This Week in Merciad History, Oct. 21-27
October 21, 2010
Each week during the 2010-11 school year, The Merciad selects three stories about the college’s history. These story excerpts from our archives are posted to The Merciad Online on Thursday afternoons.
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College asks North East council for funds to start branch campus
Thursday, Oct. 24, 1985
By Betsy Lantz
Mercyhurst College asked the council of North East, Pa., for $20,000 in matching funds to start a satellite campus in the borough at an Oct. 8 meeting.
The funds would be drawn from the borough’s Marshall Kreft Fund. The North East Council indicated that a decision would be made by Jan. 1.
The proposed branch campus, which would be similar to the Corry Center, will have to meet the approval of the college Board of Trustees if the North East Council grants the requested funding, Dr. William P. Garvey, college president, said.
“If the North East Council’s decision is not an affirmative one, we will not proceed any further,” he added.
If approved, however, the center would offer primarily college credit courses geared toward the first two years and intended mainly for adult students in evening classes, he added. Most students would be expected to transfer to the main campus.
“I see the two centers as complimenting each other,” Mercyhurst associate professor of social work Chris Gagliano said. “I think it’s very commendable that the college attempts to meet educational needs in rural areas.”
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Concert hall planned
Thursday, Oct. 21, 1993
Merciad file photo: Artwork of the proposed addition to Zurn.Mercyhurst is planning to build again.
A new performing arts center may be built, provided enough money can be raised to fund the project.
According to both Michael Fuhrman, dance instructor/enrollment counselor, and President William Garvey, the Zurn Recital Hall is just too small. Zurn houses only 250 people while the new building will house approximately 950 people.
As Fuhrman puts it, “Why shouldn’t a liberal arts college have somewhere for its students to perform? Isn’t that what they are here for?”
If built, the building will be used primarily for concerts, graduation, dance recitals, and other Mercyhurst events.
Plans are to build behind Zurn extending toward Baldwin Hall.
According to Dr. Garvey, the building will be the last building built on campus. The reason for this is primarily a space concern––there is no more available land.
The college has already raised approximately $1.7 million for the projected $4 million project.
No additional parking is planned with the arrival of the new building and Garvey does not foresee parking as a problem.
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Campus holds its breath
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005
By Joshua Wilwohl, Editor-in-chief
The Presidential Search Committee met Monday, Oct. 24, to formally recommend to the Board of Trustees on Thursday the committee’s preferred candidate for Mercyhurst’s 11th president.
Committee Chairman Bill Sennett said the selection process included all the college’s constituents and was an achievement, despite its longevity.
“The process has been long, yet successful in that we brought very good candidates to the campus,” he said.
The board meets Thursday to vote. Its decision will be announced after the candidate and the board agrees to basic terms of a contract.
Students hope to see the college’s next president as someone with “good character” who “cares about the best interest of the students,” said sophomore Jenna Fitch.
Senior Stephanie Reho said, “The new president needs to be personable and able to talk to students. He or she should walk down the hallway and greet students.”
Sennett said each candidate brings “…unique qualifications and will make a good president.”