Jump to content

Mercyhurst University: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 42°06′19″N 80°03′13″W / 42.10520°N 80.05373°W / 42.10520; -80.05373
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by Marpubrel (talk) to last version by James086
Marpubrel (talk | contribs)
13 edits
m As a courtesy, please do not edit or add content to this page.Your content has been removed. Thank you.
Tag: section blanking
Line 69: Line 69:
On January 25, 2012, Mercyhurst College officially became Mercyhurst University.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCracken |first=Sean |title=Former Mercyhurst College now Mercyhurst University |date=January 26, 2012 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://goerie.com/article/20120126/NEWS02/301259886/Former-Mercyhurst-College-now-Mercyhurst-University |accessdate=January 26, 2012}}</ref>
On January 25, 2012, Mercyhurst College officially became Mercyhurst University.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCracken |first=Sean |title=Former Mercyhurst College now Mercyhurst University |date=January 26, 2012 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://goerie.com/article/20120126/NEWS02/301259886/Former-Mercyhurst-College-now-Mercyhurst-University |accessdate=January 26, 2012}}</ref>


==William Garvey Scandal==

On Sunday, October 10, 2004 the Erie Times-News published a story stating that former Mercyhurst President Dr. William Garvey molested grade school boys while serving as a basketball coach at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Erie, Pa. The article further stated that, "two current Erie residents told the Erie Times-News that Garvey paid them to have sex with him in the early to mid-1980s, when both men were minors." <ref>{{Cite news |last=Palatella |first=Ed |title=Garvey Past Questioned |date=October 10, 2004 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041010/FRONTPAGE/110100373|accessdate=October 24, 2012}}</ref>

On December 17, 2004 the Erie Times-News reported that Garvey "abruptly announced his retirement Thursday, months before the completion of a college-ordered investigation Garvey had predicted would exonerate him."

Also published in the December 17, 2004 article:

"At the Mercyhurst campus on Thursday, the focus was on Garvey. Mosco, in an interview, was asked if she or the board had anything to say to Rosenthal and the other men who said they were victims of improper behavior by Garvey.

'It is not about that today,' Mosco said. 'It is about Dr. Garvey. It is really about his years as president of Mercyhurst College.'

Mosco, who graduated from Mercyhurst in 1968, praised Garvey for overseeing the explosive growth of the coeducational Mercyhurst, which the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy founded as a small all-women's college in 1926. The school started admitting men in 1969, a year before Garvey was named dean.

'This is his legacy that no one can take away from him' she said." <ref>{{Cite news |last=Palatella |first=Ed |title=Garvey to Retire |date=December 17, 2004 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041217/FRONTPAGE/112170387|accessdate=October 24, 2012}}</ref>

==Aftermath of Garvey Scandal==

Several months after Garvey retired, the Erie Times-News reported that retired Erie County Judge Michael Palmisano had determined that the allegations against Garvey "appear[ed]to have merit." A later opinion piece published in the Erie Times-News in 2011 stated, "Mosco said Garvey's retirement made the investigation moot. What she didn't say -- and didn't become public until after several more months of digging by this newspaper -- was that Palmisano had given her a written update the day before the retirement announcement that informed her the allegations 'appear to have merit' and that he had information that others 'will level similar allegations of misconduct against Dr. Garvey.'" <ref>{{Cite news |last=Howard |first=Pat |title=Tragedy at Penn State recalls lessons of sex scandals in Erie |date=November 14, 2011 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://www.goerie.com/article/20111113/OPINION04/311139953/Pat-Howard%3A-Tragedy-at-Penn-State-recalls-lessons-of-sex-scandals-in-Erie-|accessdate=October 24, 2012}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news |last=Palattella |first=Ed |title=Garvey's accusers say memo is 'vindication' |date=August 21, 2005 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050821/FRONTPAGE/508210358/0/NEWS02|accessdate=October 24, 2012}}</ref>

Chronology of Events (2004):

Oct. 10 -- After a two-year investigation, the Erie Times-News publishes an article in which six men, including Chuck Rosenthal, state that William P. Garvey, then the president of Mercyhurst College, had sex with them or physically abused them in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, when they were minors. Marlene Mosco, chairwoman of the Mercyhurst board of trustees, calls Rosenthal's claims "fictitious, malicious and gossip."

Oct. 11 -- Garvey issues a statement in which he says the allegations in the newspaper article are "not true." Mosco says the board is standing by Garvey but will seek "a thorough and impartial" review of the allegations.

Oct. 25 -- Garvey issues a statement in which he thanks the board of trustees for its support during the course of the pending review of the allegations. "I have always maintained the allegations are patently untrue and I believe the review will bear me out,"Garvey says.

Nov. 5 -- The Mercyhurst board of trustees announces it has hired Michael M. Palmisano, a retired Erie County judge, to investigate the claims in the newspaper article. Mosco calls Palmisano "a man of impeccable character and unquestioned veracity."

Dec. 15 -- Palmisano writes a one-page memo to Mosco to update her on the status of the review. The memo is addressed to Mosco and the board of trustees. The information he has gathered up to that point, Palmisano writes, "compels me to inform the board of trustees that the allegations contained in the newspaper article appear to have merit."

Dec. 16 -- On the day of a board meeting, Garvey announces he will retire, effective Feb. 23, the end of Mercyhurst College's winter term. Mosco and the board of trustees end Palmisano's investigation, saying the probe is no longer necessary now that Garvey has announced his retirement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palattella |first=Ed |title=Garvey's accusers say memo is 'vindication' |date=August 21, 2005 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050821/FRONTPAGE/508210358/0/NEWS02|accessdate=October 24, 2012}}</ref>

==Garvey Park==

The University has a park, Garvey Park, named in honor of the former President to this day. <ref>http://www.mercyhurst.edu/files/2009-map.pdf</ref>


==Today==
==Today==

Revision as of 15:57, 29 October 2012

"Mercyhurst" redirects here. For other uses, see Mercyhurst (disambiguation).
Mercyhurst University
File:Mercyhurst University Seal.png
MottoLatin: Carpe diem
(Seize the day)
TypePrivate University
Established1926
AffiliationSisters of Mercy (Catholic Church)
Endowment$12.8 million[1]
PresidentDr. Thomas Gamble
ProvostJames M. Adovasio
Academic staff
136 full-time
Students4,400
Location
Erie
,
Pennsylvania
,
USA
CampusUrban - 74 acres (300,000 m2)
AthleticsMercyhurst Lakers
ColorsKelly green, White and Blue
     
NicknameLakers
AffiliationsNCAA Division II; PSAC
MascotLouie the Laker
Websitewww.mercyhurst.edu

Mercyhurst University, formerly Mercyhurst College, is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States.

History

On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia Egan, who became the first president of Mercyhurst College. The college received its charter on October 5, 1928, after Mother Egan convinced the state that the Sisters of Mercy were a living endowment for the college and worth just as much as a monetary endowment.[citation needed]

From the beginning, Mother Egan was determined to make Mercyhurst the "beauty spot in the diocese of Erie." Wanting the institution to be a masterpiece of harmony, she directed that the exterior of the college be given as much attention as its interior by hiring prominent architect F. Ferdinand Durang of Philadelphia to create Old Main. It became a masterpiece of English Gothic design and stateliness that has the suggestion of a medieval castle in its lines. With the addition of the college gates in 1950, the Mercyhurst campus became a city landmark.

On February 3, 1969, the board of trustees voted to make Mercyhurst a coed college. From its foundation in 1926 until 1972, members of the Sisters of Mercy had been presidents of the college. After 1972, lay presidents led the college. On March 27, 1991, Mercyhurst purchased the 100-year old Redemptorist Seminary in North East and turned into a branch campus offering associate degrees and one-year certificates.

In the past two decades, Mercyhurst has become one of the top comprehensive colleges in the North and the second largest Mercy college in America. Among its five campuses, enrollment has grown to well over 4,000 students while full-time faculty employment numbers includes 168 members. The endowment has increased to more than $20 million and its budget is more than $85 million.[citation needed]

A $40 million program of building and campus renovation has changed the look of Mercyhurst's 50 structures during the past 20 years. Then, in fall 2002, the $7.5 million Audrey Hirt Academic Center opened on the southeast edge of campus, a building funded largely through the college’s $22.8 million capital campaign.[citation needed]

In August 2005, the $5 million Michele and Tom Ridge Health and Safety Building was dedicated at Mercyhurst North East. A $1.3 million residential apartment complex also opened in time for the North East campus' academic year.[citation needed]

Also in 2005, the board of trustees authorized the purchase of 400 acres (1.6 km2) in Girard as the first step towards developing Mercyhurst West, a two-year college serving western Erie County, northwestern Crawford County and northeastern Ohio.

The board of trustees elected Dr. Thomas J. Gamble as the 11th president of Mercyhurst College. Dr. Gamble, who previously served as vice president of academic affairs at the college, assumed the presidency March 1, 2006.

The construction of a $14 million freshman residence hall began in fall 2008 and opened in the fall of 2009. Warde Hall, a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2). building, houses 318 students and contains a convenience store, media room, TV lounges, computer lab, campus printing station and a fitness center.

A much-anticipated development is the Center for Academic Engagement, a four-story, 31,000-square-foot (2,900 m2) building that will be set into the rolling hill north of Hammermill Library and feature a skywalk over East Main Drive to connect the two facilities. The building, which will boast many green technologies, will house classrooms and lab space for two of Mercyhurst’s signature programs—Intelligence Studies and Hospitality Management—as well as the Evelyn Lincoln Institute for Ethics and Society and the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP).

Mercyhurst University continues to be guided by the legacy of its founders, the Sisters of Mercy, in educating students in a culture where faith and reason flourish together; where the beauty and power of the liberal arts combine with an appreciation for the dignity of work; and a commitment to serving others.

On January 25, 2012, Mercyhurst College officially became Mercyhurst University.[2]


Today

Enrollment at Mercyhurst University's Erie campus is nearly 4,500 students, and Dr. Thomas Gamble remains the current president. The university currently is on a trimester calendar and is moving to a 4-1-4 calendar for the 2013-2014 school year.[3]

The University still maintains its campus 18 miles (29 km) in North East, Pennsylvania at the site of the former St. Mary's Seminary.[4]

The University has also operated Mercyhurst Corry, a school offering an associate degree in business administration, for over 25 years. Meanwhile, a new campus location at the Booker T. Washington Center makes it easier for disadvantaged members of the Erie community to attain a college degree.

The University's fifth campus, Mercyhurst West, is located in Girard, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Faith Lutheran Church. Classes began at this location in fall 2006.[5]

With a commitment to providing a hands-on education, Mercyhurst has partnerships with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for student medical care and sports medicine consultation and with Lake View Country Club for expanded internship and employment opportunities for culinary and hospitality students.[citation needed] Mercyhurst is also in the process of expanding its graduate degree offerings. The school’s Master of Science degrees include Accounting, Administration of Justice, Applied Intelligence, Forensic and Biological Anthropology, Organizational Leadership, Secondary Education and Special Education. New programs for the fall include Exercise Science and an Entrepreneurial Track within the Organizational Leadership program.[citation needed]

Notable Mercyhurst faculty include Archaeologist James Adovasio; Epidemiologist David Dausey; two American Board of Forensic Anthropology[6] certified Forensic Anthropologists: Dennis Dirkmaat, and Steven Symes; and Physical Anthropologist Stephen Ousley, co-creator of FORDISC.

The Schools of Mercyhurst University

  • The School of Arts & Humanities
  • The Walker School of Business & Communication
  • The Hafenmaier School of Education & Behavioral Sciences
  • The Zurn School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
  • The School of Social Sciences

The school is best known for its programs in archaeology and forensic anthropology, intelligence (MCIIS & CIRAT), forensic science, dance, music, and art therapy.

Athletics

A Mercyhurst hockey player (center) jostling for the puck with an Air Force Falcons defenceman.

Mercyhurst University competes in two NCAA Division I and 22 NCAA Division II sports as the Mercyhurst Lakers. The Lakers are one of the newest members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Around 15 percent of the student body consists of student-athletes.

NCAA Division I Sports

NCAA Division II Sports

  • Baseball
  • Men's & Women's Basketball
  • Men's & Women's Cross Country
  • Field Hockey
  • American Football
  • Men's & Women's Golf
  • Men's Lacrosse (ECAC)[7]
  • Women's Lacrosse
  • Women's Rowing (ECAC)
  • Men's & Women's Soccer
  • Softball
  • Men's & Women's Tennis
  • Women's Volleyball
  • Men's & Women's Water Polo (Collegiate Water Polo Association)
  • Wrestling

National Championships

  • 1976: Men's Tennis - NAIA
  • 2004: Women's Rowing (Team Champion) - NCAA Division II
  • 2005: Men's Rowing (4+ Open) - ECAC National Champion
  • 2009: Josh Shields (165 lbs), Wrestling - NCAA Division II
  • 2010: Women's Rowing (8+ Champion) - NCAA Division II
  • 2011: Men's Lacrosse - NCAA Division II

National Finalist

  • 2007: Men's Lacrosse - NCAA Division II
  • 2009: Women's Ice Hockey - NCAA Division I
  • 2009: Women's Rowing - NCAA Division II
  • 2010: Josh Shields (165 lbs), Wrestling - NCAA Division II

Mercyhurst University Non-Varsity Sports
American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) - Division I

Awards and distinctions

Mercyhurst has received a number of distinctions, with one of the most important being U.S. News & World Report giving Mercyhurst a “top tier” placement in Regional Universities, North Region, in the 2011 edition of America’s Best Universities.[citation needed] Mercyhurst was also named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for a third year in a row. The distinction is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement.[citation needed] The school’s strong commitment to sustainability garnered leadership-level recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, which recognizes organizations making a significant commitment to renewable energy initiatives.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  2. ^ McCracken, Sean (January 26, 2012). "Former Mercyhurst College now Mercyhurst University". Erie Times-News. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  3. ^ http://www.mercyhurst.edu/news/news-releases/article/?article_id=2628
  4. ^ http://northeast.mercyhurst.edu
  5. ^ http://west.mercyhurst.edu/about/
  6. ^ "American Board of Forensic Anthropology". American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Inc. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  7. ^ http://www.ecac.org/news/2011-12/ecac_division_ii_lacrosse_league_formed
  8. ^ http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HATCHMAT01
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercyhurst University.

42°06′19″N 80°03′13″W / 42.10520°N 80.05373°W / 42.10520; -80.05373

Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Mercyhurst_University&oldid=520443414"