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(04/14/16 6:29am)
The pedestrian bridge may have been installed Wednesday, April 6, but students at Mercer University shouldn’t expect construction on that side of campus to end by the time classes do.
“Everything but the hotel is expected to be completed by the first of August,”said Larry Brumley, senior vice president for marketing communications and chief of staff to President William Underwood.
The bridge connects the Lofts at Mercer Landing to the university’s main entrance on Mercer University Drive, which is also receiving a facelift of columns and architectural detailing.
But, it’s not quite finished.
Brumley said the steel bridge still needs rebar, or reinforcing bars, put in, and construction workers with Sierra Development are also getting ready to install concrete decking.
Lights will be added to the bridge in the coming weeks, and the university will have access to the computer-controlled system that can change the colors of the lights, said Clay Murphey, Macon-Bibb SPLOST manager, in a report from the Telegraph’s Liz Fabian.
In the article, Murphey said there are about three million color combinations.
All of this will continue to cause intermittent road closures, Brumley said, that may be impacted by the weather.
On the bridge, a sign reads: “Welcome to Mercer and the new gateway to downtown Macon.”
Mercer University Drive which becomes Little Richard Penniman Boulevard has been billed the new gateway to downtown, Brumley said, because it will eventually go straight to Second Street. A sidewalk and bike lanes will also be added before the end of 2016.
The bottom floor of the Lofts at Mercer Landing will house office space for the university, and several departments has already begun the transition to the new space.
Additionally, Brumley said students can expect several food options for buildings surrounding the Lofts, including Papa John’s Pizza, Momma Goldberg's Deli and Chen’s Wok. The university is continuing to seek out other restaurants for the food court.
In other construction news, the dedication of Phi Beta Kappa Plaza next to Willingham marked its completion Saturday, April 9.
(03/31/16 5:24am)
Soon seven of Mercer University’s 12 schools and colleges will be led by female deans.
After months of interviews and reviewing qualifications, the university announced Anita Olson Gustafson’s appointment as dean of the College of Liberal Arts in a press release Thursday, March 24.
President William D. Underwood said in the release that he is impressed with Gustafson’s “energy, ideas and passion for liberal learning.”
“Her background and experience as a faculty member and administrator at an established private liberal arts college ideally position her to lead our College of Liberal Arts, which serves as the academic cornerstone of the University,” Underwood said.
Gustafson has been a professor of history at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina since 1997. There, she also held terms of interim provost, interim dean of academic programs and chair of the history department.
Additionally, she has been awarded Presbyterian’s Professor of the Year in 2007 and been the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in the same year.
Gustafson’s appointment will begin July 1.
She succeeds Lake Lambert, who was named president at Hanover College in Indiana last summer. Lambert served as dean of the College of Liberal of Arts for five years.
Keith Howard, who is the chair and professor of mathematics, filled the position as interim dean during the search process.
Gustafson said in the release that she is excited about the opportunity to join the Mercer community.
“I have been so impressed with the students, the faculty, and the administration, and I look forward to working together to prepare the leaders of tomorrow,” she said. “Mercer’s commitment to academics, to service, and to the overall undergraduate experience makes this an excellent fit for me.”
Gustafson received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in American history from Northwestern University.
(01/28/16 3:21am)
“The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins made it on my list for Santa this year, but not for reasons a sane person might suspect. Yes, the book will be made into a movie coming out in October, starring Emily Blunt and Justin Theroux. Yes, critics have hailed the book the next suspense-thriller, comparing it to “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn — which had a plot that is, in my opinion, too outlandish to be believable. Yes, Hawkins, who is a journalist by trade, wrote an unpredictable, captivating story for her debut into the genre.
But none of those reasons were good enough. I wanted to find this novel under my Christmas tree because of the mild controversy behind its title. You see, there is another psychological thriller with a strikingly similar name, but it was written two years ago, has a different author, and will not be made into a movie anytime soon. Yet, so many people from the United Kingdom and Australia got the pair confused that they pushed the look-alike to the top of Amazon Best Selling charts, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
So, I had to find out myself the cause of all the ruckus with the newly-released novel about a girl and a train.
From her seat on the train, Rachel Watson studies the house on a street where she once lived with her ex-husband. Her daily ritual becomes an obsession as soon as she creates fake names and lives for the couple occupying the home. She calls them Jess and Jason, a “perfect, golden couple.” Their real names are Megan and Scott.
When Megan goes missing, Rachel implants herself into Scott’s life to try to solve the crime.
All the while, the novel is tempered with Rachel’s drinking problem, which is made apparent early in the novel when she opens up soda cans of gin on her commute home from work or when she consumes multiple bottles of wine in an evening. Her drinking problem is off-putting and causes great turmoil in her life, but for me, it served to make her an imperfect yet precious focus of the story. At times reading the book, I asked myself whether I pitied Rachel because of her alcoholism or felt sincere sympathy toward her as if she were a wounded animal.
Rachel has to learn to deal with embarrassment, the police and her past in a novel that’s seemingly only about a girl’s vantage point from a train.
Now, I don’t always buy my books based on controversy, but when I do, I’m not led astray.
(09/25/15 1:06am)
Pilgrimage to Penfield has been defined for the past several years by its mystery.
Bekah Fulton, a junior chairwoman of SGA’s Heritage Life committee, wants to get rid of the enigma surrounding this autumnal event.
“By people participating, they help break the [enigma] of what is the mysterious Pilgrimage to Penfield,” Fulton said.
As recent as last year, the event, which was usually held on a Friday evening, included a tour of a graveyard in the dark and fireworks under the stars while sitting on a complimentary blanket.
This year there will be no fireworks or spooky cemetery walks, but the Sunday trip will still offer students, young and old, a peek into the history of Mercer University.
Fulton said many students hear the word ‘pilgrimage,’ and they think of pilgrims.
“That’s exactly what it is. It’s like this trek,” she said.
Students will load onto buses Sunday, September 27 about 10:30 a.m. And their journey to the site where Mercer was born in rural Greene County—about an hour and half northeast of Macon—will begin.
As a freshman, Fulton remembers the entire experience as enriching her first year at Mercer.
“It is definitely one of my first major memories from Mercer,” she said. “I’m really thankful for that.”
Fulton said students can expect to attend a chapel service, to participate in fun Mercer trivia and to learn more about Mercer’s heritage.
During the chapel service, senior Sarah Webster and Professor Kevin Honeycutt—a Mercer alumnus—will speak, and Bethany Ross will play the violin.
Fulton said there will also food and a free giveaway of Nalgene water bottles that say “Go Bears” on the side and Pilgrimage to Penfield stickers. Instead of blankets, which served their purpose when the event was held in October, Fulton said she thinks the water bottles are a fun gift to students.
Mercer was established in Penfield, Georgia in 1833, and the university relocated to Macon in 1871.
Fulton said that she hopes students who attend Pilgrimage to Penfield will appreciate their experience at Mercer more after they “return to where it started from.”
“I love this event. I love being on Heritage Life because I love Mercer so much,” Fulton said.
The Heritage Life committee will also be hosting the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Dec. 3 in the Historic Quad.
(08/31/15 9:28pm)
For one senior at Mercer University, her summer spent researching DNA sequences was a summer well spent.
And Kelsy Cotto is not alone in her research pursuits during the summer months.
Besides internships and jobs under the blazing sun, many Mercer students took on the challenge and dedicated their summer researching in a variety of fields in the United States and abroad.
Kelsy Cotto, a senior at Mercer who will be pursuing a career in biomedical research, said through e-mail correspondence that she spent her summer in St. Louis, updating a database that catalogs DNA sequences to identify possible recurrent mutations in human breast cancer.
Cotto was an Amgen Scholar at the Washington University School of Medicine. Each university that hosts Amgen Scholars has their own application and selection process.
She found the program on her own.
“But I had a lot of support from the chemistry department, especially Dr. Crawford and Dr. Bucholtz,” she said
She said her time spent as an Amgen Scholar solidified her career path because she got to witness how tools are used within cancer research.
“This experience further confirmed that a career in biomedical research is the correct career path for me,” Cotto said. “I got to meet new people, see new cities and explore new areas of research.”
Not all students have to do as Cotto did and use their own devices and resources to find research opportunities that suit their needs.
Kevin Bucholtz, the director of undergraduate research, has the tools to connect students with possible research opportunities, like he did for Cotto.
David Davis, Mercer’s director of fellowships and scholarships, said participating in any summer research program is something to be proud of.
“These summer research experiences are competitive awards, so earning one is in itself an accomplishment,” Davis said in an e-mail. “And the students who earn these awards gain the experience of working for several weeks as a researcher.”
On top of all the hard work, Cotto said she made time to have fun too.
“St. Louis has a lot to offer,” she said. “I got to go up into the arch, attend a Cardinals game and see a polar bear for the first time.
Last summer Cotto conducted research at Texas A&M.
With two summers of research under her belt, she recognizes the value in networking with people from diverse backgrounds through her experiences.
“The people I met this summer will be friends and colleagues in my future, both personally and career-wise,” she said.
Davis agreed with Cotto on the value of summer research experiences.
“Because of this experience, these students are exceptionally well prepared for applications to graduate or professional school or for other fellowship opportunities,” Davis said.
“I believe that if anyone has the opportunity to participate in summer they should do it,” Cotto said. “I think I grew both personally and professionally.”
Several other Mercer students participated in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. These students include Tyler Allee, Jonathan Beall, Brian Davidson, Britney Hudson, Jennifer Nguyen, Brandon Reagon, Faariyah Sheikh, Kiara Smith and Sara Stover.
Also, Stephen Hayden Williams is an engineering student who had a DAAD — a German academic exchange service — Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) grant to study in Stuttgart, Germany.
(08/27/15 10:27pm)
Here is a bigger and better list of the local cultural experiences that abound in and around town for the lover of the arts in us all.
Douglass Theatre
Recently renovated, The Douglass Theatre has been a cornerstone in Macon’s downtown music and film scene since 1921. Otis Redding, James Brown, Little Richard and other blues and jazz legends have graced its stage. With film festivals and educational seminars, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. The theatre also aims to keep the community in mind by partnering with local children who in turn help create film presentations. Upcoming shows and events in the next few months are “Go Jazz,” “Senior Cinema” and “Hamlet.” The Douglass Theatre is located at 355 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance
The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance is a uniquely beautiful place. Two hundred artists from all walks of media and ways of life have their works featured at the gallery. Sculptures, paintings, photography and pottery is just the tip of the artistic iceberg that is the gallery.
Every first friday of the month there are free, evening exhibits of local and regional artists The gallery is located at 486 First St.
The 567 Center for Renewal
The 567 Center for Renewal is a center designed specifically for the collaboration of entrepreneurs, business men and women as well as striving music artists and even creative-minded people. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to hosting events, such as Bragg Jam, the Macon Film Festival and many more. Prices vary depending on the event hosted. For more information about upcoming events, go online to the567.org.
Fresh Produce Records
Fresh Produce opened its doors to customers in September 2013, and ever since it has welcomed local musical acts, artists and produce-lovers alike — not your typical record store. Some make consider Fresh Produce as Macon’s go-to spot for vinyl records of all genres, new and old, the strange and the conventional. People walk in to buy their favorite album and end up being entertained with a live music show while eating a fresh apple. Find Fresh Produce Records at 451 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at the Bell House
Mercer University Townsend School of Music had a vision, and that vision became reality with the creation of the McDuffie Center for Strings. With a limited enrollment of 26 students consisting of 12 violinists, six violists, six celloists and two double bassists The McDuffie Center for Strings is home to some of the most talented and gifted student musicians from around the world. The musicians chosen for the program have many opportunities by being a student in the respected program that usually come from years of professionally performing and networking in the music industry that they get multiple chances to collaborate with and record alongside the best orchestras, string ensembles and conductors. Last year, the Center was granted a place of its own at the beautifully renovated Bell House, which serves as practice and performance space for the budding professional musicians. For more information about auditions or events, visit them online at departments.mercer.edu/mcduffie.
Tubman Museum
The new 49,000 square foot building on Cherry Street is not only filled with history, but it is filled with her story — the story of Harriott Tubman herself. Known to the world as the “Black Moses,” Tubman risked her life to save the lives of other human beings. Her story along with many other notable African Americans’ is on display at the Tubman Museum. Earlier this year, the museum moved locations from Walnut to Cherry streets.
(08/14/15 4:11pm)
If The Cluster were an independently-owned hotel, letters on the marquee would spell out an apology about the weeks our website was offline this summer and a banner would hang over the front entrance with the words ‘Under New Management.’
Thank goodness The Cluster is not an independently-owned hotel.
Instead, we are a student newspaper independently operated from Mercer University.
We are under new management, but in this context — and not the hotel scenario — this is not a scary thing. I hope you don’t say to yourself, “well, I won’t be reading that publication anymore.”
Nick Wooten, the new managing editor, and I feel well-prepared for the coming year’s challenges and triumphs, and we hope you trust us to continue delivering fresh perspectives and truthful reporting.
Maybe more importantly, the words on the marquee still are required and deserve an explanation. I would like to issue an apology on behalf of The Cluster’s staff concerning the website.
The website at www.mercercluster.com suffered some glitches and technical difficulties this summer, and I’m afraid the details would bore you, dear reader, to sleep. So I shall spare you.
There is no need to worry about if you will still receive news relevant to you. The site is up and running again. Although a few missing photographs and unattributed bylines may persist, please understand that we are working diligently to straighten out all the kinks.
Ultimately, The Cluster has set a goal this year to strengthen our digital presence tenfold. And anything that aims at development is bound to suffer a few growing pains along the way.
We plan to increase our presence even more on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, hopefully reinvigorate our mobile application and post almost daily on our website.
Follow me for a moment if you will as we drift further away from the hotel analogy. Unlike a building that houses out-of-towners, The Cluster is alive. Just as a coral reef is alive and just like a bear lives and breaths, The Cluster does too.
It is alive with the stories of students from the Mercer community and beyond, such as the story about Mercer’s housing crisis with which Marin Guta treated with tremendous care.
The Cluster also exists as an outlet and as a tool for students to express themselves. If you are upset about anything happening in the world today, send your point of view to opinions@mercercluster.com.
I encourage you to write an opinion for us about anything and everything. We welcome new and experienced writers who want to share their beliefs in a civil manner.
The Cluster should always serve the student body, no matter what. I hope as editor this year I am able to continue the long-held tradition of the newspaper being, first and foremost, a service to the community.
I want to thank all of The Cluster’s editorial staff for remaining resolute in seeking positive change for the paper and keeping a smile on their face as the stay committed to using their journalism skills in service to others. Also a huge thank you to the writers and photographers who have a won’t-quit attitude.
As my first “Letter from the Editor” comes to a close, I would finally like to say, welcome back friends and peers. Hopefully this year will usher in a wave of supportive energy as we grow as a student body and grow as a publication.
(08/14/15 3:45am)
Mercerians — whether they be new bears on the block or ones that already have their bearings — can find plenty of ways to be entertained outside of the classroom. Without driving too far or spending too much money, local cultur- al experiences are plentiful no matter the preferred medium of art. Although this list by no means includes all of the fine arts offerings, here is a point of reference for fun times to come.
Tattnall Square Center for the Arts
Newly renovated and opened in April 2014, the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts was once a Presbyterian church. Mercer University received a $425,000 grant from ArtPlace America to trans- form the church, which was donated to the school, into an art-centric spot for the whole community. It also houses Mercer’s Theatre department. The N. Logan Lew- is Theatre held the inaugural production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest last year. The Tattnall Square Center for the Arts is located at 1096 College St. Unless noted otherwise, tickets for general admission are $15 or $10 with a valid Mercer ID. For more information about upcoming productions, call (478) 301-5470.
Macon Little Theatre
Founded in 1934 and in its 82nd season, Macon Little Theatre serves up theatrical productions almost every month. There is a rumor that refreshments, such as tea and coffee, are served during show time inter- missions. The next staging will be “On Golden Pond,” a comedy and a drama which will be directed by Weldon Ledbet- ter. Performances will go from Aug. 28- Sept.6. And the box office will open four days before opening night. Tickets will be $20 for adults,$15 for seniors (60 +) and $10 for students ages 5 to 23. To make a reservation, call (478) 477-3342. Macon Little Theatre is located at 4220 Forsyth Road.
Cox Capitol Theatre
More well-known artists and bands have been known to take the stage at the Cox Capitol Theatre located at 382 Second St. Because of this, admission prices vary by event. Marty Stuart will be performing at the Cox later in August, and Drivin N’ Cryin will play in September, just to name a couple upcoming shows. For more in- formation, go online to www.coxcapitol- theatre.com.
The Hummingbird Stage and Taproom
For a versatile music venue that can be relaxed or rowdy, The Hummingbird Stage and Taproom is the place to go. Located on 430 Cherry St, The Hum- mingbird — The ‘Bird as some refer to it — offers a variety of regional, national and local live music. People must be 18 years or older to visit this entertainment venue. For extra activities, The ‘Bird has open mics, karaoke and team trivia on Wednesdays. Unlike most places on this list, ‘The Bird is open every day of the week, except Sunday when it is only open for private events. For more information, visit www.hummingbirdmacon.com.
The Grand Opera House
The most ornate and luxurious cultural location on the list hands down has to be The Grand Opera House. It has style, it has grace and it has musicals. The Grand Opera House is the sole presenter of pro- fessional touring Broadway productions in Middle Georgia. In the off season, the venue presents comedy acts, concerts and community-based arts productions, such as the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia. Gregg Allman will be playing there in January, but the next show at The Grand Opera House will be “1964: The Tribute” in honor of The Beatles Sept. 19. Because The Grand has a relationship with Mer- cer, students receive discounts. For more information or to call the box office, dial (478) 301-5470.
Taste and See Coffee Shop and Gallery
Although most don’t consider it a go-to for entertainment, Taste and See Coffee Shop and Gallery is one of the interesting and intensely intimate venues to listen to live music in Macon. Live music is avail- able most Friday and Saturday nights. As a plus, they have stellar coffee and pas- tries. For more information, visit www. tasteandseecoffee.com.
Check back in The Cluster’s next issue for a continued list of even more enter- tainment venues Mercer University and Macon have to offer.
(02/27/15 11:36pm)
Waking up at dawn to make it to a PT (physical training) test on time, Mercer University ROTC cadets run and sweat, doing as many situps and pushups as their bodies permit in two minutes.
There’s a saying in the Army called “embrace the suck,” said Kara Styers, a third-year ROTC cadet who is double majoring in intercultural studies and Spanish.
“I try not to think about the not good stuff. It’s always, more than likely, going to suck, but you have to accept it, learn to have a positive attitude.”
In less than a month, 10 Mercer ROTC cadets, accompanied by cadets from Georgia Military College will fly to New Mexico for the 26th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March. For months, they have been devoting weekends to running anywhere from 12 to 20 miles.
The Bataan (pronounced buh-tan) Memorial Death March is a 26.2-mile marathon through the sand, dirt and dust of the White Sands Missile Range.
Besides the unstable terrain of the desert, the main difference between this foot race and any other is the elevation. White Sands sits about 3,890 to 4,116 feet above sea level. Macon’s elevation is about 341 feet, according to the U.S. Climate Data website.
For about seven or eight miles, the race will be run uphill, Styers said, so the elevation will increase, causing the lungs more stress.
The cadets will be competing in the ROTC Military Light and Heavy categories, both consisting of their ACUs, or Army Combat Uniforms.
Styers said that the stress is on taking care of one’s feet. Running in boots causes blisters, so they will most likely bring a change of socks and use powders to reduce irritation.
But boots aren’t the only atypical running gear that these cadets will don. The Military Heavy team members will also be wearing 35-pound backpacks. In military terms, the packs are called rucks.
Their rucks will be filled with nonperishable food items to donate to the Roadrunner Food Bank at the end of the March.
The Bataan Memorial Death March began in 1989 to memorialize World War II Allied forces who surrendered at Bataan, an island in the Philippines. These captured armies were made to march with little food under harsh conditions, and the few who survived were forced into prisoner of war camps.
The 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard were among the captured marchers. Veterans from the POW camp wait at the finish line to shake the hands of marchers as they cross.
Styers expects the finish line to be an emotional experience. About one in four people drop out of the race, Styers said. “It will probably be the hardest physical challenge that any cadet has done in (his or her) life.”
The Middle Georgia cadets will compete in teams of five, and all members of a team must complete the race or else be disqualified.
Like the Bataan marchers who had to band together to survive, “so, too must we learn to work together to be successful in not just the march but our careers as we move forward to become officers in the U.S. Army,” wrote Timothy Walker in an essay on what participating in the Bataan would mean to him.
The marathon is comprised of one of the ROTC’s specialty teams. Other specialty teams include a Ranger Challenge and a Wounded Warrior Race, but arguably, none are as strenuous.
“We are a very active battalion, for sure,” Styers said. Usually, each cadet participates on at least one specialty team in his or her four years at Mercer.
The ROTC program allows regular people to become indoctrinated in the Army, said Styers.
All ROTC cadets receive a minor in military science upon graduation, and many are STEM majors or majoring in political science/international affairs.
“Once you invest in ROTC, you’re essentially investing in your future,” said Ty Downer, a third-year ROTC student.
But Styers said that ROTC is “more than a dog and pony show, putting on a uniform and walking around.” It is student led. ROTC cadets also lead in other avenues of campus-life: from supplemental instructors and Crossfit coaches to honor council justices and Greek life members.
ROTC practically guarantees physical fitness. “Physically, you are always in game mode,” Styers said. Yet, the program also aims to stretch cadets’ brain power with analytical activities.
She said that ROTC helps teach responsibility and leadership because, once ROTC cadets graduate, most will be platoon leaders in charge of 30 to 60 people. Styers said that they will have to make hard decisions in combat—ones that affects the real peoples’ lives.
Instead of being nervous about the thought of combat, Styers says that she is excited. “When you’ve been training for four years to be able to exhibit skills and make difference, it’s what you’ve been waiting for.”
The Mercer students competing in the Bataan Memorial Death March will be Joel Aguilar, Gabriel Jones, David Oh, Timothy Walker, Andrew Clanton, Remington Dixon, Sutton Milukas, Kara Styers, Jackie Harmon and John Savage.
(11/20/14 8:48pm)
A buzz of positivity has followed the announcement of a coming-soon residential, retail and commercial development on Mercer University’s campus. Autumn ushered in news of an address change and the proposed plans for new Loft developments along with new campus restaurants and lodging accommodations.
Several current students and alumni shared their opinions about the proposed plans. When asked how they feel about all the recent changes and what the changes signify for the university and for Macon, their answers reflected the potential of growth and renewed vitality of both the school and the community.
Alex Morrison, Executive Director at Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority:
“I think it’s absolutely positive for all involved. With the fact that the university is growing, it’s evidence that people are applying to Mercer at higher rates. It’s showing that there is value in athletics. Mercer is outwardly expressing what we as alums intuitively know: it’s a great place that invites transformation.”
“The two [Mercer and Macon] are inextricably linked. The success of Mercer is a watermark for the growth of Macon. It is bringing in new taxpayers, new investments. We have to acknowledge that. It breeds a lot of excitement for the Macon community. Amazing that we are seeing this type of development.”
Meaghan Patterson, freshman undeclared major
“With the new lofts, we knew they were going to have to build more dorm/living space, particularly if they had another freshman class the size of ours. They barely fit us as it is. And the seniors are a lot of fewer [in number] than we are. It’s fairly logical that they are doing it.”
“Well, for the university, it means they are going to have to find more resources so they can build all this stuff, but it also means the university will be expanding, which will probably help the area around Macon. More businesses will be inclined to move over here to cater to college students.”
Michael Latham, junior information sciences and technology, IST, major
“I think it is a great change for the university overall. Change is always good. When it comes to specifically the Lofts, I think that just shows how much Mercer has grown in the last couple of years. As far as the address change, I understand why they had to do it, but 1400 Coleman [Ave.] will always be a part of Mercer history. So again, it is understandable why they had to change it, but I think I will still refer to it [as the old address].”
“As far as the community is concerned, I think it is going to be a great financial growth for the community. It is going to bring a lot more attention to Mercer and Macon because of the fact that more people are starting to take notice of what Mercer is doing for the community. I think that Mercer as a university has been integral in what [progress] Macon has done over the last couple of years. So to be able to see this growth, I think it is just going to be fantastic.”
(11/12/14 5:48am)
All that innovation needs is a spark of creativity, a spark of entrepreneurial spirit.
SparkMacon LLC hopes to create that exact environment with its new “maker space,” a physical place where artisans, crafters and engineers can use the provided equipment and resources to share ideas, network with other members and maybe even build a business along the way.
“Businesses and companies that stay in business and that stay successful are the businesses who innovate [by finding] new ideas and new ways of doing things,” said Andrew Eck, a Mercer University student who co-owns Georgia Pallet and resides on the board for SparkMacon. “I think [the innovation] is going to permeate from the makers out into the city.”
The organization, which is located on the second floor of 557 Cherry St., will host a First Friday Open Make Night and Open House on Nov. 7. The grand opening will be on Dec. 5.
For four hours, people will have the opportunity to explore the 3,100-square-foot room and make anything with the tools on site. Prizes will be awarded.
SparkMacon plans to host an event every First Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eck also said there are plans for a hackathon, seminars and maybe even a TEDx Talk: “The possibilities are endless.”
To be able to access the equipment and the space available at SparkMacon on a regular basis, people will have to pay a fee similar to a gym membership. The cost for an individual membership is $40 per month, but a board member has to be there to supervise. A student under the age of 18 may purchase a membership for $20 with parental consent.
It is $80 per month to have 24/7 key access to the space due to the extra liability, but the board has speculated ways to give out as many keys as possible to members.
“What’s going to happen, I don’t know, whether we are going to invent the next vacuum cleaner or pallet furniture. It’s going to be random, but it’s going to be new,” Eck said about the potential for SparkMacon.
The Middle Georgia Regional Commission received a grant for $54,000 to fund the tools and supplies that will fill the space under the stipulation that the board will crowdfund for the remainder of the operating budget.
“Powers combined to form SparkMacon,” Eck said.
The five-panel board of the nonprofit work as volunteers. It is made up of Rob Betzel, CEO of Infinity Network Solutions; Brent Lanford, deputy director at the Middle Georgia Regional Commission; Nadia Osman, director of revitalization and business initiatives at College Hill Alliance; and Michael Rosario, principle software engineer at Mercer Engineering Research Center. Eck was recently added as the fifth member of the board.
The crowdfund campaign brought in $11,130, which includes prepaid memberships and donations.
Forty people have already signed up to become members of Macon’s first maker space. Eck counts that as a major success before the organization has even officially opened its doors. He says that he is excited to meet these 40 people and to learn from them because, by definition, they are creative and possess entrepreneurial ways by investing in SparkMacon.
“When you get creative people together, get them talking and interacting, cool things can happen,” Eck said. “Once you start coming here, it will be contagious.”
For more information about SparkMacon, visit sparkmacon.com. Like them on FaceBook or follow them on Twitter @SparkMacon.
(11/12/14 5:45am)
Reduce, reuse and recycle are practically synonymous with the three green arrows dancing in a triangle.
Both represent the friendly reminder to take care of our shared Earth, but are you doing all that you can to help?
Many environmentalists, almost always on accident, use scare tactics to manipulate people into reducing their waste and recycling used materials, but thinking about how humans negatively affect the planet can be a frightening reality.
To bring it all into perspective, Americans waste a lot and seldom think about the consequences of throwing everything away.
According to a fact sheet distributed to students by the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah, people who live in the United States produce enough waste in one day to fill up 63,000 garbage trucks, which if lined up from end to end for an entire year would reach halfway to the moon.
Earth just was not built to handle all our trash and still be able to sustain life. Reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, reusing old items and recycling products such as paper, glass, aluminum and plastic will relieve the planet of some stress that garbage puts on it.
Not all garbage can be recycled, but recycling lessens human impact on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, saving energy use and landfill space and improving air and water quality.
To save trees and the precious oxygen that they provide, you should recycle paper.
Did you know that 500,000 trees are used to produce 88 percent of Sunday newspapers that are never recycled?
Recycling bins are scattered throughout Mercer University’s campus, usually near the menacing garbage cans. They house receptacles for paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
Recyclable paper may include cereal boxes, magazines, newspapers, old school notes and certain types of cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is usually not accepted in the paper bin. Neither are pizza boxes or other materials considered contaminated by touching food, such as napkins or paper cups and plates.
Plastic water bottles and even larger plastic juice containers primarily should be placed in the plastic recycle bin.
When sorting aluminum cans, plastic bottles and paper products, be sure to crush the cans and plastic bottles with a little brute force and to flatten paper boxes to ensure enough space for everyone’s recycled materials.
Besides recycling, composting or vermiposting, which is composting with worms, is another tool to reduce waste.
Although it takes a little more time than recycling and much more patience, composting provides rich soil mediums to aid in plant growth.
If you want to begin your own compost, local retailers sell compost bins. A significant part of composting is obtaining a nutrient balance, so remember to mix food scraps and grass clippings with dry leaves and branches.
Smaller pieces help expedite the composting process, but some bins grind the materials up for you.
Other everyday tasks that lend a helping hand to the environment are bringing along reusable shopping bags to the grocery store and finding ways to reuse glass bottles and old scraps of cloth instead of throwing them away.
Whichever R in the reduce, reuse, recycle triad you deem most important, keep in mind that our Mother Earth must be treated with respect and that being careless with disposing of garbage does a disservice to our shared home.
(11/06/14 4:15pm)
A Mercer University student remains in jail after a two-car accident left 23-year-old Gerald Butler in critical condition.
The Bibb County Sheriff's office says David Michael Teasley, 24, was driving a Ford Sport Track when his vehicle collided with Butler's Ford Taurus.
The collision happened at the intersection of Forsyth Road and Tucker Road in the early morning hours of Nov. 2.
Teasley sustained no injuries and was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. Butler's condition has not been released yet.
Teasley is being charged with DUI and Serious Injury by a Motor Vehicle.
Bond was posted for $12,520, however as of 11 a.m. Thursday, Teasley remained in jail.
The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with any information is urged to call the Bibb County Sheriff Department's office at 478-751-7500.
An online fundraiser has been setup to offset Butler's medical expenses.
(10/20/14 9:32pm)
Blight is the vacant lot next door with a couch and litter strewn around. Blight is condemned buildings, and blight is uncondemned buildings. Blight is an overpopulation of stray cats and dogs. Blight is a weedy lawn that has not been mowed in months. Blight is unsightly, ugly and unprepossessing. Blight is urban decay. Blight has a broader definition than a place being rundown, and it infects more than simply sight.
The talk around town lately has centered around residential blight—neglected houses with pieces of plywood where the windows and doors used to be or the stair caving in—and commercial blight, or empty business buildings. Both are equally terrible for the economy and cultural welfare of a city. Both can be witnessed in Macon-Bibb County. Both should be the top priorities on everyone’s activism to-do lists, and I believe most residents and [progressive] community leaders throughout the city truly want to see this overarching problem become the talk of yesteryear.
But why should the average Joe care about either residential or commercial blight? Well, this may or may not come as a surprise, but it affects every single person—even, quite frankly, Mercer students. Those most directly affected are those who witness the decay everyday.
At an informal community meeting on blight held on Oct. 7 at the East Macon Gymnasium, a man spoke truthfully about how blight lowers self-esteem and kills pride. If you are not surrounded by nice things, you do not think that you deserve nice things yourself or have the capacity to take care of those things, which is untrue in the utmost sense but lends a hand to the theory of cyclical poverty. According to an editorial in the “Telegraph” about “UnBlight” (an unstructured conference on housing data held by the Center for Collaborative Journalism and the Sunlight Foundation), Mayor Robert Reichert said that growing up in a dilapidated neighborhood breaks an individual’s spirit. Further, widespread residential blight invites vandalism and sometimes worse crime. Property values for surrounding homes are lowered. I could probably enumerate the atrocities of blight all day, but that would not be a productive, ambitious activity.
What is useful, one the other hand, is trying to help bring hope toward blighted areas, to work on reforming laws in place currently which are detrimental to the city’s future and to brainstorm with fellow residents (because we really are all in this together).
I do not wish to brag unnecessarily on my peers and professors in the Center for Collaborative Journalism, but from my perspective, it seems they have truly been integral in starting the conversation on why blight persists in Macon. During my first year taking classes with the CCJ, they began a project with the “Macon Telegraph” and Georgia Public Broadcasting called “Macon in the Mirror” through which everyday voices had the opportunity to speak out about drawbacks of living here. Last year, upper level students in a data journalism class worked on statistical ways to map blight. Numerous other community meetings, both formal and informal, have taken place to try to hash out possible ways to change our current situation.
Currently, my investigative reporting class is involved with a multiple-partner project on commercial blight. If you or anyone whom you know has strong opinions about / experiences with being affected by all of the empty stores they live around, please call or text (478) 569-2624. We would really like to hear your side.
(08/28/14 1:24am)
WMUB, Mercer University’s television station, is streaming now on Cox Channel 112, but the content is neither local nor live coverage… yet.
In April, former State Sen. Cecil P. Staton Jr. and neurosurgeon Dr. Joe Sam Robinson donated the studios of WRWR, an independent television station based in Warner Robins.
Now the relocation to Mercer Village is complete, and WRWR has changed its call letters to WMUB—Mercer University Broadcasting.
The station projects that, by the beginning of the semester next fall, it will operate a completely student-driven newscast wherein students will have the opportunity and the know-how to write, shoot and edit their own stories as well as to run cameras and to anchor.
“We’re gearing up right now to put in a broadcast journalism program where students can have behind the scenes and on-air experience,” said Brad Bostwick, director of operations and programming.
He says that there is still a lot of work to be done, including building a curriculum for the program and adding classes, but the physical facility is set up—everything but the newsroom.
A peek into the newsroom shows cameras and carpet where a desk donated by the NBC affiliate of Macon will sit.
“I need to pick that up soon,” Bostwick said.
Bostick worked at WRWR for four years under the same title, so he possesses the expertise, just not the labor. He is the only person currently on staff at WMUB.
“This is going to be an excellent opportunity for students who want to go into the broadcast journalism field because, when they leave here, they are going to have the hands-on experience and the training that’s necessary,” said Bostwick. “They’re going to have an upper hand on the students from other schools.”
WMUB has announced its affiliation with the American Sports Network and MHz Network. The station currently streams MHz WorldView, a 24-hour international news channel broadcast in English.
Although he does not watch it all the time, Bostick thinks that the current programing is cool because it gives worldwide perspectives, everywhere from Russia to Afghanistan to Korea.
This fall, WMUB will air 33 live NCAA football games in the Southern Conference, Conference USA, the Big South Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association. This lineup includes the Oct. 25 road game against UT-Chattanooga.
For a full schedule of games that will air on WMUB, please visit wmub.tv/live-sports.
When asked how he feels about the whole experience, Bostwick replied, saying, “I love it here. It’s exciting, it’s new. It’s getting off the ground. A lof of it we’re still learning too. This is my first time dealing in the world of academia, but it’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward it.”
The WMUB facilities also serve as a home base for Mercer’s partnership with ESPN3, which is currently searching for interested and semi-knowledgeable students to help with production of live sports games.