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(02/22/16 4:10am)
A mixed crowd of community members and Mercer students and faculty packed Newton Chapel at the Harry Vaughan Smith Lecture series on Feb. 16 and 17.
Each year, since 1992, the Christianity department at Mercer hosts the Harry Vaughan Smith Lectures to invite distinguished individuals ranging from university professors to ministers to speak on a variety of topics relating to Christian scholarship and theology.
This year, Mercer invited Charles Marsh, a native of Mobile, Alabama, down from Virginia to give a lecture series on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, titled “Dietrich Bonhoeffer: New Perspectives of His Life, Thoughts, and Promise.”[sidebar title="Who is Charles Marsh?" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="off"]
Marsh is the Commonwealth professor of religious studies and director of the Project on Lived Theology at the University of Virginia. He has written two books on Bonhoeffer’s life: Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Promise of His Theology (Oxford, 1994) and Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Knopf, New York, 2014).
Graduating from Harvard Divinity School, Marsh earned his Ph.D. in 1989 at the University of Virginia. Marsh served as the Ellen Maria Gorrissen Fellow at the American Academy of Berlin in 2010 after receiving the 2009 John Simon Guggenheim Fellows in the Creative Arts.
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All three lectures given by Marsh, in a similar way, narrated the life of Bonhoeffer and his Christian journey.
The lectures were divided into three different talks with the first, titled “I Heard the Gospel Preached in the Negro Churches of America”: Bonhoeffer’s Spiritual Awakening, taking place at 10:50 a.m. on Feb. 16; the second, titled Theological Storm Troopers on the March: Bonhoeffer’s Protest against the Nazi’s Twisted Cross, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16; and the third, titled “Are We Still of Any Use?” Bonhoeffer’s Final Questions and the Christian Witness in the 21st Century, at 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 17.
Although Marsh presented a phenomenal lecture on Bonhoeffer’s life, and with great detail, Marsh could be hard to follow for the unseasoned theologian and non-Christian studies enthusiast.
Even Marina Mixon, Mercer sophomore and Cure Mercer club president, who read about Bonhoeffer prior to the lecture series, said that she participated in a “one hour theological debate” to clarify with her professor after attending the lecture. Mixon is featuring Bonhoeffer in an essay due for her INT 201 class, Building Community.
Bonhoeffer was born on Feb. 4, 1906 in what was then Breslau, Prussia of the German Empire (now Wroclaw, Poland). Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran Pastor and theologian. He was a key founding member of the Confessing Church and his writing on Christianity in a secular world has become widely influential. His most notable book is The Cost of Discipleship (1937). Bonhoeffer died on April 9, 1945, at age 39, at the Flossenburg concentration camp in Germany, just two weeks before the camp was liberated by the 90th and 97th Infantry Divisions from the United States.
Overall the lecture series was a success, showing a great turnout at all three events. In particular, Marsh’s second lecture showed a full audience and his third was in front of a packed Newton Chapel. Marsh said that the second lecture was quite special for him because his parents, Bob and Ira Marsh, were both in attendance.
The Mercer students, faculty and community guests were very much involved in Marsh’s lecture. They laughed when appropriate and were quiet when the subject called for it.. At the conclusion of his lectures, Marsh thanked the audience and took a few questions.
At the final lecture, many community members stayed back to discuss what they had heard and met with Marsh personally as the Mercer students hurried to their classes.
Mercer professor of theology, Allen Lewis, said that Marsh made Bonhoeffer more compelling of a character in an intimate interview. Lewis is familiar with Bonhoeffer through his scholarship in theology and ethics.
Lewis went on to say that he felt that Marsh’s topic was quite timely in that it dealt with Christianity and politics. Lewis described how Bonhoeffer’s situation consisted of economic politics and nationalism distorting Christianity and linked it mildly to the current U.S. political climate and presidential campaigns.
“We should be aware and sensitive to that,” Lewis said.
In all, Lewis said that this year’s lecture series was not better nor worse than previous years, as he explained that they have all been enriching and different.
(01/28/16 3:45am)
Mercer University Opera’s three-day production of the musical “Oklahoma!” opened at the Grand Opera House in Macon, Georgia on Thursday, Jan. 21 and closed Saturday, Jan. 23. The student production was well received by local theatergoers and was a highlight of the weekend.
“Oklahoma!” debuted at the St. James Theatre in New York on March 31, 1943. The Broadway smash was the first musical written by the legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and would run for a total of 2,212 performances spanning over 15 years.
Taking place in the Oklahoma Territory in 1906, the play is a love story between the headstrong Laurey Williams and the bowlegged cowboy Curly McLain. There is a secondary love plot between the boyish bronc-busting Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée Ado Annie.
Opening night at the Grand was performed in front of an intimate but eager audience. By the time the show closed on Saturday, the cast performed in front of a full house.
Under the direction of Martha Malone and the musical direction of Dr. Richard Kosowski, the production maintained the iconic spirit of “Oklahoma!”
The musical was subtle, capturing the essence of times past with the same grandeur of its Broadway counterparts – and Mercer nailed it.
With students performing well-known numbers like “Kansas City” and “The Farmer and the Cowman,” expectations were not lost. It was noticeable that not all of the students were trained dancers, but this was expected and forgivable.
Choreographer Joy Mote did an exceptional job with the show’s large dance numbers, especially with her adaptation of the “Dream Ballet.”
The Mercer production was very well cast — Malone and Kosowski’s choices for the show’s principal characters made perfect sense.
Senior Clay Mote took on the role of Curly McLain in a very believable performance. Mote’s subtle acting moments during each song were impeccable.
Laurey Williams was performed by junior Mary Lathem, who also edits the Arts & Lifestyle section of The Cluster. Her performance truly captured the spirit of Laurey’s unrefined beauty. Lathem brought a youthful charm to the character, which is not often seen in interpretations of the role.
Will Parker was played by sophomore Minnesota native Peter Schultz, and the tenacious Ado Annie was played by graduate student Kelsey Tinsman. Both performances were true to their roles and created memorable moments. Laughter from the audience was a near constant when they were on stage.
The comical Ali Hakim was played by senior McKinley Starks in a silly and often ridiculous performance. Starks had great comedic timing and created a wonderful atmosphere for audience members and his fellow actors alike.
Some scenes during the show, especially during opening night, teeter-tottered between actors rushing through their lines or not acting authentically. This smoothed over during the course of the run and did not take away from the enjoyment of the show.
Additionally, some of the actors on stage were not always consistent in their dialects. However, this was again forgivable and could be overlooked.
By far the most notable performances were by graduate students Beau Palmer as Jud Fry and Ruby Stillions as Aunt Eller. Palmer’s acting was haunting, and his many years as a professional vocalist created shining moments in his solo scenes. Stillions embodied the essence of Aunt Eller, who in many ways is the plotline’s anchor. Stillions’ acting was sound and came from an authentic place.
Mercer University Opera’s rendition of “Oklahoma!” began production in September and ended the program’s five-year absence from the Grand Opera House.
(01/28/16 2:42am)
Known for thrilling performances and an eclectic and demanding repertoire, the Dance Theatre of Harlem from New York City, New York is coming to Macon.
Calling itself a “leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim,” the Dance Theatre of Harlem will be performing at the historic Douglass Theatre on Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
For their first time appearing in Macon, the theatre company will showcase repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary ballet. Light and airy orchestral selections will be highlighted during the performance from musical greats, such as Chopin and Tchaikovsky.
Calling the upcoming show “very engaging,” booking agent Edward Schoelwer has been with the company for 22 years.
In a phone interview, Schoelwer said that the show will be a lecture performance where the audience will begin by sitting in on a ballet class and then quickly go on a journey of understanding dance theatre.
During the show, both female and male ballet dancers will be featured going over movement that is expected of them during a performance. Then in a group effort, the dancers will perform excerpts from their company repertoire.
The Dance Theatre of Harlem is expecting a family audience and welcomes all members of Macon to come enjoy the performance, especially men. Schoelwer predicts that the men in the audience will find the performance more impactful because of the unexpected nature of everyday ballet class.
Schoelwer also underlines that there will be some audience interaction at the upcoming performance.
In addition to the upcoming show, the Dance Theatre of Harlem would like to return to Macon in the future for a full dance theatre performance.
Aiming for about 15 weeks of touring, the Dance Theatre of Harlem performs globally every year. Recently the company performed in Israel and at the Revenna Festival in Italy.
The company will be heading to Augusta, Georgia after their performance at the Douglass Theatre.
Charles Henry Douglass, an entrepreneur born 1870 in Macon, established the Douglass Theatre as a premiere movie theatre and vaudeville hall for African American performers within the state of Georgia. As a member of the Theatre Owners Booker Association (TOBA), Douglass’ Theatre was one of 40 such venues in the nation.. The theater operated for more than 52 years when it closed its doors in 1972.
The theatre was reopened on Jan. 11,, 1997, fully restored and serving members of all races and cultures.
The theatre boasts a legacy of hosting jazz talents, such as Ida Cox, Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, comedians such as Butterbeans and Susie, and musical giants such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington.
The Douglass Theatre is located at 355 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Macon, Georgia. For more information and how to purchase tickets, please visit douglasstheatre.org.
For more information on the Dance Theatre of Harlem please visit their website at dancetheatreofharlem.org.
(12/06/15 8:37pm)
The Georgia chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singers (GANATS) holds an annual student audition, giving students an opportunity to gain audition experience, place in a variety of categories and receive state recognition.
This year, Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music sent 23 singers to the event in Statesboro, Georgia at Georgia Southern University. The student auditions took place on Nov. 6 and 7. Of the 23 students who auditioned, 11 students placed in the preliminary competition. Freshman James Hoskins, sophomore Joy Mote and graduate student Ruby Stillions went on to receive first place overall in the state for their categories. Senior Clay Mote was named the winner of two overall state categories.
In an email, Martha Malone, the chairwoman of vocal studies at Mercer, said that this was an “important statewide competition,” highlighting that this was a competitive event where 375 individual auditions were heard over the two-day period.
GANATS consist of 28 divisions, involving high school, college and adult categories in classical and musical theater styles.
“The Vocal Studies faculty are proud of the singers and pianists who represented the university and School of Music,” Malone said.
Of those who placed at the 2015 GANATS auditions, Ruby Stillions, a graduate vocal performance major at Mercer, won Overall State Winner for Adult Musical Theater Women. At her student audition, Stillions performed “Nobody Makes a Pass at Me” from the musical “Pins and Needles.”
“The event went extremely well,”Stillions said, noting that Mercer was well represented in the students who placed. She also said that there was a tremendous level of support that the students gave to one another.
Stillions studies under Dr. Richard Kosowski at the Townsend School of Music and cites him as the reason she has progressed as much as she has.
Mercer’s GANATS prelimanary competition winners are as follows:
First Year College Men
James Hoskins: 1st Place Prelim, Overall State Winner
James Ruffin: 3rd Place Prelim
Second Year College Women
Joy Mote: 1st Place Prelim, Overall State Winner
Abbie Paris: 1st Place Prelim, State Finalist
Fourth/Fifth Year College Women
Betsy Swanson: 1st Place Prelim, State Finalist
Dominique Williams: 2nd Place Prelim, State Finalist
Fourth/Fifth Year College Men
Clay Mote: 1st Place Prelim, Overall State Winner
James Varghese: 2nd Place Prelim, State Finalist
Advanced College Women
Ruby Stillions: 1st Place Prelim, State Finalist
Randi Short: 2nd Place Prelim, State Finalist
Lower College Musical Theater Women
Joy Mote: 3rd Place Prelim
Upper College Musical Theater Men
Clay Mote: 1st Place Prelim, Overall State Winner
Adult Musical Theater Women
Ruby Stillions: 1st Place Prelim, Overall State Winner
(11/12/15 5:08am)
The Mercer University Women’s Chamber Choir is currently preparing for their upcoming concert, “Thanksgiving Song.”
Under the direction of Dr. Stanley Roberts, the all-women’s ensemble has been rehearsing a selection of choral arrangements in celebration of the season of Thanksgiving.
Highlighting selected choral pieces such as “If Music Be the Food of Love” by David Dickau, Roberts said that the musical selections for this concert embrace the themes of giving and love.
The annual “Thanksgiving Song” concert has been performed seasonally at Mercer for around 10 years.
“[It] keeps getting better and better,” Roberts said.
In a class rehearsal, the Mercer Women’s Chamber Choir seemed jubilant about the upcoming concert and well-rehearsed. Their rehearsal included an acapella arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” and the choral piece “Autumn” by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley.
A feature unique to this year’s concert is that the Mercer Singers will be singing alongside the Mercer Women’s Chamber Choir. The Mercer Singers are a co-ed ensemble, comprised of soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices. In this concert, the choirs will come together to sing the well-known arrangement of “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl.
“That’s like picking your favorite child,” Roberts said, when asked about his favorite song. Yet, Roberts did go on to say that he is most excited for “Coo Coo Bird,” a bluesy tune arranged by Alice Parker.
Roberts showed all-around excitement for this season’s concert, saying the choir is “so good” this year.
The “Thanksgiving Song” concert will be performed on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3:00 p.m. in Fickling Hall on the Mercer University campus. For more information on this year’s concert, visit the Townsend School of Music website at music.mercer.edu.
(11/11/15 10:57pm)
Before you take off for Thanksgiving break, hosting a “Friendsgiving” feast is the perfect way to celebrate the season with friends and co-workers before the holiday arrives. Here are a few helpful tips on how to make your gathering a success.
Share the wealth.
During this season of Thanksgiving, make sure to distribute the work evenly. A potluck is the perfect way to throw a successful meal on a budget. By asking everyone to bring a little something to share, you can cut your spending and preparation time by more than half. As an added bonus, this also allows your guest to feel more included in the party planning.
Be anything but traditional.
One of the most expensive dishes of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. To bring down the cost of your feast, go with something smaller and more affordable such as a roasted chicken. You could serve one or two birds to your guests and still spend less than the cost of purchasing and roasting a turkey on your own.
Also, if time is limited with finals right around the corner, trim some of the fat by purchasing a cooked rotisserie chicken from a local deli or grocery store.
Change the menu.
Since Friendsgiving is usually way less stressful than Thanksgiving, feel free to change the old-fashioned menu for something much more manageable. Instead of a Thanksgiving meal with green bean casserole and a complex stuffing recipe, try something different, like turkey tacos (see recipe below). This recipe asks for fewer and more affordable ingredients and does not call for all of the fixings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Serve with a light side salad and citrus-based vinaigrette, and you are all set. Oh, and don’t forget the chips and salsa!
Use these tips when budgeting your Friendsgiving holiday and it will surely be a success.
Mexican Turkey Tacos
Tacos, hard or soft shelled
Roasted Turkey (white or dark meat), shredded
Corn Tortillas
¼ Cup Cilantro, finely chopped
½ Cup Cabbage, roughly chopped
Limes, quartered
Favorite Red Salsa or Salsa Verde
Pickled Radishes (optional) : One Bunch of radishes, halved and thinly slices
½ Cup of White Distilled Vinegar
A pinch of sugar
Salt to taste
First, in a separate bowl, mix cilantro and chopped cabbage evenly and set aside.
In a hot pan over medium heat, warm and toast corn tortillas on either side. Make sure they are still soft to touch.
On a separate plate, top toasted corn tortillas with a liberal portion of shredded roasted turkey meat. Then, add a small handful of cilantro and cabbage mixture over each individual taco. Squeeze fresh lime juice and add a dollop of salsa over each taco. Serve immediately.
Pickled Radishes (optional)
In a separate bowl, place halved and thinly sliced radishes, and pour the white distilled vinegar over top. Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar. Add salt to taste. Lightly toss radishes in vinegar and set in a cool dry place or in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
When plating tacos, place a few pickled radishes directly on the top or on the side.
Serve with Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) and pumpkin spice lattes for dessert.
(10/29/15 4:41am)
Much has been stirring in the media on what to make of the presidential race and the GOP candidates.
This presidential election cycle seems to feel somewhat strange. In this race, so many calamities have been made over the Republican candidates that it has been increasingly harder to find out about the individual candidates themselves and their real qualifications.
There is always something bizarre happening in the headlines regarding the Republican primary nominees and their campaign trail. Donald Trump is the target for some bombastic statement, Carly Fiorina is being discussed as the businesswoman and Jeb Bush is of course always the brother of George W. Bush and the son of George H. W. Bush, senior.
Case in point: Ben Carson Defends Claim That Holocaust Could Have Been Prevented If Jews Had Guns (TIME).
This article discussed important topics like Carson’s stance on U.S. gun control and links it back to his recently-published book, A Perfect Union, where he talks about Nazi gun control. It does not talk about his concrete qualifications as a presidential candidate.
Debating gun control policies and the eradication of the right to bear arms can be something of a moot point. The right to bear arms is a constitutional right, and the likelihood of its removal is incredibly low. This is because the United States is a country of tradition. In 239 years, the U.S. Constitution has never radically changed, only amended 17 times. The constitution of France has completely changed 15 times in a period of about 175 years.
There were more pressing issues that TIME Magazine could have discussed with Ben Carson.
So many weightless talking points are being overly-publicized that the real meat of the issue is being lost. Most trending articles from prime media organizations are discussing what the polls are saying, what candidates are falling behind, and who is in the lead now. It has become tremendously daunting to find a valid argument or critique on who is the best candidate in this presidential race and why.
This primary presidential race is becoming a disarray of what is going on and when. To be frank, a great sum these headlines sound something like a horse race.
In a Google news search for “Republican Presidential Race,” some of the top headlines in recent days have been, Poll: Donald Trump still leads, Ben Carson in second (CBS News); As Rand Paul stalls, Ted Cruz seeks to pick up support among libertarians (Washington Post); Today in Politics: Republican Candidates Risk Falling Into a House Divide (New York Times).
These are sensationalized debates and arguments. They are distracting to the goal of this primary Presidential race. A Presidential candidate will be nominated in March of next year.
The majority of articles should be written regarding the observation of the candidate’s quality. How they fare as a potential president. It should not be about the overarching observation of the Republican primary race. The GOP candidates themselves are most important in this discussion, not the polls explaining who is in the lead with the current vote or when a potential candidate will drop out, or talking about a moot point topic.
“There is a lot about these candidates that we should know,” said Erick Erickson, writer of RedState and as seen on Fox News, during a meet and greet at Mercer University on Oct. 20. Erickson elaborated on the misguided information given when media outlets report on trending GOP polls.
The obsession with who’s on top and what might happen is inhibiting progress for the search for a good quality candidate. It seems that the focus has gone astray in finding this next Republican Presidential nominee.
Well, let’s discuss the polls: In a recent CBS News poll released for Sunday, Oct. 11, Republican primary voters showed a possible weak link in how they are electing this next candidate.
Among the most important candidate qualities for deciding the primary vote, Republicans said that they are honesty and trustworthiness (39%), that the candidate is a strong leader (36%) and that the candidate cares about “people like me” (13%). At the bottom, the poll ranked has the right experience (8%) and can win the general election (2%) as less important qualities.
While honesty and trustworthiness is an understandable deciding factor, it is striking to see that level of experience and ability to win are qualities favored at the bottom. All five areas are significant, but why is it that the candidate’s qualifications and ability to win the presidency the least important elements? This may explain the hysteria among the headlines.
In any good presidential race, candidates need to be looked at as potential employees. The voters are the employer. The obvious search is for the best presidential candidate.
During a hiring process the first point of interest is the candidate’s experience. However, according to the recent CBS News poll, experience is one of the least important, polling at 8 percent. As the hiring process continues, it then becomes a major point to make sure that the potential employee can do an excellent job at their position. The question asks, can this person win and achieve the important goals of this role? Yet, Republican primary voters find whether or not their candidate can win this presidential election the least important factor, polling at only 2 percent. The candidate needs to be able to win if they are going to be the next president.
However it may be, it is some outlandish claim or headline that is swamping the media. Only a few good articles discussing the employability of the Republican candidate are at the forefront of the media circuit. If a true and honest qualified candidate is going to make it through the primary election for the GOP, new direction must be made on the focus of this presidential primary race. It is not the race itself that distinguishes a good candidate, but the critical observation of the candidate that will identify the correct one.
(10/15/15 12:41am)
This year, one of the Townsend School of Music’s faculty artist recitals will be performed with a twist.
On Oct. 27, Townsend voice faculty members Martha Malone and Richard Kosowski will join to perform a variety of chamber music alongside pianist Carol Goff, including both solo and duet repertoire.
Malone, Townsend’s chair of vocal studies and director of opera, expressed her excitement for the recital.
“It’s fulfilling for us [as professionals],” Malone said. “[It’s] important for students to hear us perform.”
This faculty recital will differ from comparable recitals held in recent years in that it will include many elements of chamber music. In addition to voice and piano, various other instruments — including strings and woodwinds — will be incorporated into the performance. Instrumentalists will include former and current colleagues of the Townsend professors as well as active Mercer students.
Faculty recitals give professors the opportunity to perform their favorite repertoire. Malone will be performing selections from Bach and Vivaldi, and Kosowski has selected pieces from Handel and Benjamin Britten. During the Britten piece, Kosowski will be singing a duet with his wife, mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Kosowski.
In addition to his other titles, Kosowski serves as the director of graduate studies at Townsend and directs the Mercer University Children’s Choir. An operatic tenor, Kosowski received his doctor of musical arts from the University of Houston Moores School of Music.
Malone is a classically trained soprano, having received her doctor of musical arts degree in performance from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Malone and Kosowski have recently begun rehearsals for Mercer University Opera’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” with Malone directing and Kosowski conducting and serving as music director.
Carol Goff, chair of keyboard studies and coordinator of the collaborative piano program at Townsend, also serves as an associate professor. Goff received her doctor of musical arts degree in piano performance and accompanying from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
For complete details on the faculty arts recitals, visit the calendar section on the Townsend School of Music website at music.mercer.edu.
(10/07/15 4:16am)
What’s the skinny?
Last Thursday, hundreds were buried in a disastrous landslide in the village of El Cambray Dos, near Guatemala’s capitol city. Around midnight, Thursday night, a hillside gave out following days of rainfall in the area. It is estimated that somewhere around 100 homes had been buried in the wake of the destruction. Over the weekend, about 1,000 volunteer and emergency rescue workers have been tirelessly searching for survivors and uncovering lost homes Since Thursday, the death toll has risen to 131 total dead and an estimate of 300 people are still missing.
Give me the rundown:
Guatemala, as a wet and mountainous country, has a history of reoccurring landslides, but Thursday’s event has been one of the worst seen in recent times.
According to a BBC interview, Alejandro Maldonado, the head of the Guatemalan disaster agency explained that the community had been advised that the area was unsafe and that homes should have been relocated by local authorities.
Although both Mexico and the United States have offered to send in emergency response teams, Guatemalan officials have asked both parties to standby; while the search-and-rescue mission unfolded over the weekend.
Julio Sanchez, spokesman for Guatemala’s volunteer firefighters, stated that the Guatemalan government would adhere to the internationally accepted search-and-rescue protocols for 72 hours following the disaster. Although rescue operations have since elapsed the 72-hour mark, response teams are prepared to continue procedures as believed necessary.
Over the weekend, funerals have begun taking place amongst community members as bodies are recovered from the rubble.
What is the bottom line?
Guatemala is a mountainous Central American country with an annual precipitation rate of about 79 inches per year. In perspective, the United States only receives approximately 28 inches per year. Located between both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the Guatemala region is vulnerable to severe hurricanes and tropical storms. With this, reoccurring landslides are some of the country’s leading natural disasters. Although proper precautionary measures are often taken and adequate rescue operations are made, Guatemala is consistently bombarded with similar tragedies due to its geographic location. Rural highland communities like El Cambray Dos are some of the most vulnerable to these types of catastrophes and will have to remain prepared for possible future episodes.
(09/30/15 7:25pm)
What’s The Skinny?
On Thursday, Sept. 24, during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, hundreds were trampled during an enormous stampede. The event took place on the Jamarat bridge in Mina when two large groups of people merged together. They were on their way to the Jamarat pillars for the customary stoning.
Give me the rundown:
The Hajj takes place in Saudi Arabia each year, when millions of Muslim people fulfill their lifelong religious duty to journey to Mecca.
Crowds throw stones at the Jamarat pillar occurs in Mina, near Mecca. In the Muslim faith, the three pillars is the site where Prophet Abraham was tempted by the Devil. Mina has been the site of previous stampedes in the past.
According to BBC reports, at least 769 pilgrims died in the tragic event on Thursday. Further, it was reported by BBC that similar events took place in 2004 and 2006. Since then, the Saudi Arabian government has taken precautions to limit these types of fatal incidences.
Other than the exact location of the incident, it is unclear how or why the stampede originated. Although, with such large numbers making the journey each year, fear and panic are consistent problems in the area.
What is the bottom line?
Each year, millions travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in a pilgrimage to Mecca. Throughout its history, stampedes have been fatal and problematic. The areas of Mecca, Mina, the Jaramat bridge and the Grand Mosque are not large enough to hold this many individuals all at one time. Even though suggested visiting times are in existence, with such large numbers, they are not always followed. Further, the Saudi Arabian government has taken precautions to limit these disasters by altering gathering places, widening access points and creating new pathways, however catastrophes are still occurring. In light of Thursday’s event, many countries are voicing their discontentment as international deaths connected to the stampede are rising. According to Al Jezeeraj, the health ministry stated on Saturday that in addition to the 769 pilgrim deaths, 934 people were also injured.
(09/28/15 8:17pm)
Townsend School of Music’s Faculty Brass Quintet recently showcased the talents of its members with a spectacular, multifaceted performance. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Fickling Hall opened its doors for the group’s first engagement of the school year, which featured a broad array of classical and contemporary compositions. This year, the group was happy to announce the addition of its newest member, adjunct professor Hollie Lawing Pritchard. The free event brought in an amazing turnout of eager students, fellow faculty members and members of the local community.
As she traveled backstage prior to the concert, Pritchard explained that “everyone has been really welcoming,” and that she has had no problem feeling like part of the group. When discussing the fact that this is her first time teaching college students, she laughingly said,“(It’s) totally better.” Aside from teaching weekly lessons at Mercer, Pritchard is currently privately training 26 high school level students.
Throughout the concert, the audience was taken through a variety of styles and genres, some familiar and others not as much. Several of the pieces performed, especially those from the older classical canon, were rearranged to suit the brass quintet. Others, such as Michael Kamen’s “Quintet,” were specifically composed for an all-brass ensemble. Nonetheless, all were remarkable and equally enjoyable to listen to.
One of the most exciting pieces of the night was a Leonard Bernstein composition entitled “Dance Suite.” In the classic Bernstein style, the audience was kept entertained with an eclectic arrangement of sounds often reminiscent of jazz. Each movement of the suite was different from the other, but they married together through the feelings they invoked.
After the conclusion of the performance and Pritchard’s seemingly flawless trombone solo in “Blues for Brass” by Richard Roblee, Pritchard warmly expressed that she believed the concert was well done.
Overall, the Faculty Brass Quintet provided a wonderful night and an excellent example of artistry from Mercer’s Townsend School of Music.
(09/22/15 7:32pm)
What’s the skinny?
The Egyptian government is continuing its movement to create a 1km buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. Reaching its two-year anniversary as of July, the operation has been an effort to restrict opposition jihadist groups from transferring goods through underground tunnels within the region. This has required the forceful removal of residence in the area and further, destroying their homes. The movement began to accelerate last October.
Give me the rundown:
In a report issued, Tuesday, by international organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Egyptian security operation in Gaza has been under critical observation for its hardline tactics.
Within the HRC report, there are reason to believe that the Egyptian government is possibly in violation of international law for its security measures. The forceful removal of residences disregarding their protections as seen in the Gaza Strip goes against the United Nations and other African conventions, according to HRC.
Many residence have been forced out of the region without any guarantee of alternative housing or other means of support.
The Egyptian government has been under scrutiny for its activities with regards to demolishing homes, because the United States had previously supplied Egypt with the proper technology to discover these tunnels without having to destroy infrastructure.
What is the bottom line?
If Egypt is indeed in violation of international law, the question lies on what measures will be taken to secure the right of its people who have been forcibly removed from the area and how the government will further its operation to secure the border without demolishing future homes and infrastructure. In addition, the government has been in question as to why it has taken these measures, given that the United States had provided the necessary tools to located underground tunnels, halting their traffic, with minimal damage. The HRC report has included recommendations for the Egyptian government, the United States and the United Nations regarding the matter.
(09/17/15 3:33am)
What’s the skinny?
Trains coming into Germany from Austria were temporarily suspended in an effort to curb the on-going European migrant crisis. This comes in response to the government decision to implement new border controls between the German state, Italy and Austria. In a news conference Sunday, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters the aim of these border controls are “to limit the influx” of refugees entering Germany “in some order.” Stressing safety measures, Minister de Maiziere reassured that this move was within the Schengen Agreement. Trains between Germany and Austria were halted for 12 hours until 03:00 GMT on Monday.
Give me the rundown:
The Schengen Agreement, June 14, 1985, was founded by multiple European states to open borders between their countries. The agreement requires participating European countries to allow for the free access of movement without a visa. However, it does allow for temporary suspension under necessary circumstances.
Germany was within legal right of the agreement to temporary stop trains from entering.
The migrant crisis of Europe has been in the headline over the past few months, but has been an on-going issue since Mediterranean Sea arrivals began to rise in 2013, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In a press release on September 4, 2015, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres stated, “This is primarily a refugee crisis, not only a migration phenomenon.”
According to UNHCR, many of these refugees are coming from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Germany has received the highest number of asylum applications in Europe as of July 2015.
2015 estimates show 366,402 refugees and migrants have enter Europe by sea.
What is the bottom line?
Germany’s tactics are in response to the record number of asylum seekers arriving to their country and receiving aid. The temporary postponement of trains from Austria showed the German government’s adherence to the Dublin Regulation, which requires asylum seekers to register within the first European country that they enter. It then becomes the responsibility of that country to process and decide the outcome of their applications. Much of the recent inpouring of migrants to Germany comes from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s brief decision to suspend such regulations.
In an effort to control the current migrant crisis, the European Commission has proposed to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers between the 25 European Union member states. Germany (who has been hit the hardest) is calling on other members within the union to honor commitments and further assist in relieving this matter.
According to the BBC, Germany
(09/11/15 4:08am)
The doors to the Cox Capitol Theatre swung open on Saturday, Aug. 29, welcoming guests to a special Planet of the Abts (POA) concert. Originally planned to take place at Macon’s beloved Big House, rain in the forecast quickly rearranged the concert to take place at the Cox.
When asked if the unexpected weather caused a problem, Big House director Rob Schneck replied, “(It) was a relatively quick fix… It would have been nice to have it at the House,” but emphasized that the Big House has had a longstanding relationship with the Cox.
Guests prepared for the show, hovering around the bar to making their selections. They talked, told jokes and spoke of time past. This was a night where the cool kids could once again relive their legacy. Patrons began to spread out amongst a modest crowd, some adorned in tie-dyed shirts and floor-length skirts, and some sporting untrimmed beards as untamed as the music which would highlight the night.
In the historic Cox Capitol Theatre, the preset stage was encapsulated in indigo haze. Fog could be seen through the many beams emitted by stage lights. House lights were dim, classic rock was amplified through speakers filling the space, and the ornateness of the theatre’s architecture gleamed through. The lights shifted to a bright white as the concert began, and the four-person band opening for POA, OTIS, took the stage. “Brothers and sisters, how are we doing this evening?” asked guitarist Steve Jewell. When the music began, it became clear that the Kentucky-based group stays true to their Southern roots. The band’s classic rock-infused style of rhythm and blues filled the Cox as vocalist Boone Froggett churned out soulfulness.
It was their well-known song, “Let Your Love Shine Down” that slowly shifted the mood in the Cox. With each phrase of this soulful rock ballad, the crowd gave more and more of themselves to the music. As the songs developed through the venue speakers, it was almost as if a brother and sisterhood was indeed forming in the room – and this seems to be the moment OTIS aims for.
When OTIS concluded their set, a brief intermission was taken to allow headliner Plant of the Abts to set the stage. Finally, the emcee announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, POA!” Roars and whistles emerged from the crowd welcoming POA for their returning performance. The band replied with a long intoxicating instrumental overture to their first song.
As POA unleashed their sound, classic rock overtones were obvious, but notes of the blues arched through their music. The band members themselves were subtle, soft-spoken and a picture of the past. There was no need to think that the bandmates were not grateful to be here in Macon, Georgia, especially when Matt Abts sincerely informed the tribe, “We came here for you,” from behind the drums.
As the set was coming to a close, patrons rushed the stage and swayed with each song. Songs were embellished with bell tones and additional flourishes brought in by melodies most likely influenced by Los Angeles, where the band comes together to write their music.
The music ended in a climax of cheers and applause from the guests, who had come to enjoy this moment of musical surrender. Through their cheering and beckoning, the audience brought POA out for a special two-song encore performance. Overall, both bands provided an excellent outlet for fans to celebrate Macon’s musical heritage last Saturday.
For a complete list of upcoming events and concerts present by the Big House, please visit http://www.thebighousemuseum.com/. The Big House museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is located at 2321 Vineville Ave.
(08/31/15 6:57pm)
Protesters Gather in the Streets of Malaysia over Weekend
What’s the skinny?
Beginning this past Saturday and continuing through the night until Sunday, activists took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a rally to demand Prime Minister Najib Razak to resign from office. At its height pro-democracy group, Bersih, estimated that 200,000 demonstrators gathered publicly; while police enforcers suggested that only 20,000 to 30,000 individuals stood in solidarity. These protest came only days before the country celebrates today’s Merdeka Day festivities, which signify Malaysia’s independence from British rule.
Give me the rundown:
Much of the public outcry and weekend protest comes from an article published by the Wall Street Journal, suggesting the possibility that Prime Minister Najib Razak has transferred $700 million into private accounts from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.
The 1MDB is a 2009 economic initiative sponsored by global investors and stockholders in an effort to drive Kuala Lumpur into a role as a financial epicenter.
According to the BBC, the $700 million sum in private bank transfers are claimed to be by “unidentified Middle Eastern sources.”
The Malaysian government has deemed the protests illegal and has prohibited anyone from wearing the familiar Bersih yellow shirt in opposition to the unexplained monetary transfers (although enforcement of the ruling had been relatively absent over the weekend).
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is also calling on the resignation of Najib Razak and supporting citizen protesters in an effort to demand transparency by the Malay government.
What is the bottom line?
Malaysia is Southeast Asia’s third largest economy and a newly industrialized country. As a rising tiger and a participant in multiple trade organizations, the country risks government backlash over this controversy from the global marketplace and the countries it conducts business with. Malaysia is a large exporter of electronics, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products, and palm oil. Prime Minister Najib Razak will have to soon produce evidence to support claims that the alleged $700 million transferred into personal bank accounts were in fact from private Middle Eastern donors. Further, with a remarkable unemployment rate of 3.1 percent in 2014, Malaysia’s workforce holds some weight in this ordeal as well. Together, their economic impact suggests the Malay government could feasibly be swayed in the coming weeks to produce much needed answers. However, public pressure will have to remain strong from all sides in order to expedite the possibility of this occurring. As Malaysia moves forward from this past weekend’s demonstrations, it will need to provide transparency and reaffirm its accountability if the country and Prime Minister Razak want to save face with their outside investors and government partners.