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(08/14/15 1:40am)
Dear Freshman,
Congratulations, you’re finally out of the house embarking on this crazy journey called college. You may feel excited about exploring your newfound independence, or maybe you’re absolutely terrified about being away from home. Maybe you’re nervous about entering the rigorous academic environment of college. Have no fear, these are all normal emotions to be feeling.
I remember my freshman year — which feels like a lifetime ago for this rising senior — questioning whether the combination of emotions I was experiencing were OK. I mean, I doubted whether it was normal not to know what exactly it was that I wanted to accomplish with my life? Was it normal to be nervous about my random roommate assignment?
I want you to know that it is perfectly normal and OK to experience these emotions. I’ve compiled a list of a few things that are completely OK to experience.
1. It’s OK to be unsure about your major.
I remember meeting at least 10 million biology majors who were convinced that they were going to be the next E.R. doctor on my first day of freshman year. Some of them are still on the pre-med track, while others decided that it wasn’t the best fit for them (and that’s perfectly OK, too). It’s normal to be unsure about what exactly you want to do with your life right now
2. It’s OK to not be best friends with your roommate.
For some odd reason, a lot of people think that you have to be best friends with your roommate to have a memorable and comfortable living arrangement when it’s just fine if you’re not. What’s most important is that you can respect one another’s space.
3. It’s OK to be nervous about making new friends.
Don’t be too preoccupied about saying the right thing or making new friends. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous. I know this is cheesy, but what’s more important is that you are true to yourself and your personality.
4. It’s OK to lock yourself out of your room.
The truth is that just about everyone in Mercer’s student body has at least one time accidentally locked themselves out of their room. Yes, it’s humiliating and you definitely don’t want to make a habit of it because that’s just annoying, but don’t worry about making this common mistake. That’s one of the reasons why we have RA’s!
5. It’s OK to be overwhelmed.
At this point, you’ve probably been handed a least a dozen free T-shirts and bags from different organizations. You have probably been persuaded to join ten different clubs or join a fraternity/sorority. Yeah, it’s very overwhelming to somebody who is already adapting to so much change already. Instead of getting overwhelmed just soak in all the attention because everyone is vying for it.
6. It’s OK to get lost.
You’re new and sometimes it happens. No fear, there’s tons of upperclassmen to help you find your way. Also, I would highly recommend visiting each of your classrooms on the eve of the fi rst day of classes so you don’t get lost.
7. It’s OK to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake.
Don’t take yourself too seriously! If you make a silly mistake, laugh it off. For example, one time in the cafeteria, I reached for a plate and ended up knocking a whole pile of clean silverware on the floor. It was an embarrassing moment that garnered a few curious stares, but I survived it.
8. It’s OK to eat at the cafeteria alone.
Honestly, no one is going to think you’re a loner if you chose to eat by yourself. Sometimes, we need to eat in solitude. But be careful not to close people off. Take a chance and sit by someone new.
9. It’s OK to go out of your comfort zone.
College is an exciting place filled with endless possibilities! Take a chance and do something adventurous. As long as it’s legal and safe, you’re good to go. Be responsible, and have fun.
Hope this helps. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
A Mercer “Senior Citizen”
(08/14/15 1:36am)
Local musician Ryan Glisson thinks Macon’s emerging music scene and economic growth all mean one thing. It’s time to give the Macon Venue Project, MVP, another go.
In 2007, Glisson and his friends started MVP by hosting seven or eight music gigs that “were amazingly successful,” Glisson said.
Then in 2008, Glisson launched his first music venue on Cherry Street, which featured bands from the underground music scene.
As a teenager, Glisson said that he’d check out music shows on Cherry Street, which not only sparked his passion for music but also introduced him to new friends who eventually all decided to form a band called “Nor Am I.”
“It really drove us going forward and put the passion in our hearts to play music,” Glisson said.
When he opened MVP, he said that music fanatics came from all over the country to attend the venue’s shows. Glisson said at MVP’s peak, bands would perform to a crowd of 700 people.
But the venue’s success was short lived.
Glisson admitted that his lack of experience, cost of show production and a “series of building problems” caused MVP to close its doors in August 2009.
“At the time, people weren’t really receptive,” he said.
Also, the guitarist said his landlord’s skepticism behind the whole project didn’t help either.
After MVP’s closure, Glisson put his days in the music scene behind him and shifted his focus to his career as a website designer/developer. But Glisson couldn’t shake off that desire to relive the electric energy he felt from those packed shows at MVP.
Eight years later, the guitarist made the decision to return back to music and relaunch MVP.
"I’m going to stay with music. I’m going to put my heart into something that has given me my heart,” he said.
MVP will now be Glisson’s full-time job, and he’ll be working under the title as “owner.” As of now, Glisson is solely taking on this endeavor.
This time around, however, Glisson is confident that the venue will thrive.
"At the time (back in 2008) it seems like downtown was growing, but since then downtown is growing drastically. There’s no better time for Macon,” he said.
When MVP first opened its doors in 2008, Glisson said that parents were reluctant to drop their kids off at shows because they doubted downtown’s “reputation.”
“Downtown is improving and parents will definitely be more comfortable dropping their children downtown now versus eight years ago,” he said.
Glisson started a crowdfunding campaign for the Macon Venue Project on Indiegogo and soon discovered that he wasn’t the only one who missed MVP.
The fundraising campaign launched 15 days ago and has over 100 shares on Facebook. Glisson said that his Facebook page has been inundated with messages from excited fans.
Glisson is scouting out potential venue spots downtown that can hold 250 to 500 people, according to the crowd- funding site.
In a year from now, Glisson hopes to have the building solidified, licenses and insurance straightened out, build- ing modifications completed and the first string of shows booked.
(04/18/15 7:34pm)
When rising Mercer University senior Nora Essien told her parents that she may have to live off campus next year, they were worried.
The 21-year-old business major comes from a low-income family where money is tight. Her father works long hours at a warehouse, and his meager salary goes to support her mom, who is unemployed, Essien and her sister.
With help from grants, loans and scholarships, Essien is able to fund part of her college tuition. She works two on-campus jobs and also has a part-time job at McDonald’s when she’s available.
She relies on financial aid to help pay for her room and board.
Because of the increased demand for on-campus housing—which includes residence halls and apartments, as well as Lofts I, II and III—and Mercer’s three-year housing requirement, upperclassmen like Essien are pressed for housing options.
Some upperclassmen are upset about being placed in the Lofts, which cost more than traditional housing, while others are upset about having to fend for themselves to find off-campus housing.
Director of Housing for Residence Life Jeff Takac said the housing crunch may be a “one-year problem.” Lofts Phase V and the new freshman residence hall will both open in fall 2016 with over 600 beds, which will create more space on campus.
But Essien won’t reap the benefit of the new housing infrastructure, since she’ll graduate before it opens.
When Essien filled out Mercer’s housing application, she checked the box saying that said she’d rather live off campus than the Lofts.
Essien figured the Lofts wouldn’t be covered her under financial aid, “which is what low-income students were relying on,” she said.
In the past two weeks, Mercer’s Student Government Association (SGA) has tried addressing housing concerns by connecting students to Residence Life officials.President Bill Underwood attended SGA’s senate meeting where he presented his vision of growth for the university.
The Cluster staff has also talked about housing with representatives from administration, staff and students to open the dialogue about the housing crunch. Here is what we found:
Mercer’s vision for growth
The university’s admissions department has seen a spike in student applications thanks to the national recognition gained from last year’s NCAA March Madness win over Duke University and students earning national prestigious awards, such as Fulbright and Goldwater scholarships.
“There is no question about it that we’ve experienced increased demand over the last four years,” said Penny Elkins, senior vice president for enrollment management, about housing.
Elkins said that the administration has made a “strategic decision” to answer the enrollment demand.
“Not only are we seeing an increase in demand but also very bright and talented students. And that in itself will add more value,” Elkins said.
The university increased the undergraduate enrollment and is expanding its infrastructure in order to answer admissions demand, Elkins said.
In the next four to five years, the university will to bump up its enrollment to 3,500 undergraduates, an overall increase of 754 students.
With every decision to increase the university’s size, the administration analyzes the ability to accommodate students in classrooms and housing, and the effect of the overall Mercer experience, according to a statement from the university.
The university’s Board of Trustees set the target enrollment number last summer during a retreat.
“The board doesn’t typically meet in the summer, but we had a special summer retreat and spent a lot of time with the board going over this—talking about strategic decisions about the size of the institution,” said Larry Brumley, senior vice president for marketing and communications.
At the retreat, the board examined Mercer’s current classroom facilities, housing, parking, as well as national data, and concluded that the optimal size would be 3,500 students.
Brumley and Elkins said the board has strived to be proactive about the university’s growth and has no intention of going beyond the 3,500 mark.
In fact, Brumley said admissions has over 100 academically-qualified students on a waitlist for the upcoming school year.
Game changers for on-campus housing
The university tried to predict the number of students who need on-campus housing for fall, but a “higher-than-anticipated” demand has thrown off its projections, according to a statement from the administration.
One of the factors that created the housing crunch was the unprecedented number of seniors who wanted to live on campus.
“We also saw a historic high this past year in terms of freshmen who are local students who have chosen to live on campus,” Brumley said.
This year, only three percent of freshman chose to live off campus. This number is usually about 10 percent.
Under the university’s three-year housing requirement, freshman, sophomores and juniors are required to live in campus housing, meaning that on-campus housing is not guaranteed for seniors.
Before Residence Life opened the housing process, it sent out an email asking any students if they wanted to be relieved of their housing requirement. A few students confirmed that they wanted to live off campus, which created more housing spots on campus, Takac said.
This year, Residence Life moved from the lottery system used in the past for housing to a self-assign process.
The new process essentially allows students to sign themselves up for a room, Takac said.
The self-assign process opened up in ascending class order, which meant seniors were the last class to go through the process.
Residence Life has more housing applications from rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and anticipated freshmen than available beds.
However, Residence Life is confident that it will be able to house all students who are required to live on campus, Brumley said. Often, students make last-minute changes in their living situations or transfer to another school, which creates space.
So far, almost half of the seniors who have applied for campus housing have been accommodated, including seniors who have full Mercer scholarships that apply to their tuition, room and board. Those seniors will be financially covered for their on-campus housing — even if they are placed by Residence Life in the Lofts.
Remaining seniors will have the following options: be placed on a waitlist, choose Lofts IV or work with SGA and Residence Life to identify off-campus housing.
Residence Life is still undergoing the self-assign process for seniors. Essien said she hasn’t recieved an email from Residence Life about her housing placement for next year.
At the meeting with the college president held during SGA Senate, Essien told President Underwood about her housing situation. He advised her to go ahead and apply for housing. If she’s placed on the waiting list, he advised her to stay put. He also suggested collaborating with Residence Life to find an affordable off-campus housing option.
“I’ve told them [Residence Life] that when they hear from folks like you, they need to be aggressive in finding you options that are no more expensive than the options you would receive on campus,” Underwood said to Essien.
Elkins said Residence Life, Financial Aid and the Bursar's office are looking into offering partial to full scholarships for students who are receiving financial aid outside of Mercer to pay for their housing.
Essien has already begun searching for off-campus housing options. During her search process, Essien has created a Facebook page dedicated to informing students about off-campus housing opportunities.
But in order to cover rent, Essien said that she’ll probably have to quit her on-campus jobs to find an off-campus job that will pay more.
Essien’s main complaint is the lack of communication between students and the university.
“My biggest frustration is that if they were going to increase students, they should have worked the alternatives (for housing) in advance,” she said.
This week, Residence Life hosted a panel to help students find off-campus housing options.
Takac said Residence Life may need to find a better way to communicate with students since they don’t always read their emails all the time.
“We’re going to make sure that less people are unhappy than they were when we started this,” Takac said.
(04/06/15 6:09pm)
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="14791,14790,14789"]
URGENT QUESTION: Are the tanks Comfort Colors?
Yes, the Bearstock T-Shirts will be available in Comfort Colors. And you’ll be able to snag them for $10, according to Quadworks. Check out the proofs for the tanks by clicking through our gallery. Don’t forget that this weekend is Bearstock 2015. The headliners include Relient K, TimeFlies and the Electric Sons. If you want to see the complete list of the line-up for Bearstock 2015 click here.
President Underwood comes to SGA senate
Following up last Monday’s SGA Senate where students voiced their concerns with student housing, President Bill Underwood will be attending Senate today at 6 p.m. At Senate, Underwood will discuss his vision for Mercer’s growth. Students are all welcomed to attend the Senate discussion and ask questions.
Mercer’s Point BLANK's poetry slam dunk
Mercer’s first ever poetry slam team went to their first international Poetry Slam (College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational) where they qualified in the semi-final round. They placed in the 20 schools around the nation and beat out institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Duke, Princeton and Stanford. The five poets include Virgenal Owens, a senior biomedical engineering major from Macon; Ryan Jones, a senior environmental engineering major from Snellville; Micheline Dieujuste-Antoine, a junior biology major from Irvington, New Jersey; Afrika Hamilton, a junior psychology major from Macon; and Avery Braxton, a freshman journalism major from Peachtree City.
Pre-nursing students, Listen up!
If you’re on the pre-nursing track, then you should know that your job is in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job openings for RNs is expected to increase from 2.7 million to 3.2 million, which is nearly a 19.4 percent increase and the average annual wage is $65,500. The shortage has been attributed to the number of factors, including the fact that hospitals are requiring more RN-level nurses, according to The Telegraph. However, most colleges are dealing with a shortage of trained faculty, which means that nursing schools can’t churn out the number of nursing students demanded.
Rolling Stone detracts discredited U-Va story.
The article published by Rolling Stone magazine about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia was found to have factual inaccurcies in its reporting. A three-person team at the University of Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism called the article “a story of journalistic failure that was avoidable.” The magazine detailed a gang rape of a student by seven members of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, according to The Washington Post. The story set off protests at the school and also led to the university suspending all fraternity and sorority social functions. The story quickly unraveled as journalists picked it apart and discovered numerous reporting fallacies.
(04/01/15 12:11am)
Students congregated at the Connell Student Center on Tuesday evening awaiting to hear the results for the Student Government Association elections — but soon discovered that SGA would call for a revote.
"We have not looked at the results, we do not know who won — or who has how many votes," SGA president Joey Wozniak said to the crowd of students. "Because we've had some concerns about the integrity of the process ... we will have two more days of voting."
The polls will reopen at 12 p.m. on Wednesday and will close Friday at 12 p.m., Wozniak said. The results will be announced at Connell Student Center on April 3 and then it will be posted online, according to SGA vice president Victoria Conley.
"Basically, there were concerns that were brought up," Conley said on why there was a decision to have a revote, "We were concerned whether the numbers were as fair as possible, and we decided to start over with a clean slate to make sure that both tickets had an equally fair chance."
Conley said that the senators and faculty who were in charge of handling the votes for the election decided not to look at the results before making their decision.
This was done so students wouldn't think they were manipulating the results, Conley said.
"We want to make it as fair as possible for both tickets who are running," Conley said.
(Update: Conley said that at this time SGA cannot comment on what was the direct catalyst for the revote. Concerns brought to SGA's attention caused Wozniak, senior senator Raymond Partolan, both presidential tickets and Dean of Students Dean Pearson to consider having a revote. All parties unamiously agreed that having a revote would be the best option, Conley said. )
(03/30/15 3:28pm)
Student Government Association elections
The polls are finally open for the SGA presidential elections. The two tickets, Austin Harrison and Taylor Jolly, and Tony Perella and David Boggs, will go head-to-head to earn the titles president and vice president. This year will prove to be an exciting matchup since Boggs and Perella are wild cards. Although Boggs and Perella don’t have any prior SGA experience, the pair believes they can assimilate into their roles. One of their ideas under the campaign slogan “Reform, Revive and Involve,” aims to make SGA more transparent, particularly the Fiscal Affairs Committee. In Boggs’ presidential platform he wrote that Fiscal Affairs “has failed to be conservative with its allotted budget.” Harrison — who is chairperson for Fiscal Affairs and in the running for SGA president — said at Thursday’s presidential debate that the budget is intended to be at a $0 balance by the end of the year. Also, he said that if elected, he would request an increase in funding for Fiscal Affairs and carefully “evaluate each piece of fiscal legislation.” Jolly and Harrison both have prior experience on SGA, and they serve on committees within the organization. Their campaign slogan,“Join the Team,” aims to involve students in various aspects of SGA. They hope include students in the decision-making process of SGA.
Koncert for Kim
In all kinds of weather, the Mercer family sticks together. Mercer’s Alpha Tau Omega fraternity is launching an event called Koncert for Kim on April 10 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The funds raised at the event will help Mercer Women’s soccer player Kim Murphy who recently lost both of her parents. Tickets cost $10.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Mercer's Center for Collaborative Journalism pieced together social media snapshots of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Cars, exotic zoo animals and Cherry blossom-shaped cookies are just some of the things you can see on the feed. Check to see if you can spot yourself in any of the photos.
Why is it still FREEZING outside?
You’re not the only who thinks the weather has been chillier than normal. With temperatures running 20 degrees below normal on Sunday morning, Macon set a new record low, according to The Telegraph. On Sunday morning, the temperature dropped down to 30 degrees before 5 a.m. A thermometer at Middle Georgia Regional Airport recorded a low of 27 degrees before the sun rose.
Germanwings crash opens dialogue about pilot fitness
The co-pilot involved in Tuesday’s Germanwings Flight 9525 crash, which killed himself and 149 people on board, was discovered to be suffering from mental illness. This discovery raises questions about how well airlines and regulators are doing to detect pilots who are too mentally ill to fly, according to the New York Times. Since the crash, European airlines have enforced that two people must be present in the cockpit at all times.
(03/19/15 4:37pm)
http://gty.im/98529895
(Editor's note: This article was published before the State Senate passed a bill from the Health and Human Services Committee that would legalize medical marijuana for eight medical conditions. )
For Mercer University junior Katie Callaway, the Georgia Senate’s version of the medical marijuana bill came as disappointing news — it meant that her mom and sister would remain in Colorado as medical refugees.
On March 13, the Senate passed SB 185, which established a five-year study involving people with 18 seizure disorders. The bill also would legalize marijuana extract for people with seizure disorders who are under 18, cancer and seven other medical diagnoses.
However, this won’t help Katie’s sister, 17-year-old Maggie, as she needs cannabis oil with THC and the bill does not cover that. Maggie has suffered with a debilitating seizure disorder since infancy.
“The bill doesn’t do anything for many children in Georgia,” Katie said.
The Senate’s bill covers patients under 18 years old, according to the Georgia General Assembly Legislation website.
Maggie turns 18 years old in September, so it’s unlikely that she’ll be selected as a candidate.
“Having lawmakers set up a law for a clinical trial seems ridiculous to me,” Beth said.
There still is a chance that Senators will combine SB 185 with State Rep. Allen Peake’s House Bill 1 in the next few days.
Peake’s HB-1 legalizes cannabis oil for people with seizure disorders, cancer, and seven other medical diagnoses.
It’s been almost six months since Beth drove Maggie to Colorado as a part of State Rep. Allen Peake’s Journey of Hope — a fund dedicated to help families with children suffering with seizures receive treatment.
While in Colorado, Maggie received cannabis oil treatments since the therapy was legalized in the state.
Beth said she’s noticed a positive difference in her daughter’s condition thanks to the cannabis oil treatment.
It wasn’t the miracle the family originally hoped for, but Maggie has suffered years of neurological damage from her seizures, Beth said.
Maggie still has her “bad days” where she will have multiple seizures, refuses to eat and is emotionally distant. However, Beth said even these days are better in comparison to her “bad days” without treatment.
Along with coping with Maggie’s rocky medical condition, the family is dealing with the emotional strain of being over 1,000 miles away from one another.
Beth lives with Maggie in a small apartment in Colorado while her husband and Katie remain in Georgia.
“Part of me just wants to pack the car up and come home,” Beth said. “It just stinks… But if she’s having five to 10 good days here and we can’t share it with friends and family that stinks too.”
Katie said that at school she’s focused, but she faces the reality of her situation whenever she goes home.
“When I go home and it’s just poor old dad — it becomes more real,” she said. “It’s easy to get bogged down in the fact that being separated as a family is straining, but it’s more important to be out there so she can have treatment.”
Journey of Hope began after last year’s failed attempt to pass legislation that would have legalized medical cannabis oil treatment in Georgia.
Peake’s House Bill 885 originally passed in the Senate, but Sen. Renee Uteman tacked on provisions requiring insurance coverage for treatment of autism in children.
The bill with these additional mandates failed to pass in the Senate, possibly because it increases health insurance costs for small businesses.
On Feb. 25, the state House passed HB-1 bill with a 158-2 vote to legalize cannabis oil to treat major health disorders, including seizures.
Whether or not the bill passed in the Senate determined the family’s next move for Maggie’s treatment.
However, Beth said she feels that the Senators are oblivious to the public outcry for the bill.
“To have your family’s livelihood in the hands of politicians is bad — it’s just not where you want to be,” she said. “Everything you want to do moving forward depends on Senators and House members who really don’t to hear what the people are saying.”
For now, Katie and her family will wait and see what happens.
“It stinks,” Beth said. “It stinks to be a situation where your fate is in others hands that just appear to have absolutely zero compassion, and that’s the disheartening thing for us.”
(03/18/15 8:47pm)
Two Mercer students from Kappa Alpha fraternity confessed on Wednesday to vandalizing two bear sculptures.
Mercer University's Police Department found the missing bear statues on the corner of Coleman Avenue and Adams Street at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Chief Garry Collins.
The two fiberglass statues called the Music Bear and Symphony Bear were originally located in Daisy Park and Tattnall Square Park, respectively. The bears were painted by artists Ingrid Lyndon and Heidi Clinite.
Based on where the bears were found, Mercer Police initially suspected students were involved and “sent word out” to the university.
The two freshman students who confessed to vandalizing the statues will face disciplinary action from Mercer, Collins said. The names of the vandals haven't been released.
The Macon Arts Alliance plans to replace the bears. The cost in damages ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, according to the Arts Alliance.
“We are most saddened for the artists who spent the time and energy to try to contribute something beautiful to the community,” said a spokesman from the Macon Arts Alliance.
In 2011, Macon Police officers arrested two Mercer students for vandalizing a bear statue located in Tattnall Square Park. The pair allegedly removed the bear from its base. The vandals faced disciplinary action from the university.
As of right now, the bear statues are behind Mercer Police Department.
(03/04/15 5:04pm)
The list is out! Check out the list of headliners and daybands for Bear stock 2015.
Headliners
Relient K
For most millennials, Relient K’s songs will immediately have them reminiscing about rock music, skinny jeans and teen angst. You’ve probably heard their oldie-but-goodie song “Sadie Hawkins Dance.” Maybe the song “Be My Escape” rings a bell? Nonetheless, Relient K’s songs were a staple for any self-professed rock kid who grew up in the 2000s. The American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio. The band also is associated with the contemporary Christian rock and punk scene. It has released at least nine studio albums, seven EPs, two Christmas albums and one collection of rarities. The band received its name after its guitarist Matt Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant-K car. Two of its studio albums have peaked to Top 15 on U.S. Billboard 200 charts.
TimeFlies
The pop, electronic dance band consists of producer Rob Resnick and vocalist Cal Shapiro. The duo preformed together in Tufts University’s funk band called The Ride. The group got its break on YouTube where Shapiro sang vocals over beats that Resnick produced. Shortly after the YouTube channel gained popularity, Island Records signed the group and released "One Time EP" on 2012. In 2011, the band released the album “Scotch Tape,” which rose to the No. 8 spot on the iTunes overall chart and No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart nearly 24 hours after its release.
The Electric Sons (ELS)
The Atlanta-based electronic/alternative band formed in 2011. The vocalist/guitarist, Andrew Miller, and keyboardist/vocalist, Ben Richards, teamed up and gained a fan following after they released a home-recorded EP in 2012. Shortly after the release, the band garnered the attention of the music scene by being featured in multiple music magazines. In 2013, ELS was invited to South by Southwest, a music festival. In October 2013, the band landed TJ Maxx’s national ad campaign with track “Breathing Electricity.” Its EP “Chromaethesia” was released Jan. 31, 2014.
Daybands
Rewind Retry
The Macon-based band had its debut at Corner Concerts in September. It has ambitious plans to make its indie quartet more visible to the central Georgia scene. The band consists of local university students. Three of the students are from Mercer, and one is from Middle Georgia State College. The band has opened for Nashville pop-folk act The Vespers at The 567 as well as Dalmatian and Family and Friends at The Hummingbird.
Wire Method
The band formed in 2010 with two sisters who wanted to sing and play instruments. The three other male members of the band also have a passion for performance. The band plays “pretty punk music.” According to the group’s Facebook page, their musical influences are Eisley, Nickel Creek, Deas Vail, Now and Get Out.
Charlie and The Foxtrots
A Nashville-based band consisting of seven musicians and its genre is Folk/Pop music. It recorded its first EP in March 2013 after a kick-starter campaign that launched the band in June 2013. The band describes its sound on its Facebook page as “poppy, energetic writing intertwined with country and folk instrumentation.” Their sound is somewhat comparable to Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers or The Lumineers.
The Captain
A rock band based out of Cumming, Ga., that began in 2012. The Captain "will leave listeners invigorated and hopeful, yet hopelessly singing along," according to the band's Facebook.
Dalmatian
Another Macon-based band, Dalmatian is a quartet that labels itself as psychedelic folk funk freak-outs and "Southern G-Folk." The band has released two EPs: "Dances with Dalmatian" and "Obscure Discoteca."
Radio Birds
Radio Birds is a four-member band that has a passion for performing rock 'n’ roll music. It asked fans to help pick the band’s name through an online voting system. It claims to have a “high-energy yet soulful sound.” It tries to incorporate heavy syncopation and tempo changes for a “harder sound.”
(03/04/15 6:04am)
Two Mercer sophomores have created an app that’s poised to challenge some of the biggest titans in social media, such as Facebook.
After spending months cooped up in their dorm rooms creating app prototypes and forming a concrete business plan, John Christiansen and Chirag Datta have created what they call the first “community media app.”
“Our premise is to take a step backward and use internet and social media to better your offline life,” Christiansen said. “(The app) will help you connect with friends and let you see what’s going on around the country but also help you become a part of it.”
The duo said that their app grants what Facebook cannot — more privacy.
They said that college students dislike Facebook because they fear that employers could find inappropriate pictures on their profiles.
Christiansen said that he noticed that most college students want to “disassociate from their parents” or “deviate away from potential employers” finding their profiles.
Christiansen, who conceived the idea for the app, wanted to create something that addressed students’ privacy concerns. He also wanted to give students a chance to to interact with their peers outside of school.
Both Datta and Christiansen agree that other apps — particularly Mercer-engineered apps — fail to allow students to socialize. They argue that their app does.
Before the app is launched on a college campus, Christiansen said that the university needs to have a large enough percentage of students interested in the app.
The app only allows students to sign up using their university-given email addresses.
This ensures that students don’t run into their parents or grandparents while using the app, Datta said.
Once the app is downloaded onto the user’s phone, he or she can post photos that will appear on a feed along with other college users.
Users can add font and various filters for pictures and also have their own profiles that they can update.
“How we want it to work is to be able to tell you what’s locally happening, but also people can discover what’s going on around the community,” Christiansen said.
This means that people will be more free to post what they want, and parties will be made more public, Datta said.
Christiansen and Datta refrained from delving into the specific features of the app since they said they were still pitching their product to developers.
“We have to talk to developers and investors, and we don’t want to reveal too much as of right now,” Datta said.
The secrecy revolving around the app has apparently caused rumors to circulate campus.
Christiansen said that he’s seen a couple of Yik Yak posts criticizing his secrecy.
“It’s OK if you want to come up and ask; it’s fine,” Christiansen said. “We’d be able to tell you a little bit more about it and settle your curiosity.”
Christiansen said that, in the early stages of the design process, he worked alone to keep the product under wraps.
Although Datta and Christiansen are both involved in the same fraternity, they never really interacted with one another before the project, Datta said.
“I was really selfish with my idea,” Christiansen said.
However, the pledge brothers had a four-hour conversation that was completely unrelated to the app one night.
Then, a couple days later, Christiansen came up with an idea that he needed advice on, so he flipped a coin to determine whether or not to talk to Datta.
“I flip a coin for everything,” Christiansen said. The coin flipped heads.
As Christiansen pitched his social media plan, Datta — an entrepreneurship major — said that he was intrigued by the concept behind the app. He felt that he could leverage his business skills for the project.
“Last semester, I was set to start a company. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but it was going to be a company. And I wanted to launch it by December,” Datta said.
Datta was ready to get his real estate license and to begin renting out houses to students, but once Christiansen starting talking about his plans for the app, he was sold.
Christiansen said that they’ve gone through at least four or five remodels of the prototype.
However, the team showed its latest model to Atlanta-based app developer, Stacey Roach, who was instantly impressed by their product.
“He said the entire project was a perfect blend and that students should be excited,” Christiansen recalled Stacey telling them in the meeting.
The group has plans to hold a seminar to show the app to students. He hopes that students can provide feedback on the app.
There are a lot of potential setbacks that could hamper the process. The developers could doubt their product, which could significantly slow down their ambitious plans.
But Datta and Christiansen believe that they have a fighting chance.
“I’ve been waiting for someone to tell us, ‘You guys need to stop doing this, it’s not worth your time,’ but I haven’t heard that yet,” Datta said.
“Not even a man who's been in the industry for 45 years, not even Stacey who's been in the industry for 25 years — who’s a programmer himself and has been doing this for a living — none of them have said, ‘No,’ ” Christiansen said.
If all goes as planned for Christiansen and Datta, this time next year, they’ll be touring different colleges around the country promoting their new location-based social media app.
(03/02/15 2:24pm)
Who’s playing at Bearstock?
For the past month, guess what was our website’s “most-searched engine term”? Yes, that’s right — Bearstock 2015. The announcement you’ve all been waiting to hear will be made on March 4. Mercer’s Quadworks plans to release the list of headliners over social media. The Cluster will also publish an article providing you with a little background on the headliners immediately after the list is leaked. So be on the lookout, and don’t forget to refresh your Twitter feed every two seconds on March 4. Quadworks also plans on dropping this year's banner with Bearstock's theme in Connell Student Center.
Medical Marijuana bill
Do you remember that article The Cluster published on Maggie Callaway? If you don’t, click here to read it. Basically, sometime this month the Senate is voting on whether to pass a bill that would legalize cannabis oil to treat people suffering with medical disorders, such as Maggie’s seizure disorder, in Georgia. Last Wednesday, the House passed Sen. Allen Peake’s bill with a 158-2 vote. There’s still a chance for it to not pass in the Senate, so be on the lookout for what happens this year.
Socon Tournament
The Bears beat East Tennesse during their Senior Day game on Saturday ending with a score of (69-64). Darius Moten and T.J. Hallice — the only two senior players on the roster — played well for their last game. Moten scored 16 points and Hallice scored 12. Now, the bears will travel up to Asheville for the final four tournament. The tournament runs from March 5-9 2015 in the at UNC Asheville’s Kimmel arena.
Putin critic slain
On Friday, one of Vladmir Putin’s biggest critics, Boris Nemtsov, was murdered just outside the steps from the Kremlin. The killing was the highest-profile political assasination in Russia during the 15-year rule of President Putin, according to the Washington Post. There was a memorial march in oppositing the Friday night murder.
Ebola’s Back?
Just when the U.S. thought Ebola was a thing of the past, sick fishermen arrive onto the shores of Sierra Leone with cases of Ebola, according to The New York Times. Now Sierra Leone is presented with a new dilemma with the arrival of the infected mariners combined with a recent easing fo anti-Ebola measures, persistent community resistance to contaiment measures and misunderstanding has contributed to the surge in the capital.
(02/23/15 11:00pm)
Looks like Oconee County is filled with smarty pants.
Oconee County earned first place with the highest percentage of people over 25 years with a graduate degree (22.06 percent), according to FindTheBest's map showing the most educated counties in Georgia.
As mentioned in today's "Five Things," The online research website analyzed the percentage of the population over 25 years who have a graduate degree.
Clarke County, Fulton County and DeKalb County trail close behind at 19.06 percent, 18.50 percent and 16.06 percent, respectively.
In Bibb County, nearly 8.2 percent of the population over 25 has a graduate degree.
(02/23/15 2:44pm)
Wait, Lady Gaga can sing?
The answer is a resounding YES. At the Oscars 2015, the pop star showed off her classically trained voice when she sang four tracks from the film and musical “The Sound of Music.” As soon as Gaga finished the medley, she earned a standing ovation from the crowd even from none other than Julie Andrews herself. This year’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, cracked jokes and even pulled out a witty jab at the lack of diversity in the crowd (“Tonight we honor the best and the whitest—er, brightest”). The Academy crowned “Birdman” with four Oscars, including best picture. Click here to see the full list of Oscar winners. Actresses on the red carpet challenged reporters to focus less on their outfits and more on their work. The hashtag #AskHerMore seemingly inspired a change on the red carpet and reporters strayed away from these questions.
The most educated Georgia counties
A snazzy interactive map from an online research engine called FindTheBest shows Georgia’s most educated counties. Oconee County earns bragging rights since it has the highest percentage of people over 25 years with a graduate degree (22.06 percent). Clarke County, Fulton County and Dekalb County trail close behind at 19.06 percent, 18.50 percent and 16.06 percent, respectively. In Bibb County, nearly 8.2 percent of the population over 25 has a graduate degree. The map uses research from FindTheBest that analyzes the percentage of population over 25 years with a masters, PhD or higher to determine levels of education within the area. How does your hometown stack up against other counties?
Security tightening at Mall of America
The biggest mall in America is tightening its security after a video was released by an Al-Qaeda linked group called Al-Shabab. This is the same group that attacked the Mall of Kenya in 2013 which killed 67 people. The terrorist group called attacks on the Mall of America. The FBI has been working with malls around the United States to increase security precautions.The Department of Homeland Security warns shoppers to stay alert and “viligant” while shopping.
Bear Forum
Still can’t use Snapchat on Mercer’s Wi-fi? Bear Forum is your opportunity to complain about this urgent matter with SGA student senators. Mercer’s student government association will be hosting a Bear Forum this Wednesday (2/25/15) at 6:30 p.m. If you’re interested in SGA’s presidential elections, vice president Victoria Conley and president Joey Wozniak will be there to speak about the election process itself. Also, you should check out Sarah Pound’s break-down of what it takes to win SGA President.
Bust a move at Corner Concerts this Saturday
Get ready bust out into the jive this Saturday at Corner Concerts, the once a month pop-up concert series in downtown Macon. This Saturday, Macon Pops Jazz Quartet is set to play at Brownstone Building. Tickets are $15.
(02/15/15 9:02pm)
A group of Mercer sophomores stood in front of the Kappa Sigma house debating on where to eat dinner when they heard a loud crack.
Nineteen-year-old Austin Davis, one of the sophomores standing outside the house, said he ran inside to investigate.
Once inside the house, he noticed a ring of fire forming on the fraternity's backyard, near their patio.
Davis went to grab a rag from inside the house and then ran to the backyard to swat down the flames. Davis said he noticed that a lighter, strewn across the backyard, created the explosion. He said he had no clue how the lighter got on the backyard.
Sophomore Miranda Bray said she was pulling up to the Kappa Sigma house to pick up her friends for dinner when she noticed the fiery explosion. She grabbed a water hose and began to douse the flames.
Mercer Police arrived on the scene after receiving a call from a student. The officers took the lighter and then left the scene to figure out who called, Bray said.
There were no injuries and the fire was extinguished by Davis and his friend on Sunday afternoon at 3:07 p.m. No fire ambulances were called to the scene.
A charred black hole, roughly 5 feet in diameter, serves as a visual reminder of what happened.
(02/11/15 5:51pm)
Former All-Star Major League baseball player Darryl Strawberry shared his successes and hardships on and off the diamond during Mercer’s First Pitch Classic dinner.
His son, Jordan Strawberry, plays basketball as a freshman at Mercer and sat in on his father’s speech in Hawkins Arena.
The 52-year-old baseball legend, who spoke openly about his Christian beliefs, is an ordained minister and author. Prior to his Christian conversion, the right fielder had a troubled past ridden with drug and alcohol abuse.
“At a time, I was a heathen,” Strawberry said to the crowd on Tuesday.
The baseball player was raised in Los Angeles, Ca., by his alcoholic father who would “beat the crap out of me,” Strawberry said. Strawberry said that his father’s alcoholic rage left him with emotional scars that he carried around for the rest of his life.
During junior high, Strawberry misbehaved and was kicked out of five different schools. “I was very defiant,” he said.
Then Strawberry’s life turned a corner when he discovered his love for sports – football, baseball and basketball.
In 1980, Strawberry was the first pick for the New York Mets, and the team offered him a contract for $200,000.
“You just had me born at the wrong time,” Strawberry said he told God. His $200,000 contract would be worth $10 million today, he joked.
Before Strawberry turned 21 years old, he came close to throwing down his baseball bat for good. Instead, he stuck with the game and entered the big leagues. “That’s why you never quit. You never know the end of the story,” he said.
Whenever Strawberry’s imposing 6-foot-6 frame came to bat, success would follow. During his time with the Mets, Strawberry posted 26 home runs, 7 triples, and 74 runs batted in, while hitting for a .257 average. He was also named National League’s Rookie of the Year.
In an attempt to fit in with the big league, Strawberry became involved with drugs. “Drugs have always been a part of sports and always will be,” Strawberry said.
However, the drugs couldn’t mitigate the emotional pain Strawberry felt. His personal life failed to mirror the same success he had on the red-clay baseball field.
“I was broken and hurting inside,” Strawberry said. Even though he accumulated a large sum of wealth, “it didn’t change a thing about me,” he said.
At one point, Strawberry’s life threw him a curveball, and he lost his driver’s license after being arrested in Tampa in 1999 for cocaine possession and solicitation of prostitution.
Twelve years ago, Strawberry said he experienced his Christian conversion, and “My life was changed,” he said. Now Strawberry is directing his focus on raising his family and his Christian rehabilitation center called Strawberry Ministries.
Despite his rocky career, Strawberry has maintained a staunch fanbase. Before the event, fans lined up for autographs.
Sgt. Josue Gonzalez, who is stationed in Warner Robins, joined the queue to have a baseball signed by Strawberry. Gonzalez said that his father-in-law is a big fan of Strawberry, so he plans to surprise him with the baseball with Strawberry’s signature.
During the event, Mercer’s Baseball team was recognized for their 3.2 GPA average, and four players were recognized for their 4.0 GPAs. For the past five years, Mercer is one of the baseball programs recognized along with Florida State University, University of North Carolina and University of South Carolina to amass over 38 wins.
Before leaving the stage Strawberry added, “Oh, and I’m definitely going to sponsor the baseball program.”
(02/09/15 2:16pm)
The Cluster staff trekked to Athens, Ga. for the Georgia College Press Association Awards and left with eight awards in hand. Including first place in Best Review, Best Feature Story; second place - Best Feature Photo, Best Photo Essay, Best Website and Best Campus Community Service in Sports and Features. Our small yet fierce staff beat out some journalism-school powerhouses, such as the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. It was a proud moment for us as we continue to broaden our audience reach. As we expand our online presence, our readers’ support has meant the world to us. Thank you for journeying with us this year, and we cannot wait to see what next year brings our newspaper.
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The bulldozers are coming back to campus. Mercer plans to build a brand-spanking new freshman residence hall set to open July 2016. The new hall will house 300 freshman and sit between Plunkett Hall and Mary Erin Porter. Upperclassmen have the right to be jealous because the new living space will be outfitted with group study rooms and other community spaces.
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Imagine attending Mercer without spending a dime. In fact, imagine if the government paid you to attend Mercer. Gasp! Well, this fantasy has become a reality for Denmark’s citizens. According to an article from the Washington Post, Danish students receive $900 a month to attend college. The country has one of the highest graduation rates and lowest unemployment rates in the world. The Denmark government is notoriously known for levying heavy taxes on their citizens to compensate costs. Although many doubt this could work in the U.S., the inequality of access to education has held back America's economic growth. It appears that Denmark has not suffered any economic repercussions since instating this policy. Comment below and let us know what you think about Denmark’s set up.
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Mercer’s dean for the College of Liberal Arts, Lake Lambert III, will leave to become president of Hanover College in Indiana. “Even before I entered the presidential search process, I knew that Hanover was a special place: a strong liberal arts curriculum, unique opportunities like the Business Scholars program, broad participation in athletics, and a tightly knit residential campus form a powerful learning community that makes a holistic impact on students,” Lambert said in a release from Hanover.
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Last night was the 57th Grammy Awards and, some celebrities donned interesting outfit choices. The biggest risk-takers were the men on the red carpet, including Nick Jonas who wore a plaid Versace Suit and Pharrell who sported short shorts. The awards ceremony was a huge success for Sam Smith who received four awards, three of them in major categories, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for his hit song “Stay with Me.”
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(02/08/15 11:32pm)
The current dean of Mercer's college of Liberal Arts, Lake Lambert III, will leave Mercer to become the president of Hanover College in Indiana, according to The (Macon) Telegraph.
“Even before I entered the presidential search process, I knew that Hanover was a special place: a strong liberal arts curriculum, unique opportunities like the Business Scholars program, broad participation in athletics, and a tightly knit residential campus form a powerful learning community that makes a holistic impact on students,” Lambert said in a release from Hanover.
Since 2010, Lambert has served as dean of Mercer's college of Liberal Arts. He will become Hanover's 16th president on July 1 and succeeds Hanover college's current president Sue DeWine.
(02/08/15 10:17pm)
Mercer plans to begin construction this May on a new freshman women’s residence hall that will open in summer 2016.
It’s been a decade since the university built its last residence hall, Mercer Hall, which is comparable to apartment-style housing but without a kitchen. With the spike in student enrollment and the current housing crunch on campus, Dr. James S. Netherton, executive vice president for administration and finance, believes it’s time for the bulldozers to return to campus.
“We needed to add another on-campus, traditional, non-apartment, community-style residence hall,” Netherton said. “We needed that in order to provide the best experience for them.”
The new four-story residence hall will house 300 freshmen and include eight community bathrooms. The front entrance of the building will be on Elm Street between Mary Erin Porter Hall and Plunkett Hall. A new road to the building will be created through Ash Street. The university plans to tear down Physical Plant and East Hall to create space for the residence hall and an additional 200 parking spaces.
“The ultimate plan is to make it a more residential area and to move those buildings (Physical Plant and East Hall) to more administrative areas,” said Jeff Takac, director of Mercer’s Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Until the new freshman residence hall is built, the Lofts Phase IV - originally designated for only graduate, law and medical students - will temporarily be open for housing to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
“If there will be enough undergraduate demand, there’ll be no law students or med students living there (Lofts Phase IV),” Netherton said. “They won’t have a chance to sign up ‘til some period of time, when only some undergraduate students can.”
Once the hall is open, the Lofts Phase IV will be open to only graduate, medical and law students. The Lofts Phase IV are under construction behind the post office.
The design plans for the new freshman residence hall were predicated on creating a “community setting” in order to enhance a freshman’s college experience and increase student retention rates, according to Netherton and Takac.
“The best experience for students is a community bath residence hall,” Netherton said. “What’s really important is the ‘community’ word - a residence hall that is community focused.”
The building will be outfitted with both large and small group study rooms. The hallways will “zig and zag” and be “wider than normal” in order to create “little neighborhoods” where students can interact, Netherton said.
The new hall will have only one exit and entrance for the building “so that you’re more likely to bump into people as you come and go,” Netherton said. The laundry room will also have a visitation area.
The early design renderings feature a “protected area” surrounded on three sides by the building where Netherton envisions students will “hang out and enjoy themselves.” However, the exact usage for the area is yet to be determined, he said.
The building will have a red brick and stone exterior, in order to be similar to the other buildings on campus, Netherton said. There will also be a large “green space” in front of entrance to the building.
Takac said that the university is still in the early stages of the project, and the design is still up for change. “It’s just exciting time for housing, we have a lot going on, and we are really looking forward to seeing where it goes,” Takac said. “Hopefully, it meets the needs of our incoming student class.”
Contracting service Chris R. Sheridan & Co., the same contractor used for Mercer’s stadium and fieldhouse, will be used for the new residence hall. Studio-based McMillan Pazdan Smith, the same architect used for Mercer’s fieldhouse, will be used for residence hall’s architectural plans.
The University anticipates to begin construction in May after graduation and Netherton hopes to have the building’s Certificate of Occupancy from the local government by July 1, 2016, so freshman athletes can move in.
Although Netherton is still caught up in the early stages of design, he believes that the new residence hall has the potential to “be the most desirable residence hall on campus.”
(02/02/15 2:58pm)
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets to add another Super Bowl ring to his collection. Just in case you missed Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots clinched a win over the Seattle Seahawks in a nail-biting game that ended 28-24. Now that the 37 year old has four Super Bowl titles underneath his belt, many believe that this will settle the dispute that Brady is the best quarterback to ever live. There are also other equally important facets of the Super Bowl that have nothing to do with football. Can you guess what I’m referring to? Yes, the commercials and halftime show. Some commercials were brilliant marketing packages while others left you underwhelmed or reaching for a Kleenex. One of the funnier commercials was T-Mobile’s promotion of its data-sharing service. The commercial featured a somber Kim Kardashian pleading with you to save data so you can see more of her selfies. But the Super Bowl entertainment didn’t stop at the commercials. Just some of the outlandish things spotted during Katy Perry’s halftime show included a polygonal tiger, a mic (which people swore had a wii remote strap on it), Missy Elliott and TONS of fireworks.
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A lawyer representing a 33-year-old Macon man who allegedly fired shots at a Mercer police officer in December claims that authorities have mistaken his identity, according to a Thursday Bibb County Superior Court hearing. A Mercer student called police after he found a man at 3:30 a.m. in his 1994 Honda Civic parked on Prince Street. When the police approach the man, he ran away and “fired a shot” at the police officer. Kimyatus J. Hamilton was arrested on Elm Street and claims he was walking back home from a party at his dad’s house. Hamilton’s lawyer argued that he did not fit the officer’s description of the suspect who was described to be wearing camouflage pants, a black shirt and a black hat with a red bill. Instead, Hamilton was wearing a white shirt when he was arrested not a black one.The judge denied bond and a request that lifts probation hold that keeps him in jail.
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This year’s Founders’ Day will also mark the University’s three-year commemoration of 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The annual Founder’s Day Event hosted by Student Government Association (SGA) will be held this Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Willingham Chapel. Gen. Claude M. "Mick" Kicklighter, a 1955 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and current University trustee who until last month served as director of the Department of Defense Office of Commemorations, will be speaking at the event.
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Japan is grief-stricken after the Islamic State released a video that shows the beheading of journalist Kenji Goto. The video shows a militant in black waving a knife to the camera as Goto is kneeing down in an orange jumpsuit. In the video, the militant addresses the Japanese government and says: "To the Japanese government: You, like your foolish allies in the Satanic coalition, have yet to understand that we, by Allah's grace, are an Islamic Caliphate with authority and power, an entire army thirsty for your blood.” Goto was captured back in October after going into Syrian territory to release another Japanese hostage. A spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council called for the release of the hostages and said that the United States stands in unity with Japan.
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Winter is coming. Nearly 23 states are under winter warning and advisory as a winter storm Linus travels from the Midwest to the East Coast.
(01/28/15 9:37pm)
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CE_5mEFj00[/embed]