of shows, he said.
Michael Fuhrman
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NEWS
site developed
By Shea Quadri
Contributing writer
Mercyhurst Colleges team of web developers is constantly looking to improve the way students virtually access and interact with the college. Their latest development is a mobile version of the Mercyhurst website, tailored especially to mobile browsers. The idea had been oating around since last year and was given to us over the summer, said Web Administrator Patrick Canella. Available to students and parents alike, the site offers easy-to-use menus containing useful information, such as calendars, ofce hours and the Mercyhurst directory. North East campus senior Garrett Scupski said, I think having the academic calendar and directory are good ideas. Being able to easily look up ofce numbers and hours from my phone is very useful. After logging in, students can access Blackboard and the Outlook login screen. Also available are links to campus events and athletics. This is really handy, but I had no idea it exists, said sophomore Connie Evaniak. The easily accessible athletic calendar and events are very convenient for athletes. Senior Courtney Clair was not aware of the site either. Now that I know about the site, I will use it more often, especially the weather function and the emergency information, she said. Sophomore Ian Ansel said, I like how the menus have been consolidated A daily update of the Egan menu would also be really cool. The main sentiment from the students was the desire for a class schedule function similar to that of the portal. Our goal is to eventually have most of the portal functionality available in the mobile site, Canella said. The new mobile version of the site can be found at m.mercyhurst. edu.
Gotkin expects the NCAA to rule by Friday, making the players available for the weekend series against Alabama-Huntsville. The question remains as to how often each player will dress for games. By NCAA rules, Gotkin can only dress 18 players and three goaltenders. With the addition of Just, the Lakers have 22 position players and Tibbett makes four goalies. It will be a day-to-day decision as to who dresses for each game, Gotkin said. Pending NCAA approval, Tibbett and Just could see action this weekend in Alabama. Tibbett, a native of Indianapolis, played in four games last season and started in three. He played a crucial role in Mercyhursts early season tie with then No. 4 ranked Michigan. Just, from Arnprior, Ontario, played in eight games and tallied seven points.
Jordan Tibbett
Kyle Just
Former Congresswoman Dahlkemper visited Mercyhurst to discuss her history in politics and what inspired her to run.
Senior Nikki Sherretts found herself shocked by the statistics presented. I didnt realize women had such low levels of representation in our government she said. What I found most notable about the congresswomans presentation was
how much we need more women in politics. As the event came to a close, students were so engaged by Dahlkempers presentation and question-and-answer session that many stayed and talked with the her personally after the event.
FEATURES
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dren may be the greatest. It is always fullling to spend a day with a child, just having fun and seeing their faces light up when Santa gave them something they asked for. It is an amazing experience, Robinson said. The children, buddies and clubs have so much fun with the kids that the time ies.. There is never enough time, LaGruth said. Although there may never be enough time in the day for the children to play and create every craft available, the day will always be a success that students and children look forward to every year. Junior Bridget Finn said, Making a childs day with laughter, smiles and happiness is immeasurable. Overall I think this is one of the best events all year, and our Mercyhurst community did an awesome job coming together and making a positive difference.
Teacher feature:
By Brianna Carle
Staff writer
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FEATURES
First day of winter term. Ofcially the only day I will have an A in all my classes.
@HurstGirlProbz
Now, this Twitter account may not accurately depict the thoughts and ideas of all female students on Mercyhursts campus, but it sure does incite students on Twitter who enjoy her witty outlook on Mercyworld.
This is what you will need: 1 can garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup red pepper (about half of it), 3 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp sesame seeds or tahini paste (sesame seed paste), 1 tsp salt, 4 tbsp lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp cumin and 1/4 cup water from the garbanzo beans. Here is what to do: 1. Boil water for garbanzo beans. Once boiling, dump can in and leave in until they oat. Save 1/4 cup of this water for later on. 2. If using sesame seeds, dry roast them in a pan over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, or until brown. Be sure to shake them in the pan or they will burn. 3. Dry roast red pepper using same pan and ame for 5 minutes. 4. Put the garbanzo beans, pepper, sesame seeds or tahini paste, water, oil, salt, cumin, lemon juice and garlic into food processor and process until you get a smooth texture. The red pepper gave me trouble here, so make sure the red pepper pieces are near the bottom close to the blades. 5. Put in a bowl and let chill for a few hours to get the right consistency. This was hands down the easiest and tastiest recipe I have made thus far. It only took about 10 minutes once the water for the beans was boiling. Plus, hummus can be used for a lot of different things: on sandwiches or as a dip for veggies and crackers, both of which I plan to eat this week. DIY College Style is a weekly column featuring two college students blogs on quick and easy tips about crafts and food.
ent areas of study. The nished product of the Lumen will be unveiled during a special reception on April 12, which will mark the end of the Mercyhurst literary festival. Attendees receive a copy of the magazine. The original deadline for submissions of poetry and short ction for the Lumen was Monday, Dec.13, but in an attempt to receive more submissions, Schiff extended the deadline until Friday, Dec. 16. Students from any major who wish to submit their poetry or short ction for possible inclusion in this years publication of the Lumen are encouraged to email their work to [email protected] by Friday. The submissions should be in a Word document attachment, and the attachment should include the title of the work and the name of the author. For more information on the Lumen, visit merciad.mercyhurst.edu.
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Dancers acted the part of Santas elves in the piece Santas Toy Shop.
was performed by Rachel Bauer and Tiffani Thomas. The Romantic Couple was performed by Eden Mishler and William Dula. For the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon performances, Kelsey Chamberlain and Eden Mishler performed the Duet, while Linnea Stureson and David Jakubson performed the Romantic Couple. Next on the program, the Liturgical Dance Ensemble premiered a piece titled A Multitude of Angels, set to the Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach. Associate Professor of dance C. Noelle Partusch choreographed this inspiring piece. This was a very powerful number, where it was clear that the dancers were rejoicing. The stage was decorated in blue light, with a large star of Bethlehem centered as a backdrop. The dancers were beautifully costumed in owing blue skirts with just a hint of sparkle. The monochromatic color scheme was simple, yet very sophisticated. Much of the dance number centered around similar movements. The dancers often moved in unison. This provided the audience with a very powerful feeling of awe. There were many short solos in this piece, but the dancer that stood out the most in her solo was junior Tess Sinke. She moved with elegance and grace, tting to the music she danced to. The piece was a beautiful premiere. It was very nice to see something spiritual performed in a holiday concert, in an elegant way. For the nal performance, the stage was transformed into a scene of the North Pole. Santas Toy Shop was a premiere work choreographed by Hunter. The dance was set to a compilation of Christmas music. Everything from Rodgers and Hammersteins My Favorite Things to Smiths and Rays Jing-A-Ling. This was a complex act. Each dancer had a specic character to play, and they did so convincingly. The number started out with an adorable dance consisting of the elves of Santas Toy Shop. They tossed presents in the air and danced around cutely with each other. Next came a short number of oppy, dancing rag-dolls. They rolled and opped to the tune of My Favorite Things, from Rodgers and Hammersteins The Sound of Music. The next number was a tapdance. Toy soldiers marched onto the stage and moved in very robotic motions. They danced to March of the Toy Soldiers, by Jessel and McDonald, which started very mechanically, but got jazzy towards the end. Winter Wonderland represented a small love vignette between two elves in the Toy Shop. Junior Emma Rishel and sophomore William Dula cutely played a shy couple. They danced together and were accompanied by the rest of the ensemble. A jazzy, mambo version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was next on the program. Senior Victoria Scott led the dance as Santa, and used a rope to guide her reindeer. In the Jing-A-Ling, the stage became a scene of magical chaos. Dancers dressed as a giant present and candy canes. This only added to the comedy of the number. All the elves danced wildly, showing exuberant Christmas cheer. Junior Matt Tolbert worked backstage for this concert. It was really cool to watch this from back stage. I loved watching my friends dance like elves, he said. Sophomore Marika Koch enjoyed the wide representation of the holiday season. The performance really touched on every major piece of the season, she said. I liked that it was so varied. Tis the Season was a very successful holiday concert. Audiences can only hope that the dance department continues this tradition.
Linnea Stureson and David Jakubson were featured as a romantic couple in The Skaters.
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By Mathew Anderson
Pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
On Sunday, Dec. 11, Mercyhursts Christ the King Chapel was lled to capacity with students and community members alike, eagerly waiting to hear the collaborative effort of two separate choirs. Both of these choirs are very special in their own respectsone was Mercyhursts Concert Choir conducted by Rebecca Ryan and made up of the students of the DAngelo School of Music. The other was the Choir of the Church of Christ Savior, conducted by Vladimir Gidenko, who originates from Russia. When asked what it was like to work with a Russian choir, sophomore Marisa Jacobson said, It was a pleasure to work with a different culture. The other choir was so excited and thankful to sing with us. Their sincerity really brought out the holiday spirit in myself, she said. The concert commenced with the conjoined choirs singing G.B Pergolesis Magnicat, a piece entirely in Latin. This piece featured four extremely talented Mercyhurst students as soloists. The second movement, Et Misericordia Ejus (And His Mercy is Upon Them) featured soprano Alexa Zeremenko and mezzo Marie Karbacka with a powerful end to the piece. Tenor Adam Ferrari and bass Eric Delagrange were highlighted in the fourth movement of the piece Suscepit Israel (He Hath Helped Israel).
Directly following was the performance of selections of Sergei Rachmaninoff s The All-Night Vigil, which is performed completely in Russian. It was during this piece that the Russian choir really came to the rescue; Vladimir devoted hours of his personal time to help perfect the Russian pronunciation for the Mercyhurst Concert Choir. When asked about her reaction to the Rachmaninoff pieces, sophomore Kelsey Meacham responded, As I was walking down the hall of Old Main, I heard an echo of voices coming from the chapel. Chills ran down my spine, it was so beautiful, she said. At this point in the concert, the Mercyhurst Choir stepped back and listened to the Russian Choir sing two pieces; Carol of the Bells, beautifully adapted into Ukrainian and Glory to God in the Highest by Bortnyansky. After these, the Concert Choir joined the Russian Choir once again to sing a small selection of Ukrainian Folk Carols. The concert ended with a selection of popular carols that the audience was able to join in singing with those on stage. When asked about his experience performing in the concert, junior Adam Ferrari responded, I really valued the experience of working with the Russian Choir. It added something special to the whole experience. It also goes to prove that music is a universal language. Two completely different groups of people with different native languages, coming together to give a musical performancean experience I hope to have again soon, he said.
OPINION
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to [email protected].
Commendations to Bachmann
By Caitlin Handerhan
Opinion editor
For the rst time in my political consciousness, I agree with Michele Bachmann on a trending political issue. Not only do I agree with her, but I may actually have some level of admiration for a position she has taken. What is this apocalyptic, once-ina-life-time occurrence? Her recent snub of the GOP debate moderated by Donald Trump, set to take place on Dec. 27. It is not only the Bachmann campaign that has turned down the summons to the Trump debate, but fellow Republican candidates Romney, Huntsman, Paul and Perry have also declined to appear on stage with Donald Trump moderating. However, both Santorum and Gingrich have accepted the invitation from Trump. Why anyone postulates that Trump is even remotely qualied to host, moderate or even be involved with any sort of political conversation is beyond me. Perhaps his most notable contribution to recent political discourse was his leadership of the revamped birther movement, which insisted President Obama was not a U.S. citizen according to his contested birth certicate. Trump made numerous television appearances ranting about Obamas citizenship status, insulting the American people for not properly vetting their leader. Aside from his blunder on the birther issue, Donald Trump has proved himself unqualied, to say the least, to moderate a political forum. What is most frustrating about Trump isnt necessarily that he chooses ill-timed moments to incessantly bleat about non-issues, but it is his lack of political intellect. Perhaps his lack of higher level thought at all. For example, during an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer this week, Trump repeatedly interrupted Blitzer, the king of interruptions himself. Trump insisted on interjecting a question of his own in a rather oash tone; Tell me, is Obama stupid? What Trump was attempting to articulate was his dissatisfaction with Obamas foreign policy decisions in post-revolutionary Libya. He thought that certain preconditions needed to be set with the citizens of Libya before we entered the escalating crisis, apparently over-
looking the inconvenient fact that it was a crisis on the ground. In a world where Trump is in charge of foreign policy, apparently compensation for our tax payer dollars spent liberating a population will be negotiated up front with a non-existent government. Trumps inability to formulate coherent statements on foreign policy makes me question his ability to understand candidates answers, let alone undertake moderating a debate. Aside from the fact that Trump still thinks he has the ability and bravado for a third party run for the Oval Ofce, it is clear for many additional factors Trump has no reason or qualications to moderate a debate. That being said, I commend Bachmann and her fellow candidates for not being coerced into participating in his primary debate. Despite hard-ball bullying, similar to his tactics in a board room, Trump has been unable to secure more participants. As organizers scrambled this week to decide if the event was still viable after so many refusals, let us hope that Trump has a moment of humility and nally acknowledges he does not possess the clout nor qualications to moderate a Republican party debate.
The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst College. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376. 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 to box PH 485 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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OPINION
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst College, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be e-mailed to [email protected].
Christmas is coming! With only a few days of classes left for 2011, the holiday season is upon us.
The women of Baldwin Hall are facing quite a dilemma as break approaches, as someone has stolen the couch cushions from one of the lounges in the building. If the missing cushions are not returned, the residents may be ned for the cost of the replacements.
separates the global church in subtle ways. For example, instead of the old We believe, parishioners use I believe. Instead of coming together to worship, I feel more secluded. Of course, these are just my personal feelings as a practicing Catholic who is concerned about the direction the Church is taking its followers. I do not profess to know a substantial amount of theology or the inner workings of the Vatican. I am also sure that with time, these changes will again become automatic (which is not necessarily a good thing). Until then, though, it seems the Church is attempting to x a problem that isnt broken.
After two and a half weeks of suffering through the longer class times, students and professors alike are less than pleased with the new schedule.
Online
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Sports
win over AHA leader Air Force. He was the second Mercyhurst player this season to earn a weekly honor by the AHA. Bodo attributes his early success to a strong helping hand from his teammates. Our team has been clicking really well and we are off to a great start, Bodo said. Bodo isnt the only freshman who has produced for Coach Gotkin this season. Fellow freshman Nardo Nagtzaam leads the Lakers in total points. Also, Daniel Bahntge is fourth in points and leads the team in assists. Bahntge was named Rookie of the Month for November by the AHA. If the high level of play continues from the freshmen, and with strong leadership from captains Derek Elliot, Pat Goebel and Kevin Noble the Lakers are on the right track to take home an AHA title. The Lakers currently sit in second place behind leader Air Force. The team will travel to AlabamaHuntsville Dec. 15 and 16 for a twogame series against the Chargers in a non-conference match-up.
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Pattenden ties NCAA record
Mercyhurst senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden tied the NCAA record for career victories after the Lakers split a weekend series with No. 4 ranked Boston College. Pattenden is now tied with former Wisconsin goaltender and current Team USA member Jessie Vetter with 91 career victories. With a victory Thursday against Lindenwood University, Pattenden will become the winningest goaltender in NCAA history. Starting since her freshman year, Pattenden has helped the Lakers to three straight NCAA playoff appearances, including a trip to the NCAA Championship game and two quarternals. Statistically, she is having her best season in 2011-12. She has a .938 save percentage and an 11-4 record. She already has four shutouts this season; she had six last year in 33 games. Pattenden has helped the Lakers climb to sixth in the latest USCHO.com poll.
Freshman Chris Bodo is second on the mens hockey team with 12 points this season.
everywhere he goes he scores, Gotkin said. That is what we expect him to do here and he has done that. But where his success is most evident is in conference play. Of Bodos 12 points, 11 have come in Atlantic Hockey Conference play, which leads the team. I feel more comfortable in the
conference games and playing at home in front of the crowd helps get me excited, Bodo said. Going to Cornell and Wisconsin can be a little intimidating, but Im feeling more comfortable as the season goes on. Bodo earned Rookie of the Week honors by the AHA following a loss to Robert Morris and a
Senior Nikki Frederickson has stepped up this season, averaging nine points and six rebounds.
I made a lot of rebounds along with Dana leading us in our offense and Megan Hoffman had some
crucial shots. We were feeling really good overall. Following a 15-15 record during
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Sports
Leao scored 23 points in only 24 minutes. He also pulled down ve rebounds. Manchel believes that the return of Leao speaks volumes of how great they can be. Hes the best player in the league. He needs to be on the oor for us to win, Manchel said. Despite the turnover in rosters, Leao feels that his role is about the same as last year. I need to connect the dots with everyone, always have energy and play hard on defense all the time. Leao said. He also believes the mixture of players has made the offense ow much smoother. Our offense is much more together, scoring comes from everyone, I dont have as much pressure to score, Leao said. The Lakers have yet to put
Junior Luis Leao has been welcomed back with open arms by the mens basketball team. After missing the start of the season after tearing his ACL, he has averaged 15 points since his return.
man transferred after the beginning of the year and is now eligible to compete in contests. Many different players have stepped up to ll big roles, Head Coach Gary Manchel said. (Sophomore) Andy Rickard has come a long way from last year. He has been playing very consistent for us. Consistency and leadership have been two main components to the success thus far. Seniors Bill Weaver and Jamal Turner have been the two main voices behind the squad. Senior leadership has been great. Both Bill and Jamal have been tremendous, and now with Luis back,
it brings a whole different energy on the oor, Manchel said. During a PSAC West contest last year, Luis Leao suffered a torn ACL and has been on the road to recovery for the past nine months. After surgery the rst three months were really tough, I couldnt do much. The next two months, I began to nally get stronger, since then its been a lot of individual stuff, Leao said. Ive been constantly doing physical therapy workouts. I havent taken many days off, and Ive been focused on getting stronger. The comeback of Leao sparked the teams victory over Kutztown.
Leao averaged 17 points and eight rebounds per game as a sophomore. With the graduation of star Heiden Ratner, Leao is the only returning Laker who averaged more than 10 points a game last season.