Volume 62, No. 1 Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010

Transcription

1 The Gwynmercian Volume 62, No. 1 Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Dean of Business Suddenly Quits, Personal Reasons Cited Dan Freed, Rebecca Avery, and Beth Harrison Mohamed Latib, dean of the School of Business and head of the Center for Lifelong Learning, shocked students and faculty when he abruptly resigned at the beginning of the semester after only one year at his post. He reportedly left quickly, clearing out his office right away. After initially agreeing to an interview, Latib was unavailable for comment, but President Kathleen Owens said in an to faculty and staff that he left for personal reasons. Ralph Hoffman is now serving as interim dean for the School of Business and former Vice President for Academic Affairs. Hoffman has been at Gwynedd- Mercy College for 25 years and has a wide variety of experience. Startled students expressed concern at the news. I think most of the business students were very surprised by the dean s resignation. I think most of us were confused and worried about what would be happening next. However, once we found out that the new interim dean of the School of Business would be Dr. Hoffman everyone was relieved and excited. I am sure that all of the students wish Dr. Latib all the best in his future endeavors and are hopeful for a successful academic year, said senior Sarah Schiendelman. History professor, Michael Clinton, said that he too was surprised. News of Latib s resignation was how he learned a midday meeting for lunch they had scheduled was cancelled. I didn t get my lunch, joked Clinton. While personal reasons is only official word on the resignation, it is known Latib was always more than just dean of the School of Business. Latib was and is the executive vice-president of business development at PeriscopeIQ, a Bethlehem-based organization Acclaimed Sister of Mercy Speaks at Academic Convocation Ewa Protasiuk Mercy Week featured some sister star power this year with a keynote speech by one of Time magazine s 2009 top 100 most influential people. Sister Mary Scullion, RSM, spoke to a packed house in Julia Ball Auditorium for Gwynedd-Mercy College s annual academic convocation. Scullion is perhaps the best known living Sister of Mercy. She has rubbed shoulders with Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, and Jon Bon Jovi, but her most significant achievement is Project H.O.M.E., a highly successful program that provides housing and services to homeless people in Philadelphia. In keeping with ongoing celebrations of the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in the City of Brotherly Love, Scullion discussed mercy and what it means in the present day. Mercy and compassion are not nouns, but are verbs, maintained Scullion. Mercy is all about taking the crucified Jesus down from the cross. Scullion drew parallels between idolatrous cultures of old and modern society, describing those suffering in society as the victims of the idols of materialism, prestige, and power that we worship in our society today. According to Scullion, mercy means reaching out to those suffering in one s midst no matter the cost; otherwise one simply becomes part of the idolatry. One is faced with a choice, Scullion declared: to use one s talents to worship idols, or to use them to reform society and work for the common good. She said that those who work for social justice can expect to face obstacles and that faith can be costly, but it is deeply humanizing. In her passionate speech, she argued that mercy requires that people know the suffering of others and take it personally. This then necessitates concern for and solidarity with those in poverty. For those who are successful in life, she urged those who have benefitted from social stability and status to help those who are less fortunate. that specializes in assisting businesses in making strategic decisions. According to his biography on the PeriscopeIQ website, Latib is one of the nation s top business Organizational Development experts and has advised many major corporations, such as Siemens and Pennsylvania Power and Light. He also has received over $4 million in grants to support businesses to develop employees, according to the website. His bio also notes that Latib is an active member of numerous professional organizations and serves on several boards. Several students in the School of Business have said that he was rarely in his office on campus, which may have been a result of his busy schedule. Prior to working at Gwynedd-Mercy, Latib was the Vice President of Program and Strategic Development and also an MBA director at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. While at DeSales, Latib created business programs in Peru and Romania, as well as developing business alliances in India, Italy, Germany, and Argentina. A web bio from his position claims that he has led numerous global study tours that were intended to help students to develop an understanding of the larger world through intercultural and immersion engagement. However, despite these and many other achievements during his career at DeSales, which lasted more than ten years, Latib accomplished little during his year of work at Gwynedd-Mercy, according to some. He had a bunch of plans for the School of Business and when he stepped into his position, he had set several goals, said a student from the business club who asked not to be identified. He had set up all this stuff and made all the promises, and then just left. However, in her , President Owens commended Latib s contributions to Gwynedd-Mercy College over the past year he was here. Sr. Susan Gallagher greatly appreciated having Scullion speak at Gwynedd- Mercy College about justice and compassion. I have admired Sister Mary for years; her care of the homeless is an important witness for all us concerned for marginalized persons of our society. What I think is especially important for us is to have a model of someone who acts for justice - everyday. Sister Mary is concerned for the homeless and for the structures of society, which make affordable housing so out of reach for the poor. I was really glad to have her visit GMC and have out community members meet her, as a person and as a Sister of Mercy, Gallagher commented. Sr. Ellen Murray also enjoyed Scullion s presence at our college. To welcome S. Mary Scullion to Gwynedd-Mercy College was a joy and an blessing for me not only because I have know Mary since she first came to the Sisters of Mercy and because of her a long connection to Gwynedd-Mercy College but even more importantly because any time Mary speaks and in all she does she puts what is of deep concern to all of us in focus. Her coming is never about herself as she is quick to remind anyone who will listen. Her passion and focus is what we as Sisters of Mercy and all in the Circle of Mercy are passionate about that is those persons who are most in need in our city and in our world. As the mission of Project Home states that none of us are home until all of us are home, said Murray. Scullion is a graduate of Saint Joseph s University, but she took classes at Gywnedd-Mercy College as well. She was introduced by Gwynedd-Mercy President Kathleen Owens. The event began with an invocation by Father John Collins and closed with light refreshments. Mohamed Latib (above), former Dean of Business at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Regardless of how and why Latib s resignation happened, the School of Business is now without a permanent dean. Robert Funk, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, who is himself in an interim position, explained that the process of hiring a new dean is complicated. Gwynedd-Mercy is going to start the process of searching for a new dean quickly, but it takes a long time to find the right person for the job. Advertisements are going to be sent out during this semester after faculty re-evaluates the job description and the specific requirements associated with the title. After Gwynedd-Mercy has received applications, phone interviews will be conducted with the applicants and these interviews decide who will come in for interviews on campus. Funk stressed that the new dean has to blend well with the school by offering new ideas and keeping the mission of Gwynedd-Mercy intact. He hopes that a new dean will be hired by this summer in preparation for the school year. Funk also explained that in the meantime, the business school is focusing on re-evaluating their undergraduate programs, particularly in regards to starting new concentrations such as accounting, marketing, and human relations. For now, Hoffman is in charge. My personal goal for this year is to stay close to our current and prospective students, he said. As a graduate of Gwynedd-Mercy College, I am most proud of our Mercy heritage and the exceptional educational programs that we provide. It is always a great opportunity when I can share that with others. Hoffman joins a set of interims in high positions at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Gwynedd-Mercy also does not have permanent deans for the School of Education and the School of Arts and Sciences. Sandra Mangano is serving as interim dean for the School of Education. Lisa McGarry holds the same position in the School of Arts and Sciences. Funk will only be at Gwynedd-Mercy as Vice-President for Academic Affairs for one year. To learn more about what a dean s job entails, visit:

2 Page 2 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 G M C H i r e s N e w C o m m u n i c a t i o n Program Coordinator Daniel Freed This summer, Gwynedd-Mercy College installed a brand new major and program into their establishment Communication. The school hired Janis Chakars, a new faculty member, to lead the program. Previously, Gwynedd-Mercy only had a concentration in communication, but now, the school has the field of study as a full-fledged major. Lisa McGarry, Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, says that a college-wide committee, the New Academic Programs Subcommittee of the Enrollment Management Committee, was established to investigate possible new majors for the college. Eventually, this committee recommended that the School of Arts and Sciences look into a major in communication, based on faculty surveys and inquiries from prospective students. Over several years, the Language, Literature, and Fine Arts division discussed what kind of communication major we felt would be the best fit for the college, says McGarry. The result, she says, is a program that focuses on multi-media communications, yet has a foundation that is firmly placed in literature and writing. We feel that this program will meet the needs of students entering a continually changing job market, McGarry added. A search committee advertised that they were looking for a new head of communications, and received approximately 40 applications. The school then conducted phone interviews with some of the more qualified applicants. After narrowing their list of applicants even further, the committee invited the remaining applicants to come to Gwynedd-Mercy for a face-to-face interview process. It was at this interview that Chakars really became noticeable. He not only met the criteria in our position description, but had a teaching philosophy that was in harmony with the culture at Gwynedd-Mercy, says McGarry. One of Chakars most important qualities, McGarry explains, is his experience in building communication programs from the ground up. Chakars has a wide and unique array of work experience, ranging from public relations to working as an editor for the Mongolian state news agency. He also jokes that he might be the only person to have ever written articles for both Military History magazine and The Nonviolent Activist. After graduating from Indiana University with a Ph.D. in mass communications, Chakars, 38, got a job at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. There, he was put in charge of expanding a journalism minor; two years later, he rewrote the curriculum and developed student media. Although he says he had no problems with UNCW, Chakars admits that it wasn t a good family situation for me. He and his wife, Melissa Chakars, who is also a college professor, were both looking for permanent teaching jobs in the same area, which is a huge challenge in academia. As luck would have it, Melissa got a teaching job at Saint Joseph s University and they are both living in Philadelphia. I m really grateful to Gwynedd-Mercy, Chakars remarked. To Chakars, social responsibility is crucial to journalism and mass communications. One of the things that attracted him to GMC was that social justice is an important part of Gwynedd s mission. I ve always been in the state school system, says Chakars. Gwynedd-Mercy was really refreshing it takes its mission much more seriously. Chakars wants to use this existing commitment to social activism to create a communications program like no other. In the communication program, he says, we have a chance to make mercy more than just a slogan at Gwynedd. Although on the surface Chakars may not appear to be very different from a lot of other professors at GMC, there is one thing that sets him apart from all the rest: hardcore punk music. In the late 1980s-early 1990s, Chakars played guitar for Citizens Arrest, an influential hardcore band that was instrumental in reviving punk music in New York City. It may sound counterintuitive, he says, but punk music actually suits the Mercy mission better than you might think. Listen to just about any hardcore punk Sigma Phi Sigma Strives to Serve Others Beth Harrison Well-rounded individuals from Gwynedd-Mercy College s honor society, Sigma Phi Sigma, showed at its Induction Ceremony the promise and desire to continually demonstrate mercy and justice in the community. Sigma Phi Sigma s ideal is to strive for excellence in scholarship, fidelity to the mission of the college, and service to the civic community, according to its pledge. The honor society s Induction Ceremony, on September 26, inducted fifteen students and three honorary individuals from the Gwynedd community. This year s inductees evidently display Gwynedd-Mercy College s mission everyday with a compassionate attitude along with academic excellence. During the school year, Sigma Phi Sigma creates events to promote mercy and justice in order to make the world a better place to live, according to its pledge. In the fall semester, one of these events is Denim Day. This event promotes Breast Cancer awareness and prevention, along with a vigil at night to remember those who have survived or passed away from cancer. Another event is the Fall Academic event, which is about gun control and the Mercy critical concern for nonviolence. Then, there is the Holiday Outreach program in December that helps with the Greater Gift Sale and the Giving Tree. In the spring semester, Sigma Phi Sigma will be planning the Spring Academic event, which is a speech called Live Your Legacy Now from Barbara Shaiman. Also, there is a St. Patrick s Day party for the Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Adult Day Program, which band and you will hear songs about confronting injustice, liberation, and creating social equality. When he talks about themes like these, Chakars actually sounds more like Sister Mary Scullion than Sid Vicious. When you consider these social messages in hardcore, Chakars goals for our communication program sound both punk and practical. He plans on creating a curriculum that fuses important skills for the current job market, but at the same time join with the Mercy tradition to enable students to critically view the industry, its place in society, and how students can make improvements after they graduate. With regards to the future of the communication program, Chakars says, If you are not dreaming, you are not living. Chakars has big dreams for the Gwynedd- Mercy communication program, dreams which include renovating the huge barn by the Admissions House and turning it into a state-of-the-art communication center. He also wants to begin a summer workshop in citizen media that would be open not only to Gwynedd-Mercy students, but also to students from all over the country. He even has a plan for a campus radio station, Mercy Radio. Although it may take some time for these dreams to be realized, Chakars notes that the future is also now. He has arranged for three big guest speakers to come to Gwynedd-Mercy, led the creation of a student-news blog that will be linked to the Times Herald web page, and pushed the Gwynmercian towards doing hard news reporting. Even though he is committed to building Gwynedd- Mercy s communication program, Chakars still hasn t left his punk rock roots. Citizens Arrest is back together and playing shows, including the Kung Fu Necktie in assists adults with special needs. Sigma Phi Sigma ends the year with Take Back the Night, which is an annual event for awareness and prevention of sexual assault. All of these events during the school year show how much effort and positive influence Sigma Phi Sigma has on Gwynedd and the extended community. This year s Induction Ceremony, which took place in Gwynedd-Mercy s Waldron Board Room, inducted these honorary individuals: Professor Richard Coletta, Professor Mary Jo Pierantozzi, and Reverend Susan Kiely. Reverend Susan Kiely, a graduate of Gwynedd- Mercy s 1970 class, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony because of her outstanding work for Women with a Cause, an organization devoted to empowering women in developing countries. The fifteen students inducted into the Sigma Phi Sigma family this year are: Brett Bishop, Michael Brown, Courtney Burwell, Chris Edelman, Brandon Edgett, Beth Harrison, Laura Howell, Cessalie Macknis, Ashley McCleaster, Quinny Moore, Linda Ogden, Ashley Scheiber, Samantha Skirka, Katharine Starrantino, and Meredith Weir. These new inductees, as well as returning members, enthusiastically pledged to continue serving the college and the extended community, as well as maintaining excellence in scholarship. Christine Eberle, one of the advisors for Sigma Phi Sigma, pleasantly commented, I m very excited by this year s Sigma inductees. They are so bright, energetic and compassionate; I look forward to engaging in a variety of projects with them throughout the year. Overall, it was an uplifting sight to see everyone recognized for being distinguished, deserving role models through one of Gwynedd-Mercy College s prestigious honor societies. Philadelphia. This show will take place the day after finals at GMC, because after all, Chakars jokes, school has to come first. Dr. Janis Chakars wrote the above message in sidewalk chalk to inform all students about the new communication major.

3 Page 3 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Dan Schabert Takes Over as Library Director Beth Harrison The new man behind the scenes at Gwynedd- Mercy College s Lourdes Library offers a lot more than just resources to students, faculty, and staff he offers a gentle confidence in a place for learners and future leaders. Dan Schabert, new Director of Lourdes Library, believes that the library is an extension of the classroom and the center, or cornerstone, of an institution. Thus, he is very passionate about helping others to learn in a positive environment, which Lourdes Library has provided for all people at Gwynedd-Mercy College. The friendly director s interest in the library first began after he discovered his friend s sister worked in the Library of Congress doing actual research for Congress. Schabert, who has now been a part of academic libraries for 34 years, chose to work at Gwynedd-Mercy College s library after he looked thoroughly at the college s website and explored the Gwynedd Valley area. He was especially attracted to the bright, cheerful, and welcoming atmosphere. In fact, the humble man remarked that the mission and values of the college hit home because he truly believes in these moral foundations as well, and wanted to implement them in the library. Schabert shared some exciting ideas that have made into a reality for Lourdes Library. He has introduced the Library Liaison Program, which is a system of having a specific librarian assigned to a certain School or program. The students from these Schools or programs are able to ask the librarians for any help finding information about topics in each School or program that have been assigned to them. Also, Lourdes Library upgraded its databases, including the evaluation of its journal collection, and provided double the amount of full text for online documents used as sources for research. Another concept Schabert explained was LibGuides, which can be found on the library s website. LibGuides give research assistance, subject guides, and useful resources collected by the librarians at Lourdes Library for all subjects. Lastly, Schabert shared that the archives are in the process of being transformed digitally as well as the compiling of a digital repository. Schabert, who is described as thoughtful and reserved, but with a good sense of humor by Assistant Director Nancy McGarvey, revealed many new developments that will be arriving soon at Lourdes Library. The first development he revealed was the planning of creating group study rooms throughout the library. He wants students to be able to study in relaxed room settings with other students. The second idea he revealed was a New Orleans collection particularly for Wade Luquet s History & Culture of New Orleans class. This collection will include radio programs from New Orleans for all students to hear, as well as selected readings for everyone to enjoy about New Orleans. Lastly, Schabert explained that he wants the Circulation Desk to be moved inside of the library rather than in its lobby so that the library s users can access anything they need more conveniently. Many co-workers have commented kindly on Schabert s attention to detail and new ideas. What I like best about working with Dan is that he closely considers the needs of students and faculty when making decisions about the services the library provides. He has already implemented several changes in the library that have proven very beneficial to GMC students and faculty and he has plans for many more improvements and positive changes, said Heather Burychka, who is a Lourdes Library instruction and reference librarian. All of these developments and new features for Lourdes Library show how much Schabert truly cares about the building s upkeep. There are many interesting tasks Dan Schabert does as director of Lourdes Library to keep this resourceful building operating efficiently for everyone at Gwynedd-Mercy College. In general, he works on any issues that have to be dealt with in a timely matter. More specifically, Schabert concentrates on the library s budget, and how to use the money wisely, especially with electronic devices. He also hires and evaluates the staff and personnel. Schabert is described as someone who manages people in a very easy going manner without jeopardizing his authority, by Michaeleen Dougherty, the Circulation Supervisor for Lourdes Library. Schabert attends numerous meetings where he serves as ex-officio on at least three committees, and serves as a member on many more committees. He also does an analysis of space utilization, as well as choosing books for the library and occasionally working at the reference desk. He is able to complete these tasks with an extremely nice, friendly, and easy going manner, according to Dougherty. Dan Schabert is a man who is praised for his gentle personality as well as effective leadership being director of Lourdes Library. McGarvey comments, I think Dan has a pretty good management style. He s open to suggestions and he brings good ideas with him as well. He s experienced and willing to share that experience with the rest of us. He has adapted well to the GMC environment. When Schabert has free time, he goes to the public library because he is a proud and avid reader. His favorite authors are fiction writer Daniel Silva and the mystery writers Lindsey Davis and Alan Gordon. But whenever Schabert decides to do other activities away from the library, he enjoys photography, woodworking, and golf. Schabert s interests and personality evidently make him one of the most likeable and respected people on Gwynedd-Mercy s campus. Since Dan Schabert is an accomplished individual who still enjoys learning something new and interesting everyday, he understands the fact that not all students know what their plans entail, and what they want to pursue in their future. Students should ask what interests them, he advises, because you will be doing a career for a long time, so you need to be interested in it. Schabert also recommends that students take electives in other subject areas in order to broaden the spectrum of their knowledge and possible interests. Burychka describes Schabert as a positive, enthusiastic, and supportive person, so his advice is definitely noteworthy and valuable for all students. Even though Lourdes Library is considered the center of Gwynedd-Mercy College, Dan Schabert has quickly been considered the compassionate heart and cornerstone of Lourdes Library that all students, faculty, and staff appreciate just like a feel-good read. Dan Schabert (above), Director of Lourdes Library at Gwynedd-Mercy College Homecoming Dance: A Night to Remember Rebecca Avery Gwynedd-Mercy College s annual Homecoming dance kicked off a weekend of well-attended events. The Student Activities Committee sponsored the event, which took place on Thursday, September 23. On Friday night, students enjoyed casino night & cocktails, and then laughed until they cried at the comedy show. Saturday provided a plethora of activities that students and their families could enjoy at Student Government Association s annual Fall Fest. Some of these activities included bingo, game booths, and other entertaining stations. Saturday was also a day for sports lovers, since women s volleyball, men s soccer, women s tennis, and women s field hockey all played exciting games against their challenging opponents. Homecoming weekend proved to be a weekend filled with fun activities for all ages. The students looked red carpet worthy dancing the night away at this year s Homecoming semi-formal dance. The dance attracted a larger crowd of all ages this year, and many of the freshmen had the opportunity to participate in one of their first GMC events. One of the event planners, Katie Kane, was pleased with the outcome of the dance. We had about 150 students attend the first dance of the year, our semi-formal Homecoming Gwynedd Goes Idol Justin Nelson Well it s about that time ladies and gentlemen, Gwynedd-Mercy is about to go Idol! On Thursday, November 11 th, GMC will host their second annual Gwynedd Idol in the Julia Ballroom Auditorium. It is basically Gwynedd-Mercy s version of the American Idol singing competition, meaning that all students are able to demonstrate their vocal talents to the college community. There will be three judges, just like the American Idol TV show, and many participants in the competition this year. Last year, Gwynedd Idol was viewed as a huge success, thus it is returning for a second year. This event is sponsored by the Student Activities Committee (S@C), and is expected to be more of a showstopper. If last year s first prize winner, Darcey Hughes, returns to defend her title this year, it will definitely not be easy. Many incoming freshmen have expressed their excitement about the event and believe that they are good enough to challenge last year s champion. Another example is a sophomore who believes he will be able to compete for first prize this year. Sophomore Justin Turner remembered the event last year. I came to JBA last year to take in the festivities and I really enjoyed it, Turner said with a bright smile on his face. I think that this year I will compete. I ve scouted the competition, and I believe that I have what it takes to be the next Gwynedd Idol. The competition starts at 7:00 P.M., and it is sure to be very exciting, so grab your popcorn folks because you re in for an exciting show! Katie Kane (left), Jamie Meyers (middle), and Nikki Zaffiri-Boland (right) at Gwynedd Idol 09 Juniors Valerie Acerba (left), Erica Matticola (middle), and Rachael Fitzgerald (right) posing for a picture at the Homecoming Dance on 9/23/10 Dance. It was a night that students could relax and dance the night away with their friends. I m excited to see students at all of our events this year! she said. Students danced to some of their favorite artists, such as Ke$ha, Lady GaGa, and Katy Perry. To determine the Homecoming King and Queen, the nominees had a dance-off. The nominees were called to the middle of the dance floor to compete to decide the winners with the crowd cheering the loudest for their favorite dancers. Ashlee Lippincott and Joey Carfango were the lucky students crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

4 Page 4 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Dick Polman (above) speaking at Gwynedd-Mercy College Dick Polman Speaks at Gwynedd Ewa Protasiuk Celebrating National Constitution Day on Thursday, September 16, Gwynedd-Mercy College hosted nationally recognized political journalist Dick Polman in a lecture on the increasing lack of civility in politics. Polman, a national political columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer and a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, discussed trends he sees developing in American politics. One of these trends is the public s propensity to wish harm and even death on their political enemies. Polman called this trend disturbing, citing the hostility of the online community towards political figures such as Ted Kennedy and Dick Cheney. The most disturbing, however, is the disappearance of a center or middle ground in American politics. Where is the center in politics where are the liberals, the conservatives, and Republicans and Democrats who feel a shared sense of national purpose? You see less and less of that, noted Polman. According to Polman, people are moving towards either the right or the left with little cooperation between the two sides. As an offshoot of this, says Polman, people are customizing [their] media consumption to fit with their political tastes, gravitating towards commentary rather than straight news. The kind of compromise that allowed the Constitution to be created appears to be nonexistent nowadays and to compromise is to admit defeat. Polman also examined the historical background of hostility in American politics. It stretches back to the beginnings of the country, Polman noted, but it had been exacerbated by our modern technologies. Polman traced polarization of American politics from the sixties to the present day looking at, for example, antiwar protests in the Vietnam War era and the Tea Party movement s recent sweep in Delaware. Before taking questions, Polman closed with a call to cooperation. You need both sides rowing that boat from both sides of the boat to make the boat move down the river, and if that doesn t happen then where are we? I think that the incivility and rhetoric does play into that. Divisive opinions have always existed, Polman says, but it is important to add more civil, responsible voices to the discourse to raise the quality of the discourse, and to stand up for what one says. In the question-and-answer portion of the talk, Polman addressed questions from the audience concerning such pressing issues as the effect of the Internet on democracy, the Tea Party movement, and the current rise of anti-islamic sentiment in the nation. Cheryl Horsey, the Gwynedd-Mercy Vice President of Student Services who introduced Polman at the beginning of his speech, reflected on his wise words. I think he spoke to the whole notion that we need to think critically, commented Horsey. We need to be able to support what we say. *Upcoming S@C Events at GMC: Gwynedd Idol--11/7/10 at 7:00 P.M. Quizzo--11/18/10 at 7:30 P.M. Comedian--11/19/10 at 9:30 P.M. Majority Rules--11/20/10 at 7:30 P.M. Christmas Movie Marathon-- 12/10/10 from 6:00 P.M.-midnight Relaxation Night--12/13/10 at 7:30 P.M. Fall Brings Thrills, Chills, and Laughs Ryan Donnelly As fall quickly approaches and students go back to school, movie-goers are introduced to many new R-rated films as well as those with lower ratings. The first movie on the list to see is Devil, a horror film rated PG-13. This is the first movie of the Night Chronicles, a set of three movies that come from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan. Although M. Night s previous couple of movies received poor reviews, this film seems to be different, due to the fact that it was written by Brian Nelson, who helped write Thirty Days of Night, and was directed by the Dowdle brothers, who directed Quarantine. This should give the movie some new twist and some new camera perspectives. On the funny side, the guys from Jackass have presented its fans with a new movie that has a special treat: 3-D. This movie is the third from the pranksters with long time director for the continuing movie series, Jeff Tremaine, and is still rated R. The guys pushed their limits even more, as anyone could have guessed they would, to bring laughs to their fans once again. This time around, though, the guys of Jackass used special 3-D cameras to give its viewers an in-yourface experience for the first time. This is one of the hottest movies to see during this chilly fall. For those viewers who love dramas, The Social Network, which is about the popular website Facebook, is a movie relatable to every college student. Although it is rated PG-13, this movie tells of the feud that arises between two Harvard students and the website they have created. Director David Fincher, who directed Fight Club, is sure to bring the audience a serious piece of work and will leave you thinking once again. Main cast members include Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield. In addition to those actors, Justin Timberlake also makes an appearance in the movie. Though there are many new movies set to hit theaters this fall, these are the top three unexpected movies to be big successes. These upcoming movies are always great to watch at the movie theaters with tubs of popcorn! Perspectives on Halloween from GMC Faith Community Ewa Protasiuk It s that candy-filled time of year again, along with leaves crunching underfoot, skeletons and witches adorning every home, and controversy swirling through the air. Halloween has come again, a topic spawning many strong opinions and reviving the perennial debate, especially among Christians, between those who see it as a celebration of the occult and those who see nothing wrong with the holiday. Gwynedd-Mercy College s own Sister Ellen Murray and the Reverend John Collins recently offered their views on the subject. Murray focused on societal dealings with Halloween, while Collins looked at the issue from a theological perspective. There are several reasons why people are turning away from Halloween. Some Christians and Catholics are disconcerted by the extreme secularization of the holiday, which was once recognized purely as the night before All Saints Day. For the Christian tradition, Halloween is the day before All Saints Day, which is a celebration of the saints of the Church of their triumph, their living, their faith, Collins recognizes. As for the secularization of the holiday, this is one example of distortion in society in relation to values we hope people would espouse, according to Murray. Along with this secularization, many people are afraid that Halloween nowadays is too gory, and too death-obsessed. I see [how people have] concerns with the emphasis on death, Murray commented. I could understand where people might have some reservations if they re looking at it [as] a celebration of ghosts and goblins, similarly noted Collins. Still, both Murray and Collins looked at the issue within certain contexts. Murray discussed Day of the Dead, notably celebrated in Mexico, and how the feast honored the dead in a different way than I would. Collins, meanwhile, looked at Halloween s theme of death as a learning opportunity. There are lessons there. Death isn t easy or cute, but it s real death is a part of life, observed Collins. Coupled with concerns about the thoughts of death surrounding the holiday are misgivings over Halloween s pagan origins and the threat of the occult. I can see, especially in our day and time, nowadays there s a fascination with the occult so that Halloween, to the degree that it has some root in some pagan celebration or cult of the dead, some people could look at that and say it s against [the] faith, admitted Collins. However, Collins considered the night s preoccupation with evil and death, although overemphasized, in the context of the light and holiness of All Saints Day. Putting that into the context of faith is that darkness doesn t win out, the demons don t. Life and holiness win out for the person of faith. Murray, on the other hand, acknowledged that the holiday s focus on the occult could be dangerous. She compared it to the Internet: it can be used for good, but it can also be used with very negative consequences. Ultimately, it s a choice. People choose to walk down those kinds of paths, according to Murray. Murray was concerned with children and their exposure to things they do not understand, especially on a holiday with so many interpretations as Halloween. Parents should explain to children about the symbols of the occult involved with Halloween, said Murray. It s about education, parents being attentive to what their children are doing and reading, paying attention to multiple meanings. Collins emphasized the importance of looking at Halloween through the Christian perspective as the eve of the celebration of All Saints Day. There s a significant connection, noted Collins. So, what s the verdict? It s acceptable to celebrate Halloween because there can be some real fun, said Collins. As long as one is aware of the true meaning of the holiday and the implications of the symbols and signs surrounding it, Murray and Collins agree that Halloween is appropriate to enjoy. *Popular Halloween 2010 Costumes: --Snooki from MTV s Jersey Shore --Lady Gaga --Characters from Nickelodeon s The Rugrats --Power Rangers --Characters from the movie Toy Story --Nurse --Police Officer

5 Page 5 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 GMC Fall Sports Kick Off Their Seasons Ryan Donnelly As the 2010 fall sports season gets under way, Gwynedd- Mercy sports teams set out to have winning seasons and postseason appearances. So far this season, one of the fall sports teams, cross country, is back to defend their Colonial States Athletic Conference titles in both the men s and women s races. The men s team looks to defend their back-to-back CSAC titles with five of their top six runners returning. They are viewed as the team to beat this year. The women look to defend their 2009 title as five of the top seven runners return from last years roster, which give the Griffins a good chance at a repeating their championship win. Both teams have shown solid performances throughout the season, and will hopefully win CSAC titles at the end of October. Men s soccer started the season in a rough way with three wins and twelve losses in their first fifteen games. The team is projected to make a turnaround for the playoffs, though, and to make appearances in the NCAA and ECAC postseason tournaments. GMC has one of the best recruiting classes in its history, who have certainly contributed to the team this year along with the returning upperclassmen. Tri-captains Tim Munsey, Ryan Murray, and Mike Leonard are set to lead the team to victory this year. But with upsetting news, star goalie Mike Leonard is out for the season for torn ligaments in his ankle. Back up goalie, John Furphy, will take his place to try to keep the team alive, even with Leonard s set back injury. On the other hand, women s soccer started out strong this season. In their first fifteen games, the team won seven games, lost seven, and tied once. This puts them towards a winning record in their conference. Sophomore Christine Michalski leads the team with eight goals and one assist, while junior Gwen Conte is not far behind with five goals and three assist. Senior Kristie Pollock, is standing strong in net with a save percentage of.793 in her twelve games played. Both women s and men s tennis are on the search for great seasons this year. This fall, women s tennis began the season with ten wins and two losses, but with a clean record in the conference with nine wins and no losses. The team won their third straight CSAC championship title on October 23, beating Cabrini 5-0. They hope to make another NCAA appearance. Last spring, men s tennis started out the year with six wins and six losses in their first twelve games, but had a winning record in their conference with five wins and two losses. The team hopes to make back-to-back appearances in the CSAC title championship, but ultimately win the title when their season starts. Women s field hockey is off to a solid start this year with a record of eight and five with a conference record of four and zero. The team is led by top goal scorer Sarah Jackson, who has ten goals and four assist on the year, followed by Christine Hammitt who is not far behind with nine goals and two assist. Look for the Griffins to end the season with a winning record and make a post season appearance. With ten new players added to the team this year, they should definitely make an impact on the 2010 season. For more information on Gwynedd-Mercy sports, be sure to visit and search under athletics for full season statistics and upcoming games. Want to write for The Gwynmercian, or learn more about it? Contact harrison.e@ gmc.edu Senior John Watts (back), Freshmen twin brothers Brett Kubiak and Joseph Kubiak (middle), and Junior Matt VanDenHengel (front) running in a cross country meet at Gwynedd-Mercy College Back by Popular Demand: The Yearbook Ewa Protasiuk Gwynedd-Mercy College s yearbook, the Coelian, is back and better than ever, according to its adviser, Thomas Friel. Shut down, for the first time since its inception, for the school year due to financial considerations, says Friel, the yearbook has returned with several new features. The yearbook staff, comprised of students, will create a base yearbook, as it always has. However, this year, students have the opportunity to customize their yearbooks. Any student, senior or freshman, can order the yearbook as is, or can order a yearbook with their own custom pages, said Friel. These custom pages, which can be ordered in eightpage increments, can include students own pictures from their experiences at Gwynedd. The pictures can come from many sources, including photos on their phone, from Facebook, from home, Friel enumerated. The ability to customize one s yearbook is beneficial, especially for senior students. Friel talked about how seniors always want their own graduation in their yearbook, and starting this year they can. In previous years, the yearbook staff always waited until graduation to complete the yearbook, which would become available in late September. This year, Tom verbally added that the yearbook staff will cover graduation and after a couple weeks will completely finish the book, and seniors have the opportunity to leave one of their customizable pages blank in order to leave room for their own pictures from graduation. Students will soon be able to order their yearbooks and their custom pages online through a few very simple steps. These changes are made possible because this year the Coelian will be produced through a new company, Key Color Inc. (KCI). Friel cited the positive points of the revived yearbook as timeliness and students ability to build their own custom pages. However, whereas in previous years the cost of the yearbook had been included in the graduation fee, this year everyone s got to pay for it, says Friel. There are also some setbacks involved with the staff. We have to start all over again in trying to create a yearbook staff. We have no people trained, commented Friel. We re keeping it very simple half [do] only photography, half [do] only page design. Lack of participation, however, is currently not an issue. We have enough [staff] to get started, noted Friel. One such staff member is Julia Benner, a first-year student at Gwynedd, who is a photographer for the yearbook. Right now we are discussing a possible theme for the yearbook as a whole, but have yet to make a final decision, says Benner. Stay Informed With the Gwynedd-Mercy Blog Rob Gregor News is sometimes hard to come across at Gwynedd- Mercy College and it isn t always easy to keep up-to-date with what happens on campus. Now there is an easier way to receive this news: The Gwynedd-Mercy News Blog. The Gwynedd-Mercy News Blog makes it easy to keep updated with information about Gwynedd events. The website was launched by students in the Basic Journalism class this semester. It is always nice to have a detailed report of the upcoming reports on campus, which the blog strives to provide for everyone. I knew that Homecoming Weekend was happening, but after the read a story that covered it on the Gwynedd-Mercy Blog, I gained some more insight about that weekend, said Beth Harrison. I am glad that there is finally a way for me to get the news that I need, when I need to get it. I no longer have to worry about missing out on crucial campus events, said Caitlyn O Reilly. As a college, we are advancing by the year. For instance, there have even been talks on the college becoming a university. In order to keep advancing, we have to keep up with technology. The Gwynedd-Mercy Blog is a step in this direction. The blog can be viewed as one small step for man, one giant leap for Gwynedd- Mercy College. To access the blog, visit blogspot.com/ Make sure to check out the Gwynedd-Mercy News Blog, developed by students from the Basic Journalism class! Still, it is a step up from last year, when there was no yearbook at all. Everyone was kind of upset, commented Kristin Martino, a junior at Gwynedd, especially noting the yearbook s significance for seniors. There was a real push for bringing the yearbook back, said Friel. This push was obviously successful, and students are happy. There is a high level of interest. Students seem to be really excited, commented Friel. Martino confirmed this observation, expressing her excitement in being able to have an actual physical yearbook. I hope they continue it, she said. Benner is also enthusiastic about the yearbook. I think of a yearbook [as] a great way to remember all the activities, colleagues, and professors from your college years. It is a visual record for both the current student and future generations to see, she commented. The return of the yearbook is also special to Friel, who has been yearbook adviser for eight years. His position as advisor began when he was asked if I would try my hand at it. It has far moved beyond simply trying, as evidenced by the yearbook s successful revival, as the future bodes well for the Coelian.

6 Page 6 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Tuition on the Rise Mark Zakrzewski During these tough economic times, college tuition is still increasing not only here at Gwynedd- Mercy College, but all over the country as well. A college degree is one of the most expensive items a person will pay for during his or her lifetime. College tuition is increasing as a result of spending more on new administrators, paying the salaries of professors, maintaining the buildings on campus, and also building and possibly adding onto the college. Dawn Taratuski, the Assistant Bursar of Gwynedd- Mercy College, said that Gwynedd-Mercy College s tuition is lower than other schools in the surrounding area. When asked if tuition rose for the school year, she stated that part-time students saw a 3% rise in college tuition, while full-time students saw 5.5% rise. Taratuski also said GMC is a tuition based school, which means the money that comes from tuition is used to pay salaries for the teachers, maintain the buildings on campus, etc. These days, with this economy, jobs are very hard to come by after a student graduates from college, even if they have a degree. The tuition increase has many students concerned. They want to be sure the money they spend pays off after graduation. I definitely agree that the cost of tuition keeps rising, and it s not getting any easier to pay off, said Rob Gregor. Four or more years of college tuition and student loans will cause many students to be paying them off for years to come. However, many students are simply resigned to the fact that this is how it will be no matter what. For more information about tuition, ask the financial aid department here at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Commentary: GMC Offerings for Criminal Justice Program Wanda Rodriguez Gwynedd-Mercy College s Criminal Justice major, which has been here for eight years, is offering many exciting opportunities for students interested in the program. I am a current GMC student majoring in Criminal Justice, and I have some valuable information about my major and what it entails from my perspective. I started Gwynedd-Mercy s Criminal Justice program as a junior after graduating with my associate degree from Katherine Gibbs School. The major was introduced to me after graduation by current Gwynedd- Mercy professor Walter Zdunowski, who was the former Dean of Katherine Gibbs School at the time. I became interested in the Criminal Justice major, so I chose to attend Gwynedd-Mercy College and join the major. The Criminal Justice Program consists of Professor Walter Zdunowski, who has now been the director of the program for three years, and has seven to eight faculty members depending on what courses need to be taught. With eighty current Criminal Justice majors, the major has been gaining popularity each year. The program gives many beneficial opportunities for Criminal Justice students. Once a student becomes a senior, the major provides the opportunity to attend the Montgomery County Police Academy to gain experience prior to graduation. The program also has a Criminal Justice club, which researches the law and law enforcement departments of other countries. Ashley McCleaster, a Criminal Justice student who also leads the Criminal Justice club, organizes these fundraisers to promote the program. The major also includes trips for students to visit prisons. These students have the opportunity to interview inmates, get a glimpse of what life is like behind the walls of a prison, and learn about its system of operations. All of these opportunities give Criminal Justice students chances to become involved and learn more about their major. There are many benefits to the Criminal Justice major, but there is an important reason why this program has been so successful for Gwynedd-Mercy College students. The Criminal Justice major provides the students with the advantage of having teachers some type of law enforcement experience. These professors strengthen the quality of the program for students who are intrigued in criminal justice. The program prepares each student with the knowledge of law enforcement if they want to become a police office, correctional officer, or work in other law enforcement departments across the country in the future. To learn more information about the Criminal Justice major, contact Walter Zdunowski at zdunowski.w@gmc. edu. Gwynedd Gallery (Continued on Page 8) Katie Kane (far left), Beth Harrison, Jess Woodring, and Valerie Acerba (far right) running S@C bingo at SGA s Fall Fest Left Picture--Sophomores Matt Frei (left) and Emmett Devlin (right) engage in some intense dancing while Senior Aubrey McDevitt (middle) laughs on during the Orientation Weekend carnvial Cross Country teammates Tyler Rooke (left) and Mark Zeigler (right) enjoy a game while Nikki Zaffiri-Boland (standing on right) watches them at S@C s Casino Night Right Picture--OLs Bridget Dwyer (left side), Anna Candelero (left side), Steven Rufe (right side) and Becca Dise (right side) work on painting a Welcome New Students sign for Campus Ministry during Orientation Weekend

7 Page 7 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Community News Bill Guarnere (left) shared his WWII experiences with sophomore Ryan Donnelly (right) Local War Hero Receives Recognition After Film Ryan Donnelly Many of you may have heard of the mini-series on HBO called Band of Brothers, which has won numerous awards, including several Emmys, and has also brought fame to the real men who served in Easy Company during World War II. One of these men, lives right in South Philadelphia where he was born and raised. Bill Wild Bill Guarnere was born on April 28, 1922 with him being the youngest in a family of ten. At the age of 15, Bill enlisted in the military by faking his age. He attended high school during the fall and spring, but decided to go to Fort Meade where he would complete military training at the Combat Maneuver Training Center. Bill continued his interest for the military throughout high school. In fact, six months before graduation, he dropped out of school to build tanks for the United States army. His mom insisted he should finish school to be the first graduate in his family, though. Bill agreed, so he went to school from 8 am to 3 pm and worked from 12 am till 8 am. If one thinks that schedule is hard, imagine running up the Curahee Mountain twice each day for military training, and then jumping out of a plane. Bill endured his training, and jumped behind enemy lines on D-day to begin his heroic war story. Easy company stayed on the frontline for most of the war, and amazingly worked their way to the end successfully. Although Bill lost his leg in battle, he still moves around well today at the age of 88, just like a college student would. After the war, Bill quietly lived a peaceful life in South Philadelphia until he was approached by Hollywood stars. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg asked if they could make a show about him and the rest of Easy Company. The show took off with huge success, and Bill was getting the recognition that he deserved from all kinds of people. He is so popular among the war community that he has received around 8,000 telephone calls and replied to all 15,000 letters he has received. Bill has also signed his book Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends over 100,000 times, which was written by him and his best friend, Babe Heffron. Heffron is also from Easy Company and lives in South Philadelphia. Even though he enjoys the attention somewhat, Bill stated, I don t seek any fame. I did what I did in the war and now I am here to live my life, but I gladly accept the recognition I have received lately. Bill is not hesitant to talk about the war; in fact, he actually loves to tell people what happened and if the show really portrays the stories of Easy Company accurately. In short answer, it is spot on, and couldn t have been portrayed any better. Now a days, Wild Bill stays in his South Philadelphia home, and welcomes anyone who wants to come to chat about his past involvement with World War II. When he is not at home, he is either at schools, in radio studios, or over seas talking to others about his war experiences. He loves to give advice and tell of the greatest generation, which is his generation of course. He also loves to talk about war and his fellow men. In fact, when one looks into his eyes, that person can sense the history and hardships behind them. There are only so many times that an individual comes across someone extraordinary like this, but when it happens, it is a life changing experience. Many people still do not know about Wild Bill Guarnere but his popularity is slowly rising. Not only has he made an impact on his city, but has also influenced the entire nation. He is a true man, and a person of a million words. He is someone admirable to meet before you die, and is someone who will inspire you to keep your freedom. Bill encourages everyone to let no one take freedom away from them, because he fought for your freedom, and wants every person to remember to keep this valuable independence. All of Bill Guarnere s most honorable medals, pins, and badges he received over time for his achievements and courage in WWII (above) The Man from Manna Julia Benner Long-time Lansdale resident Tom Allebach has been known as the Man from Manna for many years. He became involved in the small nonprofit organization called Manna on Main Street eleven years ago as a volunteer. Today, he is executive director of the charity that assists thousands of people. After four years of working as a volunteer, Allebach was promoted to executive director. Currently, Allebach is responsible for overseeing the three components of the organization: soup kitchen, food pantry, and financial aid services. Because there are no homeless shelters anywhere within the area, it is a blessing for many people to have all three of these services in one location. The soup kitchen is open seven days a week and available to anyone who is hungry. The food pantry and financial aid are open to individuals within the North Penn area. On September 28, Manna employees and volunteers celebrated twenty-nine successful years of service. Founded by Reverend John Touchberry in 1981, the charity began in the basement of St. John s United Church of Christ. Soon after, the building adjacent to the church was donated by a parishioner and became home to the Manna organization. Located at 514 West Main Street in Lansdale, Manna has now grown from a small charity run by a few church members to a large organization benefiting thousands of people. Allebach was born and raised in Souderton, where he graduated from Souderton Area High School. He went on to receive a Bachelor s degree from Delaware Valley College and his graduate degree from Neumann University. From the start, Allebach has been involved in the community, whether it be coaching youth sports teams or using his knowledge and skill to teach classes at North Penn High School. Allebach also participated in numerous church events and activities long before becoming executive director at Manna. He has always been a person of community spirit. He is dedicated to working for the betterment of the community, said Pastor Ryan Henderson of St. John s United Church of Christ. Allebach has become a perfect example of a servant leader by humbly dedicating his life to serving others. He really enjoys contributing to his community and being a part of its daily happenings. I love making connections and introducing someone to someone else, introducing people that can help each other. It s not just how can other people help me out?, but how can I enrich other people s lives? It s rewarding, said Allebach. Allebach s co-authored book, Those People: Outsiders Welcomed to Manna on Main Street, was published in July of It focuses on the people who come to soup kitchens for help their invisible lives, their journeys, and their hopes, struggles, and triumphs. Pastor Ryan Henderson says, Tom focuses on those people that others don t really pay attention to. A man dedicated to communal wellbeing, Allebach stresses the importance of being engaged in goings-on outside your own four walls. It s about more than just Manna; it s about being out in the community, he said. Besides Manna, Allebach is also involved in a number of other volunteer services in the neighborhood, including First Fridays in Lansdale and the Chamber of Commerce. He is still active within the church, leading youth ministries and assisting children in receiving the sacrament of confirmation. Under Allebach, Manna on Main Street has worked with schools, businesses, churches, and individuals to support those in need. The whole becomes greater than the parts, commented Father John Schiele from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Hilltown. When different groups come together in cooperation, the magnitude of their impact surpasses the efforts of individual groups. Some volunteers just come to Manna each day to help serve and distribute food. Other volunteers come on a regular basis and form relationships with the people who come in to eat. Allebach witnesses the impact Manna work has on both groups of people, and notes The organization affects the people who serve as well as the people who receive. For the past four years, representatives from Manna have visited Lansdale Catholic High School to allow the students to make lunches for the poor. Jon Slabek, a theology teacher at the high school, looks forward to the visit each year. Tom is a great guy. He s always willing to bring the organization to our high school and to give the students the ability to do well. Kelsey Duggan, a senior at Lansdale Catholic, took part in one of these projects. Usually when we think of hunger and homelessness, we think of other countries. This makes me realize there are people that need help right here in our community, she points out. Manna is always looking for volunteers to help serve its clients. Individuals are welcomed to contribute their time or food to the charity, and even the smallest of donations are greatly appreciated. Manna volunteers and employees vision is that everyone might be fed. To find out how you can help with Manna on Main Street, contact

8 Page 8 The Gwynmercian Gwynedd-Mercy College October 2010 Gwynedd Gallery(Continued from Page 6) Ms. Pierantozzi instructs freshmen from an FYE class how to complete a service project during Orientation Weekend Students Shannon Harmer (left), Bridget Dwyer (middle), and Katie Kane (right) pose for a picture with the Marathonda Band during Mercy Week Juniors Mark Zeigler (left) and Matt VanDenHengel (right) anxiously wait to participate in the pie eating contest at SGA s Fall Fest event as part of Homecoming Weekend Amanda Fischer (right) helps friend Cassie Towler (left) with her shoe. The Gwynmercian Staff Gwynedd Valley, PA Volume 62, No. 1 October 2010 Editor-in-Chief...Beth Harrison Editorial Staff...Ryan Donnelly, Dan Freed, and Justin Nelson Writers...Rebecca Avery, Julia Benner, Rob Gregor, Ewa Protasiuk, Wanda Rodriguez, and Mark Zakrsewski Volume 62, No. 1 was written and developed by students of the Basic Journalism class during the Fall 2010 semester. It is their first time writing and forming a newspaper. We hope you enjoyed reading this edition, and continue reading many more editions! If you have any questions or concerns, please thegwynmercian@yahoo.com