The new College of Health Sciences (CHS) building opens the door to expanded research and clinical and educational opportunities for students, faculty and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The renovated three-story, 40,000-square-foot building on Lake Street is a $5.6 million investment in the health sciences by MU. The historic structure houses the nursing, speech-language pathology (SLP), occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) departments. It allows the university to meet the additional demand for the free or low-cost clinics MU has been providing to the greater community in PT and SLP, while also expanding learning and collaboration opportunities in the health

sciences for students. “The investment in the College of Health Sciences by MU re-affirms the university’s commitment to rigorous academics, strong career preparation and people in the greater community,’’ said Jean A. Dyer, Ph.D., dean of the CHS. “The new academic building offers a blend of academic and clinical experiences for our students and low-cost health clinics for regional residents in need. These are the types of opportunities that define the Misericordia way.’’ More health care professionals graduate from MU than any other college or university in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The increased opportunities in the College of Health Sciences will allow

the institution to increase the number of graduates by 55 percent in five years. These new and superbly educated graduates will help to reduce the shortage of health care professionals and make health care in Pennsylvania more accessible and affordable. “Misericordia has a national reputation for producing highly qualified health care professionals in multiple fields,’’ said President Michael A. MacDowell. “The university is moving the College of Health Sciences to a central location for the community’s convenience and to expand academic and clinical services at a time when the nation is experiencing a severe shortage of health care professionals.’’ MU is regionally acclaimed

highlandernews.net

LET’S TALK FASHION Drago discusses fashion in the SLP world PAGE 3Inside COUGAR SPORTS Freshman baseball player Michael Pena gets profiled PAGE 4

APRIL 27, 2010

Exclusive photos and story

Only on highlandernews.net:

2nd Annual 'Senior' Prom(cont. on page 3)

By Highlander Staff Reports

Junior Marc Ingoglia holds SimBaby in one of the nursing department's simulation labo-ratores in the new College of Health Sciences on Lake Street.

MU MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DEPT.

'Achilles' Finds Home In Insalaco

By Mary ScarpaContributorThe curious artwork by adjunct fine arts professor David Klevinsky is part of MU’s

permanent art collection.

“Achilles,” a mixed media artwork, has taken new residence in the Sandy & Marlene Insalaco Hall, where it is passed countless times by students and staff. “I don’t use traditional materials,” said David Klevinsky, the artist and a fine arts faculty member. “I was taught to use materials that are yours.” He explained the canvas is a layered tapestry of his own materials. Klevinsky used wood, plasters, tar and mud on the piece, which was completed between 2006 and 2007. Klevinsky’s work also reflects his life. He used tobacco juice that represents his father, who chewed tobacco. He used coffee juice, which represents mentor, teacher and constant coffee consumer Salvator Scarpitta. He also used coal dust with water from Solomon’s Creek, which he used to represent the 1959 Knox Mine disaster where iron and sulfur ran through the whole valley and emptied down into creek. “All of the construction stuff is mine, and then of course the coal ash is from the area which I walk on, which is where I come from,” said Klevinsky, who is from Hanover Township. He said each material that he chose for “Achilles” represents himeself and the process of creating the piece. After all, he said, writers are told to write about what they know best. Art is a relationship between the piece and its creator. He described the egress in the middle of the canvas as the eyes and windows to the soul. “We can’t see one another, and this is an opening into something else, [something] beyond.”

“Achilles” not only consists of a layered canvas, but a dilapidated frame that encompasses the work. “I really can’t recall which came first, the frame or the piece,” said Klevinsky. “Certain things hit me at certain times.” Klevinsky also sees the frame as part of the work. “The frame represents actually Achilles, this elaborate-looking, beautiful frame, and then there’s decrepitude, there’s a weakness.” A Greek hero of the Trojan War, Achilles was a golden child whose entire body was invulnerable except for his heel. Achilles was only defeated when Paris shot him in the heel with an arrow, coining the phrase “Achilles’ Heel.” He described the armor figure in the middle of the canvas that

Students present posters for OT Month

Sophomore occupational therapy students displayed their creative side in Banks Student Life Center lobby on Wednesday, April 21 by presenting their class projects to mark Occupational Therapy Month. The intriguing display of poster presentations drew the eyes of many curious onlookers who wished to learn more about occupational therapy (OT) and the hard work the students do each semester. Lisa Sunday-Lefkowitz, an instructor in the OT program, stated that each semester’s portfolio encompasses something different about the field of OT. “The fall portfolio focuses on self-exploration and learning about yourself, while the spring portfolio focuses on learning about others different from yourself,” said Sunday-Lefkowitz. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s a lot of fun.” The students decorated their projects using colorful props, designs and posters. They also displayed photos of experiments and fun-filled exercises. One presentation showed students who learned to knit at the side of elderly people. Students displayed their knitted creations alongside the posters, and they were a

favorite of many who took the time to stop and look.

“The best part of this

whole thing was learning to knit,” said Kelsey Olszewski. “I was able to really see OT in person. Most of them didn’t know what OT really was, and it was fun to educate them about OT while they’re in turn educating us.” The opportunity to put oneself into anothers’ shoes is vital to understanding others, said Sunday-Lefkowitz. “By the students visiting with the elderly it gave them a chance to learn to develop a relationship by bonding with different people of different backgrounds,” she said. Students also included a display about making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches blindfolded, so they could feel what it is truly like to be blind. Students included pictures of sandwiches that students made both with and without the blindfold. One student even made a fake giant peanut butter and jelly sandwich for display. “We try to get students to learn empathy, acclimation, and adapting to an environment,” said Sunday-Lefkowitz. Through these activities, students were able to develop their own idea of what OT is — and what it means to them. “OT is about getting to know what’s meaningful, and to sit and spend time to get to know values,” said Katie Pannabecker. “It’s therapy.”

College of Health Sciences enriches student opportunitiesThe new health sciences building on Lake Street is equipped to handle classes and the community.

At left is a statue depicting the famous Greek warrior Achilles. He was said to have been dipped in the River Styx at birth and became invincible -- except for his

heel.

(cont. on page 5)

Students destress, page 5

Good Luck,

Seniors!

By Dom DellosReporter

Students presented creative poster projects to honor annual OT Month.

highlandernews.netAPRIL 27, 2010 2

CONTACT US

(570) 674-6737

highland@misericordia.edu

Sarah HiteEditor-in-Chiefhites@misericordia.edu

Amanda JamiesonPrint Editorjamiesa2@misericordia.edu

Eleni KonstasWeb Editorkonstase@misericordia.edu

Multimedia EditorMichele Drago

dragom2@misericordia.edu

The Highlander is a free, biweekly pub-lication produced in conjunction with MU Communications De-partment. Any full-time student is encouraged to join the staff.

We are a member of the American Scholas-tic Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, and the Penn-sylvania Newspaper Association.

The Highlander works to produce up-to-date, clear, accurate reporting. If any information is inaccurate or not covered thoroughly, corrections and informa-tion will appear in this area. Opinions and views expressed in The High-lander in no way reflect those of Misericordia University or the Sisters of Mercy. The Highlander staff welcomes students, faculty and reader re-sponse. The Highlander reserves the right to edit submissions for gram-matical errors and length. All submissions must be signed. Letters to the Editor and/or materials for publication may be submitted by any reader. Items can be sent via e-mail.

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STAFF

CFC 8 Backstage Pass The Highlander is proud to support Concert for a Cause 8. This year the event took place Thursday, April 22 at The Woodlands Inn & Resort, and it benefited the United Way Veterans Services. The concert featured over 30 local bands on four stages. Bands such as 40-Lb. Head, k8, Bad Hair Day, The Five Percent, Flaxy Morgan, Pancea, and M-80 rocked out for service. The CD featuring the performers of CFC 8 is on sale at the Gallery of Sound for $5.

‘Trial’ earns praise from audience

By Jacob RakestrawReporter

One student recounts the interactive play presented by the Misericordia Players in Lemmond Theater from April 15 through April 18.

Damp notebook in hand, I strolled out of the drizzle and through the side doors of Sandy & Marlene Insalaco Hall, proceeding to the ticket booth where I shelled out a trio of Washingtons for my entry to “The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women.” Tucking a program in my back pocket and picking up a pair of mysterious green and red cards, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly awaited me through the doors of the grand Lemmond Theatre. I quickly found a seat within the last few rows, got comfortable and gave the nine, black clad women atop the stage my fullest attention. “The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women” is a comically fictional twist on the historical story and rumors surrounding the Romanov assassinations of 1918. While it shouldn’t be a student’s first source of information for a history thesis, it is an allegorical reflection of feminism as well as the trials (pun intended) and tribulations of women’s struggle against gender inequality while maintaining the fragile unity of sisterhood. Nine astonishing actresses, courtesy of the Misericordia Players, engaged and entertained the audience through the story of the Emma Goldman Theatre Brigade, a small theatrical company completely comprised of women. Most intriguing is the framework of the act that placed a play within a play. The audience watched as the women of the Theatre Brigade bickered over roles

drawn from a hat, stepped out of “character” in the midst of scenes, and switched roles around a little past midway. Becca Schaller, who had a role in the play, claimed that the spontaneity was not the most challenging aspect of this production. “The most difficult part of the show for me was trying to emulate the character I played. Each character had such depth that made it a tough job for the actor.” Schaller and another actress in the play, junior Kaila Augustine, both suggest that the dynamic roles and portrayals of women were what initially attracted them to this production. “What I liked best about this play was being able to portray two characters who were not only completely different from each other, but me as well. In one scene I was playing a radical feminist activist and in the next scene I was portraying an alcoholic bag lady.” Schaller agreed. “I liked that this show not only empowered women but it showed the darker side of women and their relationships with other women, something that few people ever delve into.” Equally interesting was the encouragement of crowd participation via those mysterious red and green cards, cards that gave the audience the power of judge and jury. These cards, as simple as they were in form and function, “break down the hierarchical wall between the observer and the observed,”

said Christine E. Rock, director of the play. Red to overrule and green to sustain, the decisions of the court were left completely up to the crowd and dictate how the act will play out. The actresses were not the only ones who put a lot of time and effort into creating a smooth running play. Behind the scenes, stage manager Jeff Kelly put his heart and soul into the play. Kelly said that as stage manager he “would help the actresses memorize their lines, and about a week before the play takes over running the show so that the director can focus on detail and making the show the best it could possibly be.” While Kelly prefers to act rather than work behind the scenes, he said because the show featured a female-only cast, it would have been difficult to act in, “not that I have never been on stage in a dress before.” The process of creating a seemingly perfect production does not come easy Kelly suggests. Difficulties developed over the flexibility of cast members, and long rehearsals can tire many out. “I myself have had eight-hour plus rehearsals for shows and it gets tedious, especially when you are balancing the show, work, school and a life in general.” With that in mind, it is an even bigger round of applause that the female cast of “Anastasia” deserves. Schaller said this play was extremely important because it was the last time she was able to participate in Misericordia

“Bar. Beer. Drinks. Music?” It was their first night out in Thailand, and eight American college graduates had to split up into two cabs to get to their destination. Only one could speak a little Thai, and he was in the other cab. Without cell phones, and struggling with a language barrier, they attempted to explain where they were trying to go, but Kevin Davies and three of his friends ended up at a brothel. It looked like a bar from the outside, but once they sat down they were shocked to discover the lineup of numbered women behind a glass wall. “That’s what he thought we wanted because we were white tourists,” Davies said of the cab driver. Davies, a business administration major with a concentration in marketing, graduated from Loyola University, a Jesuit institution, in Maryland in May of 2007. Four days after graduation, he and nine friends who were also fresh graduates traveled 22 hours to the other side of the world — Bangkok, Thailand. “It was the worst traveling experience of my life, because my roommate was pretty much sitting on my lap and I couldn’t feel my legs. But I was excited, a little nervous,” said Davies. Davies and the other grads signed up for a Teach in Thailand program run through the study abroad office at Loyola. Students were required to have at least a 2.7 GPA and to interview with the

priest who ran the program. At the end of the interview, they were handed a letter of acceptance if they met the qualifications. “We were all on different days, and Paul was last. He was really nervous that he wasn’t going to get to go,” Davies said of his three college roommates and best friends who traveled to Thailand with him. Once in Bangkok, Davies had meetings about new teacher orientation required for anyone who was new to the university. They had to introduce themselves with a microphone. Most of the other teachers were late thirties or older and Thai, but Davies was one of the few young Americans in the room. Davies said that most of the Thai teachers were accepting of the young Americans. “I think they enjoyed talking to us as well, because not all of their English is perfect.” On his first day teaching 30 Thai college students a basic English course, Davies said he was really nervous — so nervous that he let the class out early. Davies said it took him a few weeks to really become comfortable with teaching a classroom full of students, including some who were older than he. Eventually he became confident in his ability. “I learned that I can stand up and lecture for an hour and 15 minutes, which I didn’t think I’d be able to do,” he said. It took Davies at least a

Tales of ThailandA group of men with newly printed college diplomas took the trip of their lives — and want to share their experiences with college students who might be afraid to give international travel a try.By Kate BuntonReporter

ANN GOWNLEY / CONTRIBUTOR

ANN GOWNLEY / CONTRIBUTORRICH BALDOVIN / CONTRIBUTOR

Right, members of the Army National Guard waited out-side the Woodlands Inn & Resort before the concert. The concert raised $16,200 for the United Way Veterans fund.

Below right, staff members manned a merchandise table, selling T-shirts and CDs. Patrons of the event were also treated to an elaboartely decorated cake for the event.

Below, bands rocked out for the event. Thirty-four bands on four stages played all night to raise money for veter-ans and current soldiers.

(cont. on page 4)(cont. on page 4)

Speech-language pathology and physical therapy majors have it horribly hard. With all that work who has time to keep up with style? But MK Baran and Jill De Forte manage to pull together some savvy style while working hard — they’re almost like an MU version of fab fashion friends Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port. One thing they love the most — their shoes. “I wear my leopard print heels as much as I can,” said Baran. Now those shoes are TDF: to die for. Even though Baran has her schedule completely filled with classes and extra activities, she throws in a high fashion twist to usual college chic. Black North Face backpack? Check. Add some staggering leopard print heels and a Coach hot pink leopard print scarves, and you’ve got some college couture. While Baran’s studying the evolution of population, De Forte is out shopping for high-rise boots. It’s no wonder why the best friends are not only in the same major, but the same stylish attitude as well. De Forte confesses that even though she loves dressing up, her class schedule is so super busy that sweats are the best route on rough days. “Personally, I like wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.” While De Forte dishes the dirt on her sassy sweats, Baran says sweats aren’t her thing for even the most tedious classes. “I feel like people

take you more seriously when you dress up,” said Baran. She knows what she’s talking about. Her style will go a long way in the SLP world. So as MK and I talked

leopard heels, I couldn’t help but mention my

new leopard Jessica Simpson ballet flats, they’re perfect and actually cheap, too. The fashionistas

tell me that in their major, it’s important to look professional all the time. So for all the stylish SLP majors here’s what to wear straight from two who know: Dress

pants, a nice shirt, maybe a cardigan

and comfy shoes. Comfortable

shoes are a must. Baran and De Forte

had some bad experience with Michael Kors ballet flats and low boots

— it was a fashion bloodshed. I commend

them for the MK shoes since I always say, style before comfort. While Baran and De Forte are talking SLP,

Tom Komor is figuring out his ultimate style secrets in PT. He sticks to comfort. “I don’t really care that much about fashion,” said Komor. His perfect class act outfit is cargo shorts, a plain tee, and some “sneakas,” in the words of Komor himself. Komor wears some stylish gear to his fine arts class, including his light pink Obama family tee he bought in DC for $5. It was a steal deal and Obama couldn’t have pulled it off any better. I can’t wait to dish the dirt on summer styles in the summer edition of The Highlander — next time.

highlandernews.netAPRIL 27, 2010 3

LET’STALK

FASHIONBy MICHELE DRAGO, Multimedia Editor

highlandernews.net 2

What’s your style? Let’s talk fashion!E-mail me at dragom2@misericordia.edu.

Spring Weekend 2010Friday April 30th:

Tie-Dye Tee-Shirt Pick-UpBanks Student Life Center Lobby

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Extreme Air!Lawn in front of Banks Student Life Center

11:00 - 3:00 pm

Ice Cream SocialCafeteria8:30 pm

Banachek, the MentalistCafeteria9:00 pm

Saturday May 1st:

BBQLawn in Front of Banks Student Life Center

12:00 - 4:00 pm

6 vs. 6 Volleyball TournamentRegister your team in the SGA office

12:00 - 4:00 pm

3 vs. 3 Basketball TournamentRegister your team in the SGA office

12:00 - 4:00 pm

Deal or no DealCougars' Den

8:00 pm

Thursday April 29th:

Tie-Dye your Spring Weekend Tee-Shirt$1

Banks Student Life Center5 pm

sponsored by the Student Government

Association

Health Sciences, cont'd.continued from page 1

Danielle Hogan, left, and Danielle Leonzi, right, work with Anthony Vanesco in the new Physical Therapy Center.

and nationally recognized for the health sciences and the services it provides. More than 1,500 people — 1,285 children and 251 adults — have been treated at the Speech-Language and Hearing Center since 2003, while additional people have been receiving clinical therapies at the MU Physical Therapy Center since 2004. The SLP department’s suite on the second floor expands clinical space and offers additional state-of-the-art technology that will benefit students and clients, alike through the video observation room, Sensory-Motor Gymnasium, Voice and Speech-Science Anatomy, Stuttering and Language, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and Cognition and Brain Injury laboratories. “This is an exciting period of growth for the speech-language pathology program,’’ said Glen Tellis, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the SLP department. “Moving to the new facility will allow us to expand our clinical services to the community as we will double the number of clinic rooms —resulting in more sessions being offered to our clients.’’ The state-of-the-art Sensory-Motor Gymnasium houses equipment for use

with children diagnosed with autism, pervasive developmental disorder and other related sensory-motor disorders. The high-tech Speech-Science Anatomy Lab enables SLP students to learn instrumentation they can apply to their clinical practice, while the AAC Lab features more than $200,000 in equipment that non-verbal clients use to enhance communication. The Cognition and Brain Injury Lab has equipment to train students in assessing patients with traumatic brain injuries, as well as stroke patients and clients with swallowing disorders. In the Stuttering and Language Research Lab advanced video capture procedures are utilized to train students to evaluate and treat clients who have language disorders or who stutter. “We will also be able to review every clinical session in all faculty and clinical staff offices, student clinician preparation room and classroom,’’ Dr. Tellis added. “Our students will also have access to cutting-edge technology to learn methods of assessment that they can immediately apply to their clinical practice.’’ The College of Health Sciences is also open to the public for community meetings.

Tales of Thailand

“That’s it, you fail. We’re keeping you here till next year.” Professor Dan Kimbrough jokes about failing another member the Communications Class of 2010 and we all know why. Each one takes part in our student media, and each one is just too good to give up. We can’t let these talented writers, editors, videographers and planners go — not already! But if we must, I must demand you hire them immediately. Wordsmith Sarah Hite continues to teach practicum students better grammar and punctuation. She’s taught me to say no to the comma and at the same time a big “Yes!” to my inner designer. She’s redesigned the The Highlander and won a Keystone, all in one year. She is full of overwhelming support and encouragement, and we’ll miss her as editor-in-chief of The Highlander. Ann Gownley, the girl with a gift for taking charge, shoots, edits, manages, and fills every

necessary role in a manic student-produced television show. Ann, the executive producer of CougarCast, has two Tellies to her name — and we have big shoes to fill. CougarCast’s growth from 15 minutes to 25 is largely credited to the contributions of Mike Terlesky. Producing the off campus feature segment, Flavor of NEPA, has kept him filming, interviewing and editing all year long. Soon, someone else will be king of the mezzanine lab during CougarCast’s late night editing parties. Just look at a shot and everyone knows that John Peruso took it. After Peruso took over as producer of CougarCast’s “The Locker Room” segment, it’s become one of the strongest on MCN 87. He and Mike have been recognized by State representative Karen Bobak for their work on the veterans documentary, “In Their Own Words.” George Pierce left CougarCast too early, forging

the path to graduate school. And that’s no joke. George’s career has been split between communications and the theatre, embracing his creative side. Now he’s heading back to hit the books. Sasha Anselmi takes communication integration off campus and into the kitchen. Luckily, Sasha got serious about baking before choosing a culinary school, and she took on business and design courses for her public relations and advertising specialization. Someday we hope to have Sasha come back and cater a communications department event. Who can sell ice to an Eskimo? Brendan Hunter has the smooth talent of a salesman without that pushy nature, and everyone loves to have “Brendo” on their team. When others get stressed, Brendo finds inspiration. If you need a group pulled together, a club motivated, you look to Ashley Ballard. Balancing both softball and communications for all

four years at MU, she does everything with grace and panache. Managing Cougar Radio, she held the station together after a major softball injury. Some graduates make dramatic exits earlier than others, and do-it-all powerhouse Rachel Decker finished degree requirements in December so she could devote all of her time to the demanding full time job she has more than a year before her early departure. After she created — and then redesigned — the online version of The Highlander you see now, she left us to work full time as Online Content Manager for The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company. Too soon, these talented folks will be receiving their diplomas. We wish them the best of luck, from The Highlander, CougarCast, Cougar Radio, and the rest of the communications department.

COM grads will be missedJunior communications student and Highlander web editor Eleni Konstas highlights the achievements of this year's communications graduates.By Eleni KonstasWeb Editor

MU MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DEPT.

highlandernews.netAPRIL 27, 2010 4

COUGAR SPORTSBaseball means family for MU freshman

By Andrea OrtonReporter

Number 19 is dedicated to baseball for the love of the game – and his family.

Freshman communications major Michael Angelo Pena has had a great first year: he found a very nice girl to date, a college that focuses on him as an individual, and college ball. But it’s his new college ballpark than what he was used to in high school has found a place in his heart. Prior to graduating high school in 2008, Pena looked for a college that would fit his needs as an athlete and a communications major. “I have been playing ball since I was six years old,” said Pena, who is a fourth generation baseball player, “but, college ball is a lot different. These kids in college are bigger, faster and stronger. You need more than one pitch just to get these kids out. In college the strike zones are a lot tighter. If you make one mistake it will cost you.” And those mistakes are easy to make, said Pena, because college ball is much more competitive — and serious. “You also have to take risks sometimes,” said Pena. “Back in high school it was just kids playing kids. They weren’t really trained to play but these kids in college are.” Despite the fact that college ball has proven to be significantly different from his high school years of playing and umpiring, Pena is adjusting well — although he reminisces about the days when he called all of the shots. “It wasn’t that I felt important playing the game itself, it was how I felt off of the field,” said Pena. “I felt like an important figure because I held the game in my hands, in a manner of speaking.” After umpiring a Little League game in his hometown in Delaware Valley, about an

hour away from MU, Pena said he felt better than he ever had. “I remember one summer I was umpiring a game and I was waiting in the car with my mom. The car door was open and these three little kids walk over and they said, ‘Hey aren’t you Mike Pena?’ and I said, yes I am. They treated me like I was a superstar.” He was known by old and young — most everyone in his small town — as a great player. But that’s only part of the reason Pena has continued to play. “My family had a lot to do with my decision to play baseball in college,” he said. “All of my family members have been baseball players so I followed in their footsteps 13 years ago and have not stopped since.” Pena was not only an all star pitcher in the eyes of his fellow teammates but also in the eyes of his biggest fans, his parents, who attended nearly every one of his games in high school. Coming from a close-knit family, Pena was able to carry on qualities such as hard work and dedication, which his father, a construction overseer, and his mother, an interior designer, have demonstrated over the years. That feeling of nirvana suddenly came to a halt on December 22nd, 2008 when Miriam, Michael’s mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer. He played harder than ever before to get the idea of his mother’s illness out of his mind, but nothing could shake this empty feeling. Pena said the following season of 2009 was a year of hard work and devotion for her, and her only. His pitch was faster, his focus was directed, and nothing could stop him.

“Baseball was just something that I was naturally good at, but this was the hardest season of my life,” said Pena. Even though Miriam was unable to attend more than one game of the season, Michael made it count. As the starting pitcher for the most competitive game of the season, Pena took the mound and gave it his all. By the bottom of the fifth inning, Pena already knew that they had the game in the bag. “We surprised everyone with this win. Scranton High School was undefeated and chosen as favorites to win the division and we won.” “That day I played for my mom.” She is still strong, Pena said. Miriam was proud to be cancer free in late May of 2009. “To this day I will play for my family, especially my mother,” he said. “She has taught me to never give up and to keep going, and for that I will always be thankful.”

Players — she is set to graduate this May. “This show was most certainly bittersweet to me. I have been with the Misericordia Players since my first semester of my freshman year and with each show I have grown closer to the others involved,” she said. “I especially felt the emotion of this being my last show on Saturday, closing night. During the middle of my biggest monologue in the entire show I started to cry because I was so overcome

with emotion. I think that the emotion not only came from embodying my character but also from four years of being a part of such a close-knit family with the Misericordia Players.” The women involved with this production certainly put all their effort into the play. Their determination to create a truly wonderful and interesting show was made clear to the filled auditorium Friday night as it erupted in applause when the final curtain closed. “The Anastasia Trials

in the Court of Women” wasn’t elaborately staged or overcomplicated with multiple sets, dozens upon dozens of roles and yawn-inducing scripts more akin to eulogies than excerpts of entertainment. It’s simplistic and witty hilarity intertwined with a message that’s just plain fun to watch. My night with the Misericordia Players was a good time and it granted me a little more insight on the endlessly arduous battle that is women’s liberation.

‘Trial’ earns praise, cont'd.continued from page 2

Tales of Thailand, cont'd.month to develop a feel for the city and become comfortable going places alone. The experiences he had in Bangkok at the university and in the classroom led him to discover much more about himself. Prior to the trip, Davies didn’t think he was an adventurous person. Growing up, he was a reserved child and a picky eater. Encouraged by the company of his friends, he branched out and discovered that he could venture beyond usual comforts. The story he tells of his first night in Thailand is not one that anyone would expect of him, but submerged in a foreign culture, mishaps are bound to happen. The message he gained from that first night is that all of life is a learning experience. Davies said there wasn’t a specific moment that changed him, but many. “There are a lot of things that are out of your control and out of your comfort zone, and you kind of just have to go with it and see what happens.” Davies explains that it’s necessary to just learn to go with the flow and accept

what comes along, especially in unfamiliar cultures where social rules and expectations are very different from American norms. He said there is no point in getting upset or angry at what may be perceived as rude. “In China mostly, the people [were] spitting on the ground or going to the bathroom on the sidewalk. People spitting on the floor inside restaurants. That was really gross.” Davis said there are many lessons that he did not get as a student in America. While in Southeast Asia, he and his friends traveled through Cambodia where they learned of the genocide imposed by Pol Pot in the 1970s. Davies claimed he had never seen more amputees in his life than in Cambodia. The US and other countries had planted so many landmines that people are still stepping on them. They visited the killing fields and a prison where the regime tortured and killed. “It was really eerie. It was a school they had converted into a torture prison and they had pictures of people who were in there.” Some of the torture

chambers were still intact for people to see. “You kind of get a chill when you walk in to know what was happening there 30 years ago,” he said. Davies also had positive experiences. While he wouldn’t consider himself a daredevil, he put himself to the test in Macau, Southeast Asia’s Las Vegas, which is located off the coast of China. “Doing the highest bungee in the world was pretty crazy,” Davies said of fall, which is 230 meters. It’s equivalent to jumping off a 68-story building. Davies said most bungees are 150 feet, and the one in Macau is six times that. “You’re really close to terminal velocity. And I had never bungee jumped before. I wanted to, I figured it’s the highest bungee in the world and if I was ever going to do it I might as well do the biggest one.” Davies reflects on his experience as time of growth, and he recommends traveling, studying or teaching abroad to any student who is willing. While he cannot guarantee what they will find, or where they will end up, he said it would be a fascinating ride.

continued from page 2

End of Semester Baseball Schedule4/27 Alvernia H 3:304/28 Moravian H 3:30 4/30 Eastern A 3:005/1 Eastern H 12:00

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Sudents relax at free yoga session

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MARK DESTEFANO / CONTRIBUTOR

Right, junior Cassie Fumanti stretches during the upward facing dog position while attending the free yoga night dur-ing The Highlander's Style Week.

Below, students stand in the warrior pose during the ses-sion. Transportation was provided to students at no cost.

started to take shape there, just as the armor Achilles wore in the novel “The Iliad” by the Greek poet Homer. “As the piece starts developing, you start seeing certain things in it,” he said. The intention was never to originally call the piece “Achilles,” but to allow the freedom of the piece to form on its own, with the artist interworking and sometimes dominating the work. “As I was making the piece, I’m more interested in the process of bringing an image up, because there’s a relationship between me and the process,” Klevinsky said. “You need to have that bit of freedom to let it go and see what happens, like a piece will eventually come about, but you’re going through your process and you have to watch your process to see when it’s done,” he said. The artwork is so striking, students stop to look at it as they walk their way to class in Insalaco Hall. “I think it’s intriguing,” said sophomore Caitlin Hails. “There’s a timelessness about the frame, as if it’s endured psychological stress and hardship. I feel like the frame’s weathered façade

expresses a wisdom that comes from ages of experience.” Other students responded to the uniqueness of the piece. “Basically, when I first saw it, I just had to stop and look at it. I felt compelled to learn more about it,” said sophomore Sydney Stamatis. “The fact that canvas is burned and the frame is falling apart gives the piece a decrepit and mysterious quality that reminds me of an old, abandoned house or a discarded family heirloom.” “Achilles,” which was originally purchased by President Michael MacDowell, will soon be accompanied with its proper identification. Klevinsky teaches Art and Cultural Synthesis in the Modern World and Drawing and Composition. He attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, the University of New Mexico, and Marywood University. The artist paints, makes prints and sculpts, which have been featured in many regional exhibitions. Klevinsky’s four influences are his mentor Salvatore Scarpitta, Anselm Kiefer, Joseph Beuys and Robert Motherwell.

'Achilles,' cont'd.continued from page 1

At left, Professor David Klevinky's "Achilles" hangs in Insalaco Hall. The mixed media artwork is represen-tative of Klevinky's life, and it reflects people and places he has encountered. The work was created between 2006 and 2007.

Media used in "Achilles"

Wood

Plasters

Tar

Mud

Tobacco juice

Coal dust

MICHELE DRAGO / THE HIGHLANDER

Students were able to relax before finals, get in a good workout and release some stress at a free yoga session at Balance Yoga Studios in Forty Fort, Pa. The event, which was part of The Highlander's Style Week, was held on Wednes-day, April 21. A martial arts demonstration and class were also presented by Huntzinger's Kara-te from Wilkes-Barre, Pa later that night in the Anderson Sports and Health Complex.

highlandernews.netAPRIL 27, 20106

YOUR LAST SHOT

Craig Zeilinski captured the pinacle moments of spring with the blooming trees and flowers in front of Insalaco Hall.

SUBMIT YOUR OWN PHOTOS

The Highlander will publish original, undoctored photos submitted by students, faculty and staff in this section of the newspaper every two weeks. We reserve the right to reject any photo. If photos appear to have been manipulated, they will not be published. All photos must be accompanied by signed model clear-ances and captions.

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