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(09/16/13 6:48pm)
Mercer University student Allison Moretz, who was reported missing in Jacksonville, Fl. early Sunday morning, has been found safe, according to Mercer Police and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office.
Corporal Mike Kondorf with Mercer Police said Moretz had gone to a J. Cole concert in Jacksonville with a friend. After the concert, Moretz decided to visit the band tour bus.
A tour bus driver saw Moretz walk off with an unknown man. Moretz’s friend reported her missing at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Kondorf said Mercer Police tried contacting Moretz through text, email, phone calls and Facebook message.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sent out an email shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday, stating that Moretz had been found safe, and that no criminal activity appeared to have taken place.
Mercer Police said Moretz’s mother is on her way to Jacksonville to pick up Moretz. Moretz was still with the man she left the concert with, but she is now with police in Jacksonville.
CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Allison Moretz's name.
(09/02/13 10:11pm)
(08/28/13 7:00pm)
I’m not much of a sports person, but I love the social aspects of games, like homecoming and the community feeling that comes with rallying around your home team. I’ve always enjoyed homecoming at Mercer. This school does a great job creating an atmosphere, usually reserved for football games, around basketball games.
I’m sure it wasn’t hard though, because we love our basketball team.
And now, we love our football team, too.
Now that football is back after over 70 years, what will become of homecoming? Will we neglect the basketball team we have loved and supported in the past?
That would be rather fickle.
Will we have two homecomings and support both teams?
Sounds rather busy and exhausting. And what about baseball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and all the other sports at Mercer? Do they get a “homecoming” too?
Or, do we continue to have homecoming only for basketball?
We live in the south, y’all. That ain’t gonna happen.
The basketball team probably doesn’t want my pity, but I do feel a little sad and afraid that they might get pushed aside for football.
There doesn’t seem to be an easy answer to the question, “What about homecoming?”
Hosting two homecomings asks students to do a lot, and might seem a little contrived. It might seem like we’re patronizing the basketball team: “Oh, we don’t want you to feel left out, so we’ll give you a homecoming, too.”
Would we be able to support two teams within one homecoming, or would basketball eventually be forgotten in the football frenzy?
We’re all excited about football, but let’s not be so excited as to forget about basketball (or any of our other sports, really).
I don’t want to speak for the basketball team, but if I was athletic (which I’m not) and played a major, dearly-beloved school sport, I might feel neglected if another major, dearly-beloved sport took over my school.
The hype and excitement surrounding football at Mercer is great, but we have a basketball team—two basketball teams—and many other sports that need and want our support.
I guess I don’t have any answers to the questions I’ve asked in this article. But I do know that basketball shouldn’t be overshadowed just because we have a new sports team around. Basketball deserves our love and support just as much as football.
Whether we have one homecoming or two, I’m sure Mercer students can continue to support our basketball team with the same fervor as before.
Now, we just have more people to cheer for.
(08/28/13 7:00pm)
There are more freshmen on campus this year than ever before.
Penny Elkins, senior vice president for Enrollment Management at Mercer University said that Mercer broke a record last year with 645 freshmen enrolled for classes.
This year, Mercer broke the record again by 10 percent, with 732 freshmen. The last two years have seen a 31 percent increase in freshmen enrollment.
“There’s a tremendous increase in demand for what we’re doing here at Mercer,” said Elkins.
Other aspects of the admissions process have seen increases as well.
Elkins said application numbers have gone up 7 percent, and the number of students admitted to Mercer went up 21 percent.
“The (application) pool definitely went up, which is great,” said Elkins. “But the admitted students went up even more. So that means not only are we increasing applications but we’re getting those students who qualify for Mercer.”
People might think that football is one of the main reasons that more freshmen are coming to Mercer, but Elkins said that football is just one of many reasons why the university is becoming more attractive to prospective students.
Elkins said that a lot of improvements and additions are happening at Mercer right now, and together, those improvements have brought more students to campus.
Academics
Academics is one of the reasons more students are enrolling at Mercer.
“We’ve got a continued increase in the quality of our academic experience and the development of new programs,” said Elkins.
Lake Lambert, dean of Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts said Mercer has added several new majors this year that are attractive to students. Mercer’s existing academic programs are attractive to new students as well, said Lambert.
One program Elkins cited as having grown since last year is the Center for Collaborative Journalism, which according to Elkins grew by 40 percent from last year to this year.
“Programs like CCJ and our increased emphasis as an institution on the science programs and health sciences programs” are all factors that have lead to an increase in students at Mercer, said Elkins.
Elkins said Mercer’s health sciences graduate programs are an enticing reason for students to get their undergraduate degree at Mercer.
Campus infrastructure
Both Elkins and Lambert said campus beautification is another reason for increased enrollment at Mercer.
Cruz Plaza, the Lofts at Mercer Village, the Emily Parker Myers Admissions and Welcome Center, and the Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex are some of the infrastructure improvements that Elkins said have brought more students to Mercer.
Athletics
Football has increased enrollment at Mercer, but not all on its own. Elkins said athletics overall have helped attract more students to the school.
Elkins said 17 percent of this year’s freshman class came to Mercer to participate in athletics for 18 different sports.
“So, very few of them this year were football players,” she said.
Last year though, the football team brought in about 100 new freshmen, said Head Coach Bobby Lamb.
“When you start football at a school, one of the things at the top of the list is to increase student enrollment,” Lamb said.
The increase doesn’t just come from football players, though.
Elkins said that, especially in the South, football creates a special energy and excitement on campus that draws students in, and Lamb said that football increases the visibility of a school in a way that academics cannot.
“What football does, is it gives you the ability to get your name out there in a different light,” said Lamb. “Football allows you to get on the front of the newspaper (and) on the six o’clock news.”
Admissions counselors
The fourth reason Elkins gave for the increase in student enrollment was the admissions team.
Elkins said admissions counselors and student workers are building relationships with prospective students and helping them through their admission and financial aid process.
“We want them to know in that admissions process that they’re important and we care about them,” said Elkins.
The admissions team at Mercer sends cards and makes phone calls to interested students, which is something that Elkins said makes a big difference in the number of students attracted to Mercer.
But the admissions team isn’t just the counselors and workers in the admissions building, said Elkins. Students and faculty also do their part to bring new students to Mercer.
“Every single person on campus is a recruiter,” said Elkins. Faculty, students and alumni who make an effort to welcome prospective students contribute to the success of the admission team’s recruitment efforts.
Challenges
Elkins and Lambert said that this is an exciting time at Mercer, and that an increase in Freshmen enrollment is good for the university.
However, there are some challenges to overcome when it comes to more students on campus, which is why Elkins said that university administration decided to keep future freshmen enrollment numbers around 700-725.
“No one wants the undergraduate population to grow too big,” said Lambert. “We all value the things that a small college atmosphere offers to students: the closeness with professors, the opportunity for small classes and to be able to do undergraduate research and service learning.”
Because of the number of freshmen this year, Lambert said the university added more sections of certain introductory courses such as Great Books 101.
Housing was also a challenge at first, however Elkins said that those on the waitlist for housing who had not already decided to move off campus were placed in dorms on campus.
The third phase of the Lofts at Mercer Village will help diminish some of the challenges of a larger student population, said Elkins.
“Sometime in the future there’s no question that we’re going to have to look at additional dorm facilities to help with increased demand,” Elkins said.
But Elkins said the challenges the administration faced this year with such a large freshman class are good challenges to have.
(08/28/13 7:00pm)
Capt. Nick Whitlock was a Mercer University alumnus serving as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force in Djibouti, Africa. In February of 2012, the plane he was co-piloting experienced a malfunction and crashed.
All four people on board, including Whitlock, were killed.
Toward the end of 2012, Mercer alumni and friends of Whitlock began the Whitlock Foundation in his honor.
This weekend, two events by the Whitlock Foundation will raise money for the Nicholas S. Whitlock Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship the foundation hopes to give to one Mercer student every year, said Garrett Ratcliff.
Ratcliff was Whitlock’s roommate and fraternity brother at Mercer. He said Whitlock was “one of the most well-liked people who attended Mercer. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t like him.”
Another of Whitlock’s friends from Mercer, Daniel Day, said Whitlock was involved in SGA, was president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and was on the baseball team during his time at Mercer.
“Nick was probably the most upright, well-rounded person I’ve ever met,” said Day. “You want your kids to end up like him.”
On Friday, the First Annual Patriot’s Ball at the Armory Ballroom will raise money for the Whitlock Foundation through food, a silent auction and live music.
Some of the items to be auctioned off include a football signed by the Atlanta Falcons, vacation rentals, a quail hunting trip and other items donated by local businesses.
Tickets are $100, and the event is geared more toward Mercer alumni, said Ratcliff.
However, a tailgate the next day before Mercer’s first football game is a great way for students to get involved with the Whitlock Foundation.
“Nick was so excited for the first football game,” said Ashley Whitlock, Nick Whitlock’s wife. Ashley said he began planning for the game two years before it was scheduled to occur.
Nick Whitlock’s friends thought a fundraiser centered around the football game he was so excited about would be appropriate, Ashley said.
The tailgate will be on the intramural field from noon until kickoff. There will be live music from Colby Dee, Shane Bridges and Stevens Layne. There will also be barbecue catered by Satterfield’s Restaurant.
Wristbands for the tailgate are $20 on the day of the event.
All profits from the two fundraisers this weekend will go toward the scholarship fund.
“I would love to raise $15,000-$20,000 from this event,” said Day.
Day said students also could get involved by talking to friends and family who might be able to donate to the foundation.
“We’re needing lots of support,” said Day.
The Whitlock Foundation hopes to give out the first scholarship in 2014. At first, it will be a partial scholarship, but once the foundation raises enough money, according to the foundation’s website, it will pay full tuition for eight semesters at Mercer.
Ashley said that she and Nick met at Mercer, and got married a couple years after Nick graduated.
She said the Whitlock Foundation and Nicholas S. Whitlock Memorial Scholarship are ways to allow Mercer to impact other people’s lives the way Mercer impacted Nick’s life.
“Nick had this remarkable ability to bring people together and just pour into all of his relationships,” said Ashley.
Ashley said seeing the Whitlock Foundation bring people together is the real success—a scholarship is just “icing on the cake.”
“This is not the way Nick and I saw our life going, but it has been remarkable to me how many people have come forward to be part of our foundation,” said Ashley.
For more information about the Whitlock Foundation or tickets to the Patriot’s Ball, visit whitlockfoundation.com.
(08/14/13 6:45pm)
With ten returning players and five new freshmen, the Mercer University volleyball team is looking forward to an exciting and challenging year.
Senior Captain Emily Rochefort said the returning team members are talented leaders and players, and the new freshmen are strong volleyball players too.
The team has practiced almost every day since moving back to Mercer on Aug. 5.
“Throughout preseason, the competition in the gym has been inspiring as we continue to push each other forward,” said Rochefort.
Rochefort and her teammates will face off against the University of Alabama for their first game on Aug. 30 as part of the Alabama Birmingham Invitational.
The two teams everyone is looking forward to competing against, though, are East Tennessee State University and Florida Gulf Coast University.
ETSU is the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference champion, and Florida Gulf Coast is a Mercer rival, said Rochefort.
The Mercer volleyball team will compete against ETSU for the first time on Sept. 20 in Mercer’s very own Hawkins Arena.
Rochefort didn’t seem too worried, though.
“Our coaching staff will most definitely have us prepared and ready for a challenging schedule,” she said.
The team will also compete against Florida Gulf Coast on Oct. 25 in Hawkins Arena.
Last year, the team had a somewhat disappointing record of 11-18. In conference, they won 7-11. Under new head coach Damian Elder, the Bears were able to make strides in the 2012 season. This year they look to be far more successful.
“We continue to push each other forward,” said Rochefort, “the athleticism and intensity in the gym has increased so significantly from previous years.”
Last season, Rochefort, along with outside hitter Molly Locke received Atlantic Sun honors. Rochefort made the All-Conference second team while Locke landed the All-Freshman team selection.
During the regular 2012 season, Rochefort led the conference in digs per set and ended the season just 46 digs shy of tying Claire Tucker’s record set in 2008. Locke ended the 2012 regular season leading the A-Sun freshmen in kills per set and ranked sixth overall in the conference.
Although these are great honors and accomplishments, Rochefort says that the main goal this season is to win the A-Sun Championship.
“This year’s team is full of great athletes that are capable of achieving any award, but we need to work as a team if we want to get the wins. We’ve been doing a great job of that so far in practice, and I know we’ll be able to do it in games.”
Rochefort said much of the increased athleticism and intensity is due to the talented new freshmen.
Avery Hoven, Ellie James, Gretja Otten and Tori Penrod and Kaitlyn Rice are the five freshmen that Elder recently added to the squad.
— Sports Editor Carly Iannarino contributed to this report.
(08/14/13 6:30pm)
“Whenever I hear The Cluster, I think of cluster... ‘eff...’”
People say that to us a lot.
Hopefully it’s because clusterf*** is a phrase that sticks in people’s minds, and not because The Cluster is a clusterf***.
Even though we’re used to it and we don’t mind much, here’s the real origin of The Cluster, Mercer University’s student newspaper:
According to “Why Mercer Student Publications Have Their Names,” by Bert Struby, “The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns and Sacred Poems” was the name of a book of hymns edited by Mercer University founder Jesse Mercer in 1835.
In 1920, when The Cluster first began publishing, it was named in honor of the baptist minister’s book of songs.
In fact, if you give the Jesse Mercer statue by the quad a visit, you’ll see a book called The Cluster forever memorialized in his hand.
The Cluster is a lot different now than it was back in the 1800s when it was first conceived by Jesse Mercer.
The most obvious difference is that we don’t publish songs about Jesus. That’s not really the purpose of a newspaper. (Though it is the purpose of The Dulcimer, Mercer’s literary magazine. You can submit all your songs, poems, short stories and art to them!)
As a newspaper, The Cluster is also different now than it was when it began in 1920. The Cluster is even different than it was last year.
The newspaper is smaller in size now, though we can still publish the same amount of news. The layout looks different, and you’ll notice more color in each issue.
We are also going to work hard to update our website with videos, photos and breaking news.
Our goal is to keep the students of Mercer interested and concerned about the news happening around them.
If The Cluster wants to keep up with the ways journalism and news are changing, then The Cluster has to change, and I hope you will like what we have done and what we will do.
Let us know what you think of our new look, and please email any ideas or suggestions you may have to me.
You’ll notice that our new masthead features a silhouette of the Jesse Mercer statue, complete with The Cluster on his lap. Patrick (Managing Editor of The Cluster) and I chose that design because, despite all of the changes, we wanted to make sure we remembered where The Cluster came from: A book of hymns based on the convictions and beliefs of a baptist minister who valued education and hard work.
Our conviction and belief is that news is important, and we will work hard this year to give Mercer the news it deserves.
Welcome back, Mercerians!
(04/25/13 5:29pm)
Summer break is almost here, and that means many of you will spend more time outside--whether at the beach or exploring the town where you’re studying abroad.
With more sun exposure comes greater risk of getting sunburnt, especially for very pale individuals, like myself.
While it may be more fashionable to be tan, it’s more healthy to stay pale. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer. It also causes wrinkles, which is something I know you want to avoid, ladies.
Plus, according to history, paleness was a sign of wealth and nobility, because it meant you didn’t have to toil in the hot sun all day like the common laborers.
I searched WebMD for advice about preventing sunburn.
Obviously, you should wear sunscreen every time you’ll be outside for longer than 15 minutes. Make sure the sunscreen you choose has an SPF of 15 or higher. The higher the SPF number, the longer your skin can be in the sun without a high risk of sunburn. Also, make sure the sunscreen you use says “broad-spectrum” on the label. This means it will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, which are the main causes of skin damage from the sun.
Your lips can get sunburnt too, so finding a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher will protect your lips as well.
Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours.
Be sure to reapply sunscreen more often if you are going to get wet at the pool or the beach.
Aside from sunscreen, hats are a great way to protect your head, ears, neck and shoulders. Men might only want to wear baseball caps, but if you’re a girl, buy a wide-brimmed sun hat. You’ll be protected and fashionable, all at the same time.
Also, make sure your sunglasses have UV ray protection to prevent eye damage.
If you’re like me and you like reading outside or by the pool, try and find a shady area or an open umbrella to sit under. You can still enjoy the warmth of the outdoors and stay protected.
If you do happen to get sunburnt, WebMD also has treatment tips.
Cool water from a shower or a damp cloth will provide relief, as will lotions that contain aloe vera. You can also buy aloe vera gel. Keep it in the fridge, and apply it to the sunburnt area to relieve sunburn pain.
Medicine such as Tylenol, Advil or Motrin can also help ease the pain of a sunburn.
Be sure to keep lotion on the sunburnt area. Not only will it relieve the pain, but it will also help relieve itching and might make the peeling process easier.
Try not to let things bump or rub up against your sunburn. Wearing loose-fitting clothing will help with that.
Do some more research about preventing and treating sunburn before your beach vacation, and remember that no matter how beautiful your tan skin looks now, it’s not worth the wrinkles or skin cancer that could come later in life.
(04/25/13 5:28pm)
Mercer SGA recently gave approval to a somewhat new organization called Sigma Xi, a scientific research society.
Steven Hussung, student vice president of the organization, said that there has been a Sigma Xi organization for Mercer University faculty for quite some time. However, the addition of a student organization is new.
Sigma Xi “functions as kind of an honors organization for students who’ve performed research and presented research,” said Hussung. Hussung said students who have presented research in an open forum are eligible to join Sigma Xi.
As of induction in the fall, the organization has around 70 members.
Aside from supporting the scientific research of students and faculty, the goal of Sigma Xi is to present research to the public and connect people with the scientific community in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.
One of the ways Mercer’s Sigma Xi chapter did this was through a science café at Francar’s on Wednesday, April 17. Sigma Xi partnered with Mu Phi Epsilon, who provided live music, to organize the event.
“The idea is that since formal scientific presentations don’t work for everybody, you can have a meeting in a coffee shop or a restaurant,” said Hussung. “And you can have a very informal presentation of some sort on science.”
The presentation at Francar’s included a trivia game based off of Dr. Kevin Drace’s research on gold. Hussung said people from outside Mercer’s science program not only attended, but enjoyed and understood the presentation as well.
“Carl over at Francar’s asked if he could invite a group of 8th graders, and Dr. Drace said ‘sure,’” Hussung said. “He presented at a level which would have been fine with that.”
Sigma Xi thought the science café was informative and successful, and they received many good reviews about it.
Sigma Xi has also brought speakers to campus who have lectured on a variety of scientific subjects.
Hussung said that this type of accessibility will enhance student life at Mercer because, whether they are science students or not, students have the ability to learn about new topics through events hosted by Sigma Xi.
Hussung thinks Sigma Xi will also enhance the academic atmosphere at Mercer.
“Mercer is a small school, and one of the problems with being a small school is sometimes, especially in the sciences, you end up lacking research,” said Hussung.
“I think one of the ways Mercer can address that is intentionally creating a research community ... and when students do research you want to celebrate that and support them in that,” he said. Hussung said that Sigma Xi facilitates that research community.
Sigma Xi helps Hussung, who did research last summer, and other students who are interested in scientific research by giving them a way to advertise presentations and putting them in contact with others who have done research.
Sigma Xi has no regular meetings, however they have a Facebook group where they advertise events.
Students interested in Sigma Xi can check out the Facebook group or email Bryan Danley at Bryan.B.Danley@live.mercer.edu.
(03/06/13 5:10pm)
If one day you find yourself about to embark on a trip, be it home for the weekend, Europe for study abroad or Asia for Mercer on Mission, you will need to know the best and most efficient way to pack your suitcase. It is important to pack everything you may need, but it can be hard when to know if you’ve overpacked. Here are some tips that will make preparing for your trip easier.
Make a list of everything you may need. Think about where you are going and how long you will be there, then make a list of the type and number of clothes you will need. Don’t forget to add toiletries to your list. It’s helpful to act out your morning and evening routine, grabbing what you use along the way. This will reduce the chances of forgetting something essential like your toothbrush.
Think in layers. Pack light-weight clothes that can be layered. This will prepare you for any kind of weather. If you get cold, you can simply add another layer. If you get hot, you can take one of your layers off. Also bring clothes you can mix and match. If done correctly, you can make more outfits out of fewer clothes.
Spread everything out. Before packing, spread everything you intend to take on your bed or floor. Look at what you have, and see if you’re forgetting anything. Also, see if you are bringing anything unnecessary. If in doubt, leave it out.
Pack strategically. Examine what you have, and pack bulky, heavy items such as coats and sweaters first. Fold them neatly, or try rolling them. Rolling reduces wrinkles and preserves space. After all your heavy items are packed, pack your other clothes, saving delicates for last. After your suitcase is full, fit underwear and socks in the sides. When packing toiletries, remember that travel sizes save space. Put shoes in a plastic bag before packing so as not to dirty your clothes.
Test the weight. If you are taking an airplane, make sure your suitcase meets the weight requirements. Also, make sure you can carry it comfortable for long distances. You never know how long you’ll have to hold your suitcase for.
Leaving Room. Think about what you might bring back with you, and leave space for the souvenirs you might buy.
Sometimes, you need to practice packing a suitcase over and over before you can adequately pack for a trip. Veteran travelers are usually more apt at packing than new travelers. Then again, packing a suitcase is an art, and some people (like myself) may never be able to fully master the art. But that doesn’t mean
(01/23/13 4:25pm)
The light green house with maroon shutters on Washington Ave., dubbed “The Fairy Flat,” houses Mercer seniors Catherine Lee, Becca Cassady and Katelyn Harris; and junior Nico Malancea.
Last year, Lee, Cassady, Malancea and Caitlin Childers lived in the house. When Childers graduated early, Harris took her place.
The girls originally chose the house for it’s location: it is close to Washington Library, Washington Park and the building that used to house the coffee shop Joshua Cup.
“It was a really good location for that and it’s not too far from school,” said Lee.
There are two large rooms toward the front of the house. White Christmas lights are strung across the ceiling of the spacious living room, which is in the back of the house, next to the kitchen. A door off the kitchen opens up to a deck with a beautiful view of Mercer’s Law School.
The house is actually divided into three flats, or apartments. The girls of the Fairy Flat live in the middle of the house, which is about 100 years old.
“During the spring and the summer I love the porch, because you can go out there and study, and you can eat food out there, which is fun. It’s just nice to be able to sit outside,” said Lee.
Cassady and Harris both love the living room. Cassady said, “It’s where all of our friends hang out, and it’s also the perfect place for late-night paper writing or napping on lazy days.”
Harris said the high ceilings and loft gives the room a spacious feeling without it being too large.
The most interesting aspect of the house is the spiral staircase leading up to the loft from the bottom floor.
“Originally [the loft] was up there as a studying space, but we put all of our arts and crafts stuff up there now. There are a couple easels and guitars up there, and the keyboard is up there,” Lee said.
Much of the furniture and decorations in the house came from family or friends. One family gave the girls a leather chair. “The [kitchen] table was my great-grandmother’s, and the paintings were things that we either already had or found,” Lee said.
Lee, Cassady and Harris all agree that the freedom and independence are two of the best things about living off campus.
“I really love being close to downtown as well,” said Cassady. “it’s nice to be able to walk to restaurants or events like the Cherry Blossom Festival,” she said.
There are disadvantages to living off campus, though. “Driving to campus can be inconvenient,” said Harris. Cassady agreed that driving to campus all the time can get tiresome.
“When it rains, the roof leaks, so we have pots and pans upstairs that we can’t use in the kitchen because they’re full of water whenever it rains,” Lee added.
Overall, the girls love their flat downtown. They enjoy having friends over for get-togethers, and according to Cassady “the benefits definitely outweigh the disadvantages.”
(11/28/12 11:00pm)
As the weather gets colder, we begin needing more layers of clothing while walking to class. One of my favorite ways to keep warm is the scarf.
Scarves are versatile in that they come in many colors and designs and there are many ways to wear them. Tying a fancy knot around your neck will keep you cozy and fashionable. Winding a scarf up over your face can keep your nose warm.
Although scarves come in many forms, sometimes finding the perfect one to represent your personality is difficult. Fortunately, there are many ways (some easier than others) to make your own unique scarf you would be proud to wear.
One of the easiest homemade scarves is made from fleece. Simply go to your local craft store and choose your favorite color or pattern. Make sure the fabric you select is as long as you want it, and just cut fringe on the end using a pair of scissors.
If you would prefer a linen scarf, use basically the same method. After selecting your material, create fringe on the ends by pulling at the linen fabric. Then, tie knots in the fringe to give your scarf a more polished look. One blogger recommends sewing a seam along the long edges of the scarf so that it won’t fray.
Pinterest is a great resource for DIY crafts. One craft that abounds on Pinterest is the t-shirt scarf. There are many different ways to use old t-shirts to make scarves.
One interesting project is called a “T-Shirt Memory Scarf” and it uses old t-shirts from plays, concerts, museums and presidential elections to create a scarf that will not only keep you warm, but also remind you of fun experiences.
If you want to get really creative and fancy, try knitting a scarf. There are plenty of tutorials on the Internet and on YouTube that teach people how to knit. The great thing about knitting your own scarf is that you can create whatever you wish: there are hardly any limitations on what you can make. You decide what kind of yarn you want to use. You can also decide what kind of pattern to create. Knitting a scarf does take practice, however, and it can be a long process.
For something a little simpler, but still very creative, you can try crocheting a scarf. Crocheting can be easier than knitting, and it is definitely faster. Look up tutorials and videos about both techniques and decide which you would rather undertake.
Making your own scarf is a great way to express your personality, and it is also a good way to display your creative prowess and wear something you were proud to have made by hand!
(11/28/12 11:00pm)
Technically, it’s fall. But we live in Georgia, so fall doesn’t exist. Instead, it’s winter in the mornings and summer in the afternoons, at least temperature-wise. So, how are we supposed to dress?
Walking out of a class at 12 p.m. wearing a sweater in 70 degree weather is less than pleasant, but when you put on the sweater at 9 a.m. it kept you warm on your frigid walk to class. The solution to this problem is possibly as old as fashion itself: layers.
Dressing in layers will keep you warm in the morning when it is 30 degrees, and later when the temperature gets hot taking off layers will save you from an uncomfortable walk to class or your dorm.
The first layer should be a breathable material such as wool or synthetic fabrics. The breathable material will keep perspiration away from your skin, helping you stay dry and therefore warm. A short-sleeved t-shirt works well, especially if the afternoons get very warm and you want to wear the t-shirt on its own.
The middle layer is what will keep you warm in the morning. A fleece material or some sort of sweater will keep you insulated on your walk to class.
For the outer layer, wear a jacket that will protect you from the wind (or rain, if applicable). A windbreaker with a hood is a good way to keep the wind from chilling your body in the mornings.
If you want, wear a scarf, hat and mittens to protect your extremities.
Pants-wise, your best bet is probably jeans. They will protect your legs during the chilly morning, and they won’t be too hot in the afternoon.
As the day gets hotter, begin shedding your layers. The only downside to layering is having to carry your layers with you the rest of the day. Try stuffing your jacket and sweater (if you take it off) in your backpack.
Once the sun goes down and it gets cold again, simply put your layers back on. It’s tedious, but as Georgians, it’s something we must learn how to do.
(11/07/12 11:00pm)
In life, certain tragedies are inevitable. One that comes to mind is discovering a stain on a favorite item of clothing. Stains can be stubborn beasts, and can even ruin clothes. However, there are ways to combat these nasty eye-sores and save your favorite shirt or pair of pants. Erica O’Neal told me about two ways to get stains out of clothes, and I decided to put them to the test.
The first method she proposes is to spray Windex on the stain before putting it in the wash. Windex has ammonia in it, and the theory is that this cleaning agent will also clean clothes. Because of the ammonia though, if left on clothes for too long, Windex could potentially bleach clothes.
Another method O’Neal suggests is to use salt. Wet the item of clothing and rub salt on the stain. Afterwards, put it in the washing machine. The salt method is supposedly good for removing blood stains.
Using a friend’s old undershirt, I created a small experiment using grass and ketchup stains. Typically, stains will fall under one of two categories: greasy or non-greasy. The grass represented non-greasy stains, and ketchup represented greasy stains.
One grid designated the control--no stain remover method was used here. The other two grids were for the Windex method and the salt method, respectively.
After applying the cleaning agents, I washed the shirt on hot. When removing stains from clothes, always check to make sure the stain is fully gone before drying it. As the stains had not disappeared after the washing cycle ended, I reapplied the Windex and salt and washed the shirt for another cycle.
The salt method worked best for the grass stain, though it did not completely remove the stain. There was not much difference between the control and the Windex.
Both methods worked quite well for the ketchup. However, the stain was almost completely removed from the control grid, too.
I would not say that these methods were a complete bust, as they did work a little. Stains are finicky, and the slightest change in type of stain or material of clothing can alter results. I would suggest trying these methods, but researching methods specific to your stain and clothing type will help a great deal.
Remember, the earlier you catch stains, the easier they are to remove. Carry a Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover pen with you, so if you do stain your clothes, you can begin the treatment process immediately. Although, the easiest way to get rid of stains is to avoid them in the first place!
(11/07/12 11:00pm)
A fundraiser was held on Friday, Oct. 26 to raise money towards building a medical clinic in Chinhoyi. The event was held in the Religious Life Center as a senior service project put on by two Mercer students, Lauren Spradley and Indie Coombs.
In the summer of 2009, Mercer student Lauren Spradley went to Zimbabwe for three weeks. There, she worked with missionaries Mark and Helen Begarly, who founded Hunnington Retreat Center, a Christian youth camp in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
When it was time for Spradley to choose her senior service project for the Mercer Service Scholars, she thought of the ministry in Zimbabwe. She and fellow Service Scholar Indie Coombs held the fundraiser. The money raised went toward building a medical clinic in Chinhoyi.
“Indie went to Africa on three Mercer on Mission trips, and she loves Africa as much as I do. As she was a service scholar also, we decided to partner on this,” Spradley said.
The Begarlys came to speak at the event, and they told those in attendance about their ministry.
Mark Begarly said, “There comes a time when we, as people who go overseas, as Christian people, as humanitarian people, go overseas to help. But there comes a time in which we help people learn how to help themselves. Our ministry is about that. It’s about helping people understand their full potential.”
The Begarlys’ ministry, Hearing and Receiving Christ Ministries, has 13 sub-ministries. Some of these sub-ministries include the camp, a food ministry and a ministry where people go into schools and teach children.
The ministry in Zimbabwe has 17 full-time staff members who reach about 3,500 youths per week, according to Mark Begarly. The staff members are also native Zimbabweans.
“A lot of the time Christian organizations are criticized for going into a country and ignoring the culture and just evangelizing, and that is not what [the Begarlys] decided to do. They realized early on that the only way they were going to truly be able to help Zimbabweans in poverty was to have Zimbabweans run the programs themselves. And so for every branch of ministry that they created, they sent a Zimbabwean to school to get a degree and come back and run that ministry,” Spradley said.
After the Begarlys spoke about their ministry, Spradley spoke about her trip to Zimbabwe and her passion for the people there. Spradley said, “After trying more new foods than I could name, and watching elephants cross the road on a normal day, I knew Zimbabwe would forever be a special place.”
Attendees paid $5 at the door, and a silent auction featuring wall hangings, vests, wooden carvings and jewelry raised further funds for the clinic. Overall, the event raised $1,040, but Spradley said that even more donations are coming in.
Originally, Spradley and Coombs were not planning on holding another fundraiser for the Zimbabwean ministry. Spradley explained, “We’ve had people ask us if we’re going to do this again. So, I don’t think we’re going to do another event, but we will definitely keep reaching out for donations.”
At the end of the fundraiser, Spradley said, “This fundraiser is no magic wand to erase every problem that Zimbabwe has. But this fundraiser is an opportunity to reach out to the other side of the world to people just like us.”
For more information, or to give a donation, email Lauren Spradley at lauren.e.spradley@live.mercer.edu, or visit the website at www.reachout.zimoutreach.org.
(10/24/12 9:02pm)
After Mercer University housing staff found alcohol on the front porch of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house on Friday, Aug. 16, a judicial hearing ruled to suspend the fraternity from campus for the remainder of the semester.
The fraternity house is currently closed and locked, and the organization cannot hold officially sanctioned events such as chapter meetings until the spring semester.
“That night we had some people on our front porch that had a beer can in hand, so our fraternity was found with alcohol on the premises,” said Peter Carrerou, treasurer for Pi Kappa Phi.
Further investigations found evidence of alcohol inside the house as well.
Pi Kappa Phi faced two conduct code violations last year and other violations dating back to 2008.
“Half of my fraternity wasn’t even [enrolled at Mercer]. It was so long ago,” said Carrerou.
At the time of the incident, Pi Kappa Phi was also on University Probation for hazing allegations, which stipulates that further violations of the code of conduct result in an evaluation of suspension, according to Doug Pearson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
“In this case, the organization had been found responsible for several violations over the last year and already placed on University Probation.
The next step was to suspend the organization,” Pearson said.
Drew Haynes, president of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity said the situation is “atrocious.”
Haynes said, “kicking them out of their house is a pretty big sanction just for some alcohol.”
Two years ago, Kappa Alpha Order lost their pledge class for one year when Interfraternity Council (IFC) members walked into an off-campus residence and found an empty beer can.
“It was a private residence and IFC just walked in. You can’t do that,” said Haynes.
Carrerou, who used to be treasurer for IFC, said that during rush this year pictures of alcohol and freshmen were turned in against Sigma Nu.
“They couldn’t take a pledge class for a month, which is nothing. Then we had more pictures turned in of the same thing and nothing happened,” said Carrerou.
“You have picture evidence of people drinking with freshmen and all [Sigma Nu] got was a slap on the wrist. When KA had such a minor infraction, they almost got the death sentence, fraternity wise,” he said.
Haynes and Carrerou both indicated that they think the sanctions given by Mercer have been inconsistent.
Pearson said, “I can appreciate someone thinking that, particularly if they are not aware of the facts.” However, the judicial board determined that, considering the history of violations, suspending Pi Kappa Phi was the “next, and perhaps only, logical step.”
Carrie Ingoldsby, director of Campus Life and Student Involvement, oversees IFC and indicated that the Kappa Alpha Order and Sigma Nu situations differ from that of Pi Kappa Phi.
“The Sigma Nu violation was through IFC judicial and was a recruitment violation that occurred off campus. The Pi Kapp incident was on
campus and went through Mercer judicial,” she said. Kappa Alpha Order’s violation was also a recruitment violation and went through IFC judicial.
Haynes and Carrerou also believe that Residence Life is being stricter on fraternities this semester.
“There was one incident where we had a noise complaint at like 8:15, which is ridiculous, but whatever. We turned the music down. They’re just being super [strict] on the rules,” Haynes said.
Jeff Takac, director of housing and residence life, however, does not believe this is true. “Their rules are actually the same as every other student on campus. We have quiet hours and courtesy hours,” Takac said. “If somebody asks you to turn it down we kind of expect people to turn it down whether you live in Mercer Hall, Greek Village or Plunkett.”
“That particular night the incident was [due to] stereotypes that are pushed upon us,” said Carrerou, who believes that Mercer is handling the situation in such a way that perpetuates the stereotype that greek life is based solely on partying.
“Granted, stereotypes exist for a reason. People do things wrong, but you learn from that mistake and you fix it,” said Haynes.
Carrerou thinks the University should focus on the many hours of philanthropy and community service fraternities are involved in.
Ingoldsby said that the organizations who have had issues this semester are “committed to turning things around, adhering to their sanctions and gearing up to come back and do a good job on campus.” Ingoldsby indicated how important it is to promote the positives of Greek Life such as philanthropy, service and involvement on campus.
Pearson said, “In spite of [the Pi Kappa Phi incident], I believe the Greek system produces strong student leaders, engages in solid community service and provides a valuable social outlet for our students. It does not provide them the freedom to violate the law or university policy. I am confident that Pi Kappa Phi will learn from this incident and come back as a stronger organization.”
(10/10/12 4:00pm)
Folding a fitted sheet neatly and correctly will forever be one of life’s most difficult tasks. If you don’t know the secret, a folded fitted sheet is the stuff of myths and fairytales, where only wizards and Martha Stewart successfully complete household chores. Assuming you do laundry and wash your bed sheets regularly (lord help us if you don’t), there’s no doubt you will one day face the frustration of trying to store the dreaded fitted sheet. I’ve researched some tricks of the trade, and am here to tell you that you don’t need magic to fold a fitted sheet. All you need is the following pictorial demonstration (featuring yours truly) and some practice.
Step One: Turn the sheet inside out (the part you would sleep on should face your body). On the short side of the sheet, put one hand in each corner. Some sources say to use the long side of the sheet. I however, found beginning with the short side is easier.
Step Two: Bring your right hand over to your left hand. Fold the corner on your right hand over your left hand. There should be two corners on top of your left hand.
Step Three: Hold the sheet in front of your body. Look down for the next corner, which should be hanging in front of your body. Grab it and place it on top of the previous two corners. Do not flip this corner! Find the last corner and flip it over all the other corners.
Step Four: Lay the sheet on a flat surface. The elastic should form an L-shape across the top and one side, and the sheet should look like a rectangle.
Step Five: Fold the sheet into thirds.
Step Six: Fold the sheet in half.
It took several tries and help from my roommate before I ended up with the beautiful final product. In order to perfect the science, you need practice.
It may seem silly to fold your sheets when you can just crumple them up and throw them in your closet. But nothing feels better than crawling into bed on nice, smooth sheets.
Plus, as college students living in small spaces, we need to conserve as much space as possible. A wadded-up sheet is inefficient and bulky.
Use this article, other articles you find online and YouTube videos to learn each and every step. You may have to adjust certain instructions to fit your ability and your sheet.
Some fitted sheets, like the one photographed, have elastic all the way around. Others, however, only have elastic on the short sides.
These differences, along with differences in size, will affect the process.
Remember not to get frustrated! Folding a sheet like Martha Stweart takes patience and practice. But once you master the craft, doing laundry will seem much more rewarding.
(09/12/12 4:00pm)
Chances are, at some point in your life you’ll be cruising down the interstate, an important class, meeting or interview to get to, when all of a sudden you feel the telltale “thump-thump” that signifies a flat tire. Who knows where you’ll be. You could be alone, with help umpteen miles away. Knowing how to change a flat tire is invaluable for college students, especially. Mom and Dad and Mercer Police won’t always be able to come to your rescue. Hopefully these easy-to-follow steps are, in fact, easy-to-follow, and will get you out of a tight situation in the future.
What you need:
A flat tire
A spare tire, which is usually located under your car, under your floor mat or is mounted on the back of the tailgate.
An air pressure gauge to check the air pressure of the spare tire. If your spare tire is flat too, you really are stuck.
A block to prevent your car from rolling away.
A jack to raise your car off the ground
A tire iron/lug wrench, which is the L-shaped bar that fits over the wheel’s lug nuts.
Brute strength
What you need to do:
Pull off onto a flat strip of road. Make sure you are far enough away from oncoming traffic. You already have a flat tire. Getting hit by a car will only amplify your problems. You also need to make sure you have enough room to change the tire. If you’re by a parking lot, this would be a great place to pull into.
Locate your spare tire, but don’t reach for it yet.
Remove the hubcap. This is the shiny covering that hides the ugliness that is your actual wheel.
Using your tire iron, loosen (but don’t remove) the lug nuts on the wheel by turning counterclockwise. Here is where your brute strength will come in handy, as the lug nuts are most likely very tight.
Place the jack under your car. Check your owner’s manual to see where it should go. Turn the jack clockwise until it touches the car, and continue turning until the wheel is far enough off the ground for you to change the tire.
Now remove the lug nuts from the wheel. Your hubcap is a good place to put them for now.
Take the flat tire off and lay in on the ground. Preferably flat, as you don’t want it rolling into oncoming traffic.
Remove your spare tire, and put in on the wheel, lining the holes up with the wheel studs. When it fits correctly, put your lug nuts back on and tighten them with your fingers.
Turning the jack counterclockwise, lower your car.
Now, using your tire iron and brute strength once more, tighten the lug nuts until they can’t possibly be tightened any more. They should be tightened in a crisscross pattern. Check your owner’s manual to see the correct sequence.
Remove the jack and store your flat tire and various tire-changing accoutrements in your trunk.
Drive carefully away, congratulating yourself on a job well done. Remember, your spare tire isn’t durable like a normal tire, so now is not the time to drag race back to campus.
Get a new tire or fix your flat tire as soon as possible, because you don’t need to drive on the spare for too long.
(08/29/12 4:06pm)
“Summer” is not necessarily synonymous with “relaxation” for many Mercerians. Whether traveling the world, working at camp or impacting a community through Mercer on Mission, Mercerian summers are full of new and enriching experiences. Three Mercer students, specifically, had life-changing summers and adventures they will remember for years to come.
People from all over the world travel to China’s Wudang Daoist Traditional Internal Kungfu Academy nestled in the famous Wudang Mountain to study martial arts. This summer, Mercer sophomore Taylor Smith provided his own experiences in China among the group of people learning Daoist martial arts at the Academy.
Smith met people from Germany, New Zealand, Bosnia and the Czech Republic.
“There’s people from all over the world. And, you know, some people come there for five years, for like a full five year program where they learn everything there is to learn and then they spread the martial arts and the knowledge,” Smith said.
Smith spent most of his time training, but he did make time to visit a friend in Beijing, see Buddhist temples and climb to the summit of Wudang Mountain, which is Smith’s favorite memory of his trip to China.
Smith learned more than just martial arts during his stay. His whole view of the Chinese and their culture changed.
“[Americans] just see the Chinese government and they apply that to the Chinese people, which couldn’t be farther from the truth,” said Smith.
Smith said the Chinese are incredibly thankful for what they have, whether it be a little or a lot.
“I think it was a lot of just a coming-of-age sort of experience,” Smith said, explaining that he was in a foreign country by himself. He didn’t speak any Chinese. He said, “I learned to not, like you know, always assume the worst of any people.”
The experience even changed Smith’s career path, as he decided to become an engineering major rather than pre-med after returning to the U.S.
Senior Becca Cassady traveled around the Southeastern United States with Winshape Camps for Communities. After a little over one week of training, Cassady and her fellow staff members visited eight cities in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
“I believe it was June 4 was the first day of camp, and my team started off in Blackshear, Ga. and we did day camps for kids,” Cassady said.
Cassady taught net games such as volleyball to third and fourth grade boys and girls, and she played keyboard for the camp band.
The group stayed in one city for a week, and then traveled to the next, teaching kids about Jesus, the Gospel and what those two things have meant in staff members’ lives.
“We had over 100 salvations, which is very cool,” said Cassady.
The city that sticks out the most in Cassady’s mind is West Bradenton, Fla. Cassady said that although West Bradenton is a broken community, the kids had such joy when they came to camp, and valued what each staff member had to teach.
“I made a lot of sweet friendships with some of the kids there,” Cassady said.
The days were long and tiring for Cassady and her 22 other team members, but the nine-week experience was worthwhile. It is something Cassady hopes to do again in the future.
At the end of May, over 20 Mercer students went to Vietnam for Mercer on Mission. It was junior Evan Manning’s first Mercer on Mission trip, as well as his first trip to Vietnam.
The group fit prostheses onto those who suffered lost limbs due to underground mines from the Vietnam War.
“We fit 206 patients while we were there, and we used probably 240 prostheses to make that happen. Some patients were missing all or part of both legs, and other times we had to chop prosthetics in half to make bigger ones,” said Manning.
Before leaving for the trip, the students took two weeks of classes where they learned about the prostheses, and about anatomy, vietnamese and common clinical illnesses.
Aside from fitting prostheses, the group of Mercer students also visited an orphanage and worked in an orthopedic clinic.
“We diagnosed common orthopedic illnesses like sciatica, herniated disk, that kind of thing,” Manning said.
Manning went on the Vietnam trip due to his interest in medical work and because he wanted to help people by using the skills he is learning in college. It was difficult and taxing: The students worked 13 hour days, but it was also extremely rewarding for Manning.
He said, “Looking back on that trip, that was one of the most productive times I’ve ever had in my life.”
Manning learned a lot about anatomy, but more than that, he learned that the impact of a war can be seen for decades after its conclusion. “I learned that if I’m going to do medical mission work, a large part of it needs to be relief for wars like [the Vietnam War] just because of the impact they have,” said Manning.
Manning and the rest of the team returned at the end of June, after three and a half weeks of work.
For Smith, Cassady and Manning, summer was a time to enrich their college learning experience, rather than take a break from it all, which is something Mercerians are known for doing well.
(08/29/12 4:00pm)
Much like how Justin Timberlake brought sexy back, the Cluster is bringing “Mercer Cribs” back, which is arguably even sexier than Justin Timberlake. Mercer Cribs will highlight houses or dorms Mercerians have worked hard to make feel like home, and what could be sexier than that?
The little blue house on Adams Street can only be described as colorful. The living room and dining room walls are painted varying shades of green, and the kitchen boasts pretty pink walls.
Mercer students Amanda Rutherford, Brooke Schermerhorn and Jessica Walker share the house with their friend Elizabeth Chapman, who works in Macon.
The walls aren’t the only colorful aspect of their home. When asked what her favorite piece of the house is, Schermerhorn laughed, “I’m tempted to say the red chandelier, because it’s so eccentric and such a conversation starter. People either love it or hate it.”
Before the girls moved in, the president of one of Mercer’s sororities lived in the house, which according to Rutherford explains all the colors.
The girls named their house “The Cottage,” and it is their little sanctuary from the busy life of college. Rutherford enjoys the fact that coming home is a definitive end to her day, and that it breaks the monotony of school. “It’s an escape from campus,” said Rutherford.
Schermerhorn said, “It’s my space. It’s my way to take ownership, and do what I want with it and be an adult.”
Another benefit of living off campus is that Schermerhorn can garden. Her whole family likes gardening, so many of her plants come from their gardens.
Schermerhorn likes having enough space to have a lot of people over. One of Rutherford’s favorite rooms is the living room, “just because it’s big and it seats lots of people,” she said. Having a house makes it easier for the girls to host bible studies and have many people over for dinner.
The challenge in furnishing and decorating the house was trying to incorporate Schermerhorn’s love of color with a desire to have an adult home. Many of the pieces are hand-me-downs, and most of the items bought came from thrift stores.
The most money the girls spent on one piece of furniture was for a mirror, which cost $20.
One painting in the dining room came from a mission trip Rutherford took to Haiti. Other pictures and paintings were made by Rutherford, herself.
The Cottage was built in the 1960s, which means it’s too recent to be considered historic. Luckily, that means the house can be updated and renovated.
The dining room, for example, was added onto the house sometime after it was built. “I’m a particular fan of this room,” said Rutherford about the dining room, “I always sit here and do homework. I always feel very productive when I sit right here by the window.”
Rutherford does, however, feel a little disconnected from campus. Unless she goes out of her way to see people, it is easy for her to simply go to class and come home every day.
Schermerhorn just doesn’t like having separate bills to pay.
Overall, the girls love their sanctuary. “I feel like Macon is home, because my home is here,” Schermerhorn said.