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(10/24/12 9:00pm)
Mercer University hosted the annual Lights on Afterschool program on Oct. 18.
Lights on Afterschool is held every fall and engages Mercer University students and local Bibb county school children to create a safe and healthy environment for kids after school. This year the event was held at Ingram-Pye Elementary School in the gymnasium. The function is entirely volunteer-based with Mercer students being one of the driving forces behind it. The gym was filled with different educational booths. In a similar style to a fall festival there was face painting, obstacle courses, and a giant inflatable slide.
Ryan Dickinson, the Special Events Director for LEAP at Mercer, was the coordinator behind the event this year. She said the importance of the event was that, “it not only gives the kids an outlet for their excess energy that might not be spent at home, but it also shows them that there are people in the community that care about them.”
Many student organizations where represented at the program including the Student Government Association, Alpha Phi Omega, and the Mercer Service Scholars. Each group brought different ideas and activities to their booths. Some of the booths asked children to practice their math skills and others encouraged physical activity. In almost every booth children recieved candy as an incentive for completing work.
Jaleel Menifee, a freshman, said, “My favorite part of Lights on Afterschool is when the kids take the candy because I bought the candy myself, so when they take it I feel successful. I made the kids have fun and made sure they were enjoying themselves.”
Many teachers from Ingram-Pye stayed after school to assist with the coordination of the children. One teacher, Karen Cromer, remarked “the children get a chance to mingle, have some community fun, to do a lot of games. We want Mercer to come back as often as they want. We would love for Mercer to host a Lights on Afterschool in the spring!” One of the main goals for Lights on Afterschool is to promote the community and the accomplishments of the after school activities. Nivea Randolph, a program director for Bibb county after school programs, said, “It helps make the school a community hub and fosters that relationship with Mercer which is local to the community.”
The energy of the children kept Mercer students busy and often breathless.
Joel Patterson, a sophomore, said, “I am able to impact these kids lives, it is a small impact, but we are here and that means we care and the kids can take something from that.”
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
The 2012 class of Leadership Macon, a group that recognizes up-and-coming leaders in the Middle Georgia area, have proposed to put homeless meters in downtown Macon to directly aid in alleviating homelessness.
The idea of donation meters has been sweeping the country. Some of the most successful cities that have installed similar meters include Philadelphia and Denver.
The meters will look like any parking meters except for all of the donations will go directly to local organizations to help the homeless.
The proposal for the donation meters was an idea suggested by Chris Tsavatewa during Leadership Macon.
Tameka Milligan, a member of the 2012 class of Leadership Macon, said, “We looked at how Macon was dealing with the homelessness issue. How is our community, not the state or the federal government, but how are we handling our homeless issue.”
Since the original proposal, the group has been meeting with councilmen individually and they have gotten a positive response.
Nine meters will be installed in the downtown area. Each meter resembles a parking meter, but instead of being located at a parking spot it is placed in a strategic high foot-traffic area. Some of the locations include Cherry Street as well as in front of City Hall.
Milligan said, “We are currently looking for sponsors. We are looking for people to put their plaque on there to say that they are giving and that they encourage others to give as well.”
A sponsorship for one year is $2,500, but only $6,000 for three years. One issue that Milligan stressed was that 100 percent of the money collected is going directly to service and specifically the Homeless Coalition.
She said, “Some folks are sometimes hesitant if they don’t know where the money is going, but here it is going 100 percent of the time to the Homeless Coalition and all the work they do.”
One question that has risen from this proposal is whether or not the meters will cut down on panhandling.
In 2007, the city of Macon made it illegal to panhandle after dark. The ordinance was passed after Macon residents complained of belligerent homeless people blocking paths and harassing people for money.
Caitlin Donnelly, a senior at Mercer, said, “I don’t like odd people approaching me. They are always aggressive and I don’t know their true intentions.”
When Donnelly heard about the meters that were being installed she said, “when you are in downtown you are surrounded by poverty. Walking past the meter where you can donate money makes it feel like you’re able to help in a more immediate and safe way.”
The first installation of the meters will begin on Oct. 30. However, a groundbreaking ceremony has been planned for Nov. 15.
Milligan said, “We want this to be a good event. We want to bring awareness because of course we want this to last past what we are doing. We have to make sure we are taking care of our community.”
(10/10/12 4:03pm)
This past weekend Mercer men’s golf team co-hosted the annual Brickyard Collegiate Championship. In the tournament, 15 teams competed from across the country from Princeton to South Florida. The tournament was held at the Brickyard Golf Club in north Macon. Mercer finished the opening round in ninth place with a score of 296, but finished in third round with a score of 286. They finished the tournament with a total score of 872 which landed them in sixth place. This put the Bears directly behind Virginia Tech and Chattanooga who tied for fourth. This was a marked improvement from Mercer’s position last year where they took eighth in the competition. This marked the sixth year that Brickyard held the collegiate competition and the tournament itself continues to bring strong contenders for the Bears to compete with.
The Bears set high expectations for their performance and for the tournaments to follow this year by setting many records for themselves. Some of the records include shooting the lowest one-day score that the team has ever had in a tournament. Also, the team beat their previous year’s overall score by 18 strokes.
Many of the individual players should be commended as well for their outstanding performance. Two players, James Beale, a junior, and Hans Reimer, also a junior, took places under the top twenty individual scores for the tournament. James Beale tied for eighth place scoring an overall score of 213. This is the first time one of the Bears has finished in the top 10 since the tournament’s inception. Beale came in only one stroke behind Georgia University’s player T.J. Mitchell who is ranked ninth in the nation. After two days of scoring a consistent 71, Hans Reimer tied for 14th place, finishing with an overall score of 215.
Mercer started the competition with an overall score of 296 in the first round. This was followed by a score of 290 for the second round, and the Bears finished the final round with a score of 286.
Many Mercer students and parents crowded the packed golf club in order to see the Bears perform at their best. Diane Joseph, mother of John Gregory Joseph, said, “ I think Mercer is doing really well today as a team. They are pulling together as a team, and Coach Steve Bradley is doing an excellent job with the boys.” Indeed it seems that Mercer’s hard work paid off with the results they got from this tournament. On the other hand volunteer and Mercer alumni, Adam Bailey, said, “I think Mercer has played well but not up to their full potential.” One hopes that the season overall will prove to be as successful and hopefully even better than this tournament.
The Mercer Bear’s are now preparing for their next tournament, which will come just shy of a week from now. This next event will be the golf team’s final event for the fall semester. The AutoTrader Collegiate Classic Competition will be held on Oct. 15 at Berkley Hills Country Club.
(10/10/12 4:03pm)
Mercer University students of all ages said goodbye as Fresh Food Company employee Carolyn Smith, commonly known across campus as Ms. Carolyn, retired on Oct. 5 after 23 years of service.
Throughout her years at Mercer, Smith came in contact with almost every student as she swiped their bear cards for access into the cafeteria each day and greeted them by name.
Her greetings and guidance of all things Mercer were well known across the student body. Smith informed new students how things worked at Mercer and in her cafeteria.
“I am going to miss the kids the most,” said Smith. “They gave me strength and motivation and kept me coming back everyday.”
“Ms. Carolyn was one of the few people who I could say with confidence knew more people than I did and left a lasting impression on my life,” said senior Ike Ekeke. “Ms. Carolyn not only swiped cards and gave warnings to those who left food, but she also gave words of wisdom and actions to follow.”
Smith became one of the staples for Mercer that everyone could share a story about. Whether she warned you to use your manners, danced with the cheerleaders, or played jokes on students, she became immersed in each student’s four years at Mercer.
“One of my favorite things about Ms. Carolyn was her consistency,” said senior Joey Dunaway. “I knew I could count on seeing her every day for lunch, and she never missed a day. During my four years at Mercer a lot has changed but one thing I could always count on was seeing Ms. Carolyn Monday afternoon waiting to swipe my card in the Caf.”
On Oct. 5 students, staff, faculty, and administrators celebrated Smith’s dedication and service to the university. There was a reception held in the rear part of the cafeteria with cake and a large card that people could sign to say goodbye.
“I am glad I was able to affect at least one person,” Smith tearfully said. Students lined up to say goodbye and hug Smith.
“I have a bond with the students that I couldn’t even explain myself,” said Smith. “I love Mercer and love these kids.”
(10/10/12 4:01pm)
Between some of the most beloved downtown businesses and behind some of Mercer student’s favorite hangouts there is a whole network of alleyways that are getting a facelift from the city.
In the past couple of years the city of Macon, specifically the Department of Urban Development, has made much needed improvements to these hidden streets.
Mechel Mckinley, a Business and Economic Development Specialist for Main Street Macon, said, “historically the alleyways have been additional pedestrian travel ways but they needed some attention, and so we have worked with Wimberly Treadwell, a local landscape architect, to install lighting, improve drainage, put in new landscaping, and add some patios.”
When walking downtown it is clear to see which alleyways have been targeted by this project. Two alleys in particular that many students are familiar with are Mulberry St Lane where the restaurants Ninja, Tokyo Alley, and Downtown Grill are located as well as Cherry St Lane the alleyway directly behind Lemongrass and the Hummingbird.
The project had a couple of clear goals from the beginning to make downtown Macon more walkable. Alex Morrison, the Executive Director of the Department of Urban Development, said, “We paved the alleys, buried the utilities, built some backdoor patios, made enclosures for the dumpsters and improved the façade.”
Before these improvements the alleys were overgrown and made it impossible for either pedestrians or vehicles to get down. While these developments might not be the most dramatic changes it does help create a livable downtown. Morrison also said, “the people who notice the improvements are the people immediately on it. Making these physical improvements will help property owners and enhance their businesses.”
For many students, because of the nature of the work, these renovations have been overlooked and there is still this perception of danger in the alleyways.
Anuj Patel, a senior at Mercer and downtown employee, said, “I still wouldn’t walk down that alleyway by myself. It isn’t one of the safest places in Macon.” Ironically, however, one of the major improvements that this project made that is used by many students, sometimes weekly, is the back patio of the Hummingbird. It has created this outdoor seating where people can hang out, play corn hole, listen to live music, and enjoy a drink. One of the reasons that this project was created and funded was because the city wanted to combat that impression of crime. McKinley said, “People don’t think of plants and lights as economic developments, but they are, because if people feel comfortable being in a space, they are more likely to spend more money and frequent those businesses.” There is no doubt that the added space of the backyard patio hasn’t opened up the Hummingbird to a new clientele that traditionally wouldn’t have been patrons.
While the projects from the Urban Development Department are now winding down there is another group that is attempting to step in to improve the alleyways also. The Macon Millennials, a group of up-and-coming young leaders, are attempting to put together a program called the Free Walls project.
This program is designed to allow artists to place their artwork on the alleyway walls. There would be designated areas where people would be allowed to showcase their work in a public setting. Bucky Helms, President of Macon Millennials, said, “ There is no reason that the alleyways shouldn’t be used anymore. It would allow a free spot for all sorts of artists to display their work who traditionally wouldn’t in a gallery.”
The Free Walls Projects is looking to launch sometime in the spring.
(10/10/12 4:00pm)
Many Mercer students experienced their first presidential debate this past Wednesday in the new Center for Collaborative Journalism. This was the opening of the presidential debates for 2012 between candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Quadworks and the Society of Collegiate Journalism co-hosted the debates by providing three rooms for viewing as well as a substantial amount of food.
Students crammed into crowded classrooms where the debate could be observed and discussed. Quentin Mays, a junior, said “I wanted to be among the camaraderie and share in political discourse. This is a rare occurrence and only happens once in four years, so I want to take advantage of it.”
The candidates covered a wide array of issues from the mission of the federal government to healthcare.
In a poll, conducted by SGA, the Lyceum, the Center of Theology, and the Office of Campus Life, a majority of Mercer students answered that the economy is a concern in the upcoming election.
During the debate, President Obama emphasized that education was the key to economic development. “I want to hire another 100,000 new math and science teachers, and create 2 million more slots in our community colleges so that people can get trained for the jobs that are out there right now,” said Obama.
Nominee Mitt Romney broke down his economic plan into five parts including: energy independence, more open trade, creating a more learned workforce, balancing the budget, and champion small business. “Now, I’m concerned that the path that we’re on has just been unsuccessful. The president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years, that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more — if you will, trickle-down government — would work,” said Romney
In the Mock Election poll Mercer students rated sociwwal issues as the third most important topic in the upcoming election. The Affordable Care Act, also know as Obamacare, was at the forefront in the discussion concerning healthcare.
Romney, who stated that he would repeal the act, said, “the best course for health care is to do what we did in my state: craft a plan at the state level that fits the needs of the state. And then let’s focus on getting the costs down for people, rather than raising it with the $2,500 additional premium.” According to Romney the Obamacare incurs an additional $2,500 compared to previous healthcare initiatives.
On the opposite side Obama supported the act saying that it affects the American people in two ways. First, that if a person has insurance that it gives more power to the individual, lets them keep their doctor, and ensures that insurance companies cannot make capricious decisions when it comes to a person’s healthcare. Secondly, for those people who are unable to afford healthcare it gives the option to get a group plan and is suppose to have lower costs to the individuals. “There are two ways of dealing with our health care crisis. One is to simply leave a whole bunch of people uninsured and let them fend for themselves…Or, alternatively, we can figure out, how do we make the cost of care more effective? And there are ways of doing it,” said Obama.
Students who attended the debate viewing were able to clarify and discuss information presented by the potential condidates. Many students are attempting to inform themselves of the issues and why it matters. “This is my first time voting and I want to get involved and make my vote count,” said freshman, Nykki Mcculler.
Mercer will continue hosting the presidential debates and other political themed events throughout the time leading up to the election. The opportunity presented by hosting these debates on campus is to ensure students understand the weight of their decisions. Sam Dunham, a senior, said, “If I am casting my vote for someone I want to know what I am getting into.”
(09/26/12 9:43pm)
During the week of Sept. 9-15 the National Pan-Hellenic Council held its annual NPHC week showcasing the individual fraternity and sorority’s personalities through a variety of informational and entertaining programs.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. is the coordinating body for the nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities. Even though the council contains nine Greek organizations, Mercer currently only has five on campus. There are three sororities: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta as well as two fraternities: Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi. President of NPHC, Shedrick Martin said, “NPHC week is a week designated to inform the campus and anyone else who wants to come about our organizations. Most people because we are small don’t see us a lot or may not even know who we are so this is our big week full of events where people can come and interact with us.” Each of the Greek organizations sponsored a variety of events throughout the week that highlighted the differences between NPHC and the other Greek councils including the way they recruit.
The week kicked off with a pool party and cookout at Plunkett Pool co-hosted by the Organization of Black Students. All students, faculty, and staff of Mercer were invited to come and mingle with the members of each fraternity and sorority in a relaxed and fun setting.
In the past few weeks many students might have noticed the different Greek councils recruiting for their own organizations, but there was no official NPHC recruitment week such as the Panhellenic recruitment or IFC Rush. One of the defining features of the NPHC week is its program called, “Why We Don’t Rush,” which addressed the differences between how NPHC organizations recruit versus other Greek councils. Sophomore Eric Ennuson said, “The event honestly helped me understand the difference between NPHC and IFC’s membership intake process”.
The other events in the week included a switch day where each of the fraternities and sororities would switch places with another and portray their personalities through a skit or stroll. Also there was a game show themed event called Sibling Rivalry, which asked members to answer questions about their brothers or sisters of their own fraternity or sorority. D’Amonta Johnson, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., said, “My favorite program was the Sibling Rivalry game. This game showed how well the members knew those in their organization in a fun and competitive manner.”
Some of the largest attended programs was the cookout and yard show. The NPHC organizations are unique in the fact that each fraternity or sorority have their own strolling or stepping style. A stroll is defined as a traditional dance or “party walk.” The yard show allowed each organization to display their techniques and signature moves. Bria Dobbs, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha said, “I really enjoyed the yard show and the cookout the most because each organization was able to showcase their talents and it was also a fun way to meet and mingle with people.”
By having its own week, NPHC allowed students to come and go as they please without the pressures of a traditional recruitment style. Dobbs stated, “I feel that the week was a success. All of the organizations were able to work together and broadcast NPHC in a positive light.” Unlike other Greek councils NPHC requires that a student have at least 15 credit hours before joining a fraternity or sorority. So the week allows students to gain information from each organization so that they are able to make an educated decision. Freshman, Breyana Ferris, said, “The NPHC week felt more individualized and the opportunities to socialize with current members were plentiful.”
Students can look forward to many programs put on by NPHC and the individual fraternities and sororities through out the year. Melinda Robinson-Moffett, NPHC co-advisor said, “Members of NPHC are very productive either sponsoring or co-sponsoring weekly programs for the campus and community.” NPHC’s next upcoming event is the World Heart Day for Fun Run on Saturday Sept. 29th co-sponsored by Residence Life and AWARE. She added, “We are hoping to have a lot of fun and get support from faculty and staff at this event as well.”