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One of the most important days of the academic year is the drop-add deadline, but it can be easy to miss for new students at Mercer.This year it’s Aug. 27, the Friday of the first week of classes. Here’s everything you need to know about drop-add and how it can change your schedule and college experience.
Mercer is encouraging students, faculty and community members to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by offering free and convenient opportunities to get the shot. In an email sent to the Mercer community Aug. 12, President Bill Underwood said that Mercer’s goal is to have 80% of students either fully vaccinated or vaccinated with the first dose by “early in the fall semester.” But unvaccinated Bears need not fear — there are five more opportunities in August and early September for members of the Mercer community to get vaccinated. Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the University Center during Bear Fair Aug. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The vaccines will be given out in the aerobics room adjacent to the intramural courts in the University Center. Vaccines are also being offered at Mercer School of Law Aug. 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m and at Penfield Hall Aug, 27, Sept. 3 and Sept. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. For both the Bear Fair and Mercer Law School sites, appointments are not needed. For the Penfield Hall site, appointments can be made through Mercer Medicine. The vaccines will be administered on-site. For those unable to make those dates, there are several additional vaccination sites throughout Macon. Appointments can also be booked on the Georgia Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccine registration site.
Fall recruitment for Mercer’s fraternities and sororities is quickly approaching, and according to Fraternity and Sorority Program’s 2020-2021 review, most of the Greek Life organizations are currently in good standing. However, there are a few exceptions.Alpha Kappa Alpha is suspended for the 2021-2022 academic year due to hazing, according to FSP. It is reported by FSP to be the only chapter at Mercer that will not be able to take in new members during the fall 2021 semester.The Mercer Student Code of Conduct defines hazing as “any act or activity required for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.” The code also specifies that “express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense.”Hazing is currently illegal in the state of Georgia under the Max Gruver Act. The act was signed into law in May 2021 and went into effect in July.Alpha Kappa Alpha did not respond to The Cluster’s request for comment as of 6:15 p.m. Saturday.Six additional chapters are either on probation for the fall 2021 semester.The following chapters are on fall 2021 social probation:
A long day of moving and unpacking is sure to work up an appetite. Check out the following restaurants for a bite to recharge before the new school year starts. Chico & Chang A staple of any good Mercer Bear’s diet, Chico & Chang is a Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant serving up superb dishes from both cultures. They are friendly to a college student’s budget, and my personal go-to spot for bubble tea. I RECOMMEND: Beef Bibimbap CALL: (478) 477-1688 ADDRESS: 3850 Riverside Dr. H&H Restaurant H&H is one of Macon's claims to fame, and for good reason. Their delicious soul food kept the Allman Brothers Band well-fed while they were on their way to becoming stars of Southern rock. They also make the best waffles I have ever put in my mouth. I RECOMMEND: Fruit & Waffle CALL: (478) 621-7044 ADDRESS: 807 Forsyth St. Ricky’s Tacos What started as a taco truck is now a well-loved taco shop in downtown Macon. The burritos are huge, the tacos are mouth-watering and the street corn takes me back to celebrating Fiesta back home in San Antonio. What’s not to love? I RECOMMEND: Chorizo Taco CALL: (478) 200-4476 ADDRESS: 518 Cherry St. LaDDa Bistro My love affair with Thai food is well-documented and many years in the making, so it’s not surprising to find me eating lunch at LaDDa Bistro. It doesn’t get more refreshing than a glass of Thai tea on a hot Georgia day. I RECOMMEND: Pad Si Eew CALL: (478) 812-8138 ADDRESS: 442 Cherry St. Roly Poly Sandwiches Roly Poly might be a small chain restaurant, not necessarily unique to Macon, but it’s too good not to put on this list. There are literally dozens of hot and cold sandwiches to choose from, not to mention soups, salads and the option to roll your own sandwich. I RECOMMEND: Cobb Salad Roll CALL: (478) 745-7659 ADDRESS: 624 New St. Southern Vegan Soul Cafe As the only fully vegan restaurant in Macon, Southern Vegan Soul Cafe provides customers with healthy, scrumptious dishes as well as entertainment — don’t miss their Saturday Open Mic Nights. I RECOMMEND: Pulled BBQ Taco CALL: (478) 254-0816 ADDRESS: 3348 Vineville Ave. Savannah Duringer provided graphics for this article. This article was updated Monday, Aug. 30 to include phone numbers and addresses for each location.
Many hail registering to vote as one of the most important steps in an adult’s life, and it is one of the few things that being 18-years-old still opens to the young American. Registering to vote allows Americans to take a step towards becoming a civically responsible citizen. Many over the years have fought for this right to be available to all. One such person was the freedom rider and Congressman John Lewis. “The vote is precious,” Lewis wrote on Twitter in 2016. “It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” The quickest way to register to vote is online. For those who live in Georgia, you can start on the website of the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. Click on the small button that says “Register,” and it will walk you through the process. To vote in Georgia, it is necessary to be a Georgia resident and a citizen of the United States. Additionally, you will need legal documents to prove this. Any of the following documents are acceptable as proof: Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID A Georgia driver’s license (which may be expired) Valid employee photo ID from any employment with the U.S. government, Georgia, or any county, city or other state authority or entity. Valid U.S. passport Valid U.S. military ID Valid tribal photo ID In order to be an eligible voter for an election, it is necessary to register to vote at least 30 days prior to that election. The first upcoming major election will be a state special election of legislation Nov. 2.
Karen Sneddon, former Mercer Law School associate dean, has been named the interim law school dean by Provost David Scott Davis. The announcement comes in the wake of Dean Cathy Cox’s appointment to president of Georgia College and State University. “I value Mercer's students, alumni, staff, faculty and administrators,” Sneddon said. “I'm pleased to be able to serve in this role.” Sneddon will assume her post of interim dean Oct. 1, the same day Cox her work at GCSU. Sneddon is currently a professor of law and associate dean for faculty research and development. She was a Forrester Fellow at Tulane Law School and an associate at a New York City law firm before coming to teach at Mercer in 2006. She graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana State University and summa cum laude from Tulane Law School. “I’m grateful that Professor Sneddon has agreed to serve as interim dean,” Davis said. “She is well-regarded as an outstanding scholar and teacher by her colleagues in the Law School and has filled important leadership roles across the University, including serving as chair of the Faculty House of Delegates.” The announcement of Cox’s appointment to president of Georgia College and State University came Aug. 12. She has been the dean of Mercer Law since 2017. “I appreciate the leadership that Cathy Cox has provided for our law school over the last four-plus years,” Davis said. “She will be an outstanding president for Georgia College, and as a graduate of Mercer Law School will always be part of the Mercer family.” A search committee will be appointed to conduct a national search for a new law school dean, according to Mercer Director of Media Relations Kyle Sears. Sneddon will hold her position until a new dean is appointed.
Mercer’s Student Government Association (SGA) has been hard at work this summer to plan for another successful year, according to SGA President Rylan Allen. The organization now has a newly remodeled office and has solidified many of their plans for the upcoming year, including details about this year’s SGA elections. SGA will be conducting fall elections for SGA senators in September and voting will take place Sept. 8-9. All SGA members will receive training, according to Allen. “We are very excited for our fall retreat that will allow members of Senate to bond and have fun with one another while also learning how best to facilitate senate proceedings,” Allen said. SGA has scheduled monthly meetings with Mercer President Bill Underwood for this upcoming year. Some of SGA’s planned events for this upcoming school year include Pilgrimage to Penfield Oct. 17, Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 9 and Founder’s Day Feb. 9. Additionally, SGA now has a new email address, sga@mercer.edu, and is currently updating their website. Students interested in running for SGA positions for the 2021-2022 school year must attend SGA’s qualifications meeting Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. in Connell Student Center Conference Room I. Campaigning will not be allowed until after the meeting concludes. The first Monday Senate meeting will be Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in CSC Conference Room II.
Intramural and club sports are once again available for students this year. Intramurals are recreational sports where students sign up, make teams, and play in leagues created by the Department of Recreational Sports and Wellness. These sports include typical activities like soccer and basketball as well as more unique options like pickleball or dodgeball. Registration is fairly informal and students can form teams with friends, Greek organizations, clubs and more. Club sports offer a more traditional sports experience at a recreational level where students compete against other clubs from other colleges and universities. These require a tryout and feature basketball, football and other sports. Teams will also travel to other schools throughout the semester. Mercer offers a plethora of options for students looking to play sports in either category. This fall semester, the Department of Recreational Sports and Wellness is offering eleven intramural sports staggered throughout the semester. Registration for all intramural sports begins on Aug. 23. Dodgeball and ultimate frisbee are the first two sports to start play this semester. Both begin on Sept. 7 and end on Sept. 16. Intramural sports are inclusive for all students with both male, female, and co-gender sports. Transgender students should be aware that only males may participate in a men’s league and no male may participate in a women’s league, according to the Department of Recreational Sports and Wellness’s Article 3 section 2. Open leagues are defined as same sexgender sports. The department also stated that “transgendered participants will be handled on a case-by-case basis.” Policies for transgender individuals may vary in club sports based on the discretion of the team president or the club league in which the team participates. All club sports can be found on Mercer University's website. Students can register for intramural sports on imleagues.com.
Brian Kemp, the governor of Georgia, is taking some action to protect the state against COVID-19, but he is still refusing to shut down the state. Kemp says his stance against closing the state is due to the fact he does not want to stop Georgians from being able to provide for their families. However, he is encouraging people across the state to get vaccinated against coronavirus. “This safe, effective vaccine reduces the likelihood you could get infected with COVID-19, but more importantly, it will drastically reduce the chances of you ending up in a hospital bed or losing your life,” Kemp said. Not everyone is backing the governor’s decision. In response to a recent executive order released by Kemp, in which he banned local governments from enacting mask mandates, Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson wrote a tweet condemning his decision. “It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us,” Johnson wrote. “Every man and woman for himself/herself. Ignore the science and survive the best you can. In #Savannah, we will continue to keep the faith and follow the science. Masks will continue to be available!” Kemp has also announced he will raise the number of state-supported medical staff in hospitals from 1,300 to 2,800, which represents almost $125 million dollar staffing investment on top of the already committed $500 million dollars that will be put toward both rural and metropolitan areas of the state. “Today I want to reiterate Georgia will remain open for business, we will not shut down, we will not stop families from earning a paycheck,” Kemp said. Kemp has planned to give all state employees Sept. 3 off and strongly encourages them to get vaccinated before they return to work. Commissioner of Georgia Department of Public Health Dr. Kathleen Toomey has also made promises of more available testing in wake of the lines at Atlanta testing centers beginning to lengthen.
Mercer students were treated with a new source of entertainment this summer. Mercer Affirmations, an Instagram page that features memes relating to life as a student at Mercer, was started in July and has been going strong ever since. The Cluster had the opportunity to sit down with the curator of the page, who we’ll call “Affie,” as she has requested to remain anonymous. She is a junior at the university. Affie began the page this summer during an internship in social media and marketing. “It was a really awesome opportunity,” she said. “But in between creating posts for the internship, it was really boring. I'm not gonna lie, it was very boring. I was sitting at a desk 24-7.” One source of entertainment for Affie? Checking out affirmation comedy pages. “They’re so funny,” she said. “They crack me up.” Affirmations are a form of meditation in which a person states or focuses on a statement they would like to come true. For instance, an affirmation regarding grades could be, “I will achieve a 4.0 GPA this semester.” Comedy pages take a lighthearted approach to the format and poke fun at the universal experiences or thoughts of their followings. When Affie first created her page, it started out as a joke between her and her friends. Then, it started to gain a strong following. What she realized was that the experiences around campus that she and her friends were laughing about were experiences that many across campus resonated with. “There have been so many instances on campus where we've had just Mercer things,” she said. “Just like, things that we've bonded over.” One recent example of this campus-wide “bonding” was a tornado warning issued early Tuesday morning. When Mercer Police contacted students via email with a warning, Affie got to work. “It was like 5 a.m., and I woke up,” she said. “I was like, ‘You know what? I should document this.’ So I made a post about the tornado." The tornado post was a hit, gathering over 500 likes and becoming the most liked post on her page.
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster.COVID-19 has drawn divisive lines between friends, families, coworkers and everyone in between. It’s not an easy topic to avoid, and it’s a controversial one once it gets brought up. Mercer University knows this and is avoiding taking a truly definitive stance on masks. The university administration needs to step up and have a strong stance on masks for the safety of both the Mercer and Macon communities.Before tackling the issues on why masks should be required, the policy itself has to be addressed. The school’s current mask policy, which is essentially an ambiguous set of recommendations, is a problem whether you support mask mandates or not.The most recent policy update was released Aug. 12 by the university and said that unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks. The policy also states that vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks but are “strongly encouraged” to do so.This policy is impossible to enforce. Mercer simply does not have the resources to keep track of who is vaccinated and enforce unvaccinated students to keep their masks on. While students will submit proof of vaccination prior to the beginning of the semester, there is virtually no way to constantly check people’s vaccination status.As it stands currently, faculty will not be provided a list of unvaccinated students, according to the Provost’s office. This means that they will be unable to enforce unvaccinated students wearing masks within their classrooms.Another problem lies in the fact that Mercer’s policy allows departments to have their own individual mask requirements.On Aug. 18, the Journalism and Media Studies department is enforcing all students to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Other departments are currently developing their own policies that may differ.This is chaos. While many students do have most of their classes in one area of study, many more have a variety of classes in different departments and buildings. Students should not have to keep up with varying masking policies when moving between classes. It is extremely inefficient at best and a huge health risk at worst.This policy also shifts the blame for enforcing masks onto departments and professors instead of the school administration. The entire job of the administration is to make decisions on school-wide issues, yet it deferred this choice to each individual area of study. Now department chairs will be blamed by students who may not agree with certain policies despite the fact that the administration is at fault for making their policy so open-ended.This simply is not fair to department chairs who have enough to deliberate on within their actual jobs, nor is it fair to students who will undoubtedly want answers about why certain mask requirements were put in place.Perhaps the most important reason for Mercer actually developing a policy, though, can be found in the data. On July 17 in Bibb County, there were not any new COVID-19 cases, according to the New York Times. The seven-day average that day was listed at 12 new cases. This is an outlier, of course, but it shows that the area did at one point have a moderate handle on the pandemic.On Aug. 17, there were 211 new cases in Bibb County. The seven-day average for new cases was 173. This ties in with a national trend, as the country recently broke the 100,000 case mark and saw some states break records for hospitalizations.The same New York Times article lays out simple graphs that display the obvious: these meteoric rises in cases are directly tied to the low vaccination rates across the nation. As long as vaccination rates remain low, the delta variant of COVID-19 will continue to spread. Masking and social distancing are necessary to prevent this.Those drastically increased Bibb County numbers are without the presence of a student body that will be filled with unvaccinated students and maskless students. Either Mercer enforces masks for everyone or it requires vaccinations of all students, and it’s too late for the latter to make a meaningful difference with the delta variant.Mercer has made a distinct effort to build its relationship with Macon and Bibb County in recent years. The university has helped renovate nearby neighborhoods, brought people to the downtown area and provided jobs to citizens. The communities of Macon and Mercer are inherently linked as a result, with Mercer students and faculty interacting with surrounding areas more than ever.With this in mind, Mercer simply cannot be responsible for the deaths or hospitalizations of Bibb County citizens. After all of the building Mercer has done in Bibb County, it risks it all by having a mask policy that could lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases and subsequent deaths.The logistical problems with requiring vaccinations are easy to understand, but there is no logistical issue with enforcing masks. It makes everything simpler for everyone involved. Even not having a mandatory mask policy — as opposed to the “policy” that’s currently in place — would be simpler.The bottom line is that Mercer’s current mask policy is indecisive and utterly fails to protect the student body. The university desperately needs to make a decision on whether or not they wish to fully enforce masks.Regardless of their opinion on the necessity of masks, Mercer needs to have their policy apply to everyone and extend as a blanket to all areas of campus. At least let students be sure of what’s asked of them — to mask or not to mask — even if it means an increased number of COVID-19 cases.
Whether it’s your first year at Mercer or you’re returning after a summer away, you should know about Macon’s thriving arts scene — and the many ways you can get involved. It would be a misfortune for film buffs to miss Macon’s annual Film Festival taking place this weekend from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22. The festival features dozens of independent and immersive films on every topic imaginable, from a series of LGBTQ narrative shorts to a documentary about boxing in a small town in Texas. Take a look at the schedule and design your own movie-watching weekend of fun! Music lovers, don’t fret: Macon welcomes the return of live concerts with several of its own musical events. JBA and Grant’s Lounge are always hopping with local entertainment, typically favoring jazz and rock. On Aug. 29, the Douglass Theatre will hold its free Jazz In The Courtyard event. And right here at home, the McDuffie Center for Strings will perform its Labor Day Festival on Sept. 6. If you’re in the mood for an afternoon stroll, look no further than one of Macon’s several art museums. The Tubman Museum just downtown is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to preserving the art, history and culture of African Americans. Upcoming is their Tubman Talk Series: Aug. 20, Kizito Kalima, Founder and Director of the Peace Center for Forgiveness and Reconciliation and survivor of the Rwandan genocide, will share his story with the Macon public. The following week, Aug. 26, the McEachern Art Center opens up its new exhibition by Jim Roche, who captures the politics and attitudes of contemporary Southern culture. A short drive will bring you to the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Both subjects under one roof mean that there are an abundance of events to participate in, including a planetarium, a mini zoo and both permanent and cycling art collections. Right now, you can view Marian Zielinkski’s “Providence Canyon Art Quilts,” “Africa’s Great Migration” captured by Robert Edenfield and George Youmans, Jr., “Glass and Light” by Jenn Shifflet and the museum’s annual emerging artists series.
The Mercer men’s and women’s soccer teams will start their seasons soon and offered previews of what’s to come in exhibition games throughout August. Here’s a look at how each team fared in friendly matchups and what to look for this season. Women’s soccer Mercer women’s soccer began their season Aug. 11 with an exhibition matchup against Jacksonville University, winning the game by a score of 3-0 at Betts Stadium. An early goal in the fourth minute of play gave the Bears a 1-0 lead that set the tone for the matchup. Mercer’s Pace Stephenson, Ally Fordham and Kendall Cook all scored goals in the game. "It's always good to play a friendly prior to the regular season and see where our team is at," women’s head coach Tony Economopoulos told Mercer Athletics after the game. "We got off to a quick start and did some things well, but Jacksonville exposed things we need to work on as well.” The team’s second friendly match came against the Auburn University Tigers Aug. 14. Mercer lost by a score of 2-0, allowing goals in the 51st and 55th minutes of the match. The Bears did not allow a shot on goal for the first 20 minutes of play. "In the first half I thought our defense was good," Economopoulos said. "Auburn had more shots than us, but I was proud of the way we played throughout the first 45 minutes.” Despite the loss, the game was a positive showing for Mercer’s squad. The future of the team was on display in the area of goalkeeping, as freshman goalie Lindsay Bell made multiple saves against Auburn to keep the game scoreless at halftime. While the goalie position this year will be occupied by graduate student Jordyn Ebert, the team will eventually need a replacement. Bell proved in the exhibition matches that she can succeed Ebert in goal. In the meantime, Ebert will play the position during the 2021 season. She led the team in minutes last season and led the Southern Conference with 96 saves, according to Mercer Athletics. Other team leaders include Cook, who was an All-Conference Freshman last season, and leading scorer Fordham. The women’s team will have their first matchup against Georgia State University Aug. 19. Men’s soccer The men’s team kicked off their season with a friendly matchup against Campbell University Sunday, losing by a 4-1 score at home. The Bears’ lone goal was scored by Logan Longo off of a corner kick from Dylan Gaither. The goal came in the 28th minute and gave the Bears a 1-0 lead, but the advantage did not last. The Fighting Camels scored two goals less than 10 minutes later and eventually tacked on two more. Despite the low goal total, Mercer had many opportunities on offense. The team tallied seven corner kicks and 14 shots on goal. Many of these opportunities came during the final 20 minutes of the match, but the Bears couldn’t capitalize. Mercer’s season shows promise despite the exhibition loss. Two Mercer players, Gaither and Ousman Jabang, were both awarded preseason honors by the Southern Conference. The Bears were also tied for third in the conference’s preseason poll, according to Mercer Athletics. Gaither, a rising junior and midfielder, tallied a team-leading five goals last season for Mercer. Two of his goals were game-winning goals against Georgia Southern University and Jacksonville. Jabang, a defender, contributed to Mercer’s two shutouts last season with solid defense and even scored a goal of his own against Wofford. The Bears will play one more exhibition match against University of Alabama at Birmingham this Saturday at Betts Stadium. They open their official schedule with a home game against Gardner-Webb Aug. 26.
Mercer has updated its campus vaccination and mask policy according to an Aug. 12 announcement. The university now requires unvaccinated students, employees and guests to wear masks in indoor public spaces. The university does not require masks for individuals in outdoor settings. While the statement released May 17 stated that unvaccinated students, employees and guests were “expected to take personal responsibility and wear masks while on campus,” the policy of the Aug. 12 statement is that unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks while in indoor public spaces on campus. Additionally, instructors and event organizers may now require masks in classes or campus activities regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated students, employees and guests are not required to wear masks in indoor spaces on campus, apart from the Campus Health Centers in Macon and Atlanta. “Nonetheless, even vaccinated individuals are encouraged to wear a mask while inside campus facilities,” the announcement states. Health sciences students in programs with clinical experiences are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and students and employees in clinical settings may be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. The policy may change based on campus and program conditions, and members of the Mercer community are encouraged to check the policy regularly for changes.
Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State and the current dean of Mercer’s School of Law, has been named as the sole finalist to become president of Georgia State and College University by the University System of Georgia. Georgia College’s current president, Steve Dorman, announced in January that he plans to step down from his position in September. Dorman, the university’s eleventh president, has been leading Georgia College since 2012. Cox, who was Georgia’s Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007, became the first woman in Georgia’s history to be elected to the position. During her time as Secretary of State, Cox instituted a universal electronic voting system, making Georgia the first state in the United States to do so, and moved the largest division of her office from Atlanta to Macon. She additionally served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996 and ran for governor of Georgia in 2006. “As someone who earned her undergraduate degrees through the University System of Georgia, I know how important it is to give students a strong foundation and the skills they need to help themselves and the state succeed,” Cox said in a press release from the University System of Georgia. Cox attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural University, where she graduated with an associate’s degree in agriculture, and the University of Georgia, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She graduated from Mercer Law in 1986 and practiced law full-time for ten years prior to starting her political career. Cox spent ten years as the president of Young Harris College before becoming the dean of Mercer’s School of Law in 2017. Georgia College and State University, located in Milledgeville, Georgia, had nearly 7,000 enrolled students last year and is considered the University System of Georgia’s primary liberal arts university. “I am very excited for the chance to build upon Georgia College & State University’s reputation, and work with faculty and staff to create a world-class destination for the liberal arts right here in Georgia,” Cox said.
Mercer Athletics has announced the artists slated to perform during the upcoming football season at the 2021 Ford Concert Series.The series consists of five concerts that will be hosted at Toby Town, which is adjacent to Five Star Stadium, before each of Mercer’s home football games in the fall. This is the third season that the concert series has been featured at Mercer."We're excited to continue to provide Middle Georgia with outstanding entertainment featuring live music and multiple national recording artists along with an incredible college football experience this fall," Associate Athletic Director for External Operations Daniel Tate told Mercer Athletics. "Music is part of the fabric that makes Macon special, and it is our goal to provide the community with the chance to experience one of the pillars of our wonderful city."Each concert in the series will feature a headlining performer, and some will also host additional performers.Sept. 2 vs. Point UniversityHeadliners: Dylan Marlow and Noah HicksOct.2 vs. Samford UniversityHeadliner: Craig CampbellAdditional Performers: Kaitlyn Baker, ERNESTOct. 16 vs. Virginia Military InstituteHeadliner: Jon LangstonAdditional Performers: Chris Brandi, Priscilla BlockOct. 23 vs. Wofford CollegeHeadliner: Chris LaneAdditional Performers: Joe Lasher, Kameron MarloweNov. 13 vs. University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaHeadliner: TBAAdditional Performers: JB StraussThe headlining artist for the final home game on Nov. 13 has yet to be announced.Football games are free for students to attend. Families and fans can purchase season tickets here.
Mercer officially joined the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge last Thursday, according to the university. The school will participate in the program at the request of the White House and the U.S Department of Education.The College Vaccine Challenge advocates for colleges and universities around the country to offer vaccinations for campus communities. The challenge has three “key actions,” according to the White House: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member; organizing college communities; and delivering vaccine access for all.Mercer joins the initiative after making vaccinations available to the campus community in late March and early April. Mercer Director of Student Health Dr. Lynn Denny encourages Mercer students to get vaccinated.“It is important for the whole Mercer community to get vaccinated to prevent COVID-19 illness in our students, faculty and staff, as well as our loved ones,” Denny said to The Den.The university continues to offer vaccines throughout the summer but has not announced that it will require students and staff to be vaccinated this fall, although they do “strongly encourage” it, according to The Den. Masks will not be required for vaccinated students and employees at Mercer this fall.Mercer University President Bill Underwood also emphasized the importance of the vaccine in an email to students April 13.“I encourage all of you who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible,” Underwood said. “The vaccination sites on our campuses could not be more convenient. By getting vaccinated, you will help us achieve herd immunity in our nation and community.”Mercer is one of eight Georgia colleges and universities to join the College Vaccine Challenge as of June 15, according to the White House’s COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge page. Other Georgia schools that have joined the initiative include Georgia Southern University and Emory University.The College Vaccine Challenge is intended to build on President Joe Biden’s program matching federal pharmacy program partners with high-enrollment community colleges to provide vaccines. The community college program was introduced May 11, and the College Vaccine Challenge was announced June 3.Students and employees can schedule vaccination appointments here or find more information on Mercer’s updated COVID-19 policies here.
[related title="Related Stories" stories="28404,28401,28037,28301" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="off"] Mercer officially joined the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge last Thursday, according to the university. The school will participate in the program at the request of the White House and the U.S Department of Education. The College Vaccine Challenge advocates for colleges and universities around the country to offer vaccinations for campus communities. The challenge has three “key actions,” according to the White House: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member; organizing college communities; and delivering vaccine access for all. Mercer joins the initiative after making vaccinations available to the campus community in late March and early April. Mercer Director of Student Health Dr. Lynn Denny encourages Mercer students to get vaccinated. “It is important for the whole Mercer community to get vaccinated to prevent COVID-19 illness in our students, faculty and staff, as well as our loved ones,” Denny said to The Den. The university continues to offer vaccines throughout the summer but has not announced that it will require students and staff to be vaccinated this fall, although they do “strongly encourage” it, according to The Den. Masks will not be required for vaccinated students and employees at Mercer this fall. Mercer University President Bill Underwood also emphasized the importance of the vaccine in an email to students April 13. “I encourage all of you who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible,” Underwood said. “The vaccination sites on our campuses could not be more convenient. By getting vaccinated, you will help us achieve herd immunity in our nation and community.” Mercer is one of eight Georgia colleges and universities to join the College Vaccine Challenge as of June 15, according to the White House’s COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge page. Other Georgia schools that have joined the initiative include Georgia Southern University and Emory University. The College Vaccine Challenge is intended to build on President Joe Biden’s program matching federal pharmacy program partners with high-enrollment community colleges to provide vaccines. The community college program was introduced May 11, and the College Vaccine Challenge was announced June 3. Students and employees can schedule vaccination appointments here or find more information on Mercer’s updated COVID-19 policies here.
Students and faculty will not be required to have their COVID-19 vaccines for the fall semester, according to an email Thursday from university President Bill Underwood.Vaccinated students and faculty will fill out a "screening questionnaire," and unvaccinated students and faculty will be required to be tested for COVID-19 prior to the start semester."While the University currently has no plans to require students and employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19, we strongly encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated before the fall semester," the email says.Unvaccinated traditional Macon campus undergraduate students will be required to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, the email says. Other unvaccinated students and employees will be subject to basic surveillance testing. Fully vaccinated students will not be required to participate in surveillance testing."These protocols are based on current conditions, and we will continue to monitor developments throughout the summer," the email says.Vice Provost Kelly Reffitt says that the goal of these protocols is to get as many members of the Mercer community vaccinated as possible."We just want to encourage students and employees to get vaccinated this summer if they haven't, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the fall," Reffitt said.According to the email, students and faculty receive another email with instructions to prepare for the fall semester.
Mercer will no longer require students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated to wear masks on any of its campuses, according to an email from the university Monday. The updated guidance is a stark contrast from previously requiring all members of the Mercer community to wear masks while indoors or at campus events. The announcement comes after the recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines stating that it is safe for people who have been fully vaccinated to leave the mask at home. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic,” the CDC’s website reads. In addition to the new mask rules, fully vaccinated members of the Mercer community will not be selected for surveillance testing. “Based on the data of increased vaccinations and decreasing positivity rates, it’s time to revise the University mask policy for those vaccinated students and employees,” Vice Provost Kelly Reffitt said. “It’s a step toward a pre-pandemic university experience. Many people are relieved that we have finally gotten to this point and are happy to remove their masks.”
Solutions by The State News