The GwynmercianVolume 60, No. 4 Gwynedd-Mercy College April 2009

Contents:

Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg.2 Editorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg.3 Graduation and Sports . . . . . . . . Pg. 8

Inside this Issue:

Graduation Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4 Interview with the Stars. . . . . . . . Pg. 2 Happiness in College. . . . . . . . . . Pg. 3 Women’s Lacrosse Update . . . . . .Pg 4

A GMC Treasure RetiresBy Willow Wilson ‘09 Donald Duclow, Ph.D. and Professor of Philosophy at Gwynedd-Mercy College, is retir-ing this semester after 35 years of service to the College. Recognizable by his witty humor and colorful neckties, Dr. Duclow allowed me to interview him this past week. His office walls are hung with meaningful art and photographs, including a beautiful photo taken by his wife of the inside of the Lincoln Cathedral. A gargoyle-like statue sits near his desk, a “friend” to keep him company. However, the shelves are be-ginning to be cleared out, and books are being packed away. It is clear that the office will soon be vacated. Dr. Duclow had many things to share with me about his long career here at GMC. When I asked him why he felt that philoso-phy as a whole was important for students, he answered with an appropriately philosophic an-swer: He claimed that besides its historical im-portance, philosophy “taps into the most basic and broad questions of being a human person; it deals with questions rather than answers.” Dr. Duclow seems to have mixed feel-ings about his retirement: he is both sad and

happy to be leaving. He is sad because of the classes that he has enjoyed teaching, particu-larly LIB 101: Medieval Life and Thought (aka “The Don and Ed Show”), which he currently team-teaches with Dr. Miller. Classroom expe-riences like these affirmed for him the potential influence of the role of instructor, but he is also looking forward to retirement because he can focus on his role as researcher, as well as on his hobbies, which include a love of mu-sic, theater, and travel. His research includes Medieval studies, general healthcare and heal-ing, and medical ethics related to philosophy. Dr. Duclow has written a book entitled Masters of Learned Ignorance, and he was generous enough to give me a copy of a collection of essays on suffering, which included one of his own, entitled “Into the Whirlwind of Suffering: Resistance and Transformation.” Looking back on his time at GMC, Dr. Duclow remembers many things with fond-ness, especially the Faculty Follies for which he served Master of Ceremonies several times. Perhaps most important, Dr. Duclow recalls the support he received from the GMC community

during medical challenges which included a heart attack and bypass surgery. The sense of concern and care the College gave him were “powerful feelings” and greatly appreciated. Dr. Duclow also gave advice for graduating stu-dents, saying that learning is life-long and that intellectual habits stay with students. (Pg. 4)

GMC Staff: Advice to Graduating SeniorsBy Shadia Arouni ’09 & Marie DelloBuono’09

“Keep learning, get advanced degrees, and keep your options open.”

Dr. Linda Reilly, Dean of Allied Health

“Devote yourself to something you love.”

Dr. Carol Breslin, Professor of English & Director of the Honors Program

“Follow your dreams and most importantly, smile.”

Eileen Wood, AV Specialist for Lourdes Library

More advice on Pg 4.

On Saturday April 4, 2009, the Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored a Dinner Dance, which took place at the Fort Washington Holiday Inn. With the theme of “An Evening Under the Stars,” everyone who attended wore el-egant dresses or suits. It was a night for GMC students to get dressed up and dance the night away with their friends. When the students arrived at the Din-ner Dance, they were served a complete dinner, with many choices of food. Then most of the students traveled over to the dance floor and started dancing. Everyone enjoyed the songs that were played,(pg. 4)

An Evening Under the StarsBy Beth Harrison ’12

EntertainmentPage 2 Gwynedd-Mercy College April 2009

Live with the Stars of Observe and Report!By Tina Kane ’10 On Tuesday, April 7, I participated in a conference call with actors Seth Rogan and Anna Faris and director Jody Hill. It was a re-ally neat experience, and the panel asked great questions. Here is what I learned about the ac-tors and their roles in the new movie, Observe and Report, out in theaters April 10.

First was Seth Rogan. Seth was really pleasant, funny, and his usual off-the-wall self.

Q: Do you have any interest in pursuing a dif-ferent type of role besides comedy?A:“I don’t really think of it in those terms…[I go by] a movie-to-movie basis. If it’s a movie I’ll see [if I’m interested]”

Q: Do you have any advice for young actors?A: “Be funny, post videos on YouTube. I know we’ve hired guys that we’ve discovered from their funny videos on YouTube.”

Q: What’s it like to work with Ray Liota?A: “It’s frightening…[but] he is easy to work with”

Q: Did you have any doubts or fears about how people would respond to Observe and Report, since it is the second movie this year based on mall cops?A: “I want to see Paul Blart. I know the guy that made it. “

Q: Are there any similarities between you and your character?A: “No, none, not really. I guess a fascination with guns, but I don’t own any.”

Q: What was the most fun part of being in Ob-serve and Report?A: “It felt like an independent movie done by friends. It was the exact movie we wanted to make…[Filming it] it was very self contained. No one bothered us.”

Q: Did you talk to mall security guards to pre-pare for you role?A: “I did nothing to prepare for the movie. I talked to like one security guard for five min-utes.”

This was my own personal question that I got to ask Seth:Q: What was the hardest scene to film?

A: “The scene where I fight all the cops in the mall. It was one long scene, and I crack about 14 people in the head. It was extremely specific choreography. [It was also hard because] I am extremely out of shape in the movie.”

Funny man Seth ended the interview with his own question: “Am I done? Do I hang up?”

On to Anna Faris. I wanted to say “Hi, Anna,” in her tagline voice from House Bunny. Anyway, Anna was really cute and funny. She was very down to earth and didn’t rush through the questions despite the fact that she had a tight schedule.

Q: Who do you want to work with in the future?A: “I love Danny McBride, Paul Rudd, Isla Fischer, Kate Hudson…”

Q: Who was the inspiration for your character, Brandi?A: “[Director] Jody Hill hates when I say this, but he told me Brandi was based off an ex-girl-friend.”

Q: Are you at the point in your career where you can turn away offers?A: “Yes…I choose comedy roles freely. House Bunny opened a lot of doors for me.”

Q: What made you want to get into acting?A: “I was always a performer. I wanted atten-tion and I loved comedy. [However] I didn’t see myself going in that direction [profession-ally]. I still don’t think I am particularly funny. I grew up watching Goldie Hawn, who was very inspiring to me, and I think I gravitated toward acting naturally.”Q: Did you ever want to do something unre-lated to comedy?A: “I know no one wants me to sing, but I like the idea of doing something country musically.” Last but not least, director Jody Hill. He, too, was down-to-earth, with a charming south-ern accent. Q: What was the best thing about the movie?A: “There were no jerks in the movie. Everyone was really nice and positive and glad to work.”Q: What is your favorite part of filming?A: “Production.”Q: How did you get the idea for Observe and Report?A: “My dad owned malls, and he parked in the loading zones and got tickets. He would then get into fights with the security guards and [the idea] grew from there. I hate malls.”Q: Was it hard to be professional during the streaking scene?A: “You are allowed to laugh when you are on set. We had fun.”Q: Is Ronnie (Seth Rogan) a hero?A: “I hope that’s what the audience thinks when they leave. I want them to grapple with the question, ‘We praise him, but why?”Observe and Report, rated R, is currently in theaters.

Students: IT Spotlight Info! • Forgot your password or want to make your password more secure, right now?• Would you like total control of when and how often you change your password? Almost half of all IT Service Desk calls are password resets. To make it more efficient and less time consuming for GMC account holders, ITS invites you to test myPassword, a new secure self-service password reset Web site. MyPassword allows users to safely and se-curely reset or change passwords anytime and anywhere from a Web browser. Contact the IT Service Desk to partici-pate in the upcoming testing round.

The Gwynmercian Staff

Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437

Volume 60, No. 4 April 2009

Editor-in-Chief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willow WilsonNews Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shadia Arouni & Marie DelloBuonoWriters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Curcio, Beth Harrison, Tina Kane, Pam Moyer, Emera Wilson Faculty Advisor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Lisbeth Chapin

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the same as those of the college or the student body. Comments, questions, and letters to the editors are wel-come. Letters should be signed by the writer; may be witheld. Address letters to Dr. Chapin, 119 Connelly Faculty Center, or email Chapin.L@gmc.edu.

EditorialsPage 3 Gwynedd-Mercy College Apriil 2009

Our Generation: The Search for HappinessBy Maureen Curcio ’10

Self-help literature on finding personal happiness is almost a cliché these days. From the 1960s flower-child and Beatles-inspired Buddhist fad to the advent of the afternoon talk show, these concepts have been circulating for quite a while. Yet the constant media spatter on the concept of finding joy in everyday life has yet to satisfy me as good advice as to what our generation looks to for happiness. According to a segment on NBC’s Nightly News last year, happiness ranks above money and health among college students. But what is happiness, what does it mean for our generation, and is it possible to obtain it? Of course, defining happiness is subjec-tive and depends on multiple factors, yet I think it’s fairly obvious that what makes our genera-tion “happy” is contingent upon our American culture, which has changed a great deal from when our parents graduated from college and

started their careers. Or has it? The Job – does success and money equal happiness? Getting an undergraduate degree does not guarantee you a rewarding career, maybe not even a job these days. With the economy still in recovery mode, many grads feel unsure about the future, even unhappy as they know student loans will need to begin be-ing repaid soon. But beyond the first few years out of school, will your career make you happy? According to Experience’s Gen Y survey on last year’s grads, fifty percent traded career satisfac-tion for higher salaries. If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that money is unpredict-able, so choosing the job with the higher salary at first may seem prudent, but keeping a cubicle job that sucks away your soul isn’t such a great idea after all. Keep that fulfilling career goal in check, and make sure you don’t sacrifice it just for a fat paycheck – remember the income tax too! Family/Friends – can somebody else make you happy? No, but surrounding yourself with people who have a positive attitude can help! Simply staying in touch with friends is important, especially as some of your friend-ships become long distance relationships. Ex-pressing your fears and doubts and not keeping them bottled up makes dealing with any sort of stress a bit easier. Family and friends will also remind you that you deserve happiness, so if you have success with something, even something small, reward yourself. Also, keep in mind that jealousy does not breed happiness, but rather, just the opposite. Focusing on some-one else’s success won’t bring you happiness unless you share in their joy. Self-fulfillment/expression – does hap-piness come from within? You can’t change

what’s happening around you most of the time, so the best thing to do is to be thankful for what you do have. Spending time doing something you love, learning something new, following your passions in any way, and most important, realizing your own self-worth are key compo-nents to leading a happy life at any age. Do not sacrifice who you are to satisfy someone else – you are still finding who you are, and that is okay. Despite many of the differences that contrast our generation from our parents’, there seems to be one defining quality about every-one – we all want to find what makes us happy. Grads should remember that what makes you happy today may be quite different than what makes you happy tomorrow. Our generation will be better off if they keep simple goals, laugh as much as possible, and remember to savor life every day. Let’s hope that our grads remember to do these things now and not in another twenty years’ time.

With summer just around the corner, many people are beginning to think about their health and fitness as the weather turns warmer. Beach season is approaching, and many are concerned about shedding those extra winter pounds, while others might be thinking about quitting a few bad habits to improve their health. For anyone interested in attaining their health goals this summer, GMC’s annual Health and Wellness Fair was the place to go. The fair, sponsored by the Wellness Committee, was a definite success this year. Held on April 1st in St. Bernard’s, the fair showcased over 20 vendors and was attended by more than 250 people, including members of the community, students, faculty, and staff. A very crowded lobby was filled with friendly vendors offering everything related to health and wellness, from spa products and organic granola to tips for quitting smoking and infor-mation on how to lose weight. Stressed-out stu-dents (or anyone who just needed a good back rub) could make their way down to the audito-rium where soothing music and burning incense set the mood for relaxing massages, offered free of charge. Delicious and nutritious food, such as fresh spring rolls and fruit salad, was served

Health and Wellness Fair 2009By Emera Wilson ’09

up by GMC’s international students. Free health tests for oxygen and cholesterol levels, pulmo-nary and heart health, and body fat percentage were also available for anyone who wished to assess his or her health. This year, the Wellness Fair welcomed new vendors such as Trader Joe’s, a health-food grocery chain, among many others. The director of the fair, Mary Evich, commented on the fact that even more vendors had asked to participate, but had to be turned away because of lack of space. Undoubtedly, this fun and informative event will continue to grow in the years to come and continue to provide the important knowl-edge we all need to become and stay healthy.

Congratulations to Mercy for Justice for collecting over $975 for the Genocide Intervention Network. The top three in-mates included Marissa Turchi, Mary Jo Pierantozzi, and Mary Reilly. Thanks to all who do-nated!

Jenn Liberato, Resident Director, does “Jail Time” while a student donates to the cause.

Graduation and SportsPage 4 Gwynedd-Mercy College April 2009

Lady Griffins LacrosseBy Pam Moyer The GMC Women’s Lacrosse Team managed to hold their own in the CSAC this season. After losing six of their seniors from the previous season, the team gained six ambi-tious freshmen to add to the mix. The women’s lacrosse team was chosen to place second in the league in the coaches’ pre-season poll. The team has thus far worked up to their chosen position, as they are currently in second behind Cabrini. Three Griffins, Colleen Dellostretto, Kerri Boon, and Kristie Pollock, were honored with CSAC awards throughout the season. The well-rounded team of 17 players has worked to-gether throughout the season toward their goal of winning the CSAC championship.

The Griffins’ only loss within the league was to Neumann. To finish out their season, the Lady Griffins defeated Cabrini, who had main-tained a number one spot in the league. Beating Cabrini is a feat that had not been achieved by the Lady Griffins in over nine years. The win improved GMC’s standing in the league, where they are now tied for first with Cabrini. The team has a make-up game left for their season against the College of Notre Dame. Playoffs are scheduled for April 29 and May 2. Come out to support your Gwynedd-Mercy Women’s Lacrosse team in their fight for the CSAC Championship title!

Go Griffins! In Memoriam1936-2009

Harry Kalas, Phillies Commentator

GMC salutes the great man with the big voice.

STAFF POLL, Continued from Pg 1.

“Take advantage of opportunities offered to you even if they’re volunteer and unpaid, because

you never know what networking professional/career opportunities may result.”

Tammy Kear, Assistant Professor, RNMSN

“Network and get to know a lot of people. Watch what you put on Facebook.”

Donna Fieldman, Barista at Kiess Hall

“Don’t plan too much; allow your path to un-fold before you.”

Barbara Jones, Professor of Nursing, Director of MSN Program

“Think about your strengths, and never cease believing in them.”

Dr. Donna Allego, Associate Professor of English and LLFA

DUCLOW (Continued from pg. 1)Particularly for students in the Honors Program at GMC, he expressed his hope that “your energy and skills stay with you throughout your lives and that you have a continuing curiosity as you go through life.” Some wise words from a wise man. Dr. Duclow leaves behind a legacy of teaching, service, and research to the School of Arts and Sciences punctuated by his desire to es-tablish a B.A. program in philosophy. Although Dr. Duclow will not see this wish realized as a faculty member, he hopes that Drs. Clewis and Messina will be able to further the program to better serve the students’ needs. GMC will defi-nitely miss such a wonderful treasure when he retires at the end of this academic year. Somehow, even 35 years doesn’t seem long enough.

dancing the night away from 10:00 P.M. till 1:00 A.M. Bonnie Boyle, a senior who was on the committee for Dinner Dance, said, “This year’s Dinner Dance was amazing. From all the hard work the Student Government put into the preparation of the event to the attendance, Din-ner Dance 2009 was a success!” There were more upperclassmen than freshmen who came to the Dance, but many freshmen who did not buy tickets for this year’s dance are determined to do so for Dinner Dance 2010 because they heard such good things about the dance this year. The members of SGA who orga-nized this dance are to be commended: Erik Wielechowski, Christine Harrison, Bonnie Boyle, Jen Torres, Jess Wenzel, Kathryn Her-ens, and Chelsea Wilson.

DINNER DANCE (Continued from pg. 1)

Congratulations to GMC’s Men’s Tennis Team!

The team made history by finishing in a GMC-best second place in the CSAC championships, losing to powerhouse Neumann

College on Saturday, April 18.