Mercy Markers All Dried Up

By Maggie Kissinger

The popularity of the team and the entertaining routines produced by them led the students, and the team, clamoring to perform outside of the pep rallies. Half-time performances at Mercy home games began. This dance team has entertained students, parents, faculty, and administrators for 12 years without any controversy or problems with the team members. The songs and routines have been appropriate and spirited, creating unity and pride for the activities happening at Mercy among the Mercy community.

After this year, however, Mercy Markers is going to need a makeover. This year, the home Seton game performance was cancelled and after subsequent efforts to raise support for the Seton game performance, the Markers were shut down by the administration from any more performances outside of pep rallies as of this year. Mrs. Harvey, the team’s biggest advocator, states that there is typically just one public performance and this year it was at the St. Ursula game instead. Along with that, the controversy stemmed from miscommunication between the team and the administration.

Mercy Markers will be allowed to perform at the spring pep rally this year, but if a new team is to perform next year, they will need a new name and a completely different agenda. Mrs. Harvey would like to see a successful team get together, but the future of the team is not in her hands. “The future is whatever that class wants to make it. It is completely driven by the students.” She says.

Many Mercy girls ask if the Markers’ agenda really was to make fun of Seton. It wasn’t. The last three years especially haven’t incorporated any Seton jabs in their routines concerning the students, school, or dance team. The teams have just put together entertaining performances incorporating music that connects to the students that have induced a lot of spirit and excitement for Mercy activities, especially sports. The games that have had the Mercy Markers performing at half time have led more students to come and support their teams.

Mrs. Harvey sees a future for the Markers if they go into a completely new direction. “If it becomes just about spirit, I totally advocate that. But if their motivation is to just perform at the Seton game, I’m telling them now that it’s not going to happen.” The request to perform at the Seton game this year has made the administration less willing to have a Seton performance for any future team.

Next year will bring out a lot of negotiating and compromise between the administration and the students, but a ‘spirit team’ is something Mercy students aren’t ready to give up and are willing to negotiate to keep, even if it means no Seton performance.

What do you think of potentially ending Mercy Markers? Leave your feedback in the COMMENT section!