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Opinion: Swafford Goodbye and thank you Mercyhurst
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist The time has come for me to conclude my collegiate career with only three short years at Mercyhurst. I will soon venture off to other parts of this country and world following my career. Some of my best memories will remain here in Erie, Pa. on the campus of Mercyhurst College. I can only shine on the great academic curriculum I have been offered and my vast opportunity to gain real-world training and leadership while on campus. I can only be thankful this very college was the spot to nurture my development into adulthood. I speak for many of my peers when I say I am very thankful for what I have received. I have realized fashion will change, music will come and go and leadership will change like the seasons. However, 38th Street will forever hold a spot in thousands of adults’ hearts as the spot where they learned not only higher education but about themselves, about love and maybe about growing up. Time has swept us all off our feet and we have been pushed out the doors of Old Main, but we will forever remember Mercyhurst College as the ’Hurst. As for me, I am off the day after graduation. I am off to Fort Knox, Ky., to serve my country as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. For those who read my column week after week, I thank you for your support and those who disagreed with me, just realize that about 90 percent of my content is twisted to a satirical view of college and is not truly meant to be offensive. However, if you truly disliked me, this is the last time you will read my material. So farewell Mercyhurst, and remember, vote Republican. My final thoughts on the 'Hurst
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist [Editor’s Note: The following column does not reflect the views of the Merciad staff.] As I write my final article for the Merciad, I feel it is most appropriate for me to go back to my roots and give my final satire of the negatives of this campus. I first must start with a topic that many students have e-mailed me about week after week, a faculty member who drives a golf cart around campus the same color as the vehicle he drives. I am sure that his role at this college may be vital to the success and future of this institution. However, there is no excuse for a man to act like a ruler of a kingdom. Is it right to have maintenance workers meet him at his car in the morning only to deliver his golf cart so he is not required to walk like the rest of the world? Or even is it kosher for the second floor of Old Main to smell like cigarettes in the areas of his office when the building is non-smoking? Then there are the lavish executive board members with their expensive cars that block Old Main drive with what looks like a parking lot in South Beach. These very people are rarely seen at any function on campus in support of those who pay their salary, the students. Then there are members of the school administration who are merely nothing more than a name on a door. It is my belief members of our college’s administration might even miss a faculty member’s funeral due to their “busy” schedules. Their concern for the student body is shown in their lack of activism in the Mercyhurst Student Government, which serves no purpose to the school administration outside of a school activity. What about police and safety? They are expected to be taken seriously while wearing a belt holding nothing more than handcuffs and radio. The school wonders why there are issues with police and safety and student interaction. It is because many students view them as nothing more than mall security. In a true time of crisis, our police force could do nothing more than call the Erie police just as a normal student could. What is their function other than traffic code enforcers? With that said, some of the officers perform their job to standard, however, some would ticket their own mother if given the opportunity. Let us not forget about the beloved student conduct book that reads more like a high school policy book than that of a collegiate institution. This monster forces students off-campus every weekend into the Erie to cause more destruction in the town due to severely stringent rules on campus. However, revenue is revenue for student infractions, which might fund another golf cart in the fleet. However, we all know it is not going toward campus landscaping, as we have seen the decline in the beautification of the grounds in the past few years. Or what about our beloved students who pursue degrees that offer no career progression? What will the college do to aide them in their $120,000 debt for a college degree in which their highest paid job might yield $20,000 dollars a year? These are slight details left out I am sure at the college visit to students who pursue degrees in the fine arts. What about the Merciad itself? The fact that the editor allows me to be printed makes him as absurd as me writing these articles. There are also the inflated tuition costs and additional fees that seems to creep higher and higher every trimester. I am almost certain next year the school will charge an oxygen fee. Lastly, I could not forget about the liberal camp that is firmly supported here at the college. The push of extreme left thought and even communist ideas can be fostered by some of the college’s elite staff. This very staff might have aided Jerrod Markle into thinking that the world is out to get him and the only way to survive is to abandon government and live on a desolate island. However, many liberal professors are good men and women and make for great debate during class. With that said, it would be nice to see more than about three conservative thinkers on campus. Maybe then, the ROTC program will no longer be looked at as Hitler Youth, but rather a group of young men and women who volunteered above many of their fearful peers to conserve freedom for years to come during a time of war. Maybe then the school will actually give the largest ROTC company in Erie the facilities and support it has been after for years. With all this said, I am sure that these issues will continue several years after my graduation. Seeing as though this is my last article, I can receive no rebuttal or counter argument. The bottom line is there is some truth in all that I have stated. What will you do to change it?
The Cornerstone is ours
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist As the weeks narrow down toward the end of the year, many of us find ourselves participating in the weekly hump day at the Cornerstone: Wednesday nights. This time-honored tradition is one many juniors and seniors enjoy weekly that comes with great discount. The Cornerstone can be a good chance to escape school for a few hours and get away from the younger crowd at Mercyhurst, because it is the only bar in Erie that does not take fake IDs. However, over the past few months, Cornerstone has seen an increase of creepy old men of the community. These men range in age from 30-60 and seek to buy single girls drinks with hope that they might get lucky. They are quick to offer conversation and can often be caught staring at girls. I admire their courage to pursue attractive women much younger than themselves and the optimism that they might get lucky as if they were 22 again. However, I could not help but notice how weird and creepy these people can be. My friends explained to me that I would be freaked out if an unattractive 40-year-old woman attempted to pursue me relentlessly. I could only think of the scarring images of some of my elementary school teachers or someone of that level. So I now realize that this behavior is weird and creepy. However, what do you do to get these guys out of a bar that is a college bar? Really, there is no way to stop them other than making it mandatory to show a college ID to get in. However, we can protest to the owners that these “old” people must leave after 10 p.m. to ensure that the college customers do not feel creeped out at the bar.
Five years later war is Operation Iraqi Freedom not Vietnam
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist As the United States passes its fifth year in combat with Iraq, the approval ratings of the war sit at an estimated 39 percent. It indicates that the American government’s decision to invade Iraq was based on several flawed analyses of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. It was quickly inherent that a linear battle was not one that would be fought in the coming months after the invasion. The stand-up of several large insurgent groups gave way to an intense asymmetrical fight for the American forces. The years to come would prove to the American forces that guerilla warfare would again be their weakness. The push of education, cultural awareness and the multi-role of today’s officer corps have allowed commanders to become a vital role to the stability in the region. With time, the coalition forces realized that it was imperative for members of the community to be a part of forward progress. The projected costs of the war are near a trillion U.S. dollars, U.S. deaths at 4,036 precious lives, large Iraq causalities and long deployments of our soldiers. Where, as a country, must we draw the line between our stability and the stability of Iraq? If we stay, we risk more casualties and strain on the U.S. economy and well-being. War is truly a statement of failed diplomacy, although an element that humanity will deal with for eternity. The truth of is that we have made a commitment to not only Iraq but to the world that we will bring stability and security to the region. Iraq, like other soil we have fought on, will become another nation that will rely on American soldiers to protect and defend it. This can bring larger instability and a breeding ground for Islamic terrorist groups. Although Americans are swayed by their political affiliations and biases, we must stand together and united to make this a success. Citizens must become informed on the present and the future of Iraq and not become bogged down by past mistakes. Success is attainable, however it is not possible without the support of the American citzens. Hundreds of thousands of American service members have made grave sacrifices for this war and wish not to see their work fail them. This war is not Vietnam; it is Operation Iraqi Freedom. We must win or risk even larger losses. John Stewart Mill states it best when he said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”
Senioritis: Only cure is to embrace it rather than deny distractions
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist As April turns the corner, the sun has finally graced us with its presence. The last term of the 2008 school year is now halfway over and seniors are faced with less than 50 days before graduation. As a junior last year I watched my senior friends quickly crumble as they soon realized their undergraduate years were nearly over. They all showed the signs of what many like to call senioritis. This can be symptoms of not caring about academic performance due to the small window left in their academic career. I, myself, ensured my friends last year that this would never happen to me; however, as I near the end, I find myself facing a brick wall. As I open a book, prepare to study or write this very article, I find that there are better activities to do than be stuck in front of a computer. These include the Cornerstone, Presque Isle, a motorcycle ride, a game of volleyball, tossing a baseball, making fun of friends, catching up on the latest Mercyhurst gossip, looking at my future job, staring out my window, watching repetitive episodes of The First 48 or Rob and Big, looking at John McCain’s Web site, or my favorite, stalking on Facebook. No matter how important a paper or test can be, these activities are daunting. Teachers’ lectures seem to be longer by the day and no matter how much the material interests me, I always seem to turn them into a Charlie Brown show sound. Is there any way of saving a senior from this quickly moving epidemic? The answer is only if one’s post-bachelors career has not been decided, but for the seniors blessed with certainty in their future , there is no way to stop the movement. The only common cure shall be to embrace it and do not deny your list of distractions for soon you will have to focus again, this time on your career.
Hillary has arrived to impress Erie but not Democratic Party
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist The Pennsylvania Democratic primaries are in full swing as the Mercyhurst College community hosts New York Senator Hillary Clinton. As this interesting campaign unfolds, it is coming down to the wire for the Democratic nomination. Clinton initially set out to prove to the world that she had the ability to be the first female president. However, quickly after she announced her intention to run for office, the first black man with the ability to win the presidential nomination announced his intent to run. The heated race began and with time, turned into a two-camp race for the nomination between Sen. Barack Obama and Clinton. With time, the Clinton camp saw the retreat of large endorsements and even the turn of close Bill Clinton supporters to the Obama camp. So why is a highly educated, hard-working woman failing to gain the votes needed to receive the nomination? One might say it could be her failed healthcare programs, inability to focus externally on the issues that plague America’s security or the failure to follow in the steps of her once-successful husband. Her failure to stand by her decision to invade Iraq and yielding support of the troops, equipment and benefits they require adds to her list of downfalls. I can only think as to what Hillary Clinton would do if she was faced with being a uniformed member of the Armed Services. Clinton has failed to gain what are traditionally Democrats’ stomping grounds, the young vote, the black vote, the blue collar vote and even those who oppose the War in Iraq. She has also failed to keep her platform in one piece. Obama is now dominating the female vote, has picked up the labor unions and still clings onto the African-American vote. Maybe Americans are mature enough to refuse to vote solely on the principle of gender or race and are haunted by Sen. Clinton’s past track record in Washington. As a registered Republican, I can sit in humor as I watch the Democrats destroy their almost guaranteed slot to the White House due to eight years of GOP control. Clinton might have had a chance against John Edwards, but the gender card only carries so far above the actual ability to run a country that is at war, has a failing housing market and immanent recession. Clinton might also have the ability to show up to Mercyhurst College and impress Erie voters and possibly win the state, but her ability to win the Democratic nomination is a presumed failure. Her speeches are false and are based solely on aspiration to become the next U.S. president. Her fake compassion and inability to describe changes that are attainable can make the American public run further away from her camp. Clinton’s speech last night at Mercyhurst can only make the mind wonder how hard it can be to change a town name in the midst of her public address. She speaks for most politicians who seek to relate with the common person in which she has never seen. However, I am now sure that if she was faced with a major crisis, she would do as she did with her husband’s infidelity, remain speechless in times of crisis. Thanks to Senator Clinton today, I was faced with seeing hippies in front of my beloved college, no parking and was not able to work out. I hope soon the nomination will be secured so America can push forward with the true question as to who will lead the U.S. toward success in 2009.
Travelers stuck with mass transportation
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Breaks are always an exciting relief to get away from Erie, Pa., and the monotonous schedules of college. However who ever said that travel is fun? When scheduling plans for breaks, little thought goes into travel and the pain it takes to get from point to point. Every break I try to visit a different family member. The problem is that each member of my family lives in a different state due to employment. As I make plans, I find myself looking for the hot Internet deals on travel, especially in times where gas is priced upwards of $3.40 a gallon. I am left with the travel options of airfare and, most recently, train. When arriving at this depot, there is no surprise to find major delays, congestion of people and the daunting task of getting through security. When one finally arrives via his or her means of transportation it can only be more frustrating to be seated next to another human being like a piece of cattle ready to be shipped to a butcher. It seems consistent that I always am seated next to the “chatty Cathy” who offers me her life story about her three kids and seven husbands unwillingly. Even in light of iPods and books, it seems there is no stopping these people from engaging in a long-winded conversation. While being engaged in a conversation over my Easter Break travels I could only laugh to think of some great stories to end the over-conversing seat mate. What if in the middle of the conversation you just stated that you had just been released from prison or something truly disturbing? Truth is, that probably would not end the painful speaker next to you. So is there any way around public transportation and the pains that come with it? By the time you arrive at your final destination, you quickly forget about the painstaking process it took to get there. In the hindsight of things, it really makes for good laughs. Maybe soon, gas will come down in price or we as Americans will find a cheaper energy source to use in our privately owned vehicles. Until then I guess we are stuck with public transportation for what it is worth: Painstaking, but allows us to see the ones we love, which makes us ultimately forget the pains of travel.
Americans: Control your own destinies
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Who would have ever thought in Great Britain in 1776 that America would one day go on to be the world’s super power? With our short history as an established country, the world knows Americans as the most prideful humans. This could be because of America’s vast range of beautiful land. Others take pride in a strong global economy that allows most Americans to exist far above the world’s standard of living. Some would say America is great due to the diversity of our citizen ranks regardless of race, religion or creed. The ability of man to pursue the American dream regardless of background is truly remarkable. Many take pride in our freedom and well-established government that even with its flaws can stand as a beacon of democracy for the world. Many men proudly grab their hearts when they see the American flag because of brave citizens who have fought for our country. After all, without the veterans this land would have never been able to protect its constitution. America has seen rough times as nation such as the Civil War, Great Depression, attack on Pearl Harbor, civil rights battle, international conflicts and the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. There are also several divides among our citizens, ranging from political view to race and even religion. However the key to our success as a nation is our ability to stand not as individuals but rather Americans. In times of crisis, we have been able to put our differences aside and come together as one nation. So let us not forget what aspects make Americans different from every other nation in the world, deep pride in our great land. As we look for new leadership in Washington in 2008 remember these elements and ensure that the candidate has the ability to continue to make our country great. Do not look for political affiliation, rather for one who sets out to do what those who originally came to the American colonies for, to deliver prosperity to the next generations. Be a proud American. The reason to do this is to lay a foundation for your personal achievements. We, as Americans, should seek to be patriotic everyday as opposed to national holidays or times of crisis. As members of a democratic society, Americans truly control their own destinies. So take pride and look to make your role in our society one that is a patron of American affluence.
Seniors: Carry out last-minute desires
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Early March has once again come as the start of the third and final trimester of this academic year. This term brings inflatable pools, Cornhole and the discovery of sunlight. For seniors this is the last term to do what they have not been able to accomplish while they have been a student at Mercyhurst College. This can be joining a club, getting involved or maybe just getting a little wild. It can also be the foundation to last minute hook-ups. Many closet crushes will come out this term. As I talk with my friends many of them aim to not hold back this term, to enjoy the last weeks at the ’Hurst and possibly have a few random hook-ups. This can be encouraged by the lack of academic concern, and the relief of the gossip channel that traditionally comes with actions at this school. Many seniors will realize that soon they will be out of here and could care less what anyone thinks. This term can also be stressful for many students who are struggling to gain employment before they graduate college. The truth will soon set in that senior students will have to decide what they want to be when they grow up. The constant reminders come when asked, “You have a job yet?” by your peers, parents and professors. For those who have been hired, the stress of knowing where you will work and when you will start can feel just as nerve-racking. However the balance between the stress of spring tem and the pleasure can be the key to delight. The refusal to deny yourself from doing the things in college you have always wanted to do can be the base line to this term. However remembering how awful it is to live in your parents’ house after graduation can be a good reminder that employment is the key to your financial freedom. Let the sun come out and bring the fun-filled spring term.
'Who invited you?' misunderstood
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Last week, I wrote the article “Who Invited You” and I have found that several readers misinterpreted this article. My intent was not to degrade the football team, or even more specifically the underclass football players. My intention was not at all meant to imply that all athletes at this school are here solely on athletic ability alone. My intent was to call out those who lack respect. With that said, if that does not apply to you, then I was by no means attempting to disrespect you. I urge you to read the article again, it’s not that ambiguous and, at points, it can be very somewhat cut and dry. However, if you have a concern with what I print, please feel free to contact me at wswaff59@mercyhurst.edu, and I will gladly clarify. Who invited you?: Don't get rowdy in someone else's house
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Social gatherings on the weekends are not uncommon among college students. They allow us time to hang out with our close friends for drinks and good laughs. However in the past several months there has been an increase in uninvited guests appearing at off-campus houses. In recent, several off-campus houses have dealt with the uninvited guests who not only barge into houses but cause severe trouble. These students have caused several fights and assaults. They are composed mostly of underclassmen football players, who are seen everywhere off-campus but the football house. I can only question why an individual would enter the house of a person they do not know. To have the audacity to congregate and assault the owner of the house because he does not want you there shows the quality of an individual’s class. Mercyhurst College is an institution that stands as a beacon of education. The students of the college are by no means perfect and all have their share of flaws. Nonetheless, most of the students are at the ’Hurst because of high academic marks. With that said, we should not allow students into our school based solely upon their athletic performance. After all, we are not Ohio State. Mercyhurst is not an institution that has to allow felons in to build a great athletic program. I am by no means bashing the football program. I am bashing those who never learned "respect." The general disregard and trespassing has forced many houses off-campus to lock their doors to outside visitors. You can no longer believe that students will respect that they are not invited into houses anymore. The truth is that soon there will not be parties on this campus because students will have to worry about being assaulted at a party by an uninvited guest. Therefore students beware: Hang out solely with those you know and lock your doors to ensure you have a fun, safe time. Tired of technology
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist With the age of Facebook, keyboard cell phones and instant messenger, it strikes me that our generation is beginning to see a decay of the social skills that our parents’ generation has. We find ourselves checking Facebook more often than our e-mail for a message or a new friend request. I am a guilty participant of using Facebook to find out information. It is far too convenient to send a text message to someone than to be stuck in an awkward conversation in which you are forced to tell cheesy jokes to carry a conversation that ultimately has a simple point. Can you remember a time before Facebook and cell phones when you were forced into proper mannerism to talk to the girl on whom you had a crush? It took giant heart to talk to someone to find out about him or her on a personal level. It was then when they found out that you could not say the perfect line when you did not have 10 minutes to think of a response. These conversations allowed you to tell the one you were attracted to about your interests or your first love. The simple explanation is that we are subjects of our own environment. We act in a certain way because it is the social norm; using technology has become the social skill of the next generation of Americans. I find that with alcohol involved I might have the ability to abandon technology, be a man and simply talk. Truth be told, sober we all might lack the ability to abandon technology. Is there any way to reverse our generation’s new social norm? Probably not. We can start to make a conscious effort to be more like adults and not use technology. When we find ourselves in a situation that might call for a standard phone call, follow through on it. When you have a curiosity about a member of the opposite sex just initiate conversation, do not revert to Facebook as a guide to what kind of person they are. Maybe eventually we can all chant the lines of Mr. Timberlake: "Ayo I’m tired of using technology."
The Army fits the vision of Mercyhurst's mission statement
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist Since the creation of the United States Army on July 14, 1775, men and woman of the armed forces have strived to defend the ideas of freedom and democracy. In its 200-plus years as an organization it has ensured that Americans and the values of our country will never be stripped by foreign powers. The blood, tears and sweat of our forefathers is a direct reflection on why we are the best country in the world. The U.S. Army has stood as a beacon of true professional fighting force for over a century. The U.S. Army stood against the Nazi regime as they attempted to exterminate the Jewish population and conquer Europe. American soldiers stood for world peace and sacrificed their own well-being for others to live as the Americans did in freedom. American soldiers’ blood was left in Vietnam in attempt to spread freedom for others. It was American soldiers who sacrificed their well-being to ensure that Kuwait was free from invaders. And it is American soldiers who give up their lives daily to ensure others in the Middle East have the ability to live free. These men and woman of an all-volunteer force do not choose where their country sends them. As an all-volunteer force this means they must recruit to ensure that they have enough men to accomplish any mission that the American government directs them to carry out. This means that there must be educated military officers that have the leadership and the gumption to lead men into combat operations, humanitarian operations, etc. As the Army looks for military officers, what better resource than Mercyhurst College? This intuition offers its graduates a diversified education that allows them to follow the college’s mission statement. This education makes the Mercyhurst student much more appealing to the United States Army than many other colleges and universities in the nation. The mission statement of Mercyhurst College states, “liberal arts combined with an appreciation for the dignity of work and a commitment of serving others …and to exercise leadership in service towards a just world.” This is a direct reflection of what the U.S. Army teaches it future leaders. The U.S. Army officer follows a strict code of placing the mission first, the welfare of their men over themselves. An Army officer follows the seven Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Their service is toward others, to include their men, their country and their country’s allies. The contributing writer last week stated Mercyhurst needed to walk the walk and he is right. The college can do this by doing more for the ROTC program. The thought that the U.S. Army ROTC program should not be allowed at Mercyhurst is absurd. With seven Mercyhurst seniors graduating this year who will take the commission as second lieutenants in the Army, it is time the college does more for these future leaders. A classroom, storage space and increased funding are some of the few actions that can be taken. As a future Army infantry officer, I take much pride in the U.S. Army and the ROTC program. It is truly discouraging that one of our fellow student body members could write such a poor editorial letter about the Army advertising in the Merciad. It is because of that very advertising that you have the right to attend college not be drafted to be a part of the military. If Zeluff is so concerned with Army advertising then you should move to another country where there is no marketing, just conscription. You will then understand what it means to be a part of a liberal arts institution, well-rounded student to include military science. Some of America’s greatest leaders have served in the military who were graduates of Ivy League schools. With that said, I leave you this quote from American president John Kennedy. “A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living.”
The loss of an NFL great: Sean Taylor of Redskins
By Bill Swafford Staff columnist As the news broke early Tuesday Nov. 27, many NFL fans were stunned to find that Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor passed away. Taylor, a first round draft pick in 2004 and graduate of University of Miami, had just come off a Pro Bowl appearance this season. This pointless violence is a just another trend that has spread in the realm of celebrities. This 24-year-old father and athlete has left the world with little explanation as to why his life was cut short. Taylor who was loved by many in Washington was considered one of the best safeties in the league. Like many other greats of entertainment and professional athletes, this pointless end of life might have been a direct reflection to the lifestyle he lived. Taylor, who was no stranger to encounters with the law, lived much of a lifestyle that might have reflected a man who had little regard to his status as a role model to others as a professional athlete. His last conviction was that of displaying a firearm after a conflict in the Miami area. This behavior has become almost the standard of what to expect from professional athletes. Why is it that as Americans we can praise a man’s ability to catch a football far more than his ability to follow laws and social norms? It is a daily occurrence to hear that an entertainer or professional athlete has committed a felony. The failure on the part of American society to allow the attrition of moral responsibility of professional athletes has left each draft of athletes to become more deviant than the past year. So when will we, the commissioners of professional athletics, decline that their leagues be played by unlawful gangsters? The truth stated we as Americans have far more allegiance to our favorite professional teams than we do to what the players do in their private lives. However poor behavior and violence can only make one cringe when an athlete with so much talent has to forfeit his career due to an act during his private life. With all in sight we can only hope for a change in the near future and that professional athletes recognize that they can be great on and off the field.
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