(09/26/17 11:33am)
When I was applying to schools, my college counselor asked me how much Greek Life mattered to me in a potential university. I laughed and said it didn't matter to me at all. She smiled and replied, "Yeah, I can tell you aren't a sorority girl."
Fast forward to Aug. 14, Opportunity Scholars move-in day. I only interacted with around 60 first-year students throughout the whole week, most first-generation college students just like myself. We were all buzzing with questions about everything from meal swipes to class schedules to, of course, Greek Life.
I'd never considered Greek Life until I came to Mercer. The only experience I’d had with it was what I observed at the large state school in my hometown or what I’d seen in movies and the media. The thought of going Greek conjured up images of hazing, a sea of girls with bleach-blond hair and identical themed outfits and parties night after night all wrapped up under the ruse of “sisterhood” and some vague promise of “philanthropy.”
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Before I learned that Greek organizations are more than what the movies tell us, I didn't think my values aligned with sorority life. On top of it all, I was too worried about how I would manage my schoolwork, my job with Admissions and Cluster deadlines to consider adding such a time commitment. Chapter meetings, service events, study hours… I never thought that sorority life could fit into my schedule or help me achieve my goals.
But recruitment was delayed this year, so I had a few weeks to learn that Greek life at Mercer isn’t like that at all. I had time to figure out how I’d balance my academics with my social life and understand that my dreams and values can and will be realized as a part of a Greek organization.
As a first-generation college student and someone on the pre-law track, I value scholarship and drive as well as friends who will help you hold yourself accountable.
As a woman, I value empowering one another in a world that often tries to suppress our voices.
As an only child, I value a big “family” and a strong support system of people who truly care about one another.
As someone who only moved to Macon to attend college, I value an organization that will help me engage in service to give back to my adopted home.
Delayed recruitment has drawbacks, especially for those already involved in Greek life, but it provided me the time I needed to realize that going Greek was something I wanted to do. I registered just a few days before the deadline.
Throughout recruitment week, I saw a piece of myself represented in each sorority. I received and accepted a bid from my top choice. Had recruitment not been delayed, I never would have realized the truth about Greek life or gone through recruitment.
My college counselor was right: I'm not a “sorority girl.” I'm a sorority woman at Mercer University, and for that I will remain eternally grateful.
(09/19/17 10:00am)
Daniel Gibbons is prepared to make a mark on Mercer as the new director of the ESPN3 program. He has already decorated his office in the WMUB building behind the Center for Collaborative Journalism with magazine covers highlighting various feats of athleticism.
A former college athlete himself—“if you consider golf a sport,” he quipped—Gibbons laughed when he said that sports are his “favorite thing in the world… I don’t really watch movies, I don’t really watch TV shows, just sports, all the time.”
He said he feels that his role here at Mercer will be a wonderful experience as it combines his two passions—sports and videography—while introducing two elements that are entirely new to him: teaching and working a job with regular hours.
“It’s like two jobs in one,” the veteran freelancer said of his position.
Part of his job will entail producing all Mercer’s video pieces such as highlights, hype videos and interviews. He will be involved in all facets of production at Mercer, from shooting, to editing to imparting his knowledge upon students in the program.
The other component will be managing the ESPN3 broadcast program, which Gibbons described as a “totally separate [thing], but still under my umbrella.”
Though very laid-back and approachable, Gibbons has an extensive background in videography. The Lexington, Kentucky native graduated from Asbury University and immediately immersed himself in the freelance world.
He shot horse shows for television broadcasts, travelling around the country until landing a more consistent job shooting sports videos at the University of Kentucky.
For three years, he produced videos for the school as well as shot weddings, corporate videos and more on the side.
Finally, Mercer University reached out to him asking that he interview for a full-time position. Having virtually exhausted the Lexington area’s videography opportunities, Gibbons said he was excited to move down to Macon and “try something new” directing the program.
He described his first impression of Mercer’s ESPN3 studio as a great one, observing that it is “very advanced” for ESPN3 standards and for a school of this size. The facilities provide students a lot of opportunities that Gibbons hopes they can apply to the real world after graduation.
“We blow a lot of schools out of the water with our ESPN3 program,” he said. “The students here work really hard.”
The students’ first impressions of Gibbons have been just as positive. Fourth-year engineering student Chandler Apple, self-described “unofficial engineer of the Mercer broadcast program,” called Gibbons “a fantastic addition to our program,” saying that he was immediately “ready to roll” despite being hired just weeks before the first broadcast aired.
Apple said that Gibbons “has exactly the right drive” to replace the previous director of Mercer’s ESPN3 program, Lisa Cherry.
The pair “spent many 14 hour days prepping for [the first] game,” Apple said. “[Gibbons] was always ready to learn... He works tirelessly. He worked a 95-hour week last week. I'm excited for the future of our program, because I believe his leadership and work ethic [are] nothing short of outstanding.”
Gibbons said his biggest goal for this year is to facilitate such high-quality shows that viewers won't be able to tell the difference between student broadcasts and a professional ESPN production. He also appreciates videos’ ability to excite people and “pump up” teams and coaches.
"If I can make things that get people excited,” he said, “that's the goal this year.”
Even more importantly, he said he hopes to "get as many students involved as possible.”
“We'll take students, doesn't matter your major... If you want to join, hit me up.”
Interested students can visit Gibbons in his office in the WMUB building or send him an email at gibbons_dj@mercer.edu. Participants must work 20 athletic events unpaid before becoming a regular hire. Though the hours are not consistent, video work for football games will pay $50, basketball games $35 and all other events $30.