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SGA struggles to reflect student body’s diversity
Simeon Cullens is a rising junior at Mercer University. He’s black. He’s a member of a fraternity. He will be a Senator at Large in the fall, and if freshmen don’t elect more diverse class officers next semester, he will be the only black senator in the Student Government Association. In a recent survey conducted by The Cluster, students on SGA — including both senators and members of the executive board — reported information such as their position on SGA, their affiliation with Greek organizations, and their race and ethnicity. According to that survey, the racial makeup of SGA isn’t an accurate portrayal of the university’s undergraduate students on the Macon campus. Mercer’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness publishes basic demographics for the different schools at Mercer every fall in a series of tables that anyone can find online. Comparing this data with that of the survey shows that black students are particularly underrepresented in SGA. And this isn’t a new trend. While Cullens wasn’t the only black person on senate this past year — he was joined by Jesus Robinson in the fall and Christopher Murdock served all year long — three out of 32 is still only around nine percent. That’s way off from the 24 percent of black undergraduate students on the Macon campus. Cullens said in a Facebook message that in past semesters on SGA, he’s been deeply aware of how he is representing the black population of students. “I have a different perspective than anyone on SGA because the people I am around on a daily basis have different interests and concern[s] than those that are already represented in senate,” he said. “Most people in SGA have the same social groups or friends on campus which in my eyes prohibits SGA reaching all realms of campus.” Cullens said that he works to try to close the disparity. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. “(Organizations) such as NPHC or LASO aren't pushed,” he said. “They are mentioned, but you never see an SGA representative there besides a select few senators and myself.” He isn’t the only one who recognizes a disparity exists. Austin Harrison, the SGA president for the 2015-2016 school year, said that while diversity is one strength of Mercer as a whole, it often doesn’t translate to the senate. “I have always felt that one of SGA’s biggest weaknesses has been our lack of diverse representation,” Harrison said. “With that said . . . I am a firm believer that mindset and mission can overcome demographic limitations. It has been my personal goal, and the goal of many other senators, to engage in productive dialogue with all students regardless of gender, race or Greek affiliation.” [pullquote speaker="Austin Harrison" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]“I have always felt that one of SGA’s biggest weaknesses has been our lack of diverse representation,”[/pullquote] SGA has taken measures this year to try to reach out more to students. There is a new Campus Engagement Committee that seeks to include students who may not always be heard in senate. “The committee was created to make SGA more accessible to all students, to remove the stigma that you have to be outgoing or Greek to be elected, and to make sure all of our activities and services are inclusive of every student,” said Aaron Scherf, the chairman of the Campus Engagement Committee and vice president of SGA for the upcoming school year, in an email. “It is only a start, but it is my hope that promoting common understanding and interaction between the diverse groups and diverse students on campus will be a priority for SGA for years to come.” Bear Forums, which are open to everyone on campus, are marketed as a place where everyone can come and share their concerns. In an added measure, there have been Coffee on Cruz events where senators make themselves available to hear concerns and answer questions. Harrison said that there is “still more we as SGA could do as a representative body.” Cullens said that it’s not just about reaching out to those students, but bringing them into SGA to become a part of the process. Scherf agreed. “If we do not have enough input from students on an issue, we are left to make the best decision we can with what we have,” Scherf said. “That is when having a diverse and representative senate body becomes so important, so that we can look at issues from every angle, and consider how it may affect students of differing ethnicity, differing cultural and religious backgrounds, differing sexual orientations, differing gender identities, and differing majors.” But bringing those students to the table isn’t an easy process. “I really push for more minority [sic] to run for SGA, but they never seem to get elected,” Cullens said.[pullquote speaker="Desirrae Jones" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]As of now, there are no women of color (WoC) on SGA next year. How are those voices going to be heard? [/pullquote] For example, this spring, a rising senior ran for SGA. She’s been involved with everything from athletics to admissions on campus. She’s the president of Young Democrats. She’s black. And she wasn’t elected. Her name is Desirrae Jones. “[SGA] is not an adequate representation of campus at all. Mercer is a very diverse place, but the ‘representative body’ of the students does not reflect that,” Jones said in an email. “As of now, there are no women of color (WoC) on SGA next year. How are those voices going to be heard? I applied for a position as a member of the executive board, and I didn't even get an interview.” She said that people like her aren’t even applying or running for those positions because they don’t see a point. “We don't win,” she said. She said that the same attitude seeps into voter turnout. “It is going to be a group of popular, mainly white, people that are overly-involved. Why vote if those are the only people running?” Jones asked.
Off-campus cost forecast for local rental property
Average cost per Bedroom ZIP Average cost of 1 room by ZIP 1 Bed: Average Cost 2 Bed: Average cost 3 Bed: Average cost 4 Bed: Average cost 5 Bed: Average cost 31201 $337.46 $575 $299.58 $315.24 $160 31204 $251.46 $475 $252.92 $248.13 $186.25 31206 $218.47 $181.67 $193.75 $280 31210 $249.38 $249.38 31211 $318.75 $395 $312.50 $248.75 31217 $225 $225 As summer approaches, some students already know where they’re living next fall. Others, though, are still searching for a place to live off campus. If you fall into the latter category, here are some resources to consider as you search for a place to call home next semester. There are a whole host of websites out there geared towards helping people find rental properties, including Zillow, Craigslist, Houses, RentalHouses and other similar pages. Facebook pages geared towards real estate can also be a resource for those looking for a spare room or home to rent. The entire success of these sites depends on how many current owners utilize them, and based on the number of listings, Zillow and Craigslist seem to give users the highest number of relevant results. Using these websites, The Cluster has calculated average prices for the areas around Mercer University. We cannot promise that these are exact, due to the fact that postings can change by the minute, and there is no guarantee that we captured every property in our data. But they are an indicator for how much you may pay in different zip codes, depending on how many people you share a house with. They do not always account for the cost of utilities or various additional fees associated with individual properties. To get more up-to-date information about rentals as they’re made available, it’s also possible to receive updates from some of these websites. On Zillow, in particular, you can specify a search criteria, and the site will send you an email when a new property is listed. As current students graduate and move out, it’s likely that more and more homes will be back on the market this summer. Yet, there are always homes that will slip through the cracks. This can be a result either of your personal search criteria or the house just isn’t posted online at all. In those cases, a specific real estate agent’s site may be the only online source, or the landlord may go old school with the classic “For Rent” sign in the yard as the tool of choice to draw in potential renters. Using online sources is not the only option. There are also important questions to consider once you’ve made an appointment to view the property. Mercer’s Residence Life office publishes a worksheet that students can utilize to understand the safety of their prospective home, which includes questions and prompts such as: Ask current residents and neighbors, do you feel safe living here? How far away is emergency assistance, e.g. police station, fire department? Does the complex provide any security devices, a doorman, patrols, escorts, etc.? What are the procedures for changing keys that are lost or not returned? Who has access to the residence or master keys? Are locks on the doors changed/re-keyed with each new resident? Have maintenance men had criminal background checks? Does the university police department work closely with the local and county police departments in patrolling off-campus areas in this jurisdiction?
Alpha Tau Omega suspended, university investigating 'serious violations'
The Greek letters above the front entrance of the Alpha Tau Omega house are gone. Early Saturday afternoon, a reporter from The Cluster saw that several, if not all, of the brothers of the fraternity were standing outside of the house on Greek Row. Shortly after, no people were in sight. The front and back doors to the house were wide open. The Cluster reached out to Dean of Students Doug Pearson for comment over email Saturday, April 16 at 8 p.m. Pearson responded back in an email Sunday at 7:18 a.m. "This past week, I (the Dean of Students) received information that alleges serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct by Alpha Tau Omega. These allegations are currently being investigated to determine if individual and/or organizational charges are warranted. In the meantime, all Chapter activities have been immediately suspended, and the residential members of the chapter have been provided alternative housing until the matter has been fully investigated and adjudicated." Later Saturday afternoon, there was activity around the house again. A couple of brothers were walking near the vacated fraternity house. Senior ATO brother Chase Tolbert barely looked up as he cleaned off one of the blue and yellow benches outside the house. "I will not comment," he said as he carried things inside, closing the door with his foot. This piece will be updated as more information is made available.
Flute Choir is bringing a fantasy to Fickling
This April, the Mercer Flute Choir is preparing for a performance that is sure to be nothing short of fantastic. The ensemble is presenting their “Flute Fantasy” on April 28. Kelly Via, the piccoloist with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and Macon Symphony Orchestra, will be conducting. Lilly Mauti is a sophomore in the Flute Choir. She said that the upcoming show will appeal to a wide array of people. “Using piccolos, C flutes, alto, and bass flutes the audience gets to experience a range of sounds as well as a range of music,” she said. “There is music for everyone, some that is recognizable and some that is new and intriguing. Everyone is sure to have a favorite!” Flute Choir is one of the small chamber ensembles that stems from the Mercer Wind Ensemble. Haley Alain is a freshman at Mercer who joined the Flute Choir as a way to continue playing her instrument after high school. “I wanted to keep playing the flute and continue learning new techniques and new music throughout college even though I wouldn’t be majoring or minoring in music,” she said. “I saw and still see flute choir as a fantastic way to receive guidance in my playing as well as a way to continue to challenge myself in music.” The performance will be from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Fickling Hall. It is free and open to the public.
Newcomers faced rough odds in SGA General Election
In the latest SGA General Election, there were eleven newcomers on the ballot for various races, but Mallory Sammons, Natalie Ross, Jordan Price and Brandon Tran were the only ones to make it onto the winner's banner. For the Senator at Large race in particular, there were several individuals competing for a spot at the SGA table that have never been a part of Senate before including Samukai Sarnor, Desirrae Jones, Justin Baxley and Jessica Landress. In addition, Simeon Cullens ran for an at-large seat after being a class senator for his first few terms. None of the students who ran for the at-large position with no prior experience as SGA senators were successful in their bids. Timothy Lewis garnered the most votes of anyone in the race, with 543 of the 869 votes. To put that number in context: McKay and Scherf won the presidential race with 542 of 1007 votes. [infographic align="center"][/infographic] The race for Sophomore Senator was the second largest competition, with eight rising-Sophomores vying for the five positions. Most of the students who were Freshman Senators were re-elected, with the exception of Spencer Jones. He lost to newcomer Mallory Sammons 142 to 138. Alexandra Kirschbaum was re-elected class president. [infographic align="center"][/infographic] The junior class race was a bit of an anomaly. Only four students ran for five seats, so each person was guaranteed a spot with one seat left open. That means there will be a Special Election next fall to fill the empty seat. This will be Olivia Buckner's third term as class president and Natalie Ross's first time as a senator. [infographic align="center"][/infographic] The Senior Senator's race had the best results for newcomers. The top three seats went to incumbents and the other two positions went to Jordan Price -- who has only ever been the parliamentarian on SGA's Executive Board -- and Brandon Tran, a newcomer. Millie Smith was elected class president. [infographic align="center"][/infographic]
Bike Macon is kicking cars off of College Street this April
This April, Bike Macon and other downtown organizations are kicking out the cars and allowing pedestrians to take over College Street. The “Open Streets” event Sunday, April 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. is the first of its kind in Macon, but it’s part of a growing trend in cities across the country. “The idea of this event is by closing a traditional thoroughfare (in our case College Street) to automobile traffic for a day, you really open the street up to a whole world of other possibilities. It really allows for event goers to begin seeing our city in a different way,” said Austin Harrison, a Mercer senior who is helping coordinate the event, in an email. Harrison cited Atlanta Streets Alive and Savannah Circlovia as similar events that have happened in Georgia. As a part of Open Streets, College Street will only be open to rollerblades, bicycles and foot traffic during that time. Various individuals and organizations from around the city will be hosting events along the streets, with three primary “hubs” for activity. Harrison said that this could mean anything from “giant jenga to concerts to four square.” According to Bike Macon’s press release, they are expecting around 2,000 people to participate in the event. Harrison said that the main goal is to get people out in their community in a real, tangible and intentional way. “As the generation that will one day very soon inherit these cities, it is important for us to see their potentials and begin working towards an overall healthier way of living and that often starts with making our cities more walkable and bike-able,” Harrison said. This initiative is the manifestation of Bike Macon’s vision, which aims to connect neighbors across Macon by using fun and creativity to help make residents more comfortable with walking and biking around town, according to their website. There are also opportunities to do more than just go to the event, Harrison said. If students are interested in getting more involved, they can volunteer to help oversee activities, act as crossing angels and ensure that everyone has a great time. Students should contact Harrison or Rachel Hollar (rachel@bikemacon.org) for more details. Open Streets is a joint effort of Bike Macon, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Main Street Macon, Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, and Macon Bibb-County Parks and Beautification, the release said. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Setup Assist with setup of barricades, signage, tents, activity hubs, cones, clean up and other operational logistics before the event Volunteer Check-In + Info Hub Check-in Open Street Macon volunteers Provide information and guide Open Streets Macon participants and volunteers Distribute materials and snacks to Open Street Macon volunteers Crosswalk Angel Responsible for looking after a hard closed street, typically hard closed with a barricade Prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the route Assist with entrance/exit of authorized vehicles (if permitted) Greet participants as they enter/exit Open Streets Answer questions as necessary Evaluator Collect information from Open Streets participants by conducting surveys Count participants at the top of each hour Conduct post-Sunday surveys with stakeholders along the route Gather testimonials from all different types of participants Take down Assist in taking down barricades, signage, tents, activity hubs, cones, clean up and other operational logistics after the event.
McKay and Scherf win SGA Presidential Election
After two weeks of campaigning, Elizabeth McKay and Aaron Scherf have been named the President and Vice President of Mercer’s Student Government Association for the next academic year. The team defeated Reed Jones and Jordan Hester 542 to 465 on March 29. McKay and Scherf have a combined total of five year’s experience on SGA, with time in particular spent on committees that focus on public relations, marketing and campus outreach. McKay, the president elect, said that she was excited about the win but relieved that the process was over. “These two weeks have been incredible and so much fun and I just feel so ready for next year,” she said. McKay is a junior studying Political Science and Communications. She’s a member of Alpha Delta Pi and has worked as a Legislative Intern in the office of Senator Johnny Isakson in addition to her work with SGA. Scherf, the vice president elect, is a junior studying Business Administration and International Business. He’s a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and has served as an intern with NewTown Macon, an organization that focuses on revitalizing downtown Macon. “I take it as a victory, but definitely as a challenge to get ready for next year,” Scherf said. According to their platform, McKay and Scherf are planning to: Publish SGA’s complete budget and update students on big changes and allocations Prioritize the SGA budget so more money goes directly to student organizations. Work with the Board of Appropriations to finalize the amendment allowing student orgs to request funding for food for cultural events Work with the administration to keep class sizes small, offer enough sections for required courses, and recognize our best professors for being so involved Implement new events celebrating our heritage, such as We Are Mercer, a commemoration of the solidarity students displayed at the rally in 2005 during our departure from the Georgia Baptist Convention over issues of religious freedom and sexual orientation Work with Physical Plant to increase efficiency on campus lighting, water use, and recycling waste by advocating for higher budgets for maintenance to fix things like sprinklers, more recycling bins at events, and interdepartmental support for a student sustainability group Collaborate with Career Services and all of Mercer’s community partners to create and promote more relevant internships and job opportunities for students to get experience and prepare for their future
Boggs and Martinez drop out of SGA Presidential race the night before the election begins
David Boggs and Oscar Martinez withdrew from the SGA Presidential race Sunday night, saying that they “never really wanted to win.” Later that night, they independently explained their reasoning in a long series of text messages, which have been mildly edited for content and clarity below. Voting for the President and Vice President of next year’s SGA opens at 9 a.m. on March 28. Why are you two dropping out of the race? Martinez: “We never really wanted to win. With the possibility of winning at hand, we decided that the best course of action was to drop out so as to mitigate this risk.” Boggs: “We dropped out because we realized we had an actual shot at winning and we didn’t want to take the risk. We don’t want to be part of the SGA atmosphere.” How would you describe the SGA atmosphere, as two individuals who have been a part of it in the past? Boggs: “This is speaking just for me. I’d prefer not to comment on the specifics, but I’ll just say that I disagree with the way a lot of SGA is run and I’d prefer to not return to it.” Why did you run for President and Vice President in the first place if you didn’t want to return to that atmosphere? Boggs: “We wanted to bring attention to the problems with the system. Running in this election and stirring the pot like we did was the best way to do that.”.” Martinez: “We simply wanted to bring attention to the issues at hand. We felt that the election as a whole attracts a lot of publicity, and decided that the best medium to attract attention to said issues was the election. Judging by the coverage the election received, I don’t think we chose poorly.” Is there one team that you will publicly endorse? Boggs: “I never thought I’d say this, but McKay/Scherf… Quite frankly cause she’s the only one with the balls to make any real changes to the way things are done. Her principals [sic] are most in line with what I believe. She’s by no means the perfect candidate, but she’s easily best for the position out of the remaining candidates.” Martinez: “Can my response go off the record?” Well, that defies the point of publicly endorsing… Martinez: “Haha, true enough. I’m more than likely going to vote for Aaron (Scherf and Elizabeth McKay). I believe that his ticket is most likely to follow through with their promises. In the end, that’s what counts.”
Four Takeaways from the SGA Presidential Debate
The Student Government Association election season is just around the corner. Presidential hopefuls faced questions Monday night about everything from having a wet campus to how to increase communications in case of mass violence on campus. Voting begins March 28 and ends March 29. To learn more about the candidates and their platforms, click here. Here's some highlights from last night's SGA Presidential Debate: The Blows David Boggs called Elizabeth McKay a “puppet” of the administration and said that she was in Dean Pearson’s pocket. When given a chance to answer, McKay said that she’s “been looking for strings all over but [she] can’t find any.” Boggs also pointed out how nervous Reed Jones was throughout the debate and said that someone who has to face the administration of the university shouldn’t be nervous. Jones said that he wasn’t here to put anyone down. The Buzzwords Transparency. Outreach. Safety. Communication. “What students want.” Every candidate came back to those points in the end. A Sample of the Ideas A Fifth Quarter partnership with incoming businesses across Mercer University Drive and established locations in Mercer Village where those organizations stay open later on game days and/or offer incentives for students. (Jones/Hester) Allowing students who are 21 or older to drink on campus if they choose to do so, when they choose to do so. (Boggs/Martinez) Installing cameras at major intersections around campus to help with safety concerns. (Jones/Hester) Ask for more money from the Board of Appropriations: $5,000 more to add to $80,000 already put together for student organizations. (McKay/Scherf) To view the official platforms of the candidates, check out http://theclaw-sga.squarespace.com/presidential-and-vice-presidential-election/ and/or the Facebook pages for each ticket. The Play-By-Play Our staff writer Megan Rosinko live tweeted the debate on Twitter, along with Mercer SGA. You can check out the detailed coverage of what was said in the debate below: Tweets about @MercerSGA // !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); //
Fresh Off The Docket
Campus safety was a popular topic at senate March 14. SGA hosted Coffee on Cruz with a whiteboard to collect student responses about how safe they felt on campus. Responses on the white board covered topics ranging from concealed carry to Mercer Police response time to lighting and cameras around campus. The most consistent response, however, was that students feel safe on campus. “There were some responses that obviously I can’t do anything about, like I can’t get rid of the bridge, that’s a Macon road,” said Senator Olivia Buckner, the Campus Safety chairperson. “The only thing I can do is try to get more MerPo cops to patrol around that area more and maybe get cameras, which is what I’m going to try to do today.” She added that she is looking into the cost of increasing cameras around that area. Buckner, Associate Vice President for Facilities Russell Vullo, Police Chief Gary Collins, and Dean Pearson walked around campus to address issues brought up by students and other senators in their second Campus Safety Walk of the 2015/2016 school year. During the previous campus safety walk they found that four of the blue lights did not work properly either because the phone or the light was not fully functional. After the walk Monday, Buckner confirmed that all of the blue lights on campus are now fully functional, except one that is being replaced because it was hit by a car. She also said the committee is trying to get a blue light put in where the pedestrian bridge will be built in anticipation of heavy student traffic at night. There are already many cameras there, and she anticipates more will be put in. The broken Dowell, Sherwood, and Mercer hall doors were also brought up in senate and addressed during the safety walk. At this time these doors will let students out, but will not let residents tap into their building. The Dowell door has been broken for three weeks. Although the doors do not fall under the Safety Committee's responsibility, Vullo will be getting in contact with Residence Life to get those fixed. There was some concern that the Engineering parking lot can be difficult to get out of and sometimes even dangerous. Vullo will hopefully be putting up a mirror in the Engineering parking lot to help with that issue, according to Buckner. There will be a Bear Forum on campus safety April 4 for students to voice any other concerns or solutions they may have.
SGA hopefuls face a three-way race
Students who want to run for President and Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA) in the 2016/2017 academic year announced their candidacy Wednesday night. According to SGA, the tickets are currently: Elizabeth McKay and Aaron Scherf, David Boggs and Oscar Martinez, and Reed Jones and Jordan Hester (in president/vice-president order). The candidates will have a debate March 21 at 8 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to vote March 28-29, with the winners of the election being announced March 29. [gallery size="medium" ids="18766,18760,18767" orderby="rand"] All photos are courtesy of the Facebook pages of the respective campaigns.
Fresh Off the Docket
At the latest Student Government Association "Bear Forum," Senator Elizabeth McKay brought a student concern to the floor: is there any way to have quieter music for football practice at 7 a.m.? Junior Senator Drew Winslett, who lived in the Adams Winship apartments last year, was the first to agree that the noise is a concern. “It woke me up every day when I was down there,” Winslett said. “I know a lot of people who live in the apartments have the same complaint.” Senior senator Tony Perella, who is a member of the football team, said that he used to live in the Winship apartments, but that "it didn’t really affect me because I was there [at practice]." Everyone laughed. Then, Perella got more serious, and said that there was a point to having the music. "It creates an atmosphere like a gameday," Perella said. "You’ve gotta adjust to not being able to hear stuff." Perella also said that spring practices will end this week, but they will be conditioning throughout the semester. [pullquote speaker="Sam Strickland, SGA Executive Board" photo="" align="right" background="off" border="all" shadow="on"]“The vibrations were strong enough to push stuff off my shelves.[/pullquote] Sophomore Senator Hannah Schultz has cheered for Mercer in the past and said that for their cheerleading practices, if there wasn't music playing, they would all be "dead." "If we turn the music on, maybe we’ll all start doing something," she said. Even then, SGA Executive Board member Sam Strickland said that the noise was disruptive when he lived in Adams 1923. “The vibrations were strong enough to push stuff off my shelves," he said. Strickland is also the Vice-President of Mercer's Residence Hall Association and suggested that in order to address this problem, SGA and RHA should come together to survey residents living in the affected area. He said that if they are going to look at music from the stadium, they need to look at music coming from the baseball field, as well. SGA President Austin Harrison said that Markell Jackson, the president of RHA, is also going to be involved in that conversation. For more about what happened in this Bear Forum, check out the official SGA minutes here. What do you think? Do you think this concern has merit? Show us through your vote: [poll id="11" align="center" background="on" border="none" shadow="off"]
H&M to arrive at the Shoppes at River Crossing in Macon
The hip hybrid of Urban Outfitters and Gap is coming to the Shoppes at River Crossing in north Macon this year. H&M, which already has a location in Atlanta, is a Sweden-based multinational company known for both quality clothing pieces and deep clearance racks. According to their website, H&M is currently searching for a full-time manager for the new Macon location. The Shoppes at River Crossing opening this year will join the ten existing retail locations in the state of Georgia. Read some people's reaction tweets here: H&M coming to Macon ??? — k (@1slloyd_) December 18, 2015 H&m finally coming to Macon. They should flourish here — ricardo (@iamalchemist06) February 18, 2016 How excited are you that H&M is coming to Macon? https://t.co/zKaUJDthsK — Linda S. Morris (@MidGaBiz) February 18, 2016 H&M is coming to Macon! ?? — ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (@Prettybowlegz) February 12, 2016 H&M coming to Macon ??? — k (@1slloyd_) December 18, 2015
Fresh Off the Docket
Mercer Maniacs raffle and free t-shirts The men’s basketball team will play its last home game this season on Saturday against ETSU. Before Thursday’s game against Western Carolina, there will be tailgating/a preview party at the Lofts at Mercer Landing. Any student who attends both the preview party and the basketball game will be entered to win one free semester in the lofts. They will also be giving away free baseball tees to the first 250 students at the baseball game this Friday.[sidebar title="Upcoming Events" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"] Feb. 15-19: Wesley Love Week Feb. 16, 18: Harry Vaughn Lecture Feb. 20-26: MerServe Hunger Week Feb. 22: Bear Forum: What can SGA do for you? Feb. 23: Mercer Mock Election Feb. 25-27: Beloved Community Symposium March 22: Muslims in America: Islamization April 5: Taste of Macon April 7: Dean’s Council at 7 p.m. in CSC 2 [/sidebar] Residence Life and Housing update The RA selection process is finished and applicants should be contacted soon. The self-assign process is coming soon, but all of the contracts have not been processed yet. Students’ self-assign time will be based on when students completed their contract. Alpha Epsilon Delta Conference and Lodging request The National Health Pre-Professional Honor Society submitted a request for accommodations and registration for an upcoming national conference. Originally this organization requested $2400, $1200 for registration fees and $1200 for the hotel. Senate recommended, however, that AED cut the cost of accommodations by staying in 3 rooms rather than 4. This cut costs by $300. The approved total was $2100. The motion passed with 1 abstain. African Student Association special funding request Senate was not able to vote on the funding request because the ASA representative was not present. Instead SGA held a 5 minute discussion on the motion to streamline the process at the next meeting. ASA requested $2000 for a Liberian Ambassador to come speak to the campus. There was some concern that this was too much to pay for a speaker, senators want to see if ASA can find other sources of funding first. Food amendment President Austin Harrison will meet with the Board of Appropriations and Dean of Students Doug Pearson in March to present a proposal that would make campus food available for student organizations.
Lenora Green will bring “Hope, Love and Grace” to Mercer
This February, the Townsend School of Music will bring talented Maconite Lenora Green back to its stage. “We are delighted to have Green on campus again,” Martha Malone, the director of Mercer University Opera, said in an email. Malone said that Green, who has given one past performance at Mercer, is a local person making her way as a young professional opera singer. “She has an exciting voice and is a terrific performer,” Malone said. Green — known nationally for her full, warm, lyrical voice — will be performing with pianist Carol Goff, Mercer’s chair of keyboard studies, in a recital called “Hope, Love and Grace.” “I am very excited that Lenora is coming back to perform. She is an outstanding soprano whose career is beginning to really take hold,” Goff said, a coordinator of collaborative piano at Mercer. According to her website, Green now resides in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the Artist in Residence at the Stax Music Academy and LeMoyne Owen College. Green is currently working on a new program with the Stax Music Academy called “StaxClassics” with the goal of bridging the gap within the inner city areas of Memphis. Green has already performed all over the country, including shows with the Michigan Opera Theater, the New Orleans Opera Association and the Kaye Playhouse in New York City. She also performed at the highly acclaimed Glimmerglass Festival, which Goff described as “a summer program that only takes the brightest in the operatic world of young singers.” Green is hailed by Opera News as an impressive vocalist and the New York Times calls her a most expressive singer. The NOLA Defender said that “when Lenora sings, it is apparent that she is an indulgence the audience can wholeheartedly support.” Goff was intentional about reaching out to Green for this installment of the Joan Stockstill Godsey Concert series. “I wanted to bring the African-American community to our campus and celebrate not only their heritage this month, but also the friendships that we are forging musically in our community,” Goff said. Goff said that the recital will feature operatic arias and American art songs. It will conclude with a set of spirituals. This event is free and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Neva Langley Fickling Hall in the McCorkle Music Building. This concert will complement the upcoming Robert McDuffie Center for Strings performance of “What Color is Your Brother? An Exploration of Race Through Words and Music” on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Beloved Community Symposium reaches 12th year
“Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.” These words may be unfamiliar to you. They're the words to a song called “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a piece written in the early 20th century that the NAACP established as the Negro National Anthem. It's been performed in middle school choirs, at national civic events and was incorporated into the inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama. On Feb. 26, it will be performed on Mercer's campus as a part of the 12th annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium. Bekah Fulton is an SGA senator that attended the event last year and is helping to plan this year’s event. “[The symposium is] an event driven by our community's desire to reconcile race relations in the church and build bridges,” Fulton said. “There are pastors from all over Macon who have strived for developing not only inter-generational congregations, but also interracial. So they typically talk about how they've done that and why it's important.” The conversations and discussions will be led by Cordy Tindell “C. T.” Vivian, an activist who partnered with Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama during the civil rights movement. Vivian is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He was a part of sit-ins and freedom rides all across the United States. And in 2013, Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vivian for his service. Currently, Vivian is the dean of the Urban Institute at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He has trained ministers and developed urban curriculum for seminaries all over the country. “Dr. Vivian is a true civil rights icon,” said John Dunaway, a professor who is coordinating the event. “He was one of Dr. King’s closest associates and played a key role in the success of the Freedom Riders in 1961.” Mark these dates on your calendar, so you won’t miss any of the Beloved Community Symposium events. Tuesday, Feb. 16: “Eyes on the Prize” documentary, which features Vivian and the struggle for civil rights, will be showing from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in Stetson 251 Thursday, Feb. 25: At 6:30 p.m. there will be a banquet in the President’s Dining Room (University Center). Noted civil rights leader Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian will give his first keynote address titled "Martin Luther King, Jr., 21st-Century Man.” Friday, Feb. 26: Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Centenary United Methodist Church, with speaker Macon-Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. Vivian will present his second keynote address at 10 a.m. entitled "Continuing the Beloved Community” in Newton Hall. The Central High School Chorus, with director Isaac Gibson, will lead the Negro National Anthem. Breakout sessions in Newton Hall, with McAfee School of Theology professor Chanequa Walker-Barnes as moderator and McAfee students as table facilitators will occur at 11 a.m. There will be a wrap-up in Newton Hall at noon, with speaker Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and director of the Center for Theology and Public Life the Rev. Dr. David Gushee, followed by a light lunch. Admission to all sessions is free. Reservations are required for meals. Call or e-mail Trish Dunaway at (478) 475-9506 or trishdunaway3@gmail.com by Feb. 22. Saturday, Feb. 27: At 7:30 p.m., the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is presenting “What Color is Your Brother?,” a free performance featuring world-renowned violinist Robert McDuffie at The Grand Opera House. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (478) 301-5471. Walk-ups are available at The Grand box office, 651 Mulberry St., beginning Jan. 19.
Photo Gallery: Jibri Bryan's vigil at Hawkins Arena
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Fresh Off the Docket
Jackson Katz Lecture SGA senators spent time Monday night discussing the behavior of students at the Jackson Katz lecture last week. Sen. Buckner suggested a more discussion-based approach in the future, rather than a lecture. Dean Pearson explained that while he was not happy with the behavior of “some” students, he did not find the event “catastrophic.”. Pearson acknowledged that the mandatory nature of the event contributed to the reaction. He added, however, that when the school spends money on a speaker they do not want an empty auditorium. He also noted that the initial question asked at the lecture was “put respectfully,” but the way Katz handled it created a visceral reaction from the crowd. Saudi Student Association The Saudi Student Association came seeking approval as an official Mercer organization. They already have 20 members on the Macon campus and 150 on the Atlanta campus. While the association itself is open to everyone, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, who will fund the group, requires that the executive board be exclusively Saudi Arabian, and include at least one woman. Dean Pearson wanted to look into the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, as well as the bylaws regarding campus organizations, to make sure that the executive board requirement will not be an issue. Contract Services Survey results The survey released several weeks ago has reach 1,026 responses. Freshmen bare the majority of the responses, at 40 percent%. This survey revealed that 70 percent of respondents favor a smoke-free campus, and 65 percent want a squat rack in the fitness center. MU Miracle Special Funding Request denied MU Miracle submitted a funding request for decorations, prizes, and shirts for the upcoming Dance Marathon which will raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. The representative, however, did not show up to the meeting. SGA members involved in MU Miracle did their best to answer questions. Vice President Joly expressed concern that the request could not be approved if the prizes were gift cards or other monetary rewards. The request was denied until specifics about prizes can be provided. Mercer League of Legends Bear Grant The Mercer League of Legends requested $330 for equipment for their online tournaments. The motion passed with 3 nayes and 1 pass. Tri Beta Conference and Lodging request The Biological Honors Society submitted a funding request for an upcoming conference for 3 of their members. The request totalled $1,302. The motion passed unanimously. Institute of Industrial Engineers The Institute of Industrial Engineers requested funding for a professional development event for 5 students. The request totalled $1235.52. The motion passed with 3 nayes and 2 abstains. Residence Life and Housing update Dean Pearson announced that Residence Life has completed the RA process, applicants should hear back by the end of the month. When asked if sophomores would be allowed to live in the Lofts next year, Pearson confirmed that it was a “possibility.”