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(01/29/20 5:00am)
Harry Styles has once again proven himself to be an outstanding artist with his second album, “Fine Line.”
Styles’ fans have gone crazy over his new music, as his album “broke (the) record as the biggest sales debut from an English male artist in the U.S.,” according to Official Charts. His album has over 52 million streams and more than 38,000 album sales, and Styles was on the top of the Rolling Stones charts for two weeks after the album’s release.
The album features 12 songs that range from extremely catchy to touching and tender. Throughout the album, Styles creates a sweet and sincere beat, reminiscent of a summer day, by using very tactile images and heartfelt lines.
“Fine Line” seems to have something for everyone, from bops like “Golden” and “Watermelon Sugar,” to more heartfelt songs like “She” and the titular song, “Fine Line.”
“Watermelon Sugar” is one of the first singles that Styles released from the album, and it serves as a nice glimpse into what the album as a whole sounds like. In this song, Styles creates a summery beat that gives listeners almost a nostalgic feeling. Styles tells his listeners that the love he feels is like “strawberries on a summer evening,” a tactile image that makes his audience feel exactly what he is feeling.
The second single released was “Adore You,” showcasing a different side of the album that Styles has meticulously crafted. In songs such as “Adore You,” “Fine Line” and “She,” Styles croons to the ever mysterious “she” about how much he cares for her.
In more heartfelt songs, Styles uses very tender lines to make his audience feel like they can relate to his experiences. In “Falling,” Styles sings out, “I’m in my bed and you’re not here. And there’s no one to blame but the drink and my wandering hands…. I can’t take it back, I can’t run back the baggage you left,” hitting right to the core of the listener’s heart, following it with “What am I now? What if I’m someone I don’t want around?”
Styles was able to create an album that seems to have resonated with a lot of people. He is currently one of the biggest chart-toppers in the United States, casting people under his spell with his lyrics and a voice that has the ability to capture feelings that almost everyone can find relatable. Styles was able to create an album that has been a huge success, proving once again that he is an artist that is more than capable of creating music on his own.
(01/29/20 5:00am)
Welcome to a new decade, a new year and a new semester — and welcome back to Clusterscopes, biweekly horoscopes using tarot cards.
Since we left for the holiday, we’ve survived several challenging astrological events. The last solar eclipse of the year hit the day after Christmas in the sign of hardworking Capricorn, and by the end of the break, six planets all stationed in the sign of the goat. Capricorn energy ushers in a no-nonsense view of your life and what you’re doing with it, so if you felt more inspired than usual to make change as 2020 began, it may be the planets at work.
Now it’s time to stay focused on our goals as the Sun moves into Aquarius. A revolutionary, socially aware and inspired sign, Aquarius energy can motivate us to innovate — but it can also lead to distractions and disarray. We may want to fix everything all at once and lose sight of what’s important. That’s why I pulled the cards for the first tarotscopes of the year with goals in mind. If you’re feeling confused or unsure which direction to follow, look for your sign below to see where you should most focus your growth this year.
Aries: Six of Wands
Progress will be swift.
This card appears when you’ve overcome an obstacle that’s limited you for some time, when you have put in the effort to solve a personal problem and deserve to be proud of your efforts. In terms of the future or setting goals, it can also signify a need to put yourself out there with a new idea and to become more comfortable accepting praise. More than anything, this card speaks to your potential for leaving behind a habit, mindset or lack of confidence that has limited you in the past. The specific issue will be different for every Aries, so take some time to identify the most serious barrier in your way.
Taurus: Two of Wands
You may be at a crossroads or simply unsure what your next move is.
Twos are the second step in a timeline: you’ve laid the groundwork, but choices still remain. Because we’re dealing with the suit of wands, you could be choosing between two intellectual pursuits — for example, a senior debating graduate school or the start of a career, or an underclassman trying to decide which internship offer to take for the summer. Either way, your goal this year is to figure out the most fulfilling way forward, to cut through the noise and to identify your true objective. (Two of Wands is traditionally associated with travel, especially overseas, if that helps.)
Gemini: Warden of Crystals
Don’t lose yourself in pride for your accomplishments.
Corresponding with the King of Pentacles in the traditional tarot, the Warden is the master of their suit. The suit of Crystals pertains to the material, such as career, field of study or wealth, and the imagery of the card usually depicts someone sitting atop a throne, surrounded by the spoils of their efforts. Basically, this card forecasts great success and high social status. On the negative side, the Wardens often lose sight of where they came from and can lack empathy for those who have yet to achieve what they have. Your goal for 2020 may be to redirect your energies towards the goal you want, but it’s also to remain principled and kind while you do it. 2020 will likely bring you something great, but don’t forget those who supported you while you got there.
Cancer: Three of Cups
Appreciate what others have done for you, and don’t hesitate to let them in.
Did you make a habit of isolating yourself in 2019? Or did you struggle to appreciate the people around you? This card features three people celebrating the results of their hard work, but the emphasis here is not on what they achieved but how they got there: through teamwork and collaboration. Your goal this year may be to better acknowledge the contributions that your friends and peers have made to your life, to build a stronger social circle or to admit to yourself that you can’t do everything alone. It’s okay to reach out to others.
Leo: Nine of Wands
All that’s left is the final step.
Following the Eights, the message underlying the Nines is of resilience. Your faith has been tested, your boundaries have been challenged and your confidence in your ability to move forward may have been shaken. Your challenge this year is to get back on track. You may have to retrace your steps and decide what landed you in this position. What choices could you have made differently? What habits are you trying to maintain, even if you know they are only setting you back? The Nines are the last step on the road to completion at the Tens. You have almost made it — what final action can you take to get there?
Virgo: Rooted
You deserve to feel comfortable, internally and environmentally.
It’s time to think about, well, your roots. Where do you come from? Where do you feel safest? Are these the same place? What can you do to create an environment where you feel at ease? This card could indicate moving in the sense of changing your living space, but it also refers to simply being comfortable with motion. For example, when you find yourself in a situation, partnership or friend group that doesn’t serve you, do you just wait for it to end — or do you leave? If you’ve been patiently waiting for things to change, it’s time to make moves. But these moving parts aren’t all physical. Almost any location can be comfortable as long as you’re at peace with yourself. Look inward: is something amiss in your inner world? This is your year for physical and emotional peace, and you’re responsible for seeing it through.
Libra: Warden of Daggers
The ultimate exaltation of the Daggers, the Warden is a “speaker of truth,” according to Marble Moon Tarot designer Samantha West. “They call us to do our research, and then speak the truth as well.”
For you, this may mean that you’re struggling with a matter of logic and intellectual power, and it would be much easier to make a decision or carve a path if you dedicated more time to exploring your options. There is an element of this card that suggests you may already know that you don’t have all the information you need; perhaps you are avoiding a deep dive into the facts because you are afraid that the truth you’ll find isn’t the one you were hoping for. There is no more time for avoidance — it’s time to act. This year, don’t let your fear get in the way of your progress.
Scorpio: Nine of Crystals
In 2020, you need to learn to appreciate your own efforts — look how far you’ve come!
Let me explain. The figure depicted on the Nine of Crystals card in the Marble Moon deck wears a luxurious, sparkling, floor-length dress, with a brilliant pink bird perched on their finger. Surrounding the figure are nine pink, dazzling crystals against a bright blue backdrop with stars painted sporadically. Clearly, this is a picture of abundance, and the person looks upon all they’ve accumulated with pride. It’s implied that this person is thriving in terms of the material world thanks to their own hard work. Whether or not you’re feeling exactly abundant, work to acknowledge this year that you are to thank for what you do have. You have worked hard and earned your “crystals.”
Sagittarius: Seven of Crystals
Sagittarians, I’m sure you’ve all heard this before, but listen: it may be time to watch your spending.
The Seven of Crystals suggests that wealth is slipping through your fingers. You could be enjoying much more financial success and stability, but your spending habits are putting your funds in jeopardy. Sevens show the first sign of completion in a cycle or process, indicating that there is something you’re missing when it comes to the accumulation of wealth. This card usually appears when you have lost sight of the long-term goal. Envision a future in which you aren’t scrambling for a single Bear Buck to print a paper last minute or digging for change in your car in the Taco Bell drive-through. This future can be yours! Consider drafting a budget, holding onto your receipts and planning a little better for your expenses.
Capricorn: Divine
Everything you need, and all that you need to know, are already within you.
Divine corresponds with The High Priestess in the traditional deck. This card symbolizes receptive energy and, more than anything, intuition. It always shows up in readings when the answer to my question is that I already know the answer — that the choice I’m leaning towards is the most beneficial, or the outcome I expect is the most likely. This year is going to be important for you in terms of learning to trust yourself and your decision-making. Nobody knows what’s best for you better than you do. Block out the noise and pay attention to your own needs this year.
Aquarius: Page of Cups
Be open to new personal relationships, new energies and new perspectives this year.
Pages represent a viewpoint unconsidered in their given suit, and Cups refer to relationships, emotions and intuition. You may need to branch out in terms of who you hang out with, and some of the people you start spending time with may be unexpected. Or, you need to cut the people who are already in your life a bit more slack and allow them to surprise you. In typical Aquarius fashion, you’ve probably identified a personal or emotional aspect of your life that isn’t where you want it to be. The Page of Cups suggests that there is a way forward; it’s just up to you to take the leap and make change happen. You’ll need to think outside the box for this one.
Pisces: Star
Create a self-care routine.
The Star is not the most positive card in the deck — that’s the Sun —but it is a fairly optimistic one. The person symbolized by the Star is someone who is “living their best life,” according to West, but not because life has always been easy for them. In fact, this card follows the most destructive card in the deck, The Tower, which represents a period in which you are at rock-bottom and must allow something to crumble in order to rebuild a more stable structure for yourself. Whatever you may have lost recently, this is your period for building a strong foundation that can propel you forward. Invest in self-care that makes you feel empowered and uplifted, ensure you have a strong support system and remember that the hardest part is now over. We’re moving forward.
(01/29/20 5:00am)
[video credit="Mary Helene Hall" align="left"][/video]Over winter break, a new vending machine sprung up in Tarver Library.The machine, which is located on the 24-hour floor, is a Pharmabox, and it contains items ranging from over-the-counter medications, sunscreen, batteries and vitamins, as well as sexual health, feminine hygiene, eye care and dental health products. Auxiliary Services is responsible for bringing Pharmabox to Mercer. Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Ken Boyer said that he first learned of the product at the National Association of Auxiliary Services Officers in October. “Pharmabox was actually debuting their product to the university markets at that conference,” he said, “and we began conversations mid-to-late October.”Boyer said that the Pharmabox was installed in response to results from a student survey that suggested a need to be able to purchase health products 24/7. The products in Mercer’s machine are part of “a package that was suggested based on surveys that Pharmabox has done with university and college students around the country,” Boyer said.Pharmabox vending machines are located in public locations such as airports and malls across the country, but Mercer is the first university campus with one in the state of Georgia. Since Mercer’s installation, Boyer said that other schools around the state have begun to look into getting their own. “Georgia Tech most recently came and looked at our Pharmabox here at Mercer and is looking at putting one on the west side of their campus,” he said.Many students were surprised when they returned to campus after the break and found the Pharmabox with no explanation until a formal announcement was emailed to students on Jan. 17. For students who are unable to leave campus easily, the Pharmabox’s proximity is a plus.“I thought it was interesting. I thought it was neat. There's a lot of things that think that we'd have to go to Walmart to get or go off-campus, and it's right here,” said Taj Patterson, a sophomore majoring in business management.There are some items in the Pharmabox that were unexpected to some. For instance, a wireless speaker is available for purchase.“The speaker kind of surprises me because it seems like everything else is more of need-based, and a speaker doesn't seem like it's needed, but everything else seems very pretty practical and useful,” Patterson said.Logan Scott, a freshman music and biology major, said she did not expect the presence of the morning-after pill.“I was a little surprised whenever I saw like Plan B and stuff like that in there,” Scott said. “But like, we're on a college campus so, stuff happens. Makes sense.”Many of the products that are available in the Pharmabox can also be purchased at the Provisions on Demand locations on campus. The medication at the PODs come in smaller quantities, though. For example, Tylenol Extra Strength is available at both locations, but the Pharmabox sells 24 caplets for $6.75 and the University Center POD sells four for $2.59.The PODs’ products cater to on-the-go needs, but the Pharmabox offers a wide variety of health and beauty necessities. The University Center POD carries two variations of Advil, whereas the Pharmabox offers eight. Mercer is not profiting from the Pharmabox, Boyer said. Instead, anything that it earns goes straight to Pharmabox. “It's just like you (are) going off-campus to buy your stuff. It's a convenience item,” Boyer said. “I do understand the prices might be a little bit higher, and you're paying for convenience.”Currently, Pharmabox accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bear Bucks as a form of payment is coming soon.
(01/29/20 5:00am)
This past decade has been a memorable one, especially in regards to music. Many songs quickly shot up the charts with their undeniable catchiness, variety and flair. Others became popular because of memes, or maybe they steadily crept their way into your Spotify playlist without you even realizing it. Whatever the case may be, these songs have had a huge impact on the previous years and possibly the entire decade.
With the new year in full swing, there is so much curiosity surrounding which artists will be releasing new music in 2020. Only time will tell, but until then, here’s a list of musicians who are expected to release new music this year.
Billie Eilish
The eighteen-year-old singer has certainly had many hits under her belt including her 2016 debut single “Ocean Eyes” which quickly became a fan-favorite for its ethereal and light sound.
She has received critical acclaim this past year, particularly from her debut album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go.” Songs such as “Bury a Friend,” “Bad Guy” and “When the Party’s Over” had R&B influences with mellow, yet mildly dark undertones that set her apart, making her a four-time Grammy nominee.
Since the release of her debut album, Eilish has dropped a single from her sophomore album, which is rumored to be released this year. She is currently working on writing a new James Bond theme song for the film “No Time to Die” for the movie franchise.
“It feels crazy to be apart of this in every way,” Eilish said in an interview with CNN. “I’m still in shock.”
Frank Ocean
Many fans are awaiting the return of the “Thinking Bout You” singer who has been popping in and out of the public eye since the release of his latest album “Blonde” in 2016. His enigmatic mannerisms and chronic disappearances have made him the subject of piqued curiosity from many people, even from those who don’t proclaim to be fans of Ocean. According to W Magazine, “(he) is always working on music and other things.”
He was also the subject of speculation at Camp Flog Gnaw last year when he was expected to perform as a surprise guest for the festival. When festival-goers realized the surprise guest was Canadian rapper Drake, fans went into a disappointed uproar.
Since then, Ocean has released two singles late last year, “In My Room” and “DHL,” rumored to be from his upcoming album, which is set to be released this year. He is also scheduled to headline Coachella this year, his first live performance since 2017.
Rihanna
This songstress-turned-business mogul has not released any music since the release of her latest album “ANTI” in 2016. Songs like “Needed Me” and “Work” climbed the charts and ruled radio airplay with their edgy, Caribbean style. Since then, she has been featured in other artists’ songs such as “Wild Thoughts” with DJ Khalid, “Loyalty” with Kendrick Lamar and “LEMON” with Pharrel’s music group N.E.R.D in 2017.
In the meantime, she has launched several successful business ventures including Fenty x Puma (a holistic fashion brand), Fenty Beauty (her makeup brand that made waves with its inclusivity in shade ranges), Fenty (her LVMH luxury fashion brand, making her the first woman of color to partner with the esteemed fashion house) and Savage x Fenty (her lingerie line that boasts inclusivity of body types), starred in the movie “Guava Island” with Donald Glover and much more.
Although she has been busy building an empire, she has not forgotten her musical roots and has been teasing the release of her ninth studio album to her fans in a joking manner since last year. The album is supposed to be “reggae-inspired or reggae-infused,” Rihanna said in an interview with Vogue. “It’s in my blood.”
The album was supposed to come out last year, according to Rihanna’s response to a fan on Instagram. Currently, the album is completed and ready to be released, but, according to Rihanna’s Instagram account, she “is listening to R9 by (herself) and (refuses) to release it.”
Lil Uzi Vert
The Philadelphia-born rapper has been pegged by fans to release new material since the release of his latest solo album “Luv is Rage 2” in 2017. Since then, he has collaborated with several different artists throughout 2018 and 2019 including Young Thug, Juice WRLD, Gucci Mane, Tyler the Creator, Lil Baby, Blocboy JB and so many more.
He has also released six singles, posted the promotional shoot on his Instagram and is constantly teasing many snippets for his upcoming album “Eternal Atake,” which is set to release this year. The artwork for the project caused serious controversy due to its stark similarities to the logo of the Heaven’s Gates cult, which was known for the mass suicide of its members in 1997.
In 2018, Uzi said during a concert that he “was finally done with that joint, imma drop that jawn,” but the delay may have been attributed to his former music label, Generation Now, which Uzi had constant discrepancies and disagreements with. He has since broken ties with the label and is now on Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation. The album is supposed to drop “soon, I guess,” Uzi said in a statement. “Yeah, soon.”
J Cole
The “No Role Modelz” rapper has been busy with the artist collective and record label “Dreamville,” which he founded in 2007 with his manager Ibrahim Hamad. They have released the Grammy-nominated album “Revenge of the Dreamers III” and just released the deluxe version of the album “Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director’s Cut.” Cole has not released a solo album since the release of “KOD” in 2018. The upcoming album, which is set to release this year and rumored to be titled “The Fall Off,” is supposed to be a direct response to his previous album. He teased the album during his performance at the Day N Night festival in Las Vegas last year with a parody presidential campaign video that featured Cole. Fans were also offered campaign posters at the concert. “Make your voice heard,” the video said. “Vote for the Fall Off, 2020.”
These artists, and many more, have persistent fan bases just waiting for their next music release. It’s only a matter of time when, or if, they will bring forth their fan’s wishes. In the meantime, we can only dream that their next projects live up to all the others.
(01/29/20 5:00am)
The men’s Basketball team had their first SoCon division win on Wednesday against the Virginia Military Institute at Hawkins Arena.
Both teams had yet to win a division game in the Southern Conference with VMI scoring 0-5 and the Bears 0-4.
The first half of the game did not look good for the Bears as the Keydets took a four-point lead and eventually a double-digit lead going into half time. The Bears had 18 turnovers with the majority of them being in the first half.
While VMI led 38-27 coming into the second half, Mercer came back from halftime with new strength. The Bears started slowly gaining more points and ended up shooting 46 points in the second half.
Djordje Dimitrijevic (#5) shot his own record this game by shooting six three-pointers with five of those coming in the second half. His total points came to 26 and he was also nominated SoCon student-athlete of the week.
The transfer, Jeff Gary (#3), also shot in the double digits with 11 total points during this game. He obtained four assists and three three-point field goals, which were both his season-high.
“What’s going through my head first is where my other teammates are so I can give them a bucket,” Gary said. “I like assisting more than I do scoring.”
The Bears finished strong with an 11-point lead over the Keydets, 73-62. Mercer then traveled to Samford and grabbed their second SoCon win with the final score being 90-75.
Ethan Stair (#22) scored 22 points in the game and became the fourth player in Mercer program history to reach 1,000 points. Stair reached this after throwing a three in the second half and now has 1,017 career-points.
Dimitrijevic also went his third game scoring over 25 points and tied his record of six three-pointers.
The Bears then played Western Carolina Jan. 22 and won 85-79.
The team shot a 48.3 percentage on the floor with Dimitrijevic and Gary passing their previous game scoring highs.
Stair also recorded his eighth double double this season and scored 17 points that game.
The bears played VMI again in Lexington and won 69-66. While it was a close game, the win put Mercer at 4-4 in the SoCon.
Dimitrijevic led the team in points, and Kamar Robertson was second in top-scoring points for the team. Robertson tied his career-high of 16 points in a single game.
The next game will be at ETSU on Jan. 29 and the next home game is against the Citadel on Feb. 1. Whether the Bears can hold this winning streak is unknown, but it has become evident that the team holds something special.
“Just putting the pieces together, we are so close,” Gary said. “If we just do the little things I think it will make a huge difference.”
(01/29/20 5:00am)
Mercer University awarded 14 students the new Global Leader Scholarship to aid them with their travel expenses as they study with Mercer affiliates around the world. This year’s scholars are traveling to countries including South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Sweden, Spain and the U.K.
The students were awarded amounts between $4,000 and $8,000 to go towards their travel and living expenses. In order to be considered, applicants had to be studying abroad longer than eight weeks and had to complete an application that included three essays and two recommendation letters.
Suzanna Arul, a senior Media Studies and Global Health double major, is one of the 14 Mercer students who received the Global Leader Scholarship. She is traveling to the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, to live and study this semester. She chose this university for its international developmental program, which studies poverty and inequality around the world, she said.
“I've always wanted to travel. I've always wanted to … go to these different countries, especially France, since I've been in French classes and stuff, but specifically, I'm really excited to see all the little nuances about all these other countries that we don't even recognize in our own country,” Arul said.
The goal of the scholarship is to make study abroad opportunities more accessible to students, as there were not many study abroad financial aid options available for Mercer students in the past.
Arul said that the scholarship eases her mind from the worries caused by the high costs of studying abroad in the U.K.
Junior Global Health major Angelo Malacapay is another recipient of the scholarship. He is studying at Linnaeus University in Vӓxjӧ, Sweden, which he said offered the most opportunities to earn credits that could be applied to his degree.
Scholars are also encouraged to become involved with their area of study and come back to the Macon campus with new ideas and viewpoints to share with their communities.
“The immediate impact (of the scholarship) is … giving students the opportunity to go abroad and acquire a new perspective and then use that when they come back or in the workforce,” Mercer’s study abroad adviser, August Armbrister, said.
While the Global Leader Scholarship is aimed to address current obstacles to international study, the effects of the scholarship span past college for these students, Armbrister said.
“To go abroad, you're building cross-cultural competencies, which you can use … working with diverse populations, (whether) they are working domestically or working abroad,” Armbrister said.
Language proficiency and the ability to communicate with people from other cultures are other skills that students can apply to their future lives and careers, he said.
Arul plans to use her time abroad to gain a greater understanding of different countries’ views on health in order to prepare for her career as a health journalist.
“I really am so interested to learn more about how different countries are, in a holistic way — not just health in the sense of health care, but what do people deem important in terms of health?” Arul said.
With the addition of this scholarship, Mercer’s study abroad program is also taking steps towards becoming more involved with its partners abroad. They hope to continue to expand the program and opportunities for students, Armbrister said.
“Anyone can learn about different regions by outlets such as a book or watching a video about a place,” Malacapay said in a message to The Cluster. “To me, traveling to a new place and experiencing the culture firsthand creates the best possible opportunity to learn a new place to the fullest.”
Students who are interested in applying for the Global Leader Scholarship can visit the Office for International Program’s website for more information.
(11/26/19 9:00pm)
Gary Blackburn has been an art professor at Mercer University for over 30 years, specializing in photography. Now, he is the winter exhibiting artist at the McEachern Art Center. His collection, titled “With Contrast,” is an assortment of turned wooden forms and photographs of the Georgia and Florida coast that he took while on sabbatical in fall 2018.
Throughout Blackburn’s long artistic career, he has mostly worked with film photography to document the Southern landscape. He used his sabbatical as an opportunity to explore the Florida and Georgia coasts in a new way: with digital technology.
“After looking at the many image files produced during the early fall,” Blackburn wrote in the informational pamphlet accompanying the exhibit, “I realized that in color my attention was drawn to the interplay where sky, land and water meet.”
In some of Blackburn’s photographs, there is a distinct boundary between sky and land. For instance, “End of the Day” features a fiery orange sky colliding with black silhouetted trees and grass.
Other images are of landscapes with elements that blend into one another seamlessly. Blackburn’s “Morning on Wassaw Creek” is one of these pieces; the physical trees and clouds are reflected so perfectly onto the surface of still water that the photograph could be flipped around without any viewers being the wiser.
Contrast is also evident in the wooden pieces Blackburn includes in this exhibit. While about half have been smoothed into round circles, the other half boast natural wood knots and ragged edges.
However, the contrasts in Blackburn’s exhibit do not refer only to the artwork.
“I think it is fitting that this exhibition is also about the contrast of where I have been and where I am going,” Blackburn said.
While Blackburn’s early photography work was primarily done in black and white film, these new pieces explore the power of color and digital media. Moreover, the exhibit contrasts his past of teaching sculpture and photography with his future of working more closely with woodturning and creating art independent of class instruction.
Blackburn’s exhibit will be showcased at the downtown McEachern Art Center until Jan. 15.
(11/25/19 7:05pm)
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is hosting an Archaeology Ranger Program from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 23, according to the park’s Facebook page. This free event will start at the Visitor Center with a presentation followed by a guided tour of the park led by Ranger Jim Branan.
The tour will be outside and around half a mile long if “the weather permits,” said Angela Bates, supervisor park ranger and volunteer manager.
Branan will discuss the findings at the Earth Lodge, the Cornfield Mound, the Paleoindian site, the railroad bridge and the British Trading Post, as well as the history of these locations, Bates said.
The indoor presentation will include a screening of footage from the 1930s of the original park orientation film, according to the Facebook page for the event.
Bates said that this program takes place in November because it is Native American Heritage Month.
“Ocmulgee had the largest archaeology dig in American history,” Bates said. This dig took place from 1933 to 1942, with 800 workers finding around 3 million artifacts.
Bates said that she hopes the program will help attendees achieve “a bigger understanding of the archaeology dig done on the Macon plateau sites.”
Ocmulgee became a national park on March 12, 2019. The bill that designated this change also doubled the size of the Ocmulgee National Monument, according to Laura Corley at The Telegraph.
The ranger program is not the only free event that will take place at the park in the near future. On Dec. 7, the park will host “a Ranger-led tour to the Earth Lodge,” according to the park’s Facebook page. This will begin at 10 a.m. in the Visitor Center and will take half an hour.
According to the page, “the space inside the Earth Lodge is accessed through a short, 20-foot long tunnel and is not wheelchair accessible.”
This event has taken place on multiple Saturdays this year and will continue on into the new year on Jan. 4 and Feb 2.
(11/25/19 7:04pm)
Last semester, I skipped more classes than I could count. I spent days on end in bed, feeling utterly drained, incapable of moving a muscle in the direction of my school work. I’d never felt a mental block that severe. My brain fog was impenetrable and my typical highly-motivated demeanor was nowhere to be found. I isolated myself socially, too. Friends asked me almost daily what was wrong: was I depressed? Was my anxiety flaring up? Did I just hate them?
For a while, I wasn’t sure what was going on. I conceded that I might be depressed, and honestly, I might have been. But near the end of the semester I realized what was really wrong: I was burned out.
This May, the World Health Organization added burnout to the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. They define burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” and leads to energy depletion, feeling detached from or excessively negative towards obligations and underperforming at work.
Other symptoms of burnout include irritability, fatigue, depression, overwhelm, anxiety and avoiding work or social settings.
That’s exactly what I was experiencing, and it makes sense now that I think about it. I was balancing multiple jobs and a very heavy course load, and I hadn’t taken a break from the grind in as long as I could remember. I’ve had two internships each summer since I graduated high school and at least two classes on top of that since I started college. I take as many hours as I can every semester and at least one job, and I know I’m far from the only one with a schedule like that.
I’m also nowhere near alone in experiencing burnout. Millennials have been called the “burnout generation” because they report higher rates than anyone else due to heavy workloads, long hours and low wages. The 8-hour workday has made exhaustion the “norm for nearly all workers,” however. The American Institute of Stress in New York estimates that job stress costs the United States $300 billion in sick time, long-term disability and excessive job turnover: current data show that nearly 50% of burnt-out employees switch jobs.
Burnout specifically refers to stress in an occupational context, according to the WHO, but it could just as easily be applied to college. More than half of college students reported that their level of stress negatively affected their college experience, and 85% said they felt overwhelmed.
Disagreements at work or in classes, long hours spent doing the same thing, extended periods of stress, feeling as though you’re the only one capable of fixing problems and spending time around folks who are also burned out can all exacerbate or contribute to burnout. The University of Virginia maintains that “college burnout” develops thanks to high expectations, social isolation, sleep deprivation, pressure to fit in and the transition from one period of life to another — all common aspects of college life.
It’s not just an energy-sapping syndrome, either; it has direct, harmful impacts on your brain and physical and mental health. Participants in burnout studies showed enlarged amygdalae and thinning of their frontal cortex, both of which happen naturally with age but faster in folks experiencing burnout than those who aren’t. Burnout also contributes to insomnia, reduced cognitive function, blood disorders and even coronary heart disease, according to the American Psychological Association.
Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, reported collapsing from exhaustion after experiencing burnout in her role at work just a few years after launching the business.
“I hit my head on my desk, broke my cheekbone, got four stitches on my right eye,” Huffington said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. On her blog, she described waking up in a pool of blood and knowing she needed to make a change. “I was very lucky I didn’t lose my eye.”
Huffington left her namesake publication and started a new one, Thrive Global, focused on work-life balance. She has since become an advocate for putting health first in the workplace, especially for women and young people, who are most likely of anyone to feel pressured into taking on extra work to impress their colleagues and bosses and prove their worth. Her advice? Setting boundaries, getting proper sleep and changing our relationship with technology.
Technology has helped increase unrealistic expectations of how productive a human can and should be at work. We’ve got a constant barrage of emails to answer, phone calls to make, papers to write, printers to finagle and assignments to turn in by 11:59 p.m. Since remote work is so easy now, there’s also an increased pressure to respond immediately and work from home on the weekends or after hours.
Something as simple as setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb” between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. will alleviate some of the stress associated with this pressure to work. Let your boss know that you have to take that step for your own sake; that’ll also help you get enough sleep.
You could also use your phone to help with your symptoms if you’re already burnt out. Apps like Calm can help you learn meditation strategies, and light yoga or physical activity apps like Daily Yoga, Pocket Yoga and 5 Minute Yoga can help, too.
Setting boundaries looks different offline. If saying “no” is a problem for you in the workplace, consider rephrasing it: when you’re asked to pick up another project mid-work, say something like, “I’d be happy to, but I’m in the middle of this right now. I can do one today and one tomorrow; which one is the priority?” Just because you can do it all, doesn’t mean you should.
You may also need to have some hard conversations with folks who consistently take advantage of your time. An email letting them know you feel they’ve relied too heavily on your work ethic to a point that it’s affecting your mental health is sometimes all it takes. However, if that doesn’t seem to do the trick, you may need to be prepared to find another job if possible; it’s more important to search for a job that values you than to stick with one that drains you.
If your burnout is more due to college than to work, there’s not as much room to negotiate workload and deadlines. However, you can strive to balance your time in a way that honors you as an individual just as much, if not more, than it honors you as a student. Make sure you’re plugged into something outside of academia, like a student organization, creative pastime or cathartic physical outlet that inspires and grounds you.
When it comes to studying, do something to break up the monotony; take your homework to a new location, switch up the times you work versus the time you socialize, reevaluate what you’re committed to and how much time they drain from you and don’t be afraid to reach out for help from friends, teachers or counselors. Anyone who can help you with time management will be a helpful resource for organizing your life and reclaiming your motivation.
For me, getting back on track after burning out involved seriously cutting down on my number of commitments. I left my sorority, quit one of my editing jobs and withdrew from a class that wasn’t critical for either of my majors. From there, I was able to restructure my week and build time for myself into my schedule. I’ve gotten back into journaling, spending time with friends off-campus, reading for pleasure and studying the tarot.
Burnout is real, and it can have serious consequences mentally, physically and emotionally. If you feel trapped in the cycle of demotivation, don’t give up — there are steps you can take to reset, refresh and find your joy again.
(11/25/19 7:02pm)
For the past several years, Mercer has offered a unique course that is unknown to many. Hidden within the Women’s and Gender Studies department, the fiber arts and culture class allows students to understand the history and importance of the art form.
Created over ten years ago by Mary Anne Drake, the fiber arts and culture course sought to teach students about the history behind fiber arts while also helping them see the significance of what they were learning. The course is led by biology professors and teaches practical skills of weaving, knitting and crocheting. Students also discuss the origin of these skills and how women in the past built their lives around them.
Students in the course learn how to weave, knit and crochet. They also experiment with dyes and learn about different fibers and their ability to take in colors.
Senior Emma Johnston took the fiber arts course in the fall of 2018.
“The course revolves around the history and impact of fiber arts and culture, which has existed both as a household necessity and an artform from the beginning of time,” Johnston said.
Johnston said she enjoyed the class and loved that the course was dedicated to feminine history.
“This is such a unique opportunity that Mercer offers,” Johnston said. “You will learn so much and build really strong relationships with others in the class as you all learn together.”
The class has been taught on a rotating schedule by biology professors Linda Hensel and Virginia Young. This year, Young is leading a class of eight students in Godsey Science Center.
“Rather than just talking about the fiber arts and just teaching students how to knit and crochet, we are able to do more things like dyeing yarn … it is nice to be able to take advantage of some lab space to be able to get our hands dirty,” Young said.
Having a biology professor teach the course allows students to not only understand the mechanics of how to knit, crochet and dye, but also shows students how to look at fiber arts on a more microscopic level.
Young said that everyone’s favorite part of the course this year has been playing with the dyes. It is an exercise that allows the students to be really creative with their projects.
“Everybody loves color. It’s always a popular activity to play with the color and think about how the fibers take color differently,” said Young.
Fiber arts have been a large part of women’s history, but have been largely overlooked and misunderstood. Young seeks to help students understand the significance and impact of it.
Over the course of the semester, students read texts on the history of the fiber arts and completed projects such as dyeing yarn and creating looms.
“The biggest emphasis is thinking about women’s work, how it’s been valued or not valued throughout time … This is not a valued type of art. And that’s because it’s largely women’s work,” Young said.
The fiber arts and culture course has been imperative in teaching students at Mercer something that has never really been understood before.
“Students are going around campus knitting and crocheting all the time, and they have conversations with people,” Young said. “And they’re like ‘why are you doing that, isn’t that for old women? Isn’t that a granny activity?’”
Students in the course have a unique opportunity to learn new things and erase the misconceptions surrounding fiber arts. For thousands of years women have been perfecting this craft through several types of mediums, and even in an age where you can buy clothes online, these students are able to continue that tradition.
(11/24/19 9:00pm)
We know how stressful the holiday seasons can be between buying gifts, cooking an abundance of meals and studying for finals. That’s why we’re sharing with you 12 ways to decorate your dorm festively without breaking the budget — or Res Life’s rules!
BUY
Christmas Tree
Although a true evergreen may not fit under the ceilings of Shorter or Roberts, Walmart and Michaels do sell 2-foot Christmas trees for under $20. While you’re there, you could purchase fir-scented air fresheners. You can also find desktop trees for less than $5 at these locations to spruce up your study space.
String Lights
Traditionally white or gold, around the holiday season you can find these little lights in green and red for $5-$10 at Walmart or Ross. Hang them in front of your window, around your door or throw them on tabletops for a cozy effect.
Bulk Baubles
Ornaments, bows, bells, oh my! Bulk bundles of these festive trinkets can be found at Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Ross for less than $10. Hang them on your mini tree, from the ceiling or in front of your window!
Festive Blankets and Pillows
Walmart, Ross, Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond and Macy’s all sell throw blankets and pillows decorated with holiday designs for $15 or less. Fling them onto your bed or desk chair for good cheer.
Stockings
Felt stockings are only $1 each at Party City, or $5 if you want one with a festive design! Stock up with stockings for each of your roommates and fill each other’s with sweet treats as you count down the days until Christmas.
Mini Wreath
Hang one up on the outside of your dorm’s door for a cheery welcome. What else is cheery? The fact that these are less than $10 at Walmart and Hobby Lobby!
DIY
Paper Snowflakes
Whether you choose to make them white like snow or multicolored and creative, paper snowflakes are a blast to make! Hang them around your room and gaze in awe at your artistic abilities.
Paper or Photo Christmas Tree
Recycle old papers that you don’t need anymore into little evergreen trees to disperse around your dorm! You can also print and tape photos of you and your roommates into a Christmas tree shape on the wall if you don’t have floor space for a standing tree.
Pinecone Garland
Put all those pinecones fallen off the campus trees to good use! Collect and string them onto yarn to drape on tabletops or over doorframes. You can even dip the edges in white paint to give them a snowy effect.
Gingerbread House
Although you may have to buy a gingerbread house set from Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond for about $10, putting it together with your roommates and friends is a fun, classic holiday tradition! Display it on a central tabletop to wow guests and to nibble on as the days get chillier.
Personalized Mugs
You and your friends can sip hot chocolate out of your own unique holiday-themed mugs! Using paint pens, cotton balls and rubbing alcohol, you can decorate a mug that is permanent and dishwasher safe! Find out how at the link provided.
Christmas Banner
Welcome in the holiday season with a banner cut into reindeer, made out of ribbons, spelling the jingle of your favorite festive tune — you name it!
If you decide to decorate your dorm with any of these festive ideas, tag us on Instagram! We’d love to feature you on our social media.
Happy holidays!
(11/24/19 8:54pm)
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster.
As Plato says, opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance, so I hope to bridge the gap between what Mercer students think they know about Great Books and what Great Books actually is through the eyes of one of its participants.
Great Books is seven semesters long, ranging from 101, 202 and 203 all the way to 407. It fulfills multiple general education requirements such as the written and oral communication, western civilization, religion and elective requirements. The first two classes have four credit hours because the extra credit hour is dedicated to correcting high school mindsets about writing and teaching fresh bears how to write a college level paper.
For the most part, students stick to the GBK track, but you can drop the track if you realize the course isn’t for you or you don’t have time. The caveat is you can only drop after the first or second course unless you have extreme extenuating circumstances, and you still have to switch to the Integrative Studies Track. GBK 101 will count as INT 101, but that’s all you get. If it seems unfair that Great Books is seven semesters long whereas INT is only three, it’s not. Remember, Great Books fulfills other Gen Eds that INT doesn’t.
The best part of being a Great Books student is finding the humor amongst the seriousness of the topics through the class descriptions. In Understanding Self and Others: Among Gods and Heroes, for those who know, heroes is loosely termed in consideration of Achilles and Oedipus. Classical Cultures comprises Plato and his fanbase — meaning students like Aristotle who put everything in abstract terms. The Hebrew and Christian Traditions focuses on the Christian Tradition because we are predominantly a Christian nation and Georgia is in the Bible Belt. Order and Ingenuity is a descent into hell only Great Books kids understand. The Modern World View’s album title could be “The Enlightenment featuring Shakespeare.” Reason and Revolution is the last time the world makes sense before The Age of Ambivalence wrecking balls your worldview through existential crises.
In all honesty, most of the texts are entertaining, others not so much. Where the texts seem to become problematic is when multiple sections of the same course are being taught with different books. Although there are set books that are required no matter the section, alternative book selection is discretionary by professor. I credit this to the Mercer bookstore only having so many copies of one text, but Amazon is cheaper in bulk and offers free shipping anyway.
The best advice a Great Books student can ever provide is this: do not take this pathway if you don’t enjoy reading or writing. The minimum number of books I’ve read in a semester is four, and the maximum is twelve. Some of the texts are read in sections and other books are read all the way through.
How many of us actually go back to read to fill in the blanks? How many of us actually read instead of just sparknoting or schmooping? I don’t recommend not reading, though. I know it’s unavoidable sometimes because college students have to do what we’ve got to do — or not do in some cases — but, pro tip, you’ll benefit from starting your Great Book papers early instead of doing the assignment the night before or morning of. And don’t plagiarize or summarize.
They’ll know.
Great Books course material never claims to be anything other than completely and utterly ethnocentric in preference of Western tradition. Not to discredit the texts which geographically traverse the United States, the United Kingdom, Ancient Greece and 20th century Russia, but there are very few courses at Mercer outside of history, religion and philosophy departments that allow for the study of Eastern tradition.
A potential solution to the lack of diverse texts would be to trade out the philosophic texts that disgruntle students the most, such as Locke, Aquinas, Montaigne, Engels and Nietzche. That’s a lot of name dropping, but we need to drop some Western philosophers for Eastern ones.
To take it a step further, I’ve only heard of six women authors in the whole seven-semester sequence: Sappho, Austen, Dickinson, Wollstonecraft, Hurston and Shelley. Women may not have been widely published until later centuries, but in the 21st century, we should at least attempt to be more inclusive of all genders and races.
Now, if you’ve convinced yourself to stick through this rant to the end like you have to follow through on Great Books, allow me to tell you the value of the Great Books Program. From 101 to 407, you’ll know most, if not all, of the other exhausted but enriched souls in the program. Mercer boasts smaller class sizes, right? I’ve had a GBK class with fifteen people, which can make for some awkward silences if no one reads. It happens.
Because the program captures the attention of people in all majors, you’ll make friends with people you’d never see on campus otherwise. The fact that people come from differing majors means differing opinions and, in a discussion-based class like Great Books, that can be extremely entertaining.
What really makes Great Books worth taking is the professors. They want to teach this class and get trained for it because they come from other disciplines. When it comes to grading, these professors grade approximately 15 to 20 papers every month just in their Great Books class. Sure, we’ve all been frustrated about how long grading takes because we’re paranoid about the grade, but if you read and argued through your understanding of the text well, you’ll be fine. Many professors will read the book with you, which is how they know when you haven’t read, but they’ll also know how best to help you understand any concept you struggle with. And trust me, when you get to the philosophical ramblings of dead white men, you’ll appreciate their willingness to sit with you during office hours to listen to your questions.
Unfortunately, the professors are limited, too. They’re not supposed to speak during discussions because they’re student-led, but some of the best moments and conversations have occurred when a professor indulges the class in a “Non-Great Books moment.” These moments are when the discussion jumps out of context from the texts’ pages and applies to current events. Some professors want to teach this way, and it really works for the students.
Overall, Great Books is a “great” program to take. It provides students with friends in other subject areas, lets them learn how society progressed into being as messed up as it is, and shapes them into well-rounded, well-read individuals who will one day become the highlight of cocktail parties.
(11/24/19 7:00pm)
Dajee’ Lyles, a senior international business major, was hired this semester by the Cultural and Educational Programs Abroad Foundation to share information about the foundation’s programs around campus.
CEPA offers summer and semester programs at specific European study centers in Strasbourg, France, and Heidelberg, Germany.
“With my new position, I am responsible for spreading the word about CEPA foundation’s program, telling my experience, and getting people to see that the European study center is the best place to study abroad,” Lyles said.
Lyles’ international business major requires study abroad as a graduation requirement. While trying to find a place to apply, Lyles said she had trouble with the deadlines. Because she wanted to go during the summer, she enlisted the help of August Armbrister, a study abroad coordinator for the Office of International Programs on Mercer’s campus.
“August just told me a few of the options that I had, and CEPA honestly was a pretty cheap choice out of all of the European trips. I wanted to stay a pretty good amount of time, not just two weeks, so that’s how I chose CEPA. It wasn’t necessarily that I selected it out of the group. I think it just kind of found me,” Lyles said.
Lyles studied mostly in Heidelberg, Germany, while abroad for her major, but excursions with the program went to places such as Strasbourg, France.
“I’m actually involved with both programs in Heidelberg and Strasbourg,” Lyles said. “They have European study centers in both. My role is as an ambassador. They choose recent alumni that have shown or expressed interest in being passionate about the program."
Lyles said she received the opportunity to partner with CEPA through one of Mercer’s annual programs, the study abroad fair.
“I ran into the representative at the study abroad fair because I was there to do a table. She saw that I really cared about the program, so she contacted the people in Germany. They then contacted me and said they wanted to offer me the position,” Lyles said.
Everything Lyles does in relation to her CEPA partnership can be completed here in the United States.
“Basically, they just sent me a list of things to do, and I can do them any type of way I want to do it. The best part of working with CEPA is that they are so flexible and open. When I was given this position, I was able to set up my own calendar as well as create my own events. This position was really created for alumni of the European study center to spread their experiences and passion for travel and learning abroad,” Lyles said.
[pullquote speaker="Dajee' Lyles, senior international business major working with CEPA" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Studying abroad with CEPA made me more confident, more self-aware, and more motivated to be a global citizen. It made me want to share that with people on this campus because, people that I know at least, think that studying abroad is a little far-fetched and not an opportunity that is on the table for them right now. I think that me just being a regular student can help people see a model of people like them who study abroad.[/pullquote]
Some of the events Lyles is asked to host are informative events about the CEPA Foundation such as presentations, Q&A sessions and sessions about each specific program they offer. She is also required to know about the CEPA foundation as a whole, its programs and the study abroad experience.
“I’m involved in the Global Leadership Program,” Lyles said. “Other people are more involved in the Marketing Program or Physical Therapy Program. There are all other types of fields as well. I do get paid for the position, so that’s exciting too. It’s like having a real job, a real global experience which is cool.”
Lyles received the Emerging Global Leader scholarship for her time spent at CEPA. Along with the scholarship, she was also able to go on trips and take training classes that have led to specific certifications.
“During the program, we went on excursions to other cities touring museums, historical sites and businesses. We even spent a day at the European Parliament. They offered us certification courses also like a Corporate Leadership Training that I took. I became certified by a world-famous corporate coach,” Lyles said.
Lyles also said that, while the trip was a great experience, there are several difficulties involved in any study abroad opportunity.
“There was definitely a language barrier and cultural barrier. It took a little time getting through even the application process because of simple time differences and the business cultural differences. When I arrived, maybe the first few days, the language barrier was something that frustrated me, but after warming up to my classmates and getting familiar with the area I was staying, I realized that language was not as huge an issue as it seems and there are other ways to communicate or figure out what I need to do,” Lyles said.
Lyles said that there were certain things that took longer getting used to, however.
“I had to walk everywhere. Most people use trains, not cars. Drinks weren’t free, not even water! You have to pay to use the bathroom everywhere. There were no public bathrooms even in restaurants you ate at sometimes. And, of course, there were the normal stares of people not being used to seeing black people,” Lyles said.
It was these experiences and the knowledge she had from others that made Lyles want to take her leadership position with CEPA.
“Studying abroad with CEPA made me more confident, more self-aware, and more motivated to be a global citizen. It made me want to share that with people on this campus because, people that I know at least, think that studying abroad is a little far-fetched and not an opportunity that is on the table for them right now. I think that me just being a regular student can help people see a model of people like them who study abroad,” Lyles said.
Lyles spent a month and a half in Europe over the summer before being offered the position. She says she hopes to continue to work with CEPA in the future, maybe before going on to earn a master’s degree.
“This opportunity has meant the absolute world to me … The Global Leadership Program specifically allowed me to step into this person that I knew I wanted to be but wasn’t sure if I was ready or had the tools to do it,” Lyles said. “I made amazing friends that I will never forget, and I know that if I’m ever in Heidelberg or Strasbourg again, I will definitely have a home.”
(11/24/19 7:00pm)
The 1-7 Atlanta Falcons salvaged at least one part of their dismal 2019 season with a victory over the rival New Orleans Saints, earning a 26-9 win on the road in the Big Easy.
The Falcons, who have been abysmal on defense during their 2019 campaign, stepped up against one of the best offenses in the NFL, holding New Orleans to just 310 total yards from scrimmage, according to ESPN.
While Atlanta only managed 317 yards themselves, the team earned 24 first downs and performed when it counted on offense, converting 2-5 red zone opportunities compared to the Saints’ 0 for 3 mark when inside the 20-yard line.
The Saints failed to score a touchdown over the course of the entire game despite averaging 2.5 touchdowns per game this season according to TeamRankings.
Atlanta has had a dismal year thus far, notching just one win prior to Sunday’s road victory. That lone win came in a thriller against Philadelphia in Week 2, but since then the Falcons have steadily looked worse and worse.
The main issue is the team’s defense, which head coach Dan Quinn has struggled to adjust against the high-octane offenses rampant in the NFL this year.
Against New Orleans, however, those fears were alleviated — at least temporarily. The Falcons sacked Saints star quarterback Drew Brees six times over the course of the game, and fan confidence raised from 4% to 26% following the win according to SB Nation and FanPulse.
“We’ve got to build off of this performance, definitely,” Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett told Associated Press. “It felt really good and encouraging and motivating.”
Jarrett, a star defensive player drafted out of Clemson in 2015, woke up in New Orleans, downing Drew Brees multiple times and acquiring 2.5 sacks on the day, leading the Falcons in the stat category. The Falcons only had 7 sacks coming into the game against New Orleans but adjusted for the rivalry matchup.
The Falcons defense looks to capitalize on the momentum of the upset win against the Saints headed into a Week 11 matchup with another division rival in the Carolina Panthers.
(11/24/19 7:00pm)
The holiday season is almost here, bringing with it the tide of holiday films that go back decades. With so many films to watch, it raises the questions of which movies should be on your list this holiday season?
The Christmas Chronicles
Released in 2018, “The Christmas Chronicles” stars Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis and Darby Camp and is directed by Clay Kaytis. The film follows Lewis’ and Camp’s characters, siblings Teddy and Kate Pierce, as they attempt to catch Santa Claus (Russell) only for things to go awry. Suddenly tasked with saving Christmas before it’s too late, the siblings undergo an adventure they’ll never forget.
While a bit cliche, the film’s strength lies in Russell’s performance as Santa Claus. Russell isn’t the typical Santa Claus, but he steals the show throughout the film.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Released in 1993, “the Nightmare Before Christmas” is directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington’s discovery of Christmas and Halloween Town’s attempts to celebrate the holiday.
This movie is a classic for a reason, being a delightful mesh of Halloween and Christmas for lovers of both. The music is amazing, the animation is beautiful and the story is fun and unique. No matter how many times you’ve seen this film, it always deserves at least one more watch.
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
Released in 1976, “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” is a sequel to the 1964 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which is another must-see for the holiday season. The film includes the voices of Red Skelton, Billie Richards, Morey Amsterdam, Frank Gorshin and Paul Frees with iconic characters like Father Time, Rudolph and Santa Claus. The story focuses on Rudolph and friends trying to find Happy the Baby New Year before midnight on Dec. 31 or else time will stop forever.
This is a whimsical film that is sorely unappreciated for how fun it is. It creates a delightful and unique world that viewers get to explore with Rudolph and others as they search for Happy. It connects well with the previous film, but isn’t necessary to understand or enjoy this movie.
Elf
Released in 2003, “Elf” stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay and Ed Asner in the classic Christmas comedy. Buddy, played by Ferrell, is a human adopted by Santa’s elves. When he discovers that he was adopted, he heads to New York to find his biological father. Chaos and humor ensues.
Honestly, there isn’t much that needs to be said about this film. It’s a well-known and well-loved classic, but I would be remiss if I left it off the list. It’s funny due to Ferrell’s sincerity and enthusiasm and the bewildered response from everyone around him. Also, Steenburgen’s character Emily is an under-appreciated aspect of the film and deserves more attention.
With so many great holiday films available, there are bound to be even more phenomenal movies to be released in the coming years to add to the must-see list.
(11/24/19 12:00am)
At one point, streaming services existed to make television more accessible for cheaper prices. Now, they are just replacing cable packages, with every network creating its own independent platform for its content to be viewed.
Disney recently launched another of these services, Disney+, and though it has tons of content, it isn’t really anything special.
The first issue with Disney+ is the lack of necessity. Disney already owns Hulu, a very popular streaming platform with tons of great original content such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Letterkenny.” Disney hosted a lot of its content on Hulu, but decided to make the financial move to separate Hulu from the original Disney creations to maximize profit.
The next problem with Disney+ is the lack of new original content. Of course, Disney has massive backlogs of content to peruse and enjoy, but part of the reason people subscribe to all of these different services is so they can consume that platform’s exclusive content. If you own Disney movies on DVD, being able to stream them isn’t much of a commodity.
On launch day, the original Disney+ content consisted of two shows about theatre, a Star Wars show that may have something to do with the original trilogy, a Hallmark-style Christmas movie, a few Pixar shorts and a horrific-looking “Lady and the Tramp” “live-action” remake. Disney has been advertising all of the new content it will place on their Disney+ service, but barely anything interesting was available at launch, and they are only releasing episodes once a week. So, if you don’t want to subscribe and only have your one-week free trial, you must have the patience to wait until everything you want to watch is released, and then binge it like a madman.
Functionally, the Disney+ user interface isn’t holding its own against its competitors. It doesn’t have a “continue watching” section, which is pretty standard for every other service. That alone is enough to make users genuinely agitated while navigating the site, because if you want to watch the next episode of a show, you have to search for the show and scroll to whatever episode you’re on.
There is no progress bar on the episodes while you are browsing, and the main screen just says “Play.” So, if you are trying to tell a friend what episode you are on, you have to either start playing the show, or just guess.
The final major problem is when you click the “Movies” or “Series” sections, the site shows you the featured selections in that category. That means that you have to click multiple times to find what you want to watch, as opposed to what Disney wants you to watch. Three of the four featured movies on my account are the scary “Lady and the Tramp,” the tacky Hallmark movie and the live-action “Dumbo,” which has a score of below 50% from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. I don’t want to watch these movies, and I shouldn’t have to see them whenever I try to play “Atlantis” or “Treasure Planet.”
Overall, Disney+ is not currently worth the price. The lack of new content and the strange user interface issues make the site lackluster and cumbersome. The only reason I have it is due to the free year offered if you have certain Verizon plans.
Disney+ costs $6.99 a month and is available now.
(11/23/19 9:00pm)
Leadership and humility are necessities on and off the football field. Redshirt junior and linebacker Sidney Otiwu has been showing both qualities this season.
Otiwu has been in the spotlight heavily since he set a new record Nov. 2 in Mercer’s game against Samford. Otiwu now holds Mercer’s school record of 14, for the most tackles in one game. He also continues to lead the football team defensively; he’s only had one interception this season.
The Buford, Georgia, native has been making remarkable moves since he was in high school. He was the team captain of his high school football team and elected as a member of the leadership council in 2015.
“Football plays into my skill set,” Otiwu said. “I’m really competitive. If I’m going to be playing, I’m going to be the best I can be.”
To credit for his knowledge of the game and performance on the field, Otiwu has been honing his skills in the sport since the seventh grade. As far as his collegiate football career goes, Mercer’s program has furthered his skills as a player.
“I’ve gotten better pretty much every year since I’ve been here,” Otiwu said.
The statistics and fans can attest to his growth as well. Otiwu has a career total of 70 solo tackles, 94 assists and 164 total tackles, according to Mercer Athletics. This year, he was also named SoCon defensive player of the week in November.
This season, Otiwu made history for the entire Mercer football team for 21 tackles in a single game, the largest total amount of tackles in a game. He played in 11 games this season and has 31 solo tackles, according to Mercer’s athletic website.
Play by play, Otiwu’s competitiveness kicks in. “I’m trying to beat the person in front of me every play. I don’t like losing more than anything,” said Otiwu.
While the season is about to come to a close, Otiwu still has one more year with the Bears. The last game of the season will be against North Carolina as the Bears are currently at a 4-7 season.
(11/23/19 9:00pm)
Believe it or not, fall is the most important time of year for securing your first job post-graduation. Even if you’re not set to graduate this May, it’s always a good idea to establish and maintain a professional online presence. LinkedIn puts the “networking” in “social networking,” and the platform is the first that comes to mind when it comes to self-promotion.
Some of my friends make fun of me for my meticulous LinkedIn presence, but I’ve received job and internship offers through the service. It doesn’t seem like the most fun social medium, but it can be once you stop thinking of it as a resume and start understanding the endless other possibilities for using LinkedIn.
Here are my best tips for spicing up your LinkedIn profile.
Know that LinkedIn is more important than you think
LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms worldwide, with two professionals signing up every second. According to social media marketing company HootSuite, 50% of Americans with a college degree use LinkedIn, and 45% of users work within upper management in their companies. Speaking of companies, there are 30 million company profiles on LinkedIn, posting 3 million American job opportunities each month.
It’s not just Americans, either; while it’s the most prominent country among LinkedIn users at 30%, the remaining 70% come from over 200 countries, meaning that employment options aren’t limited to the States.
Put your best face forward
First impressions are just as important online as in real life, especially on LinkedIn. When you set your profile picture, stay away from selfies, group photos or anything you’d use on Tinder. Go with something professional instead. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal headshot — not everyone has that kind of coin, I get it! — but a solo picture of you with nice lighting, a confident smile and a background that doesn’t steal the show will do the trick.
Don’t be afraid to stand out
When recruiters are searching for potential employees, the first items they scan on your profile are your photo and headline. Your headline is basically a description of what you’re about, but it’s about 10 words long, so it may seem like it’s not that important. However, this is actually the first chance you have to show employers what sets you apart. Make sure your headline is specific, up-to-date and reflective of your skills.
For example, on my LinkedIn, I chose to focus on my role creating a podcast with PULP Magazine. I could simply leave it at “Podcaster,” but that’s boring! It also reveals nothing about my role as a podcaster, just that I am one. My headline now says “Podcast Producer and Host.” It’s not so descriptive that it’s hard to follow, but it gives a bit more information about what all I’m capable of in the podcast space. “Podcaster” alone didn’t specify.
A final tip: Yes, you want your headline to be short, but try to avoid using acronyms. Even if recruiters know the industry slang, it’s important to show that you can explain yourself and your work to others.
Tell your story
The next most important part of your profile is your summary. This section gives you the most opportunity to explain who you are, what you’re about and what kind of work environment you would thrive in.
Too many folks on LinkedIn use generic summaries that scream, “I copied this from a resume template.” How many times have you seen something like, “Engaged and confident communications professional,” a clunky paragraph so overloaded with buzzwords that you can’t parse out which industry the user is in or — worst of all — “(Your Major Here) Student” as someone’s summary? That tells recruiters nothing about you except that you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) take the time to explain what makes you tick.
LinkedIn isn’t just a virtual resume, it’s a space for you to tell your story. The summary is the best place to use that function.
You also have the opportunity to add multimedia to your summary. I’ve got a PDF of my resume and the link to my online portfolio attached to mine for ease of access.
Contextualize your work history
On a resume, you’ve got to cut out every extra detail you can to save space, but LinkedIn is entirely different. Recruiters spend more time reading LinkedIn profiles than skimming paper resumes, so you can take more liberties in explaining what you did in each job role and how it helped shape you. You’ll especially want to highlight any major accomplishments. Numbers are great — for example, if you helped grow a social media account from 500 to 1,500 — and you can also attach multimedia to each work placement. Think presentations, publications and any photos or videos of you in the field.
Add supplemental information
There’s a ton of room to brag about yourself on LinkedIn, and you should definitely do it. Extra categories such as “Projects,” “Volunteer Positions,” “Skills” and “Languages” might not be what get you the job, but filling them out at least shows how much effort you’re willing to put in when it comes to your personal brand. It also helps paint a clearer picture of yourself to potential employers.
Maintain a presence
The last important step in spicing up your LinkedIn is engaging with your connections. You can comment on their posts and share posts you find interesting, but the best way to get noticed and create an archive of your engagement on your profile is to make your own posts. If you’re interning or working in your field, you can write posts about your experience and what you’re learning to demonstrate your enthusiasm (and to prove your skills). You can also write commentary on news in your industry to show that you keep up with current events — and that you care about the state of your field — by sharing your thoughts.
Use photos and videos in your posts for an extra boost. Posts with images get twice the engagement and posts with videos get five times the engagement as text-only posts, according to HootSuite.
LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for connecting with industry professionals, showing your skills and landing your next job. Something else I’ve noticed? A fully-fledged profile can also help you grow your confidence. Having my skills, accomplishments and work placements I strove for all in one place reminds me of how far I’ve come — and LinkedIn shows me all the places I could go from here.
(11/23/19 9:00pm)
The music world is vast and ever-changing, making it the perfect place to create and inspire. Freshman Michael “Micha” Williams isn’t necessarily new to the scene, but he’s curating new music that’s appealing to many students here at Mercer.
“Music has been a big part of my life for the past couple of years,” Williams said.
Contemporary music wasn’t part of his life until eighth grade, as his mother predominantly played gospel. He notes the album “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” by Drake as the first to spark his musical interest. Williams recognized that in both gospel and contemporary music, the artists are telling stories about internal and external relationships, and he wanted to do that for himself.
When Williams began creating his own music, he originally relied on his impulse; he would instinctively write music for the sole purpose of writing it. Without putting in the time to process the music he was creating, Williams wasn’t able to reach his full potential, he said. Now, he fleshes out ideas, reflecting on his desired sound to avoid making it complicated.
“Music doesn’t have to be hard, it doesn’t have to be intricate to be effective,” he said.
He looked to artists such as BENEE for her “simple yet effective” approach to music and Vince Staples for his contemporary sound with the edge of other hip hop artists. He was inspired by these artists to create his own music, which he describes as both sultry and ethereal.
As of now, Williams’ music is taking the direction of alternative R&B, but he said he wants to incorporate more contemporary, pop and rap genres. Ultimately, Williams doesn’t want to be bound by any specific genres -- he just wants to create music.
Williams’ song “Dude!” was released at the end of August, and since then has had tremendous success; he performed the song live at Quadworks’ Z-beats and received over 10,000 streams with about 3,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. This song, however, isn’t necessarily new to the scene.
While Williams was in high school, he made a lot of music but kept it to himself. He and a friend made a Christmas album, “Stocking Stuffers,” over the course of three days; one day for the album cover, one day for recording and one day for editing. The album was very rough, Williams said, but he still continued.
Williams created three more songs on Valentine’s day in an album called “Why Are Girls so Stupid?” with “Dude!” as the first track on the album. From there, he decided to keep making music in his free time.
“I decided to keep doing music at my leisure and not be more unabashed about what I produce,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s my work and no one really has to like it. I’m not doing it as a job, I’m doing it because I want to make music.”
Williams sees music in a pretty interesting way and has a deep connection with it. The process of making music is terrifying, but it feels good to put yourself out there, he said.
“If you want to make music, please, go for it,” he said. “Honestly, right now, you’re in college. This is the most emotionally rich part of your life thus far. Cash in on all those emotions and write what you love. No one can tell you your story, and no one can tell you how to tell it. You know it better than anyone.”
Williams is currently working on a new, more instrument driven, project. He plans to begin releasing some of this new material in January. You can listen to “Dude!” and other music by Williams on major platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.
(11/23/19 9:00pm)
The Binary Bears is a computer programming team at Mercer that competes with other colleges to solve complicated programming and coding problems in a timed setting.
The Binary Bears had their first competition at the Small College Contest held at Auburn University on Oct. 26 where they placed second overall after Bob Jones University.
The team had their second competition of the semester on Nov. 10. This competition was the Association for Computing Machinery’s Collegiate Programming Contest, where schools and universities of all sizes are allowed to participate.
“The ACM program is open to some really big schools, including those with graduate programs. It’s a really wide range,” Avery Zebell, assistant coach to the Binary Bears, said.
Each competition has its own rules with different specifications for the number of students allowed to participate in each team. Mercer’s Binary Bears divides the participants up into an A-Team and a B-Team for each competition.
“In the Small College Competition, four people are allowed to be on a team, while the ACM and the Mercer spring contest will only be three people,” Zebell said.
The spring contest will occur at Mercer University. While Zebell and the team said they are excited for competing here, Zebell said that this leaves little time for practices between now and then.
[pullquote speaker="Michal Pacholczyk, junior member of the Binary Bears" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]I’ve learned a lot about optimizing my work ethic while writing code. I also learned a lot about working on a team while writing code. Although most of the time we do these programming sessions and we swap out who is on the computer to write, there’s a lot of back and forth, a lot of ‘Well, how would you do this differently?’ especially with writing code on paper before it goes on the screen.[/pullquote]
The Binary Bears practice every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. in Willet Science Center. Michal Pacholczyk, a junior computer science major and a team member of the Binary Bears, said he believes that this practice is paying off.
“At the Small College Competition, the A-Team placed third and the B-Team for Mercer placed second. Both teams solved eight out of the nine problems that day. The first place winning team, got all nine problems solved. Both Mercer teams, unfortunately, were only one little code change away from getting the last problem and gaining the top spot,” Pacholczyk said.
Other competing colleges at this event were Roanoke College, Georgia College and State University and the overall winners of the competition, Bob Jones University.
“The Binary Bears is all about working with your team and working with your friends to put in effort to solve problems in unique ways and find clever solutions. You have to think about a lot of different elements that go into these, usually, mathematical problems or word problems. It’s really a lot of creative problem solving,” Pacholczyk said.
With this creative problem solving and need for clever solutions, Pacholczyk said he has learned many lessons from being part of the Binary Bears.
“I’ve learned a lot about optimizing my work ethic while writing code. I also learned a lot about working on a team while writing code. Although most of the time we do these programming sessions and we swap out who is on the computer to write, there’s a lot of back and forth, a lot of ‘Well, how would you do this differently?’ especially with writing code on paper before it goes on the screen,” Pacholczyk said.
When it comes to competitions, there are strict rules based on who gets to use the computer and when.
“When we’re at competitions, you’re only allowed to use one computer,” Zebell said. “The rest of the team members have to code on paper. It’s a pretty important aspect of the contest. Because they only have access to one machine at a time, one person will do the code and test it as they go while the others get to think about the problem more carefully so when they get on it (the computer), they’ll be able to put in good code.”
For each competition, the groups are given a packet of questions that the team is allowed to look through. The Binary Bears’ strategy is to look for the questions that are easiest to solve first as a group to get them done quickly. The team then moves on to the harder questions.
“We try to choose one or two problems that we can immediately start and get done in, like, five minutes. Then we go to the harder problems, like maybe doing an integral solver on the computer. You really have to think about that,” Pacholczyk said.
At the Small College Competition, the Binary Bears were given three hours for nine problems, while the ACM competition that took place this fall and the Mercer competition occuring in the spring allow teams five hours for 11 or 12 problems.
[pullquote speaker="Michal Pacholczyk" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]You really learn to work with teams and be able to listen to other people’s input. It teaches you to keep a cool head when you’re trying to do something in a short amount of time because you can’t get frustrated at having wrong outputs or you won’t be able to finish on time. It also helps when dealing with criticism.[/pullquote]
“The five-hour ones are always pretty funny because you can solve like five problems in the first hour and then you won’t do anything for another two hours cause you can’t get something to work,” Pacholczyk said.
Looking to the future of Binary Bears, Pacholczyk and Zebell said they want to continue to advance and improve for future competitions.
“I think the ongoing goal is to beat Bob Jones at the Small College Competition,” Zebell said. “They’ve won for the past three years, and we placed second right behind them. They always seem to win in the last 15 minutes.”
Pacholczyk said he wants to make sure team member growth continues.
“We really want to get more people on the team. We need people to know the same programming languages that we use and then we can allot our time better. Once I graduate, I won’t be able to compete, so it’s important to always get new people,” Pacholczyk said.
At the beginning of the semester, approximately 20 people regularly attended practices, but this number dwindled down as the semester progressed. The amount of people on the teams also depends on the competitions as different numbers are needed for different teams. At a practice on Nov. 7, 12 members were in attendance since only the AMC competitors came to that practice.
For the AMC competition, the Binary Bears sent four teams of three people each to compete for Mercer, although the number of students sent varies for every competition.
“AMC is the larger, more prestigious contest, so we try to send more folks,” Zebell said.
Zebell and Pacholczyk said that anybody can join the Binary Bears programming team.
“We’re looking for more people, but determining who goes to competitions is based on who shows up to the most practices, who’s doing well at solving the problems and also who is trying to improve,” Zebell said. “Some of the newer folks who haven’t programmed much are so excited, and they’ll even practice more on their own time. We can really see their improvement, so they’ll usually end up going to competitions.”
[pullquote speaker="Andy Digh, faculty advisor for the Binary Bears" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]It has been quite an exciting fall season for us! The breadth of majors on the teams is truly amazing.[/pullquote]
Any class is allowed to join the Binary Bears, though the club has no freshmen at this time. Pacholczyk said he believes that the Binary Bears can teach students a lot in preparation for graduation.
“It’s always nice to have something like this on your resume, of course,” Pacholczyk said. “You really learn to work with teams and be able to listen to other people’s input. It teaches you to keep a cool head when you’re trying to do something in a short amount of time because you can’t get frustrated at having wrong outputs or you won’t be able to finish on time. It also helps when dealing with criticism. It’s very hard to ask input from your peers sometimes because you think you’ve wrote the perfect thing, but it may be the worst thing they’ve ever seen. It really helps with learning from that criticism.”
The Binary Bears final competition of this semester took place on Nov. 10. Andy Digh, associate professor of computer science and faculty advisor for the Binary Bears, sent an update to The Cluster after the competition concluded in Kennesaw State.
The Binary Bears returned to Mercer with three first-place medals.
“It was our highest showing in the event since 2007. We sent four teams of three and placed first, fourth, sixth and twenty-eighth out of 86 teams in the Southeast. We were ahead of competition from Wofford, College of Charleston, University of Georgia, Auburn University and the University of Alabama,” Digh said.
“It has been quite an exciting fall season for us! The breadth of majors on the teams is truly amazing,” Digh said. “Will Holmes, an English major with two computer programming courses under his belt, told me last night how thankful he was to attend and how much he truly enjoyed competing.”
The Binary Bears will continue to practice through problems in an effort to retain their winning streak next semester.
The next competition is scheduled to be held at Mercer Feb. 29, 2020.