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(02/20/12 1:28am)
On Feb. 10th, Mercer University announced their partnership with the Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Ga. to establish a Columbus campus for the School of Medicine. In an interview, Mercer Medical School Dean Bill Bina said, “in July 2012, we’re going to have about 12 third year students start their third year experience.” Those students will be full time and will be there to finish out the last two years of their education.
“The whole [Columbus] population is growing, and what they felt they needed to distinguish their city in the future would be to have a medical school,” Bina said. “This was about 18 months ago when they came to ask President Underwood [if he would consider starting a clinical or medical school campus in Columbus]….So over the past 18 months I and members of the team here at the Medical School have been working with St. Francis Hospital and THE Medical Center with the purpose of starting the third and fourth year clinical rotations.”
In a recent interview, President Underwood said, “We are pleased to be taking the unique mission of our School of Medicine to Columbus and West Georgia. It will further enhance health care for the citizens of this region and help prepare much-needed physicians for our state.”
One of the motivating factors for creating this partnership is an insurance of quality physicians being exposed to other areas of Georgia.
“Because the Mercer School of Medicine only accepts students who are Georgia residents, this campus expansion will expose a large number of future Georgia doctors to Columbus and the surrounding western region of Georgia, increasing the likelihood that many of them will practice in the area once they have completed their medical education,” Bina said. “Pressure and crowding of learners in the hospital settings these days is becoming problematic, so the more diverse our clinical experiences are, the better the students have it because there are less people on the teams. They get more individual experience and practice.”
To get this program developed and working, according to President Underwood, a team comprised of The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital, Pete Robinson, State Rep. Richard Smith, Mercer Medical School Dean Bill Bina, Mercer trustees Jimmy Elder and Tom Black and a number of other local business and community leaders have developed and engaged the faculty and staff that are essential for teaching these third and fourth year medical students.
“One of the advantages we have is that we have a curriculum that we use for third and fourth years that can be transferred directly so they don’t have to start a new curriculum,” Bina said.
Lance Duke, FACHE, president and CEO of THE Medical Center, in a recent interview, commented, “The future benefits of this affiliation to our community and our region are without question. We know many of the students will grow to love this community as we do, and will choose to stay here to practice medicine.”
“This partnership broadens our clinical basis so we have more hospitals, more clinics, more opportunities. We have the potential to grow up to 40 students. Going from 12 to 40 students is a big deal in this kind of thing," Bina said. "It won’t happen immediately, but what we need is to prove that our partnership works, and we have no indication that it won’t because everybody is enthusiastic about it.”
(02/08/12 9:30pm)
If you were not already aware, the month of February is National National Awareness Month Awareness Month: a rather redundant title, but wonderfully so. Now, if you are like me, you are probably asking yourself, “What does National National Awareness Month Awareness Month even mean?” To put it simply, the month of February is a time where we become aware of what we are supposed to be aware of during each month of the year. Does that explanation make sense? Yes? Good. There is a multitude of various things we should be aware of during any given month. That being said, I take it upon myself to raise awareness of a select few that many may not already know about. In January, become aware of National Stalking Awareness Month. You’ve got your crazy scary stalkers that wander around the world following people. You also have your (we’d like to think) not so crazy-scary Facebook stalkers. Let’s be serious, we all have our Facebook stalking moments. I bet half of your Facebook friends are there because “their lives are so interesting” and you couldn’t possibly delete them. February brings us National National Awareness Month Awareness Month as well as Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month and Spunky Old Broads Month. February is awesome.In March, it’s Caffeine Awareness Month. Don’t be afraid to pump up with the caffeine. You have until October before you are aware of a caffeine addiction. Also, it’s Vulva Health Awareness Month. Your vulva’s health deserves your awareness. (Now how you go about taking care of your vulva is completely up to you. I don’t need to know.)April is Couple Appreciation Month. Appreciate your loved one during this month. All other months are completely optional. It’s also Straw Hat Month. Wear your straw hat like a champ, all month long!Lupus Awareness Month takes place in May. In the words of Dr. Gregory House, “It’s never Lupus.”I’ve heard that the best reading is done while sitting on the pot. Try it out for yourself during Bathroom Reading Month, which takes place in June. Get Ready for Kindergarten Month in August. Kindergarten awareness? I could definitely get on board. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Kind of like college. Planning a class schedule around napping and eating and getting grumpy when one or both of those things fall through? I’m telling you, one in the same.The month of September brings us Mold Awareness Month. It’s also Mushroom Month, a little redundant, but nowhere near as redundant as National National Awareness Month Awareness Month. September is also Shameless Promotion Month. I encourage each and every one of you to get out there, make those shameless plugs! No reason to be ashamed during a month where you are supposed to become aware of such things. October brings us Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month, just in time to nip in the bud that bad habit you picked up back in March. October is also National Pizza Month. Did you know that a few months ago Congress passed the law to make pizza a vegetable? Well now you do. You’re welcome.JANUARY:Geek Appreciation MonthFEBRUARY:Teen Dating Violence Awareness MonthMARCH:Endometriosis Awareness MonthAPRIL:Jazz Appreciation MonthMAY:Cystic Fibrosis Awareness MonthJUNE:Gay/Lesbian Pride MonthJULY:National Tickling MonthAUGUST:Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness MonthSEPTEMBER:Hispanic Heritage MonthOCTOBER:Vegetarian Awareness MonthNOVEMBER:Adoption Awareness MonthDECEMBER:Safe Toys and Gifts Month
(02/08/12 9:14pm)
On Jan. 11, Mercer University anounced that Mercer will be joining 24 institutions across the country as a participant in the prestigious Stamps Scholars Program, funded by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Inc.The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Inc. is composed of E. Roe Stamps IV and his wife, Penelope W. Stamps.E. Roe Stamps IV was raised in Macon, graduated from Stratford Academy and attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where he graduated with a Bachelors degree (’67) and a Masters degree (’72). Following his schooling at Georgia Institute of Technology, in 1974, Stamps received a Master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. According to a recent Mercer press release, since then “Stamps has had a remarkable career as a venture capitalist and is a co-founder and managing partner of Summit Partners in Boston.” His wife, Penelope W. Stamps, has devoted a great deal of her time to various charities, most of which include involvement with private elementary and secondary schools and other community and arts organizations in South Florida. “Inspired by the impact that our university experiences have had on our own lives,” the Stamps family, explaining the reason they began the Stamps Scholars Program, stated, “we have chosen to support exceptional students in their pursuit of higher education…. It is our hope that today’s Stamps Scholars will become mentors and supporters of the next generation of promising young students.”Fall 2012 will welcome in five Mercer freshmen who have been designated as Stamps Scholars. For designating Stamps Scholars, Mercer’s Stamps Committee recommends a select number of applicants as semifinalists. The semifinalists receive a supplemental application and will be invited to Mercer’s campus to be interviewed by the Committee. Within a month of their interview, the finalists will be notified of their Stamps Scholars status. For the inaugural year of participation in the Stamps Scholars Program, only five members of Mercer’s freshman class will be awarded. However, when the program is fully implemented, 10 members of each freshman class will be designated as Stamps Scholars. According to Mercer’s sub-website, gomercer.com, “Students selected for the Stamps Scholars Program will be among the highest achieving applicants in the entering class.” This program emphasizes individuals who take an initiative in activities including, but not limited to, engaging in philanthropic efforts around the world to conducting research that demonstrates a passion to improve local communities. Mercer Stamps Scholars will receive “Full Tuition and Fees, Room and Board, Book Allowance, and a $4,000 Enrichment Stipend (to support Study Abroad, Undergraduate Research and Unpaid Internships).”President William D. Underwood, in a recent interview, stated, “Mercer has a well-established reputation for attracting some of the most capable and talented students in the country. “The Stamps Scholars Program will allow us to provide further incentives to encourage the brightest students to enroll at the University. I am very grateful to Roe and Penny Stamps and the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation for bringing Mercer into this outstanding program.”More than 200 students are enrolled as Stamps Scholars at participating institutions such as The University of Chicago, California Institute of Technology, Purdue, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia. Mercer is now among those schools in this prestigious program. Beginning next fall, select Mercer freshman will be the first of the University’s Stamps Scholars. It will become full implemented, giving even more incoming freshman the opportunity to apply to be Stamps Scholars and enroll in the program. E. Roe Stamps IV, in a recent interview, said, “We welcome Mercer University to the Stamps Scholars Program, given its proud tradition, emphasis on learning, discovery, service and investment in undergraduate education. We look forward to future Bears becoming Stamps Scholars this fall.”
(01/25/12 11:54pm)
While the majority of Mercer students were returning to classes in Macon, four Seniors from Mercer’s Honors Program were attending the 10th annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities in Waikiki, a neighborhood of Honolulu, HI.
Mercer’s Honors Program sponsored four students, Sarah Stitt, Kimberly Campbell, Alicia Landrum, and Mercedes Mixon to present their senior research projects. Dr. John Thomas Scott, a history professor and Chair of the Honors Program, accompanied the seniors on the conference.
The conference was held during Jan 10th to the 13th. Kimberly Campbell, a Senior History Major, said that the conference was “an interdisciplinary conference open to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members, but our group of four undergraduates were in the minority.” Mercedes Mixon, a Senior Latin major, mentioned that since “the conference was for the arts & humanities,” the range of topics was broad.
“Presentations in a single session were loosely connected. Some session topics included foreign language, dance, religion, history, and literature,” continued Mixon.
In addition to the broad range of topics, including a keynote address about traditional hula dancing, the people presenting were from various countries which added to the variety. Some of the countries in attendance included Canada, the UK, and Sweden.
Reflecting on the experience, Campbell says, “The trip was an incredible experience. Beyond just seeing iconic parts of Oahu, such as the North Shore, the chance to talk to scholars from all over the country and the world about every subject imaginable was incredible.”
Mixon reflected, “I definitely have more confidence in myself as a presenter. Students earning their masters, Ph.D. candidates, and professors dominated the conference. This was disconcerting at first, but in the end, we were able to see examples of well and poorly constructed papers and presentations from [students of graduate schools] and professors, a tradeoff for not having a large number of undergraduate students and advisors to offer advice on our own projects.”
During the conference, the four Mercer students had an opportunity to present research they have been doing as a part of the requirements for the Honors Program. Mixon presented her “research on Ascanius, the son of the Trojan Prince Aeneas,” a Latin-centered project.
She “compared the legend of Ascanius as told by the Roman historian Livy in his work Ab Urbe Condita and the Roman poet Vergil’s Aeneid.” Campbell presented her project entitled, “Fictions of Gender: Conceptions of Manliness in Antebellum Pirate Tales.”
As a sophomore, Campbell was required by the History Department to start working on research. After the experiences she has had, she “would encourage all undergraduates to start research at the beginning of their junior year at the very latest. Most departments are just waiting for students to ask how they can get started, and the professors are more than willing to help.”
Likewise, Mixon recommends “that undergraduates complete and present research within their majors. It’s a great way to learn more about a particular subject that interests you that a regular class does not have the time to discuss at all or in great detail. Research also helps to prepare you for graduate school,” if you choose to go that route after undergraduate work.
(01/25/12 9:24pm)
The flurry of gift giving holidays has passed. You scored big this year! However, you find yourself with that one gift you just don’t want. If you are careful, there is a trick to getting rid of this item you feel “stuck” with: regift it! Show someone you care by giving them the gift you don’t want. Nothing says “I’m your [insert term of endearment here]” like a recycled gift!
Now, if you are thinking about regifting in the near future or even for the upcoming holiday seasons, there are a few questions that you will need to consider.
First off, is the gift you are planning to give regiftable? Mercer is notorious for giving away “free” shirts and most students have at least three of them lying around. Just because you don’t want that shirt doesn’t mean it’s an appropriate gift to give to someone else. Sure, they make great promotional items and the parents/grandparents/siblings love the shirts because they are proud of you, but don’t pass those shirts on to someone else just because you don’t want to spend a few extra bucks when someone asks you for something Mercer-related. That being said, free promotional items are pretty much off limits for regifting. Other un-regiftable items include handmade crafts given to you, signed memorabilia and monogrammed items.
The next thing to consider when regifting is the condition of the item in question. Never give partially used gift cards or items that you have owned for a long time. Chances are the person you are giving the gift to has seen your stuff, assuming you have owned it long enough. They won’t be afraid to call you out on it, either. (Trust me, I’m speaking from experience.) Only new, unopened gifts should be considered for regifting. As a general rule: if you have to dust it off, don’t regift it.
A successful regifter takes into account who will be receiving the item. Don’t give a regifted gift just to give a gift. Make sure that the person you are giving the gift to will appreciate the item. Don’t find yourself in the situation where they feel obligated to pay it forward and regift the item. Also, make sure you remember who originally gave you the item. Giving a gift that no one wants is one thing, but giving the item as a gift back to the person who originally gave it to you results in some serious consequences. Only regift items to people who won’t come into contact with the original giver.
Now, if you are considering regifting, you are probably short for cash or just trying to beat the system. However, when it comes to giving gifts, appearance is everything! Gift bags, in good condition, can be reused. Never reuse wrapping paper, that’s just tacky. You are already saving money on buying the gift; always spend those few extra dollars for a new card or gift tag.
There is one last question you need to consider when regifting an item. Can you handle the secrecy? You obviously don’t want to tell the person, “Oh, by the way, I actually got this from my so-and-so that nobody likes.” That’s not cool. However, don’t act all guilty either.
Regifting isn’t a crime. It can actually be a wonderful thing!
(12/08/11 12:47am)
Mercer University recently announced four new academic programs that will be offered beginning fall 2012.
These four new programs include a Master of Laws degree in federal criminal practice and procedure in the Walter F. George School of Law, a new Bachelor of Musical Arts degree in the Townsend School of Music, an interdisciplinary major in Law and Public Policy in the College of Liberal Arts and a major in Sports Management in the Stetson School of Business and Economics.
The Master of Laws degree is the first of its kind in the nation. The one-year advanced legal degree will prepare graduates for careers in federal criminal law.
In a recent interview, Dean Gary J. Simson said, “The new LL.M. program is an ideal fit for the Law School and a great contribution to the legal profession. Graduates of the program will acquire a level of expertise that will make them especially attractive candidates for positions, both prosecution and defense, in federal criminal practice - a field of ever-increasing national importance.”
In the Townsend School of Music, the addition of a new Bachelor of Musical Arts degree will provide students a unique degree that retains the focus and curriculum of a performance degree while offering a secondary area of study focused on entrepreneurial skills in business, economics, marketing, new media, communications, psychology, and arts management.
Senior Jill Mares, who works in the music department, said, “[Students] feel like they have an amazing degree from an amazing school, but at the end of they day they are just great musicians. This program will be really helpful for providing music students the tools to get into the business, marketing and even the psychology or therapy aspect of music.”
The interdisciplinary major in Law and Public Policy offers Mercer students a chance to study contemporary issues such as climate change, health care, fiscal policy and terrorism.
Students in the major will develop their skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, oral communication, writing and research needed to address these public policy issues. Career possibilities for students with this major include policy-related fields such as law, government, public administration, health care or work with non-governmental organizations and non-profit groups.
Mares said that this program “would be a really popular major because not only is the subject really interesting, it’s also useful not just for a career but for also living in the modern world. Being aware of public issues is such a big problem. People think that our age demographic doesn’t vote and that they don’t know about issues. A major like this would really force students to look at the issues from a different perspective.”
Mercer’s Bachelor of Business Administration program will be offering a major in sports business management.
The program will teach business skills and management techniques of a traditional undergraduate business degree with additional courses in the business of spectator sports.
Jennifer Fingles, a senior History Major, said, “The program sounds like a great thing to be offered at a bigger university, like the University of Georgia, where sports are bigger.”
However, with the addition of Mercer Football in 2013, “this sports business management major could offer a link between the academic -minded population and the sports-minded population of Mercer,” said junior Josh Holloway.
These four new academic programs will be available to Mercer students beginning in fall 2012.
(12/07/11 11:11pm)
It’s just about that time of year again. Crunch time! Your classes are finally ending, and what does that mean? An overflow of end of the semester projects and tests of course. The last two weeks of the semester before finals are the worst, and by the time finals week comes along, you’re burnt out and more than ready for winter break.
Professors have a tendency to harp on students for procrastinating. Heather Ziemba, a junior Biology Major, says in response, “Sorry, I was studying for that last exam you snuck in. I’m writing that final paper. It’s not like your class is the only class I’m taking.”
Rebekah Hogg, a senior Biology Major, had a similar response. She said, “I know for a fact that there are several classes I’m writing papers for when I haven’t even gotten graded papers back. Fortunately, not all professors are like that, but it’s still frustrating.”
Course load aside, time management is always an issue when it comes to studying, even for the best of us. Whether your finals are stacked on top of each other or you have so much free time you don’t know what to do with yourself, staying motivated is a challenge.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is make a schedule. Create a map of your week. Write out what days and times you have finals. Plan out which days you’re going to spend studying. And please, schedule some down time. Your brain will thank you. That includes eating, and yes, a movie night--or two.
It’s important to know how much time you will need to study. Is the final cumulative? Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. By this point, you have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t in terms of studying.
Amanda Epperson, a junior Spanish Major, condenses her notes that she needs and studies that until she knows it in her sleep. Andrew Smith, a freshman English Major, says that what has worked before is “basically redoing all of the homework and tests that the teachers assigned. I usually start a month before. I’m not sure if that’ll work for college, so fingers crossed.”
Now I know you’re a student that never crams for a test, right? I thought so.
Okay, who am I kidding? You’re one of those “I’ll get to it later, right now I have something better to do” kind of people. That’s why you are reading this article, because you have trouble with time management. Or you’re just procrastinating and this is “research.” I understand.
Speaking of papers, those pesky little devils have a habit of sneaking up on you. One minute you’re brainstorming wonderfully, the next minute your paper is due in two hours and you only have the first sentence written. But that’s a mighty good sentence you have there.
Rebecca Webb, a junior History Major, says, “Unlike papers during the year, I try to start final papers a couple of days before they are due so I can go to the ARC and have them looked at.” The ARC is a great place to study and get last minute help for finals. Also, if you are really stressed out, why not take a trip over to CAPS and see what relief they can offer you. Finals week is a crazy time at Mercer. Best of luck to you and all of your endeavors!
(12/07/11 10:28pm)
I don’t have very many extended family members that live nearby. If I want to visit with my relatives, I have to travel to the other side of the country.
My grandparents were in California visiting from the Philippines this Thanksgiving, and my mom wanted to take a trip out to see them. The stay in California was great, but the traffic was ridiculous.
Our flight was early in the morning on Thanksgiving Day, so traffic getting to the airport from Macon wasn’t so bad.
Even once we landed, traffic getting from the airport to where we were going to stay was tolerable.
Black Friday was a different story. You either love Black Friday or you hate it.
The Macon area can be pretty busy, but I was not prepared for what I was getting myself into in Sacramento and San Francisco.
The traffic and the masses of people on the sidewalks was enough to deter me from wanting to step foot out of the car.
I should probably tell you that I have a thing with crowds. I don’t mind looking at them, but I don’t like to be in the middle.
I get claustrophobic and while a funny image, having to physically claw my way out to get some air, is quite primal.
My family was going to walk the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf to do some sightseeing and maybe buy some famous San Francisco sourdough bread.
The streets are rather crowded on a normal basis. But because of Black Friday, it seemed like the entire state of California was walking that three mile or so stretch. Just getting through the toll roads took about 15 minutes. I’m definitely not a big city kind of person.
Fast forwarding to Sunday, the day we flew back to Georgia, my family planned on taking a Groome Shuttle back to Macon.
Despite our plan, we weren’t prepared for how busy it was going to be. We landed at 7:00 p.m. and we finally got on a shuttle at 8:30 p.m.
According to our driver, there was about three charter buses worth of UGA students trying to get back to their campus. Groome had to divert some of their Macon shuttles to accommodate the flood of students.
Not only did it take an hour and a half for us to get on a shuttle, there was so much holiday traffic trying to get back to Macon.
It normally takes about an hour and a half to get to Macon. Unfortunately, it took us about three hours. Ridiculous, right?
Our driver was rather talkative and she apologized for the delay, but that we should be forewarned for the future.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving are the busiest days of the year for holiday travel. She wasn’t kidding.
On that Sunday, Groome had dispatched every single one of their drivers to accommodate the holiday travelers.
I’m sure with Christmas coming around the corner, holiday traffic is sure to be a hassle.
So I pass onto you the wisdom of my Groome Shuttle driver. Plan accordingly.
Make some phone calls. See what days are normally the busiest days for travel and try to avoid them.
I think this will make notw only your stress level go down, but also make your trip more enjoyable.
Comments, questions and critcisms of this opinion can be sent to cecilia.villagomez@live.mercer.edu.
(11/17/11 12:03am)
On the frosty morning of Nov. 12th, hundreds of current students, alumni, faculty, staff and Macon residents gathered for the 2011 version of the Homecoming 5K Road Run. Participants in the run were welcome to attend the Orange Pancake Breakfast that immediately follows the 5K run every year. All proceeds from the breakfast benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association. According to Jill Boatright, a Quadworks representative, “The Pancake Breakfast is annual event for the runners, but is also open to anyone in the community. The Macon Fire Department offered their time to make the pancakes and sausage.” The events were an overall success.
The general opinion about both the 5K Road Run and the Orange Pancake Breakfast was that both events were a lot of fun. A few of the students who have participated for the past 3 years mentioned that the run went well. However, there was a slight disappointment among the students in attendance that there was not as grand a scale of Mercer school spirit like there was amongst the contestants last year. Last year, a few Mercer students got a team together to run the race. They painted up and stripped down to short-shorts for the run in order to get pumped up for the Men’s Homecoming game that afternoon. A few of the same students who painted up last year painted up again, but the weather was too cold to run the same way they ran last year. Despite the disappointment, there was an excitement about a contestant who carried her two-year old chihuahua as she ran the race.
The Pancake Breakfast took place on Porter Patch, the pancakes were good, and there was a good family-friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Families who participated in the event enjoyed pancakes. Other attendants brought their dogs and enjoyed socializing with friends and family. These two events prove to be a great way to get the community and past and present generations of Mercer together in the spirit of Homecoming weekend. Kimberly Campbell, Senior History Major, ran the event and also partook in the pancake breakfast. When asked her opinion of the pancake breakfast, Campbell said, “The pancake’s are not orange this year, that is a little sad. But they taste good, so that is a plus.” The others sitting at her table maintained the same sentiments.
Dr. Doug Pearson, Dean of Students, a regular participant with his children in this annual event came in first place in the Faculty and Staff division of the 5K run. When asked his opinion about the events, Pearson mentioned that it looked like everybody had a good time. There was a good level of attendance and a lot of friendly competition. Pearson also thought that the 5K Run was well coordinated, again, by Todd Thomas, Assistant Director of Recreational Sports and Wellness, and Rachel May, Director of Wellness. Pearson, reflecting on his experience of the event, could not “think of a better way to start the day of Homecoming.”
(11/16/11 11:47pm)
Homecoming at Mercer University is one of the most exciting times of the year. Students stay on campus, push their homework aside and fully get into the spirit of cheering on the basketball teams to victory.
During this time of year, spirit and pride reaches a visible high. Homecoming 2011, welcomed back thousands of Mercerians to campus to celebrate with the current students in a two-day series of spirited events. Part of the tradition of Homecoming is the annual Bonfire and Pep Rally to get everyone pumped up for the men’s game on the following afternoon.
After breaking a student attendance record at the women’s basketball homecoming game against Auburn, hundreds of students gathered outside on Bear Hill to enjoy the rest of the night’s festivities. The event kicked off with a student skit competition centered around this year’s Homecoming theme: “I Love the 90s;” celebrating the best of the 90s from the student’s perspective.
The skit competition, won by Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Mu, was followed by the introduction of the Homecoming Court, the ceremonial bonfire lighting by President William D. Underwood, a performance by the Mercer Pep Band, Cheerleaders and dance team.
A pep talk by men’s basketball Head Coach, Bob Hoffman, to fire up the crowd. Hoffman got everyone excited for the men’s homecoming game against Emory University on Saturday afternoon. The night’s events concluded with a traditional fireworks display.
The overall opinion of the event was that it was a huge success. Amanda Epperson, a junior Spanish major, said the pep rally “was super cold, but fun.”
Her friend Crissy Dyson, a junior middle grades education major said, “As always, the bonfire and Fireworks were spectacular. And even though they got a little redundant, the skits were really fun to watch.”
Dyson, as well as a few others agreed that “the setup of the stage was not very well thought out because the viewing area was on a hill.” A lot of people couldn’t see because the people in front were higher up blocking the view of the stage from the people in the back.
Shelby Brigman, a junior biology major, suggested that the skit competition be held in Willingham like it was a few years ago.
Despite being unable to see the entire time, Brigman said, “It was way too cold...but other than that, it was awesome. It’s a great way to raise Mercer Spirit.”
Holly Burrell, a junior chemistry major, absolutely loved being at the bonfire and watching the skit competition.
“It was great to see so many people out there supporting both the Men’s basketball team and the groups who worked hard to put together a skit for us to enjoy,” she said.
Lyndsey Autrey, a sophomore math major, also thoroughly enjoyed herself.
She said, “It is the first time I have really seen a large portion of our school filled with school spirit and supporting each other. It definitely made me proud to be a Mercer Bear!”
(11/02/11 9:45pm)
One of the most popular student events is Mercer Madness that was held on Oct. 22 from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. in the University Center Intramural Courts. This annual event serves as the official kick-off for the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The celebration always includes an array of exciting events.
This year, unlike the past couple of years, featured a more engaging and party-like atmosphere. One significant difference was the draw of the intramural dodgeball tournament as well as jousting and basketball inflatables commonly featured at other popular events throughout the year. In addition, there was free food, giveaways, music and a three pointer competition between two players from each of the men’s and women’s teams as well as Mercer students.
The pep band and cheerleaders ushered in the new basketball season with loud and spirited cheers. This was quickly followed by the Mercer basketball teams introducing themselves and inviting the student body to come out, have fun and cheer on the teams as they begin their season.
After Mercer Madness, Jakob Gollon, forward for the men’s basketball team, said, “It was really awesome to see so many people come out to the kickoff event like that.”
Freshman Caris Bozeman said that she “loved Mercer Madness. It got me excited for the season and it was so much fun.”
Speaking of getting students pumped about basketball, Gollon offered, “Sometimes the fans don’t realize how big of an impact on the momentum of the game that the crowd can have.”
“It’s almost like having a sixth player on the court. The Mercer fan base has been awesome the last few years and the amount of people at Mercer Madness was a great indicator of how supportive our students are of the team.”
Gollon said, “We realize that Mercer is very supportive of us, and we’re going to go out every night and play our tails off to put on a good show for all the faithful fans out there.”
Just as a reminder, Gollon adds that the conference tournament is back at Mercer this year and “it would be awesome to make the most of our home court advantage.”
Come out to support the Bears in their first games of the season.
There is a double header on Thursday, Nov. 4 starting off with the women’s game at 5 p.m., and the men’s game immediately following at 7:30 p.m.
(11/02/11 9:38pm)
Monster Dash was held on Oct. 27 at Macon State. This event was open to all Macon State, Mercer and Wesleyan faculty, staff and students.
The event was advertised as a one mile fun run, a 5k run, free giveaways, prizes and costume contests.
When asked about what Monster Dash entailed, outside of advertisements, Assistant Director of Campus Life Cindy Drury said, “Monster Dash is a new partnership between the three local colleges in Macon: Macon State, Mercer University and Wesleyan College. The plan, right now, is that every year the event will transfer campuses.”
Last year, Macon State held the event and saw it as a success. This year they came to Mercer to ask if Mercer would like to partner up with Macon State, along with Wesleyan.
“The goal is to partner up with the other two schools for at least one event a semester, and [to] create a community amongst the students attending the various colleges around Macon,” adds Drury.
Seeing that the event rotates around Macon, Mercer is hoping to garner more support from its students in the upcoming years. In the future, all schools hope to have a larger attendance of students from all three of the colleges.
Joanna Malcom, a senior communication studies major, said she “had a blast running the Monster Dash.”
This was her second time running in costume and she would be “more than willing to do it again.” Malcom added “It’s definitely an entertaining experience to see people running around dressed up. I am very glad that Mercer was able to work with Macon State and Wesleyan to collaborate for the event. I think it was a great opportunity to build the college community here in Macon,” said Malcom.
“Running through the center of Macon State’s campus was pretty cool, but part of the run was dark. If I weren’t graduating, I would love to run the event again, but I would really enjoy seeing a lot more participation from Mercer students. I think it’s great to see all the Macon colleges collaborating on an event.”
“We all live in this community and should support one another, and participating in a fun event is a really easy way to get that sort of collaboration started,” said senior Kimberly Campbell.
Commenting on the collaboration between the various colleges around Macon, senior Jenny Fingles said, “I think working together is a great way to get all of the colleges together and keeping the community involved. There were a lot of families and cute kids dressed up for the event.”
One critique Junior Mary Catherine Rosher had, which Fingles also commented on, was that “it was really dark. Maybe if the event were earlier or on a Saturday morning, I think that would be better.”
Despite the poor lighting, Rosher said that she “really enjoyed the Monster Dash and will definitely run it again next year. As far as the collaboration effort goes, it was nice seeing so many college kids involved. There were very few people that did not go to either Mercer, Wesleyan, or Macon State which was kind of neat.”
Participants enjoyed running in the event dressed in costumes. Whether it was the one mile fun run or the 5K race, runners from Mercer, Wesleyan and Macon State enjoyed the Monster Dash event.
(10/30/11 5:20am)
As the crowds gathered into the Intramural Courts around 10 p.m. on an October Saturday night, the air filled with the excitement of Mercer Basketball.
One of the most popular student events each academic year, Mercer Madness, was held on Saturday night, Oct. 22, from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. in the University Center Intramural Courts. This annual event serves as the official kick-off for the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. The celebration always includes an array of exciting events. This year, unlike the past couple of years, featured a more engaging and party-like atmosphere. One significant difference was the draw of the intramural dodgeball tournament as well as jousting and basketball inflatables commonly featured at other popular events throughout the year. In addition, there was free food, giveaways, music, and a three-point competition between two players from each of the men’s and women’s teams as well as a random boy and girl from the student body.
The event was an overall success. The Pep Band and Cheerleaders ushered in the new basketball season with loud and spirited cheers which were quickly followed by the men’s and women’s basketball teams introducing themselves and inviting the student body to come out, have fun, and cheer on the teams as they begin their exciting season. Come out to support the Bears in the first games of the season; a double header on Thursday, Nov. 4 starting off with the women’s game at 5 p.m., and the men’s game immediately following at 7:30 p.m.
(10/20/11 12:20am)
Have you ever wondered where you would be without your professors and advisors? I sure have.
As the second semester of my junior year approaches, I have found myself in the midst of the age-old dilemma: What am I doing with my life?
I entered Mercer with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. I was right on track. I had great classes, and professors that I loved.
However, their fresh perspectives opened my eyes to new possibilities outside of my pharmaceutical plan.
As a result, I considered taking more English classes because of my FYS professor. I also debated taking Calculus II because of my Calculus I professor.
With Pharmacy School in mind, I figured Calculus II would be the more appropriate choice.
I went to my advisor to get my schedule approved.
Having not excelled in my Calculus I class, my advisor told me that I would be setting myself up for failure by taking Calculus II. She refused to approve my schedule.
Determined to prove her wrong, I signed up for the class anyways, and made an A.
During the course of that semester, I found I disliked Biology and threw my Pharmacy plan out the window.
In crisis mode, and still fuming over my advisor’s “advice,” I went to my math professor for guidance.
She convinced me that I would make a great addition to the Math department.
I found comfort in this idea and became a math major with her as my new advisor.
Still wanting to help people, I decided I would teach.
Seven math classes and an education minor later, I have discovered I don’t want to teach and I don’t love math anymore.
I’m only three classes short of the math major, and I’m going to finish. Yet I found I was basing my future on an admiration for a professor instead of the subject.
I have since picked up a second major in English.
Is finishing a major in two years, possible? Yes. Insane? Definitely.
I am fortunate to have enough room in my schedule to finish the English major, but many of my friends are not as lucky.
Many are unhappy with their pre-professional programs, and if they were to change now they risk being in undergrad for two, maybe even three years past projected graduation dates.
Having almost been in the same situation, I can only ask myself, where would I be had my advisors and professors taken a more unbiased stance when offering advice?
I understand that professors want their department to be “popular,” but shouldn’t the well-being of the student always be the main goal?
Just because a student shows an interest in a subject doesn’t mean they want to major in it.
Yes, we as students should focus on certain areas to ensure that we graduate on time, but why must we be rushed into decisions by our advisors and professors?
Is Mercer to blame with how courses are scheduled? Probably not.
Are all advisors to blame? I don’t think so. But we, as students, look to our advisors for guidance about the unknown.
We rely on their experiences to plan our futures. With great power comes great responsibility.
Do advisors and professors realize how much influence and power they have over their students’ lives?
Well maybe they should think about that.
Comments, questions, responses and concerns can be sent to Cecilia.villagomez@live.mercer.edu.
(10/20/11 12:00am)
Papa Dukes is the story of two Mercer students, Jaron Bergeron and Victor Dias, striving to “bring a unique specialty product to coffee aficionados in Macon as well as around the Country.
With specialty arabica beans direct from the Dias Estate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Papa Dukes Coffee gives the consumer the closest relationship to the farm possible while maintaining superior quality in comparison with other brands,” said Bergeron in a recent interview.
Papa Dukes Coffee found an unusual start on the tennis courts of Mercer University almost two years ago in January 2010. Dias and Bergeron, both members of the Mercer Men’s Tennis Team, began the discussion of different entrepreneurial ventures. Bergeron said that, four short months later, their discussions turned into reality when Dias and Bergeron appeared “at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Annual Symposium in Anaheim, Calif. in April of that year.”
Papa Dukes Coffee strives to carry forth the rich heritage, which reaches back to 1876, and tradition of the Dias Estate in Sao Paulo, Brazil; while making a superior product produced outside of the United States accessible to American consumers in a timely and professional manner. Another goal of Papa Dukes that Bergeron said, “is to cultivate a relationship where customers know the farmer; where they are educated on the origin and preparation of their coffee beans.”
Papa Dukes Coffee’s website gives a synopsis of the rich history and characteristics of the Dias Estate. Describing the vastness of the farm’s area, the website states the farm consists “of 108 hectares and 150 hectares...reaching a total of 258 hectares and about 200,000 units of Arabic coffee trees, with mundo novo, catuai and bourbon.” The first plantation of the Dias estate “was developed in 1876 with 100% Arabic bourbon coffee....Today, Victor Dias, the sixth generation of the ‘Junqueira Ferreira Dias’ family, continues to provide the hard work necessary for the high quality of the coffee that has marked the family tradition since 1876.”
Thus far, Papa Dukes is experiencing growing success. They currently have an active social media presence with the campaign designed and maintained by fellow Mercer student, Kaitlyn Schmitt. This campaign has allowed Papa Dukes to stay in touch with the college community around Macon as well as help attract recognition around the country.
When asked how they see Papa Dukes Coffee growing in the future, Bergeron said, “Much like the friendship that was strengthened as a result of the founding of Papa Dukes, [they] look forward to seeing the company grow and prosper each year.” First, Papa Dukes hopes to continue to develop their brand around the local Macon community. However, they do have a growth plan for trying to develop on the national scale.
Having graduated Mercer this past spring majoring in Management and Finance, Bergeron obtained skills in financial management as well as accounting and other developmental strategies that have played a crucial role in the development of Papa Dukes Coffee. Dias, a current Engineering student at Mercer, has been integral with applying his knowledge of process flow and quality management to Papa Dukes’ products. They believe that Mercer has assisted them greatly and will continue to play and integral role in their development.
For those interested in placing an order or finding more information about their company, visit Papa Dukes Coffee’s website at papadukescoffee.com
(10/06/11 12:18am)
The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank in Macon, Ga. is low on food supplies. As a result, many of the Middle Georgia charitable organizations that rely on the Food Bank to help stock their food pantries are suffering. Also, many of the other support agencies and charities in the area have reported an increased need of supplies and almost all of them have noted that giving is down. Ronald Raleigh, executive director for the Middle Georgia Food Bank, said the poor economy is most likely to blame for an increase in demand for food during the past three years. In regards to supply, Rev. Stacey Harwell, Minister of Community Building at Centenary, said, “The problem is, of course, all due to unemployment. Many of our regular givers have been unemployed during some point in the unemployment crisis or have had to withstand lower hours or lower pay with no raise or bonuses.” As executive director of Macon Outreach at Mulberry, Johnny Hathcock has been relying less on the food bank and more on area churches to meet the increased demand for food. Due to the help from the churches in the area, Hathcock said, Macon Outreach is able to provide groceries through its food pantry and hot meals through its feeding program.In addition to Macon Outreach’s feeding program, Centenary holds a community breakfast every Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m.Mercer students from Wesley Foundation of Macon are volunteering their time to help with the breakfast. “While [this breakfast] does not fall into the food bank category, the community breakfast is a free meal offered to whoever shows up on Sundays,” said D. Merricks, campus pastor of the Wesley Foundation of Macon.As a general trend, Centenary has moved away from giving groceries, but instead has focused on helping with utilities. During the summer, utility bills are so high that some people are faced with choosing between feeding their families or paying for air conditioning. “We strive to help folks gain stability through our transitional housing program and community garden,” said Harwell. One of the ways to decrease the shortage of food supplies is to look towards these community gardens. The garden at Centenary often has such an abundance of food that some of the food is thrown out. Other gardens exist around Macon, such as Pleasant Hill’s garden, and Mulberry Street’s. Local churches are not the only ones with service projects to help those in need. Alpha Phi Omega, Mercer’s service fraternity, has participated in various service events hosted by different organizations such as Be A Good NeighBear. During these last few weeks, APO “has put together toiletry kits for Loaves & Fishes Ministry,” said Chantal Gunn, a junior. She is APO’s Interchapter and Alumni Liaison. In addition to those specific service projects, each week APO sets aside time to volunteer at the Senior Center on Adams Street, the Georgia Academy for the Blind and the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, among others.It is not necessary to be members of these various organizations to volunteer and get involved. Local Engagement Against Poverty (LEAP) events that Mercer holds are open to any Mercer student who would like to get involved. Also, for more information about how to help the food bank and the agencies it services, call (478)742-3958 or (478)741-8777, or visit mgcfb.org. For more information on how to help with Centenary’s community garden, contact Jill Vanderhoek at moody.vanderhoek@gmail.com.
(10/05/11 10:47pm)
The symphony of bulldozers moving large amounts of dirt, clay and cement has recently added themselves to the soundtrack of life on Mercer’s Campus. To accompany the noise, a black fence has blocked off an area of through-traffic that connected the east side of campus to the west. Students and faculty alike have had no choice but to notice the massive amounts of construction that is happening on the south side of campus. However, no one has explicitly stated what the construction is for, and, as a result, rumors have filled the air. It is common knowledge that Mercer has reinstated at football team after a 70-year hiatus. The inaugural season has been scheduled for fall 2013; the need for a football stadium and the timing of this reinstatement coincides perfectly with the current state of construction. The question then becomes: is the construction that is encroaching on the various driving spaces, the intramural softball and intramural soccer fields for the new football stadium? To address this question, Larry Brumley, Senior Vice President for Marketing Communications, confirmed the rumors floating around campus about the construction of the new football stadium. The site work that is underway on the south side of campus is indeed for “the intercollegiate football program, which will resume competition in the fall of 2013.” In addition to the football field, the preliminary construction site work underway is also “for the field and field house to serve as home for Mercer’s intercollegiate lacrosse program, which began competition last spring.” The projected price tag for the field house and field with turf is around $6 million, none of which is being drawn from educational funds or other Mercer resources, but rather being funded based off of donations and fundraisers. In an interview conducted earlier this year, Jim Cole, Mercer University’s Athletic Director, offered a brief comment about the size of the stadium. He stated, “We don’t want a big stadium... We’re looking at around 6,000 seats.” However, in a more recent interview, Larry Brumley stated that “Architectural plans for the stadium are still being finalized, and more details about the seating capacity and configuration will be announced at the formal groundbreaking ceremony during Homecoming Weekend.” As Homecoming Weekend approaches, more information about the details of Mercer’s plans for the future of the athletics program is being revealed. As far as groundbreaking for the construction of the football field is concerned, the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11th.
(09/22/11 1:35am)
Coming off a 2-0 win against Appalachian State, the Mercer men’s soccer team fell short to in-state rival Georgia State in a very physical game at GSU.
In the first half of the game, freshman Carl-Oscar Andersson set up a perfect ball that sophomore Ehjayson Henry used to slide past Georgia State to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, in the last quarter of the game, GSU was able to get two goals to secure their own lead of 2-1 that would win them the game.
Returning home for their fifth game of the season, versus UCF, the Bears shared an emotional moment on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 as we all took time to honor and give tribute to those who have lost their lives as a result of the act of terror that happened on Sept. 11 of 2001. Chief Gary Collins of Mercer Police offered words of reflection on the events of 9/11 and America’s response since then, followed by a moment of silence. The moment of silence was broken by a lone bag piper of Mercer University’s Pipes and Drums playing a solemn Amazing Grace.
Once the game kicked off, the Knights dominated in possession and shots on goal. Mercer was playing undermanned due to an injury and a red card in the previous match. As a result, Coach Ruzzo had a short bench to work with. In the first half, UCF took a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, UCF managed to obtain a 4-0 lead until sophomore Ehjayson Henry faked left of the defense and barreled the ball into the back of the net, putting the score at 4-1. Shortly following Henry’s goal, UCF scored their fifth and final goal of the game. Despite the firepower UCF had, senior Ryan Young held a strong defensive presence throughout the game and also managed to score his first goal of the 2011 season with a free kick in the 84th minute. The final score read 5-2 in favor of UCF.
The Mercer men’s soccer team closed out their sixth game of the season with a very physical, gut-wrenching, yet ultimately rewarding home game against VMI. The Bears clearly dominated the entire game despite an early 1-0 advantage for VMI, gained 21 minutes into the game. With seven minutes left on the clock in the first half, Mercer scored a goal to tie the game but the goal was immediately withdrawn.
Walking into the second half, another Mercer goal was frustratingly withdrawn just a few minutes in. By this point in the game, the home crowd began to get rowdy and vocal with their own frustrations and the Bears seemed to respond. In the 79th minute of the game, freshman Ashani Samuels scored from a corner kick serve for his first collegiate goal to tie the game. The crowd went wild. Finally making their way onto the scoreboard, the Bears began to act like an entirely different team. Junior Will Betts scored with 10 minutes left in the game. This 2-1 lead was quickly followed by another solid goal issued from redshirt sophomore Bryson Jones, who obtained the ball by way of a beautiful assist from freshman Carl-Oscar Andersson and junior Joey Heavner. It was an exciting end to a 3-1 victory over VMI.
After the win against VMI, the men’s soccer team now finds themselves with an overall record of 2-3-1. The Bears will kick off conference play on Sept. 29 as they take on North Florida.
(09/21/11 11:38pm)
The first things that come to mind when people talk about dorm rooms are usually random movie posters taped to the walls, mix-and-matched furniture and bedding, a fuzzy throw rug and maybe a fathead sticker or two.
There is nothing wrong with any of these classic dorm room decorations, but there are students around Mercer’s campus who have drifted away from these classics and moved into a whole new ream. The realm of Interior Design: College Edition.
Everyone knows that college students are on a budget. Tuition can get pretty expensive, and not to mention those prices of the ‘required’ books that we never even open.
Ridiculous, right? As a result, decorating your dorm room can get kind of tricky. After finding a few well-decorated rooms and interviewing the tenants, creating a well-decorated dorm room is actually surprisingly easy.
The first step in decorating any room is deciding what inspires you. Alex Preston, a junior Media Studies and Theater double major, got inspired by his obsessions: “dance, Broadway musicals, and all those corny trivial things.” He was also inspired by functionality. Preston lives in a studio apartment, so he has to take floor space into consideration.
Sophia Rivera, a sophomore Math major, was inspired by her plans for the future and the memories she created last year here at Mercer, using elements of both to fill her room.
Lyndssey Autrey, also a sophomore Math major, decided to use her roommates for inspiration when decorating her living room. The chosen spokesperson for her entire room, she says, “we wanted to represent each of our personalities within the room. We also wanted our living room to be a place we could feel at home in, rather than in just a typical ‘dorm room.’ We wanted pieces that were calm and comforting instead of an off-the-wall combination of posters.”
The general consensus from Preston, Rivera, and Autrey for decorating each of their rooms on a budget was that with a little ingenuity, anything is possible.
Preston decorated his room with things he has obtained over the years: posters he has collected, hand-crafted art pieces and various newspaper articles. He claims, with a laugh, “My style is like scrappy chic.”
Like Preston, Rivera spent little to no money on decorations by using things she created—mostly arts and craft projects—to decorate her room.
Decorating was a little more expensive but reasonable for Autrey and her roommates, all of whom were on a budget. They each split the cost three ways by buying one or two elements to complete the room. Aside from those minimal costs, they each brought their own stuff into the living room. She says, “We used throws and lamps to accent the purchased pillows and curtains and then placed our extra chairs in a way that allowed everyone to feel included when they came over.”
Preston, Rivera, and Autrey were asked what kind of tips they could offer to other Mercerians decorating on a budget, and each gave a different (but helpful) response.
Rivera suggested inviting friends over for a crafts party. She said, “Buy some 99-cent paint and you are good to go.”
When it comes to shopping for new things, Autrey offered, “Go to places like Wal-Mart or Ross. They have things at a much cheaper price, but are still able to look like a college student’s apartment.” Pillows and blankets allow for a comfortable, homey environment while remaining relatively cheap, especially if being split between multiple people.
Preston’s prized advice is to “Not rule out digging through your garage or attic.” Even hitting up the local Salvation Army can prove to be very fruitful. He says, “Find something old and crappy and make it yours!”
Like the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Find your inspiration and run with it!
(09/21/11 10:32pm)
Macon’s 35th annual Macon Labor Day Road Race was held on Labor Day, September 5, 2011. The Labor Day Road Race website advertised the race as a “family-friendly Macon tradition” in which both a 5K and 10K race would take place. The race also holds team competitions “for even more fun,” as well as special kids’ activities at the park near the finish line.
A few Mercer students took advantage of the annual race by participating in the 10K event. The race started up near RunFit Sports on Forsyth road and finished in Central City Park. After talking to students who participated in the race, the general consensus was that the weather was great and the race was a lot of fun to run.
Mary Catherine Rosher, a junior Holistic Child major, ran the Macon Labor Day Road Race for the first time this year.
An avid runner, Mary Catherine did not find the course itself very challenging, with the exception of two decent sized hills. Joined by her high school cross-country coach, they “didn’t do too badly.”
“It was nice to see some spectators throughout the course cheering on the runners,” she said.
For Kimberly Campbell, a senior history major, this was her second time participating in the road race.
Last year, she and her friend Joanna Malcom ran the 5K. This year they decided to step it up a notch and run the 10K.
Both Rosher and Campbell commented on their overall experience of running the race and how it felt to get involved with events in Macon.
Rosher said that she “definitely felt more involved with the Macon community and [she] would like do the race again next year.”
Campbell enjoys running in the Macon community, and has done so for the past three years. “I try to participate in at least 4 local races every semester, and they are usually all pretty unique.”
Last year, Campbell and Malcom ran as Mario and Luigi in the Trek or Treat 5K, which will be held this year on Saturday, October 29th.
This race benefits Jay’s Hope Foundations, and costumes are encouraged.
Another fun, yearly event that Campbell has participated in is the Reindeer Run.
This year that race will be held on the first weekend in December.
Campbell said, “Even though [she is] from the Middle Georgia area, running has really helped [her] learn more about what’s available in Macon.”
The Macon running community is certainly growing, and as a result the Macon community as a whole is getting stronger.
The local races that are being held every year around Macon have certainly gained a following, with new people joining in on the fun every year.
These races bring together different organizations and businesses as well as expose people to different parts of Macon. Getting out there and participating in these events, even just to be a spectator, will help students learn something new about this wonderful city.