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(04/25/12 7:51pm)
The Historic Macon foundation has announced plans to register the Ingleside neighborhood for the National Register of Historic Places this summer. The neighborhood in question would be bordered by Pierce Avenue, Overlook Road, Vineville Avenue, and Forest Hill Road.
There are a multitude of homes in the district that are over the landmark age of at least fifty years old. According to the foundation, almost every building around that age will be included in the paperwork.
The National Register of Historic places is the official list of the United States government of buildings, areas, sites, and neighborhoods that are deemed historically significant in some form, whether it is culture, architecture, history, or engineering. Ingleside neighborhood’s unique place in Macon would make it a great fit to the ever-growing list of places.
If approved, Ingleside would become the 13th district in Macon to be recognized.
“There are many buildings in the Ingleside area that deserve that status,” said Jennifer Mayer, the Historic Macon Foundation’s
marketing and public relations coordinator. The entire foundation is very excited about what could happen if this is achieved,
saying that it was once called Macon’s Most Beautiful Suburb in 1917 by Louis A. Tharpe, a developer at the time.
Executive director of the Historic Macon Foundation Josh Rogers claims that there are several unique pieces in the district that are worth saving. “Ingleside is a one-of-a-kind neighborhood full of interesting historic buildings.
This area deserves to be recognized at the national level for its beauty and history,” Rogers said.
According to the Historic Macon Foundation, famous architects designed buildings in the area that need to be preserved.
Ellamae Ellis League, William F. Oliphant, J. Neel Reid and W. Elliott Dunwody are all individuals who have unique pieces in
Ingleside.
Vickie Hertwig is in charge of the application process, and she has set up fundraising efforts in the community to attain
sponsorships and their ilk. She is the preservation coordinator for Historic Macon.
This designation on the National Register would not be a bad set of circumstances at all for the residents. They would be able
to install large bronze plaques on their property, showing their status. Also, they would become eligible for tax breaks from the
federal government. Property values would increase in the area as well. They would not be subject to any controls or regulations
though, which is a major cause for concern.
The EJ Grassman trust was vital in securing funding for this proposal to occur.
(04/25/12 7:40pm)
Despite the majority of representatives to this upcoming SGA term being male, the Presidential Election was won by a female, along with the leading Senator-at-Large and Sophomore Class President also being female. Senators Mollie Davis and Josh Lovett won the Presidential Election over former Senators Dalton Turner and Justin Robinson. Davis and Lovett picked up 60% of the vote to Turner and Robinson’s 40% from a total number of 832 votes. President Davis believed they won the election because “hard work pays off, and it was obvious that the students who voted did so based on what they saw in the campaigning and how they could act as President. They really believed in our platform.” New Vice President Lovett said that he and Davis were both “thankful to God, our families, friends, and the campus of Mercer. [We] can’t wait to give Mercer the best effort they deserve.”
The Senator-At-Large position was never up for debate with only five people running for five spots, but there was still a race for leading senator, which was taken by Senior Melissa Thompson. Eric Ennuson, Bentley Hudgins, Gayle-Anne Hendricks, and Javon Denson were the others who won.
The Senior Senators were hotly contested, and Khoi Le won the class president spot. Sage Harris, Alexandria Oliver, Branden Ryan, and Eddie Zealous were the other seniors who were elected to seats. The fifth and sixth spots were separated by one vote, meaning that Eddie Zealous scraped by.
The Junior Senators were another race that had just five running for five spots, meaning that the only race was for class presidency.
Since Senator Turner could only run for one spot this year due to the by-law changes of having the presidential and senatorial elections for SGA at the same time, he gave up his class presidency spot.
Nicholas Reynolds won class president, and he was thrilled with the chance “to be a voice and a leader for my class in SGA this upcoming year.” Alex Schmidt, Austin Thompson, Quentin Mayo, and Grey Newell all picked up their seats. The Junior Senators are also a weird make-up, being that there are no females who won a seat here and that four out of the five are from Greek Life.
The Sophomore Senators were also a well-run race, with Melina Hettiaratchi winning the class presidency. Marc Feliciano, Raymond Partolan, Josh Soave, and Jeremy Reardon all won seats in this race, with only one being a member who was elected previously as a freshman senator to SGA. Current Vice President Ike Ekeke was very happy with the crop of candidates, as he was “excited for this great group of senators to be in power next year, because they will do a lot of great things. I’m also proud of everyone who ran, showing initiative to improve Mercer.”
This year’s Election Marshall was Trenton White, a senator who was also SGA President at one point. He was very excited with how the new system worked, saying “the new election system ran smoothly with only a few complaints from students and faculty about class distractions as a result of the length of campaigning. Only one paper ballot was cast, the lowest number in any election. If the tenacity of their campaign is an indication of the year ahead, then the new administration will do wonders for SGA.”
The President who just transitioned out of power, Jordan Locke, was also quite happy with how everything turned out with the new system. “I am pleased with both the voter participation and results of the election. Both presidential candidates ran great campaigns, and I am looking forward to following the successes of the Davis/Lovett administration next year,” Locke said.
(04/25/12 7:31pm)
A little under four years ago, I cracked open Ferrol Sams’ infamous book The Whisper of the River as my family went on a small vacation right after I graduated high school. As we all know, Mercer expects us to read this before we show up in August. I figured that this would be a good as time as any to begin reading, and looking back, I distinctly remember being in the minority of people who enjoyed it from my freshman class.
I’m not sure at what point while reading did I make a small promise to myself that I needed to be able to look back and be content with my time at Mercer, but the promise stuck. Not only do I look back and cherish my four blissfully short years here, I wish and pray that I could have more time here.
I’m not scared of the real world or anything; I just love Mercer that much. In fact, I will be attending Mercer for grad school as I strive to be a double bear.
A few nights ago, I sat with a few of my brothers, and we echoed the same desire that we were ready to move on, but not start over. None of us want to say goodbye to a place that turned us into the people we are today, along with the amazing people we’ve met along the way.
I am incredibly thankful and blessed for the opportunities that I’ve received here. I know that if I wanted to, I could write my own Whisper with my own Sambo, because of all that I went through here. I’m sure I could capture hearts and minds to show people just how amazing Mercer can be if you just embrace it. There is so much that our small campus had to offer, if you just try.
More than anything, I have to thank all of the professors and advisors that I have been fortunate to take classes with over the past four years. From learning about my own voice to discovering what drives me, I have received a great education both inside and outside the classroom.
I know they say that you’ll find a professor in college who will be a lifelong friend, but I’m lucky in that I need two hands to count the number of professors who I will definitely stay in contact with following graduation.
I am forever indebted to The Cluster and its editorial staff. Slowly, I understood just what power that print media has, and even more slowly, I began to understand that what an amazing opportunity I had been given to write about topics I feel strongly about.
Three years later, I can honestly say that it has been one of my richest experiences at this campus. To Liz, Samir, Brittany, Kaleigh, Kaitlin and the older editors like Lillian, thank you.
You’ve taught me far more than you ever realized.
To my amazing brotherhood, I absolutely hate having to leave you all. Alpha Tau Omega has made me the man I am today, and every single one of my brothers will have a place in my heart.
Every brother has helped shape me, and the memories I have put Sambo’s to shame. I know that every brother will say the same when they graduate, and I know that every member of Greek Life will say the same thing about their organization. That is the beauty of it.
I’m thankful for the memories that I’ve shared with others at our beloved University, and while I will miss them as the years go by, I’m eternally grateful for having lived through them.
The cherry on top for me was definitely this March Madness cycle where Mercer won. Travis Smith’s three from the right corner in Logan, Utah is one of the greatest moments I have ever been witness to. The resulting scream in Mercer Village of jubilation and disbelief that we’d clawed back one last time is one of my favorite sounds ever. Sports might not mean much to many of you, but there is no denying that the moment will be imprinted in many of our minds.
As I lament the time I have left, I strongly feel that, despite the loss of the First Year Seminar program, everyone needs to read The Whisper of the River before they come to Mercer. It inspires us to have the memories like Sambo and really make Mercer our own.
I am glad I made that silent promise to myself, because I wouldn’t have done a lot of the things I have. I feel that my hijinks following the CIT were equal to or greater than his toilet paper prank, but that can be left for history to decide.
In essence, I know that most people really don’t know what they want to do with themselves while entering college, and four years at Mercer will change even the staunchest of minds on occasion.
However, I do know that these formative years are the same for all of us, and I’m eternally grateful for having lived through them at Mercer.
Whether it is making and eating cheese dip at six in the morning, climbing the roof of the engineering building to gaze at the stars, playing intramurals like they are the Olympics, or living and laughing with my dear friends both in the fraternity and outside of it, I love Mercer and will never forget this place.
Thank you Jesse for founding such an amazing place and for all the leaders who have shaped it into the institution it has become.
Seize every day you are blessed with at Mercer, because those four years quickly become five months, and then, those few months become just a handful of days you have to cherish and make the most of.
“...for Mercer we will live and die!”
Comments, questions or concerns about this column can be sent to garret.tyler.mcdowell@live.mercer.edu
(04/25/12 7:27pm)
The second season for the Mercer Bears’ Division I men’s lacrosse team has come to an end, and the athletics department can be happy with the progress that was made this year. They won their first game against a Division I foe in school history in March against Wagner, and while that was the only win on the year, the Bears competed against quality opponents all year.
Their final record was 1-13 overall, closing the season on five straight losses. Despite Coach Jason Childs saying that “VMI and St. Joe’s look to be very competitive games for us,” being very competitive does not equal a win. The Bears lost despite outshooting these squads.
Mercer 2, Delaware 14
An abysmal first quarter left the Bears scratching their head much in the same way that the previous game against Air Force did, as the Delaware Blue Hens seemed to be untouchable early on, scoring at will.
They led 7-0 after one and 9-1 at the break. In all, 12 different players scored for the Blue Hens, with John Austin grabbing the hat trick. Mercer’s Zack Ward scored his 17th of the season, and Brett Eisenmann added his seventh later on as the Bears were outshot 51-31. However, 23 of them came in the first quarter, and the Bears scored their lowest total of the season.
Mercer 4, VMI 14
The Bears dropped their final road game of the season at VMI on April 14, giving them their third win of the campaign. Mercer outperformed VMI in front of goal, creating 39 shots to just 37 for VMI. Offense was not enough when the shots don’t fall into the goal. The Keydets of VMI relied on a 4-0 first stanza to set the stage for the day.
John Avent, Sam Grayson, Ian Gehlbach and Wilton McKown were the four Bears who beat the keeper on a day where Mercer saved just half as many shots as VMI.
St. Joseph’s 14, Mercer 9
On the final day of the season, the Bears returned home for one more chance to snatch a win from their tough opponents. Despite outshooting their visitors 49-39, Mercer was unable to get as many quality shots on target. St. Joe’s had a 16-11 advantage in saves in the contest. The Bears were also unable to convert their four chances with a man up in order to narrow the lead. They did score three of the game’s final four goals, but after falling back 3-2 in the first, the Bears never led again.
After losing their final three contests by an aggregate of 42-15, the Bears will demand new levels of success on both sides of the ball in 2013.
(04/25/12 7:24pm)
After three years of covering college sports and 22 years of watching them, I am sad to say that I no longer respect the sanctity of big powerhouse programs. These financial nightmares do nothing more than destroy the student-athlete program and legacy.
I love the small programs. While I have always cheered for the underdog when I don’t have other interests in mind, I respect them even more for doing what they do on minuscule budget compared to the monster programs. Mercer does not have the resources like a Florida, Georgia, or Texas, but it did not stop them from winning a postseason crown this year in the second biggest sport in the country (men’s basketball).
I feel that the NCAA is not doing its job effectively, because if it were, policies would be in place that would prevent early departure from college for a professional contract. Student is being lost too frequently in favor of athlete, and it is ill-preparing them for a job in the real world following sports.
At any rate, college sports still are incredibly more thrilling and exciting than professional sports in America. I really hope that you have been able to grasp the excitement and thrill that I have for these games. It’s a great environment that we have here in this campus for sports to take off, because we’ve seen our campus rally together for events, and this is part of the reason I find myself so drawn to cover collegiate sports.
While my time as a journalist is at an end (for now), the magic and spirit that comes from this will never dwindle in me. I only pray that I could get you as fired up about any of the random sporting events I wrote about. I know I love soccer, really live and breathe it, but nothing measures up to the drama of college sports.
We can complain about student attendance all we want, but until we consistently win games, we are fighting a losing battle. It’s nice to see Bears winning, and it’ll breed a crowd. Most teams that have to leave locations or have poor attendances are focusing on the wrong things. The lack of hockey teams in Atlanta are an exception because there aren’t enough hockey fans to support a team, but more often that not, teams have poor attendance due to poor performance.
Instead of focusing on flashy incentives and programs to boost attendance and a crowd to gain a true home court advantage, these professional sports teams need to take a cue from small college programs that win. Focus on building a coaching and support staff that will prep athletes to perform at their highest level, because that breeds winning. Mercer has not relied on home court advantage to win; they’ve relied on a developing a great athletics program to support the programs across the board.
College sports have awesome systems to get players in the best form possible because they aren’t franchises that go for profit (even though several make profit), and professionals need to follow this. Go watch schools that host tournaments, because those are so much more exciting than the long and drawn out professional postseason series.
If only they relied on a great staff as opposed to dishing out more money, it could work for all franchises. We would not see a 30-team league dominated by the same few squads.
(04/25/12 7:19pm)
The Mercer men’s tennis team finished their season without a trip to the Atlantic Sun Championships, which is an unfortunate turn of events following some impressive early season wins. The Bears finish their season with a record of 5-13 overall, and 2-7 in the conference. They rounded out the year in a dead heat for the sixth seed in the conference tournament, but it was ended by a tough loss to nationally ranked North Florida.
Mercer 3. Jacksonville St. 4
The Bears took a match away from Atlantic Sun play to head to Alabama for a game with Jacksonville State. A heartbreaking loss is what they got in exchange for the trip. The Bears split the singles points, picking up wins at numbers one, four and five.
Pierre Tafelski improved to 8-6 overall for the year with his straight sets victory. Vince DeLise continued his team-leading pace with a win at number nine in straight sets. Victor Dias also won his in straight sets. However, the doubles point was won by Jacksonville State after hard fought battles at all of the matchups, including Dave Barton and Dias losing 9-8 (10-8) in the first point. The Gamecocks won 4-1 before DeLise and Dias were able to snag a pair of points.
Jacksonville 1, Mercer 6
The Mercer men’s tennis dragged themselves back from the grave of the Atlantic Sun standings to compete for the final spot in the postseason tournament after trouncing Jacksonville on the next to last home game of the year. DeLise got to his 10th win of the year in singles play, and Tafelski got to his ninth win of the season. The only point dropped was due to the ongoing injury of Joao Pagan, who was forced to retire. The doubles point was pretty easily swept by the Bears as well.
North Florida 6, Mercer 1
The nationally ranked North Florida Ospreys cruised past the Mercer Bears on Senior Day, winning by a large margin. In Pierre Tafelski and Dave Barton’s final match, Tafelski was the lone individual who was able to pick up a point to avoid the sweep. His straight sets victory was his 10th of the season, and it was over the reigning Player of the Week for the Atlantic Sun, Daniel Sotomarino. Everyone else was not able to overcome the nationally recognized program.
Pierre Tafelski leaves the Mercer program with a 19-16 record. His two-year career was a benefit to the Mercer program. “To see it end is quite sad, and while I will miss it, I am fortunate for the time I played at Mercer,” said graduating senior Dave Barton said. Barton had an excellent four-year career, going 14-3 in his sophomore year. His impact will be missed, but there with excellent players attempting to fill their shoes.
(04/25/12 7:14pm)
Over the past few years, the move towards Division I football has been apparent across Mercer’s campus and the Georgia community. The long process of forming a team and constructing the stadium was begun years ago with the official groundbreaking on November 11, 2011.
Since then, work has steadily picked up, changing the entire dynamic of the University’s traffic flow, skyline and intramural activities. The integrity of Mercer’s athletics’ nucleus of the University Center Arena (basketball and volleyball), Claude Smith Field (baseball), Sikes Field (softball) and the new Sand Volleyball courts are the beginning of a new wave of Mercer Athletics. Coach Jason Childs of Mercer Lacrosse called it a “point of pride for everyone on this campus and beyond.”
The Homer and Ruth Drake Field House is one of the crowning jewels of the Mercer football complex. This will house the football and lacrosse teams for their games, and it is expected to be ready for use by this fall’s practices, according to Coach Bobby Lamb. The head of Mercer football expects the facility to be ready for the full year of practices by either August or September, according to an interview earlier this year. “I’m really excited to get out there and break in the new facilities with Mercer’s first football team in decades this fall,” Lamb said.
The William H. Anderson II Family Field was also expected to be finished, or at least ready for play, by Coach Lamb. His ultimate goal is to have the team practicing on their home turf for as much of the first year as possible in order to get ready for the first Division I season in over 50 years. “I really believe that us practicing on the field for the whole first year will help prepare the guys to as close a game day environment before we can actually play a game. Getting them accustomed to their surroundings is critical,” Lamb added.
The Tony and Nancy Moye Family Football and Lacrosse Complex and the Marshall and Jane Butler Family Plaza are not key pieces to finish in order to practicing this fall for football and lacrosse, but they should be finished in time for the beginning of official play.
The general contractor in charge of the project is Chris R. Sheridan & Co. Any area residents or longtime Mercerians will know that they were responsible for the development of the McCorkle Music School, new School of Engineering building and the Administration building.
The firm in charge of designing the project is McMillan-Pazdan-Smith Architecture, a firm orchestrated out of Spartanburg, S.C. They have also designed the University of Richmond’s football stadium, the football complex at Elon University and the football facilities at Benedict College. Calling themselves a “preeminent regional sports architecture firm,” McMillan-Pazdan-Smith has put together a great facility that seems to be on target for completion at Mercer University in the near future.
(04/25/12 7:06pm)
International non-profit organization Feed the Children has named a Mercer alumni as its new President and CEO, following a recent board of directors’ decision. Kevin Hagan is a College of Liberal Arts graduate from 1995. He matriculated with a Bachelor’s in history, political science and German. He went on to graduate studies in international affairs at The American University in Washington D.C. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to join Feed The Children and help further its mission of providing food and other essentials to people across America and around the world,” Hagan said.
Hagan had previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for Good360 since 2009. This organization is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and it is dedicated to ensuring other nonprofits succeed by connecting them with corporations that can finance and support their philanthropic efforts. According to his Feed the Children biography, while an employee at Good360, his duties consisted of customer service, human resources, security and compliance and distribution logistics. He also saved the company significant amounts of money by cutting down on waste and unnecessary costs, such as consolidating the warehouse network to reduce costs by 50%.
Kevin Hagan has spent most of his life relating to distribution, in a large variety of ways. Before his time with Good360, he developed a reputation for helping organizations and businesses overcome serious legal troubles. After an accounting fraud that reached over $1 billion before his time, Hagan was brought on at U.S. Foodservice Inc.
He ensured that the company would see better days. Assuming the role of director of corporate ethics and training, he ensured that the future of the organization would be not be marred by fraud again. He instituted several programs that will create a legacy of progress and honesty, moving past the severe problems that predated him.
This legacy of moving organizations out of crisis was definitely a major cause in his appointment to becoming the President and CEO of Feed the Children. The 25th largest philanthropy in the United States, the Oklahoma-based non-profit organization has searched for a year for a new leader following the nasty split with founder Larry Jones. Under investigation for assorted corruption charges, Jones left Feed the Children as one of the most financially inefficient charities in the country.
Hagan was brought on by the board to perfect the organization and make them significantly better, even though they are one of the top exporters of humanitarian goods in the world. “We are confident in his abilities to lead the organization, and the entire board is eager to work collaboratively with him toward our vision to see no child or family go to bed hungry,” Feed The Children boardman Rick England said.
Feed The Children has been able to provide backpacks full of school supplies for over 500,000 students in the United States who would not have been able to have the necessary school supplies without it. They also provide daily meals for over 400,000 children in the developing world every day.
(04/13/12 6:17pm)
Senators Davis and Lovett won this year's SGA presidential election.
Davis and Lovett picked up 60% of the vote to Turner and Robinson's 40% from a total number of 832 votes.
Despite the majority of representatives to this upcoming SGA term being male, the Presidential Election was won by a female, along with the leading Senator-at-Large and Sophomore Class President also being female.
President-elect Davis believed they won the election because "hard work pays off, and it was obvious that the students who voted did so based on what they saw in the campaigning and how they could act as President. They really believed in our platform."
New Vice President Lovett said that he and Davis were both "thankful to God, our families, friends, and the campus of Mercer. [We] can't wait to give Mercer the best effort they deserve."
The Senator-At-Large position was never up for debate with only five people running for five spots, but there was still a race for leading senator, which was taken by Senior Melissa Thompson. Eric Ennuson, Bentley Hudgins, Gayle-Anne Hendricks, and Javon Denson were the others who won.
The Senior Senators were hotly contested, and Khoi Le won the class president spot. Sage Harris, Alexandria Oliver, Branden Ryan, and Eddie Zealous were the other seniors who were elected to seats. The fifth and sixth spots were separated by one vote, meaning that Eddie Zealous scraped by.
The Junior Senators were another race that had just five running for five spots, meaning that the only race was for class presidency. Since Senator Turner could only run for one spot this year due to the by-law changes of having the presidential and senatorial elections for SGA at the same time, he gave up his class presidency spot.
Nicholas Reynolds won class president, and he was thrilled with the chance "to be a voice and a leader for my class in SGA this upcoming year." Alex Schmidt, Austin Thompson, Quentin Mayo, and Grey Newell all picked up their seats.
The Junior Senators are also an odd make-up, being that there are no females who won a seat here and that four out of the five are from Greek Life.
The Sophomore Senators were also a well-run race, with Melina Hettiaratchi winning the class presidency. Marc Feliciano, Raymond Partolan, Josh Soave, and Jeremy Reardon all won seats in this race, with only one being a member who was elected previously as a freshman senator to SGA.
Current Vice President Ike Ekeke was very happy with the crop of candidates, as he was "excited for this great group of senators to be in power next year, because they will do a lot of great things. I'm also proud of everyone who ran, showing initiative to improve Mercer."
(04/11/12 8:22pm)
It might be a busy campaigning and election season for most members of Mercer’s SGA, but that did not stop them from heavily changing their structure for upcoming terms.
In a move that still needs to be passed via student referendum, they have approved legislation that recreates the long lost judicial branch of government, primarily responsible for judicial review and ensuring that all actions taken by the Senate and the Executive Branch are constitutional from here on out.
Originally created by former Parliamentarian Gene Mitchell, Senator Austin Thompson, Senator Ronnie Davis, and Senator Raymond Partolan over the course of the year, the legislation took two weeks to pass through Senate.
Failing due to a lack of a few small, but necessary corrections not happening during its first Senate session on March 26, the piece of legislation was amended a few times on April 3 to pass in order to be voted on in a special election before the end of the current term.
However, it was decided to be postponed until the fall in order to better inform the students of what the piece of legislation is.
In addition, Senator Matt Hickman brought forth a few bylaw changes on April 10, the final senate of the year, in order to make sure they were not passing legislation and dropping problems on their successors. In essence, the judicial branch of SGA would have members that were appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Their main duties would be in relations to impeachment proceedings and ensuring that all legislation passed and all things approved in the future were in good standing with the SGA constitution. There will be formal lobbying for the piece of legislation by students, in line with requirements previously set, but this will not be formally voted on or adopted by the student body until fall elections.
(04/11/12 8:03pm)
Recently, a minority and small business ordinance found its way into Macon City Council discussions, as part of the city code was needing revamping. Chapter 16 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Macon needed to be clarified to make sure that minorities and small business enterprises were able to get realistic and opportune chances to grow and survive in the city by being given the green light to contract services with the city. In addition, there would be a further provision that would obligate contractors to look local for laborers and mechanics when needed, with an emphasis on minorities.
However, current Mayor Robert Reichert wants to delay signing it into implementation until August 1. The reason behind this is the proposed consolidation of the city of Macon and Bibb County that is being voted for on July 31. However, Mayor Reichert feels that the delay is essential to work out problems in the legislation. Reichert claims that adding personnel, procedures, and processes is necessary and it will take four months “so we can effectively implement it.”
Critics claim that this is just another ploy to limit the minority and female impact in the area. If the consolidation does go through, the minority-controlled city council and county commissions would be dissolved. Mayor Reichert could be waiting to see how the referendum works out. After being questioned over minority issues and contracts in the last mayoral election, he barely squeaked out a victory over minority candidate C. Jack Ellis. However, when questioned by the council, Mayor Reichert responded “What’s worse? You know, selective enforcement and turning a blind eye and not doing it, or delaying the implementation.”
Several councilpersons were outspoken against this, including Elaine Lucas. Councilwoman Lucas was very angry, saying she was confused why there would need to be a four month waiting period for implementation. She railed against Reichert, who went back to a necessity for figuring out “details.” Reichert also added “we want local vendors to be aware of opportunities to have the advantage to put in bids because we want the lowest best bid from a variety of sources.”
Whatever the case, this ordinance is going to be retooled and a better date will be picked for implementation by the council as soon as possible. Time is ticking before consolidation, so any ordinance as such that will live on after the event must be hashed out now.
(04/11/12 7:53pm)
There is the common expression that to whom much is given, much is expected. Head coach Bob Hoffman of the Mercer University men’s basketball team is in such a place at the moment. Coach Hoffman is the first coach to bring a postseason crown to Mercer and to the Atlantic Sun. Without a doubt, this is an extremely impressive place to be in, but through any discussions with Coach Hoffman it is obvious that this hasn’t changed the way he has carried himself or the way he approaches his game.
The Cluster: The CIT win will go down as a benchmark in the Mercer program, and success next year must match up to continue to show success from here, correct?
Bob Hoffman: True, we need to climb to new heights, but I am also dedicated to make sure our program is sustainable. At the end of the day, these guys need to be ready for life after basketball, and we can’t forget that when we are coaching them.
C: What was the best part of winning on an opponent’s floor for a championship, especially one of the hardest places to play in the country?
H: To watch [the players] enjoy the fruits of their labor was a tremendous blessing to witness. You could really see it in their eyes, and it was thrilling. It was the best game of the season in all aspects, from the environment to the game.
He routinely refers back to the team and to their success, showing his nature as a coach who truly believes in athletics in college as a stepping stone to being a man as opposed to just winning games.
C: What inspires you to keep coaching after all these years?
H: In college, you get to see guys come in as boys and leave as men...I really wanted to make a difference in young people’s lives. It’s what gets me up in the morning and keeps me going, to know that these lessons they will take not only to basketball, but to their future careers and families.
C: What will this victory in the CIT Championship do for the future of recruiting?
H: Visibility is always important, especially as we grow the brand of Mercer University as a whole. We are in a great place right now with some younger guys to potentially step up the entire program to the next level.
C: What was the lowest point this season, with a few heartbreaks here and there?
H: That semifinal loss to Florida Gulf Coast was the lowest point of the season, but we the coaching staff, put signs up that simply said Hope Remains. We had heard that there might be a second chance, another game in the works. While the guys weren’t really buying into the tournament at the beginning, you could see that it had turned around they were full of emotion after that win in the first round [over Tennessee State].
C: What keeps you going in a long 38-game season?
H: Well, this isn’t my first time coaching this many games, just at a different level. Honestly, my faith is a huge part of it. I’m a part of a great church, and plugging back in there rejuvenates me for the tough roads ahead. My family is a key part of it as well, and they are there for me always.
C: Tulsa singled you out for a potential head coaching gig. Are you looking to go somewhere else, or are you wanting to take care of some things here first?
H: I am dedicated to this program and incredibly thankful to the position I have at Mercer, thanks to President Underwood. He gave me a chance here, and I am happy to have taken this team to this level.
In essence, this humble man is one of the celebrities on Mercer’s campus right now, having brought home a championship against insurmountable odds. Coach Bob Hoffman shows his emotions on his sleeve during a game, and that showed through in his interview.
(04/11/12 7:47pm)
Often, there is a large break after midterms and before finals that tends to be monotonous and carries on for a long time. In this time period, there are still important projects and exams that occur, but the impetus and drive to get it all done just seems to evaporate sometimes. What can you do to stay motivated in those last few weeks before finals come and your summer is just on the other side? Here are some tips to stay on track and motivated in the grueling weeks of April.
Find a study partner. If you’re like me, it is really difficult to self-motivate. I find that finding some other person to be with you really helps this, because you two can push each other to get things done. I am much more productive in these cases, and it leads to better habits if you start this early enough in your schooling career.
Treat yourself. There’s nothing like positive reinforcement. When you get things done, begin to reward your great behavior. Incentives work wonders, so of course it could really help turn around your studying and working habits with a bit of self-discipline.
Put the phone away. One of the biggest distractions to studying and working is the cell phone. You should just go off the radar when you need to study. Let everyone important to you know where/when to expect you or find you, and just buckle down. Putting the phone away for even just a few minutes might feel like serious separation, but it’s a good trait to develop as well, not just being introverted on your phone.
Go do some physical activity. Exercising, working out, playing sports, or just simple walking will do wonders for your psyche. Getting the endorphins flowing in your brain will make you happier and more relaxed. Being relaxed and happy will be a better studying environment, and all it takes is a little bit of exercise. Find your niche and stick to it!
Develop a list or calendar. Some of us aren’t as organized as others, and we might do things a bit unorthodox. I tend to forget things, but I began using a calendar. Now, I get little alerts on my phone that won’t stop annoying me until I get that thing done, whatever it is. Develop a to-do list or a calendar, because it will help you stay organized and help drive you to finish off the list!
Take breaks while you work. There is point to doing long marathon sessions of work or studying without built-in break periods inside of it. This will break up the monotony, bring you into better focus, and get you better prepared for even more work. You can do it, and breaks will help you achieve that!
(04/11/12 7:36pm)
I’m not really sure when I decided to write this column about this topic, about standing for something that is larger than you or I.
Causes and conflicts have been all over my radar in the past two weeks, even if I tried to ignore their very existence.
Two of my brothers have engaged in a campaign against each other for the SGA Presidential Election.
I attended a conference, Clinton Global Initiative University that pushes for putting your ideas into action and really emphasizing that we can make a difference.
The Cluster and SGA are embroiled in something of a bitter war where I was actually defriended on Facebook by someone over it, and all the while, we were just pushing for a more open and transparent SGA.
I’m not going to act like I did the pushing over the edge in that case. I might not agree with what was said in the last edition, but I sure as hell stand up for the right to say it because I share concerns that a few people are running for SGA that do not seem adequate for the job.
However, that is another argument for another time, and I’m sure most everyone has heard about it these past few weeks.
I think it was somewhere between holding my five month-old nephew and seeing the news on TV this weekend that really just convinced me to ask for a change.
Maybe it’s because we are students, and I’m just one of the people who steadfastly refuses to lose that optimistic side. I might be pessimistic on the outside, but I have hope for the world.
I spent a weekend with one thousand of the most brilliant young minds on the planet crammed into small classrooms and undersized auditoriums where I learned things like real grassroots activism, just how important it is to fail a few times, and that one person can change the world.
I look back to our small microcosm at Mercer Middle School, and I just get tired of the rat race.
I’m going to miss the hell out of this place, if I might say so with poor grammar. However, I won’t miss the ignorance to the outside world.
Maybe it is the actual wall between us and the tragically poor and hurting city of Macon, but I feel detached while at Mercer.
This is when I realize why all the petty crap happens here.
There is a lack of things that this campus rallies behind as a whole, but it is changing.
More and more people are signing up with LEAP...and sticking with LEAP for more service days that are not required for them to perform.
Athletics, while not world changing, are helping bring a spirit to campus that makes Mercer feel almost normal.
Those decorations after we won the biggest championship in school history, well I hope just hope we started a tradition of Mercer students bonding together to celebrate something larger than ourselves. “For Mercer we will live and die...”
I am entirely convinced that every single person who attends Mercer has the capacity inside them to do something great and make the world a better place.
I am also entirely convinced that there are a lot of people at Mercer who have ideas that they are scared won’t succeed or be welcomed by the student body.
I had no idea that I would find seven people who would participate in the inaugural alternative spring break program at Mercer. I prayed and hoped, but I was very nervous.
It gives me hope that if you just try to see if your idea can work, Mercerians will rally behind you.
I believe we all want to rally behind something larger than ourselves.
We all stand for things, but some of us just don’t have the push to do it...or they are just are too scared and full of doubt. I ask all of you to just go ahead and try.
If you fail, what’s the worst that could happen? You just go ahead and try it again. Nothing is perfect, and the best ideas could always be things that develop out of the failure of something else.
I’m honored to say that I was at Mercer when SGA became something that students argued over and really cared about.
I’m honored to say that I was a member of The Cluster staff when we realized just how serious students take their campus media.
However, I’ll be even more honored to say I was at Mercer when students really came out in droves to change the world and leave their campus a better place as they stand up to make a difference with whatever great ideas they have.
You can do it Mercer!
Comments, questions or concerns about this column can be emailed to garret.mcdowell@gmail.com
(04/11/12 7:13pm)
They might have picked up their first win in Atlantic Sun play, but with just two matches left in conference play, the Mercer men’s tennis team seems to be on the outside looking in for this year’s Atlantic Sun Championship. As of April 7, the Mercer men are 4-11 overall, with a 1-6 record in the conference. They sit tied for dead last with Kennesaw State and Jacksonville, who also are chasing for the final playoff spot. Coach Warren Woolfolk was very outspoken about his team’s chances though, saying “Our team has the talent to make a postseason run. Tennis is a very mental sport, and with a little confidence I feel we can do a lot of damage in the A-Sun tournament.”
Mercer 6, Kennesaw State 1
After five straight defeats overall and four in conference play, the Mercer men pulled it together on the road to take down the Kennesaw State Owls in tremendous fashion, pulling one win back in a dismal year for the program.
The day started off with the first doubles point in Mercer’s favor since the match against Florida Gulf Coast. Victor Dias and Dave Barton won at the No. 1 doubles, and then Joao Pagan and Vince DeLise were able to dominate at their spot. It was off to a great start for Mercer, and they followed by winning five of the six singles points.
Pierre Tafelski continued his excellent A-Sun play. “He is now 4-1 in our conference at the No.1 position and has put himself in the position to make the All-Conference team if he continues at this pace,” Coach Woolfolk said. Tafelski, Barton, Pagan, Dias and Peter Tauchner were able to save points for the Bears.
Mercer 1, ETSU 6
The Bears came crashing back down to earth after they were blasted unceremoniously by the Bucs 6-1. Only Pierre Tafelski could grab a point, leading to Woolfolk calling him “impressive.” The doubles point would be fiercely fought, with the Bucs taking it 9-7, 8-7, 8-4.
Victor Dias came close to forcing extra sets, but he just could not finish the job in his singles point. ETSU remained undefeated in the conference, and they seem on the verge of clinching the top seed in the tournament. Mercer did snap a streak of five shutouts for ETSU, scoring the first point in play in over two weeks of matches.
Mercer 3, USC Upstate 4
In yet another heartbreak, the Bears would lose by a point to a team they have never defeated. The worst point in the day was definitely the injury to Joao Pagan, who was forced to retire during his singles point. The Bears won the doubles point via the Barton/Dias and Tafelski/Tauchner combos holding on. However, the singles points went 4-2 in favor of the Trojans, with only Dias and DeLise picking up points. Both fought hard and swept their respective opponents.
The Bears will end the season with home matches versus Jacksonville and North Florida on April 13 and 14 respectively.
(04/11/12 7:08pm)
In their first ever game out west, Mercer Lacrosse was not ready for the altitude of either the playing field or their opposing team’s ability. A 20-4 loss was not the ideal result for the Bears, especially after the opening quarter saw Air Force take a 8-2 lead that stunned the young team. “I think we need time to develop. We are the only team in the country without a senior, and the only team in the country without a starting junior. You cannot underestimate what that does for your team. That is three full years of experience going against one full year,” said Coach Jason Childs.
However, he did not want this to be the only reason behind the loss. “I think some day kids have it and some days they do not. That was clearly a day we did not have the focus we needed to play a solid lacrosse game. That is my responsibility and I failed in preparing to be ready for that game. I also think the altitude had a lot to do with this. As a group we had not been in that environment, and we did not have any players use to anything like that. We looked fatigued mentally, and that is something that was brought on by the altitude. However, we need to rise above that and not make that an excuse,” said Childs.
Outstanding performers in the game were Cole Branch as well as Kevin Alexander on the defensive end. “We win as a team, and lose as a team, but I do think Cole and Kevin stood out a little bit there,” added Childs. However, they were not enough to overcome the offensive onslaught from the Falcons’ Mike Crampton and Keith Dreyer’s seven goals.
Despite the Air Force setback, the team has shown progress. They wouldn’t have won a game without it. “The Manhattan game was a great turnaround for our team. We gave up six goals in the first quarter and held them to two the remainder of the game. I think we were better than Wagner and we were able to do some things much easier than against any other team we played this year,” Childs said, before mentioning that they were ready to compete against them but not Air Force.
The Bears do have three more contests this year. Coach Childs is both cautious and optimistic about the Bears’ chances. “We have three games remaining that I feel we can be very competitive in. I think Delaware is having a little bit of a down year, but they are very talented and play very fast. That could be a problem, but we are going to try to slow them a little. We will look to play zone and sit on the ball a little. I think VMI and St Joseph’s look to be very competitive games for us, and I am excited for the end of the season,” Childs said.
The Bears play their final home game against St. Joseph on April 21.
(04/11/12 7:06pm)
I’m going to be honest; I really couldn’t get into golf besides being a Tiger groupie for a long time. I felt it boring and a bit of a drag, making me wince whenever I would walk into a room with golf on. I really couldn’t stand the atmosphere, and to me, it didn’t feel like it could keep me enthused.
Over the years, I began to put on the final round of majors, watching to see if Tiger would pull out a comeback or continue to dominate. I’d watch and see if Lefty had any kind of good day. More often than not, I’d really just watch in slight bewilderment, confused as to why anyone would sit around and watch these guys hit a tiny ball down a course 72 times each over four days.
However, I must now urge everyone to watch golf. Heck, you should go play. I find it funny that some of the slower and less “exciting” sports are actually much more technically sophisticated. I personally love soccer, and a major part of that game is a technical finesse unheard of in football or basketball.
I have begun to be entranced in the sheer majesty of the sport and its culture. While I knew what was going on scoring wise all those years ago, I had no idea just how complex the game was and could be. Watching the Masters this weekend has been a special treat, as I have been able to see just how often the leader board changes everyday.
Golf has everything that you want in a form of entertainment. It has drama in every tournament. No matter how often these players participate in the same event, small things change every year. Old enemies resurface, and actual rivalries develop. The media might enhance it a bit, but it makes watching the holes even more worth it.
If you’re a purist and don’t like the flashy pageantry that comes with professional sports, then you’ll love golf even more. Even though some wear a few outlandishly bright colors (Rickie Fowler, but he rocks), the focus remains on the ability of the players and all of the little variables that happen in golf. You might think weather affects other sports bad, but the slightest breeze must be taken into account. The altitude of the course has to be remembered to see if the ball will travel differently.
Even more, it is such a mental sport that it surprised me to a high degree. Every little stroke from a massive drive of over 200 yards to a little putt from three feet out must be a careful equation. It’s a beautiful symphony of technique, athletic ability and a cautious accountancy for outside elements that can undo the best of them.
In essence, the sport of golf has no equal, and this past weekend of Masters has been thrilling. Somewhere between watching the ungraceful disappearance of Tiger on day three and the climatic final round, I kicked myself for thinking golf was boring for such a long time. When the U.S. Open happens, you should watch, because it is always a treat, and Rory McIlroy will be trying to defend his title. It’s just an awesome sport that always keeps you on the tips of your toes...just like Mercer Bears basketball.
(03/28/12 8:57pm)
The Mercer Bears’ 15th Division I sport, sand volleyball, began play on March 21 with a home match against the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Albeit losing, the Bears played a heated contest before a few road matches in Charleston, S.C. on March 23-25.
The Bears have opened their inaugural season with a record of 0-5, but the team has shown significant progress in the five matches. Damian Elder, in his first season as a volleyball head coach following the recent resignation of Noelle Rooke, has had the Bears fighting for every point and giving their three opponents all that they could handle. They are one of just a handful of programs that have begun playing sand volleyball as a Division I sport.
UAB 3, Mercer 2
Mercer gave the UAB Blazers all they could handle, but the Bears were unable to get that first historic win for the program. Cassie Roy and Jamie Duffy picked up the first point in Mercer history with back-to-back 21-14 wins in the two sets. Jennifer Katona and Monica Sanchez were able to get another point for the Bears, winning at No. 2 2-1. Lizzie Knapper and Charlayna Braxton were unable to finish their point up after winning the first set in their point, but it was hotly contested. Both pairings of Emily Rochefort and Caroline Carlton and then Zoe Becton and Madison Petsos were unable to pick up a point, and the Bears dropped their first match overall.
Mercer 0, C. Charleston 5
Duffy and Roy came close in both sets, but like the rest of the team they were unable to pick up any sets as the Bears were swept unceremoniously against College of Charleston. Both picked up 10 kills in the loss. Sanchez and Katona were unable to generate much offense in the No. 2 spot, being outscored by a total of 42-16 in the two sets. Rochefort and Carlton played well in the tough No. 3 spot, but they were unable to turn 18 kills into a point. Becton and Petsos experienced the same misfortune. However, Braxton and Knapper played brilliantly, losing the first set in tiebreakers and dropping the second set at the limit as well (21-23, 19-21).
Mercer 0, North Florida 5
Atlantic Sun foe North Florida brutalized the Mercer Bears, sweeping them in much the same fashion that College of Charleston did. In the No. 3 spot, the Bears’ closest chance for a point came in Rochefort and Carlton’s stunning 21-11 opening set victory. Unfortunately, the Ospreys of North Florida turned on the style and won the other two sets convincingly to take the point. The Ospreys won all of the other matches at 2-0.
Mercer 0, Pepperdine 5
The Bears played their toughest opponent of the season so far in Pepperdine on Sunday. One of the favorites to win the national championship at the end of April, Pepperdine proved to be too much for the Bears, sweeping the fledging program. Summer Ross is one of the current stars of sand volleyball in its first season, and she led the Waves to a resounding victory. This high level of opposition will serve the Bears well as the time comes for the Atlantic Sun tournament.
Mercer 1, UAB 4
The Bears picked up their first point in a match since their inaugural game, but the Blazers and Bears’ budding rivalry ended in a decision yet again for UAB. Roy and Duffy continued to haunt the No. 1 spot for UAB, winning again, giving them a career record of 2-0 against them. The rest of the team was unable to snatch points away, but Mercer will have gained valuable experience in this closing match of the College of Charleston series. Coach Elder called it an “unfortunate” loss, implying he wanted to see growth in this second match of the season against UAB.
The Bears are next in action at home against Tulane on April 7, which will be the last home match of the year. They will travel to Alabama-Birmingham on April 15 for a return match and a chance to stun the Blazers and pay them back on their home court. The following weekend of April 20-22 will be the Atlantic Sun tournament.
(03/28/12 8:41pm)
The Mercer Bears’ softball team is doing quite well as of late behind some stellar play from Bears all over the diamond. However, the Bears have begun to rely on freshman Jessica Holsinger for some pitching magic every time she gets on the mound.
The Bears are currently at 19-13, but without Holsinger’s play, they would be a paltry 10-11. Her 9-2 record in 16 appearances speaks for itself, but she also has 72 strikeouts to show she doesn’t just rely on her teammates to make plays, because she can take hitters down on her pitching alone.
Amazingly, this girl is an underdog story. The Bears can thank the coach who put her down years ago as part of her inspiration. When asked for what it means to her to be playing Division I softball at Mercer, she said “It means a ton. I’ve been dreaming of playing ever since I was a little girl. When I was younger, I was even told by a college coach that I would never pitch Division I softball. That motivated me, and I not only worked to prove her wrong, but I worked to prove that my dreams could come true. It’s a great experience to share with my teammates knowing that they share the same dream and desire that I do!” Obviously, she is playing and playing well.
In order to play well, Holsinger has little things that she does to keep her head up during the game and playing at that high level necessary. When asked about pregame rituals, Holsinger said that “depending on the team we play, I write the ‘word of the day’ on my wrist for every game day. These are words like focus, dominate, and represent. Also, I have quotes written in my glove for when I need a reminder if I’m down while pitching.” These have worked well so far.
Of course, 19-13 reflects more of a non-conference tilt because they have just begun Atlantic Sun play. However, Jessica is looking ahead to certain opponents more than others. “Well I heard Jacksonville and Lipscomb are really good, so it will definitely be a great challenge and test to see what we’ve been working at all season!”
Finally, Holsinger said that one person did inspire her to play as well as she could. Jessica has been playing at a high level for a long time. The Eagle, Idaho native won a state title and three district titles while lettering all four years and captaining three of them. However, she was inspired to this by her neighbor: “Well, the reason I started pitching was because of my next door neighbor Joni Cook. Joni got a full ride to the University of Utah. She’s been my role model ever since I was a little girl.”
All of this translates into a gameday atmosphere. Now, many gamedays are doubleheaders, so Jessica walks through her typical day:
“I go to breakfast in the cafeteria before my 9:00 AM New Testament class. Usually after that class we go to weights at 10:00 AM, but if it’s a game day, I make up my study hall hours at that time, for I have study hall at night and can’t make it when I’m pitching. After study hall, which is around 12:00 PM, I go to lunch with my teammates either in the cafeteria or at the UC food court. Then, I usually go to the training room to do treatment on my arm or fix any tweaks before my 2:00 PM psychology class. Usually, I leave that in a hurry to make it to my game to warm up on time. A doubleheader gameday is at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. When the game is over around 8:30 or 9:00 PM, the team goes to Moe’s Southwest Grill to eat and celebrate some hard-fought wins!”
(03/28/12 8:36pm)
Ebony Harris was recently named the new director of the Macon Children’s Promise Neighborhood initiative. This one year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education is the only one of its kind in the entire southeast U.S., and it is one of just 15 across the country. The more local Peyton Anderson Foundation is also funding the project with $150,000.
A well-known child advocate, Harris will oversee the Children’s Promise Neighborhood Partnership project. As director, she will be the connecting piece between the three dozen agencies and partners in the Middle Georgia community that are involved in the initiative. The program is designed to improve student achievement in Macon. More specificially, it will target Unionville and Tindall Heights, which are home to Ingram-Pye Elementary School, Hartley Elementary School, Ballard-Hudson Middle School and Southwest High School.
Along with serving as the true liaison for the project, she will be fine-tuning the program as Macon applies for the full program. In this, she will better shape and target the initiative’s grant objectives and collect any data that will help Macon ready their application. The full Children’s Promise Neighborhood grant can see Macon get $6 million per year for the next five years in order to help Unionville and Tindall Heights youths succeed.
Mercer University is the fiscal agent for this program, making sure things run smoothly financially. Mayor Robert Reichert and Bibb County Commission Chair Sam Hart started planning for this moment two years ago. “Ebony brings the appropriate experience and enthusiasm to an exciting effort in our community. We are pleased that she has chosen to lead a team of diverse and excited community participants,” Hart said.
“This initiative will bring much-needed support and services to the children and families of Tindall Heights and Unionville neighborhoods,” Harris said, showing her excitement to tackle the issues that are stopping children from achieving in both Unionville and Tindall Heights. She began work on February 27.
Harris previously served with Georgia’s Independent Living Program as the program director. That was under the Department of Human Services. She has experience in managing federal programs, because under her tenure as program director there, the program was successful in implementing the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. It is focused on ensuring the successful matriculation to being adults for kids in foster care services.
There will be a 26 member advisory council that is made up of a variety of people under Harris. Included in this are seven publically elected officials from Central South Macon and three more residential leaders. They will attempt to create more successful environments for the 2,067 students enrolled in the four schools. These neighborhoods have 88.1 percent of their residents under the poverty line. 48.2 percent of the district’s adults lack a high school diploma.
If successful and a recipient of the full implementation of the program, Macon Children’s Promise Neighborhood will expand to the children in Bloomfield as well. The variety of leaders under Harris will also formulate plans as to expand their directive in other ways.