(04/27/11 11:41pm)
For students who hold a fascination with the past, Mercer’s history department offers a program with classes highlighting a variety of topics. The department consists of six full-time historians: four European historians and two American historians.
John Scott, one of the history department’s American historians, said the curriculum in the history department is designed for students to study the past through teaching as well as individual discovery. History classes at Mercer do not only consist of a lot of dates, names and memorization. History majors do take classes where they learn about a specific topic in history, but classes are also taught to equip students to research and explore the past through personal historical projects.
“Our main goals are to teach students how to think and how to communicate, especially through writing,” Scott said. “…The past is the area we explore…answering the questions ‘how and why did that happen?' [and] communicating those answers through lively writing.”
Even though history is a required subject beginning in grade school, professors constantly encounter students who are clueless on seemingly common historical facts. Scott has compiled an ongoing (and somewhat humorous) list of things he has encountered students do not know. This list includes Henry Clay, the Cold War and Roe v. Wade.
Senior history major Max Youngblood came to Mercer having always been interested in history. After taking a few classes, history seemed like a natural choice for a major. Youngblood chose European history as his concentration, with most of his classes focusing on modern Europe.
An average history class format is not in the expected lecture and note-taking style. Youngblood describes his history classes as being “taught in the seminar format, demanding…knowledge of the reading. The seminar format also encourages a more cohesive classroom environment and the ability to verbally express ideas. Research papers [are] the history major’s specialty.”
A common question asked to history majors is what they hope to do after college with a history degree. Scott defends that history majors have a vast array of opportunities after college.
“As a result of our emphasis on critical thinking and written communication, history majors are well prepared for almost any profession,” said Scott. “Some go to law schools while others go into teaching, medical fields, academia and business….Studying the past prepares you for any path to the future.”
The history department often has a scary reputation among undergraduates who must take courses required for general education. Ali Wright, a sophomore psychology major, explains she was fearful upon enrolling in her required history course but was pleasantly surprised. “It was a lot of work, but the material was interesting and I am glad that I learned so much in the class,” she said.
(04/13/11 2:50pm)
Student organizations at Mercer are technically not solely “student-run”; by Mercer’s standards you must have a campus advisor to be recognized as an organization.
A lack of a faculty advisor or campus staff has not deterred the students of Campus Outreach. Since Campus Outreach, a non-denominational campus ministry, is not allowed recognition as a campus ministry by Mercer’s Religious Life, Campus Outreach is truly a group for students and completely organized by students.
A nation-wide college ministry, Campus Outreach first came to Mercer in 2006. Due to a shortage of ministry staff and continued frustrations with gaining recognition as a campus organization, Campus Outreach has been completely student-led for the past year.
“Regardless of the situation at Mercer, the ministry is meant to be run by students,” said Amry Stanley, senior. “I think what makes it unique is the focus not on throwing a flashy meeting or having a lot of people show up, but learning how to take ownership of something and be committed to a vision much greater than four years in college.”
Junior David Newberry recognizes both benefits and hardships of not having staff or a faculty advisor in Campus Outreach. “Having to lead an organization as a student this year has been probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but it will stick with me for the rest of my life,” Newberry said. “It has taught me a lot about what leadership really means, and it has humbled me. There is no doubt that God has used this opportunity to teach me how to be a leader.”
Student leadership is not the only thing that makes this organization unique. The mission statement, “Glorifying God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world,” is demonstrated in a variety of ways.
Of course there are the usual things that come with a campus ministry — Bible studies, retreats, etc. — but Campus Outreach also offers unique summer activities aiming to achieve the goal of lifelong discipleship training.
Summer Beach Project (SBP) is a two-month training program in Daytona Beach, Fla. A summer at SBP consists of living in a beachfront hotel with one hundred plus other college students, working or volunteering full time during the day and training in different areas at night, such as studying the Bible or prayer.
Dana Marshall, sophomore, will be returning to Summer Beach Project for her second summer. “My first summer in Daytona at the Summer Beach Project was a great experience,” Marshall said. “I’m excited to see what this next summer will have in store.”
Another summer opportunity is the Cross Cultural Project, a summer-long mission trip in a foreign country like South Africa, Malaysia or Singapore.
Junior Jacqueline Gilbert will be going to Singapore this summer. She said, “I am really excited. I know it will be a wonderful time to experience a new culture and venture to the other side of the world. This summer will be a fun experience where I will grow personally in both my faith and worldview.”
Campus Outreach has three weekly events open to all students at Mercer: Prayer and Praise, Sunday at 9:30; Girl’s Bible Study, Thursdays at 9:15 p.m.; and Boy’s Bible Study, Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m.