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(02/28/20 12:00am)
I knew I had anxiety by the time I was 13, when I experienced my first panic attack, but it wasn’t until years later that I learned that “anxiety” doesn’t actually mean much at all. An anxiety disorder is a medical condition, but there are multiple types of anxiety disorders, each defined by different characteristics, symptoms and treatment options.
The fact that I was walking around saying I had “anxiety” before I had an official diagnosis troubles me now, because I didn’t know that not all forms of anxiety come with the vomiting, trembling, sweating, crying, heart palpitations and fear of dying that accompany my panic attacks. Panic attacks don’t look the same for everyone who has them, and not every type of anxiety disorder includes panic attacks at all. Implying that my experience was the definition of “anxiety” was misleading; plenty of people have anxiety disorders that don’t manifest like mine.
When I talked about my symptoms with a doctor in high school, I was only diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. My panic disorder went unidentified and unaddressed until I was 19 because I didn’t know how to differentiate my general worrying from my panic attacks.
It’s important to know the differences so that you can talk to your doctor about your experiences and symptoms if you choose to seek treatment—and so that next time someone says they have “anxiety” because they got worked up before a test, you know to take that with a grain of salt.
What is an anxiety disorder?
An “anxiety disorder” isn’t just one illness. The term actually refers to a category of psychiatric conditions including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, obsessive compulsive disorder and more, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The organization also reports that anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders in the United States.
The most common type of anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder which affects 6.8 million adults. GAD is characterized by excessive worry about a number of factors such as health, work, relationships and everyday life. It’s normal to experience a certain level of anxiety at some points in your life, but a GAD diagnosis may fit if you also feel restless, irritable, fatigued, distracted or dissociated; if you can’t seem to control your worried mind whether or not you understand that some of your fears may be unwarranted; or if you develop physical symptoms such as muscle tension, back pain, headaches or gastrointestinal problems.
For GAD, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is often the first line of defense. Psychiatric medication is normally coupled with a form of talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be extremely effective. A study in 2018 called CBT “the current gold standard of psychotherapy” due to being the most practiced, most studied and most effective type of therapy. When administering CBT, a counselor will help you identify your feelings in certain situations and get to the root of why you feel them, so you can start to recognize and then reduce the thought pathways that get you there in daily life.
What is panic disorder?
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop in individuals who experience panic attacks. People with panic disorder have recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and develop the condition by agonizing over their experience of panic attacks. They worry about when panic might strike next and will actively change their behavior and routines to avoid situations they associate with the attacks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The tricky thing about PD is that the attacks can seem random and beyond the patient’s control. They can strike when you’re otherwise calm or even happy. That’s part of why it’s so important to understand PD from GAD: while both respond well to the combo of CBT and SSRIs, the goals and details of your therapy will be different based on which one you have. CBT for folks with GAD will seek to unpack your daily worries and will not likely focus on panic attacks (unless you suffer from both conditions concurrently). If you have PD, you’ll first have to uncover how your negative and anxious thoughts bring on your panic attacks. You’ll learn to understand that they aren’t random after all and work to restore your sense of control over your body and mind.
But what is a panic attack? Is it different from an anxiety attack?
Well, medically, no. So-called “anxiety attacks” aren’t recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the guide from which psychiatrists and psychologists determine diagnoses and recommend treatment options.
The DSM does recognize panic attacks, though. They are intense episodes of fear or doom that come on suddenly, last at highest intensity for less than 30 minutes, and are associated with a range of factors. Among other symptoms, panic attacks can include a sense of detachment from the world and your body (known as derealization and depersonalization), feeling like you are dying or dead, feeling like your throat is closing up, feeling lightheaded, brief chest pain or tightness and shortness of breath. Panic attacks sometimes occur back to back.
Alternatively, when people say that they’ve had an “anxiety attack,” they’re referring to more emotional aspects, like apprehension, distress or restlessness when anticipating a typically nerve-wracking situation, according to Healthline. These feelings pass once the event ends. While strong feelings of nervousness are certainly uncomfortable and distracting, they’re not panic attacks, and they don’t necessarily mean that you have an anxiety disorder.
The difference between anxiety disorders and anticipatory nervousness can seem insignificant in the moment; any amount of anxiety is uncomfortable. However, when it comes to seeking treatment, it’s important to understand what you’re truly experiencing to ensure you get the most appropriate care.
(02/26/20 2:00am)
I loved “The Circle” — there, I said it.
I’ve never enjoyed a reality show in my life. I couldn’t understand why people would scream at their TVs, follow celebs on social media or live-tweet their reactions to something like “The Bachelor.” But when I started “The Circle,” it made plenty of sense. I finished all 12 episodes in two days, and I’m only a little bit ashamed to admit it.
“The Circle” is Netflix’s take on a U.K. show of the same name that aired in 2017. The U.S. version dropped in two installments: the first half on Jan. 1, 2020, and the rest on Jan. 15.
The premise is simple. Eight players live in complete isolation in customized apartments, all in one building, for 15 days. The only contact anyone has with other players is through the show’s voice-to-text social media app, Circle. They convene in Circle’s chat rooms for conversations and challenges several times a day and create additional chats with smaller groups or individual players.
At the end of each day, players rank their competitors from favorite to least favorite, and everyone’s rankings are tallied by Circle. The top two overall become “Influencers” for 24 hours. They have the power to collaborate on which player to “Block”—meaning, to send home from the game. The highest-ranked person at the show’s end wins a $100,000 prize.
What makes “The Circle” interesting is that players can “catfish,” or play as someone other than themselves. Since other players only see photos and never hear anyone’s voice, several choose to play as people they know—or people they wish they could be. In the first episode, lovable Seaburn Williams admits that he will be playing as his girlfriend, Rebecca, and witty Karyn Blanco plays as “Mercedeze,” a girl she made up using photos of a woman she finds attractive.
The aspect of the catfishing that reeled me in was each player’s motivations for doing it (or not doing it). Seaburn plays as Rebecca for a strategic purpose. He says most people would favor a girl on social media over a guy. Karyn plays Mercedeze because she doesn’t want players to judge the real Karyn, a 37-year-old butch lesbian, before talking to her. Similarly, Sean Taylor, a plus-size model, plays as a thin, conventionally-attractive swimsuit model to avoid judgment for her size. After the players discover the first catfish, the new name of the game becomes exposing other potential catfish. At first glance, the show seems like it wants to warn viewers of the dangers of social media, but the players’ disdain for catfish reveals the deeper message: even online, people want to see real, authentic humans and forge connections with them.
While the catfish added an interesting dynamic, I found myself falling in love with players who weren’t afraid to show their true selves. My favorites were Samantha “Sammie” Cimarelli, a behavior technician living in Miami, Florida, and Joey Sasso, an aspiring actor from New York.
Stylish Sammie starts “The Circle” with a goal to never deviate from her real personality, and she sticks to that until the end, even as she plays into the flirting aspect of the game from time to time. She tells personal stories from her life, some of which make the whole crew cry.
[pullquote speaker="" photo="" align="left" background="off" border="none" shadow="off"]The players’ disdain for catfish reveals the deeper message: even online, people want to see real, authentic humans and forge connections with them.[/pullquote]
I’m still shocked that I ended up liking Joey. He’s the most “bro” of all bros, wears sunglasses inside and comes off as a womanizer at the start of the game. Before too long, though, Joey becomes genuinely invested in making true friendships through Circle, and his quest for authenticity applies not just to other players, but to himself as well.
Of course, there were also players I didn’t like. Alex Lake, 32, signs up as stereotypical surfer dude “Adam,” a twenty-something male model with bulging muscles and a cool-guy attitude. Alex admits that he wants to play as Adam because the true Alex wouldn’t be accepted—he’s a cat-obsessed artist who wears floral-patterned overalls, eats homemade pudding straight out of the blender and talks about pretty much nothing but his wife Gina. His thinly-veiled insecurity manifests as distrust for almost everyone in the game, and he’s quick to judge. While trying to play Adam, he can also be rude and misogynistic, and he makes some women uncomfortable.
Alex’s attempt to act like a beach bro is just one example of the intense gender performance that the anonymity of “The Circle” brings out in players. Most of the women flirt their way through the game and load their profiles with bikini pics, while most of the men rely on hegemonic standards of masculinity by using photos showing athleticism.
Gendered conversations seem forced at times; the first woman-only group chat is called “Skinny Girls Chat,” and they either talk about boys or their periods, while the guys usually talk about the gym and hot girls. They even have a virtual push-up competition in one episode.
Sexuality also comes into play in the contrived world of “The Circle.” Sammie, Karyn and drag queen Chris Sapphire openly identify on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, but several players indicate at some point that they could be attracted to more than one gender—whether or not it’s true—to expand their flirting options when they think it would help them get ahead.
A straight person masquerading as someone of a marginalized sexuality diminishes the struggles that LGBTQ+ folks experience, and it doesn’t sit right with me that some people alluded to membership in an oppressed group they didn’t actually belong to as a means to make a profit.
“The Circle” also offers commentary on beauty standards online. Most of the players have average to athletic builds, with the exception of Sean. She says that her goal with coming on the show was to empower plus-size women, but she chooses to play using photos of an ultra-thin friend who looks like she just walked off the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show stage.
That’s not empowering; it’s performative. It reinforces rather than challenges the notion that thinness is the modern beauty ideal by suggesting that fat bodies should hide themselves so thin bodies can bask in the spotlight.
Despite some of the negative tropes, I got so wrapped up in “The Circle” that I caught myself holding my breath when the “Blocked” players were announced, and I definitely yelled at the screen about the many twists in the game.
And yes—when I finished the show, I followed (almost) the entire cast on Instagram.
(02/26/20 1:26am)
(02/15/20 12:00am)
A Mercer student created a petition asking administration to remove Aramark as its dining service provider following a recent incident involving both General Manager Janet Walker and Mercer Police.
Sophomore Gabe Thomas said that he let his girlfriend, who is also a student, use his Bear Card to buy a meal at Chick-fil-A while he went to the Farmer’s Market Jan. 23.
“I tapped my card and handed it to her, and the general manager, Janet Walker, snatched the card aggressively from her hand and began to be aggressive in speech towards me,” Thomas said. “She confiscated my Bear Card and started taking pictures of it to send to her supervisor and Mercer Police, all for trying to buy someone food.”
Thomas said that Walker returned his Bear Card to him, but threatened him with “sanctions” from Mercer Police and the Office of Student Conduct Resolution. He said that Walker’s tone “was so disrespectful and mean” that his girlfriend started crying during the altercation.
Jeffrey Craven, a sophomore, wrote the online petition after personally witnessing Walker speak to Thomas and his girlfriend following the incident in the University Center.
Walker did not respond to a request for comment from The Cluster. However, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Ken Boyer said in an email to The Cluster that the Bear Card policies are not Aramark’s, but Mercer University’s.
“The policy has been in place for well over 20 years, and all students and employees acknowledge this when they apply for a Bear Card,” Boyer said. “The Bear Card is non-transferable, meaning it should and can only be used by the party the ID is issued. Unauthorized use may result in disciplinary action.”
Boyer said that all dining staff are responsible for “detecting fraudulent use” of the Bear Card system. If they identify someone using a card that doesn’t belong to them, their job is to confiscate the card and turn it over to management, who then contact Mercer Police to investigate. It’s up to Mercer Police to determine whether the card was stolen and to return it to its owner. From there, the results will be sent to the Office of Student Conduct Resolution “for processing for violation of the Student Code of Conduct,” Boyer said.
Boyer said this policy does not come unwarranted.
“Over the last several months, we have had a rash of students loaning cards out to friends, and in about a dozen or more cases of folks taking or stealing cards to access the dining facilities,” Boyer said. “In several cases last semester, students’ cards were used without their knowledge by fellow students. I know in two cases, all of their dining dollars were used up, and the students did not have funds for their use. It would be irresponsible not to enforce this policy.”
On the evening of Jan. 23 following the incident between Walker and Thomas, Boyer sent an email to all students reminding them of policies barring the sharing of meal plans.
“Meal Membership plans are to be used by the cardholder only and are non-transferable,” Boyer wrote. “Anyone caught using another individual’s Bear Card to purchase a meal or enter a dining facility will have their card confiscated and referred to student judicial. In addition, a $50 fee will be applied for card return and re-activation.”
In the petition he created that night, Craven said that the behavior of service staff isn’t the only issue he has with Aramark. He cited the quality of food and cleanliness within the dining facilities.
“Mercer University students spend $1000s of dollars for a product that should be of higher quality than the current one we are receiving through Aramark,” Craven wrote in the petition. “Macon is already a city that has an issue as a food desert, and students need a food resource that is reliable. Making students have to deal with police officers over confusion on Bear Card access does not count as a reliable move.”
At press time, Craven’s petition to replace Aramark as the meal services provider on Mercer’s campus had accrued 65 signatures.
The policy regarding proper use of Bear Cards for meal membership access is available on the Auxiliary Services website.
(02/12/20 12:03am)
There’s a saying that the new year doesn’t really start until February. January is long, tumultuous and trying for many of us as we settle back into school and start establishing new routines and goals. By the start of February, though, we’ve generally gotten our footing. We’ve made it through test week, and this short month may offer some respite (well, at least until midterms).
The reading for this issue indicates that achieving the “new year, new me” mindset has been difficult for a lot of us. I pulled five Major Arcana cards and three cards from the Daggers suit, the most severe in the deck. If you’re one of the folks for whom transition was hard to come by in January, it’s probably coming to you now. What you do in the beginning of February is going to be important for laying your goals’ foundations and letting new habits take root for 2020.
Aries: Four of Daggers
In typical fire sign fashion, it looks like you started the semester with unbridled ambition and passion but may already be close to burning out as a result. Fours represent the period at which an idea or process takes root starts to stabilize. We’re dealing with Daggers here, which are associated with intellect and mindsets. This card in particular refers to “a call to rest, lay down arms, stop fighting,” according to Sam West, designer of the Marble Moon tarot deck. Altogether, it looks like you’ve simply gone too hard, and the way to get back on track is to rein your energy in a little. As I said in the last column, you don’t have to do it all at once.
Taurus: Justice
As you might guess, this card refers to fairness, truth and the law, as well as the restoration of balance and the existence of karma. It’s a complex card; you may need to be worried if you’ve been up to something you shouldn’t be doing, but if you’ve been focused, kind and working hard, this is a sign that good karma is headed your way and the fruits of your labor will be realized. If someone has wronged you, this is a good omen that they will get what is coming to them. Any imbalance, whichever side you’re on, will likely stabilize soon. Be as honest as possible right now.
Gemini: Ace of Daggers
January can be a hazy month. If you’ve had trouble cutting through the noise thus far this year, this is a sign of mental clarity coming your way. It’s a card associated with breakthroughs, new ideas and much-needed perspectives. Either you’ll figure out a long-standing and complicated issue at last, or you’ll channel your energy into a new project that could set you on the right path once and for all.
Cancer: Seven of Cups
Sevens are the first sign of completion in a cycle or process, and Cups represent emotions, intuition and relationships. Sometimes this combination suggests a setback, but if so, it will be one that redirects you intentionally and for good reason. In other words, you may be due for a reality check. Seven of Cups is associated with illusion and wishful thinking, with starting many projects but not seeing any of them through to completion. It’s time to stop just wanting change—it’s time to make it.
Leo: Hanged
We’ve talked about this card before in this column; it’s the card of self-sacrifice, of letting go. It’s the card of realizing that your efforts have been in vain and you are trying too hard to manifest something that, well, isn’t in the cards for you. Don’t think of it as giving up, though. Think of it as surrendering. If you don’t take your own pause to think, it will happen against your will. You know the saying that if you don’t choose a day to rest, your body will choose one for you? You can avoid that with this card. You know what isn’t working or isn’t bringing the results you expected. Let it go. Something new might be revealed.
Virgo: Death
It sounds foreboding, but the Death card isn’t one you need to worry about. It’s actually one of the more empowering cards in the deck. Basically, it means that something is ending so something else can begin, and it’s often depicted as a phoenix rising from the ashes. Something that isn’t serving you will soon end, be it a relationship, mindset or job, but just because it isn’t valuable doesn’t mean its loss won’t hurt. The Death card reminds you that you don’t have control over what is ending, but sometimes, that’s for the best. What’s coming next will be worth so much more.
Libra: Temperance
Temperance is one of the Major Arcana cards often associated with the sign of Libra, along with Justice. This one is all about a restoration of balance, but not in the karmic sense that Justice refers to. Temperance is more of a personal balance; if you’ve had too much stress in your life lately, you’ll begin to find the peace you need, even if you have to start small. If one of your relationships is not a two-way street and you find yourself being taken for granted, you’ll be able to pull back from it and honor your own needs. It’s a positive message, but remember that none of this will happen for you. You must be an active participant if you want to experience the benefits.
Scorpio: Seven of Wands
When the Seven of Wands appears in a reading, it usually suggests that someone envies the position you’re in. You’re working towards a goal, and someone around you is creating a competitive environment as you do it. There’s a chance that you’re antagonizing them, so you have a choice here: you can go about your business, or you can stir the pot. As a Scorpio, you probably have an initial desire to stir the pot, but slow down and think about what the point of that would be. You’ve got a goal to reach, and you’re already ahead. Would it really be worth it to spend your time in competition with someone when you don’t have to?
Sagittarius: Nine of Cups
Nines appear when a cycle or process has almost been completed. Because this is the suit of Cups, this probably refers to an emotional journey such as a relationship, either with someone else or with yourself (self-love). You have worked hard to get to this point, having navigated all the highs and lows and challenged yourself to leave your comfort zone. This is a very happy and positive card that celebrates your accomplishments and reminds you that there is not much resistance left until you reach your end goal. The Ten of Cups symbolizes abundance, intuition and joy — keep pushing, you’re almost there!
Capricorn: Five of Crystals
You just can’t seem to get a break, Capricorn. The Five of Crystals corresponds to the Five of Pentacles or Five of Coins, and suggests a setback when it comes to your material life. This typically represents poverty or a scarcity mindset, where you are either losing what you have accumulated in a literal sense or are so worried that you will that you’re missing out on the rest of your life. The sad part of this card is that what’s lost isn’t entirely your fault. Fives can be tricky cards in any suit, but remember the bright side: this is only the halfway point in your journey, and you can turn it around! It may time to strategize and ask for help.
Aquarius: Tower
Remember when I said that the Death card symbolizes an ending, but not a bad one? Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Tower. It’s a dark message: the Tower is on fire, crumbling to the ground, and you’re faced with a choice. You can jump to safety or ride out the fall and hope you survive. What this often translates to is you know you’re in a bad situation (such as a job, class or relationship) but you’re hesitant to leave it. This card suggests that it’s going to end badly no matter what. Do you want to stay put and let it burn, or get out while you’re ahead?
Pisces: Ten of Daggers
Tens represent completion and ending; however, the Daggers correspond with Swords, the sharpest and most dangerous suit in the deck, so the ending here was most likely a painful or uncomfortable one. You know it needed to happen, but you may not know how to move forward from here. There’s also a chance it hasn’t happened yet, but it is inevitable. It’s likely that the ending is not one you want or deserve, but someone else’s doing. The positive side to this card is that you don’t have to hold onto a victim mindset. As an intuitive Pisces, you can step back and take the situation for what it is. This is Minor Arcana we’re talking about, so this isn’t a major loss or a life-shattering end. It’s something you can move on from—just a blip in the timeline.
(02/12/20 12:00am)
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster.
A reputation for easy classes, emotional female students and little practical application plagues the Women’s and Gender Studies department — the major everyone loves to hate.
While it’s easy to write off WGS courses as “fluff,” that hasn’t been my experience. WGS is an interdisciplinary field of study that helps students understand how gender underlies all that we see and do. WGS students are diverse in terms of gender, sexual orientation and career goals, and the major offers flexibility to choose the classes that matter to us most. It’s also just as academic as any other social science. By the end of my sophomore year, I engaged in service learning with a community crisis center for survivors of domestic violence and completed a formal research project that was accepted for presentation at two undergraduate conferences.
That’s just one of the misconceptions about my major. The three most prevalent ones deserve to be addressed individually.
The WGS major is an echo chamber
Opponents of “social justice” love to disparage WGS and related fields as echo chambers, where the teachers’ only goal is to turn us all into radical, man-hating feminists who spout ideologies we don’t understand. Tamer critiques of WGS suggest that it’s a purely discussion-based field of study without an academic basis. In actuality, the major is comprised almost entirely of cross-listed courses, and majors are required to fulfill humanities, social science, natural science and multicultural blocks, making it an expansive education that includes a range of disciplines, cultures and viewpoints beneficial for anyone regardless of career goals.
Classes like Women, Law & Politics, Women, Crime & Justice and LGBTQ+ Politics allow students to consider whether and how gender and sexual orientation affect one’s experience in the legal system. For those aspiring to enter policy fields, courses like these can open their eyes to gender disparities in law application. For example, women receive shorter sentences for sex crimes than men, and federal courts tend to be more lenient with women overall. However, this is only true for white women, according to a 2015 study in the Journal of Criminal Justice; black women are more likely to be incarcerated and are disproportionately granted longer sentences for the same crime. An aspiring policymaker or lawyer should be aware of disparities like these going into their field, and a WGS education guarantees that they will be.
Even students of the hard sciences can benefit from a WGS major or minor. Classes like Biology of Sex & Gender, Health & Gender, Maternal & Child Health and AIDS: Narratives of Disease can sensitize students to gender biases in the medical field. For example, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, women are less likely to survive major medical problems like heart attacks when their physicians are male because male doctors are more likely to dismiss or misdiagnose women’s symptoms. Health care discrimination persists against gay and lesbian patients as well, according to a 2015 National Library of Medicine report finding that 81% of healthcare providers exhibited some level of bias against gay and lesbian patients. The study found that gender bias in the medical field reduces the likelihood that marginalized persons will seek treatment, despite experiencing higher rates of cancers, HIV/AIDS and eating disorders. If a healthcare provider had a WGS education that taught them to empathize with gender and sexual minorities, perhaps these disparities would not be so great.
The WGS major also requires a multicultural education, which can be satisfied through courses such as Gay Rights & Human Rights in Africa, Black Feminism, Race, Gender & Media, Women in Developing Countries and Queer Cinema. Gender isn’t the only personal identifier that matters in systems of oppression, and a WGS major will expose you to that through analyses of how race, class, religion and other identities overlap with the experience of gender (this is called the theory of intersectionality). WGS graduates, therefore, are exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and become more well-rounded as a result.
WGS is exclusive of and antagonistic toward men
This argument is not only tired, but painfully inaccurate. WGS classes do not exclude men, but they do not center them, either, which I understand is a new and shocking concept in academia. The truth is, gender roles affect everyone in some way, regardless of their gender identity—that’s why the major isn’t simply called “Women’s Studies.” Plenty of male students (and transgender and nonbinary students!) enroll in WGS courses, and the classroom experience is stronger for it.
Coursework does focus on men’s experiences when relevant. We’ve learned about toxic male beauty standards and men’s higher rates of depression and suicide, especially among middle-aged white men, who comprise 69.67% of suicide deaths, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We also studied the lack of access to services for male victims of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault. These disparities are all predicated on the idea that men shouldn’t show emotion or ask for help, which is as damaging a gender role as any.
You’ll never get a job with a WGS major
I don’t blame you if you think this; the WGS major is considered a niche field of study without much meaning or influence. The Cluster even described a course as “hidden away in the Women’s and Gender Studies department” last semester. However, WGS majors and minors learn to think critically, and our courses provide strong academic foundations. Gender Theory & Feminist Thought, which is required, is a theoretical course drawing from rigorous and diverse texts ranging from Michel Foucault to Roxane Gay. Methods in Gender Studies Research, another required class, provides hands-on experience in social science research, academic writing and formal presentation skills with an emphasis on ethics.
Mercer WGS students have gone on to do amazing things as students and post-graduation. I’ve personally had classes with folks who were preparing for medical school, political advocacy roles and jobs with sexual health organizations like Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, but that’s not all.
In 2017, WGS, Spanish and international affairs triple-major Alayna Williams received a Fulbright Award to serve in South Africa. The year before, WGS major Heaven Woods was accepted to Peace Corps service in Cameroon.
Jaz Buckley, Mercer Debate Team’s most accomplished member in University history, attends UCLA School of Law after completing an internship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a Mercer on Mission trip to South Africa and a writing preceptorship. 2019 graduate James Stair spent two of his four years at Mercer researching and advocating for gender-neutral housing on Mercer’s campus and served as president of Common Ground, the LGBTQ+ and ally student organization. Now, he’s pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry in Rochester, New York.
Any liberal arts degree can strengthen your writing, analyzing and arguing skills, help you understand the perspectives of folks who aren’t like you and challenge you to reflect on your own positions and viewpoints. A WGS major can bring you all that and more by helping you understand yourself on a level you probably wouldn't have considered without it.
(02/01/20 5:00am)
Eight months after the launch of a mobile Bear Card for Apple devices, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Ken Boyer said the digital credential will become available for Android devices in the second quarter of 2020.
“The Google version of the mobile credential in Google Wallet has been in beta testing at Mercer since early fall,” Boyer said. “We are using the results of this test to fine-tune and advance the platform for general release later this year.”
According to previous reporting by The Cluster, the mobile Bear Card was first available for Apple devices in late May 2019. Boyer said 3,198 students, faculty and staff have enabled the digital ID since.
The Office of Auxiliary Services anticipates that 2,500 more users will sign up once the Android option is available.
Some students told The Cluster in 2019 that older versions of Apple devices did not allow them to use their mobile Bear Card once the battery ran out. However, Boyer said most users “have been very supportive in the university’s efforts to bring these services to our campus community.”
Why? One reason is that the mobile option is more sustainable.
“While we still offer the plastic Bear Card and the choice is the users’, it is our hope as the service continues to develop more and more, people will choose the mobile credential, which is environmentally more friendly,” he said.
Boyer said the Android ID option is not the only new initiative from Auxiliary Services planned for 2020. The office recently installed a Pharmabox, a vending program offering over-the-counter medicines and health products, in Tarver Library.
Auxiliary Services also oversees Mercer Dining and Mercer Mail & Document Services.
“Mercer Dining continues to introduce new and enhanced services, meal options and sustainable refill cups and programs on both the Macon and Atlanta campuses,” Boyer said. “Mercer Mail & Document Services has a new graphics and design manager to assist students, faculty and staff with print projects.”
(01/29/20 5:00am)
Welcome to a new decade, a new year and a new semester — and welcome back to Clusterscopes, biweekly horoscopes using tarot cards.
Since we left for the holiday, we’ve survived several challenging astrological events. The last solar eclipse of the year hit the day after Christmas in the sign of hardworking Capricorn, and by the end of the break, six planets all stationed in the sign of the goat. Capricorn energy ushers in a no-nonsense view of your life and what you’re doing with it, so if you felt more inspired than usual to make change as 2020 began, it may be the planets at work.
Now it’s time to stay focused on our goals as the Sun moves into Aquarius. A revolutionary, socially aware and inspired sign, Aquarius energy can motivate us to innovate — but it can also lead to distractions and disarray. We may want to fix everything all at once and lose sight of what’s important. That’s why I pulled the cards for the first tarotscopes of the year with goals in mind. If you’re feeling confused or unsure which direction to follow, look for your sign below to see where you should most focus your growth this year.
Aries: Six of Wands
Progress will be swift.
This card appears when you’ve overcome an obstacle that’s limited you for some time, when you have put in the effort to solve a personal problem and deserve to be proud of your efforts. In terms of the future or setting goals, it can also signify a need to put yourself out there with a new idea and to become more comfortable accepting praise. More than anything, this card speaks to your potential for leaving behind a habit, mindset or lack of confidence that has limited you in the past. The specific issue will be different for every Aries, so take some time to identify the most serious barrier in your way.
Taurus: Two of Wands
You may be at a crossroads or simply unsure what your next move is.
Twos are the second step in a timeline: you’ve laid the groundwork, but choices still remain. Because we’re dealing with the suit of wands, you could be choosing between two intellectual pursuits — for example, a senior debating graduate school or the start of a career, or an underclassman trying to decide which internship offer to take for the summer. Either way, your goal this year is to figure out the most fulfilling way forward, to cut through the noise and to identify your true objective. (Two of Wands is traditionally associated with travel, especially overseas, if that helps.)
Gemini: Warden of Crystals
Don’t lose yourself in pride for your accomplishments.
Corresponding with the King of Pentacles in the traditional tarot, the Warden is the master of their suit. The suit of Crystals pertains to the material, such as career, field of study or wealth, and the imagery of the card usually depicts someone sitting atop a throne, surrounded by the spoils of their efforts. Basically, this card forecasts great success and high social status. On the negative side, the Wardens often lose sight of where they came from and can lack empathy for those who have yet to achieve what they have. Your goal for 2020 may be to redirect your energies towards the goal you want, but it’s also to remain principled and kind while you do it. 2020 will likely bring you something great, but don’t forget those who supported you while you got there.
Cancer: Three of Cups
Appreciate what others have done for you, and don’t hesitate to let them in.
Did you make a habit of isolating yourself in 2019? Or did you struggle to appreciate the people around you? This card features three people celebrating the results of their hard work, but the emphasis here is not on what they achieved but how they got there: through teamwork and collaboration. Your goal this year may be to better acknowledge the contributions that your friends and peers have made to your life, to build a stronger social circle or to admit to yourself that you can’t do everything alone. It’s okay to reach out to others.
Leo: Nine of Wands
All that’s left is the final step.
Following the Eights, the message underlying the Nines is of resilience. Your faith has been tested, your boundaries have been challenged and your confidence in your ability to move forward may have been shaken. Your challenge this year is to get back on track. You may have to retrace your steps and decide what landed you in this position. What choices could you have made differently? What habits are you trying to maintain, even if you know they are only setting you back? The Nines are the last step on the road to completion at the Tens. You have almost made it — what final action can you take to get there?
Virgo: Rooted
You deserve to feel comfortable, internally and environmentally.
It’s time to think about, well, your roots. Where do you come from? Where do you feel safest? Are these the same place? What can you do to create an environment where you feel at ease? This card could indicate moving in the sense of changing your living space, but it also refers to simply being comfortable with motion. For example, when you find yourself in a situation, partnership or friend group that doesn’t serve you, do you just wait for it to end — or do you leave? If you’ve been patiently waiting for things to change, it’s time to make moves. But these moving parts aren’t all physical. Almost any location can be comfortable as long as you’re at peace with yourself. Look inward: is something amiss in your inner world? This is your year for physical and emotional peace, and you’re responsible for seeing it through.
Libra: Warden of Daggers
The ultimate exaltation of the Daggers, the Warden is a “speaker of truth,” according to Marble Moon Tarot designer Samantha West. “They call us to do our research, and then speak the truth as well.”
For you, this may mean that you’re struggling with a matter of logic and intellectual power, and it would be much easier to make a decision or carve a path if you dedicated more time to exploring your options. There is an element of this card that suggests you may already know that you don’t have all the information you need; perhaps you are avoiding a deep dive into the facts because you are afraid that the truth you’ll find isn’t the one you were hoping for. There is no more time for avoidance — it’s time to act. This year, don’t let your fear get in the way of your progress.
Scorpio: Nine of Crystals
In 2020, you need to learn to appreciate your own efforts — look how far you’ve come!
Let me explain. The figure depicted on the Nine of Crystals card in the Marble Moon deck wears a luxurious, sparkling, floor-length dress, with a brilliant pink bird perched on their finger. Surrounding the figure are nine pink, dazzling crystals against a bright blue backdrop with stars painted sporadically. Clearly, this is a picture of abundance, and the person looks upon all they’ve accumulated with pride. It’s implied that this person is thriving in terms of the material world thanks to their own hard work. Whether or not you’re feeling exactly abundant, work to acknowledge this year that you are to thank for what you do have. You have worked hard and earned your “crystals.”
Sagittarius: Seven of Crystals
Sagittarians, I’m sure you’ve all heard this before, but listen: it may be time to watch your spending.
The Seven of Crystals suggests that wealth is slipping through your fingers. You could be enjoying much more financial success and stability, but your spending habits are putting your funds in jeopardy. Sevens show the first sign of completion in a cycle or process, indicating that there is something you’re missing when it comes to the accumulation of wealth. This card usually appears when you have lost sight of the long-term goal. Envision a future in which you aren’t scrambling for a single Bear Buck to print a paper last minute or digging for change in your car in the Taco Bell drive-through. This future can be yours! Consider drafting a budget, holding onto your receipts and planning a little better for your expenses.
Capricorn: Divine
Everything you need, and all that you need to know, are already within you.
Divine corresponds with The High Priestess in the traditional deck. This card symbolizes receptive energy and, more than anything, intuition. It always shows up in readings when the answer to my question is that I already know the answer — that the choice I’m leaning towards is the most beneficial, or the outcome I expect is the most likely. This year is going to be important for you in terms of learning to trust yourself and your decision-making. Nobody knows what’s best for you better than you do. Block out the noise and pay attention to your own needs this year.
Aquarius: Page of Cups
Be open to new personal relationships, new energies and new perspectives this year.
Pages represent a viewpoint unconsidered in their given suit, and Cups refer to relationships, emotions and intuition. You may need to branch out in terms of who you hang out with, and some of the people you start spending time with may be unexpected. Or, you need to cut the people who are already in your life a bit more slack and allow them to surprise you. In typical Aquarius fashion, you’ve probably identified a personal or emotional aspect of your life that isn’t where you want it to be. The Page of Cups suggests that there is a way forward; it’s just up to you to take the leap and make change happen. You’ll need to think outside the box for this one.
Pisces: Star
Create a self-care routine.
The Star is not the most positive card in the deck — that’s the Sun —but it is a fairly optimistic one. The person symbolized by the Star is someone who is “living their best life,” according to West, but not because life has always been easy for them. In fact, this card follows the most destructive card in the deck, The Tower, which represents a period in which you are at rock-bottom and must allow something to crumble in order to rebuild a more stable structure for yourself. Whatever you may have lost recently, this is your period for building a strong foundation that can propel you forward. Invest in self-care that makes you feel empowered and uplifted, ensure you have a strong support system and remember that the hardest part is now over. We’re moving forward.
(11/25/19 7:04pm)
Last semester, I skipped more classes than I could count. I spent days on end in bed, feeling utterly drained, incapable of moving a muscle in the direction of my school work. I’d never felt a mental block that severe. My brain fog was impenetrable and my typical highly-motivated demeanor was nowhere to be found. I isolated myself socially, too. Friends asked me almost daily what was wrong: was I depressed? Was my anxiety flaring up? Did I just hate them?
For a while, I wasn’t sure what was going on. I conceded that I might be depressed, and honestly, I might have been. But near the end of the semester I realized what was really wrong: I was burned out.
This May, the World Health Organization added burnout to the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. They define burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” and leads to energy depletion, feeling detached from or excessively negative towards obligations and underperforming at work.
Other symptoms of burnout include irritability, fatigue, depression, overwhelm, anxiety and avoiding work or social settings.
That’s exactly what I was experiencing, and it makes sense now that I think about it. I was balancing multiple jobs and a very heavy course load, and I hadn’t taken a break from the grind in as long as I could remember. I’ve had two internships each summer since I graduated high school and at least two classes on top of that since I started college. I take as many hours as I can every semester and at least one job, and I know I’m far from the only one with a schedule like that.
I’m also nowhere near alone in experiencing burnout. Millennials have been called the “burnout generation” because they report higher rates than anyone else due to heavy workloads, long hours and low wages. The 8-hour workday has made exhaustion the “norm for nearly all workers,” however. The American Institute of Stress in New York estimates that job stress costs the United States $300 billion in sick time, long-term disability and excessive job turnover: current data show that nearly 50% of burnt-out employees switch jobs.
Burnout specifically refers to stress in an occupational context, according to the WHO, but it could just as easily be applied to college. More than half of college students reported that their level of stress negatively affected their college experience, and 85% said they felt overwhelmed.
Disagreements at work or in classes, long hours spent doing the same thing, extended periods of stress, feeling as though you’re the only one capable of fixing problems and spending time around folks who are also burned out can all exacerbate or contribute to burnout. The University of Virginia maintains that “college burnout” develops thanks to high expectations, social isolation, sleep deprivation, pressure to fit in and the transition from one period of life to another — all common aspects of college life.
It’s not just an energy-sapping syndrome, either; it has direct, harmful impacts on your brain and physical and mental health. Participants in burnout studies showed enlarged amygdalae and thinning of their frontal cortex, both of which happen naturally with age but faster in folks experiencing burnout than those who aren’t. Burnout also contributes to insomnia, reduced cognitive function, blood disorders and even coronary heart disease, according to the American Psychological Association.
Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, reported collapsing from exhaustion after experiencing burnout in her role at work just a few years after launching the business.
“I hit my head on my desk, broke my cheekbone, got four stitches on my right eye,” Huffington said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. On her blog, she described waking up in a pool of blood and knowing she needed to make a change. “I was very lucky I didn’t lose my eye.”
Huffington left her namesake publication and started a new one, Thrive Global, focused on work-life balance. She has since become an advocate for putting health first in the workplace, especially for women and young people, who are most likely of anyone to feel pressured into taking on extra work to impress their colleagues and bosses and prove their worth. Her advice? Setting boundaries, getting proper sleep and changing our relationship with technology.
Technology has helped increase unrealistic expectations of how productive a human can and should be at work. We’ve got a constant barrage of emails to answer, phone calls to make, papers to write, printers to finagle and assignments to turn in by 11:59 p.m. Since remote work is so easy now, there’s also an increased pressure to respond immediately and work from home on the weekends or after hours.
Something as simple as setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb” between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. will alleviate some of the stress associated with this pressure to work. Let your boss know that you have to take that step for your own sake; that’ll also help you get enough sleep.
You could also use your phone to help with your symptoms if you’re already burnt out. Apps like Calm can help you learn meditation strategies, and light yoga or physical activity apps like Daily Yoga, Pocket Yoga and 5 Minute Yoga can help, too.
Setting boundaries looks different offline. If saying “no” is a problem for you in the workplace, consider rephrasing it: when you’re asked to pick up another project mid-work, say something like, “I’d be happy to, but I’m in the middle of this right now. I can do one today and one tomorrow; which one is the priority?” Just because you can do it all, doesn’t mean you should.
You may also need to have some hard conversations with folks who consistently take advantage of your time. An email letting them know you feel they’ve relied too heavily on your work ethic to a point that it’s affecting your mental health is sometimes all it takes. However, if that doesn’t seem to do the trick, you may need to be prepared to find another job if possible; it’s more important to search for a job that values you than to stick with one that drains you.
If your burnout is more due to college than to work, there’s not as much room to negotiate workload and deadlines. However, you can strive to balance your time in a way that honors you as an individual just as much, if not more, than it honors you as a student. Make sure you’re plugged into something outside of academia, like a student organization, creative pastime or cathartic physical outlet that inspires and grounds you.
When it comes to studying, do something to break up the monotony; take your homework to a new location, switch up the times you work versus the time you socialize, reevaluate what you’re committed to and how much time they drain from you and don’t be afraid to reach out for help from friends, teachers or counselors. Anyone who can help you with time management will be a helpful resource for organizing your life and reclaiming your motivation.
For me, getting back on track after burning out involved seriously cutting down on my number of commitments. I left my sorority, quit one of my editing jobs and withdrew from a class that wasn’t critical for either of my majors. From there, I was able to restructure my week and build time for myself into my schedule. I’ve gotten back into journaling, spending time with friends off-campus, reading for pleasure and studying the tarot.
Burnout is real, and it can have serious consequences mentally, physically and emotionally. If you feel trapped in the cycle of demotivation, don’t give up — there are steps you can take to reset, refresh and find your joy again.
(11/23/19 9:00pm)
Believe it or not, fall is the most important time of year for securing your first job post-graduation. Even if you’re not set to graduate this May, it’s always a good idea to establish and maintain a professional online presence. LinkedIn puts the “networking” in “social networking,” and the platform is the first that comes to mind when it comes to self-promotion.
Some of my friends make fun of me for my meticulous LinkedIn presence, but I’ve received job and internship offers through the service. It doesn’t seem like the most fun social medium, but it can be once you stop thinking of it as a resume and start understanding the endless other possibilities for using LinkedIn.
Here are my best tips for spicing up your LinkedIn profile.
Know that LinkedIn is more important than you think
LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms worldwide, with two professionals signing up every second. According to social media marketing company HootSuite, 50% of Americans with a college degree use LinkedIn, and 45% of users work within upper management in their companies. Speaking of companies, there are 30 million company profiles on LinkedIn, posting 3 million American job opportunities each month.
It’s not just Americans, either; while it’s the most prominent country among LinkedIn users at 30%, the remaining 70% come from over 200 countries, meaning that employment options aren’t limited to the States.
Put your best face forward
First impressions are just as important online as in real life, especially on LinkedIn. When you set your profile picture, stay away from selfies, group photos or anything you’d use on Tinder. Go with something professional instead. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal headshot — not everyone has that kind of coin, I get it! — but a solo picture of you with nice lighting, a confident smile and a background that doesn’t steal the show will do the trick.
Don’t be afraid to stand out
When recruiters are searching for potential employees, the first items they scan on your profile are your photo and headline. Your headline is basically a description of what you’re about, but it’s about 10 words long, so it may seem like it’s not that important. However, this is actually the first chance you have to show employers what sets you apart. Make sure your headline is specific, up-to-date and reflective of your skills.
For example, on my LinkedIn, I chose to focus on my role creating a podcast with PULP Magazine. I could simply leave it at “Podcaster,” but that’s boring! It also reveals nothing about my role as a podcaster, just that I am one. My headline now says “Podcast Producer and Host.” It’s not so descriptive that it’s hard to follow, but it gives a bit more information about what all I’m capable of in the podcast space. “Podcaster” alone didn’t specify.
A final tip: Yes, you want your headline to be short, but try to avoid using acronyms. Even if recruiters know the industry slang, it’s important to show that you can explain yourself and your work to others.
Tell your story
The next most important part of your profile is your summary. This section gives you the most opportunity to explain who you are, what you’re about and what kind of work environment you would thrive in.
Too many folks on LinkedIn use generic summaries that scream, “I copied this from a resume template.” How many times have you seen something like, “Engaged and confident communications professional,” a clunky paragraph so overloaded with buzzwords that you can’t parse out which industry the user is in or — worst of all — “(Your Major Here) Student” as someone’s summary? That tells recruiters nothing about you except that you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) take the time to explain what makes you tick.
LinkedIn isn’t just a virtual resume, it’s a space for you to tell your story. The summary is the best place to use that function.
You also have the opportunity to add multimedia to your summary. I’ve got a PDF of my resume and the link to my online portfolio attached to mine for ease of access.
Contextualize your work history
On a resume, you’ve got to cut out every extra detail you can to save space, but LinkedIn is entirely different. Recruiters spend more time reading LinkedIn profiles than skimming paper resumes, so you can take more liberties in explaining what you did in each job role and how it helped shape you. You’ll especially want to highlight any major accomplishments. Numbers are great — for example, if you helped grow a social media account from 500 to 1,500 — and you can also attach multimedia to each work placement. Think presentations, publications and any photos or videos of you in the field.
Add supplemental information
There’s a ton of room to brag about yourself on LinkedIn, and you should definitely do it. Extra categories such as “Projects,” “Volunteer Positions,” “Skills” and “Languages” might not be what get you the job, but filling them out at least shows how much effort you’re willing to put in when it comes to your personal brand. It also helps paint a clearer picture of yourself to potential employers.
Maintain a presence
The last important step in spicing up your LinkedIn is engaging with your connections. You can comment on their posts and share posts you find interesting, but the best way to get noticed and create an archive of your engagement on your profile is to make your own posts. If you’re interning or working in your field, you can write posts about your experience and what you’re learning to demonstrate your enthusiasm (and to prove your skills). You can also write commentary on news in your industry to show that you keep up with current events — and that you care about the state of your field — by sharing your thoughts.
Use photos and videos in your posts for an extra boost. Posts with images get twice the engagement and posts with videos get five times the engagement as text-only posts, according to HootSuite.
LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool for connecting with industry professionals, showing your skills and landing your next job. Something else I’ve noticed? A fully-fledged profile can also help you grow your confidence. Having my skills, accomplishments and work placements I strove for all in one place reminds me of how far I’ve come — and LinkedIn shows me all the places I could go from here.
(11/22/19 4:44am)
Are you feeling stagnant? As though you’re at the mercy of circumstance? That’s a theme I’m noticing in my reads and my interactions with others lately — it’s common to feel like a victim of the tumultuous world we live in. For that reason, I want to talk this week about receptive versus projective energy.
When your energy is receptive, you allow yourself to be affected by external forces. You are poised to receive, be it blessings or negativity. When your energy is projective, you instead bestow your energy onto your surroundings or onto others. You manifest and design.
While we may sometimes feel as though we are stuck being receptive, which is what I’m seeing in many of you recently, it’s actually easier than you think to become projective. You can take what you’re feeling and apply it wherever you can — maybe you can’t control the one particular aspect of your life that you are hyper-focusing on, but there is something else you can change and affect. Think outside the box! And on the flip side, if you’re putting forth too much projective energy and neglecting to attune with the world around you, you’ll be missing key information needed to move forward. Ground yourself, meditate and practice whatever self care comes most naturally to you to check in with yourself.
Many of the cards I pulled this week encourage you all to switch from one form of energy to the other. Some of you are struggling with balance, it seems. This issue’s read may offer some guidance, so settle down with a cup of tea, light a candle and check in on what to expect and where to take action over the next two weeks.
Like last time, I’ll be using the Marble Moon Tarot Deck, a gender-neutral spin on the original tarot designed by Oregon-based artist Samantha West.
Aries: Temperance
This card signifies a need for you to seek balance in your life, but it’s not chastising you. Rather, the message is an invitation for you to pursue what you desire: a peaceful and harmonious environment in which you can focus, love, relax and thrive. While Temperance is not a lecture, it is a gentle reminder to stay calm and be accommodating towards those who may be contributing to your current sense of instability. They are people too! The only way to resolve your situation may be to work together. Perhaps the biggest obstacle blocking you from a balanced life, though, is that you don’t believe you deserve it.
Taurus: Devil
Don’t freak out! The Devil here does not refer to the biblical beast, to sin or to shame; it speaks instead of temptation. What’s tempting you here need not be a moral issue or a religious qualm but simply something that is keeping you from being your best self. Whether it’s something mundane — maybe you can’t turn off Netflix and study enough right now — or something heavy, like an addiction or a cycle of behaviors you can’t break out of, the Devil card appears to let you know that the trap you’re in is one of your own making. Only you know what has stolen your attention, and chances are, you’ve known deep down for a while. While that’s not necessarily a positive message, look at the bright side: you got yourself here, so you can free yourself, too.
Gemini: Four of Wands
This card appears when there’s something to celebrate! It’s not necessarily a gift or a surprise, though. The Four of Wands symbolizes a joyous payoff after you’ve worked hard to accomplish a goal or bring a project to fruition. As I wrote in my introduction to the tarot, the Fours represent an idea beginning to stabilize after you’ve begun applying and structuring it, and the suit of Wands suggests that this is taking place in regards to a creative endeavor. If you can’t think of something you’ve created recently but you’ve been pondering something, take this as a sign to go for it.
Cancer: World
The World is one of the most interesting and enigmatic cards to me. It is the last of the 22 Major Arcana cards, so if you believe in the “Fool’s Journey” associated with the tarot, then this represents the final stage of the journey through life. It is the ending of cycles, the culmination of all failures and successes, the unification between the inner and outer, the moment at which you have become whole. While the Four of Wands refers to a particular project, the World speaks to a lifelong or long-term transformation. You have become more resilient as a result of what you have been through. The World gives a sense of connectedness, the feeling that the universe has your back.
Leo: Ace of Crystals
In the last Clusterscopes, you were due for a reckoning of sorts. However, it seems you’re now full of energy and potential for something relating to the physical world right now, and if you’re not yet, you will be soon. Expect to receive a reassuring sign that the emotional work you’ve put in lately is starting to pay off for you in other ways. You can start focusing outwardly again, whether it’s refocusing on school, work, finances, your home or anything else in the material realm. If you’re still feeling rattled from the last few weeks, take a deep breath. Try some grounding techniques. Repeat a calming mantra to yourself. Do whatever it takes to stay present so you can move forward.
Virgo: Page of Crystals
As people, Pages bring good news and a new perspective on issues related to the suit they occupy; here, the material and physical world. This may mean you’re due for improvement concerning money, school, career or health. The Page of Crystals has strong energy and a positive, comfortable future ahead of them, so whether you’re encountering a Page or embodying the Page yourself, you are bound to find inspiration in the next two weeks. This may be the message you were called to wait for in the last Clusterscopes!
Libra: Creator
In the Marble Moon Tarot Deck, the Creator is the third Major Arcana card, corresponding to the Empress in the traditional tarot. This person is comfortable in their surroundings, poised to bring something new into the world, something that sparks joy in those who see it. However, you can’t do this well if you’re not taking care of yourself. According to Sam West, designer of Marble Moon, the Creator “radiate(s) abundance and creativity. This is a call for receptive energy — self-care, love and nurturing.” You’ve been there for those around you a lot lately, but at what cost? Withdraw, and don’t feel guilty about it.
Scorpio: Rooted
Rooted takes the place of The Hierophant in the traditional tarot, representing a sage advisor or mentor who helps set folks back on track when they’re spiraling. West says that “the rooted is the gatekeeper of tradition, deeply rooted in the environment they were raised in.” From there, they draw their power. Their wisdom stems from their experiences. This person may be older or may have lived a life full of lessons. Whether this card refers to someone you should seek out to guide you or someone you must embody to help someone else, only you can decide — but make sure you never give so much of yourself that it drains you.
Sagittarius: Nine of Cups
I feel that the Nines are always complex and nuanced cards — they come after the struggles and self-doubt of the Eights but before the point of satisfaction and resolution marked by the Tens. To me, Nines imply the winding down of a particular cycle. The end is in sight, the best and worst of the journey behind you.
This card specifically whispers of self-reflection in the moment when you’ve finished something you never thought you could handle. It’s the awkward in-between when you sit down, take a deep breath and think, “Wow, I can’t believe I made it through” — exhilarated, yes, and exhausted for sure, but perhaps a bit restless now, wondering where to put your remaining energy. Since we’re dealing with Cups, the situation was an emotional and personal one. Use the remaining energy for self-care and for following up with yourself: what went well, what didn’t and what can you do next time to ensure everything moves smoothly? Most importantly, what are you learning about yourself, and how can you use that lesson going forward?
Capricorn: Ace of Wands
The Ace is perhaps the boldest card in each suit — not the most mature or most accomplished, but the most ambitious. Aces usually tell you to move forward with whatever you’re contemplating, letting you know that it will work out -- just not maybe the way you’re expecting it to. Since Wands refer to creativity and passion, think of the rawest form of that: often, it’s willpower and your identity. It’s time to assert yourself and take a stand. Be bold in who you are and what you’re about. This moment has the potential to develop into a breakthrough emotionally and personally. You have the ability to make it so.
Aquarius: Wheel of Fortune
The most serious card in the deck, in my opinion, the Wheel of Fortune reminds you of what is not in your control, what you must surrender to, what you must let go of. What goes up, must come down — if life has been spectacular lately, expect an obstacle to resurface; if life has been particularly fun and easy, get ready to be pulled back down to Earth.
The tenth card in the Major Arcana, the great Wheel shakes things up when we’re least expecting it, for better or for worse. Deck designer West writes, “The Wheel of Fortune is here to remind us it’s not always in our hands. If you’re looking for an answer, it may be time to release and let the Universe take its course. Everything is already in motion, and you can’t change that — so it’s time to let it go and watch how everything falls.”
Pisces: Five of Cups
So far, I’ve pulled this card for one sign in each Clusterscopes: first for Leos, then for Libras and now for you, Pisces. Something has gone poorly, and you’re blaming yourself unnecessarily; or the situation you’re in is fixable, but you’re not doing anything to solve it. It’s generally a card representing self-victimization in terms of your emotions. What you’re feeling is a direct result of your action or inaction, and you know this deep down. It’s time to move forward — the Fives in the tarot indicate trouble or disorganization, but it will pass. However, this time, you need to be what instigates a change.
(11/22/19 4:37am)
This is a letter to the editor submitted by members of the faculty at Mercer University. It does not reflect the views of The Cluster, Mercer University or faculty members not listed.
Dear Mercer Community,
A recent campus debate presented opposing and forceful arguments about whether ‘social justice is just.’ The debate was intended to provoke conversation and to demonstrate the benefit of the university as a “marketplace of ideas.” However, we are deeply concerned that some of the arguments promote misleading, uninformed, and harmful perspectives.
Problem 1: Historical ignorance
Saying that “there is no systemic racism in the United States” ignores both the American present and past. American capitalism and economic supremacy are the products and legacy of slavery (documented in The New York Times’ 1619 Project). After the Civil War, federal housing, land, and loan policies all were designed to limit opportunities for African American citizens (see, for example, the practices of red-lining and of convict leasing), and continues now in ways more numerous than can be recounted here (see “The New Jim Crow” or the film “13th” as starting points). Thus, the seemingly unsolvable socioeconomic disparities between white and black residents of Macon today illustrate the deeply entrenched systems that did and continue to promote inequality. Schools, neighborhoods, and opportunities to accumulate capital are segregated by matter of law, policy, and practice. These are the results not of individual racists, but rather of structural practices.
Problem 2: Flawed logic
The purported justification for the statement that there is no systemic racism was two-fold: 1) over time, much of life has improved for African Americans and 2) some studies demonstrate equitable treatment of African Americans. The first amounts to a non-sequitur, equivalent to concluding that because we have treatments for cancer, the disease is no longer a threat. The second is a perfect example of the logical fallacy of hasty generalization.
Problem 3: Gross misuse of terms
At the same time as the existence of systemic racism was denied, the word ‘slavery’ was egregiously mis-appropriated to describe taxes. This usage is dramatic—and dramatically misleading. Comparing taxes to a life where all labor is unpaid and all choices are removed is a false equivalency. This distortion invalidates the experiences of both those whose ancestors suffered as a result of the African slave trade, and the millions of people whose lives are currently destroyed through sex trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.
Furthermore, in the context of a debate on social justice, the use of a judicial definition of justice (as the impartial application of laws) reduces justice to existing case law. This ignores the fact that laws were and are designed to institutionalize inequality (see Point 1 above). Social justice endeavors to assure true equity for all individuals, even in an unequal society, thus attempting to render our world morally just.
Problem 4: Misuse of statistics
The claim that African American citizens constitute only 13% of the US population but commit half of crimes is also deeply problematic. That statement confuses conviction rates (which are available) and actual crime rates (which are simply unknowable). Simply being African American increases the risk of involvement in the criminal justice system. Research has extensively documented that African American neighborhoods are more likely to be patrolled by police. African Americans are thus more likely than other groups to be arrested and convicted. They receive longer sentences and with less chance of parole. A study of New York City’s ‘stop and frisk’ policy showed that African-Americans were more likely to be searched than Whites, but when searched African Americans were actually less likely to carry drugs than Whites. The over-representation of African Americans in the criminal justice system is thus a symptom of systemic racism, not of inherent criminality; to imply otherwise is to re-victimize victims.
Further, to promote that particular statistic feeds into a tired narrative of the black community as diseased. But statistics, like Bible verses, can be selected to tell vastly different narratives. Other statistics could be highlighted to tell the story of African-American communities’ resilience and strength. For example, black fathers are the most involved parents of all recorded race and ethnic groups, whether living in the same home as their children or not.
Problem 5: Misuse of authority
To approach a complex issue from the sole perspective of one sub-discipline or using one type of model leads to such a narrow understanding as to be both sorely incomplete and misleading. With the authority of a faculty role comes the responsibility to engage in due diligence, including understanding the larger landscape outside one’s disciplinary training.
A university is a marketplace of ideas, but it is also a community of learners. These ill-formed arguments, presented under the guise of academic debate, were deeply hurtful to many Mercer students of color–students who incur the burden of harmful stereotypes simply because of the color of their skin. It is incumbent on all members of the Mercer community to educate ourselves on the historical and societal forces that shape the everyday experiences of those around us. Just as we teach our students, we learn from them.
Signed,
Jay Black
Amy Borchardt
Natalie Bourdon
Kevin Cummings
Chester Fontenot
Keegan Greenier
Matt Harper
Kedrick Hartfield
Michele Prettyman
Amy Nichols-Belo
Shan Ran
Tanya Sharon
Laura Simon
Margaret Symington
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Mary Helene Hall is a sophomore majoring in journalism. She is a Presidential Media Change Maker Scholar who has worked consistently for The Cluster throughout her time at Mercer. Mary Helene has received accolades for her work from National Public Radio, Discord, the Georgia College Press Association, and more. When she’s not working on a story, you can catch her listening to podcasts, writing letters or enjoying the outdoors on Mercer’s campus.
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Ivy Marie Clarke is a third-year student at Mercer double majoring in English Literature and creative writing. Her passion lies in poetry and the arts, and she has been published in The Atlanta Review and Glass Mountain in addition to the work she produces for The Cluster and The Dulcimer. She works at the McEachern Art Center and as a writing tutor for the ARC, and she is an editorial intern with Macon Magazine.
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Mandi DeLong is a junior English major and double minor in journalism and film studies. This is her third year writing for The Cluster, and she currently interns downtown at Mercer University Press. In the future, Mandi hopes to work in publishing, either in fiction or journalism, and share the passion that she's discovered for herself.
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Chance Allen is a junior double-majoring in journalism and media studies. Throughout the past year, he has interned with Royalty Headwear and the Admissions Marketing and Communications department, whilst also running a photography business. Chance hopes to continue and broaden his career by creating editorial content that pushes to inform the world on the richness of arts, entertainment, music and culture.