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(02/08/12 11:38pm)
The Bears just cannot lose lately, holding a seven-game winning streak as of Feb. 5. This is the longest winning streak since 2002-2003, when the Bears won an impressive 12 in-a-row. Mercer has faced competition both at the top and bottom of the table, and they win all of them in stride like it is nothing. This winning streak will be tested in a late game versus East Tennessee State and a rivalry matchup against winless Kennesaw State later in the week. “It has been a tremendous effort,” Coach Hoffman said about the performance in their latest win, one that summed up just how far the Bears have come in regards to last season.
With the latest win, the Bears have clinched a spot in the General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Men’s Basketball Championship tournament. They are still atop the conference at 10-2, in a virtual dead heat with the Belmont Bruins. That four point loss in Nashville still rings true in the ears of every Mercer Bear, and the favor can be returned on Feb. 25. The Bears also rose to 18-7 overall, and they control their own destiny for the number one overall seed in the Atlantic Sun Championship due to a game remaining versus Belmont.
Jacksonville 65, Mercer 75
In a game that saw the four-win Jacksonville Dolphins venture into the University Center, the Mercer Bears were not very hospitable hosts. Four Bears finished in double figures, and it led to the 10-point victory. Justin Cecil led the team with 16 points, with Langston Hall right behind him at 15. Jakob Gollon had 13 points to buoy the offense in conjunction with an impressive 11 from Daniel Coursey. These four helped spur a 16-6 run to begin the game, but the Dolphins did not go away quietly into the night. A monumental comeback had Jacksonville take the lead at 49-47 following a hook shot in defiance of a student section that had been quieted by a powerful dunk seconds prior. Nevertheless, it would be the only time that the Dolphins could celebrate all night, as Travis Smith buried a long three-point shot to set off another furious Mercer rally that would put the Bears ahead once and for all. Also, Daniel Coursey extended his conference-leading block tally to 49 with four on this occasion.
Mercer 75, Stetson 64
Bud Thomas dropped 19 points at Stetson’s Edmunds Center as Mercer ensured that the Hatters would not make it back to .500 overall in the conference on that night. Not to be outdone, Jakob Gollon added 17 points, of which the majority came in the first half. The Bears would lead by as much as 20 points in the second half, helped by Travis Smith’s career-high 13 points. Smith and Thomas’ dual career highs helped keep the Hatters from finishing their late comeback. However, abysmal free throw shooting in the second half (33 percent from the line) kept the Bears out of finishing well. “[I am] a little frustrated because we need to finish games right and we didn’t finish right tonight,” Coach Hoffman said about the Bears losing half of their lead against the Hatters after having the game in hand.
Mercer 75, FGCU 66
Another great performance saw the Bears take down the FGCU Eagles at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The gutsy road effort was the hardest win that the Bears have had in a while, but once the Bears took the lead, they never relinquished it. The Eagles closed the half down by four, but an impressive start saw the Bears extend the lead by as many as 18. It would get as close as seven the rest of the way. Langston Hall led the Bears with 20 points, which would be the fifth time he has eclipsed 20 points in a game. The Bears also had Jakob Gollon add 10 points to the effort.
USC Upstate 47, Mercer 61
A phenomenal defensive performance from the Mercer Bears limited the Trojans to just 11 first half points. However, a poor finish from the Bears once again had them struggling to finish on a high note. The Bears knocked off the third place team in the conference with superb play on both sides of the ball, even if it was a bit weak towards the end. Langston Hall led the team with 13 points, and Daniel Coursey extended his block count on the season to 56.
With the win, the Bears have put a two-and-a-half game cushion between them and anyone else in the conference, minus Belmont.
(02/08/12 11:29pm)
Student sections rule. I absolutely love being in them, seeing them, and laughing at/with them. Last year, there was a rather controversial column from another writer that saw one of our own blast our own student section for not being loud enough. Personally, I saw that happening. However, I understand it’s really tough to get loud and crazy at a game when you’re going to it and watching your team get its ass kicked repeatedly.
I know I’m riding the current wave of support for the Bears based on an impressive seven-game winning streak that the Bears are on. However, if we can’t get rowdy and crazy now, then what’s the point? What’s more fun than being up by 10 and telling your opponents that they remind you of Draco Malfoy, a Backstreet Boy, Scary Spice, an adolescent, Sandusky, or any other somewhat derogatory name in good, old fashioned love?
If you don’t know what I am talking about, then get yourself to a Mercer game and sit up near the front of the student section. I will be there, and I am one of the loudest, but probably one of the meanest, since I routinely told USC-Upstate last weekend that third place must have felt real nice.
Sports just bring people together. I might not like the person sitting behind me at a game, but for two hours, we’re united against the Bruins, Bison, Dolphins, Eagles, Hatters, Owls, Yellow Jackets, Bulldogs, or Midshipmen. For the record, we’ve played all of those teams this year and more. I don’t get how people can go to a game and not get pumped up, but I am proud of every single one of you who scream and chant along with the cheerleaders, band, and Hoffman’s Hooligans. It’s exhilarating, and I implore all of you to go (again).
Let’s get that whole stadium a-rocking the way it was when James Florence would put the team on his back and run us to another heart-stopping victory. I can remember Sunday afternoon games where the stadium is packed out. I know that we are beginning to win again, and people are beginning to come out again. The campus needs this. Just wait until football! Tailgating and the whole gameday atmosphere is a must.
Personally, I wish that whatever organizations possible could do more for gamedays on the weekend than what we currently have. I love Homecoming, and I know we can’t have something that big all the time, but why not something similar? Let’s drive the car out onto the court and have Toby wave the flag into the arena? I love sports. I really do. These sound like the delusions of a madman, but wouldn’t that get you pumped up even more?
If we could get everyone just clapping and yelling during free throws, we could make this one hell of trip for Belmont on the 25th. Isn’t that what we want? Mercer stands for us, so let’s get out there and support them even more. I have seen an increase already this year as the season has progressed, and it exhilarates me. I find this entire atmosphere electrifying, and I invite all of you to come out and do the same (that’s at least three invitations). You’ll have fun, lose your voice, and probably get a few nasty looks from the opposing team’s bench. Sounds like a great night. Go Bears and bring it on Belmont!
(02/08/12 9:54pm)
Kim Jong-il died at the end of 2011, and frankly, I was shocked at just how little it seemed to reverberate. This might be due to the Republican primary race that was impending or just because people didn’t seem to care like I would imagine they would when the leader of what the UN called one of “the world’s most repressive governments” died.However, maybe we give Kim Jong-il too much of a bad rap. While I will not deny that he had some serious problems in the country that he left unchecked, who are we as Americans to critique him? I don’t mean to sound inflammatory, but the last time I checked, who said it was bad to focus on a military? Yes, he took much of the humanitarian aid for his people and rationed it to other sources, but it is a sovereign nation.After all, what is worse: a country that is fighting famine and all but never had much to begin with, or a country that had it all and its leaders bankrupted it? For all the things people say about Bill Clinton and the GOP-controlled Congress, they balanced the budget towards the end. In fact, they were beginning to lower the deficit and debt that the federal government has accrued.Now, we’re sitting at over $15 trillion for the national debt, and there is no end in sight to its growth. Can you blame any foreign nation for looking at us and taking our actions with a grain of salt? I know my point is slow to develop, but in reality, who are we as Americans to tell other nations if they are good or bad when we are falling apart economically due to politicians’ poor choices lately. I just started thinking about how these “dictators” must have done something good here or there as to explain why there is lack of wide-scale revolt that actually works.I don’t mean to offend anyone with this column, but I know it might come across that way. I am merely trying to point out that our complete and total ethnocentrism makes us look at other nations and their leaders with disdain.We aren’t even a true democracy, but we prescribe to the notion that everyone needs to be one like that. Personally, I agree that people like Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Milosevic in the former Yugoslavia are horrible. However, people who are lesser “criminals” maybe should get the benefit of the doubt. Was it necessary to take out Hussein at that moment in time? Didn’t Vladimir Putin help Russia grow as it continued to go from a socialist republic to the democracy it is now? It might seem corrupt and like one party is in power, but I wholeheartedly believe that Russia has revolted against crappy leadership before in its history, making me feel like that massive country could do it again. We might not agree with Mao Zedong or Deng Xiaopeng in China, but their policies eventually led to the economic giant we see today.Seriously, take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I might sound totally off base, but put yourself in the shoes of someone who lives in a nation whose policies we do not agree with.Wouldn’t you look at the comical American political system and laugh sometimes? Or at the very least, shake your head and look upon our decisions with disdain?I’m proud to be an American, and I feel blessed to live here. However, our government needs a little bit of an overhaul as well in order to continue to compete in this 21st century. Comments, questions or concerns about this column can be sent to garret.mcdowell@gmail.com.
(02/08/12 9:38pm)
They say good things come in threes. Well, since Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is technically the fourth installment in the franchise, I understand why this offering was so weak. It was such a waste of $60. Yes, I spent $60 on this piece of crap. Yeah, this came out back in November, but it’s taken me about this long to force my way through it. Also, I was playing better games. Like Arkham City and — gulp — Modern Warfare 3.
For anyone who is a fan of the series, we know that there were huge improvements between Assassin’s Creed and II and then from II to Brotherhood. The significant jump this time? A tower defense mode and a way to use gunpowder in the game. Honestly, I play Assassin’s Creed for crazy hidden blade techniques and such, not sitting down and trying to defend a street. If I wanted to do that, I could go do it on my iPod Touch for 99 cents. Give me a break, Ubisoft. I hope you wait two years or so and have some amazing game that is the real Assassin’s Creed III. This is a joke to pump a game out every single year and think it will keep getting better.
At some point, it has to suck. We reached that point in November. Very little was innovated, and I feel let down. Even the story is not that great. We return to Masyaf, and it fully let me down early on. Constantinople/Istanbul is beautifully rendered, but even this guilty pleasure let me down as I am forced to contend with a ridiculous bomb-making system that upsets me more than pleases me. I simply just want to have the elegant simplicity that came with the earlier renditions, but that is long gone.
The multiplayer is a little more complex, and trust me, a little more complex is not always a good thing. The new maps are nice, but that was expected. The story was okay, but not much was answered. In reality, more things were opened up for debate. That’s cool, but it’s a video game, not a book or movie. I expect twists, but I expect answers with enough grayness that I have to play the next iteration. Sadly, Revelations might have convinced me to never play Assassin’s Creed again.
I probably had too high of expectations, so you might enjoy the game. However, I wouldn’t count on it. Have fun playing an incomplete, sorry game, folks.
(02/08/12 9:15pm)
January 25’s special election for Mercer’s Student Government Association featured a hotly contested battle for one Senator-at-Large spot and three Junior Class Senator spots. After a few good solid days of campaigning on the sidewalks of Mercer and the Facebooks of its students, Eric Ennuson won the Senator-at-Large position, beating out Sean Kennedy, Daniel McNeill, Rainea Cumberbatch, Michael Lopez, and a few other candidates. Ennuson was rumored to have won the election by a slim margin, according to those in Kennedy’s campaign.As for the Junior Senator positions, Gayle-Anne Hendricks, Joshua Lovett, and Lexi Senic won the coveted positions. All three were vocal about getting results in SGA, but they were cautious. The increase of transparency of SGA is an issue for all organizations that legislate for constituents, and these three want to boost it even more, due to the average Mercer student not knowing what SGA does on a weekly basis.Hendricks ran on a platform that promised a more open medium for students to have their ideas heard on SGA. “I want to help lower the carbon footprint of Mercer. Whether it is recycling, different trash policies, or something else in the green tech realm, SGA can help with fixing this issue,” Hendricks said. With a recent proposal to fund more recycling bins on campus, Hendricks’ ideas are even more important to be heard. Josh Lovett served on SGA once before, and he felt that he could offer the student body quite a bit. His friend, someone who is also very involved and active on campus, Lexi Senic ran as well. Both of them were more than ready to get ideas across. “For a long time, both of us felt that there were certain problems and issue on campus that needed to be fixed. For one, we both want to see the 24 hour Finals Week at the library again, because that was a great thing. In addition, we want to continue the growth of Mercer pride that has been so visible at basketball games lately. SGA can help lead this charge,” Senator-elect Josh Lovett said. Senic and Lovett both want to further the green movement on campus, but they want it to be responsible and efficient growth.Newly elected Senator-at-Large Eric Ennuson was very humble in his win, thanking all of his opponents, along with asking all of them to stay involved and have their voices heard. All four candidates will begin serving in their positions as soon as possible, to ensure that the SGA has a full sample of the campus population.
(02/08/12 9:05pm)
Recently, several Macon Police officers were caught playing football while on duty. On January 13, six police officers reported to the Presidential Parkway area to assist with serving a warrant. An alleged burglary suspect was supposed to arrive at the Golden Corral that afternoon, so the six officers were nearby to assist with apprehending the individual when he arrived. The six officers were William Stewart, Freddie Fountain, Joseph Roberts, Rico Brown, Tony Moss and Stephen Phipps. All have at least one year of service on the force.The officers were a part of the Fourth Precinct Focus Unit. Focus Units are specially designed groups that are tailored to specific areas of trouble. While it is targeted to specific problems and areas, they are free to respond to trouble as it arises. While the officers were waiting to serve a warrant and pick up the suspect, their status as Focus Unit officers meant that they needed to be available for anything that might arise.In pictures that were obtained by 13WMAZ, all six were seen throwing passes and practicing blocking maneuvers. All claimed that they were waiting on a call from Investigator John Horne as to when they could proceed with executing their warrant. The suspect was supposed to show up and pick up his girlfriend from her shift at Golden Corral, so the officers were trying to pass time.The football was property of Officer Fountain’s, and he had taken it out to get it re-inflated at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store nearby. After doing so, Fountain claimed that he left it in his car, but he was not the one to instigate the beginning of play. The officers were mum on whose idea it was to begin play, because the policy of Macon Police prohibits reading, playing games and watching TV or movies unless it was directly related to the case.None of the officers were in plain view of nearby citizens, as they were behind the BedBath and Beyond, according to the officers reprimanded. However, an employee of GNC came out and saw them playing. He caught a few photos of the officers as well as their cars parked together some distance away. The officers did report when the suspected car pulled up, and they followed it some distance until realizing that the suspect was not in the car. Officer Fountain said that all of them reported to their precinct afterwards. Their superior officers did not know that the reprimanded officers were from their district.The superiors did not believe any disrespect was meant by the actions, but Internal Affairs and the Macon Police higher-ups felt otherwise, issuing all six officers formal reprimands on their records.
(01/25/12 11:07pm)
The current losing streak for the Mercer Bears Women’s Basketball team hits 10 games, including seven straight in conference play. The Bears are now 3-17 overall, with a 1-8 mark in the Atlantic Sun.
KSU 75, Mercer 51
The Bears started their three-game home stand with a matchup against in-state rival Kennesaw State, but it did not go the way the Bears would have liked. After trailing by just a point at the half, the Bears looked to be in good shape coming out of the locker room. However, after a tense seven minutes in the second half, the Owls exploded on a 14-0 run in the next five minutes. The Bears went 0-for-8 from the field in that stretch while six different Owls scored. The Bears never answered, because they would find themselves trailing by as much as 23 points in the second half. Kennesaw State Coach Colby Tilley lamented her team’s first half performance, but praised the second half composure and patience, saying “We were forcing things a little bit too much at the beginning of the game, and so as a result we turned the ball over a lot. [So in the second half] We were more patient on offense, and just let the game come to us, which was something we talked about at the half, and it paid off for us.” Mercer’s Briana Williams had a team-high 17 points, and Precious Bridges added 11 points. Mercer shot just 25 percent from the floor, compared to the Owls’ 51 percent.
Jacksonville 76, Mercer 65
The next game on the schedule pitted the Jacksonville Dolphins against the Bears. A hotly-contested second half was not enough to overcome an 11 point halftime deficit for the Bears. Sharmesia Smith’s second career double-double helped matters, scoring 10 and collecting 15 rebounds. Briana Williams’ 26 points were not enough either. This was the fourth game this season that saw Williams eclipse the quarter-century mark in points this season. Precious Bridges also had 14 points. Mercer’s 20 turnovers killed momentum often. This snapped Jacksonville’s losing streak on the road that dated back 14 games to January 2011. Jacksonville coach Jill Dunn was “happy that we got our first road win…we played hard and found a way to earn the win.” They were led by Jade Cargill with 21 points and 12 rebounds. She helped lead an offensive charge that was buoyed by an overwhelming advantage in points in the paint for Jacksonville over the Bears, 32-20.
UNF 49, Mercer 39
The Bears closed out their home stand with another loss, this one to North Florida. A poor second half performance reversed a one-point lead for the Bears at the break. A 10-2 run to end the game was all North Florida could do to pull away. Jasmine Blakemore and Briana Williams each had eight points to lead the Bears. North Florida outrebounded Mercer significantly by a margin 52-38. However, this loss outshines the impressive defensive performance by the Bears, their best all season. They allowed just 15 field goals, held their opponents to just 49 points and limited UNF to shoot just 30 percent from the floor. The Bears need to take that into the latter half of the season if they are to make the postseason tournament. The Ospreys have themselves in a good place in the conference standings because of this win over Mercer.
The women’s basketball team is next in action on Jan. 26, where they are on the road at Florida Gulf Coast. Two days later, they play at Stetson. The Bears are next in action at home when they play East Tennessee State on Feb. 2, followed by a game two days later at home versus USC Upstate.
(01/25/12 9:53pm)
He went 8-5 as a first-year starter in a league that many said he could not handle. He did not know the mechanics. He did not have the ability to make it. However, Timothy Richard Tebow proved everyone wrong and kept winning games. You can make every argument you want that it wasn’t him, but there was one big difference between 1-4 and 8-5: a change at quarterback. Kyle Orton can go be the Chiefs quarterback, but you know what, the Broncos kicked him to the curb because he is not that good.
Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden are former coaches that won Super Bowls. Both said that Tebow had what it takes back before he was drafted. Mel Kiper Jr. is just a talking head who has not done anything worthwhile to mention achievement-wise in football beyond making mock drafts. What an accomplishment. Merril Hoge is a 10th round draft pick who is now a talking head that also did nothing worthwhile in football. Kiper and Hoge did not have what it takes to succeed. Why should their opinions on the intangibles or ability of Tebow matter?
I don’t know how many of you saw that John Elway has said that Tebow is the starter for the Broncos next year. The confidence alone from someone who was not sure he wanted Tebow as a part of the organization at one point is truly a testament to his ability. This is even more the case when it is from a Super Bowl winning quarterback, one who has vowed to work with Tebow this offseason to further prep him for the NFL.
I might hate Urban Meyer now for his betrayal to the Gator Nation and his family to head to Ohio State to coach, but he was right: Tebow will succeed. Many people joke that Tebow either deserves part or none of the blame when they lose. In honesty, it’s a team effort. However, while he might have only led these Broncos to 10 points in the last game of the season, the defense still gave up 45. Furthermore, there was some miserable play calling by John Fox late in that game. I’m not saying that Denver would have won, but I feel that it would have been much, much closer than a 35 point blowout.
So why will Tebow succeed? Because he’s good at what he does. He is a young quarterback, and traditionally, they make mistakes and grow from them. You don’t go from the best college player ever to a miserable pro player. Yes, success at one level does not guarantee it at the next, but there cannot be that much of a drop-off. Also, his work ethic is monstrous compared to many players in the league. He wants to get better, and many others don’t really try like he does. This is not to say they are lazy, but Tebow just works that much harder.
I feel the Broncos can win a Super Bowl in the next decade with Tebow at the helm. Favre and Elway were much worse in their starting rookie seasons. Give him time and give him a break. I am sure that he will prove many of you haters wrong. Plus, there is a somewhat decent supporting cast that will continue to develop with him. That surprise win over the Steelers is only the beginning. He went 8-5 as a first-year starter in a league that many said he could not handle. He did not know the mechanics. He did not have the ability to make it. However, Timothy Richard Tebow proved everyone wrong and kept winning games. You can make every argument you want that it wasn’t him, but there was one big difference between 1-4 and 8-5: a change at quarterback. Kyle Orton can go be the Chiefs quarterback, but you know what, the Broncos kicked him to the curb because he is not that good.
Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden are former coaches that won Super Bowls. Both said that Tebow had what it takes back before he was drafted. Mel Kiper Jr. is just a talking head who has not done anything worthwhile to mention achievement-wise in football beyond making mock drafts. What an accomplishment. Merril Hoge is a 10th round draft pick who is now a talking head that also did nothing worthwhile in football. Kiper and Hoge did not have what it takes to succeed. Why should their opinions on the intangibles or ability of Tebow matter?
I don’t know how many of you saw that John Elway has said that Tebow is the starter for the Broncos next year. The confidence alone from someone who was not sure he wanted Tebow as a part of the organization at one point is truly a testament to his ability. This is even more the case when it is from a Super Bowl winning quarterback, one who has vowed to work with Tebow this offseason to further prep him for the NFL.
I might hate Urban Meyer now for his betrayal to the Gator Nation and his family to head to Ohio State to coach, but he was right: Tebow will succeed. Many people joke that Tebow either deserves part or none of the blame when they lose. In honesty, it’s a team effort. However, while he might have only led these Broncos to 10 points in the last game of the season, the defense still gave up 45. Furthermore, there was some miserable play calling by John Fox late in that game. I’m not saying that Denver would have won, but I feel that it would have been much, much closer than a 35 point blowout.
So why will Tebow succeed? Because he’s good at what he does. He is a young quarterback, and traditionally, they make mistakes and grow from them. You don’t go from the best college player ever to a miserable pro player. Yes, success at one level does not guarantee it at the next, but there cannot be that much of a drop-off. Also, his work ethic is monstrous compared to many players in the league. He wants to get better, and many others don’t really try like he does. This is not to say they are lazy, but Tebow just works that much harder.
I feel the Broncos can win a Super Bowl in the next decade with Tebow at the helm. Favre and Elway were much worse in their starting rookie seasons. Give him time and give him a break. I am sure that he will prove many of you haters wrong. Plus, there is a somewhat decent supporting cast that will continue to develop with him. That surprise win over the Steelers is only the beginning.
(01/25/12 9:48pm)
As of 10:34 p.m., on Thursday, January 19, World War Web was trending on Twitter.
This might sound like I’m beating the drum of anti-SOPA individuals, but I have hated this piece of legislation since I heard about it in October and November.
No, I do not care about online piracy and getting free music. However, I do care about a free and open internet.
Most might feel that I am jumping off the deep end by saying that SOPA and PIPA would have led to a loss of freedom on the internet.
However, this Patriot Act on the web would have taken us much closer to 1984 or other dystopian ideas.
We are not China or Iran. We are better than that.
When I first started writing a column for this week’s Cluster, I really wanted to write a long platform on why I support Ron Paul.
I wanted to alert as many as possible as to why Ron Paul is a viable candidate for the 2012 Presidential Election.
Well, this quickly changed into reasons why SOPA really was worse than it seemed.
Not to forget Ron Paul or anything, but in one of the most recent Republican nomination debates, Paul made remarks suggesting that SOPA and PIPA might have died, but this would not be the end of Big Brother-esque legislation.
I only hope that he is not the only one that sees this and wants to act against it.
As for World War Web, I am not sure if you have ever heard of the group called Anonymous, online hackers that hate excessive governmental control and promote both internet freedom and freedom of speech.
They have been called domestic terrorists, but I’m sure George Washington and the other founding fathers were called that after the Christmas massacre during the Revolutionary War.
I’m not equating their actions here as anymore world-changing than the other, but the time will come when Anonymous will drive a severe blow and people will have to pick sides.
SOPA and PIPA were designed to curb online piracy. This is a noble cause, and I support this endeavor, if only it had been done correctly.
All too often, great ideas for legislation become bastardized and destroyed by the bureaucracy of Congress.
The idea was that offending websites could be taken down and blocked online, but there were far too many gray areas that would allow for serious lockdowns on freedoms.
The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Acts (SOPA and PIPA’s real names) are just the tip of the iceberg.
I wrote about ACTA last year, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, and that was signed by the U.S. in October.
Our freedoms are going to be infringed upon again and again.
I don’t want to scare everyone, but I honestly do not believe that we are headed down a path that will undermine the liberties we hold near and dear.
We are not China, Iran or North Korea.
We are the United States.
Yes, there is a significant problem with online piracy, but that cannot just be solved in a few overbearing acts that are more like a bull in a china shop than a real targeted approach.
Finally, let me get to my point about World War Web.
Last Thursday, Megaupload was taken down by the United States.
The seven individuals most involved with the site were charged with online piracy.
While this was threatened to happen because of SOPA, the American government showed that they will take action, regardless of what the public says. Hence, Anonymous struck back.
At least 27,000 computers were put to work, and the internet experienced major effects.
The FBI and Department of Justice websites were taken down, along with several companies from the entertainment world like the RIAA.
The initial blast has been labeled as a malicious act, and the Federal government is threatening significant jail-time for anyone who participates in these “attacks.”
On January 19, many websites went offline for a day, such as English Wikipedia. I lost a lot of respect for Facebook, any that I had left really.
Twitter was able to readily get information out there, and it was necessary so people could know what exactly was happening.
At the very least, Google had a large censorship bar across their logo, a silent protest against the impending legislation.
Facebook did not do a single thing, not even a censorship bar.
I’ve always had qualms about Facebook, and this action, well lack of action, is making me rethink having a Facebook.
It wouldn’t be much. One person deleting their account, but you never should underestimate the will of a small group of people.
After all, a few thousand people took down part of the U.S. Government’s internet capabilities.
There is no telling what could come next.
I’m not technically savvy enough to be a part of this activist group.
However, I support them.
I do not condone idiocy, but their efforts have been protests of Scientology and corrupt governments overseas.
Wikileaks, while damning to some of America’s relations overseas, has potential. Anonymous are the ones to see this out.
I believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Comments, questions, or concerns about this column can be sent to garret.mcdowell@gmail.comv
(01/25/12 9:38pm)
January 12 saw Mercer favorites The Dirty Sound Professors and The Tarlatans from South Carolina pack the house at The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom for Dance Marathon and Children’s Miracle Network.
While it was a free show, Dance Marathon received donations at the door. After all was said and done, $318 was raised for Dance Marathon. There was a raffle for everyone who donated money, and each person who donated received a drink koozie. There was also no cover charge, ensuring that anyone who wished to attend the free concert could.
The Tarlatans hail from Clemson, S.C. and have grown to fame by covering such bands as The Avett Brothers and The Black Keys. They label themselves as Folk and Americana music and are comprised of Taylor McCleskey, Ryan Williams, Jimmy Denneny, Eric Mixon, and Blake Shorter.
The Tarlatans call the Beatles and Bon Iver as other big musical influences for them. They are currently finishing recording, mixing and mastering their debut album.
Macon’s own Dirty Sound Professors are comprised of Luke Morris, Will Stevens, Brad Davis, Allen Whitlock, David Worsham, Leland Rayner and Mike Lirette. Many who attended Jam For A Cause did so solely for them, and a campus consensus is that this was one of their best shows to date.
The 2012 iteration of Dance Marathon at Mercer University will be held on Feb. 25 in Mercer’s Religious Life Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are several changes to the program this year.
Sophomore Logistics Chair for the Dance Marathon Executive Board, Alessia Jankowski, was very supportive of the changes.
“The changes to this year’s Dance Marathon are for the good of the program and will keep students more engaged than ever. Due to our progressive ideas, this year’s event will be more fun than ever.” Jankowski said.
The 2012 edition of Dance Marathon will feature an Olympics theme, incorporating new ideas to keep students involved and participating, such as games and interactive activities.
“Other schools such as Florida and Florida State have events that can last 24 to 48 hours, so we will packing as much as possible into our six hours,” Jankowski added.
With Mercer being such a smaller campus, the challenge is there.
All proceeds from Dance Marathon’s fundraising efforts go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network.
The Children’s Hospital downtown is directly benefited by the money raised both at Jam For A Cause and all Dance Marathon events during the year. Most efforts for Dance Marathon this year are under the umbrella of the organization dubbed Mercer’s Milestones for Miracles.
For more information on Jam For A Cause, Milestones for Miracles, or Dance Marathon check out their social media pages that have helped boost advertising and fundraising for the philanthropy.
(01/25/12 9:37pm)
The Mercer Bears men’s basketball team went 4-4 over the 2011-2012 Winter Break, including snatching two wins on the road against top-tier competition in Navy and Georgia Tech, which was the first win against the Yellow Jackets in over three decades. Besides the big wins, the Bears experienced some tough losses that showed how far the Bears have come under Coach Bob Hoffman. Following the tough overtime loss versus Seton Hall, Hoffman claimed that “(the Bears) are getting better every day.”
Mercer 77, Seton Hall 80
The Bears fought back several times, including from 13 down to force overtime in Newark, NJ, but Seton Hall held on in overtime to win their ninth out of 10 games on the year. Three Bears fouled out, but not before keeping the game much closer than anyone at Seton Hall ever thought. Justin Cecil had 18 points, and Jakob Gollon picked up a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. All five starters finished in double figures for the Bears in scoring, but no one could touch the Pirates’ Herb Pope at 24 points and 17 rebounds.
Mercer 58, Georgia 72
The Bears’ winless streak against UGA hit 15, as the Bears were unable to do much in the second half following the Bulldogs opening on a 16-3 run. As in the game against Seton Hall, the Bears had a significantly less number of free throws than the home team. Langston Hall led the Bears with 16 points. Jakob Gollon added seven.
Mercer 65, Georgia Tech 59
For the first time since 1974, the Bears went up against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and walked away with a victory, stunning the home team. The Bears outscored the Yellow Jackets over the last 8:45 to turn a seven-point deficit into the six-point victory. Monty Brown had 13 points to lead the Bears. However, Tech’s Glen Rice kept it close with 19 points and 11 boards.
Mercer 62, Tulsa 68
Trying to parlay their success in Atlanta to an away game at Tulsa, the Bears came up short. The Golden Hurricane of Tulsa built a huge lead early, and despite the Bears whittling it away, Tulsa was able to come back when it mattered most. Jakob Gollon had 12 points and five assists, and Daniel Coursey had 10 points and an impressive six blocks.
Mercer 65, Navy 56
An overwhelming effort in the second half saw the Bears return the favor from last season, winning on Navy’s home floor. The Navy game saw the Bears get to 8-5 on the season against non-conference foes, the best in seven years. Jakob Gollon continued his impressive play, picking up 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Travis Smith added 11 points. The Midshipmen were outrebounded 31-16.
FGCU 54, Mercer 76
The first home game for Mercer in Atlantic Sun play this year kept the momentum moving in the right direction for the Bears, as the FGCU Eagles were handily beaten. The Bears led by 20 at the break. Justin Cecil dropped 24 points on the Eagles, with Bud Thomas and Travis Smith adding 13 and 11.
Stetson 59, Mercer 75
The Hatters of Stetson did not have a good trip to Mercer, as Bud Thomas led the Bears with 16 points to spank their opponents. Monty Brown had 13, Justin Cecil had 12 and Jakob Gollon had 11, helping lead a balanced attack. The Bears outrebounded the Hatters 38-29.
Mercer 61, ETSU 76
The three-game winning streak was snapped by Mercer’s “worst game of the year” according to Bob Hoffman. The Bears last led at 7-6, only to see that be their only lead of the night. Justin Cecil had 17, but it would not be enough. ETSU stayed undefeated at home.
(01/25/12 9:16pm)
The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents is about to act on a proposal that will combine eight different universities into four. All campuses that are affected by the proposal are not expected to close, according to the President of Macon State College Jeff Allbritten.
In an interview with The Macon Telegraph, Allbritten explained much of the rationale behind the cuts that left most in Georgia shaking their heads.
Allbritten is personally affected, as Macon State College and Middle Georgia College are expected to combine into a much larger university over the next 18 months. The new institution will have five campuses in Macon, Warner Robins, Cochran, Dublin and Eastman. In addition, it will have an enrollment of just under 10,000 students.
In the past four years, the University System of Georgia made over $1 billion in cuts, and many of these cuts will be alleviated by these mergers. When speaking to the Associated Press, University System of Georgia Chancellor Henry Huckaby said that “Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of education, making us a leaner, more efficient organization.”
Besides the combination of Middle Georgia College and Macon State College, Waycross College will merge with South Georgia College in Douglas, Augusta State College with the Georgia Health Sciences University, and Gainesville College will combine with Dahlonega’s North Georgia College and State University.
This is the first shrinkage for the University System of Georgia, and will take the number of colleges in Georgia from 35 to 31.
Throughout the merger, each school involved will form committees of all affected parties, ranging from students to faculty to the community, in order to help identify the sticking points between merging schools. Via this plan, more rural areas are alleged to have both more frequent and better quality access to online courses and shared professors.
Mercer Alumni and current Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal supports this plan, echoing this in the Chattanooga Times Free Press “I think the result will be that we will improve the quality of education and we’ll be able to provide better services to people in our institutions.”
Many outspoken against this plan say that there was not enough time given to really consider the pros and cons of this merger, referencing the announcement of these schools and when the vote took place. However, a study to analyze solely whether a merger could either occur and benefit students began in the fall. As a result, the University System of Georgia plans to have the mergers complete by Fall 2013. Many state representatives and figures plan to petition and lobby against the change.
The University System of Georgia lists the City of Macon as the second most popular place to transfer to for undergraduates in the state. This process would streamline the transfer system in the Middle Georgia area due to the five campuses coming under one system. Since Middle Georgia has a focus on aviation, Macon State’s partnership with nearby military installations will further this, boosting a struggling economy.
In essence, the Macon State and Middle Georgia consolidation will help Allbritten further his goal of turning Macon State College into a university. Furthermore, it will help Mercer students have a wider variety of courses possible to take at Macon State.
(01/25/12 9:03pm)
The Mercer Bears will have a new opponent to play beginning in Fall 2012, as the Northern Kentucky Norse will make the jump from NCAA Division II to Division I and provisionally enter the Atlantic Sun. The public university is located in Highland Heights, KY with an enrollment of just over 15,000, including 13,000 undergraduates. That is the third highest for the Atlantic Sun. It is seven miles from the major market of Cincinnati, OH. Famous alumni or attendees of North Kentucky include George Clooney and Gary Webb.
The Northern Kentucky Norse have had much success in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Currently, they are 15-2 in men’s basketball, and ranked in the top 10 of the Division II polls. They have won the GLVC in 1995, 1997, 2003 and 2009 in men’s basketball. In 1996 and 1997, they finished National Runner-Up for Division II, losing by a combined eight points in the two championship games.
This is not to slight the women’s basketball program of the Norse. They have performed well, winning national championships in 2000 and 2008, and they have captured the GLVC title 10 times since 1986. They are 13-4 and also performing well. Nancy Winstel has coached the team since 1983, with an astounding record of 636-238.
The men’s baseball team has done well also. They have captured the GLVC championship five times in the past decade. In this same period, the women’s softball team has grabbed two GLVC titles, along with several postseason appearances. They captured their NCAA regional twice, in 2004 and 2005. They won 55 straight games in the 2005 season.
The soccer program at NKU is going to challenge for Atlantic Sun honors sooner rather than later, much like the basketball teams. The men’s soccer team won the national championship in 2010 for the first time, led by a player who would be drafted by Toronto FC in the MLS Supplemental Draft First Round: Steven Beattie. They have won five GLVC titles, and they would make serious postseason runs several times in the past decade.
The women’s soccer program has not been one to shy away from championships, but they have been unable to win a national title, despite a lengthy list of achievements. With six GLVC titles, five NCAA Regional titles, three Final Fours and a National-Runner Up since 1998, the Norse will compete from the outset.
The cross country teams will be able to compete in the middle of the road of the Atlantic Sun, significantly similar to Mercer’s level of play in these sports. They did make the NCAA Regionals in the past few years, but they have not been an elite squad here by any stretch, with no titles to speak of.
Rounding out the Norse’s sporting achievements, women’s volleyball has won seven GLVC titles since 1985, including two in the previous decade. Even without winning titles, they have received at-large bids to the NCAA tournament, where they have won two Regionals. Men and women’s golf have a combined seven GLVC titles in the past decade. Men and women’s tennis have a combined 11 conference titles, but none for either squad since 2004.
When Mercer’s basketball head to Highland Heights, they will play in The Bank of Kentucky Center. This 9,200 seat arena will be the second largest in the Atlantic Sun for men’s basketball, and the largest for women’s due to Jacksonville using two different gyms. Bill Aker Baseball Complex and NKU Soccer Stadium will be on the smaller side of the conference locales though, with 500 and 1,000 person capacities respectively.
The Norse will play in every sport that the Atlantic Sun offers, except for men’s track and field, sand volleyball (the inaugural season is 2012) and women’s lacrosse. They will keep the conference at 10 teams due to the exodus of Belmont University, who is leaving to the Ohio Valley Conference, where it will be the smallest school in the conference.
NKU’s Athletics Director said, “This is a big step for our university, and we are excited about the invitation to join the Atlantic Sun Conference.” As NKU has grown and prepared for a jump to Division I, they will add a level of competitiveness the Atlantic Sun needs following the departure of Belmont. A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart was ecstatic for what NKU will do for the conference in terms of level of play and exposure for all the programs involved.
(12/08/11 12:43am)
During one of the best stretches of Mercer men’s soccer history, it is difficult to look back and see what is and is not working currently. For the first time since the 2001 and 2002 seasons, the Bears have posted back-to-back winning records. After consecutive postseason runs, the Bears are hoping to use the successes of 2011 to further that. The Bears were consistently in the RPI Top 140 as well.
One of the season’s many bright moments has been the play of sophomore striker Ehjayson Henry. He finished with five goals and 11 points on the year, his first with the Bears after transferring from Penn State. The Saint Kitts and Nevis national soccer team actually called him up to play for the national team in the 2012 Caribbean Football Union Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The squad played well, getting to the brink of qualification before a shocking loss against Suriname unfortunately eliminated them from the Olympics. This international experience is sure to be a major plus for the Mercer Bears’ men’s soccer team in the next few years.
The Mercer Bears finished 9-8-3 overall. They were 6-5-1 against opponents outside the Atlantic Sun season schedule. This included wins against Appalachian State, VMI and Georgia Southern. Mercer also suffered some tough defeats against Alabama-Birmingham and Central Florida. The Bears also lost a rough match before the Atlantic Sun championships on the road at Duke.
The Atlantic Sun season was a different story for the Bears, as they finished 3-3-2, not clinching a postseason spot until the final match day of the season. They started strong with a win over North Florida. However, the Bears played the three teams from Florida, and they lost all three. The matches with Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson were overtime losses on the road. This nearly eliminated the Bears, but with their backs against the wall, the Bears played spirited soccer. They did not lose again, seeing a run that would carry them into the postseason.
The postseason was a different affair for the Bears, as they would get a rematch with Lipscomb in the first round. The first match was a draw in Nashville, but the Bears took the rematch 2-1, booking a place in the semifinals against FGCU. Their season ended earlier than they hoped, but it was against quality opponents.
Junior midfielder Joey Heavner helped carry the Bears all season, and he had a goal and seven assists on the year. However, it was his postseason play that garnered him even more attention when he was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Tournament Team. He was also added to the Academic All-Conference Team and All-Conference second team. Heavner’s play was instrumental in the back-to-back winning seasons for the Bears. His lone goal helped launch the Bears into the postseason in the 2-1 win over Belmont. He was second in the conference and 29th in the country for assists.
Team Awards were also announced, recognizing the Bears who have helped carry the squad this far. Sophomore Cole Mitchell was named Most Improved Player. Oscar Andersson, a freshman, was named co-Newcomer of the Year with Henry. The Bears award was given to junior Will Betts. The offensive MVP was Andersson, and the defensive MVP was freshman Greg Ranjitsingh. The team MVP was Heavner, and the Coaches Award was given to senior Phil Thoren.
(12/08/11 12:41am)
The 2011 season for Mercer volleyball was rough. Having a tough non-conference schedule started the Bears off on the wrong foot for another rough Atlantic Sun year. They went 12-19 on the year, 4-9 in Atlantic Sun play. They were eliminated before the season ended. As a result, Coach Noelle Rooke resigned, citing “there is also a time when you realize a change may be best for all parties.” Her record was 98-139 at Mercer after eight years.
August began with four straight losses, seeing the Bears not gather even a set point until the next month. The Winthrop Classic was a rough outing, and despite Coach Rooke saying it did not matter where the Bears were voted in the preseason, they just had to “peak at the right time.”
It was not until the second match of the Bear Brawl that Mercer won a set. It was not until the final match of that outing that the Bears were able to win a match. The 3-0 win over Norfolk State provided a lull in a stretch of losses. The Bears’ 8-10 non-conference record was a result of tough opponents and a lack of experience.
Entering the Atlantic Sun season did not change the outcome for Mercer, as they dropped nine of their 13 games in route to a cellar position in the conference standings, including a 3-1 season-ending loss to in-state rival Kennesaw State. On a positive note, the Bears received many contributions and solid play from individuals on the team.
Libero Charlotte Harris took her skills to another level this season with her record-breaking performances that boosted the play of the entire team. However, the Bears were unable to get results often down the stretch and in the clutch. Winning six of their 10 games at the end of the season was too late of a peak, and it cost the Bears in the end. Amiee Frutchey and Anna Coursey’s play also resounded throughout the season as great pillars to lean on, but it was not enough. “[They] have high expectations for this season,” Coach Rooke said in a season-beginning interview. Unfortunately, those were not achieved.
Four separate times, the Bears dropped a five-game match despite having significant momentum. Jennifer Katona routinely kept the Bears in matches with her high numbers of kills, being the first player since 2006 to reach 200 kills in her first season. It was this type of play that kept the Bears around long past their expectations. Their eighth place finish was less than pleasing. It was even worse to lose it to Kennesaw State as the Owls booked their ticket to the postseason.
Speaking on not only the game, but the entire season, Coach Rooke was pleased with the seniors. “I felt it was a good way for our three seniors to go out as they all had strong performances,” she said. Frutchey finished the season with the team lead in double-doubles. The Bears now look to recruiting and a coaching search for the next leader for Bears volleyball.
(12/08/11 12:24am)
I’ve been following the Gators as long as I can remember. I’ve stuck by them in the tough years of Ron Zook. I’ve handled Steve Spurrier having a few rough years. I even watched as the greatest player in college football history didn’t win a third national championship. Yes, Tebow is the greatest player to have ever played the college game. No, he is not the greatest quarterback to have done so, but he is the greatest player. This NFL season has shown those same traits come to the forefront, as he just keeps winning. While the Broncos might not make the playoffs, Tebow has them in a position to make it, but that’s neither here nor there.
We were 4-0. We were tied at 10 after one quarter, with the best team in the nation, at home, on Oct. 1. The eventual 38-10 loss comes after QB Brantley got knocked out of the game on a pick six that turned the game on its head. Brantley stays in the game, Gators might be 5-0 headed to LSU on Oct. 8. Even if we still did not win, that game does not end as a 38-10 beat down. The second largest crowd in Florida Field history (90,888) would have not gone home so dejected.
Even then, Brantley would have had confidence, and my Gators might have survived to fight for an SEC East title as opposed to limp to a 6-6 finish overall, 3-5 in the SEC. Yes, we rushed worse than a high school JV team, but Brantley had us in the game. For the critics who say Brantley finished the season abysmally, I say look at the injury as the real issue here. His highest QB rating of the season –against FBS opposition– came against Alabama in one half of play (176.6). Brantley’s career was ruined by a series of dirty and vicious hits by Courtney Upshaw. What a jerk.
Anyway, Alabama should beat LSU in the supposed rematch, if it happens. LSU did not win the game in Tuscaloosa; Alabama lost it. Those four field goals were not blocked, and LSU did not perform like an offensive powerhouse. I hate saying this, but that devil Nick Saban will probably win another national championship. If only Courtney Upshaw had not been a jerk and KO’d Brantley, we might be in the running too.
Urban Meyer is up there with Upshaw too. This was pitiful to watch and hard to swallow. You run away because you lost Tebow, and then, you head to Ohio State because they offer you lots of money. You’re a sellout. So much for your family time and promises to your family to calm down, you are a great follow-up to what Jim Tressell let happen at a once-prestigious university. I hope you realize that your words mean nothing. I honestly feel sorry for your family, that you promised you would spend more time with following the retirement. Except you got a traveling job with ESPN and then made them move again, this time to Columbus, Ohio.
I’m not even going to deny that Georgia is looking good. It’s been a frustrating year, to see all of our rivals…wait. Tennessee isn’t going bowling? FANTASTIC. Miami isn’t either? AMAZING. Yes, we’re 6-6, but at least we have our integrity. We got rid of Cam Newton for stealing and cheating. That was a great move by us. I’m glad that he went pro and left amateur sports.
I miss Charlie Strong and Dan Mullen. Phenomenal guys. Strong has turned Louisville back around and on the verge of their first BCS bowl in five years. Mullen had a tough year, but Mississippi State is going bowling, a rare feat in Starksville.
Florida State and Georgia did better than us. That hasn’t happened in the same season since 2004. Ouch. Basically, Will Muschamp has brought us down to levels lower than Ron Zook. What’s worse: my girlfriend being a massive Seminole fan or my fraternity brothers being diehard Gator haters? It has been rough.
It’s even worse when the punter runs for a touchdown on you, but at least that was called back. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you didn’t see the massacre at LSU by the Tigers committed against the Gators.
At any rate, I’ve had one great memory of this college football season. TCU beat Boise State on the Smurf Turf. That was pretty awesome. I love the mid-majors, but I hate Boise. I can’t stand them. Even before Urban came from Utah, I was rooting for Utah to break into the BCS. However, I just really hate the Broncos. I like Lane Kiffin better.
Go SEC.
At least Mercer will have a team soon. With the way Florida is playing, the Bears could pull the upset! (Ok, not really, but it’s nice to dream).
(12/08/11 12:11am)
After traveling to ranked Missouri, the Bears finished up the CBE Classic Macon subregional by going 2-1 at home, finishing 2-2.
Missouri 81, Mercer 63
The Mercer Bears traveled to Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO to play the Tigers in their one away CBE Classic game. They lost by 18, and the Tigers had 14 steals against the young Bears team. After redshirting last year, Jibri Bryan came off the bench for the second game of his young career, leading the Bears with 19 points. Jakob Gollon had seven rebounds. Langston Hall had 11 points, seven assists, three steals, and one block. Speaking to ESPN, Bryan said “It felt great [scoring 19]. Really it started from the bench, encouraging everyone else. When you get in the game, you already feel like you’re in the game, so it just flowed right in to it.” As would be the case all season, the Bears are starting lone senior Justin Cecil alongside a host of sophomores and freshmen such as Bryan. Cecil had nine points, and Bud Thomas added three. The Bears would get within 10 points late, but that’s as far as the Bears would come. Coach Bob Hoffman was critical of the Bears’ play, saying “We didn’t adjust very quickly. They were more physical than us; we played too passive.” He would go on to praise the second half play, but it was not enough.
Mercer 60, SHSU 38
As most students began to leave campus for Thanksgiving Break, the Bears began home play in the CBE Macon sub-regional against the Sam Houston State Bearkats. This was one of the lowest scoring games, seeing the Bears lead 23-13 at the half, making just nine of their first 36 shots. Langston Hall scored 24, with 16 coming in the second half. He also had two three-pointers during a 12-0 run in the second half. However, the game wasn’t really close after a 17-1 run in the first half. Bud Thomas added eight boards and five assists, and Jakob Gollon had two steals. Daniel Coursey also had two blocks.
Mercer 74, Niagara 55
The Niagara Purple Eagles came to Macon for the CBE Classic and were sorely outmatched, falling to 1-3 after their 19 point loss at the hands of the Mercer Bears. Justin Cecil played like the senior he is, leading the Bears with 23 points. The Bears would lead by as many as 26 in a flat-out blowout of Niagara. Part of this was due to the game opening 14-2 run from Mercer, and part of this was due to Cecil hitting seven of his 11 shots from beyond the arc. The Bears outrebounded the Purple Eagles 40-27, and Jakob Gollon’s eight boards helped make this a reality. It was 43-19 at the half, but the Bears kept the intensity throughout the duration of the game. Coach Hoffman was very happy with the play of the Bears, saying, “I thought we came out strong in the first half. Then in the second half, Niagara came out and made a run at us. They are a good team and we expected that.” Unfortunately, Jibri Bryan more than likely endured a season-ending injury during the game.
SDSU 74, Mercer 61
The Bears were soundly beaten in the second half, and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits had a trio in double figures to win the final game of the CBE Classic. Nate Wolters had 16, Griffin Callahan had 13 and Chad White had 11 points for the Jackrabbits. Justin Cecil answered with 15 for the Bears, but it would not be enough. The Bears led 34-31 at the half, and they would lead 56-55 late. However, a 19-5 run outdid the Bears on their home floor. Chris Smith had six boards, and Jakob Gollon had five assists. Mercer also outrebounded their foes 35-30. The Bears were praised by their coach, and Hoffman was looking forward to seeing this current crop of Bears max out their potential.
(12/07/11 11:31pm)
So, “It’s good, but it’s Modern Warfare 2 with new maps!” is all I’ve heard from people complaining about the latest iteration of Activision’s over-hyped and over-purchased game series Call of Duty. Modern Warfare 3 is the final installment in a great trilogy that really set the bar for online video-gaming in the past five years. I can’t believe that the first came out some four years ago, and Call of Duty has become something of a staple, much like Mario and Zelda have been for twenty years.
You all know the old adage: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, that’s all well and good, but I personally feel the overall game declined. I love multiplayer, don’t get me wrong, but I also feel that single-player games are where it’s at. I can go play a sport with my friends or go hang out with them to interact with friends. I can play a sport game like FIFA to do something like that. However, I feel that a video game needs to be somewhat of a personal experience, like a puzzle.
I read books because of how immersive they can be for my imagination. I play video games because it’s like an interactive movie that I control the ending, which is almost always happy or uplifting. Modern Warfare has an amazing storyline that sees World War III come into being. Nevertheless, there is only so much that can be done with the story before it becomes too contrived for my tastes. At this point, the Modern Warfare campaign mode was just too much of the same, with nothing quite as mind-blowing for me like when General Shepherd reveals his true colors. I wish it was like that, but it was definitely not as awesome when *SPOILER ALERT* Yuri reveals he used to be on the other side. *END SPOILER ALERT*
The multiplayer is nice, as it does what it is expected to. I enjoy that. However, I also think that there wasn’t enough done, at all. Where was innovation? Where was OH MY GOD THAT ROCKS. This sucked for that quality. I really wish that it hadn’t been forgotten.
However, the multiplayer mode is pretty good. The matchmaking seems better this time, and I am dropped less on Mercer’s network nowadays. It’s pretty nice. I like the weapon selection. I wish Activision would add an age limit or something that could kick kids off my groups. I hate hearing some twelve year old curse like a sailor for no reason other than a video game. There are more important things in life than worrying about the Kill-Death ratio they’re achieving. However, Call of Duty achieves its goal. It provides fun entertainment and killing your opponents, along with a decent way to pass time with your friends. Personally, I’d rather go play laser tag. Or Nerf Guns.
(12/07/11 10:33pm)
I really had a struggle with what to write about this week. It took a while to see what I felt was something that I felt called to write about.
In fact, it took some struggling to find something that I felt deserved attention.
Crap like Kim Kardashian’s ridiculously short marriage is a disgrace to the institution of marriage, the international community’s opinion of this country and the media.
The media should not have even covered this crap.
Hence, it set me on this point to just look at how much this nation has been ignoring important events internationally in favor of the lives of immature Hollywood starlets who need a stark reality check.
In the past few weeks, Liberia held open elections again, seeing incumbent female leader, and recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf retain her seat in another divisive election.
This is a woman who is attempting to bring the country together and into the future after years of civil war and previous government oppression.
For some reason, more Americans care about the lives of Kim Kardashian than Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
I don’t see Kim Kardashian putting her life in danger for something she cares about.
Yes, she has come out in support of the campaign to stop LGBT discrimination and for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but a blog post about something online can be done by anyone.
Egypt’s government that came out of the Arab Spring has experienced a return of protesting by the same individuals that overturned Mubarak one year ago.
Syria continues to have civil unrest as Syrians rise up against a dictator that has long gone unchallenged significantly.
Libya continues to change following the fall of Qaddafi.
More Americans are caring about elections that are still a year away as opposed to elections, while not in this country, that are going to change the course of history.
This is what matters, not the latest in Hollywood.
The one year anniversary of Wikileaks happened recently.
Most people hate Wikileaks since it showed the rest of the world just how corrupt and evil the U.S. can be at times to the international community.
Personally, while I hate that our country’s intelligence network was compromised, I was supportive of Wikileaks.
The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of the press, and I feel that most people forget that.
If we’re going to live in a country so great and full of opportunity, then you have to realize that there are going to be some parts of it that you don’t like.
I do, but I’m not about to infringe on someone else’s rights because of it.
In essence, I think the media needs to get better. American media disguises the real issues by showing us crap about celebrities that really is not necessary.
It’s a waste. All of the money and financing generated in that sector could be better spent elsewhere.
The media’s unhealthy obsession with these people is due to society and what the American populace care about.
So why am I writing this? This is an open claim to people everywhere to stop caring so much about celebrities who don’t matter.
When you’re declining viewership and lack of interest in these buffoons is found, media outlets will change what they cover.
That is the most important thing for our society to achieve.
Maybe then, we will see a focus on different things in the media.
It is a step in the right direction for a nation that needs to care about the world a little bit more.
A globally conscious individual will be something valuable in the globalized economy we have transformed into.
Comments, questions and criticisms of this column can be sent to garret.mcdowell@gmail.com.
(12/07/11 10:21pm)
On November 19, the student organization called Local Engagement Against Poverty, better known as LEAP, jumped past 5,000 hours of service by the student body since its inception. When asked why he attends LEAP service days, sophomore Peer Advisor Kevin Jiles said “[LEAP] has been a great tool for Mercer students to get involved, give back, and help the community of Macon.” It is this kind of thought that has caused LEAP to thrive on the growing campus of Mercer, as it passes 8,300 students for the first time in school history.
LEAP’s ultimate goal of 10,000 hours service is within striking distance, especially due to a healthy involvement from the student organizations on campus. Student Government Association has routinely had its elected officials attend the various Saturday service days, held every two weeks and open to the general student body. SGA has definitely lived up to their billing as the leaders of the campus by coming out every weekend.
Alpha Tau Omega, last year’s winner of Mercer’s Grant Hendricks Award for Community Service, given to the organization that put together the best philanthropic efforts that school year, has also had a large number of brothers attending service days. Junior James Hedgis has helped out because he “wants to do lots of good things for the community, and [he] enjoys the experience and fellowship.”
By and large, these are not the only two organizations that have put together regular contingents to attend service days. Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Sigma, Mercer Service Scholars, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Mercer’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, ROTC, several FYS sections, and some residence halls have all gotten in on the events.
Tau Beta Pi’s Vice President Jared Wozny has even begun to recruit his fellow members to do service days by being open and frank to them about his thoughts on the matter. “I do LEAP service because I enjoy seeing people in the community so thankful for the work we do,” Wozny said after witnessing one of the family members in a particular work site being so excited as she saw work done on her home.
LEAP has cast a wide net in the community, and while there have been some of the same organizations such as Rebuilding Macon and Habitat for Humanity repeatedly come back for more assistance from the hard-working student body, more groups such as Loaves and Fishes have begun to welcome Mercer students in for lots of service.
The Loaves and Fishes director of development Mary Gatti welcomed Mercerians to a workday for the first time on Dec. 3, helping restore a house that will become a transitional home for single mothers and people who might have fallen recently into homelessness and were working their way back out. “LEAP has made it possible for many more individuals to get into our transitional housing with the work they did [in the most recent service day]. They are furthering our goals for the Macon homeless that are trying to get on their feet,” said Gatti.
While this might have been great for the director of the program to see such great and unexpected progress made in one day, it does not always translate into success from the volunteers. LEAP has been able to balance this opportunity cost of early and strenuous Saturday morning service with the intrinsic benefits of helping others, community service hours and either free or cheap lunch. After attending his third LEAP service day, sophomore resident assistant David Michaeli raved about the experiences and plans to do many more.
“I do it because I love to see the final outcome and the people’s reactions when they see how much positive change we’ve helped bring to their lives,” said Michaeli.
After a year, LEAP has passed the halfway mark. In the spring, several students key to LEAP’s success and progression in the Mercer-Macon community will be taking a class designed to brainstorm and plan solely for LEAP. There are quite a few younger Mercerians that have begun to take charge at service events, using their individual talents to lead from both the front and the back.
Lyndssey Autrey, a sophomore Mercer Service Scholar, has run an event at several service days this semester alone.
When asked why she adds in the extra leadership and logistical work, she said, “I just really enjoy it. Also, I want to help other students at Mercer develop that passion and love for serving that I have been blessed with.”
LEAP will continue in the spring with several more service days, festivals, and intensive projects that will provide opportunities for people all over campus to get involved in an activity they feel the most interested in.