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(03/28/12 8:15pm)
Summer is fast approaching, and that means one thing: summer break! There will finally be time to put down the books and catch up on some fun, sun and summer flings.
For those of you that do happen to meet someone, the thing to remember is that the break does not last forever.
At the end of the summer season, many students find themselves wondering whether or not summer love can survive a semester away and having to make the dreaded decision of whether or not to enter into a long-distance relationship.
The general attitude towards long-distance relationships is that it is best to just not do it. However, as with any relationship, there are many factors to consider before entering into a long-distance commitment.
Trust is a major issue since both people will be residing in two separate cities or states. Many students feel that while absence may make the heart grow fonder, “absence also leads to cheating,” said senior Ernestine Dahn, who has had many friends experiment with long-distance relationships.
However, not all opinions are bad. Senior Alyncia Robinson is currently in a long-distance relationship. “Like any relationship, long distance ones can have their ups and downs, good and bad. I feel that they are a good decision, because they give you a chance to learn about each other on a different level since you don’t always have the opportunity to have that constant presence. You learn to appreciate your time together more,” said Robinson.
Junior Daniel Robinson has been in a long-distance relationship for three years states, “My opinion is that they can work depending on how close the couple is. It is not a good situation if it is a new couple, where one person is in Georgia and the other across country or even if a couple is in similar areas, but the bond between them is not strong enough.”
Time and distance are two of the biggest issues, especially at the beginning of a semester. Most Mercerians know that at the beginning the workload can be overwhelming, especially for freshmen.
Robinson said, “My biggest problem is that I don’t get to see my girlfriend as much as I want. Talking is more important in a long-distance relationship in order to not lose touch.”
Recent Mercer graduate Heather Stevens was in a long-distance relationship for two years. “The hardest part was making time for each other. Obviously, when you’re living in two different places, you’re going to have two different lives. We were both in school and working, so a lot of times it was hard for both of us to get spare time at the same time. We just learned to set aside a certain time to call each other every day, and plan out face-to-face time in advance,” she explained.
However, Stevens said, “It worked out very well. Soon after he finished grad school we got engaged, and we’re now happily married.”
While some students may have positive experiences, there are a number of horror stories associated with long-distance relationships. Trust, time and distance are the main items to consider when entering into the semester.
In regards to long-distance relationships, many students gave the simple advice, “Don’t bother!”
If you are willing to put in the time and effort, a long-distance relationship may be an option for you, but if you are not willing to make some sacrifices, avoid a long distance relationship at all costs.
(11/17/11 12:54am)
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. For many students that means a long awaited trip back home and the promise of a home cooked meal, yet countless citizens do not have that option.
This is the season of giving and many of the local charities such as the Middle Georgia Food Bank, the Macon Rescue Mission and the Dove Center are working around the clock to make sure that citizens in need of assistance during this Thanksgiving season are cared for.
These charities are dependent on community efforts and there are numerous chances for Mercerians to lend a helping hand before packing up for the break.
“There are always hardships when it gets to the colder season. As far as hardships we are experiencing them because we are not getting a lot of donations,” explained Julie Adair, Dove Center Director.
The Macon Rescue Center primarily houses male citizens and tries to house as many men as possible, while the Dove Center houses women, who are victims of domestic violence, and their children. Both centers are at their maximum capacity with waiting lists.
Some of the main things that they need for the holiday season are turkeys and pumpkin pies. They are serving a large Thanksgiving dinner and are encouraging anyone that is willing to volunteer their time to help serve dinner or help deliver food to shut-ins.
Collections and donations are thoroughly encouraged as well. “The things that we are in dire need of right now in collections are: hygienic items such as deodorant, diapers, disposable razors, shampoo, deodorant soaps, moisturizing soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, powdered laundry detergent and Pine-Sol,” said Adair.
The Dove Center could use volunteers that would be willing to babysit children at the Dove Center when the mothers are attending class or chapel services.
She also asks that students go shop at the Macon Rescue Center’s Bargain Center store, because the proceeds go towards helping those at the centers.
Students can call the Macon Rescue Center at (478) 743-5445 to find out more information.
Ronald Raleigh, executive director of Middle Georgia Food Bank, said that there are about eight food drives currently going on in the community, but there are always opportunities for students that want to help out. “Food Drives are always necessary to keep us in stock. During the Thanksgiving time, we usually have quite a number of drives from several companies, grocery stores and schools,” Raleigh said.
Students can call the Middle Georgia Food Bank office at (478) 741-8777 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to find out about volunteering opportunities at the bank, or just show up at a food drive.
Volunteer activities include bagging and boxing food items that go out to senior citizens and households. Students can even mount a food drive of their own on Mercer’s campus.
There are plenty of ways that students can get involved in aiding these charities. So before heading out for the holiday, consider volunteering with some of these local charities.
(11/12/11 10:31pm)
The Hardman Hall Gallery has a new art exhibition that features some of the contemporary photographic works of British artist Wendy Babcox.
The show is entitled “Whisper to Me” and features portraits of young women in masks surrounded by majestic horse figures in the landscape.
One aspect that makes the show so interesting is the technique that she uses; a slow shutter speed and hand painting with the light.
“The photographs invoke elements of magical realism and surrealism. These emotive qualities are very interesting and invoke a sense of mystery,” explained Craig Coleman, associate professor of art and digital media at Mercer.
These photographs are created by using long exposures at night with Babcox “painting” light onto the figures in the landscape with a flashlight.
The artist also uses video projection to include the additional imagery of horses into the scenes.
Babcox made a statement about the show:
“At [age] nine, nothing was more important than the opportunity to spend time with horses. Grooming, feeding, cleaning stables, polishing saddles and bridles were ritual acts of deep and abiding love. But above all else, the sensuality of touch, the smell and the physical sensation of riding a horse brought me joy of such magnitude and intensity it remains with me even now.
The horses are ethereal, they come in the night; emerging from the domestic landscape of the garden as phantoms. The young women are masked. They are calm, reserved and meditative. They emanate cool, calm light as they listen to the whispers of lost loves.”
Babcox is an associate professor in photography and related media at the University of South Florida. She works principally with photography and video and has had her work exhibited in many galleries throughout the United States and overseas.
There will be a “Gallery Talk” and reception with Wendy Babcox on November 28th at 10 am for those interested. The event is free and open to all.
To find out more about the upcoming exhibitions that the Hardman Hall Gallery is hosting stay tuned to their website or check out their Facebook page.
(11/02/11 11:03pm)
Say goodbye to those worn down signs that are posted around Tattnall Square Park, because the College Hill Alliance is plotting to do some much needed redecorating.
The College Hill Alliance in conjunction with the College Hill Corridor Commission has been working on a project with local graphic designers and the city to redesign some of the outdated signs around the corridor and to select more visible locations for the signs.
“The idea behind the signage plan is to let people know that they are in the Corridor and let them know how to get to other places within the corridor,” explained Nadia Osman, Director of Communication and Outreach for the College Hill Alliance.
They are planning on replacing some of the signs due to many of them falling apart and hoping to add “directional signage also called wayfaring signage to help guide people thru the corridor and direct them to downtown areas,” Osman said.
College Hill Alliance has held community meetings to gather feedback from the community about the project and will be continuing to hold these forums in the future. “There will be many more meetings with the people and the commission, and eventually we will have to have the plan approved by the city council,” Osman said.
In the meantime, the alliance has some ideas to begin exploring. “We are thinking about starting at Mercer Village because there is no direction that helps to lead others to connect with downtown and other areas such as Washington Square Park,” Osman said.
This signage revitalization plan is still in the design and planning stages, but they are applying for funding and hoping to begin implementing the work sometime next year.
Along with the plans to revamp the signage around the corridor, the College Hill Alliance is involved in various community rebuilding programs and has big plans for what they want to try to implement in the corridor.
“We try to focus on the motto live, work and play,” expressed Osman. Their goal is to revamp the community by revitalizing neighborhoods with Historic Hills and Heights, bringing in new businesses or hosting public events such as Second Sunday’s and the big screen movie nights for citizens.
This week the College Hill Alliance held a meeting advertised as the “College Hill: A Report to the Community” at the Cox Capital Theater, where they presented a summary of the work that has been done from 2009-2011 in a 16 page report that will be featured in the Macon Magazine.
They also unveiled a video that will be available soon on the College Hill Alliance website.
“Our specific focus was on talking about what the College Hill Alliance has done and the Knight Neighborhood Challenge,” said Osman, which has aided in the beginning process of renovations to revitalize the Tattnall Square Park area.
The College Hill Alliance urges citizens to stay involved in the community. “It does not take much to volunteer or come to an event. This all started with Mercer students. This has been a community grassroots effort and we want to keep it that way,” Osman said.
To find out more information about the next community meetings or events, stay tuned to the College Hill Alliance website.
(11/02/11 9:13pm)
For the past week I, like many of you, have had my inbox bombarded with emails from career services urging me to make time and go check out the graduate school fair.
Well, last Friday I happened to stop by the U.C. at the ten o’clock hour with a few friends and found myself highly disappointed not only at the food court being closed and not being able to get my customary after class Chick Fil A biscuit, but at the utter lack of schools present for students who were not pursuing a degree in the medical or law fields.
Where were the options for the College of Liberal Arts students?
Now, I am not ignorant of the fact that the prime majors at Mercer are in the medical and engineering fields, but there are other majors out there, which is made evident by the general education requirements causing students to branch out of their individual fields.
Not only were CLA options lacking at the fair, even some students in the medical fields had reservations about the schools represented, complaining about the lack of school choices and the lack of programs available for those pursuing non-traditional aspects of the medical field.
I am a senior this year with a major in journalism with minors in theater arts and photography in an economy that is stalled for the time being.
Yes, that means that I am at that all too referenced crossroads in life of trying to figure out my next step, but luckily I have decided on one thing: I want to go to graduate school out of state.
The problem is that I do not have the time or the money to travel across the country to check out schools while taking 18 hours worth of classes, filling out graduate school applications, tracking down letters of recommendation, composing personal statements and finding the time to take the GRE.
The emails advertised that over 80 different programs would be represented at the fair, yet I only found one school that offered a program with my major, the University of Georgia.
I have nothing against UGA, but the representative could not even tell me about the journalism program besides a basic generic description and to look online for more information, while offering me university swag.
There were only a few other schools that had programs in some loosely related aspects of the field like the Savannah School of Art and Design and the Cochran College of Art and Design, but those programs do not mesh well with what I want to pursue.
I am not now nor have I ever been one of those people that complain without action. I know that many of the offices on campus express that students just complain and never give feedback on how to improve their experiences.
I actually attend and comment on events that career services and other offices host.
This fair could have helped me come one step closer to navigating the graduate school process, but the graduate school fair turned out to be a waste of my time.
I am just asking that there be more options available in future graduate fairs that can help meet the needs of the majority of the student body.
Comments or questions about this opinion can be emailed to Alaisha.Key@live.mercer.edu.
(10/20/11 12:07am)
If you are looking to have an encounter with ghosts, ghouls and spirits during this Halloween season, then the Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy is providing a unique opportunity for audiences of all ages to meet some of the cemeteries most beloved residents at a series of events called Spirits in October.
“This year marks the sesquicentennial,” said Suzanne Doonan, Managing Director for Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy, meaning that it has been 150 years since the start of the Civil War.
“I find it impossible to understand that era and how the institution of slavery could be sustained and to think of our nation being fractured. I wanted to look at those events and understand how they affect us now and move past them. Just as a citizen of Macon I started asking questions about how to tell the stories,” explained Doonan.
The Civil War is a sore subject, so she asked many citizens on how to tell the story and received the response “just don’t leave us out, tell our stories. That’s what I am trying to do,” said Doonan.
One of the main events is the spirits walking tours that takes place at Riverside Cemetery, where actors help bring to life some of the stories of the past.
This is the fourth year that walking tours have been presented. “The first year that the walking tour was presented, Dr. Randy Harshbarger offered to have his honor class help,” said Doonan. The students helped with research, making the map of the tour route and a few were actors and some students were tour guides.
Two Mercerians are involved in this year’s event: Ashley Gordon and Hannah Hyde.
Both play the role of Ellen Craft, a slave who was mixed and had very fair skin. She escaped with her husband by posing as a white man and her husband posing as her servant to board the train in Macon and escape to Philadelphia.
Ashley Gordon became involved through Facebook. “We have a group on Facebook for the Mercer Players and one of the girls wrote on the wall that they needed a few girls. I called Suzanne Doonan, and she had a part for me,” said Gordon, a freshman double majoring in Biology and Christianity.
“The cemetery is really not that scary. It’s a really fun event. I feel like it’s a great opportunity to learn a little bit about history and some of the people in Macon’s history. It gives you a good look at the spirits perspective at how things were,” said Gordon.
The tours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 20-22, and 27-29. Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for adults, and $15 for seniors and those with a military license.
Tickets are available online and must be purchased beforehand.
Spirits in October will host a book signing on Saturday, October 29th from 6-9 p.m. featuring author Jackie White for her new book The Greatest Champion that Never Was the Life of W.L. “Young” Stribling.
The Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy in conjunction with the Macon Film Festival will also be having Big Screen Movie Night featuring the movie Waking Ned Devine, on Wednesday October 19th at 7 p.m as another event for Spirits in October. To find out more information about tickets and the events students can attend, visit www.riversidecemeteryconservancy.com.
(10/19/11 10:28pm)
It was recently announced that the College Hill Alliance received a grant from the Transportation Enhancement Grant Program matched by the Knight Neighborhood Challenge and Mercer University along with a number of other contributors to make renovations to Tatnall Square Park.
College Hill Alliance is currently in the final stages of the design phase, having finalized the concept for the area. “We are hoping to have construction under way by next summer,” said Nadia Osman, Director of Communication and Outreach for the College Hill Alliance.
The next step is to get the plan approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation, and once approved they can hire a landscaper and architect to bring these plans to life.
The goal of these renovations is to help revitalize the Tatnall Square Park area. “The goal is to create a park similar to the Forsyth Park in Savannah. We want the park to be filled by residents and students so that people can have a common ground outdoors and have more of a connection with the neighborhood,” explained Osman.
College Hill Alliance has a master plan for the entire park but this small portion of it will provide renovations that will spread from Tatnall Square Park down to Oglethorpe Street.
“It is such a large park and it is very important that it be revitalized along with the rest of the projects that are happening in the neighborhood,” said Osman.
These renovations for Tatnall Square Park include adding a seat wall, parallel parking on both sides of the street, raised crosswalks and adding a bike lane.
One of the major improvements to the aesthetics that the College Hill Alliance is looking into is having the utilities buried. “We are talking to Georgia Power about having all of the utilities buried and re-routed behind Alexander II that way your landscape is full of trees and not power lines,” said Osman.
Plans for Oglethorpe Street include implementing parallel parking on both sides of the street, adding crosswalks and pedestrian lighting.
The plan also addresses some of the issues of safety in the area. “It is a matter of matching people’s perceptions with the facts. This is one of the safer precincts,” expressed Osman.
The improvements to the walking areas will help students and parents in the Alexander II area.
“Addressing public safety, when we have more people outside will help more people feel safer,” explained Osman.
Osman also urges students that would like to get involved in helping to make improvements to the area to apply for the Knight Neighborhood Challenge. They helped to fund the design concept for the Tatnall Square Park improvements.
“Students can also apply for these grants for senior research projects and design projects ranging from solar powered trash compactors to planting trees,” said Osman.
College Hill Alliance is optimistic about the plans being approved, so students can look forward to construction beginning next summer and continuing throughout the year.
(10/05/11 10:31pm)
Last Monday, Macon Police Chief, Mike Burns, presented the Youth/Young Adult Violence Reduction Plan to the Public Safety Committee. “Well, the Mayor asked me to come up with a plan because we had a lot of shootings in a short period of time,” said Burns. The plan was previously presented to the City Council. Chief Burns’ plan is actually one component of Mayor Reichert’s BEST Plan, which, as explained by Burns, stands for Build our community, Educate all our children, Safety in every neighborhood and Transit throughout all our region. Burns and a few members of his staff created the safety component. “Our plan is to address what we have going on and to address the next generation,” said Burns. He hopes to help address issues with the youth during earlier stages in their lives. The Macon Police Department already has a five-year plan that they are currently working with. “Overall shootings are down from last year. Actually, we have had 38 people shot this year. This time last year we had 55 people shot around this time in September. Last year there were a total of 72 people shot, and this year we have about half as much,” Burns said. While Burns’ statistics show that numbers are down, public perception is one of the main issues that the police department faces. The nineteen-page plan calls for hiring six new police officers, and calls for instituting more programs that intervene in the lives of citizens ranging from ages 13 to 30. One program outlined in the plan is called Eddie Eagle. “We’ll have a mascot dressed as an eagle. The program would teach the youth about what to do if you see a gun,” Burns said. Also included in the proposed plan are more programs like the Police Athletic League, which is designed to keep the youth off the streets and involved in organized activities and to provide an after-school mentoring program that can help students with homework or computer skills. Another proposal is to take youth on field trips to professional baseball or basketball games and to other areas outside of Macon. “I want to be able to get the youth out of the neighborhood and show them things that they’ve never seen before, so that maybe the youth will be encouraged to stay in school,” said Burns. The plan mentions other partnerships such as partnering with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to try to get weapons off the street and the National Gang Task Force, who would teach classes on what to look for in relation to gang violence. “We tried to hit every part of the community. We would also encourage the Citizens Police Academy more, which is a city-wide neighborhood watch initiative that can include those 18 and older with the more mature members to help mentor,” said Burns. The safety component is just one part of the overall plan that the mayor has constructed, but in order for it to work, Burns believes that there has to be a collaborative effort amongst the community, especially from the schools, parents and teachers. The Youth/Young Adult Violence Reduction Plan has been tabled upon further discussion. Chief Burns believes that the Public Safety Committee has reservations concerning the costs it would take to implement the program and would like to see more towards the enforcement side of safety.
(10/05/11 9:57pm)
Many of you have seen some pretty sweet rides zoom past on campus, or you might have stopped dead in your tracks to admire the dream car that caught your attention in the parking lot.
The question that comes to mind is: Who does that belong to and where can I get one of those?
The Cluster has tracked down a few of the owners of some of these sexy automobiles that have you salivating. They can tell you the real deal on what it’s really like to own one of these luxury cars.
Senior Kati Mogil is the owner of a black ‘06 Mustang that she has named Stella. Mogil purchased her car “back home at the Ford dealership in New Jersey. It was not my first choice. It was my second. My first choice was a Nissan 350Z.”
Even so, she absolutely loves driving this car around. When asked what makes her car sexy, she replied, “Because I drive it.” When asked about some of the cooler features of Mogil’s car, she said her Chi Omega sticker and her sound system are what stand out.
Junior Ashley Chackalayil drives a Lexus LX 470. “It’s just too special to be named,” said Chackalayil. The sexiest feature of the car for her is the grill.
“It was my first choice; I feel safer in it,” said Chackalayil. Though she feels like her car is dependable, the upkeep on the car is not so favorable. “It’s reliable, but expensive,” explained Chackalayil.
She would recommend a Lexus; “Though I may prefer something that didn’t guzzle gas,” said Chackalayil.
Senior Ernestine Dahn drives a BMW 330I. “The car is sleek; it’s black. It’s just a sexy car,” said Dahn.
“I have not named it yet. Technically, it is my father’s car. It’s mine for the semester, but it’s still his,” said Dahn.
One of the features that Dahn likes about the car is the computer-based system. “I really like the push-to-start feature. All you have to do is stick the key in the ignition and push start. Also, I love how it rides. It’s so smooth. Even when I stop abruptly, the car still reacts smoothly,” said Dahn.
Along with Chackalayil, Dahn also has some reservations about the cost of maintenance for her car. “The price of repair and upkeep is very expensive. When you have a luxury car, you really need to get a warranty on important parts, like the engine. Any little thing that goes wrong cannot be fixed like a normal car. You have to go to the dealership,” said Dahn.
These three ladies drive some sexy cars, but having these luxury cars does come at a price.
Remember that you get what you pay for the next time that you are wishing that you were behind the wheel of one of these sexy rides.
Though the maintenance and upkeep for these cars can get to be outrageously expensive, the bragging rights that come with these automotive beauties seem to make up for it.
(09/21/11 11:17pm)
Summertime is officially over and the fall fashion season is here. For many of you that means that it is time to put up the shorts, printed tanks and sundresses and shop for a new fall wardrobe.
You may not know whether or not to try bold colors or play it safe with casual comfort.
If you are not sure about what direction to take for this season, fear not, because many of your fellow Mercerians have approaches and advice for this fall fashion season.
Seniors Thomaesa Brundage and Ashley Mann are two self-proclaimed fashionistas that have plans for the fall.
These two follow their own personal fashion statements. “I wear what makes me look good and accentuate my features. I march to the beat of my own drum,” said Brundage.
“My grandmother always says that pearls, mascara and heels can take a girl a long way,” said Mann.
Drawing on classic and modern icons from Audrey Hepburn to Michelle Obama to Beyoncé, these two have mapped out their own themes for the fall.
Brundage suggested, “First and foremost, Nicki Minaj is the absolute fashion don’t of the season. Whatever she puts on, do the opposite.”
For this season, Mann said, “I am going to implement blazers, of course. I’m still into neutral colors, and one of the things that I would like to try is chunky knit sweaters and crocheted dresses.” She is also looking to wear more reds, neutrals and grays in her wardrobe.
Scarves and handbags are Mann’s personal must-have accessories. She said, “My goal is to collect scarves from various countries. I really like tribal prints. I’ve stretched my palette in scarfology.”
“I just want to be warm, cozy and beautiful,” said Brundage. She plans to wear more earth tones like mocha and amber.
Shoes are essential for Brundage. “The shoes make or break your aura because your feet hold you up and lead you through life,” she said.
Brundage referenced the musical Annie, saying, “Remember that you’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
Mann said, “Your look is never complete without a spritz of perfume.”
Mercer Player Shamir Long also follows his own personal fashion statement. “I can make it work when no one else can,” he said.
“I normally try to dress in things that people are afraid to take risks with,” said Long. His theme for the fall involves layers, v-neck sweaters and multiple-color slacks and pants. Also, he plans to wear more browns, greens and burnt orange.
Long’s must-have accessory are ascots. “Ascots are about to be my next thing. You’ve got to step it up. I’ve already done bow ties,” said Long.
For those of you that are more laid-back, junior Lindsey Sharpless and sophomore Connor Cosenza have their own approaches for the fall.
“I have things that I wear that I play up, but I’m not extreme. I like to be comfortable,” said Sharpless.
Cosenza dresses for comfort as well. Even so, Cosenza and some of his friends have implemented Fancy Fridays in which they dress up and go all out on Fridays, wearing a range of clothes from suits and ties to jackets with slacks and bowties.
Whether you want to be bold or dress for comfort for the fall, the most important thing to keep in mind is originality. Make sure that you make the style your own.
(09/08/11 12:23am)
If you want to exercise but can’t get motivated, head to the University Center and check out the UC group fitness classes.
Exercising in a group is a great way to keep motivated. The UC offers a number of 45-minute fitness classes ranging from dance classes to water aerobics. Classes are held in the aerobics room or the UC pool.
The list of classes includes: Complete Cardio, Butt & Gut, Body Sculpt, Kick Boxing & Core, Strength & Conditioning, Zumba and Water Aerobics. These classes are designed to work up a sweat and help to burn calories.
Classes are scheduled throughout the day so that students can get an afternoon or an evening workout.
Rachel May, Director of Wellness, said, “They are a great opportunity for students, faculty and staff to get a varied amount of workouts at a specific time and place.”
May teaches the Body Sculpt class and the Butt & Gut class.
“Once you get in class and start to work out, the time goes by pretty quickly. The classes are designed for all skill levels. We try to make to make it accessible to everyone. It is also a great way to meet people from across campus, and a great way to commit yourself to getting a good workout in,” said May.
“I would encourage people to check it out if you are looking for improved fitness results. Results are all about variety,” explained May.
In order to actually see results, you need as much variety within your individual workout as possible. Doing the same old routine on the treadmill or elliptical only maintains your current weight status.
To find the schedule for the UC group fitness classes, check out the UC website for a list of all the classes and the times.
(09/08/11 12:08am)
After a long, hot summer of relaxing and sleeping in, it is time to buckle down and face the harsh reality that college is back in session.
That is right; it is time to set those alarm clocks and crack open those textbooks because the semester has begun and there is little room to fall behind.
For students that think that they can slack off, think again. These first few weeks are the most crucial of the entire semester because they set the standard for the year. Fear not, Mercerians, because there are many tips that can help to ensure that students start the year off on a good footing.
A great resource on campus is the Academic Resource Center. Students can get tutored in a broad variety of subjects, ranging from foreign languages to chemistry to English.
“I think that time in general is a huge issue for all students, especially freshmen, because I am not sure if they have a realistic view of college yet. I would encourage students to develop a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule and to look at your time in college as a 40 hour work week, as if it were a job,” explained Stephanie Mooring, Assistant Director of the ARC.
There are a number of techniques that students can try to help improve their studying skills. “On average you should plan to spend about two hours of study time for every hour that you are in class,” said Mooring.
Since most classes require reading, Mooring suggested that students time themselves reading five pages of their various textbooks to gather a realistic idea of how to gauge time.
“Another important tip is being an active learner by being prepared, paying attention and being an active note taker,” said Mooring.
Leanne Holtz, a senior majoring in biology with a chemistry minor, is a tutor at the ARC for psychology and an SI leader. Her biggest studying tip is that students should stay on top of their reading assignments and try to not get behind because it is hard to catch up.
She has developed a study method that she follows to help stay prepared for her classes.
“A generally good strategy is to read before class. Take notes while reading, and jot down notes and questions to ask. Take notes while in class and listen carefully in class, because each professor has different key words. Then go re-read and highlight the material because then you know the key concepts, so the second time that you read through, you are reinforcing the material,” explained Holt.
She also suggested organizing your time accordingly. “I have a lot of one hour breaks. As a freshman I used to goof off, but if you spend your day doing homework, then you have your nights free instead of staying up until 2 a.m. trying to finish work,” said Holt.
Along with time management, students should utilize the resources available at the ARC. The tutors are there to help. “On average, students that attend SI regularly make one letter grade higher than students that do not attend regularly,” said Mooring.
There are fewer grades in college and each assignment does count. Remember, it is much easier to begin on a good note than to attempt to play catch up at the end of the semester.