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(08/04/17 5:54pm)
Elizabeth Tammi is a senior journalism major. Originally from Oviedo, Florida, Elizabeth has worked for The Cluster since her first semester at Mercer University. Before working as News Editor, she held the positions of Lead News Writer and Arts & Entertainment Editor. She has also interned with NASA and Georgia Public Broadcasting, in addition to completing practicum with The Telegraph and 13-WMAZ. Outside of journalism, Elizabeth also holds a major in creative writing and is the author of two novels for young adults, "Outrun the Wind" and the forthcoming "The Weight of a Soul." She works for Mercer's literary magazine The Dulcimer, and studied literature and writing as an international student at Oxford in 2018.
(07/03/17 6:04pm)
(04/13/17 2:07am)
After another record-breaking election, it’s clear that there are going to be a lot of new senators in the Student Government Association next year — including a greater number of minority students.
“We had about 1226 people vote,” said Jordan Price, the SGA Election Marshall. “It shattered the senate turnout record by almost 500 votes. And it’s the second highest turnout we have on record.”[sidebar title="Additional Content" align="right" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]
Click here to see the vote breakdown, courtesy of Jordan Price.
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Out of the eight incumbent senators who ran, only five students who were senators this year will be returning as senators next year, in addition to Faiz Aly, who was the SGA Media Secretary for the 2016-17 academic year. Everyone else is new.
“I’m just happy to see a lot of new faces,” said Oge Onuh, the SGA Vice President for the 2017-18 school year. “I’m really excited about new initiatives that we have, a lot of new ideas, a lot of energy from people that are returning and also from new members.”
Incoming President Olivia Buckner said that having an SGA full of new faces is “not without its challenges.” But she pointed out that having a large number of incumbents presents its own challenges. “We love seeing more people interested in SGA and hopefully that will help everyone feel more represented and will help with SGA’s image, I guess, that we only re-elect ourselves,” she said.
Buckner said that they will emphasize good transitions between committee chairs for this year and the incoming year to ensure that things go smoothly.
Kalon Hightower, a Minority Mentor and rising senior, watched the banner unfold.
”From the names I see, there’s a lot more diversity, so that’s pretty good,” Hightower said. “There’s a lot more people that look like me… so I guess they’re more open to what I feel, my opinions, you know, cause we’re kinda comin’ from the same place.”
Adam Penland, who was on the Elections Committee this year, will be returning to SGA next year as a sophomore senator. He said that the new group of senators is a sign that SGA’s emphasis on diversity this year has paid off.
“So one of the big focuses of SGA this year has been diversity, and that’s now something that we’ve accomplished through this election, because we now have a very diverse group of senators that can serve the senate body, and that’s something that we’re looking forward to,” Penland said.
The current freshman said that he’s hoping his experience will be an asset in the coming term.
“I’m put in a very unique position because I am a younger senator, only serving as a sophomore senator [next year], but having one year’s experience under my belt, not just me, but all of the senators that got re-elected… [We] will kind of act to help the new senators adjust to what senate is like,” Penland said.
According to Penland, these adjustments can mean everything from learning about Roberts Rules of Order to understanding how bills get read and passed.
“I am very optimistic for the future, looking forward to what all of the new senators do,” Penland said. “I’m very excited and nervous at the same time, because it will be a learning experience for everyone, but overall, it will be a great experience for everyone."
(03/29/17 10:11pm)
After weeks of campaigning, the 2017 SGA Presidential Election resulted in a tie between Buckner/Onuh and Byrd/Smith.
"Thank you to our candidates," current President Elizabeth McKay said. "It takes a lot of bravery, a lot of courage to run for this position."
There were a record breaking 1248 votes in this election, which is the highest turnout in the past 6 years, according to SGA Election Marshall Jordan Price.
Total: 1248
Buckner/Onuh: 582 (46.63%)
Byrd/Smith: 346 (27.72%)
Porter/Kirschbaum: 320 (25.56%)
Polls will be open on Friday, March 31 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Due to the runoff, qualifications for senators will start Thursday, April 6. The following Tuesday and Wednesday will be elections for senators from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11 until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12.
The Tied Tickets
Olivia Buckner and Oge Onuh
Both students are rising seniors at Mercer. Buckner has been a class senator her entire Mercer career, while Onuh has been a senator for the 2016-2017 academic year.
According to Buckner and Onuh’s Facebook event, this ticket is hoping to “optimize your opportunities” with active communication and impactful initiatives.
“We want SGA to be a place for all, and the best way to offer this is to have Inclusivity be at the TOP of the list. This means every student should feel that they have an equal voice,” they said on the Facebook page. “We want to be in constant contact with students, organizations, clubs, faculty, staff and administration to get optimal results.”
Buckner and Onuh’s ticket is the only one with Greek and minority representation.
Catie Byrd and Michael Smith
Byrd is a rising junior at Mercer and Smith is a rising senior. Byrd came into SGA as a freshman as a Senator-at-Large, and Smith came into SGA at the beginning of his sophomore year. Previous to being a senator, Smith was a student correspondent during his freshman year.
According to the Vote Byrd/Smith Facebook event, this ticket is hoping to “light the bridge.”
Their platform states that “Student Government Association is meant to be a bridge between students and the University. The bridge is here. But it’s time to light the bridge for all of Mercer’s students.”
Byrd and Smith outline several ways of closing that communication gap in their platform, including advisory councils, a class presidents committee, and an increased prioritization of student needs and student organizations.
(03/18/17 10:39pm)
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time for Mercer University’s student body to elect a new president and vice president for the 2017-2018 school year. You can cast your vote on March 28 or 29.
According to SGA Election Marshall Jordan Price, there are two ways to get to know your candidates before then: attend the presidential social event on Cruz Plaza on March 21 at 5:30 p.m., or watch the debate in Stetson Room 251 on March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Price said in an email that results will be announced in Connell Conference Room II around 5:30pm on Wednesday, March 29.
Though the campaigning is only just beginning, three prominent duos from SGA have announced their platforms. Find out more information below on who’s running. All tickets list the presidential candidate first and vice presidential candidate second.
Courtesy of the Vote Porter/Kirschbaum 2017 Facebook Page
COLE PORTER AND ALEXANDRA KIRSCHBAUM
These two sophomores are veterans of Mercer SGA. Their platform items include supporting student efforts, promoting diversity, expanding campus safety, advancing sustainability, and enhancing dining convenience.
“We are committed to serving the student body by supporting ongoing efforts and advocating for large-scale change. With experience and passion, we can't wait to show you how dedicated we are to you and to Mercer.” -Vote Porter/Kirschbaum 2017 Facebook Page
Courtesy of Catie Byrd's Facebook page
CATIE BYRD AND MICHAEL SMITH
These candidates are also long-time members of SGA. Their platform items include improving communication and representation, advisory councils for multicultural, Greek, and athletic organizations, increasing accessibility, prioritizing student needs and organizations, creating a MU Formal, and campus safety.
“Student Government Association is meant to be a bridge between students and the University. The bridge is here. But it’s time to light the bridge for all of Mercer’s students.” -Vote Byrd/Smith for SGA President/VP Facebook Event
Courtesy of the Buckner/Onuh 2017 Presidential Election Facebook event
OLIVIA BUCKNER AND OGE ONUH
These two candidates have a mix of SGA experience. Buckner, a junior, has been a senator her entire college career. Onuh, also a junior, has been a senator for one year. Their platform includes an emphasis on inclusivity, improved communication, and impactful initiatives.
“We want every student to be able to optimize their opportunities, and Oge and I want to be there to make sure that happens. We want SGA to be a place for all,” Buckner said on their 2017 Presidential Election Facebook event. “This means every student should feel that they have an equal voice.”
(03/03/17 7:00pm)
Bearstock 2017 is going to look radically different from any Bearstock that’s been before. With headliners like DJ Mustard and Waka Flocka Flame, the Quadworks sponsored event will have a new sound in addition to its new performance structure.
BEARSTOCK: AFTER DARK
Waka Flocka Flame and DJ Mustard
Waka Flocka Flame, a rapper known for songs like "Hard in da Paint" and "No Hands," will headlining Bearstock After Dark this year. His co-headliner, DJ Mustard -- whose official name is Dijon Isaiah McFarlane -- is a Los Angeles-based artist with an upbeat hip-hop sound. He makes what he calls “ratchet music.”
The artists will no longer have to be censored for a PG rating due to the new inside venue for Bearstock After Dark.
Gazzo
Gazzo is an EDM artist that first came on the scene in 2011. Since then, he’s gained notoriety for how he layers melodies over hard electro. He will be opening for Bearstock After Dark.
DAY BANDS:
Scroll through the gallery for more information about the artists playing during the first part of the day.
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Editor's Note: We were unable to find any information regarding Nite Owl, the artist that Quadworks named as one of the Day band artists. As we get information regarding this artist, this page will be updated.
(02/19/17 3:05am)
(02/09/17 5:02pm)
(02/07/17 7:56pm)
There’s Another Dead Artist in Japan these days. His name is Lucas Newell.
He’s actually very much alive.
Newell is a sophomore at Mercer University studying International Business and Fine Arts. As of December, Newell’s art is the only possession of his that remains at Mercer.
He’s spending the next six months in studying history, culture, art and Japanese in Fukuoka, Japan.
Newell said that he didn’t think studying abroad was going to be a possibility, but somehow, he managed to slip into Mercer’s exchange program two months past the deadline.
Japan wasn’t a random choice. In looking at Newell’s art, the influence of Japanese ideas and techniques on his work becomes readily apparent.
He’s very up-front about the influence. Newell is keeping a blog throughout his experience, and in his first post explaining his adventure, he admits that he used to be a self-proclaimed weeaboo, someone who idealizes Japanese culture and anime.
He said it all started with the original Pokemon.
Now, Newell said that as he got older, his interest in Japan sharpened and matured, along with his drawing ability.
“I found a teacher that made me improve by leaps and bounds in a short amount of time and found out that there was nothing I'd ratherdo more than draw,” Newell said in a Facebook message.
Newell kept doodling. He also kept watching anime. He developed a deeper love for sequential art, graphics and illustration and said that he’s always thinking of new character concepts and storylines. His sketchbooks are overflowing with color, inspired oftentimes by the shows that he’s watching.
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Newell said that one of his favorite shows is an anime called Usagi Drop.
“The whole show is the process of this genuine guy dealing with all the difficulties of being a father and all the responsibilities that come with it,” Newell said. “It's really touching and gorgeously animated with a watercolor style palette.”
One of his favorite characters in anime is an individual named Tomoya Okazaki from a show called Clannad. Newell said that as a perfectionist, Okazaki’s persistence and resilience inspire him.
“I would always mentally beat myself down whenever I made a mistake in school, at home, while drawing, etc. However, that's a dangerous route to continue down, because it often manifests in depression and the like, and that's why I think Okazaki's persistence even when everything goes wrong inspired me as a young teen,” Newell said.
He said that through watching Clannad, he not only learned about techniques he could try, but he found a new way to approach his art.
“Whenever I make a mistake, I find two things I did right,” he said. “Then I go over the mistake and fix it if I can. If it's not possible, then I try to do better the next time. Same with my content. I try new things. Draw different emotions,” he said. “I try to evoke a feeling of hope with my pictures. Even if it may seem dark, there's always a light that can be found. It's a process, and a long one, but far more rewarding in the end than perfectionism.”
(02/05/17 10:12pm)
(11/08/16 1:00am)
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(11/03/16 7:45pm)
Emanuela Rendini and Avery Braxton speak with Jordan Mike about his upcoming plans to help victims of Hurricane Matthew in the Bahamas.
(10/31/16 3:50am)
Looking for a new restaurant to try? The Cluster has done the taste tests for you -- and we have all the juicy details. Explore Macon's local restaurants through the map below as well as our Bear Bites column.
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(10/05/16 3:49pm)
Emanuela Rendini and Avery Braxton questioned who students would vote for and their reactions after the presidential debate.
(09/11/16 10:04pm)
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(09/08/16 8:07pm)
(09/06/16 11:00pm)
When Pokémon GO came out this July, Andrew Buff was quick to jump on the wagon. He’s a computer engineering student at Mercer that was staying close to campus over the summer.
Buff said that one night, on the way back from dinner, he came across a large group of people gathered in a strange spot on the side of the road. He said that he remembered thinking: “they’ve gotta be playing Pokémon.”
They were. And Buff joined right in.
His friend, Tyler Giles, is a Mercer grad who was also in Macon over the summer. He played Pokémon Go a lot when it first came out, as well, and he said that one of the best parts of the game was the social element.
“If you just went downtown over the summer when it was new, it was everywhere,” Giles said.
“And everyone is happy to see everyone, because you know that you’re there for the same thing.”
It’s been almost two months since the Pokémon GO craze swept the nation, leading to large numbers of people moving at a snail’s pace through public spaces and constant conversations about what levels they’ve unlocked.
Initially, Andrew Silver, a Mercer professor and a man involved in the revitalization of Tattnall Square Park, wasn’t entirely on board with the whole thing. While it is geared towards increased use of public spaces like the park, Silver had to deal with much more personal involvement with the game: his son, Noah, was addicted.
“For the past few days, Pokémon-Go (sic) has, like some adorable, virtual Svengali, led my son Noah all over College Hill, with me tagging helplessly behind him as he captures whole herds of pidgeys, rattatas, and an assortment of mostly cute animated uber-emojis,” Silver wrote in the Friends of Tattnall Square Park Facebook page.
Silver went on to discuss the game in a long post, which triggered an even longer conversation. At one point, Andy Carter, a Macon photographer and Mercer employee, jumped into the thread. First, with a meme. Then a comment.
“Here’s the thing,” Carter wrote. “I walked around Mercer Thursday night and there were probably 25 folks that looked like they’d never interact in any other situation, playing Pokémon, and they were all talking, smiling and laughing with each other. And I thought that was pretty neat.”
Silver has relented a bit on his previous statements since the clamor around the game has died down. He said that it’s mostly due to his son.
“It has gotten us out of the house and walking around a whole lot more than I’d have expected,” he said. “Overall, it has been a thousand times better than, say, the Wii.”
If you’re playing Pokémon GO in Macon, be sure to check out Gateway Macon’s list of the top 5 places to catch Pokémon.
(08/28/16 8:00pm)
Both Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Sigma were under investigation last spring for violations of the Student Code of Conduct related to alcohol. They are suspended for the 2016-2017 academic year, Dean of Students Douglas Pearson said in an email.
“They will not be permitted to use or be in their houses during this academic year. If adequate progress is made in areas outlined by the Vice President for Student Affairs, the chapters will be permitted to request consideration to be back in the spring in a well defined and limited role," Pearson said.
When asked to clarify what the chapters have been asked to work on, Pearson said only that ”both fraternities have been provided areas to work on during this upcoming year.”
According to Director of Housing Jeff Takac, the Kappa Sigma house will be used by Panhellenic girls this year while the Alpha Tau Omega house will remain vacant for the 2016-2017 academic year.
(08/22/16 2:00pm)
When she first came to Mercer, Victoria Yrizarry thought she might never feel at home. Going to college was going to be hard enough, but then, just months before move in, her father passed away unexpectedly.
“I was doubtful that I would ever be completely comfortable,” she said in a Facebook message.
Yrizarry is now a senior music education major, a Mercer Singer, a music director, a peer advisor and a member of the orientation leadership team. She found her niche — but she didn’t do it alone. Yrizarry said that she had an incredible peer advisor, Katie Elliott, as well as a solid orientation group that helped her adjust to life at Mercer.
“[Elliott] constantly made herself available to us, she accepted everyone for who they were, and I could tell that she was genuinely invested in each person in our group,” Yrizarry said.
Yrizarry is currently preparing to welcome her last group of freshmen to Mercer. She said that she wants to help students feel the way that she feels about Mercer. That’s why she applied to be a PA in the first place.
“I wanted them to feel that they had a place and a family here always,” Yrizarry said.
Always can be a strong word, though. This year, as mentioned before, is Yrizarry’s senior year. There are a lot of “lasts” coming for her, but she said that she’s also got a lot to be excited about, such as completing her senior voice recital and student teaching.
Yrizarry also said that once she’s graduated, she’ll be one more step toward her goal: being a choir director.
“I have wanted to be a choir director since high school,” she said. “I love music and I have a passion for teaching, so it was almost a no-brainer for me. My goal is to teach middle school choir, but I would be happy to work in a high school, too.”
She’s already on her way there. Yrizarry is going into her second year as the music director at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Macon and has also assisted with music lessons at the Academy of Classical Education. However, those positions aren’t the only places she has learned how to lead; her time with the Mercer Singers has been a learning experience as well.
“While I love being a leader, I could probably say I equally love sitting back and allowing someone else to lead, too. ” she said. “For example, Dr. [Stanley] Roberts has the reign in Mercer Singers and that gives me the opportunity to learn how to be a better leader. So I [sic] always appreciate when those opportunities arise.”
All in all, Yrizarry said that her experience at Mercer has been based on recognizing those opportunities for growth and taking advantage of them.
“My biggest takeaway from my experience at Mercer is to say ‘yes’ more in life,” Yrizarry said. “Be open to new experiences and opportunities because you don't know what you could be passing up.”
(08/22/16 12:00pm)
At the kickoff of this fall semester, Mercer will have a plethora of new food options for students to try.
In the University Center, where there used to be a Subway, Burger Studio, Chick-Fil-A Express and various grab-and-go items, there is now a full service Chick-Fil-A, a Panda Express, and a P.O.D. Express.
In addition to these restaurants, the Farmer’s Market is also going to be open for dinner Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m.
“I am extremely excited to see new offerings and more choices for our students,” said Timothy Lewis, Student Government Association Senator at Large, in a text message. “Also with the expanded menu items . . . we have healthier options available. I know I will definitely be enjoying these new options.”
The new options aren’t just in the University Center. Bear Necessities in the Connell Student Center got a makeover this summer too, according to SGA President Elizabeth McKay. The whole space has been updated with upgraded floors, TVs and seating.
This area, now known as the CSC Food Court, will also have adapted food options, including an expanded coffee bar called Brewed Awakenings that serves Starbucks coffee and a P.O.D. Market this August.
The P.O.D. Market and P.O.D. Express both have food like “freshly-prepared breakfast sandwiches, burritos, wraps, sushi and salads, as well as fresh produce, bakery and coffee selections and traditional essentials found in a convenience store,” according to the Mercer Dining website.
Then, coming in September, the final addition will fall into place with the completion of Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, which boasts up to “50 varieties of customizable ‘wiches’” on the Mercer Dining site. They also offer “plenty of vegetarian options.”
As was the case in the past, many of these establishments will be a part of the Bear Exchange program. This means that they will have pre-selected combos that students can purchase through their meal plan as though they are purchasing a meal in the Fresh Food Company or Farmer’s Market.