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(10/19/11 9:47pm)
October hasn’t been a good month for the Mercer men’s soccer team with only one win in four games.
The first of the four was a 2-1 home game loss to Jacksonville. This game brought to an end their previous four-game winning streak. It turned out to be a tense and physical game with nine combined yellow cards. Mercer’s goal came from a free kick scored in the 74th minute by Josh Shutter. About 10 minutes later on in the game, Mercer had a great opportunity to tie the match in the 85th minute when junior Richie Edmondson got a hold of a loose ball. His shot went wide off the mark.
The second game against Florida Gulf Coast, ranked number 25, was a 2-1 heartbreaking loss in overtime. FGCU scored a shot on goal in the 19th minute. This game also got pretty heated with 28 combined fouls and five yellow cards. In the 27th minute, a FGCU senior got his second yellow card, leaving the Florida team to play with a man down. The first goal scored was by Mercer’s Josh Shutter thanks to a free kick from Joey Heavner. The Eagles managed to tie the game in the 56th minute. The Eagles would go on to score their game-winning goal in the third minute of the overtime period.
The third game was a home match against Stetson. The Bears dropped the contest 1-0 in overtime. This marked their second-consecutive one-goal defeat past regulation. This game was made more difficult thanks to rain and strong wind. The game was scoreless for the first and second half with a few chances for Mercer to score that came up fruitless. Stetson scored a low shot in overtime to give them the win.
The fourth game was a non-conference home game against Central Arkansas that ended in a 1-0 Mercer victory. This game set Mercer’s non-conference record to 5-3-1. Will Betts scored in the fifth minute with an assist from Carl Anderson. The goal was Betts’ fifth of the season. That leads the squad. In the second half of the game, both teams had plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. Three shots from Mercer were off the post. Six high kicks ended up in the bleachers. The Bears’ defense buckled down and held Central Arkansas off the scoreboard for the shutout victory.
Mercer’s record moved to 6-6-1 after the 1-3 span in recent weeks. Their conference record stands at 1-3 as well.
They look to keep momentum on their side as they face South Carolina Upstate at home on Oct. 19.
(10/06/11 2:06am)
For the past four games, the Mercer men’s soccer team has been close to untouchable. The first of the four, a home game against VMI, ended 3-1. All three goals were scored in the final 12 minutes of the second half. Ashani Samuels, through a corner kick in the 79th minute, scored his first goal of his collegiate career. Will Betts used his head to score after a free kick in the 81st minute, followed by a Bryson Jones score. It was the third goal of the game in the 86th minute. Congratulations to Joey Heavner, who had an assist in all three goals and is the first Mercer player to have more than one assist since 2009.
The Bears’ next home victory was a 2-0 win against Georgia Southern. In the 41st minute of the first half, for the first goal of his career, Matt Brazer outplayed two defenders as he sent a low shot past the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match. Next, at the start of the second half, Ehjayson Henry maneuvered through three defenders and scored the deciding goal of the game for Mercer. Will Betts earned assist points for both goals. It was an impressive victory for Mercer, considering the team they beat is ranked seventh for scoring offense.
The away game against Nebraska Omaha also ended in a 2-0 victory for Mercer. This game turned out to be a pretty aggressive game, with 35 total fouls in the game. Mercer’s first goal in Nebraska since 2005 was headed by Ashani Samuels straight in the back of the net in the first half, thanks to a throw into the box from Josh Shutter. The next goal came in the 81st minute from Will Betts, with an assist from Joey Heavner.
Mercer returned home to face North Florida in their first conference game of the season. The game ended 2-0 as the Bear tallied their third consecutive shutout victory. Both goals were scored late in the second half. The first was by Will Betts, using his head to give Mercer the lead late in the second half. Mercer then secured their victory on the 80th minute when Ryan King scored with a throughball assist from Matt Brazer.
Mercer continues their conference play over the next few weeks, as the four consecutive victories have brought their record to an impressive 5-3-1. It brings their home record to 4-2 on the season
(10/06/11 12:50am)
The wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter has come to Mercer. For starters, to get you of your muggle bubble are a series of lectures that discuss topics from societal issues to werewolves and even a sprinkle of sparkling Twilight gets thrown into the cauldron. For a schedule of the events just visit the Jack Tarver Library and check out the Harry Potter exhibit. Unless you’ve been charmed by see nothing spell you can not miss it because your first clue will be the figure of Harry Potter aiming a wand at you. In the juvenile section you’ll find the rest of the exhibit which features figures a Snow Owl and a Great Horned Owl among other things.Besides the exhibit and the lectures there is also a chance to eat Harry Potter food. The event is called Harry’s Hot Plates on October 20th with the place to be determined. There is also a chance to live out your wizarding fantasies via the Harry Potter costume contest on Novermber 4th at 7 p.m with more information for both events to be found at the exhibit.You are encouraged to attend the lectures. The last one I went to had chocolate dogs, Hagrid and the biggest dog I had ever seen. The lecture was given by Professor Richardson who also revealed to the audience that he was also Albus Dumbledores’ cousin Aberforth Dumbledore. Who would have thunk it? I had a chance to ask the Professor a few questions.What is your involvement with the Tarver Library’s Harry Potter display?I gave the opening presentation in a series of talks and panels that were scheduled to accompany the library display,What is it about Harry Potter that inspired you to dedicate a whole class to it?I find them intriguing in any number of ways. First, I came to them with my children and recognized the power the books had to inspire children to read. Second, although I routinely teach literary masterpieces of several nations and times, I am also interested in the creation and evolution of cultural values attached to non-canonical forms of literature, such as fantasy. Third, the books let me reach students that I would not otherwise encounter with an enjoyable text that students are eager to read and discuss. Fourth, I have the opportunity to encourage students to read more carefully and deeply by showing them the rewards that attend the effort in a series of books they already enjoy. Fifth, they are fun to read.At the end of the first lecture we got an opportunity to meet Hagrid and his pet. Will we get another chance to meet Hagrid again and his massive dog?I do not know.
(10/05/11 10:11pm)
My favorite dream is to be the next Bill Gates. To start from the comfort of my room to the top of the skyscraper with my name on it. Though it may never happen completely at least half of it might. From the comfort of my room there are some opportunities to be had in making a little extra change on the weekends or in between study time. In my quest to get paid while hanging out in my pajamas I discovered opportunities I never knew existed.
The first two are the simplest, easiest and have, unfortunately, low returns for your time and money invested. The first is through filling out online surveys. The way it works is that you google “online surveys for money” then choose something you like and sign up for it. The second is called Microplace which is a microloan site that allows you to loan money to people in need who then pay interest on the loan which can range from 1 to 3%. Satisfaction comes from knowing that you have helped someone in need and turned a little bit of a profit doing it.
Now if you are more interested in owning an actual business. Then the best advice comes from Professor Lynch in the business school who told me of the simplicity of supply and demand. Find a demand and meet it. For example if you have a car and you know that there is a number of freshman who desperately need to go to Walmart or Kroger then it is possible to find a few who are willing to pay a few dollars to get there. Dr. Houry told a story from back in the day when he was in college. He would make sandwiches that were better than the competition, load them in the back of his car and sell them to hungry students. Today that would not be possible because of the cafeteria but look hard enough and you will find an opportunity and all you need to do is take advantage of it for example programming for Android devices which has low barrier to entry and a new mercer club dedicated to android. For more you can visit https://sites.google.com.site.merceregtug or contact fellow student and Android fan Levi Lewis [levilewistech@gmail.com]
I had a conversation with my uncle who happens to be the Chief Information Officer of River-Edge. His response to starting a home business was to,”Note that a plan is the same whether you are writing for a small business or a large business. The contents are still the same. What you need to cover are the same. Investors are always interested in knowing how you plan to make your product, how you plan to sell it and who your customers are. So the advice for a young person starting a business is:
1. Make sure you have a solid business plan
2. Make sure you have a solid market base. You cannot start a business with no market to sell your product. How do you determine if you have a market? By doing a market research.
3. Be sure to follow the 4 P’s of marketing: Price (price the product right so people in the market you are targeting can purchase it. For example, Ford cannot claim to be making cars for students if each car cost $50,000. How many students can afford a $50,000 car?). Place – Make sure the product is getting to the right customers. You can’t be making Sun Tan lotions in Alaska or selling heavy Winter jackets in Ghana. Product – The quality of your product should be better than what is already on the market. If you product falls apart after one use, then nobody will buy it. The final P is Promotion – Advertise whether by word of mouth, print or television. It can be just fliers. Customers will not buy your product if they don’t know that it is out there.”
(10/05/11 8:49pm)
The wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter has come to Mercer. For starters to get you of your muggle bubble are a series of lectures that discuss topics from societal issues to werewolves and even a sprinkle of sparkling Twilight gets thrown into the cauldron. For a schedule of the events just visit the Jack Tarver Library and check out the Harry Potter exhibit. Unless you’ve been charmed by see nothing spell you can not miss it because your first clue will be the figure of Harry Potter aiming a wand at you. In the juvenile section you’ll find the rest of the exhibit which features figures a Snow Owl and a Great Horned Owl among other things.
(10/05/11 2:08am)
Last week, a symbolic event for a certain group of people and for the history books happened. President Mahmoud Abbas made a formal declaration for recognition as a state to the United Nations. Palestine has overwhelming support from other Arab nations and some Europeans, but conflict with Israel stands as a barrier to statehood.
Politics is a game about deciding who gets what. Before any of us were born, decisions were made by the European powers that gave Israel a home, but at the cost of depriving the same from the Palestinian habitants of the land now known as Israel.
Neither side was able to live with the other and this resulted in a war in 1967. The conflict goes on due to many failed attempts at peace talks and terrorist organizations like Hamas.
As symbolically significant as this request of the UN may be for the Palestinian people, it is unlikely to pan out as they hope, because the U.S. has said multiple times that they will veto any resolution to give Palestine what it wants.
Based on what the American President has said, the belief is that Palestine becoming a recognized state without a pre-existing peace agreement between Palestine and Israel is likely to lead to even more conflict, which is the exact opposite of what all parties have stated that they want.
An alternate option is that once the U.S. vetoes any resolution that comes through the security council, the Palestinians can hope for a General Assembly declaration that will allow them to give Palestine official non-member observer status.
Currently only the Vatican has that status. They do not have the same privileges of a fully recognized state, but they will at least be recognized as a sovereign entity. But don’t hold your breath, because the time frame is in months.
I asked a buddy of mine who likes to keep himself informed about what goes on in the world about what he thinks about the situation, and this is what he had to say.
“It should happen; there needs to be a shakeup in the peace process, but U.S. will veto it. But the U.S. should not veto, because of an opportunity to establish a positive relationship between Israelis and Arabs,” said Adi Shajikunar.
Now, this is an opinion piece after all, and so with that I am of the opinion that Barack Obama is right in saying that a peace agreement must come first before statehood. The U.S. and Israel are in a position of strength. The U.S. has the power to veto and Israel has the support of the U.S. and occupies land that Palestine wants.
Israel also has its own interests to think about, so it makes sense that the peace talks keep failing. Each party wants to walk away having what it wants, but the nature of compromise means that both sides will walk away unsatisfied with something.
It’s partly because of the trump card—U.S. support— that Israel has, and as long as they are in a position of strength, they will press it to be the winners. But in my opinion, for peace, there must be sacrifice from both sides.
Comments and concerns about this piece can be emailed to Salim.Y.Ali@live.mercer.edu
(09/08/11 12:01am)
Ai Weiwei, Dr. Muhammad al-Abd al-Karim, Ayaan Hirsi Magan Ali: these are the names of only a few of the many writers and artists who tried to express their ideas and were punished for them. The Constitution of the United States guarantees Americans certain liberties that can never be taken away. Some people of certain nations, however, are not so lucky.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the deepest darkest pit, you are probably aware of the ongoing uprisings in the Middle-East and North African region. It all started with the cost of bread and morphed into a surge for a voice in one’s own government. Some regimes collapsed quickly while others fought to a bitter end.
It is those fights that shine a spotlight on an organization, among many, called Amnesty International. For 50 years the organization has championed in favor of the oppressed to have basic human rights. Their ongoing mission is to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations a reality for all people everywhere.
For some insight into this organization and its work, I interviewed senior Matt Gorgans, the president of the Mercer chapter of Amnesty International.
Cluster: I would like to know something about you and how you relate to Amnesty International. What brought you to this organization and what influences or motivates you as you continue to work for Amnesty International?
Gorgans: I joined Amnesty International as a freshman. My sister was actually the organization’s President at the time. Her passion for human rights inspired me long before I got to college, so it was only natural that should I follow in her footsteps and become a part of this great organization.
Cluster: The ultimate goal of Amnesty International is universal human rights. Between ten years ago to today, how would you rate the progress and what is your outlook for the future?
Gorgans: This year actually marks the fiftieth anniversary of Amnesty International, and I think the progress in the past ten years has been tremendous. One of the most important aspects of the organization that they have maintained over the years is their ability to focus on both large issues and individuals. They haven’t forgotten the importance of bringing specific people to our attention that have endured violations of their basic human rights, such as activists who have been wrongfully imprisoned.
Cluster: Last month, Syria was in the spotlight for the way the regime brutally responded to peaceful protests under the guise of fighting armed gangs. Can you tell me something about the situation and how A.I. is involved?
Gorgans: In relation to the violence in Syria, Amnesty International responded quickly, featuring articles on the situation on their website and even starting a large-scale petition to be sent to government officials, which can still be signed on amnestyusa.org.
Cluster: Every day we are starting to see, more clearly, that what happens in one country, no matter how distant away from us, can have a ripple effect throughout the whole world. For example, the Arab uprisings helped to temporarily destabilize world markets during the months between February and August and it must have also had a negative impact on the campaign for human rights, with Syrian and Libyan regimes as my chief examples of obstacles to your mission. But on the other hand, these regimes are being toppled. Do you see a net, long-term benefit, or would you prefer to continue working with these regimes, or do you cheer alongside the rebels and protestors?
Gorgans: In relation to the ripple effects, Amnesty International is an organization that will take one event and use it to expose similar injustices occurring elsewhere. For example, if a country is in the news one week for violations of women’s rights, Amnesty will often feature articles about other countries where the same is true.
Cluster: On a local stage, how can a typical Mercer student be involved with this organization?
Gorgans: Mercer students can be involved with Amnesty International by coming to our bi-monthly meetings. Our Facebook group updates members as to when meetings will be. In the fall, we generally hold a write-a-thon. During this event, we write petition letters for people we believe to be wrongfully imprisoned and send these letters to the individuals’ governments. This past spring, we were able to bring Stephanie Elizondo Griest to come speak about her travels and human rights issues.
Cluster: What do you believe will be the benefits to a student who chooses to go down this path?
Gorgans: Joining this organization can benefit a student because it expands their outlook. Amnesty International is an umbrella organization when it comes to human rights, meaning we talk about almost any issue pertaining to human rights.
Cluster: What qualities would you say are needed to be a successful activist?
Gorgans: If college is about education and self discovery, how, do you think, would a typical student change or grow after becoming an activist? For me, becoming a successful activist is all about action. We can sit around and debate issues all we want, but unless we write letters, participate in fundraisers and other events for human rights, and try our best to educate people on these issues, nothing will be accomplished.
Cluster: Did you go through any changes, for better or for worse?
Gorgans: Being a part of Amnesty International has taught me more about the world around us and it reminds me as a college student that no matter how busy I might be, there’s always time to think and care about others.
Cluster: What message would you like to tell the community?
Gorgans: I would want to tell the community to consider joining Amnesty International. I think human rights organizations epitomize what it means to go to a university like Mercer that emphasizes service to others and thinking about something bigger than ourselves.