Friday, October 25, 2013
Vol. XII Number 3
www.merrimacknewspaper.com
MC Goes Mad at Midnight Molly Canyes ’15 Staff Writer On Friday, Merrimack College hosted its second annual Midnight Madness, a pep rally held to rev up the Warrior community for the upcoming sports season. All winter sports teams were recognized at this event; however, the men and women’s basketball teams collectively stole the attention from the crowd. The women’s basketball team made it clear they are not just your average ballplayers by showing their dance skills in a performance choreographed by junior Tayla Fernandez. Various contests took place such as a three-point shoot out competition, Junkyard relay race, and slam dunk contest. Mary-Kate Greene ’16 commented on how obvious the men’s and women’s basketball teams bond was displayed through the night’s activities. The crowd was influenced to show their school sprit with an iTunes gift card given as a prize to the student who came best dressed as Merrimack’s super fan. The Merrimack community was treated to
free T-shirts, rally towels and pizza while they enjoyed the late night festivities in the Volpe Athletic Complex. The dunk competition was a big hit at midnight madness. Every student who went to the event received a scorecard and it was up to the students to decide who he or she thought was the winner. Anthony Barry ’16, Tawayne, Anderson Jr. ’17, and Gelvis Solano ’16 competed in basketball dunking. Nominees got creative with their strategy to dunk in the contest, since most couldn’t actually get the ball in the hoop. Their dunks were so creative that they could be something one would see at an upper level dunk competition. The crowd really interacted with the players and got the students moving with excitement. While the women’s basketball team did their best to get down and jiggy with it, the Dance Team stole everyone’s eyes and hearts as they moved swiftly and beautifully during their latest routine. As Merrimack students, we are fortunate to have an event such as Midnight Madness offered to us.
Blue and gold confetti showers MC hoops players in Volpe. Photo by Kelli Readey It’s a way to showcase our school dition must live on for future Merspirit while bonding with our peers rimack students and athletes to exand professors. Hopefully Midnight perience what it truly is like to be a Madness doesn’t stop here; the tra- Warrior.
Commuters Miss, Mesh With MC Community Tia Roy ’15 Staff Writer Twenty-five percent of the Merrimack student body is made up of commuter students. They choose to commute for a variety of reasons, in-
Commuter Priscilla Khaknejad ’15 Photo by Tia Roy
cluding the cost of living on campus, a preference for living at home with family or in an off-campus apartment with friends, and health concerns. Many commuters are engaged with on-campus events and activities, and other aspects of student life, but there are also a great number who simply drive to campus to attend class and then get back in their car to head home. “I think that I made myself a part of the community. Merrimack doesn’t really do a lot for their commuter population in terms of making them feel comfortable,” said commuter Samantha Bruno ’14. According to many members of the commuter student population, it is the job of the growing Merrimack community to make commuters feel just as home as they would feel at their own house, wherever that may be. John Garland, coordinator of the National Clearinghouse for Commuter Programs, explained that to commuter students, “home and campus are not synonyms.” One of the most beneficial aspects of college is the opportunity to live away from home and to spend mornings, weeknights and weekends with your classmates. Kim Martin ’15 addressed the hardest part about commuting: “I’m not on campus other than when I have class, so I feel like I miss a lot of the activities that go on and do not know as many people as someone who lives on campus.” Some commuters feel as though they are getting the full Merrimack experience, including Thomas Shanahan ’15. “I know a lot of commuters don’t feel like they are part of this community, but that’s because most don’t stay
around and rather leave right after class,” explained Shanahan. “If they do stick around and go meet people I assure you they will feel like they are part of this Merrimack community.” Some commuters point out the advantages of living off-campus. Casey Duggan ’15 was once a residential student and now lives in an apartment with her boyfriend, “Now I have a separate kitchen with a dining room table, my own living room with a couch and TV, as well as a bedroom with a huge bed and TV along with my own bathroom,” she said. There is no single area dedicated to commuters on campus that would serve as an area for them to stash their belongings or just spend time between classes. Many colleges in Massachusetts have a commuter lounge, including Mount Holyoke College, Wheelock College, Regis College and Simmons College. Due to renovations and changes in the location of offices and departments, commuters can utilize a locker free of charge located in the fitness center on the second floor of the Sak. This semester, various Resident Advisors are offering their floor programs to not only the students on their floor but to commuter students as well. This will allow commuter students to become engaged in typical residential life activities. According to George Kuh, Robert Gonyea, and Megan Palmer, authors of “The Disengaged Commuter Student,” much work must be done in higher education to allow the involvement of learning for commuter students to be a tangible experience.
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The Beacon
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Karamarie Joyce ’15
October 25, 2013
Questions on the Quad By Alex Maas ’14
What are you going to be for Halloween?
Associate Editor in Chief Schuyler Watkins ’14 Creative Director & Design Editor Jessica Raver ’15 Sports Editor Patrick Bradley ’14 Copy Editor Ashley Yenick ’14 Media Editor Alexandra Maas’14 Finance Editor Vince Bellino ’14
THE BEACON
Staff Jimmy Callen Molly Canyes Tia Fan Chen Brendan Doherty CJ Flannery Andrew Fournier Mathew Galvao Bridget Gilroy Lance Hill ChoiWong Kong Thomas McCarthy Roger McCormack Teresa Polli Colleen Quinlan Alessia Rosati Tia Roy Justin Ruano James Sardella Sean Talbot Kali Tudisco Mary Unis Jackie Vlahos Ozzie Watkins
Advisor Jim Chiavelli Adjunct Professor
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Ryan Villett ’16 “A Mime”
Maria Gill ’17 and Olivia Martin ’17
“80’s workout instructor”
“Angels”
Student Actor Charged With Murder Attempt Alexandra Maas ’14 Media Editor Merrimack student Matthew McCormick was arrested by campus police Saturday evening and charged with assault and battery and assault with intent to murder. The arrest interrupted a campus performance of “True West,” in which he was a lead character. McCormick, 30, of Arlington, was delivered to Arlington police, who had requested Merrimack police serve the arrest warrant, and appeared Monday in Cambridge District Court. Arlington police were called to McMcCormick, in Cormick’s home on Madison Avenue a publicity shot at 3 a.m. Saturday. There his girlfriend was found crying, with bruises from ‘True on her chin and neck, according to a West.’ police report. She told officers that McCormick began to assault and strangle her in the bedroom, after arguing about text messages he had received from another woman. She was able to escape to the living room, where he knocked her to the floor and continued to strangle her, she alleged. She told police she got away from him and he left in his car. Police said they found signs of damage on the bedroom floor, office and hallway walls. According to McCormick’s Facebook page, he is a physical trainer and teaches the martial-arts-based workout “BodyCombat” to women. Arlington police declined to say if McCormick was released on bail. Merrimack police would not say whether he is permitted to return to campus.
Brady Dyer ’17
Mack Tweets Sami Brady @samibrady_3 Lady at dunks just put extra whipped cream on my hot chocolate #mademynight
Steph Eaton @Le_Stino The amount of people in Sparky`s right now is approx. the population of New Zealand
Brendan Cody @Da_Viinci_CODES To whoever folded my laundry, thank you #YouDawoMAN
Mar @Hey_MARcarena Ballers really are ballers
Joke of The Week Colin Flannery `14 Staff Writer
The owner of a drugstore arrives at work to find a man leaning heavily against a wall. The owner goes inside and asks the cashier working what’s up. “He wanted something for his cough, but I couldn’t find the cough syrup,” the clerk explains. “So I gave him a laxative and told him to take it all at once.” “Laxatives won’t cure a cough, you idiot!” the owner shouts angrily. “Sure it will,” the clerk says, pointing at the man leaning on the wall. “Look at him! He’s afraid to cough! He’ll be cured in no time!”
Police Log Oct. 14, 1:18 a.m. Sex assault (non rape) Inappropriate advance by a male towards a female reported. Male placed in custody. Reports taken. Oct. 16, 6:45pm Concern/Safety Issue Student found shotgun shell outside his living area, which he threw into the woods then reported to Merrimack police. Situation under investigation. Oct. 18, 7:52 p.m. Arrest
Non-student trespasser arrested and taken to North Andover police station. 10:33 p.m. Stolen property Computer possibly stolen from the library. Computer has been put out of service by IT. Under investigation
found in room. Report taken. 8:35 p.m. Commuter student arrested at Rogers Center.
Oct 19 , 1:28am Suspicious activity Female observed removing a window screen from a residence. Female stated it was her room; she was locked out. Unregistered guest
3:01 a.m. Church Lot disturbance Altercation between a student and a registered guest resulted in the guest calling for a ride and leaving campus
Oct. 20, 1:42am Suspicious activity Non-student arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct.
October 25, 2013
The Beacon
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Mary Unis ’14 Staff Writer
The Den is offering more variety this year. Photo by Andrew Fournier
Den Offers More Choice Andrew Fournier ’14 Staff Writer This year has seen an evolution of The Warrior Den and what it has to offer to students on campus. It includes new additions such as the Tapingo mobile application, and more meal options, which range from Mexican to Japanese food. More on campus residents are utilizing the new smartphone application, Tapingo, to order food ahead of time and pick it up without having to wait in line for it. Simply downloading this to your smartphone allows you to create and customize the meal you want to be prepared. Then, just by inputting your MackCard or credit card, you can submit your order for pickup. This application’s easy-to-use interface is making it more popular on campus. Senior Thomas Casanova is very pleased with the implementation of Tapingo. “It is extremely convenient to be able to get a sufficient meal quickly during our hectic schedules, seeing as there is little to no
time to sit down and enjoy a meal between classes and work,” he said. Also, food choices in The Den have expanded since last year. Quesaritos is an alternative to what the The Den typically offers for food, with Mexican cuisine such as burritos, quesadillas, and taco salads made to order. Sparky’s To Go is another option for lunch or dinner if you’re in a rush between class and practice. By swiping your MackCard, you can pick up a complete meal if you aren’t able to make it to the cafeteria. Choices include sandwiches and salads with chips, fruit, or cookies for a side. Within The Den itself, premade meals are available to buy as well. Anything from microwaveable dinners to F’Real milkshakes can be purchased at the leisure of the students. Also, there is a station that serves different types of sushi, made fresh daily. In all, these along with the new features that are offered are becoming popular with students who seek a change to their dining experience at Merrimack.
Successful Grad Behind Girard Teresa Polli ’16 Staff Writer The School of Business has been a significant part of Merrimack history. The primarily undergraduate business program offers students small classrooms, creating more interaction with peers and teachers, and real-world opportunities including internships and co-ops, along with a forward-looking curriculum. The school covers the areas of accounting, finance, marketing, management and international business. It offers a number of minors, including business, accounting, finance, marketing, management, human resource
management and operations management. However, the business school at Merrimack would not be where it is today without the generosity of Frank E. Girard. When Girard first enrolled at Merrimack, he was a night student in hope of earning his associate’s degree. He worked full-time as an industrial photographer for Craig Systems Inc., but got a push from the company president, Erick Kaunders, to become a full-time student. With the chance to prove himself, Girard became a member of the student council and news editor of the school newspaper, and earned the second best grades in the
school of business in his first semester. After graduating from Merrimack in 1962 with a degree in business administration Girard entered military service, then became president and CEO of Boston Technology, later becoming CEO of Comverse Network Systems. After reaching success, Frank E. Girard was more than happy to share his prosperity with Merrimack. He donated $2.5 million to the school that pushed him and shaped him into the successful man he is today. Because of Frank Girard’s gift, many students are going to be given the opportunity to be part of the Girard School of Business.
Priests and orientation leaders came together to pirouette, tango, and disco their way to the top, as the Merrimack College Dance Team hosted its fifth annual “Dancing with the Stars” competition on Tuesday. The “stars” of the show were selected and partnered with members of the M.C. Dance Team to perform a short dance routine. Each dancing duo was offered verbal feedback (both positive and negative) and a numerical score from judges Bev Lavalee, Kevin Welch and Domenic DiVincenzo. Merrimack senior Schuyler Watkins hosted the competition, offering comedic introductions concurrent with the dancing acts. The consistent laughter from the crowd showed the competition to be equally humorous as it was entertaining. “This is going to turn into Dancing With the Scars,” were the first words out of faculty member Kevin Salemme’s mouth before the start of the show in which he performed a riveting jazz number to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” The audience waited in high anticipation for other members of the faculty and staff such as Father Raymond Dlugos. Father Ray and his partner, Kelsey Harrold, scored rather low by the judges for the night, but offered a great ballet rendition for the paying customers. The most exciting aspect of the competition came toward the end of the evening: The three “stars” who had the highest numerical score were put to a free-for-all dance battle to determine the winner. After their successful performances guided by the women of the MC dance team, they were forced to perform on their own. See STARS Continued on Page 7
Michaela McIver and P.C. Wan. Photo by Mary Unis
School News
MC Dances With the Stars
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The Beacon
October 25, 2013
Logan Brings Tales From the Front Lines Colleen Quinlan ’15 Staff Writer On Oct. 28, Merrimack College will be welcoming Lara Logan to speak at the Rogers Center for the Arts. Logan began her career in South Africa as a television and radio journalist and is currently a “60 Minutes” correspondent and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent. Logan was born in Durban and attended University of Natal graduating with a degree in commerce. During her career Logan worked for the Sunday Tribune in Durban, the Daily News, then proceeded to join
television networks such as CBS, ABC, NBC and the European Broadcast Union. Logan also worked with CNN on reporting on the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi and Tanzania and the conflict in Northern Ireland. Logan received and has been honored with awards throughout her career such as John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award from Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), followed by a second Emmy, and was a five-time American Women in Radio and Television winner. She has won an Overseas Press Club Award has twice received the RTDNA/Edward
R. Murrow Award for her reporting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Professor Kerry Johnson, who is on the committee that chooses speakers, finds Logan not only to be an excellent journalist, but a strong woman as well. “Lara has accomplished so much throughout her career,” Johnson said. “She has been in many difficult situations, but has always shown courage throughout them.” When students come to the talk on Monday, Johnson wants them to understand that being a journalist is not as easy as it looks. “I want students to see and understand that it takes a lot of intelligence and
courage to become a real journalist and engaged in world affairs,” she said. Johnson feels that Logan can open up students’ eyes to make them understand what is happening overseas and how it impacts us now and in the future. “Lara Logan has encountered difficult situations during her career, but she is tough. She has been strong and fearless with the situations that she has faced in order to get her stories,” said Johnson. “She is a great role model, especially for young women due to her passion for her profession. Her courage is a great inspiration to young women.”
Coke Will Add Life to Developing Nations James Callens ’14 Staff Writer
Love among the leaves: An autumn smooch on campus. Photo by Kelli Readey
Recently, Coca-Cola joined forces with engineering firm Deka R&D in an attempt to transform 2,000 shipping containers into water purifying stations. Dubbing the container the Ekocenter. They hope to provide isolated and developing communities with the Ekocenter to produce safe drinking water. The first prototype is currently being tested in Heidelberg, South Africa. It is 20 feet long, and has solar panels on the roof; in addition to the clean water system. The Slingshot [made by Deka R&D], uses vapor compression distillation to produce clean drinking water. The device delivers 850 liters of safe drinking water per day, using less electricity than a hair dryer (1 KWh). Coca-Cola plans to offer (in addition to Ekocenter) solar charging services, internet access, and
refrigerated storage for medications and vaccines. The Ekocenters will be distributed throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America. By 2015, it is estimated that at least 500 million liters of clean water from the Ekocenters will be produced per year. And, Coca-Cola states that they will hire maintenance for the facilities and make sure that each center meets international health standards.
Coke’s Ekocenter
Spring Concert Survey Says ... Schuyler Watkins ’14 Associate Editor-in-Chief Merrimack’s annual Spring Weekend is a when students are able to enjoy the last few weeks of school while participating in some of Merrimack’s approved, and perhaps not so approved activities. Among the on-campus entertainments that Merrimack provides for us is the event of the weekend: The Spring Concert. Each year, Merrimack students eagerly wait for that crucial announcement introducing the musical act of the weekend. In the past, we have encountered talent such as Ludacris, Girl Talk, and most recently, The Band Perry. After the success of last year’s show, students turn to the MPB, Merrimack Programming Board, for a performance that is even more colossal and euphonious then the previous. The Merrimack Programming Board is responsible for many of the activities on campus. This board, which is made up of five committees, strives to accommodate the stu-
dents of Merrimack when it comes to any program, especially the concert. Every year, a survey is sent to students including different questions relating to preferred genre of music we wish to hear, as well as how much we are willing to spend on a ticket. Well, the results are in: This year, 36.9 percent of students who took the survey voted for Country, while 25 percent voted for R&B/Rap, 17.7 percent voted DJ/Electronic, and Pop came in last with only 15.5 percent of student votes. Matt O’Neill and Lauren Foster, co-chairs of the concert committee, broke down the steps taken after the results are in. Foster explained, “First we create the genre survey and await the results. From there, we see who is in our budget and who would appeal to most students.” O’Neill added, “We have an agent who we consult with, so once we get our surveys back, we send them to him and he sends us a master list of potential artists. From there, Lauren, myself, the assistant director of student involvement, Rose Dolan, and our graduate
fellow, sit down and decide who will be performing.” Although this process is not an easy one, Foster admitted, “We take into account what students want (and) what will sell tickets on as well as off campus.” In order to have students and non-students fit comfortably inside of Volpe, there is a 3,500-ticket limit. These tickets are open to the public once Merrimack students have taken advantage of their “first come, first served” benefit. “We aim to keep ticket prices low. $20 is average,” O’Neill confirmed. “When can you get a $20 ticket to see a big name band in the front row?” Foster then added. Spring weekend this year is April 11 and 12 (April 10-13 for those who like to expand the weekend) with the concert date not yet confirmed. Regardless of the artist, the Spring Concert continues to bring the Merrimack community together in a time of celebration and festivities.
October 25, 2013
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The Beacon
This Weekend: Coming Home Tianfan Chen ’16 Staff Writer As we are reaching the end of October, Merrimack alumni, students, faculty and staff prepare to mark Homecoming Weekend, which opens tonight (Oct. 25). First on the agenda for Homecoming Weekend are the men’s soccer game vs. American International College on the Marton-Mejail Field, and women’s volleyball vs. LeMoyne at the Hamel Court at Merrimack Athletics Complex. Both start at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., the Mr. Merrimack competition will be held in Rogers Center for the Arts. Contestants will vie for the coveted title and crown. Afterward, you can cap off your night with a visit to Augie’s Pub in the Sakowich Campus Center. Major events fill the day Saturday. Starting at 8 a.m., the annual Homecoming 5k Run: Hope for Haiti will start from Austin Hall. This event will race through campus, and benefits the Merrimack College Haiti Service Learning Initiative. The Haiti Service Learning Initiative funds students’ expenses to travel to Haiti, allowing them to provide health care, education and access to clean water. At 9:30 a.m., alumni, staff, faculty and current students will gather together on third floor of the Sak for a Merrimack Reunion. The Math Cen-
ter will celebrate its 25th Anniversary at 10 a.m. at the Merrimack Club, also in the Sak; there will be a reunion for peer and professional tutors
Homecoming Tailgate and Carnival Fun Zone will be held in the Sak parking lot at 11 a.m.. A Homecoming Cookout with a 21+ Beer Tent (ID re-
Tailgaters last year. The pre-football Tailgate and Carnival is one of Homecoming’s highlights. from the Math Center. quired) at the Martone-Mejail Field Also at 10 a.m., the Annual Greek will begin at 11:30. DJ Wyatt will also Life Meeting will take place in the be joining the Tailgate before the footBlue Line Club, at the Athletic Com- ball game. There will be contests for plex. Fraternity and sorority alumni the best menu, the largest class parwill have a complimentary continen- ticipation and most Merrimack spirit. tal breakfast. The football team will play Bentley
University at Martone-Mejail Field 1 p.m. For special ticket pricing and packages, go to www.merrimack.edu/homecoming. There are three major events after the football game at 5 p.m.: a celebration of Mass in Cascia Hall; women’s volleyball vs. St. Rose at Hamel Court; and dinner will be held in Sparky’s Place in the Sake. Adult will pay $10.90 and children $8 for dinner. In the Warrior Village Courtyard adjacent to Buildings 3 and 5, the gift dedication for the Class of 2013 will begin at 5:30 right before the hockey game. Hockey kicks off at 7, against Army. The game will be played in J. Thom Lawler Arena. For tickets, go to www.merrimack.edu/homecoming.. Dueling Pianos at Augie’s Pub in the Sak, starting at 9:30, will wrap up the eventful day; 88 Keys and the Truth will be performing at the event as well. A new feature of Homecoming will be Saturday’s “Distinction in Action” tours of the newly renovated Merrimack Athletic Complex, the expanded Health Science Center and the Volpe Innovation Center, including the Markets Business Lab and the Writers House. Tours depart from the Dicorce Family Lobby, inside the Athletic Complex, at 10:30, 10:45, 11, 11:15 and 11:45 a.m.
For MC Senior, Danger Strikes Abroad Karamarie Joyce ’15 Editor in Chief Senior Kevin Sullivan’s semester abroad was cut short after a bar fight caused him to lose vision in one eye. Kevin Sullivan is a senior at Merrimack from Burlington, Mass. He goes by “Sully” for short and is known to his peers to be a laid-back, easygoing guy. Kevin is working toward a degree in business and is specifically focusing on accounting. Studying abroad is something he has always wanted to do but didn’t think his rigorous class schedule would ever allow room for him to leave campus for a semester to travel and explore another country. When the end of Kevin’s junior year came and his hard work had paid off, he realized he only had one year of college left and he wanted to make the most of it. While it is uncommon to go abroad your senior year, Kevin knew it was his last opportunity and began looking into abroad programs for fall semester 2013. He decided he wanted to travel to Australia since it was extremely far away from any other place in the world he found that interesting and wondered what life was like there. “Not many people get the chance to travel there, so I saw it as the chance of a lifetime.” Plans were finalized and at the end of the summer Kevin began his journey by boarding a plane and flying 25 hours to reach his new home for the next four months. He took classes at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia and spent his free time traveling. Two months into his time abroad the students were given a short recess from classes for their spring break. Kevin and five of his friends made plans to visit Cairns and explore the Great Barrier Reef. In their time in Cairns, they took a boat tour along the ocean then went scuba diving
through the Great Barrier Reef. With a short break they tried to fit as much in as possible and make the most out of their time off. They stayed at a local hostel that was right across from a bar where they would spend their nights socializing and meeting new people from all over. They fell into a routine of visiting this same bar each night after a day full of adventures, and on their third night they decided to switch things up; A decision Kevin wishes he never made. The third night of spring break, Kevin and his friends started off in the same bar they had been to nights prior. Later that night they went to a night club close to where they were staying with a group of locals they had met on their stay in Cairns. The group Kevin was traveling with had all become very close, and the boys looked after the girls as if they were their own sisters. According to Kevin, that night one of the girls who he was traveling with was being harassed by a local at the club and felt uncomfortable and looked to Kevin for help. Kevin’s protective instincts kicked in and he headed over to approach the man who was giving her trouble. The man saw him walking over and before Kevin could even say a word he was struck over the head with a glass bottle. “It was so sudden that I had no idea what had happened for a few seconds until my hands were filled with blood and it was dripping all over the floor.” Kevin’s friends rushed to get help and found the bouncer of the club and called for help. Kevin sat waiting for the paramedics in shock believing he had just a few scratches around his eye from the shards of glass that the broken bottle produced. Once he finally reached the hospital he was shocked to find that a significantly large piece of glass wedged completely through his left eye. “At this time I was told that it was unlikely I
would ever see out of this eye again and there was a high chance that I would lose it completely. I was unable to be operated on for over 12 hours, so I sat there for that long with the piece of glass just in my eye ball.” After the 12 hours passed, the glass was removed through surgery, but this was only the first of many surgeries Kevin must have on his road to recovery. In an odd form of luck, Kevin’s parents had already planned on visiting him and were to arrive in Australia that very next day. They pushed their week trip into a two week trip and stayed with Kevin as he traveled to the best eye doctors Australia had to offer. He stayed in two different hospitals the first for a week and the other for two days. All students who participate in Merrimack’s study abroad programs are automatically enrolled in an international insurance plan through HTH Worldwide. This insurance covers medical expenses as well as political and natural disaster evacuations. After seeing an eye specialist in Australia, the Sullivan Family made a decision together that Kevin should return home to America to continue treatment on his left eye. Although his right eye received no damage from the glass there is a chance overtime he could lose vision to his right eye from the trauma. “The main scare is a disease that people who suffer trauma to the eye can get which causes blindness in the other eye, so my main concern is preventing that.” Since traveling home Kevin has had a third surgery on his left eye at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Medical Center in Boston. “I’m waiting for my eye to heal but basically the last surgery made it so I can keep my eye for a lot longer”. This was not the last surgery he will See SULLIVAN Continued on Page 6
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October 25, 2013
Statues Enhance Campus Danger Strikes Choiwing Kong ’15 Staff Writer One of the named humanoid statues at Merrimack is Robert Frost. The statue is located on the left side of the fountain between the McQuade Library and O’Reilly Hall. Frost is face forward, with a smile plastered on his face wearing a suit. Frost looks decorous and kindly in his statue. This simple statue that Robert Frost stands at the top of has engraved, “Robert Frost, 18741963,” on the bottom of the stone. “In 1989, the statue of Robert Frost was unveiled on Merrimack’s campus in its current location. The statue was created by Jose Buscaglia and donated to the college by Mr.& Mrs. Richard McCoy,” says Marie DeMarco, a professor in the English Department. According to Robert Frost’s Wikipedia page, Frost was born in San Francisco, California, and he is one of the most popular and critically respected American poets of the twentieth century. On May 5th, 1885, Roberts’s family moved across the country from San Francisco to Lawrence, Massachusetts and was educated there. He spent a lot of time in Lawrence and New Hampshire—he preferred to stay in a rural area. He had attended a few different schools in New England, such as Lawrence High
School, Dartmouth University, and Harvard University. He had visited Merrimack College later in life. A number of his works used rural life to examine complex social and philosophical themes and many pieces were honored with different awards. There are two more statues on Merrimack’s Campus. One statue is a Jesus image statue which is located in a path next to the church, and the other one is a woman holding a book image without a specific name for the person that located in front of the Austin Hall. In the front of the woman that holds the book statue, it’s engraved, “Augustine the Learner: To understand all these things, we do not consult the speaker who gives outward expression. Rather, we consult the truth that governs the mind. Perhaps the speaker’s words reminded us to consult it. The one who is consulted is the one who teaches. He is Christ, who is said to dwell in the inner person. He is the unchangeable power of God and eternal wisdom (Eph 3:16-17)”. These last two statues on campus represent the Catholic tradition of Merrimack. Next time you’ve got time inbetween classes, make sure to check out the cool statues with interesting stories that tie into Merrimack’s mission: enlighten minds, engage hearts, and empower lives.
On Trip Abroad SULLIVAN Continued from Page 5
have on his eye. Kevin expects in the upcoming months and even years this eye will undergo several more operations. For now, Kevin has no vision out of his left eye. He can tell the when light changes and can detect some motion, however he expects that is as much as he will ever see out of this eye again. To protect both eyes Kevin was instructed by his doctors to wear glasses or sunglasses as much as possible. “I’ve been able to stay strong and confident throughout this whole thing and it has just made me appreciate life and the people around me who really care. If I lose it there is nothing I can do about it, but I’m still hoping for the best” Kevin’s plans to finish the classes he began at Swinburne University from his home. His professors have worked with him in his tough situation; they have given him alternate assignments and extended the deadlines of his work. Kevin plans to return to Merrimack for the spring semester and continue working toward his degree in business. As for the man that did this to him, the last Kevin heard he was in jail awaiting his trail.
Campus Ghost Stories Patrick Bradley ‘14 Sports Editor Schuyler Watkins ‘14 Associate Editor-in-Chief Nichole Raver ‘16 Staff Writer Have a ghost story? Is it Merrimack related? SHARE IT WITH US! We may put your #spookyexperience in this weeks paper! email:
[email protected] For those of us who grew up watching Nickelodeon’s “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” ghost stories are taken a bit more seriously. As Halloween draws closer, the superstitions grow more and more anxious and the idea of ghosts becomes much more believable. The general popula-
tion is split on this topic, though: people who believe in ghosts and people who don’t. I was never a believer in ghosts. I’m the type of person that enjoys finding faults in people’s stories, disproving the seemingly indisputable. So when I heard the story of the Ash Ghost three years ago, I was skeptical. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, here’s a synopsis via StrangeUSA: There is a mysterious fire ghost who roams Ash Centre. He wears a charred and blackened fireman outfit, and often wields an axe. A fire alarm sounds during the night on many occasions sending students outside into the dark night. Here they may catch a glimpse of his darkened figure in various dorms windows,
while they listen to the sound of the sirens rushing to the scene to secure the false alarm. Students return to a scent that is often described as being similar to that of a smoldered burnt out campfire and fire traces of ash and soot on doorknobs and handrails, though a single flame is never found. Over the years, many residents have been able to attest to the screeches and whispers that fill the hallways late at night. Sophomore, Nichole Raver, has opened up to explain her personal Ash ghost experience. “Being a transfer student, I was unaware of the ghost stories already told in my wing, and was in for a surprise. On a Thursday night around 4am, I woke up to a figure standing in the middle of my room that seemed
to be staring at my roommate’s bed. I assumed it was my roommate until I heard her snore and realized she was fast asleep. The figure floated over to my desk and before I could flash my phone’s light on it, the figure was gone. I was not a believer in ghost stories until I was able to witness it first hand at this special spot on campus.” At a glimpse, Ash Centre appears to be like any other college dorm building. However, beneath the antique exterior are the ghosts that lurk the damp halls, looking for a way out. Sure, Ash is filled with freshmen, typically immature, who may find it funny to pull fire alarms, but with the frequency that this stupid crime takes place it raises questions as to the legitimacy of the legends.
October 25, 2013
The Beacon
Page 7
MERRIMACK’S MOST INTERESTING PERSON
Anthony Brunco
Bridget Gilroy 14 Staff Writer When you see him walking around campus, you won’t hear “Hail to the Chief” playing although he is the President of SGA. This former winner of the “Unsung Hero” award is a humble student of many accomplishments and many more to come. Anthony Brunco, more popularly known as Tony Brunco is a senior majoring in History with a minor in Spanish and a minor in Pre-law. Born and raised in Saugus, Massachusetts Brunco is the oldest of three with younger brother Joe in his first year at Stonehill College and his younger sister Jennifer a sophomore in high school. Brunco attended Malden Catholic High School where he ran twelve seasons of track and was inspired to apply to Merrimack College. The tight-knit community that Merrimack offers was an obvious choice for Brunco, but it also came with other perks, “I went from MC [Malden Catholic] to MC [Merrimack College], and since we were also blue and gold I didn’t even have to get rid of my high school sweatshirts!” So how did his college career lead to being SGA President? Brunco was approached at the Student Involvement Fair his freshman year and was convinced to join SGA on the principles of public service and commitment to his school. After retiring
his competitive track career his sophomore year, Brunco became more involved in the organization and in the spring of 2012 ran for the position of President. Although he did not win that election, Brunco was not discouraged. “I lost that election, and it
President instead, and I got some much needed experience in interpersonal communications and in organizing my members.” That following year he ran for President again and won the election. This is now the second year in a row that the SGA Pres-
Anthony Brunco Photo by Bridget Gilroy was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was elected Vice-
ident is not only a Malden Catholic graduate who is a history major, but
MC Shows It CAREs Brendan Doherty ‘15 Staff Writer New students at Merrimack beware: Those of us who have been at Merrimack for a time will be able to attest to the fact that there are faculty and staff out there who truly care about the well-being of students. Those out there who might not feel this way are in luck. An off the radar committee called CARE was formed two years ago with the intent of retaining students who are thinking of leaving the college because of academic, emotional, or any other issues related to their experience here. The committee of faculty and staff members includes professor Matt Isbell and representatives from campus life, athletics, residence life, Hamel Health, academic enrichment and police services. Seemingly all departments are covered in this committee, so when a trouble student does arise they can determine exactly which department is appropriate to best help that person. Committees like this have been formed at many institutions since the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007 in order to identify students who might need a bit of help to get adjusted to campus life. This committee deals with the lower-level problems students might have — not quite counseling, but a chance for students to talk to someone on a confidential basis. The head of the committee, and Dean of First Year Students Allison Gill, can be located on the third floor of the Sakowich Center in the study abroad department.
is also named Anthony (former President Anthony Andreucci). Besides being President, Brunco also is a member of Live 2 Give (Relay For Life Planning Committee), the Augie’s Advisory Committee and has worked at the McQuade Library since his freshmen year. The McQuade is his favorite place on campus which makes sense since he is an avid reader. He has read every Harry Potter book several times, his favorite being the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”. If he isn’t enjoying a good book, you can probably find him running. This lifelong runner was born to run, competitively running since 7th grade and even works at Granite State Running Camps as a counselor during the summers. Brunco is a man of the people, for the people. He is always welcoming students to speak to him about ideas, problems or just casual conversation. President Brunco loves Merrimack and is a proud member of the strong and special community Merrimack provides for everyone. “Every day I see students, faculty, and staff alike working their tails off to make our school a better place. It doesn’t matter whether you’re overly involved, an athlete, a work study student, or more focused on your schoolwork. Everyone who has ever been a part of life on campus has one thing in common: we are all Merrimack College Warriors.”
MC Dances With the Stars STARS Continued from Page 3
Professor Matt Isbell serves on the CARE committee
Students Tyler McCarthy, Chris Mason, and Mr. Merrimack John Pellerin were given the opportunity to showcase their promising dance moves in hopes of being deemed the winner. All three participants back-flipped, break-danced and cartwheeled on stage to Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie”. The audience was encouraged to choose the winner by applauding whom they thought was deserving. Sophomore Mason gained the most praise and in turn earned the 2013 Dancing With the Stars title. Mason shared his winnings with his dance partner and MC Dance team member, Casey Mucci, who said she “owes it all to her partner. He really knows how to shake it and shimmy”. Dance team captain Megan Folino was pleased with the turnout for Dancing with the Stars. “Everything went smoothly and we appreciate all the support from the students and faculty of Merrimack. This is always such a fun event,” she said. She and her partner, Timothy O’Leary, danced to “You’re The One That I Want” from the film “Grease” — although, O’Leary suggested “’Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus would be a more appropriate song, because I’m going to come in like one.” The event proved to be a success for not only the dance team, but also all who attended. The $5 admission, paid at the door, was worth the return the audience received from the performers on stage. The MC Dance Team will put all proceeds toward their trip to Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla., this spring.
Page 8
The Beacon
October 25, 2013
NSA Not Credible After Allegations of Spying Leak
The sheer scale of the intelligence gathering is momentous and disquieting for the ostensible custodians of the nation’s security.
clients, the evidence that would be doubtlessly produced by a lawsuit remains obscured, eluding justice and a forthright debate on the issue. President Obama has emphatically advocated for a less opaque and reformed surveillance policy, declaring: “I’m tasking this independent group to step back and review our capabilities, particularly our surveillance technologies, and they’ll consider how we can maintain the trust of the people.” The president selected Director of National intelligence James Clapper to steward an increased emphasis on transparency, an individual who possesses inordinate power and knowledge of the spying program. Nonetheless, in the following interrogative posed by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, “Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” Clapper responded with “”No sir … not wittingly.” The Clintonian art of subterfuge on parade here does justice to the criticism of an agency intoxicated on the power it holds, and the dangers of failing to check this power. Obama also stated that the reform would be facilitated by an “independent” auditor, and not an individual enmeshed in the NSA’s machinations — claims patently false. This is further sullied by the penchant of the NSA to misuse and err in supervising information. A recent release of documents shows that a 2009 judge on the Federal Intelligence Court harshly reproached the agency for “violating its own procedures for gathering and analyzing phone records, and then misrepresented those violations to the court.” The Bill of Rights, wherein the Fourth Amendment explicitly provides for protection against “unreasonable search and seizures without due process of law,” owes its provenance to the Antifederalist opposition to the constitution. Turning to a champion of the Antifederalist cause is helpful in illuminating the dangers of entrusting substantial power in the hands of a few, irrespective of supposed benevolence. Patrick Henry remains remarkably prescient in his explanation of secrecy’s effects on a country’s citizens: “They may carry on the most wicked and pernicious schemes, under the dark veil of secrecy. The liberties of a people never were no ever will be secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. The most iniquitous plots may be carried out against their liberty and happiness.” In contrast, Snowden said “The Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. While the U.S. Constitution marks these programs as illegal, my government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair.” How invigorating to know these problems remain perennial, and that, regardless of epoch, an essential defense of fundamental liberties should so persistently come to the fore.
Opinion
Edward Snowden’s revefederal bureaucracy is devoid latory and courageous unof self-aggrandizing officials veiling of the U.S. and bereft of corrupt is to surveillance apparatus syscommit to a view of statecraft tematically documents the both ahistorical and foolish. capacious and unconstituThe dishonesty of the protional powers granted to the gram’s minders offers a clear National Security Agency to harbinger of these trends, scrutinize the internet and and exhibits what entrusting telephone records of Ameri‘benign’ leaders with significan citizens. power entails. cant RogeR ThaT The New York Times docGen. Keith Alexander, the Roger McCormack uments what was originally director of the NSA, apropos proclaimed a necessary precaution of the debate the leak ignited, said “we against terrorist attacks, has trans- can audit the actions of our people 100 formed into an abrogation of rights ex- percent, and we do that,” though the plicitly provided in the Fourth complexities of the NSA bureaucracy Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: raise relevant questions regarding the “Since 2010, the National Security capacity for a comprehensive audit. Agency has been exploiting its huge col- Consider the claims of Snowden’s ease lections of data to create sophisticated at accessing the NSA’s records: He had a graphs of some Americans’ social con- top secret security clearance and his acnections that can identify their associ- tions were largely unaudited. “At cerates, their locations at certain times, tain levels, you are the audit,” an their traveling companions and other intelligence official told NBC News. personal information, according to The New Yorker reported that newly disclosed documents and inter- Alexander also lied audaciously about views with officials.” the spying program, denying “14 times This policy is predicated upon the ca- that the agency had the technical capapabilities of intelligence officials to “dis- bility to intercept e-mails and other oncover and track” overseas targets, line communications in the United linking disparate elements within the States.” broad web of email, internet, and phone The secrecy of the program is derived records the NSA has woven. The NSA from the supposed rectitude secrecy prooperates with minimal scrutiny, as the vides, as transparency is often derided Times reports: “Almost everything for impairing efficiency and security. about the agency’s operations is hidden, The malfeasance at the highest level of and the decision to revise the limits con- the program discounts this critique howcerning Americans was made in secret, ever — a critique often fuelled by fearwithout review by the nation’s intelli- mongering and authoritarian zeal gence court or any public debate.” rather than genuine concern for the proThe sheer scale of the intelligence gram’s constitutionality. gathering — estimated to be as much as 700 million phone records per day in 2011 (not to mention email and internet records) — is momentous and disquieting for the ostensible custodians of the nation’s security. Suppose, for instance, that an Iranian or Chinese hacker breaks into this system. Both countries have proven their prowess in this domain numerous times, and the minute documentation the program tabulates could prove to be invaluable for foreign governments. The threat is also inherent to the unbridled power of the NSA. Even regarding the Obama administration in a favorable light does not remove the fears For example, an unclassified report of flagrant abuse, as a future president published by five federal agencies found far less charitable could easily be elected that the program “had difficulty citing with the same immense power at his specific instances when the National Sedisposal. This provides a significant curity Agency’s wiretapping program caveat against centralized and unac- contributed to successes against terrorcountable forms of power by elites; ists,” and “found that other intelligence whose philosopher king spirit is re- tools used in assessing security threats flected in the indifference and contempt posed by terrorists provided more timely with which they regard the U.S. popu- and detailed information.” lace. Congress has passed a slew of laws Glenn Greenwald, the Guardian jour- providing immunity from legal accountnalist who broke the story, said the NSA ability for groups engaged in warranthas the power and “the technological ca- less wiretapping, most notably in the pability, if not the legal authority, to tar- 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance get even U.S. persons for extensive Amendments Act, which provided electronic surveillance without a war- retroactive immunity for institutions enrant.” gaged in 4th amendment violations. The The NSA countered the claim that the ACLU’s attempt to challenge the constiprogram would be suspect to abuse, say- tutionality of this act was struck down ing “Our tools have stringent oversight by the Supreme Court, which ruled that and compliance mechanisms built in at because the ACLU cannot actually several levels.” But to imagine that a prove that the NSA is spying on its
October 25, 2013
The Beacon
Page 9
Bangerz: She’s Just Being Miley Ashley Yenick ’14 Copy Editor Teddy bears, wrecking balls and twerking have made Miley Cyrus consistently in the media in the last couple of months. From her performance at the 2013 MTV’s VMA’s to her newest music video “Wrecking Ball,” everyone has buzzing about the 20-year-old Nashville native. So when Miley’s new album came out on Oct. 4, the critics were ready to weigh in on her newest album, Bangerz, and so were we. Here’s what we found: 1. “Adore You”: A slow, hip-hop ballad with minimal lyrics, Cyrus sings about her love (who we assume is Liam Hemsworth): “I could do this for eternity you and me.” Unfortunately, Cyrus ended her engagement with Hemsworth this past September, and it’s believed that most of the romantic songs on Bangerz are about him. This track resembles Rhianna’s ballad “Stay.” 2. “We Can’t Stop”-The first single proved to be a comeback song for Cyrus. With its catchy lyrics and dance-y beat, it was evident that it was one of the summer’s top pop hits of 2013. This song’s lyrics describe a real-life house party that Cyrus and her friends went to and “We Can’t Stop” was the result. 3. “SMS (Bangerz)” ft. Britney Spears (Explicit)The title track on Cyrus’ album, this song shows that Cyrus is adopting a new hip hop sound. Performing the track with Britney Spears, this duo raps about “Bangerz.” We still haven’t figured out what “Bangerz” is about, but it makes a catchy tune on the album. 4. “4X4” ft. Nelly-This song in particular on her album has a county, pop, and hip hop feel with Nelly rapping on the track produced by artist Pharrell. In this song, Cyrus sings about being a “female rebel,” which becomes a recurring theme on Bangerz. 5. “My Darling” ft. The Future-A hip hop twist to “Stand by Me”, Cyrus performs this track with The Future. From the lyrics, “What happened to the feeling? / I wish it wouldn’t stop / we were about to be together” sends us signals that maybe Hemsworth and Cyrus’ relationship ended before the album released, or it could be about someone else. 6. “Wrecking Ball”-By now, you’ve either heard
the power pop ballad or seen the video where Cyrus is sitting naked on a wrecking ball. We hear the emotion in her voice as she sings about how a lover ‘wrecked’ her and how she should have “let them in.” This song is easily one of the most popular on her album and one of our favorites. 7. “Love Money Party” ft. Big Sean-This song with Big Sean and Cyrus’ line “Love Money Party” reminds us of Jay-Z’s “$100 Bill” and Beyoncé featuring Andre 300’s “Back to Black” from The Great Gatsby Soundtrack. This song has an old school hip hop feel to it. We definitely think that this song could have fit into the “Gatsby” category with the subjects like “love money party” being Jay Gatsby’s theme. 8. “#GETITRIGHT”-Cyrus’ repetitive line, “but we gotta get it right, we can’t get it wrong” is the basis of this song. Singing about a potential significant other and how she wants to be with that person. Again, this romantic song can be referred back to Hemsworth. 9. “Drive”-This song is reminiscent of her older music, the more pop-y, electric sound that she’s had for her past albums. Like the other songs on this album, this is also a romantic song, talking about how an ending of a relationship and how she feels cheated and lied to, singing the lyrics, “But all the broken promises I won't miss I'm finished/All I know are the facts/That when I look you in the
eyes/ All I see are the lies.” This song has a deeper meaning than the other songs on the album, like “We Can’t Stop” and “4X4.” 10. “FU” ft. French Montana-This song’s title is kind of um…self explanatory. Cyrus sings about how she was blind to the fact that she was being mistreated by someone, including the lyrics, “then I accidentally saw few things in your cell / I even LOL’ed/ Man I should’ve known.” The song starts off with a fast beat and then slows down, making it an interesting combo of songs, including a rap by French Montana. 11. “Do My Thang” (Explicit)-This song reminds us of a Nicki Minaj song, filled with fast rap lyrics, catchy beats and repetitive one liners. Cyrus’ repetitive lines in this song happen to be “Imma do my thang” and “I’m a southern belle, crazier than hell.” One of our favorites on the album, it’s definitely worth listening to twice. 12. “Maybe You’re Right”-Another romantic song on the album, this relates to “FU”, talking about how a chapter in her life has closed: “You might think I’m crazy/ that I’m lost and foolish leaving you behind/ Maybe you’re right.” Other than the theme being partying, the theme of this album tends to be more romantic than partying. 13. “Someone Else”-Like the title suggests, the overall message of this song is about becoming a different person after a hard breakup and ‘loosing your heart.’ Cyrus states: “I’m hurting myself/ I’ve turned into someone else.” This song is the final song to Bangerz. It’s definitely a different way to end an album, while most artists end on a positive note rather than a glum one. Our overall rating: 3.5/5 Since this was Cyrus’ first album since 2010, she considered Bangerz to be her first album, although she has had multiple albums in the past. We loved Miley’s Can’t Be Tamed album, and this album is vastly different from Bangerz. However, this album does have some dance-y songs that we love, including some ballads like “Wrecking Ball.” Miley recalled this album being “Miley 2.0,” and we definitely agree. Her new ‘southern hip hop’ sound is different than her dance-y pop songs she’s had in the past. We admit—this album’s growin’ on us Milers, nice work.
New Lab Tracks Markets Vince Bellino ’14 Financial Editor Shane Simbeck ’15 Staff Writer A Bloomberg Terminal is essentially a computer system provided by Bloomberg L.P. that provides access to real time financial market data or any desired news across the world. The Bloomberg Markets Lab is located in the back of the Volpe expansionary area. In the lab, there are over 10 terminals, equipped with dual monitors, and specialized keyboards. The enhanced keyboards provide color- coded keys that allow easy accessibility to common keystrokes combinations. The world of finance is a dynamic marketplace that requires a continuous level of high operational efficiency. With access to the Bloomberg Terminals, students will enhance their financial knowledge and resourcefulness within the competitive industry. Students will have the opportunity to complete Bloomberg’s core requirement exam that simply highlights their key functions and resources offered for dynamic accessibility. Upon completion, students may choose to become certified within four market sec-
tors: Equities, Fixed Income, Commodities, and Foreign Exchange. Equities can be classified as an asset class that consists of investment vehicles such as common stock or a mutual fund. A mutual fund is, but not limited to a compilation of various stocks. Fixed Income may refer to debt instruments like Treasury Securities (government issued debt) or Municipal Bonds (which are state issued securities to finance state capital expenditures I.e. Bridge). Commodities are physical goods that may be exchanged in commerce such as oil or coffee. Lastly, Foreign Exchange provides market data on exchange rates that may determine the strength of our global currencies. The examples listed above within each sector are only a brief glimpse of the myriad of alternative investment vehicles that trade on a daily basis. Through the accessibility of the Bloomberg Terminals, Merrimack College students will have the ability to develop a broader understanding of the capital markets. All students are welcome to learn about the opportunities provided by the Bloomberg Markets Lab and expand upon their financial knowledge.
Leaving summer behind -- embracing fall on campus. Photo by Kelli Readey
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The Beacon
October 25, 2013,
Women’s Soccer Peaking on the Pitch Pat Bradley ’16 Sports Editor Women’s soccer captains Marissa DePoalo and Danielle Dion open up about the intricacies of this year’s squad, as well as why this may be the program’s best team ever Pat Bradley: You guys are pretty good, but have had your ups and downs. How do you feel about the team? Marissa DePoalo (MD): There’s definitely key contributors from every class, it’s a team effort. We say it all the time – there’s 31 girls on our team and it takes 31 girls to win. It’s definitely the theme this year. Danielle Dion (DD): There are so many new girls so they’re kind of getting into the swing of things. But with the upperclassmen helping the younger kids out it’s easier to get the groove going and get into the swing of things. With being so young, I think we have some gaps but also as a team we do too. We haven’t been consistent – there’s always been one game we win and one we lose – but we have the talent. This is one of the best teams [head coach] Gabe [Mejail] has seen in a while and he’s been coaching for so long so it’s crazy for him to say that. There’s still enough time for us to get the momentum going. You talk about all the talent, but what’s it like as captains for you seeing all the inconsistency? Is it frustrating? MD: It’s definitely frustrating because we see our potential and how good we can be. We just beat AIC – the No. 6 team in the country – they were undefeated in our conference, it was a huge game and we came out guns blazing and we won. But then we just lost to St. Rose who is a similar team to AIC, so it’s definitely frustrating because we see how good we can be. Is there one specific thing that stands out that you’re waiting to click so everything comes together? DD: We have so many upperclassmen so we’re waiting for juniors and sophomores to step and realize they have a voice as well and to teach the younger girls that they do. We want everyone to have a voice, even the freshman. If we’re [Dion and DePaulo] wrong, they can yell at us. We’re seniors but we don’t care if someone tells us what to do because it’s only going to make us better. We’re slowly getting there, and it is a slow progression, but it doesn’t take anything away from what we’ve already done. Losing to some of the teams we have lost to, it’s tough to take those losses, it beats us down. But when we take those losses, it’s only building us stronger to show us what we can actually do. Coach says it all the time – he sees it in us. We do have the power for us to go far. Our goalie [Nicole Curtis just had two NE-10 Keeper of the Week honors. She’s doing great. So us building off that, the AIC game and everything else we have the pieces but it’s just a matter of putting it all together. MD: And we do get up for big games, we beat big teams like SNHU – last year’s conference champions – and we get up for all those games and
Golf Ends Season in Top 10
Coach Mejail says this year’s squad is one of the best he’s seen in a long time.
Warriors Earning Top Honors
By Sean Talbot ’15 Staff Writer Despite having only eight members of the team - two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshman - Merrimack women’s golf team enjoyed a terrific season. The ladies just finished up their fall campaign with a final tournament in Puerto Rico, far away from the comforts of their home course - Black Swan Country Club - in Georgetown, Mass. Warriors junior golfer Ali Reed, who has been golfing for over 10 years, had many good things to say about the season. She, along with several other teammates, had a very successful season. With their efforts they are currently ranked No. 9 in the region. Reed shot her personal best round at the Wellesley Invitational this season in October. A lot of the success can be attributed to coach Nick Crovetti. According to Reed, Crovetti is “a fantastic coach who knows so much about the game and has all of us improve our scores and swing. He works so hard to get us in the best tournaments and recruit the top players every year.” The team has a lot to look forward to in upcoming years with most of their team returning.
its something we can take and run with. And in addition, all of our girls are so talented. All 11 girls on the field at any given time could be all-stars in any other conference. So because our team is so well rounded, other teams aren’t going to be able to push us any further. You’re seniors, you clearly don’t have any trouble getting up for big games. The younger girls struggle with that a bit – do you think it’s something that will start to hit home for them? MD: It’s definitely a learning experience – I said this to our team at the beginning of the season: you think as a freshman ‘Oh, I have three more years. We lost this playoff game, we’re done.’ You say it again sophomore year: ‘oh, I have two more years.’ You say it again junior year, ‘oh I still have senior year.’ Well here it is – senior year. There’s no more years to go, this is it. We’ve really tried to clue that in for them. They may think they have time, but they’re never going to have a team like this and this opportunity again. Catch the rest of this exclusive interview on www.merrimacknewspaper.com
Pat Bradley ’14 Sports Editor Several Merrimack Warriors have been in the news lately, garnering regional and even national honors. In women’s field hockey, freshman Nicole Bradley had a breakout seven-point game against St. Michael’s College, scoring three goals, including her first collegiate goal, and adding an assist in a 4-0 victory over the Purple Knights. Bradley’s classmate Maura Doyle took home the NE-10 Rookie of the Week award, while sophomore goaltender Madison Davis has taken home the conference’s Goaltender of the Week award two straight weeks. On the soccer pitch, senior Nicole Curtis sports a 1.04 goals-against average, and was featured in The Boston Globe following her NE-10 Goaltender of the Week award at the end of last month. Both the men’s and women’s cross-country teams received a favorable ranking in the PreNortheast 10 Championships Coaches Poll, coming in at fourth and third place, respectively.
Over in Lawler Arena, junior defenseman Dan Kolomatis earned the Hockey East Player of the Week award following a five-point weekend (1-4-5) that saw Merrimack earn its first win of the young season against Mercyhurst University. On the football field, seniors Joe Clancy earned his third conference Player of the Week award while his teammate Quinn McDonough took his third Special Teams Player of the Week nod. The recognitions came after Clancy completed a school and conference record 51 passes, breaking his own record. McDonough returned his second kickoff for a touchdown this season. Finally, the volleyball team is racking up awards. Freshman Tara Stuhr took home her third conference Freshman of the Week award, as well as her third Setter of the Week award. Stephanie Sheehan, her junior teammate, received her third conference Player of the Week award just two weeks after earning the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week award after averaging 5.17 kills and 2.83 digs per set while sporting a .390 hitting percentage.
October 25, 2013
The Beacon
Page 11
WARRIOR SPOTLIGHT
Jocelyn McLain letes something to aspire to. I like that you can continue going with it and it only gets better when you get older.
Lance Hill ’15 Staff Writer The Merrimack women’s volleyball team is on the road to success. With an 8-11 record, however, the ladies are still pushing for that No. 1 spot in the NE-10 conference. New players have been added to the team who have had such a positive impact to the program, and one of those is freshman outside hitter Jocelyn McLain. Check out why you should be at the volleyball games this season and who Jocelyn is as a student athlete at Merrimack in this week’s Warrior Spotlight.
Q. Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you perform before a game? A. I’m not that superstitious, but I always have to have all my clothes folded. I stack my pants, jacket, my warm ups then my jerseys. I have to fold them a certain way and I only wear one specific type of underwear. And I do my hair the same way every time.
Q. Out of all the sports in the world, why did you choose volleyball?
Q. What is your most memorable moment on the volleyball court?
A. When I was little, I used to watch my sister (Chazity Gonzalez) play volleyball. I really wanted to play and I kept playing because I really like it! The team aspect of it is great and it is very fast paced.
A. During a high school game, my senior year we were playing Rocky High School, and they are a really good team. They hadn’t lost one set to anybody. They still beat us overall but me and this other girl were yelling back and forth on the court and it got really intense. It was just a really heated game, probably the best game of the season. Everyone played the best they could have ever played, it was really awesome.
Q. You said you like the team aspect of the sport, what specifically do you like about it? A. It’s different from other sports where you can have one superstar run the ball up and down the court or field. But with volleyball you cant. You can only touch the ball once. You can’t have just one really good player, you have to count on everyone or else no one stands out. You really have to count on your team and trust each other. Q. How old you were when you started playing? A. I started playing when I was 8 and picked up club volleyball when I was 12. I’ve been playing ever since. Q. Is there anyone you model your skill set or gameplay after? A. Angela Knopf. She played in the Olympics and I train with her a lot when I’m back home in Colorado. She taught me a lot about effort and always giving it your all and how to be a team
Jocelyn McLain ’17 player because not everyone works the way you do, so you have to find different ways to motivate each person and to get the most out of them. She’s really awesome! Q. Is volleyball harder than any other sport? A. No, I think golf is the hardest thing in the world! I can’t hit the ball; I get angry and I just wanna break the club. But I feel like every sport is a mental game. So you have to be able to harness your mind differently for it. Q. Is it rewarding to you that volleyball is an Olympic sport and is something that is recognized on a global scale? A. Yeah, I feel like it gives people a different set of eyes to look at the sport with when they see these amazing athletes playing it and they see what the sport can be compared to what they might actually watch. And I think it gives ath-
Q. If you could play any other sport, what would it be? A. I am going to give you two sports: I would live to wrestle. It would be so cool to be a wrestler! And, I would play basketball because I would dunk! You can’t dunk in volleyball! Q. Why should fans go watch you volleyball games and what is cool about volleyball that most people don’t know? A. Most people don’t realize how many rules there actually are in volleyball and how certain people can’t pass certain lines on the court. There’s a lot more technique involved than you realize. And people should come because I think it is so fun to watch because it is so fast paced. The games are kind of quick and there’s always something happening.
MC Woman Harriers on the Rise Justin Ruano ’15 Staff Writer If you haven’t paid much attention to Merrimack’s women’s cross country, it is time to tune in. The team checks in ranked No. 2 in the East region, and ranked No.31 in the country. The women’s team has been generating wins and strong finished early and often this season. Coach Christopher Cameron had this to say about how the team has been able to continually find success. “The women's cross country team has had great success so far this season. Our team victory back in September on a very tough course at the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Invitational held at Franklin Pierce University helped propel us to a No. 31 national ranking and a No. 2 ranking in the East region. The women have worked hard since preseason and it definitely shows. I've told the team that we want hungry runners, not complacent ones, so hopefully we'll continue with this in mind and build on our early success. Three teams will go to the National Championships this year from our region and the women know that if we are going to be one of them, we'll need to have an extremely tight pack for our 1-7 [first through seventh place-finishing] runners. We have been practicing with this in mind and I'm eager to see how we respond to the challenge in the upcoming championship races." Rising from the No. 6 spot in the region, the Lady Warriors have seen a lot of success early in the season with three top-3 finishes, including a third place finish in the season opener at the Shacklette Invitational at Saint Anselm College, first place finish at the Kirsh Cross Country Cup at Franklin Pierce, and a second place finish at the Cod Fish Bowl Invitational in Franklin Park. Senior Fiona Coleman likes what she’s seen from her team through the
first six weeks. “We've had a strong and optimistic start to our season. During every race and workout, we've ran an incredibly tight pack and our team vibe has been so motivating. I'm beyond excited to see what we can do in our big races to come!”
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The Beacon
Mathew Galvao ’17 Staff Writer This past weekend, the Merrimack hockey team opened up its home schedule against an unfamiliar Mercyhurst team. This is the first time these two teams have met in their schools’ histories. After two hard-fought contests, the series would end in a split with each team capturing its first win of the season. On Friday, Merrimack skated onto home ice for the first time this season. The Warriors looked a little out of sync in the first few minutes of the game. Tom McCarthy would get called 8:27 into the game to give the Lakers the early power play. Just like that, Mercyhurst’s Ryan Misiak would score on the PP to give the Lakers the early 1-0 lead. Just five minutes later Merrimack got on the board with a goal by Justin Hussar to tie the game at 1-1 for the Warriors. The goal was assisted by junior Dan Kolomatis and senior Rhett Bly. The period ended with the score tied at 1-1. The middle frame saw both teams notch a goal. 7:30 into the frame the Lakers’ Daniel O’Donoghue slid the puck past Warrriors goaltender Sam Marotta to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead. The Warriors answered back when junior forward Josh Myers shot the puck past Lakers goalie Jimmy Sarjeant to even the score at 2-2. Clayton Jardine and Kolomatis had the assists. The score was tied 2-2 heading into the final period. The third period remained scoreless until the very end of the game, when Mercyhurst’s Nick Jones scored with 34 seconds remaining, breaking the hearts of the Merrimack faithful and giving the Lakers their first win of the season. Lakers goalie Jimmy Sarjeant made 33 saves for the win and Warriors goalie Sam Marotta made 18 saves on 21 shots. Kolomatis had two assists for the Warriors and Vinny Scotti and Rhett Bly lead the team with 12 faceoff wins. Warriors Coach Mark Dennehy said that Merrimack played well, though his players tried to do too much. “It’s a bounce of the puck. I thought we played really well at times. I think the biggest area of concern for me is our breakout at times. We get a little too deliberate and try to hit home runs instead of singles,” said Dennehy “The majority of the opportunities they got were because they were patient and we tried to force things, and they capitalized on it.” On Saturday the Warriors brought a totally different style of play, along with the goals, in their 5-2 win over the Lakers. In this game the Warriors’ power play came out with a bang, scoring three out of the five goals. Kolomatis had a big game with one goal and two assists. The first period saw both teams come out flying in a high pace and some chippy play. It would, however, remain scoreless. The Lakers opened up the scoring just 38 seconds into the second period. But just three minutes later the Warriors tied the game at 1-1 on a goal from junior Quinn Gould. The goal was assisted by Mike Collins. Just a couple of minutes later Merrimack’s Kolomatis added the go-ahead goal for the Warriors
Goalie Sam Marotta, at top, stops a Mercyhurst shot; above, the Warriors await the start of an earlier game in Denver. assisted by Hampus Gustafsson and Collins. The middle frame would end with the score tied 2-2. Merrimack wasted no time extending the lead in the third with Hussar notching his second goal of the weekend to give the Warriors a 3-1 advantage. John Gustafsson scored to bring the lead to 4-1. The Lakers cut the lead to 4-2 minutes later. The Warriors killed a five-minute major penalty to senior Shawn Bates (game misconduct) with a late goal by Vinny Scotti. Merrimack took a 5-2 win, their first of the season. Merrimack goaltender Rasmus Tirronen made 20 saves for the win. Collins had four helpers while Kolomatis had a goal and two assists. “We have a lot of icebags in that room, but that how you have to play to win a college hockey game. It’s hard,’’ said Dennehy. “They get the five-minute power play and I think that stretch is the best Merrimack has played all year.’’ Kolomatis had five points this weekend and seemed to really lead the way for this Warriors team. Dennehy feels he has really stepped up his game and has now become a man and a leader. “He’s taken steps. He’s a man now. He wants to be a leader, and I think he’s played as well as any defenseman so far this year,’’ said the coach. The snake-bitten power play scored three goals to night and Dennehy feels it was because his team was tenacious around the net. “They look pretty when they go in but they don’t have to be pretty. At the end of the day it’s about getting the puck to the net and banging it home, and that’s what we did tonight. We were very tenacious around the net,’’ Dennehy said. With the win the Warriors improved to 1-3 on the year and will face Army at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lawler Arena.
Sports
Warriors Split Weekend Series
October 25, 2013
