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(04/25/12 7:37pm)
Recently I was sitting in a lecture, and I was more distracted than usual and I found myself gazing around the room inspecting the crowd of people around me.
I realized something rather odd, every elderly woman in the audience with grey or greying hair had their hair cut in short styles, whereas every young woman in the room had long locks falling about mid-back.
I couldn’t help but think to myself how odd it was.
My mind, by default, was flipping back to my bible school days. Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”
In my mind the roles would be reversed, and I couldn’t help but to wonder if our hair truly defined how we lived our lifestyles.
We all know the stereotypes that follow each hair color; blonde equals a bimbo, brunette or dark hair equals an intelligent, reliable girl, and a red head—if you listen to rumors—just seems soulless.
I personally disagree with all of these; I have good friends of all hair types that continually break these stereotypes.
Yet, there are those few that reinforce the need for such stereotypes, but that is a whole other conversation.
As we all know, outward appearances are most important. First impressions are everything in today’s age.
There is the overall look that is important, broken down into the different categories of fashion sense, hair style, accessories and make-up.
All of which can have you looking like a clown or more preferably a goddess. Yet if you strip all the unneeded fluff, products and fabric away from a woman the question I have is well, what is left to tell her life’s story?
The answer to this question is different for everyone. Personally I’d have to agree, often you can see a whole novel written on the under layers of women they often try to cover up with foundation or dye.
Every wrinkle, dimple, grey streak and twinkle of the eye gives a different piece of their story.
A perfect example would be my mom, she has laugh lines everywhere. At the corner of her eyes and alongside her mouth.
She, like everyone else on this planet, has been through the rough times, but she has learned to laugh through them.
She is still rocking a beautiful length of dirty-blonde hair streaked with grey that’s beginning to show her true age.
To me, when I see her I know her whole life story, and not just because I lived with her.
Life—and to an extent gravity—takes a toll on all of us.
For women our “crown of glory” will show our life’s story when combined with all that is purely us.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I’d rather say a face is worth a thousand stories.
Comments, questions or concerns about this article can be emailed to olivia.jasmine.brayan@live.mercer.edu
(04/25/12 7:24pm)
Senior Art Shows have been running weekly from March 12 - April 4 in Hardeman Hall. Featuring some amazing artwork produced by Mercer’s very own upcoming artist. Although the shows are over, they mark the beginning of a new life for all involved.
Christina Kivi’s show was unofficially titled “The Beauty of the West.” She was inspired by the landscape from her time spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The works were done mainly in oil paintings and watercolor paintings, and one linoleum block print. Although the show wasn’t really dedicated to anyone, Christina said, “I guess I would dedicate it to my family, since my parents are the reason I was able to live there.”
Kivi’s favorite piece was titled “Arches.” It is an image of the double arch Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. The artist said it was her favorite because, “I love the colors of the orange rocks in front of the blue sky and I loved painting the rocks, because I was able to be more expressive and free with the brush, compared to the other more detailed watercolors.”
Kivi, when asked about her future plans, said, “I will be teaching in South Carolina with Teach for America for two years and then will decide if education is something I want to pursue...maybe art education!”
Heather Phillips, another artist present in Hardeman Halls show, presented “The Face of Homelessness In Macon.” Heather’s inspiration and dedication are one in the same.
It all began with her love of service. She began her first portrait with Lori White, a homeless woman here in Macon, who told her how hard it would be to get people to agree to have their portrait done. Homeless people, Lori told her, were accustomed to people walking past them and not paying them any attention. Heather said, “That is what I wanted to do with my show. To have people look at these people, who are or have been homeless and take away something from them.”
Heather said that if she had to choose her favorite piece would be “Dallas ll.” This oil painting was “the last piece I painted for the show. I feel that he is the culmination of my efforts. I can really see the confidence in my brushstrokes in this piece.”
After graduation, Heather will be obtaining a Masters in Fine Arts degree in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. She will possibly go on to be a professor.
Mitch Edward Logan was another artist featured in Hardeman Hall. His show “Fragmentation” was not dedicated to anyone but was inspired by the “reflection of the culmination of many experiences. This series in particular was inspired by powerlessness. Conceptually it’s about how things never seem to work out the way you planned. You trudge and trudge in one direction and end up somewhere totally different from where you imagined yourself. I tried to simulate this process by introducing one controllable force into my work as I painted. I use a lot of running water, sheet rock mud and even leaf blowers to let my paintings take on their own life,” said Logan.
The majority of the works are done with a mixture of oil, acrylic, and latex paint, but there are a couple watercolors, collagraph prints, and pastel drawings.
One of his favorites remains untitled but is exactly the outcome he was hoping for in pursuing these pieces. As for Logan’s bright future, he has a few jobs lined up and is looking to do some work as a carpenter, but he plans to continue to paint and see where life takes him.
Brittany Nicole Kearney was one of the last artists featured. Her show remains untitled, but is inspired by Rose Hill Cemetery. Brittany said “I love all things distressed and broken down. I think it adds character to statues and buildings etc. and it adds to the history. When I look at the statues in Rose Hill I see more than just a grave site, and I wanted to show everyone else what I saw in them.” The medium of her show is watercolor, although she prefers to get her hands dirty with charcoal. I built my frames and the angel wings in my show.
Kearney said if she had to choose a favorite, “It would be the piece with the statue and the cross in the background. The reason for this is because I always seem to go back to that statue all the time in Rose Hill. I feel a connection to her and I’m not sure why.”
After graduation Kearney plans to continue her education and get a masters degree in architecture.
(04/25/12 7:19pm)
Summer is almost here, a period of time many of Mercer Students are eagerly awaiting. As we serve our last month here at school, slaving over books and notes in an attempt to pass those pesky finals, it is great to know there is a light at the end of the knowledge filled tunnel. Yet while we finish out the next few days why not enjoy the finer things of college life.
Macon, while it is defiantly not much of a college town, has many pleasurable aspects to offer to Mercer’s students; the first of which being their parks and recreational spaces. Not only does Mercer’s campus have sand volley ball courts as well as a swimming pool and intramural courts.
Located across from Knighthall, just off campus, is Tattnall Square Park. This quaint little spot is covered in a field big enough to play soccer or ultimate Frisbee in, it is also complete with a gazebo and tennis courts. Mollie Davis suggests that “Students can rent BearBikes, for $5 a day, through campus life and ride downtown on the Historic Macon tour.” If nature is your thing then head over to a park or one of the cities gardens for a nice picnic, maybe even take a bike ride.
If history is what you are into than Macon’s Historical Sites are defiantly for you. Lillian Watkins suggests that “Children’s Museum or the Hay house, because those are interesting places to visit.” There are also some other museums and sites around Macon, one simply has to search them out.
Want to play a game but hate the bugs well then Gold Cup Bowling off of Pio Nono is perfect for you. Every Wednesday from 9pm-1pm is College Night. For $3.50 one can obtain shoes and play a whole game of bowling. If Wednesdays do not work from 9am-1pm on Sundays one game of bowling will cost you $4.00 including shoe rental. All in all this is practically a steal when games usually cost around eight bucks, not including snacks.
Another part of the great indoors is the movie theaters. Josh Coleman said he would spend is his last $10 going “to the Amstar on Zebulon to see an early movie, and pray I still had enough for a Coke!” If he is in lucky and it’s a Wednesday nights, $6.50 can get you perched in a seat of the latest movie with a little extra shelled out for an ice-cold Coke in hand. This week some of their movies include The Hunger Games, Three Stooges, and The Lucky One.
If those just will not do try checking out the movie section in our very own Tarver Library on campus. With some great classics as well as a few new movies it’s a pretty happening isle. In a theater or in your dorm, a movie with some popcorn and a Reece’s Cup is a perfect way to unwind from heavy duty studying.
If food is what you are after there are several well acceptable places to chow down besides the Cafe and Mercer Village. Mercerian Brittany Chandler said that if she only had $10 to spend in Macon “I would go to Bear’s Den to eat. “Located on Oglethorpe Street this Mom and Pop’s place is dedicated to its customers and gives hearty southern cooking its name. Bear’s Den is opened 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays serving classics like chicken and dumpling and yummy desserts including brownies and Oreo pudding, not to mention it is defiantly in a college student’s price range. Macon has many fun and cheap places for students to explore if only one searches them out.
(04/11/12 7:10pm)
The idea of confrontation terrifies most people. Their heart starts pumping and all they can hear is the sound of blood rushing through their ears. They try to remember the reasons they came to face the challenge of telling people what they do not want to hear. Emotions take over and some either want to leave or throw the first punch. These fight or flight tendencies will get us nowhere.
Walter Bradford Cannon, an American Physiologist from Harvard Medical School, coined the term ‘fight or flight response’. He originally intended for it to describe the response animals have when faced with danger, but he began to see the implications this ideal had in the human world as well. Humans and animals have much in common in this aspect.
Women and men, however, differ in their responses. Men have a higher chance of responding in an emergence situation with aggression. They will most likely turn and fight, where as women will choose one of three options: flee, turn to others for help, or attempt to talk it out.
While this is the status quo for people to respond in line with the appropriate gender’s reaction, I often wonder if it hasn’t always been this way. I know that by nature men have been the ‘providers’ while women have been the ‘nurturers’. Yet, I wonder if we have been thrust even further into this role by the media.
Media makes the idea of a disagreement happening scary -in an extreme situation- we are either going to end up in a bar fight or a lonely, emotional mess. You can easily guess which will happen to the man versus the woman; men usually are not the criers in a movie if that gives you a hint. Yet in real world none of this is really an option. Confrontations do not have to be a fear to run from. Media combined with our own worries has built these moments up to be more than they really are.
I feel as though, some days, I have entered the wild jungles of the Amazon when it comes to communicating with people around me. We are more likely to hiss and yelp phrases at each other, in an attempt to save ourselves, than we are to sit down and have a civil conversation.
Reality is that if we are to all co-exist in this world there is going to be many disagreements. Whether that makes or breaks a relationship is for the individuals to decide. There are ways to retrain ourselves out of the fight or flight instinct, that does nothing but harm a good relationship.
It takes a practiced arm to aim and shoot a gun. Just as much effort has to be put into learning the steps to getting to the bottom of a confrontation and finding a mutually agreed upon solution. Granted this is never easy nor is it ever fun, but in the end if the friendship is valuable enough to be saved than you’ll do the right thing.
Comments about this opinion can be sent to olivia.jasmine.brayan@live.mercer.edu
(03/28/12 8:14pm)
Anime is short for animation. This style of Japanese animation follows a colorful plot line and has a whole club dedicated to it here on campus. Animercer is a society at Mercer dedicated to the purpose of watching and promoting anime.
Vice Priesedent Richard Hawkins said that in meetings the members “watch and discuss a series over the course of the year. It is a safe and civil environment to expose people to new series of a medium different than the one that most of us are exposed to in American culture.”
The club meetings are every Monday 7 p.m.-10 p.m. in Stetson’s room 251. New people are always welcomed to join the meetings. They can come in and talk and then sit around and watch the anime in a free, friendly atmosphere.
Generally, the club watches about five shows every semester, depending on the length of the showing of a specific movie or episode.
Micah Hankins, a member of the club said his favorite part of anime is “the various plots and ideas for the shows. The development of the storylines is complex, generally. I mean it’s three hours of watching T.V... what could be better?”
The club also organizes visits to local anime conventions. The two major ones right now are Anime Weekend in Atlanta (AWA) and MomoCon. Thirteen of the current members recently attended MomoCon in Atlanta. Micah Hankins said, “The Anime conventions are amazing.”
At these conventions one can dress up like characters, converse about favorite topics and purchase souvenirs. Conventions are open to anyone, but are rather expensive to attend, usually costing upwards of $100.
Hawkins said, “Conventions are a good place to get ideas about future things to do in the club. It is also great to see people who are actively involved in the anime industry, voice actors and people involved in directing and distributing the series.”
Although the clubs main focus is on conventions, just entering the room can take one to a whole diffrent culture. Anime is an art form that cannot be found anywhere else. It follows a plot line complete with eye popping graphics that are unlike anything in mainstream media today. So if you’ve got a few free hours on a Monday night, why not join something new and try out Animercer?
(03/28/12 8:07pm)
A Global health class taught by Dr. Monika Sawhney is taking the initiative and pursuing a better future for others by raising funds to fuel their projects.
The class was divided into two groups and Dr. Sawhney gave them options on what the students could do the task on.
One group chose to work on a water project in Ethiopia and the other group chose to work on a project in Uganda to set up a school.
Dr. Sawhney has been involved in similar projects during her own college experience and finds it is great character building. She already sees the project changing the students as they grow in leadership and personality
“The Uganda group has already started a chapter of the organization, Building Tomorrow, on Mercer’s campus. I am very happy that students are developing leadership qualities. I give them guidance but then I let them take the lead and take ownership,” said Dr. Sawhney.
“[The class goal] is primarily to teach people what global health is, what the issues related to global health are, what are the challenges, and what are the solutions,” said Dr. Sawhney.
The whole reason Dr. Sawhney decided to have the service learning projects attached to the class is because she feels strongly “that global health is not something you can read in a book. I wanted students to understand what implications it has in the global world.” she said.
Jasmine Blakemore is a student working on bettering the education in Uganda. She says that this is vital because “education is the foundation for everything in our world. Education has an impact on your health, an impact on the respect of community, and education also impacts self-image.
You can’t take a picture of someone lacking education, but you can take a picture of someone in poverty or hungry. That’s another reason why I believe education is such a huge issue.”
Blakemore also explained , “I am hoping that I can make a difference that is tangible and that not only has a short term effect but also long term. I’m also hoping to educate many of my peers. Many people know that Uganda is in trouble, but I don’t think many know to what extent.”
The students for this project chose to raise support for an organization they chose called Building Tomorrow.
Sterling Hill, a student working on the project, said they chose this organization because, “Building Tomorrow focuses on building schools in sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative directly impacts the well-being of not only the children of sub-Saharan Africa, but the entire population,” said Hill.
Through this foundation the student’s fundraising and awareness efforts will unite with the efforts of others into the building of a school in Uganda that will provide an education for approximately 325 students.
To support this cause and further education for children of Uganda, a fundraiser will be held in the lobby of Connell Student Center March 27-30 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. where you can purchase paper bricks for one dollar each.
(03/28/12 8:02pm)
Last month a video went viral that forced the world into action; Kony 2012 completely grasped the world’s view of an event taking place in Uganda as well as East and Central Africa.
This video began with a cry to stop Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRS) once and for all.
The film was created by Invisible Children, an organization that aims to do one thing, make Kony the name on everyone’s lips.
By making Kony famous, Invisible Children hopes that President Obama will chose to continue to aid in the capture and incarceration of Joseph Kony.
Kony believes himself to be leading a Christian Movement, but this movement of over 26 years has brought nothing but terror to the countries of Central Africa. He has kidnapped thousands of children, turning the boys in to killers and forcing the girls to become sex slaves.
Kony has been hunted by the International Criminal Court since 2005, when he was charged with humanity and war crimes, yet he is still free, bringing us back to the Kony 2012 project.
Since the videos release, people around the world have been sharing, tweeting and creating groups dedicated to the movement, all with the date April 21 in mind, including students here at Mercer.
A freshmen here at Mercer, Haley Robinson, create a group called “Covering the Town and Campus with Kony Poster” on Facebook.
“If people know, [then] it will become something that cannot be ignored,” said Robinson.
KeAndria Willis joined the group and said, “It’s easy to get involved with this movement so we should give a helping hand by making our community aware.”
There are many Facebook pages and forms dedicated to the posturing of towns on the night of April 20 but this is just one part of the Kony movement here on Mercer Campus.
Stephanie Jensen, a resident assistant in the Mary Erin Porter complex, has been passionate about the Invisible Children’s program since last year when she first hear about it through a Residence Life program.
Jensen along with other resident assistants have put together an information night.
“The evening will include watching a video called Rescue Mission that Invisible Children put out a few years ago. We will also be discussing the recent Kony 2012 video, as well as talking about the blanket the night event that is coming up in April. This will be an opportunity for students to create awareness around Macon,” said Jensen.
Jensen was not the only organizer of the night; Brittany Chandler, Michelle Moran, Gary Wall, Belsy Garcia, Crissy Dyson, and Josh Deremer all helped to organize the event.
Chandler, another resident assistant, heard about the Invisible Children’s movement two years ago.
“When I attended the first Invisible Children program held at Mercer, I was shocked. I could not believe that this was the first time I was hearing about Joseph Kony and the LRA. I thought to myself, this man is committing genocide and half of the world knows nothing about his brutal actions. I knew that something had to be done to raise awareness about the LRA, even if it meant starting locally with Mercer’s campus,” said CHandler.
For more information about the Kony 2012 movement or to watch the video, visit www.kony2012.com.
(03/14/12 8:26pm)
Official swimsuit season is just a few months away, and it is time to start searching for that perfect body-fitting bikini to lounge around the pool in. Before the shopping madness begins, here are four simple tips to get that body swimsuit ready.
1. Find the perfect work out for you. There are many websites and books directed at helping people find the perfect work out. Mike Green, who has been working out for eight years doing sports as well as working as a personal trainer, says, “There are plenty of websites where you can pick out work outs that are specific to you.” Mike suggested some websites such as Women’s Health and for men he suggested either Men’s Fitness or Men’s Health. There are even some bodybuilding websites that can assist one in creating the perfect work out. If you’re not so skilled at coming up with a workout plan, there are people, such as Mike, who can help you decide what workout is best to fit your needs, there is a small fee of course.
2. Stick to it. The hardest part about getting fit is keeping up with the work out. Here are four ways to keep from losing momentum:
Treat it like a job. Mike Green suggests that “Working out is just half of getting in the shape that you want to, it’s all about your eating habits, sleeping habits, drinking habits and all the little decisions that you make throughout the day.” Make it as an imperative something you have to do, like breathing.
Keep a workout journal. Compose notes of all the exercises and repetitions that you do. This will help keep you focused and on track as well as show improvement.
Challenge yourself. If the exercising routine is beginning to bore you, there is a problem; do not be afraid to switch it up and try something new.
Find a group. A group of three to four people is the perfect number; there is barely a chance of distraction and you will always have the buddy system. Here you can also find encouragement and reasons to get excited.
3. Take a class. The University Fitness Center offers several 45 minute classes that can be a fun way to get into shape. There is body combat, body sculpt, complete cardio, kick box and abs, strength and conditioning, water aerobics, yoga and zumba. For a complete class schedule visit http://www.mercer.edu/payroll/FitClassSchedule.pdf.
4. Eat healthy. Feeding your body with the right nutrition is very important. Crazy diets as well as an insane workout will not help you in anyway. Fruits and Vegetables are vital. Mike Green suggests eating “five to eight small meals a day.” Michael Tran, a physical therapy major here at Mercer, believes that it is essential to eat right after a workout. He says to have “something small, something with protein and carbohydrates that are healthy.” Tran says that as far as diets go, “Low carb diets are kind of dumb, because you can run out of energy really fast. You shouldn’t really cut out anything.” It’s all about balance and moderation.
(03/14/12 8:15pm)
The Mercer Singers are hosting the first ever “Biggest Loser” on Mercer’s Campus.
The idea for a way to help music students become healthy has been a long time concern of Dr. Stanley Robert, The Arthur Lowndes Rich Professor of Choral Conducting and Associate Dean of the Townsend School of Music.
“I’ve been concerned for about a year or so with the overall health of my choirs…and the school of music. I have not quite known how to address that, it’s not just something you bring up and people don’t know how to address those things. It’s also partially for me too; I’ve just got to take better care of myself. That’s just kind of where it all started,” said Dr. Robert.
To say that he was excited was an understatement, when a student walked into his office to present the idea of a “Biggest Loser” competition.
Katie Elliott, a student at Mercer, agrees with the program saying “I think Biggest Loser is a great idea. It’s great to have a support system in place when you’re trying to go through with something like this, and I think making it a competition adds a lot of excitement. I am participating and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m hoping to slim down and get in better shape - both of which would help with singing.”
Like the television show there was a weigh-in on Feb. 23.
At the initial weigh-in, the original weight and body percentage was calculated and those that wanted could add ten dollars to the bucket for a chance to win a cash prize.
There will be two prizes available to win, one based on the amount of weight lost and another on the percentage of weight lost.
Dr. Roberts is very excited for the prospects of what this will mean for the music students.
He has set a goal himself to lose up to fifteen pounds. So far there are four other faculty members involved and countless students.
After the initial weigh-in, the real fun begins. Dr. Roberts, along with some of those helping organize, will circulate a workout schedule for those participating.
Anyone who walks into the Music Building can join in. The idea is that together there will be something for everyone to do.
With activities everyday and workout partners, there is the element of accountability that lacks when one has to face the gym alone.
Jessie Fellows, a music major, shared some concern for the program, over all, saying “It definitely makes it easier if you’re doing it with a large group of people. My only concern is some people taking it too seriously, and turning something that could be a healthy change, and turning it into a health hazard. As long as the people involved don’t get too worried about losing as much as possible, as quickly as possible, I think it’s a great idea.”
To keep this from happening, the Biggest Loser has been spread to take place over the course of the rest of the semester.
Beyond the exercise schedule there is also going to be healthy eating and lifestyle choice classes.
It is more than just losing weight; it is also about making a new way of life for all involved.
Dr. Roberts stated that “The idea behind it is for some of us to lose some weight, but also for us to become healthier people.”
(02/22/12 9:45pm)
Last Wednesday, Francar’s Buffalo Wings in Mercer Village hosted a trivia night in honor of Black History Month. Carl Fambro, the owner of the restaurant, was approached by the Organization of Black Students about hosting the trivia night.
Mr. Fambro seems to hold great respect for Mercer’s groups, and has never hesitated to host fundraisers in the past, saying “We try to support student organizations.” It is a win-win for the event organizers and Fambro; the restaurant receives business and the organizers have a place to host fundraisers or special occasions.
Fambro even offered one-time coupons for a meal as the first place prize.
The trivia night was a success. Approximately 30 students were present and playing the Jeopardy-like game. Randyl Cochran, one of the organizers of the evening, said, “We had done something like this last year. We had a pretty good turnout, but we needed to do it in a more central location.” She also said they were trying “to see if we could get more people to come out, try to get different groups on campus, and give them something fun to do and at the same time something educational.”
The evening began at 6 p.m. as groups began to arrive and take their seats. The organizers of the event took the official groups names and began the evening. The game was set up on a television in the corner and created to resemble Jeopardy.
There were five categories: dates, quotes, location, inventions and music. Each category had five choices for questions, with points ranging from 100 to 500.
There were two rounds. The first ran like a normal Jeopardy round, but the second was a sudden death round— the points doubled. The first person to raise his or her hand got to answer the question, but the answer had to be in the form of a question. Otherwise their group would not receive the points. There was no penalty for wrong responses, in order to encourage people to go for it. However, if the question was not answered in 10 seconds, the person lost their turn.
A few of the questions were common knowledge. For instance, in the music category one of the questions was: “This artist had an album titled ‘Thriller.’” Most participants knew the artist was Michael Jackson.
There were also harder questions. For example, under inventions there was the question of which person created the traffic light. Few knew that it was Garrett Morgan.
“That Group” was the winner of the event with 4,000 points. This cluster of excited students consisted of seven people.
Angellica Howard, a freshman business and biology major here at Mercer, said, “It felt really good [to win]. I’m proud of my team, we pulled it through, and it is all about team work.” Angellica also affirmed that if there was another trivia night she would be there. The general population of students present really enjoyed the trivia. It wasn’t about winning, but rather different people coming together and having a good time.
To brush up on your black history knowledge for the next trivia night, check out www.infoplease.com/black-history-month.
(02/22/12 9:42pm)
On the Monday before Valentine’s Day, QuadWorks organized the annual Boo Bears event. This is a time designed to allow Mercer students to create a stuffed animal of their choice at no cost.
A great part about planning the Boo Bears on Feb. 13, is it gives students a chance to make something cute for the ones they love, especially if they haven’t had time to plan and prep for Valentine’s Day. Not to mention it is free.
Megan Norkunas was excited to make a bear and give it to her boyfriend. “I’m doing it because it’s free,” she said.
Hannah Watson, one of the co-coordinators of the event, said “This is tradition. Every year we do this and we were really excited about it. It’s a really fun event for the semester.”
Watson also agreed that it was one of her favorite events. It seemed to be a fairly simple process, Hannah said that as far as organization goes “We just get the company and chose the animals we think will be most popular.”
The event was a huge hit with the students present. The room was bustling with people and squeals of excitement as they found their choice animal. The space was set up so that students could proceed from the hallway into the room and pick up their choice animal, a soul (for their creature), a sound effect and a t-shirt that said, “Someone at Mercer loves me.”
Then the students would continue on to one of the circles of chairs surrounding a box of fluff to fill and create their animal.
The options of animals seemed endless. There were bears, a variety of dogs, elephants, tigers, cheetahs and even a fluffy rhino. Beyond this there were two choices for sound effects: kissing noises or children’s laughter.
From these options Tiet Hoang decided to make a bright pink and white poodle, she said, “It was for a good friend.”
Tiet also considered naming it Pinky after its luscious coat. Most plan on either keeping their teddy or giving it away the next day to a loved one.
Justin White decided to make one for his girlfriend simply because “she likes stuffed animals.”
It is safe to say that if Boo Bears event stuck around for years to come students would be thrilled.
(02/09/12 12:38am)
Hardman Hall recently displayed a showing titled, “Looking for Magic.”
It contained both paintings and prints. These were the works of Christopher Hocking, associate director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia.
He is currently the chair of both the drawing and painting area, in addition to the First Year Studio Foundations program.
Hocking received a Bachelors of Fine Art with concentrations in sculpture and painting from Miami University, Oxford and Ohio. He also received a Masters of Fine Art in Painting and Drawing from Louisiana State University.
The original works themselves were as stunning, charming and expressive as their creator. They seemed to represent, in a sense, a biography of the artist, showing every emotion and idea that went in to the creations.
Hockings described the works as “idiosyncratic ruminations about love and hope, anxiety and fear, [and] the disorientation of unfulfilled desire.”
Hocking’s manages to bring the viewer into a whole different world from what is natural by using ordinary and imaginative influences. He creates layers of stories that enfold the spectator in a fairy tale.
Hockings said in his artist statement that he would “begin with a trigger –a phrase, a color, a movement, and a passage – a structure, following where it leads, freely associating between abstraction and figuration, the conscious and the unconscious. Images juxtapose the absurd and the arbitrary, the concrete and the ephemeral.”
This creates a crazy sense for the viewer, like free falling into a variety of images and colors.
Craig Coleman, associate professor in the Art Department at Mercer, said, “The works are significant in their contemporary approach to the tradition of painting and printmaking. Hocking utilizes the computer as a tool in the process of designing and creating the content of the paintings while mixing oil and acrylic paint together with salt and computer cut paper elements.”
A favored work was “Looking for Magic: White Elephant.”
Both the painting and the story behind it draws one toward the canvas.
Hocking’s inspiration stemmed from the game of white elephant and the idea of resifting what one does not desire to keep.
He created inside the painting a world of inanimate objects inside of a garage space that cluttered the view, forcing the bystander to continually scan the painting.
It was almost like playing a game of “I Spy” searching for images in the splashes of color. It forced an interaction to take place between the observer and the painting.
Coleman commented that “The processes [Hocking] uses are unique, but so is the content. The artist makes many references on the same canvas to subjects such as children’s drawings, politics, religion, folk art, personal notes to himself, the history of art, as well as raw emotion and abstraction. He aesthetically ties these disparate elements together with the effortlessness of an athlete’s conditioned response.”
The artist himself is so buried in the painting that to attempt to separate him from his works is impossible; it is very much a part of his character.
This much is true for any artist.
(02/08/12 9:26pm)
Whether couples have been together for two days or two decades, there is one annual day set aside to contemplate, and act according to, their love. The origin of this special holiday is rather murky, but the celebration means seem to be tried and true. Gifts prove to be a Valentine’s Day norm: some cheesy card, a fluffy bear, chocolates and maybe a meal. Yet, this can be rather overdone at times, so here are a few ideas to spice up your Valentine’s Day.Treasure hunt: Make your loved one work for their gift. Sean O’Connor, a student here at Mercer, says “I would lead [my valentine] on an excursion that leads them through a sequence of clues that eventually leads them to something special.” At the end of the long trail would be undoubtedly a gift or perhaps a sweet garden candle lit dinner or even just you holding your arms opened wide.Build a fort and have a picnic: Another brilliant idea is packing a small picnic, stuffing a stack of sheets under your arm and spending a beautiful, carefree day in the park; the weather allowing. Use it as a day to just spend together, whether that is spread ing out on a blanket, or playing Frisbee in the square. Stealing away your love for a delicious handmade picnic under a fort of sheets is a memorable way to express your care. You could even bundle up and spend the night under the stars!Get moving: Take a dance class together; ballroom, salsa, jazz or even hip-hop. Pick something that will get you both having fun and moving together. Maybe even find a swing-dancing club. This can be done in preparation of Valentine’s Day, then you can get dressed up and hit the town with your new moves and your beloved on your arm.Rock out the written word: Nothing says “I love you” more than a song or a poem. Whether you write an original or perform a classic is up to you, but either way it is a sweet gesture. This is a little more of a classic move than original, but it is a classic for a reason.Make a movie: This takes a lot of planning, but in the end it will be worth it. Making a movie of your most precious moments is sweet and leaves a lot of leeway for creativity then the average gift. You can add in pictures, video clips, funny quotes, meaningful songs... whatever you want! The sky is the limit for ideas when it comes to this. You can go professional or simply make a slide show; either way make it yours because piracy is not cute.Gifts Galore: Nothing is better on Valentine’s Day than proving that you know your significant other. What better way to prove this than with gifts? A great gifting idea is a basket filled with all their favorite things and a few personal touches. Perhaps a mixed CD, their favorite movie, a handmade card or even some scrumptious homemade candy. The key to making this Valentine’s Day special is making it yours. Be original and give your loved one a day to remember. If you’re really into it, create a theme day: if they love pirates, you can go sailing, watch Pirates of the Caribbean (all four) and even talk like a pirate. (Okay, some forms of piracy are cute.) Jenna Allen says, “It is better to do something fun and sweet with your Valentine than to just exchange gifts and chocolate.” Jenna also said that her favorite part about the day is “the smiles.” She says, “Everyone is appreciative of their friends as well as their boyfriends [/girlfriends].”
(01/25/12 11:48pm)
The Macon-Bibb County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) has been meeting with eligible candidates since Tues., Jan. 11, at various sites around Macon to distribute funds for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. This program makes available a one-time financial assistance to select qualified households that will help with the high-energy cost of the winter months.
To qualify for the assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, residents are to have a yearly income that is less than or equal to 60 percent of the state median income. Macon’s median income is somewhere around $46,400.
In a recent development, as requested by the state and federal government, residents also have to provide proof of their citizenship with a passport or driver’s license. The extra paperwork slows down the processing time. This change in requirements, however, has not stopped the crowds from showing up.
Eligible citizens waited in long lines, for hours, many sleeping outside in the near freezing temperatures to save their place in line.
When the council for assistance approves an individual, they hand their energy bill over to the EOC, who pays the expenses. In accordance with the state and federal guidelines a person on average receives around $310-$350 in assistance from the EOC.
The program received 40 percent less than it did in 2010, when it received about $2 million. In addition to the cuts, the funds were delayed for more than a month because of Congress’ postponement in approving the federal budget. The delay and the budget cuts have created a greater need in the community, but leave the EOC little funds to assist and fulfill the needs at this time. The minimal aid money recently received by the EOC is roughly around $574,000, and is geared towards people of all age groups in need. The EOC’s previous funds were focused on senior citizens in November 2011, with those support funds totaling $450,000.
In an article written earlier this week, Phillip Ramati interviewed Jimmie Samuel, Executive Director of the EOC. Samuel believes that the program benefits all aspects of the community even those who are not receiving assistance. “The money goes directly to Georgia Power and other utility companies. This helps (residents) to pay other bills, to buy groceries,” said Samuel. Samuel believes this should not be taken in a negative context even though the agency can only support around half the people in need of assistance that apply for the program.
“There’s no question that the people who qualify for energy assistance from LIHEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) benefit from it,” said Courtney Collins, an economics professor at Mercer University. Collins suggests that the money previously used for energy costs can be allocated for other expenditures because of the program. “This clearly makes them better off than they would have been otherwise,” said Collins.
The EOC will have other assistance sessions at the Unionville Baptist Church, 3837 Houston Avenue on January 24-25. These sessions begin at 7:00 a.m. For more information about the program contact the EOC at 478-750-8689 or 478-330-6272.
(01/25/12 9:49pm)
Martin Luther King, Jr. was the face of the Civil Rights Movement and has a day commemorated to his and other activists’ memories every third Monday of January.
This day was set aside to remember all those, including Dr. King, who gave up a part of themselves to fuel the Dream of Civil Rights. Yet this year that special day was marked by outrageous, shameless advertisements for tremendous discounts and phenomenal sales.
I cannot deny that more often than not most holidays are marked by a ridiculous amount of deals that cannot wait till a sensible hour and one-time offers that have people trampling each other to reach.
But that does not mean it is acceptable. It deeply disturbed me that the day given to honor activists that changed the direction of our nation was boiled down to 50% of off Kohl’s comforters and up to 70% off at select Sears’ locations.
Now I have come to expect the sordid advertisements around Christmas and Thanksgiving. I have even come to enjoy them on occasion.
These same advertisements are expected around Valentine’s Day and maybe even Halloween. These are holidays in which you are to shop, eat and be merry.
Yet a day that is set aside for those to be remembered is not a day for the retail industry to get a competitive edge. I guarantee they have very rarely dared to advertise for a wonderful Memorial Day sale or even an exciting Veteran’s Day shopping extravaganza.
I don’t doubt that there has been, in the past shopping deals for such days but I seriously doubt they have been advertised on such a massive scale as of late.
I am not against discount shopping. In fact on most Black Friday’s I am right there with all the other eager shoppers.
Granted, I’m usually in the back of the line and less eager because it is some horrid hour of night or morning and Starbucks has yet to open. Regardless, I love to discount shop. Yet, there is something unsettling about commercials that use Dr. Martin L. King’s Day as a reason to go out and get drunk with the pleasures of the addictive shopping experience.
The Civil Rights Movement made such a large difference for the lives of African-Americans, and it took a lot of passionate people to unfold and force back the layers of wrong-doing put on by slavery and the many years that followed the Emancipation Proclamation given by President Lincoln.
Those people, many of whom remain out of the public view, had a large part in creating how we, as Americans, live in true freedom today.
All those voices that chorused together as one for equal rights have blended into one day. Dr. Martin Luther King Day represents all of them.
So I believe that it is only fair that I say that I fear for the day when commemorative dates like these become little more than the latest shopping adventure for that perfect summer dress.
Comments about this opinion can be sent to olivia.jasmine.brayan @live.mercer.edu
(01/25/12 9:33pm)
Three weeks into the New Year and the odds are most resolutions have slowly died off. Those 10 pounds that were destined to be gone by summer are now destined to be slipping back on as the veggies gradually disappear and the hamburgers make a comeback.
New Year’s resolutions are often difficult to keep. It has gotten to the point where most people just stop making them. Yet with a few tips that simple flicker of a statement can become a full blown campfire.
Freshman Jennifer Layfield said her major resolution is “just stand up for what I believe in and don’t let others convince me differently.” Layfield has devised a plan to help herself adhere to her resolution. She says her goal is to “keep myself in check and not let people make choices for me. My motivation is just trying to make myself a stronger person.” She also finds that there are some resolutions that are harder to keep, but says, “it would depend on the person and what kind of resolution would be hard for them.”
To make a lasting impression, resolutions have to be habits that become a lifestyle. Here are five easy tips to help you take hold of that habit and make it last.
1. Pick Your Resolution: Pick one, focus on it, and stick to it; flopping between options wastes mental and physical energy. It is also important to pick a resolution that is something you have an interest in or at least have the potential of liking; if you don’t care about it, giving up becomes a lot easier.
2. Rationalize it: Knowing why you decided on that specific resolution can help in the long-run. If it helps, try making a list of benefits or one of positives and negatives. Tape this list somewhere you will see it often as a reminder and a motivator on the days you feel a bit down and want to quit.
3. Set Goals: The best thing to keep yourself on track is to make a list of goals and stick to them the best you can.
4. Cheat days are okay. Pace yourself: Just because you have a bad day and do not feel like you can go on, that is okay. The response you have to those bad days can change everything about your resolution. It is important not to push yourself, but always try to do something. For example, if the resolution is to run a five mile marathon in the next December, don’t push yourself to do all five miles on the first day. If you need to walk some of those days, that’s great. Just getting in the mentality of what needs to be done to accomplish your goal is important. Remember be consistent.
5. Find a Buddy: Plainly put, the buddy system works. Whether it’s a run to the bathroom or a run on the trail, having someone with the same goals will always be a great motivator. Also a buddy can help create a routine and keep the spirits up.
Keep these five tips in mind when holding on to a New Year’s Resolution; it might help to think of them more of habits to make or a lifestyle choice. Good habits take around thirty days to make, but years to break.
(12/07/11 11:08pm)
(12/07/11 10:26pm)
“Just dance. Gonna be okay. Da-doo-doo-doo. Just dance.” These lyrics were stuck in my head for weeks after a dance at my high school. Some mysterious new artist kept spinning around in my head with her odd electronic beats and warm poppy voice.
Lady Gaga hit the stage running with her first singles in 2008; “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.” At first I was mesmerized by the new sound, slick dance moves, glittering looks and yet disturbed at the same time.
Despite her four years in the spot light, Lady Gaga has managed to demand and continue demanding the same amount of attention as some other music stars that have been in the music industry for decades.
With her sugary-tart mix of innovative style and creative strangeness she has kept her “little monsters,” as she affectionately calls the fans, guessing as to what will be next on the agenda.
Lady Gaga’s odd fashion sense has also kept the media after her, thus giving her a helping hand into the spotlight.
From her boyish impression of her alter-ego, Jo Calderone, to her 2010 MTV Video Music Awards “meat dress” outfit. She manages to make things, which would otherwise be weird, intriguing and innovative.
Since Lady Gaga’s appearance on the scene there has been a strange occurrence as far as stage fashion is concerned in the music industry. The other night I was watching the American Music Awards, and noticed an odd fad in the costumes. They were a bit…out there I suppose one could say.
Justin Bieber was in an awkward leather suit which I can imagine was squeaking horribly, and that also seemed to be a size too big.
Jennifer Lopez channeled a little bit of her inner Britney Spears as she stepped into a sparkly, furry, skin toned suit.
Katy Perry was in a spaceman kind of fifties glam, pink shaded dress.
Yet, perhaps the strangest of all was Nicki Minaj with her metal body suit. There really is no other way to describe it other than odd.
As far as I am concerned when it comes to music, I love something different as much as the next guy, but all of this was a bit much.
The music itself was amazing and it was great to see the artists performing, but I feel that this odd call for extreme show performances detracts from the overall affect of the music. Instead of listening to the artist’s music, I am stuck in this awkward position where I’m just trying to figure out what they are wearing and why.
Lady Gaga has certainly moved the bar as far as performances go, but is it in the wrong direction?
If one looking to be entertained, I suppose that this is the avenue to pursue. Yet this is not where I want to be.
I would rather be impressed by someone’s skill than entertained by their looks and style. The odd thing is Lady Gaga does this. She has an amazing range of musical style and skill.
She has this odd mix of liberating, pop sort of style that remains the same, but changes at the same time. When I listen to her music I get caught up in the wave of insanity, it is such a letdown when a song is over.
Lady Gaga has most defiantly changed the way we all view stage performance. Is this good or bad? Only time can tell.
Yet as far as I am concerned, as long as artists focus on their music first and performances second, I have no problem with the strange outfits and out of this world concepts. As long as the music can keep up.
(11/17/11 12:48am)
The Dulcimer was originally founded by the Student Government Association on Mercer’s campus in 1966. The first volume of the Dulcimer was published under the direction of William Dayton and was initially called The Plucked Dulcimer.
The purpose of making this artistic publication is to recognize the best of talent and creativity on Mercer’s campus and to provide the opportunity to share it with others. The Dulcimer showcases numerous original works of art, poetry, short fiction and nonfiction by Mercerians, alumni and professors, from charcoal drawing to short stories and all that is sandwiched between.
The Dulcimer is not greatly celebrated or notorious on campus, which is quite a shame when you consider all the effort that goes into the talented writings and skilled art that is captured in the publication.
Audra Jones, the editor-in-chief of this magazine agrees saying that her hope is to “revive The Dulcimer’s presence on campus,” and although she may be a tiny bit biased, she says, “The Dulcimer is an excellent publication.”
This is Jones’ first year as editor-in-chief, but her fourth year being a part of the artistic magazine. In the previous year she served as the literature editor. Her favorite part of working at The Dulcimer is that it allows her to “Work every single day with one of my greatest passions – literature.”
“Being exposed to the great work of other students has allowed me to improve my own writing,” said Jones. She believes it provides her with an enhanced appreciation for the originality and creative imagination that naturally exist in others.
The Dulcimer staff is in the process of planning innovative events for this coming semester. They are in the process of developing several monthly competitions for the diverse districts of artistic and literary abilities. Along with this, they are putting together their exciting annual spring fine arts show. Next semester the Dulcimer will throw their yearly publishing party for the new volume to be released this coming spring.
There are two separate ways become involved with The Dulcimer: one can either become a staff member, or a published writer or artist in the magazine. To be considered for a staff position you simply fill out an application. These applications can be requested at the publication’s email, thedulcimer@gmail.com.
To be regarded for publication you simply send your work to the same email. Any current student, graduate or faculty member can submit work to The Dulcimer. The process is effortless, and the artists or writers remain anonymous through the whole course of action.
The best way to keep up with The Dulcimer is through their group page on Facebook, where they will keep everyone posted on upcoming events. To find the group page you can simply search the name The Dulcimer. This magazine is a fantastic way to get involved on campus and have your work become celebrated and known along with many other gifted artist and writers.
(11/16/11 11:34pm)
“Liar, liar pants on fire!” I remember screaming those words as a child on the playground, feeling so very betrayed when some boy decided to no longer be my “husband” as we played house.
Everyone tells lies and nobody likes them.
Still it is an everyday occurrence to lie to the ones we love and even to those we hate.
Why do we deceive you might ask? Well, we all have our reasons.
Yet most times a lie, for me anyways, is easier to say than the truth.
The problem is most people do not realize how often they do lie and how many different ways they deceive others.
Now some say that there are two types of lies: the ones you get away with and the ones you get caught in, but in reality there are just a few more.
The first is the casual white lie, all have told these. This type of lie is really quite rude. We assume that the truth would harm another.
Taking an arrogant position on the subject and presuming that we know what is best for someone else.
Similar to when I know a friend is having a bad day and I turn and tell them “hey you look really cute today,” when in reality they are looking such a hot mess they should not have braved the light of day at all.
Now I have taken the situation into my own hands and created a white lie to boost their confidence, but the last thing that friend needs at this point in time is false confidence.
White lies are unfair and impolite. They give people counterfeited beliefs that in the future may cause them embarrassment.
Facade is the next one. Now I know you’re thinking how is this a lie? Well when you put up a front, you create an illusion and persuade others into believing that delusion.
There are two types of facades: the mental and the physical.
A psychological front is like hiding certain aspects of yourself and character that you know they would never accept you for, while a physical pretense is more along the lines of how you dress and present yourself to the world.
We all have masks that we wear for protection, hiding certain parts that we would never show others and that’s just fine. Yet these can be dangerous when we use these defenses against others in order to deceive them.
The next two are slightly similar: deflection and omission.
Deflection and omission deal equally hiding information while appearing to have admitted the whole story.
However in deflection you are admitting parts of the story while reflecting your own guilt upon another person. It is sort of like setting up a façade and hiding behind it.
In omission you simply leave out certain parts of the story. Either way these are just as bad as straight up lying.
The worst type of lying exists somewhere between stereotypes and delusion. Stereotypes are generally not thought of as a lie, but they are often fueled by fabrications due to ignorance, omission and exaggeration.
They close people’s minds to the truth, cause them to believe what society says rather than search out the reality of a situation.
Thus making cliché labels is just as bad if not worse than lies.
Delusions on the other hand are a self-inflicted type of lie.
They are similar to facades in the way that we use them as a survival mechanism.
Delusions are the mind’s way of keeping our world separate from the painful reality we would rather not recognize.
Most of the time people rarely know of the existence of the lies they tell themselves, using various methods to filter out the information of a truth they do not want to face.
No matter how you shape it stereotypes and delusions are the most dangerous kind of fabrications.
They cause us to force false realities onto others and ourselves in the most shameless manner.
Lies are dangerous no matter how you spin one they give people false hope, something no one needs.
As a personal goal for next week I am determined to stay as honest as physically possible.
I cannot lie to anyone, not even myself.
I am determined to make every word that comes out of my mouth truthful even if it means hurting someone or telling something I’d rather not.
People may think it is stupid, but my question to them is could you do it?
Considering all the different ways we lie to one another, do you think you could handle one tiny truth cause ready or not here it is: “honesty is the best policy” even if it hurts a little.
Comments, questions and concerns can be sent to olivia.jasmine.brayan@live.mercer.edu.