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(04/25/12 7:39pm)
After driving from California, I stayed in bed for a week crying while coping with the reality I did not reenlist in the United States Marine Corps. I felt as though a longtime friend died, and I never had the chance to say goodbye. I remorsed over the friendships I knew would eventually drift apart, the wonderful memories shared and the personal triumph that would now only remain enshrined in medals and accolades.
While Mercer University was a new experience in my life, the same sentimental feelings of loss surround me as graduation looms. Again, I realize the many relationships and people I have come to love will be moving on. Most of them will be moving on to fantastic new experiences as, admittedly, many of the class of 2012 are some of the most extraordinarily talented people I have ever met. Some will relocate to work in Washington D.C., attending graduate or law school, and entering exciting careers.
In a meaningless attempt to appease my ego, I convinced myself that the Marine Corps would crumble without me. Since I left, the war on terror continues, Osama Bin Laden has been killed and thousands of troops have been successfully deployed and returned from the front lines. To the say the least, both the Marine Corps and I have been fine since my departure.
Mercer University will also flourish after I, and the seniors, graduate. It is so exciting to see a football program come back to our campus. The new Center for Collaborative Journalism compliments the campus so well. The new apartments and bookstore have allowed student organizations to use the newly renovated Penfield Hall for events.
The major student organizations have also made tremendous strides since I came to Mercer. SGA has significantly improved Pilgrimage to Penfield, revitalized the Last Lecture Series and acted as a solid voice for the student body. The Cluster has become a powerful source of information for students to use. In the past, the student newspaper appeared mismanaged or neglected. Over the past three years, The Cluster has won more awards than I am able to appropriately name here.
This all points to a single conclusion, students can profoundly shape a university. Student dreams and ideas can accentuate the college experience of future students if those who really care about those ideas follow through on them. The Sex Trafficking Opposition Project (STOP) and the Local Engagement Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative are both great examples of this. The STOP conference led to the Macon City government passing legislation to make it tougher for brothels to pose as spas. LEAP pledged ten thousand hours of service dedicated to poverty prevention and alleviation. These programs were created during my college career and, hopefully, will continue after I am gone.
New students, however, have to carry those mantels that will be left by those who graduate. For those student organizations like The Cluster and SGA, it is much easier to find leaders for them because of their status on campus, but less visible organizations need leaders too. Both Mercer99 and Mercer Radio allow students to create and, for the most part, manage shows for anyone to listen to or watch. This is a grossly underused opportunity. This year, four of my best friends and I created a show called Young Puns where we talked for an hour about our favorite topics, mostly surrounding politics.
That experience was invaluable to my time at Mercer. We interviewed Newt Gingrich for goodness sakes. I admit, though, setting up the interview was much more exciting than the actual interview. While we had to overcome several obstacles to get the interview, I loved working hard with my best friends to accomplish something that was not for a grade.
That is the greatest lesson we hope to learn from college. The Christianity department might refer to it as a “calling.” In First Year Seminar, professors refer to it as a “vocation.” I was lucky enough to find mine here, a few really good friends, the love of my life and earned a degree along the way.
To those who are remaining, I hope you all take as many chances as I did. Do not graduate Mercer wishing you had done more. Dreams are the descendants of far-fetched ideas. Be passionate and never accept “no” as an answer. Get excited folks about where you are…you are going to miss this place one day.
(04/25/12 7:08pm)
After April 13, those who supported former Student Government Association Senators Dalton Turner and Justin Robinson for President and Vice President may have wondered how their candidates lost by almost two hundred votes (twenty percent of the electorate). After receiving the election demographics from the Registrar’s Office, the results show that the gap between Mollie Davis and Dalton Turner among female voters was key.
The Davis/Lovett ticket beat Turner and Robinson among women voters by 30 points. Davis/Lovett had amassed 319 female votes, while Turner/Robinson only won 168. If Turner would have narrowed the female vote, Davis would have won only by 30, or three percent of the entire electorate.
More specifically, white female voters chose Davis over Turner three to one. Davis won 75 percent of the largest voting block for SGA President with a total of 232 votes. Dalton captured only 77.
Back in February, Turner was leading significantly among white female voters when polls were taken. Turner led Davis by seven points because, by most estimations, he was favored by sororities on campus. The election results showed, however, that white sorority votes were an integral part of Davis winning.
Davis beat Turner by 50 points, as well, among white sorority voters. The Davis/Lovett ticket received one 146 votes while Turner only received 44 votes by white sorority members. This means that 46 percent of Davis’ total female votes came from sorority members.
Davis not only did well among females as 53 percent of males voted for her ticket. Turner, who in February led Davis by seven points in the polls among males, received 162 votes from male voters as the Davis/Lovett ticket received 181.
Again, Davis was favored heavily among white male voters. Her ticket had a 40 point difference over Turner’s ticket. Davis had a total of 129 votes from white males while only 85 white males voted for Turner.
While these numbers are somewhat different from February, they are not all that surprising. First, the Davis/Lovett ticket emphasized heavily on a name recognition campaign, at the start, to offset Turner’s perceived popularity. Couple that with a lackluster start by Turner’s campaign, the momentum began to shift.
Then, Davis created a platform that intrigued and flattered the student body.
While some questioned her ticket’s ability to accomplish the platform during her administration, most agreed that Turner’s platform was reactionary, mundane, and nothing to be excited about. Even Turner agreed that his platform may not be excited; his emphasis of the platform being “doable” apparently did not resonate well among voters.
One strategy that may have worked for Turner, however, was his Vice Presidential pick. Pundits of the election speculated Justin Robinson’s selection of vice president would help the ticket with the minority vote. This may have proven true as Turner led Davis among minority voters by ten points. Even among minority females, Turner edged out Davis by four votes.
Every other category, however, Davis dominated Turner. Many of the campaign strategies by Davis (including placing her banner facing Mary Erin Porter Hall) focused on winning the underclassmen vote. Her strategy was fruitful as she beat Turner by 24 points.
If SGA decides to keep the month long campaign, Davis’ model of campaigning will be utilized. She overcame what many had seen as insurmountable odds. Davis’ win also signifies that longer campaign seasons may also benefit candidates not associated with Greek life. Davis is the first SGA presidential winner in the last five years not from a social greek society.
(03/28/12 8:05pm)
With a bewildered sense of irritation, I look across the fore of who is running for office on the Student Government Association (SGA) and the field is stunning. Both the Senator-at-Large and Junior Senator positions only have enough candidates to actually fill the seats.
Surely the lure of political office and responsibility calls more of our Mercerians to serve than this? SGA provides multiple opportunities for students to add to their experience at college while providing a position of stature among peers.
As I gaze out into the spectrum of undergraduates at Mercer, I wonder if Mercer is cultivating a student body of apathetic followers, clueless complainers, or ill-informed children?
Mercer deserves better than this. SGA is responsible for a budget that consists of an amount exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars to allocate for student activity among student organizations.
That means everything from Pilgrimage to Penfield to the small social gatherings put on by organizations like the Mercer International Affairs Organization are overseen and funded by SGA. Yet such responsibility bestowed upon those who benefit from the same responsibility appear reluctant to take up the mantle.
To give specificity to the situation, I know most, if not all, of the candidates running this year.
While I applaud those who are running as they, at least, demonstrate the courage to put their name in public view and invite criticism. I must say that some of the candidates who are running lack the competency to give an oral presentation in a one hundred level general education class; it is even more frightening that these same candidates will automatically have the platform to speak whatever is on their mind in front of the Dean of Students and the rest of the student body. These ill-fitted candidates will represent Mercer and will do so because they will have had no democratic process to vet them.
The Senator-at-Large field should disappoint even the casual Mercer student. While I appreciate the dedication of Senators Melissa Thompson and Eric Ennuson, the rest of the field deserves no seat as they will most likely become a burden upon the legislative process and potentially embarrass the student body.
Senator Hudgins undeniably ran for the Senator-at-large position only as a political move because he knows he could not compete in the sophomore class.
In fact, last year he ranked as the bottom vote receiver in his class. Now, he will represent the student body without a vetting system. Of all the freshmen senators, his performance was near the bottom. Current Senator Hendricks won election under the junior senator banner in a special election because three senators left office. She, for the same political reasons as Senator Hudgins, will also run with no vetting system because of such a small field of candidates.
Lastly, Javon Denson is running again for a senator-at-large senate seat.
After watching all of the YouTube videos and interviews he has posted on the Internet, I can only decipher one constant theme…he has no clue what he is talking about. The nonsensical statements that he is spewing about why students should select him as their representative on SGA mirrors the same thought patterns he expresses in his academic classes…statements that mirror utter confusion and jumbled up television catchphrases that one hears and attempts to rearticulate to appear intelligent. These premises are irrelevant, however, because he will not be properly vetted by a democratic system.
Then again, maybe I have this all wrong. Last year Freshman Senator Akeme Ubom was elected not only a Freshman Senator, but he received the most votes from his class to make him the Freshman Class President.
While Senator Ubom is assuredly a nice person, he has been more disruptive to the democratic process while contributing little if anything to SGA. Almost every senate I would cringe when he would begin to speak as seemingly nothing remotely digestible would exist in his statements.
His demeanor and decorum was even less appreciable as he would often completely disregard the rules in which SGA governs itself. SGA is a serious body and it requires serious students to participate within it.
I chuck these sorts of mishaps up to the fact that freshmen are at the greatest disadvantage when it comes to electing their representatives. Freshmen elect their classmate with only a month to meet many of them and then a week to decide which stranger is best. That election usually boils down to which candidates shook the most hands and gave out the best candy.
With all this loom and gloom for next year, great certainty appears that all of the students at Mercer will be encouraged to vote. The lack of student voter turnout may have little to do with the amount of time to vote or election place.
Pretty much any student can vote if they have access to a computer (All Mercer students have access to computers in the library), and now students will have an entire week to vote. Students at Mercer do not vote because there is nothing to encourage them to vote.
Comments, questions or concerns about this opinion can be sent to donald.e.mitchell@live.mercer.edu
(03/23/12 5:40pm)
The only person that should be thankful the presidential election period has been extended is Sophomore Senator Dalton Turner. Senator Turner was perceived undoubtedly as the hands on favorite to win the SGA presidential race, but someone forgot to tell fellow Sophomore Senator Mollie Davis that. Turner’s front-runner style campaign has allowed Davis to land the first blow in the race. In the first week of a month-long campaign, Davis has flooded the market with her brand on Facebook, YouTube and campus by pushing her message that she and running mate Josh Lovett are the “passionate leadership” that is needed to head SGA next year.
It is evident early on that Davis has constructed a well-organized campaign staff. Davis’ amazing specificity and ingenuity in her platform gives off the persona of an innovative leader, while Turner’s platform resembles a remake of the issues that former president Trenton White ran on. Davis and Turner spoke on Young Puns recently about why they both want to become president. Stunningly, Davis gave crisp talking points while Turner seemed to respond on the fly. These early stumbles may prove costly to Turner later on if he cannot respond in the second week of the campaign season.
Turner has made a costly mistake by allowing Davis to shape the narrative. Whatever name recognition he initially had may possibly be erased by Davis’ early campaigning. Her campaign has no doubt outworked him in the early going. She has surrounded herself with serious students like Emily Halstead, Senator Bentley Hudgins, Senator Thornton Brewer and many others who are providing more than making a status update and changing profile pictures. Davis has made it apparent that if she is going to lose this race it will not have been because Turner outworked her.
Both candidates, however, have much ground to make up. In years past, presidential candidates needed to heavily pander to the underclassmen and social Greek societies as those students were most likely to vote. In this election, however, all students need persuading as the polls for election will be open an entire week. This may prove logistically important for Senator Davis as her team is at a disadvantage when it comes to access to on campus students. Senator Turner’s running mate, Junior Senator Justin Robinson, is a Resident Advisor (RA). An RA is authorized to enter any on campus dorm at any time of the day. Senator Davis must have an escort to enter any hall on campus. This logistical advantage by Turner could prove critical for meeting potential voters in the campaign.
An even larger hurdle Davis must overcome is the minority issue. In a recent poll conducted, minorities were more likely to vote for a minority candidate for president than a white candidate. With Senator Robinson on Turner’s ticket, Davis and Lovett will have to explain why minority students should vote for an all-white ticket.
The major aspect both campaigns seem to be missing, however, is the fact that senatorial races are running in conjunction with the presidential race. Both Turner and Davis should be vying for endorsements by likely winners of the senatorial races. If managed properly, either campaign could connect their candidacy with another well-liked student who could sway more votes for the presidential race. Sharpe Sablon, for example, is a soccer player running for senior senator. Mollie and Dalton should seek Sharpe’s endorsement to attract the athlete vote. No doubt basketball players know Turner because he announces at the games, but if Sharpe endorsed Mollie that could pull student athlete votes to her side. In any case, the candidate who has planned the best for the longer campaign season should win this race. As it appears right now, Mollie may have a slight edge of Dalton. Do not think for one second, though, that he has not noticed.
(02/20/12 1:44am)
According to a recent poll conducted by “Young Puns”, a political commentary show on MERCER 99, and The Cluster, Sophomore Senator Dalton Turner currently leads fellow Sophomore Senator Mollie Davis by six percent as a potential SGA presidential candidate. The poll was conducted between Feb. 2 and Feb. 14, and its full results show Turner receiving 34 percent, Davis receiving 28 percent, Junior Senator Khoi Le receiving 15 percent and Junior Senator Austin Thompson and Freshman Senator Akeme Ubom rounding out the poll with eleven percent.
Senator Turner’s strongest support comes from underclassmen. In the Young Puns/The Cluster Poll (YPP), Turner was supported by 48 percent of the underclassmen participants, and Davis came in a distant second with 18 percent support from underclassmen participants.
This may prove vital for the upcoming election as more underclassmen live on campus than any other age group. Since voting for president occurs currently on one day only and only one poll is opened from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Connell Student Center, a strong correlation can be made that underclassmen are more likely to vote than upperclassmen.
In gender groups, Turner also performed well among female participants as 38 percent of the group chose Turner. He performed particularly well among female white voters, who supported Turner with 44 percent. Davis also performed well among females, gaining the second highest support with 32 percent. Turner also has more support with males as he received 30 percent to Davis’ 23 percent from male participants in the poll.
Similarly, Turner performed well with white voters. Turner received 43 percent of students who recognized themselves as white, while Davis received 36 percent. No other candidate received more than eight percent of the remaining vote among white students.
While none of the candidates in this poll have formally announced their candidacy for SGA President, they are widely recognized as candidates who may seriously run for office. No one will know for sure who is running until qualification day.
(01/25/12 9:44pm)
Cherry Street in downtown Macon boasts several local bars and eateries with great variety for patrons to enjoy. A new and hip place, located at the end of Cherry Street, has recently opened up to attract college students and young locals. As most businesses in Macon, Bearfoot Tavern and its staff utilize an aura that mimics our own of Mercer University, with matching decorative colors and staff dressing patterns.
For those searching for a good bar be forewarned that Bearfoot Tavern possesses little of the qualities you seek. While the tavern gives off an atmosphere of a sports bar with a daunting amount of televisions (I counted almost 30) I could not help but feel a sense of personal attachment to my guest. A bar’s atmosphere never gives off that sensation. A small bar at Bearfoot Tavern is open to the public, but most seating takes place in booths with personal television and quaint lighting. That is where the magic happens. American society has become enamored with television, and since I was with two ladies, the personal choice of what to watch became short comedies on Fox. A sports bar would never give such freedom! Just as easily, however, if I went instead with a group of my buddies we could have chosen any game we wanted to watch. For these personalized reasons, Bearfoot Tavern provides a location for a wide variety of guests ranging from meetups, first time dates, to the boys (and girls) starting a night out adventure.
Atmosphere: Cozy and Diverse
I have been critical of some places in the past for poor menu presentation. Unfortunately, Bearfoot Tavern is no exception. While diversity of menu is important, I cannot emphasize how important it is to patrons that we be able to have a visual experience with a menu. The management at Bearfoot Tavern, like many other restaurants, should cut out the long explanations of their meals and train the staff to explain what each item on the menu consists of. This lowers frustration and confusion within the customer’s choice encourages engagement with the staff. This is why I always ask staff waiters to suggest which meal I should enjoy to see if they know anything about their menu. Lucky for me, my lovely waitress suggested a meal called the “Double Dip Frenchy.” I will speak more to that later. The point to be taken here is that the management and staff are working very hard to build strong rapport with its customers. It just needs to make a simpler menu for the customers.
Management: Hard working and Enthusiastic
To start off the night, my guests and I enjoyed a home blend of chili served over tater tots. Any good Georgian will tell you that both of these foods are staples in the Southern diet. Together, they are virtually unstoppable. The chef serves up the dish with green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. A little sour cream would not have hurt, but I’m sure I could have received sour cream had I asked. Now, I have eaten some good sandwiches in my day, and then last night I had the “Double Dip Frenchy”. Simplicity often times trumps complexity, and this dish is no exception. What seemed like an endless amount of Roast beef on a French baguette with a slice of cheese served au jus. The flexibility of the baguette complimented the manner in which to dip the sandwich while the tenderness of the roast beef amazed my taste buds. I chose, unusually, to compliment the meal with salty steak fries that went well with the dipping sauce (no ketchup necessary). Alongside this fabulous meal was a well rounded, diverse drink selection. Some local creations like the “Bearfoot Black and Orange” which consists of Guinness draught and Shock Top. So if a local meal and home brew is what you are looking for…head down to Bearfoot Tavern with me as I will surely be back.
Food: Unique and Exciting
(12/12/11 5:42pm)
To all of my loyal readers, I apologize for my column’s absence over the past two months. I am very excited to again critique restaurants to better inform Mercer’s student body about where they should (or should not) choose to dine. To herald Check, Please! back to The Cluster I chose a restaurant located outside of Macon to show a model of a well designed and easy to enjoy restaurant looks like. Secondly, I am using Sal Grosso, located at 1927 Powers Ferry Rd SE, Atlanta, Ga. for one specific reason: This was the restaurant that I took my girlfriend to for our one year anniversary. While Sal Grosso definitely holds a place in my heart, I had high expectations for the product. To say the least, it did not disappoint.
Sal Grosso appeals to a wide variety of audiences. With a seductive and luring aura, both couples and large groups can equally enjoy the location. Rooms are separated with small tables for small groups or couples while larger tables have been placed in the back to isolate sound and the appearance of feeling overcrowded. To enhance everyone’s experience, Sal Grosso uses dark ambience with fall colors to dim and slow the area. Lighting becomes crucial to the experience as all tables have hand lit candles to focus the customers on who they are with and shielding out other possible distractions. The feeling of a quaint getaway overcomes any strong distraction that compliments the experience at Sal Grosso.
Atmosphere: Quaint and Romantic
Sal Grosso, by its own definition, is a traditional Brazilian Steakhouse. This means that ordering food is limited to wine selection and drinks. Selection of food, however, is much broader. At their leisure, customers are allowed to select from a well constructed salad and hot bar consisting of many traditional Brazilian side dishes. My particular favorite is the combination of white rice and black beans with beef tips and pork sausage. Those accommodations appear irrelevant to the selection of the main courses. I use the term “courses” because throughout the evening a number of gauchos, or Southern Brazilian Cowboys, will bring several cuts of meat for selection. Do not worry about choice because customers can choose all! Everything from filet mignon (wrapped and unwrapped in Bacon) to swordfish comes from the back to the choice of the customer. A card system alerts the gauchos as to whether they should bring more food or continue to the next customer. This system completely eradicates any potential feeling of buyer’s remorse which can prove essential to luring back any customer.
A special note about the hostess; while she did not have an exact knowledge about the wine selection at Sal Grosso (she admitted her status as a new employee), she selected a very nice pinot noir to compliment our meal. Despite her newbie status, her intellect to allow us to choose from two wines that fit our desires was well played. An intelligent staff will usually overcome any shortcomings the restaurant may have.
Management: Savvy and Unique
Lastly, a food critique must say something about the food quality of a restaurant to have a complete stance. Despite the wide selection of various meats and dishes, the words succulent and impressive come to mind. A connoisseur on beef, with any real appreciation for the art of cooking meet, understands that a chef relies little on sauces like A-1 and ketchup when creating a multitude of masterpieces like that Sal Grosso offers. Every cut of steak portrayed the kind of tenderness usually only reserved for the love of children from their mothers. Likewise, the delightful and exotic swordfish gave both my date and me a jolt of excitement and a mouthful of heaven. Everything in between that I chose did not disappoint as I cannot remember any of them. This relates back into the ingenious idea of eradicating buyer’s remorse that I talk about above in my management section.
Food Quality: Artful and exquisite
As I have stated in my previous articles (and to anyone who will listen in person), restaurants should be judged in comparison to all others as not all restaurants, like movies, have the same ambitions. Some wish to merely provide a fast product to those on the go while others seek the approval of the highest critics in the land. Sal Grosso definitely aims towards the latter. While the price range of Sal Grosso may deter some customers, please understand that Sal Grosso wishes to not have daily returning customers, but customers that rely on their restaurant for special occasions. This explains their hours of operations, prices, and expectations of excellence. So if you decide to take a trip to Atlanta for a special evening or weekend please consider stopping at Sal Grosso to enjoy a meal worth remembering.
Overall: Memorable
(09/21/11 10:38pm)
Downtown Macon has opened up its heart and shown the world how hard work and creativity makes a restaurant successful. This week I explored the back alleys of downtown to find the hidden treasures that await in a little restaurant (located at 574 Mulberry Street) called Tokyo Alley.
Atmosphere
The hidden restaurant uses the back alley location to its advantage by presenting the authenticity of an authentic Asian restaurant located in the background of a metropolitan city ranging from Bangkok to Singapore. Upon entering the quaint little restaurant, simple lighting techniques and creative decoration transforms the one-room dining hall into an 18th century Geisha house. The building structure compliments the small space as many patrons sit close together without ever hearing other tables’ conversations, as an echo does not exist in this magical escape from Americana. Tokyo Alley also offers a hidden room dining area that only fits one table. The versatility of Tokyo Alley’s atmosphere should allure anyone searching for an exotic getaway as well as the ten-and- up party who looks to fill a room.
Rating: Creative and Copasetic
Food
As with most traditional Japanese dinners, the night started off with egg drop soup. The chef decided it was appropriate to thicken the broth to really engrain the taste in your mind. The mix of chicken broth with green onion always warms my appetite. Following the soup, shumai sausage dumplings definitely ruled the night. The shumai dumplings are a cornerstone for most Asian cuisines and they did not disappoint. Crispy on the outside, with the sincere flavoring of pork sausage on the inside, will give anyone’s taste buds an experience that even the most pretentious eaters will appreciate. It was funny, though, how small the shumai dumpling size was, in comparison to the plate-filling teriyaki steak that followed for the main entre.
I laughed hysterically (to amazement of my fellow guests) as everyone at my table stared at the overbearing size of the steak. As always, the steak was served medium rare to measure the quality of the beef. The teriyaki marinade was genuine, and the serving was much appreciated, but when someone orders medium rare, that does not mean the steak should come out rare. I enjoy both, but for preparation purposes a chef must pay attention to what the customer wants. Otherwise, why ask how someone wants his steak prepared in the first place? Aside from that, the crunchy vegetable medley and steamed rice blended quite nicely with the steak. The only suggestion I give is to call for a better presentation. Appearance matters almost as much as smell. The little extra attention helps.
Rating: Plentiful and Affordable
Management
The management at Tokyo Alley run a tight ship. Do not ask for substitutions from the menu because no exceptions will be made! Patrons can add to their meals but cannot swap. A good friend of mine learned that during the meal. This consistency, however, is a good thing for a restaurant to have. Taking that into account, patrons should know the answer to that question before asking, as the menu at Tokyo Alley is very easy to use and read. The only caution I give to those who enjoy spirits: the rule is to bring your own beer. So while Tokyo Alley does not prevent patrons from drinking at their establishment, they do not, however, provide alcohol. The service of the waitress was expeditious, and after some coaxing, quite pleasant and conversational. The small staff knew every question there was to be had and every desire was met.
Rating: Top Notch and Slightly Militaristic
Overall
The management has established a very well-run restaurant at Tokyo Alley. The ambience and treatment of patrons makes other restaurants appear amateur. The food quality, unfortunately, needs reconsideration. Not to the degree that ends a chef’s tenure, but enough that those who aspire for greatness on a plate should seek elsewhere. Overall, the kitchen has it right. Tokyo Alley provides enough food to leave a person satisfied, but the kitchen needs to search for the same amazement their shumai has in other dishes. If Tokyo Alley’s management were to allow its kitchen to explore the dreams and possibilities of its very simple menu, Tokyo Alley could easily place itself as a serious restaurant among the heavyweights.
Rating: An enjoyable one-time experience
(09/07/11 11:04pm)
In the Northwest side of Macon, at 1693 Bass Road, a charming Italian restaurant named Mirko’s Pasta serves up self-proclaimed authentic Italian dishes to those who wish to experience Italy through their taste buds. I must profess, having visited Mirko’s previously gave me high hopes for my first review, but I remained skeptical to hopefully point out a few improvements that even Mirko may have missed.
Atmosphere: Romantic and Inviting
Immediately upon entering Mirko’s, the smell from the open kitchen fuels the hunger of even a casual diner. The low Italian serenading music coupled with dim lights gives the perception of romance and authenticity. Mirko’s daringly allows their chefs, professionally dressed, to display their talents that only the most confident chef would allow. This sets the customer up subconsciously to believe their food is real, genuine, and professional. All of these things create a positive expectation which, in turn, could determine the difference between a good meal and a great one.
Food Quality: Daring and Dynamic
All three dishes had visually stimulating appearance. The salad was not emphasized by quantity but its attempt at quality. One should be cautioned, however, as the chef overcompensated for the amount of lettuce with a massive amount of balsamic dressing. If you can’t taste the crisp and crunchiness of lettuce, then the dish should not have the title “salad” but coleslaw.
The fried squid and zucchini with a spicy marina sauce redeemed the experience dramatically. Aside from the slight overcooking of the calamari (you can tell calamari is overcooked when it tastes rubbery), the delightful spice of the marinara sauce on the golden flakes of batter took over the mounting saltiness of the salad. Even the batter amazed my fingers, as I never feared separating the squid from the batter. This afforded me time to focus more on my friends, and less on my insecurities of eating fried food.
The main entre told me all I needed to know about Mirko’s strongest suit: pasta. Choosing my least favorite Italian dish, lasagna verde, to measure the versatility of the chef, I left proud. For the first time in America, I can congratulate a chef for securing a special place in my heart for setting the standard of what pasta should taste like. The freshness of the pasta (probably made that morning) allowed for the rigorous cooking rituals that lasagna requires (boiling, baking, etc). Take into account how much care beef needs, and the drama queen of food: cheese, this dish can easily turn into any chef’s nightmare. Despite the pasty taste the beef had, the pasta, variety of cheesiness, and overall mesh of the dish gave my mouth nostalgia the next day when I sat eating my own dinner.
Management: Experts needed
Unfortunately, the aforementioned categories of Mirko’s have the strongest holds in this critique. First, Mirko needs to decide whether or not the restaurant is fast food or a sit down because the jury appears to be out. Don’t take the time to set up beautiful scenery of wheat and pasta displays, low light, great smells and authentic music only to have it clouded by a cheap fountain drink station in the front that cannot be missed. I have a problem as well with forcing patrons to decide on what they want to eat before seating; it again sends mixed signals of identity. This mentality spills over to the kitchen and waitressing. I sit, having already ordered an appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert, and have both my salad and appetizer delivered simultaneously. This does not make sense to a patron who has come to enjoy a long, traditional Italian meal (which Mirko promises).
My final quam with Mirko is that as an Italian food addict, I know that every meal should be accompanied by a suggestion for a glass of wine. The simple truth at Mirko’s is that the staff does not. Do not ask someone if they prefer a glass of wine knowing nothing of wine. When an owner requires its patrons to have extensive knowledge of what they should order, the owner should expect first-time visitors to not return often. Luckily, this little mistake can have huge turnaround after one or two training sessions with the small, friendly staff.
Overall: A Must Visit
Instinctively, I understand that I am always harder on Italian restaurants than others because of my passion for the food. Likewise, that maintains my reasoning for the stiff criticism of Mirko’s management: because it has the essentials of a great restaurant. For too long dining out has taken the role of the warm-up to other events. Dining out should be the main event, not the appetizer. Italians are famous for their long dinners and their wholesome dining-out experiences filled with wine, multiple meals, and storytelling. If these are things you are looking for, then join me the next time I head to Mirko’s, as I will be returning many times in the future.
(08/18/11 9:08pm)
When I critique a restaurant, I take into account much more than meal quality. Every aspect must have consideration. Seating arrangements, for instance, and how much light enters an establishment can ruin a perfect meal. When I dine I usually go with many of my friends. My friends and I are loud and will always enjoy ourselves. Assuming the establishment is a nice restaurant and not a bar, we probably will ruin everyone else’s meal if we have seating in the middle of the restaurant. Our seating should be in the corner instead. Without trying to suppress exceptionality, a food critic should understand that the entire dining experience, not just the food, goes into a critique.
In today’s hustle and bustle lifestyle in America, establishments that provide the most for the cheapest are considered the best. Around the world, America is known for its fast food chains like McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken. American Chefs have much more to offer than what these processed giants give. The Fast food business model has controlled, and dulled, food quality and the dining out experience. For this reason, I invite readers to follow along as I seek out the truly best restaurants here in Macon.
For far too long, the quantity of food, not the quality of the dining experience, has controlled how our society determines a good restaurant. The tide seems to be changing. The New York Times reported in 2009 that fast food is losing stock shares to trending local eateries that provide more expensive dishes with higher quality food. This shows promise as Americans look to fill their hunger for enjoyment, not just their hunger for food.
In this column, expect a full critique of a restaurant’s atmosphere, food selection and quality, and overall management. These three areas will have their own ratings to provide a well rounded picture of not only the quality of the restaurant, but what type of restaurant the establishment seems to be developing towards. Restaurants, just like people, change according to what they want to become. Likewise, they should be judged that way. I will not give a restaurant an overall “star” or “Bear Claw” rating, but I will give my own personal sentiment about the restaurant and whether I will return. This way, we can focus on the critiques on the restaurants and less on arbitrary scales.
As wonderful we all think food chains are; this column will share no analysis on them. There is no magic in their kitchens and even less in their dining areas. They have been created for the glutton and not for those who cherish taste and relish in the idea of gathering around a good meal with friends and family. I will base my critiques around that sentiment every time I walk into a restaurant and begin. If I do not have a good time then no one else will, plain and simple.
I always encourage my readers to weigh in on any topic that I write on. I accept comments more so than ever because of how delicate this column will become. For those reading with a weak stomach, please understand the intent of this column is not to hurt but enlighten. This column will not seek the worst in a restaurant but how they can improve. I take into account that this topic is not just about food but about people. A bad restaurant will do all it can to close just as a good one will do the opposite. I will not, however, attempt to provide a path for either establishment but attempt to recognize which way one is going. Remember, great chefs look for criticism. They strive for deliciousness and can only find out through the words of the eater. Think of this column as your chance to give back to those who cook.
(04/27/11 11:46pm)
Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts has implemented a unique experience for undergraduates to display their research for colleagues and professors to recognize. The students who presented at the new Breakthroughs in Engagement, Arts, and Research (BEAR) Day, which took place two weeks ago, really showed how impressive Mercer students are at research.
All day long students could visit panels addressing a wide variety of topics, ranging from research on languages to children’s transitions from orphanages and even local Macon outreach projects. BEAR Day even allowed different modes of expression by students presenting orally, with or without media, or a poster display in the University Center.
Based on the four panel presentations I attended, Mercer CLA students demonstrated how well Mercer University prepares undergraduates for research and analysis. I was especially impressed with my fellow colleagues’ ability to convey their research in a timely manner that was understandable to an audience that may not have any familiarity with the research topic.
To further continue my accolades for the event, CLA and Dean Lake Lambert made a great decision to cancel class to allow students to attend some of the panels throughout the entire day. The decision to cancel class allowed for a great turnout as every panel I visited had no less than fifteen students in the audience listening and engaging in the questioning period. Even the keynote speaker held a large, well represented audience.
The only critique I have of BEAR Day experience came with the feedback given to the presentations — or should I say lack of feedback. The only feedback given was who the winners were and who the winners were not. This, unfortunately, gave the impression to many students that their presentations were not sufficient for criticism.
Only those who were awarded received feedback on their work. Many students were left wondering why their research and presentations did not win or what they needed to work on. If Mercer University wants BEAR Day to become a successful event in the future, the faculty must reconcile this problem. Students need feedback to better their research, further their work and understand their mistakes and accomplishments.
Maybe a BEAR Week would provide the remedy. Instead of presenting every project and poster in five hours, allow several rounds of presentations and critical rounds. More time will enhance the experience. This way not every school has to close down for an entire day and not all presentations have to be presented in a concentrated time.
Instead, a block system would provide a number of panels to present. Then, after all participants have presented on the final day of the week, the selected top presenters can present again in front of a much wider academic audience. This will provide more feedback, more analysis and a more thorough experience for all Mercer students. This year’s BEAR Day, though, was a great step in the right direction.
Not everyone, it seems, thought BEAR Day was important enough to allow students to participate. Several students and faculty stated that Mercer University’s Business School, among others, declined to cancel class. This left students taking classes at the Business School, who may have wanted to attend, with the threat of penalization for missing class or participating and supporting their fellow students at BEAR Day. This projected the message that BEAR Day, and student research, is not important to the Business School. This decision to not cancel class points to a serious problem: either we, as a university, support one another or we do not.
No matter what the logic or reasoning, the Business School’s actions show that it does not wish to support other entities on campus. This shows a serious divide that should not exist on our campus. All of Mercer’s colleges benefit from other colleges excelling at what they do. Many students who major in political science take entry-level courses in economics, engineering students take classes in science and foreign languages, and so on and so forth.
Why do students take a wide variety of classes? Because we believe that a liberal education with a wide range of learning experiences enhances our collegiate experience. To interpret my understanding, Mercer University does not consist of several colleges but several colleges belong to Mercer University. This lack of apparent willingness to collaborate shows either a lack of leadership at a high level or unwillingness to work with others.
Those who made the decision to not join in the CLA’s decision to afford all students the opportunity to participate on BEAR Day clearly did not think about this perception. That is unfortunate and only shows yet another reason why Mercer must create things like the new Lyceum to encourage people to work together.
Comments on this opinion can be sent to donald.e.mitchell@live.mercer.edu
(04/27/11 11:45pm)
As our school year wraps up, the mixed martial arts world delivers with what could turn into the fight of year. On April 30, the reigning Welterweight Champion, Georges Saint-Pierre, will take on Jake Shields at UFC 129 in the champ’s home country, Canada.
No one doubts St-Pierre’s power and takedown abilities, but his opponent this Saturday could pose a serious threat to Pierre’s rule over the Welterweight division. Shield’s wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu pedigree surpasses even the likes of B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch (both of which have given Pierre trouble in the past).
Pierre has developed a remarkable takedown despite never wrestling outside of mixed martial arts. His striking skills have not been seen lately, and if he is unable to revive his former self he may well see Shields walking around with his belt. Even though Pierre may possess a great takedown he does not possess a great takedown defense. He will need all three this weekend to defeat Shields.
The co-main event also has title implications as the Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo takes on Canadian Mark Hominick. Hominick is coming off a victory over tough opponent George Roop and looks to attempt do something no one has done in six years; defeat Jose Aldo. Aldo dominated the weight class in World Extreme Cagefighting by defeating the likes of Urijiah Faber, Mike Brown, and Manny Gamburyan. If the past shows any insight to the future, this fight will show the same result as Aldo still appears unstoppable. Hominick’s only hope is that Aldo’s seven month layoff will slow down the champion.
The most interesting fight of the night belongs between Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida. Couture, who still defies time and gravity, looks to fight one of the premiere fighters of the light-heavyweight division. Couture, which turns forty-eight this year, will be competing against a much younger and quicker Machida. Couture will need to utilize his Greco-Roman expertise to slow down the pace and lengthen the match in time and shorten the distance of the cage. If not then fans could see Couture retire after Saturday.
The interesting part of the fight, though, comes not from the match but the reasoning of why this fight needs to happen. Machida gains from this only if he wins but marginally. Couture gains no historic placement from this fight as his status as legend seems secure enough. Why would the UFC put this fight together? Machida certainly would not deserve a title shot after this fight and Couture realistically cannot think he can make another run for the title. Pierre and Aldo are both big enough names to pull in a large viewing for the event and the promotion did not need heavy names like these to help with revenue. This match up seems more of an itch that someone needed to scratch than anything else.
The greatest part of UFC 129 is that six of the eleven fights on the card will air free of charge. Four will air on Facebook and the other two will air on SpikeTV. The UFC apparently received more revenue from fans wanting to see more from the social media free views and it looks to add to that promotion.
UFC 129 Predictions
Georges St-Pierre V. Jake Shields R3 Submission
Jose Aldo v. Mark Hominick R2 TKO
Vladimir Matyushenko v. Jason Brilz R3 Majority Decision
Randy Couture v. Lyoto Machida R3 Unanimous Decision
Mark Bocek v. Ben Henderson R3 Unanimous Decison
(03/30/11 11:21pm)
MMA who the pound-for- pound fighter in the world is and debate over who claims the top spot becomes immediate. The group begins to squabble over which weight class holds more competition and which title holder seems impossible to defeat.
After Mauricio Rua’s devastating loss to Jon Jones last week, the top 10 spots for best fighter in the world took an entirely different look. I take it upon myself to give our school its first top 10 listing for pound-for-pound best MMA fighters in the world. Before reading the list, readers, understand I do not base my choices from some arbitrary formula to give them scientific proof, nor did the picks’ fighting record determine their placement. Although I mention their records, most of the evidence given comes from who I actually think would win if every fighter fought at the same weight. With that in mind let’s start the list:
10. Mauricio Rua (19-5)
Even though Rua lost in devastating fashion last week, that does not mean his “ability” has fallen. Jones no doubt proved himself as a competent fighter but Rua still poses a serious threat to any opponent. Until last week Rua had never been stopped via strikes and only lost one other time by submission. One could even argue that he was robbed out of a decision against Lyoto Machida. Combine that with that fact that Rua only wins by stoppage except for one other time in his career, he without question deserves to stay in the pound-for-pound spotlight.
9. Alistair Overheem (10-4)
Overheem gets little respect, for whatever reason, from the MMA world. The only plausible reason I see comes from the fact he fights in Strikeforce, home of Fedor Emelianenko. Emelianenko has regards as greatest fighter of all time, despite holding the belt, and that clouds Overheem’s amazing knockout power and brute strength and size. Few can doubt Overheem would put Emelianenko in serious trouble if the two fought. For this list, though, the Strikeforce brand weighs heavy on Overheem as he faces little real opposition.
8. Gray Maynard (10-0-1)
Maynard may, more than ever, be at the top of his game with his third installment against Frankie Edgar coming up. The split-decision draw coming in his last bout against Edgar infuriated him, so much so that Maynard probably sleeps in the gym. No doubt the “Bully” stands atop the lightweight division in the UFC and, rightly so, has a claim at the lofty belt.
7. Dominick Cruz (16-1)
No one can deny Dominick Cruz has defined the Bantamweight Championship with his past seven victories over serious competition in both the WEC and UFC. The only thing that stands in his way is the only blemish on his record: Urijiah Faber. If Cruz can reclaim that loss in dominating fashion many could argue Cruz has a shot at the pound-for-pound title. I am still pessimistic of that until he can move up in weight and fight someone stronger than him.
6. Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)
Edgar would have a stronger case had it not been for his two mishandlings of our number eight seat. Despite dominating B.J. Penn twice (who I think would destroy Maynard) Edgar had no “answer” for Maynard. Edgar will need to put a good showing against Maynard on the trilogy to maintain his spot on this list. Only his future reign as champion will move him forward.
5. Cain Velasquez (9-0)
First off, the man is undefeated in one of the toughest divisions in the world of MMA. When you have Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Congo, Carwin and many other top-notch monsters, the fact that Velasquez stands tall over them with an incredible undefeated record speaks volumes to how great a fighter he is. His next fight very well could be a rematch between the only man who may stand a chance to defeat him: the winner of the Ultimate Fighter Coaches Lesnar and Dos Santos.
4. Jose Aldo (17-1)
From this point any of these men have a top-ranked position on someone’s top 10 lists. Most would disagree with the decision to put Aldo third. I feel he needs to move up from his weight class and establish himself as a fighter who can transcend the lower weight classes. The smaller weight classes get too much credit as their weight does not make an impact as much as the higher ones do. That said, Aldo dominates any and all comers and does not look to slow down.
3. Jon Jones (13-1)
The only reason Jones has a loss on his record comes from the fact he beat up Matt Hamill too fast and got himself disqualified for a ridiculous rule. Without that Jones would hold the most coveted title in the UFC without a single loss. He dominates and amazingly does not seem to have any serious competition despite the stacked light heavyweight division. The great question now becomes how much money it will take for Anderson Silva to step into the octagon with him.
2. Anderson Silva (28-4)
The most controversial thing about the last two spots arises from the fact that theoretically the two men could fight. Their weight classes are close enough to where arrangements could be made. Unfortunately the longer time goes that reality seems less and less. The main reason I put Silva second is the same reason I put Pierre at number one: I do not think he can defeat Pierre. As amazing as he is, Silva will always be susceptible to takedowns and ground and pound. Pierre defeats him with the best shot in MMA.
1. Georges St. Pierre (21-2)
The most important aspect of fighting is winning. No one knows how to win better than Pierre. He does not always finish fights and he certainly does not always win decisively. What remains constant is his ability to win. He has reclaimed his honor from his only two losses and they were in deciding fashion. Even fights that were close (Penn) he redeemed them as well with deciding victories. No one can stop his takedowns, and no one seems to match his stand-up game either. The only thing that puts this placement in danger, of course, is his next opponent, but what kind of pound-for-pound fighter would Pierre be if he lost to the likes Jake Shields?
(03/16/11 3:21pm)
Imagine a man over six feet tall with lightning-fast kicks and punches and vicious wrestling combined with incredible jiu-jitsu. Scared, right? Now imagine him getting knocked unconscious by the soon-to-be crowned light heavyweight champion of the world. That’s what will happen this Saturday when champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua faces off against challenger Jon “Bones” Jones.
Not saying that Rua does not have the capacity to defend himself against Jones at UFC 128. “Shogun” has defeated the best in the business. Rua also hasn’t fought in over a year due to injury. Jones, meanwhile, over the past year tore through the light heavyweight division and destroyed everyone. “Bones” defeats opponents in superman-like fashion: beating wrestlers with wrestling and knocking out strikers. Even though victory seems obvious, do not expect Rua to put up a fight. Rua has lost legitimately just three times and won by decision only twice. Put plainly, the man knocks people out.
Along with this amazing headline, its co-main event looks to impress as well. The most promotable fighter in MMA, Urijiah Faber, makes his UFC debut. Faber, once touted as the greatest bantamweight fighter, looks to have his hands full with fellow former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland. Both men have amazing hands and tenacious grappling skills. This fight does not look to go the distance.
A personal favorite, Kamal Shalorus, will also be making his UFC debut against up-and-comer Jim Miller. Miller is coming off a big upset against Charles Oliviera and looks to continue his upsetting ways against undefeated Shalorus. Look for this fight to go the distance and test both men’s superior wrestling abilities.
Nate “the Great [Disappointment]” Marquardt will try to get back on the winning ways as he faces Jim Miller’s older brother, Dan Miller. Both Miller and Marquardt have had a wishy-washy two years and both men will go into this fight knowing this could be their final fights in the UFC. Both men have shown promise in the past, but the UFC does not tolerate losers.
The fight that will start off the night will be MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” versus Brendan Schaub. Not that every fight isn’t important to a fighter, but some are more crucial than others. “Cro Cop” hasn’t won against a legitimate opponent since 2006. His disappointing fight against Frank Mir turned many fans against him and now the only thing that may redeem him lies in the win column.
If anyone gains anything for the disposal of Filipovic, it definitely is Schaub. The former TUF competitor will have a serious victory over a big name in his young career. This will put him in the deep end of the very stacked heavyweight division.
No matter how any of these fights turn out, this card carries some serious must-see power. The UFC will follow its very successful UFC on Versus event with yet another big pay-per-view. This card will prove that the smartest decision of 2010 was to merge WEC with the UFC and add a bantamweight to the ranks.
UFC 128 Predictions:
Mauricio Rua v Jon Jones R2 KO
U. Faber v Eddie Wineland
R3 Submission
J. Miller v Kamal Shalorus R3 Decision
N. Marquardt v Dan Miller R3 Decision
M. Filipovic v B. Schaub R3 Decision
(03/16/11 8:44am)
College, unlike any other arena, creates a great environment for different ideas to develop beyond superficial grounding. Not just by reaffirmation but by active engagement with differing views.
A better understanding of opposing perspectives will inevitably strengthen a view, or do the believer an even greater service, by discrediting the flawed view or closing gaps that may exist. After seeing many discussions on our campus about serious issues one common trend proves worrisome more than anything else: arguing on the grounds of indisputable evidence.
As an adamant lover of debate nothing thrills more than the feeling of victory in heated discussion. Seeing a person disagree with passion and staunch belief raises the stakes for everyone involved; even the observers.
Generally two compliments always follow; “Gene, I completely agree with you” or “Gene, I disagree with you but you made a very compelling argument for your position”. The latter satisfies more than the former, and this is the premise on how I argue.
As a nation that requires debate and engagement will not sustain itself long if we do not have more compelling arguments. While I hear all of your “duhs” I give you my explanation of what this means. Thoughts of inevitability, indisputable, and absolute truth never cross my mind about anything.
Everything from politics to religion places itself for us to debate. Under no certain terms does any subject simply subside in the realm of certainty. Of course not everyone agrees with this and I embrace it with open arms as it only furthers my point.
The opposite of my understanding scares me. My life adheres to the “older I get the less I know”. Not everyone grows this way. Some seem know more and more! This benefits us compelling arguers as those who defend their views with undeniable, irrefutable evidence seem farther and farther from reality.
How can one be so certain about anything? Faith I have but certainty I do not. Its troublesome to find those who are certain for they seem to have much at stake; not in their position but in being wrong.
They seem actively engaged in cementing themselves in improvable truths and act to ensure the future holds their validity. They then turn to their “indisputable” evidence as the problem and not themselves. They lay the blame at the facts and say to the world “I’d accept and tolerate but unfortunately I am forbidden”.
These types differ greatly from us compelling arguers as the measure of their success lies in direct competition of their opponents. They see victory only in changing their opponents view and will not rest until their counterpart sees it their way.
This is where we compelling arguers have the advantage. A compelling argument understands that the opposing view will never change. Therefore, we look towards those who may not. The audience holds the key to our success.
While our staunch opponent holds firm in their improvable facts the compelling argument provides doubt, questions, and possibilities. What purpose do our ideas have if the only person receiving them is the arguer? The audience, for us, is far more valuable to us. The opposite can be said of our opponent.
What’s worrisome, though, is the staunch believer’s fervent audacity to see above all the rest of us. They seem to hold truths that none of us can ever understand and without an opponent they usually carry strong opinions that can move people.
People that take strong actions that attempt to make bad actions for humanity exist. With this in mind I encourage everyone to openly engage in debate and think. Never assume you have all the answers but always know there should be a question.
Comments on this opinion can be sent to donald.e.mitchell@live.mercer.edu
(02/23/11 9:15pm)
[caption id="attachment_1402" align="aligncenter" width="273" caption="(photo courtesy of www.technotrix.com) UFC 127's big fight of the night, Penn vs. Fitch, doesn't interest many outside the extreme fighting realm."]
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No one denies the card this Saturday for UFC 127 could potentially turn out great. The key ingredients to a great fight night certainly look present. The card has high profile fighters, a mixture of talent and various levels of hungry and established fighters. There seems to be only one problem that could make Saturday a must miss: no interest.
B.J. Penn, Michael Bisping and Jon Fitch all have huge fan support. Not that they all have equal talent and records, but their fans have legitimate reasons for watching them fight. Unfortunately, no one outside of those circles care about watching them fight each other. Starting all the way from the main card all the way down to the preliminaries none of the card’s fights have any spark beneath them.
The greatest example of this comes in the main event. B.J. Penn moves back up to the Welterweight division to take on most formidable opponent Jon Fitch. Penn could easily make a case for a title shot in the division with a win over Fitch. Fitch could make the same argument if he wins. Yet this fight, other than perverted curiosity, holds no emotional reasoning. Main event fights have huge implications and should always awe their audiences. The current Welterweight Champ, Georges St. Pierre, already must come to terms with upcoming opponent Jake Shields; if he wins he will fight for the legacy of “greatest of all time” against Anderson Silva, and Penn versus Fitch seems little more than irrelevant.
Michael Bisping also brings a huge British fan base. On several occasions, “The Count” seemed one fight away from finally getting a title shot. He never seems to capitalize on these opportunities and always needs a trail back to validity. His fight against aging fighter Jorge Rivera seems no different. This fight, in many ways, only advantages Rivera. If Rivera loses everyone would expect it but a win could catapult him into serious recognition and a payday down the road.
If a savior for the card seems to emerge it comes in George Sotiropoulos facing Denis Siver. Both men have torn through the lightweight division and both have amazing promise. Even though most see this as a stepping stone for Sotiropoulos’ championship contention, Siver can “turn on the switch” and deliver serious damage on the feet. Unfortunately, their names don’t carry the weight of a pay-per-view main event and so it falls down the latter.
All hope does not seem lost for real fighting fans. Exciting fighters such as Chris Lytle and Ross Pearson also fill out UFC 127. An indicator of how good this event is will come in whether or not Lytle wins “fight of the night” honors. Anytime Lytle did not receive the honor meant another fight on the card was of epic proportions. If this is the case on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 then the ultimate winner of UFC 127 will be the fans.
Predictions:
B.J. Penn v. Jon Fitch Decision R3
M. Bisping v. Jorge Rivera Decision R3
G. Sotiropoulos v. D. Siver Submission R2
(02/09/11 6:47pm)
A Mercer Christianity professor has been elected to serve on a bipartisan national task force dedicated to investigating Bush-era torture of war prisoners.
Dr. David Gushee, profesor of Christian ethics at Mercer University, was chosen as one of 12 experts nationwide to serve on The Constitution Project, a bipartisan task force formed in December to examine questions regarding the use of terror in America’s recent wars.
Ever since information arose in 2004 of detainee maltreatment and torture, the U.S. government has struggled with questions concerning legality and necessity of such measures to “win the war on terror.”
The task force has already begun holding discussions. According to the Constitution Project’s website, other members of the Task Force include Eleanor Hill, former Inspector General of the Department of Defense, and former Congressman Asa Hutchinson.
Gushee, author of several books on morality and religious ethics, stated that the task force would try to “pull together everything that is known to and with detainees and make recommendations to the President [of the United States] about where we should go from here.”
As an ethicist Dr. Gushee provides a unique perspective to the task force. Gushee pointed out that no one on the task has “tackled these issues from an ethical perspective.” All other members either come from a legal or military background.
Gushee believes that torture requires asking “what do we think about what happened” and “what should we do” about it in the future. Gushee feels that course of action “involves making moral judgments.”
Gushee uses this logic from his theological research for his book titled The Future of Faith in American Politics: the Public Witness of the Evangelical Center. He asserts that every person has a “fundamental right to human dignity.”
Gushee said he understands this right originates from the fact that “God has created…and redeemed the human being. Thus all humans have a sacred worth and must not be violated by torture,” he said.
Not everyone agrees with this assertion. Senator Michelle Bachman stated in 2010 that the blame of this action should lie at the feet of the radical terrorist.
Torture, according to Gushee, never comes justifiable as it violates “the responsibility to treat [detainees] with dignity, regardless of whether their behavior deserves such a response simply because of their status with God as humans.” Gushee cites both the Jewish and Christian faiths for his view on dignity.
Gushee suggests that the government should not think in absolutes about a specific aspect of what it is “supposed to do.”
“The common good is balanced against…the dignity of the person,” Gushee said.
The larger issue of addressing how to confront and win a “war of necessity” (that President Obama labeled the Afghani war) for Gushee “doesn’t mean you use any means necessary.” Torture doesn’t conform to Gushee’s parameters due to the “morally dangerous” precedent that it could set for future foreign policy.
Dr. Gushee seems more than happy to sit on the task force. His appointment doesn’t interfere “just yet” with his professorship at Mercer University’s School of Theology.
Once the pace picks up, Gushee says a reduced teaching load will help him take on the role. Until then he says he’ll “keep doing what [he’s] doing”.
Gushee earned his PhD in Christian Ethics from Union Theological Seminary in 1993. He also holds a Masters of Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity. Gushee completed his undergraduate work from the College of William and Mary.
(02/09/11 5:18am)
Ever stared at someone who wanted to physically hurt you for two minutes and then knock him out with a freakish Tae Kwon Do style front kick that mirrored the likes of old school video game Mortal Kombat? This isn’t a sick twist on a Chuck Norris joke but Steven Seagal had accolades given to him by Anderson Silva after displaying a resounding “yes” to my hypothesized question.
Silva again answered the world’s question of whether he holds the essence to greatness or fraud at UFC 126 when he stunned the crowd with a kick that can only hold the description of “freakish” or “something out of a video game” knocking supposedly tough opponent Vitor Belfort. After an intense staring contest Silva effortlessly projected the front kick that caught Belfort off-guard and down Belfort went.
This makes the upcoming Pierre-Shields championship fight all the more interesting. If Welterweight Champion can successfully defend against a tough opponent such as Shields then the makings of an epic clash between Pierre and Silva seems inevitable (and hopeful). The mma gods must convene to determine this as the world wants nothing more than to see that happen. Of course, the intelligently calculable UFC execs understand this and promote the likelihood of the two fighting only if Pierre wins to fans. This probably proves more false than not as fans usually get what they want; and even if Pierre loses to Shields he still gets a shot and Silva.
To add to all this chaos in the world of mma the next event headlines the return of B.J. Penn to the Welterweight division against elite fighter John Fitch. Fitch hasn’t loss since 2008 (to Pierre) and continually moves upward in the division. If either fighter wins they could claim number one contender rights to the Welterweight belt. That potentially sets up a three-peat affair of Penn-Pierre or a rematch of Fitch-Pierre. In summation, anytime you have the names Penn, Pierre, and Silva in a scenario it usually revolves around the question of “pound-for-pound” greatest fighter; in this context the conversation points to giving practical answers to the question instead of theoretical round houses and take-down defenses.
Without minimizing other fights on the card, Forrest Griffin managed to gain a strategic victory over competitive adversary Rich “Ace” Franklin. Griffin caught criticism for the lackluster win but felt compelled to note fighters must “win” and so he did, just not at the behest of the mma faithful in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jon “Bones” Jones effortlessly dispensed of Ryan “Darth” Bader with a submission in the second round of the fight. The fight had championship title shot implications and Jones and President Dana White confirmed this rumor at the post-fight interviews. Jones will set to face current Light-Heavyweight Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Rua, who hasn’t fought since May of last year, comes off an extensive layoff from a knee surgery to face a brutally tough opponent in Jones. This fight very well could make “Fight of the Year”.
Fight Back: Elementary schools have started implementing martial arts into their physical activity programs and after-school programs. Do you think this is a good or bad thing? Hit me up at mercer.gene@gmail.com to weigh in.