33 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(06/08/16 6:09pm)
The Cluster and Mercer lost one of its own with the death of alumnus, Robert L. Steed.
Steed graduated from Mercer in 1958 and was a lifelong icon and trustee of the school. He died in his home in Buckhead on June 4.
“Bob Steed was one of Mercer’s most loyal sons,” Mercer University President William D. Underwood said in a press release on June 6.
Steed was the editor-in-chief of “The Cluster” while studying at Mercer. There, he penned the serial column “Willard Lives,” which parodied life as a student.
Steed went on earn a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law.
After graduation, Steed joined King & Spalding law firm, eventually becoming a partner in 1967.
Steed served six terms on Mercer’s board of trustees, was a member of the board of the Walter F. George Trust, a chair of the Mercer School of Law Board of Visitors and even served as president of the Law Alumni Association.
“[Steed’s] affinity for the University had no limit, and he served it faithfully for most of his life. Indeed, he was one of our greatest ambassadors,” Underwood said. “Bob was greatly beloved, and we will miss his wit, wisdom, warm personality, and constant advocacy for his cherished alma mater.”
(04/14/16 6:01am)
For many, college is the first time a student is away from their parents. A tumultuous time where you must figure things out on your own. But what happens when your parents aren’t just a phone call away or close by, but are right there in college with you?
For the Adams, college is a family affair.
Kimberly Adams, Karl Adams and their daughter Katherine are all graduating from Mercer University this May after both parents decided to go back to school.
Four years later, they are sharing much more than just a last name.
“I don’t see them around [campus] too much, but my parents in themselves are having a college experience at the same time,” Katherine said.
[pullquote speaker="Katherine Adams" photo="" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]I don’t see them around [campus] too much, but my parents in themselves are having a college experience at the same time.[/pullquote]
Kimberly and Karl met in 1988 at Macon State College. In their freshman year they decided to drop out to marry and start a family, expecting to continue their education soon after.
“When I asked her father for permission to marry her, he said ‘fine but promise me you’ll get a college degree one day,’” Karl said. “That has haunted me for 25 years.”
So when Kimberly began working in the Mercer University Office of Admissions in 2001, she decided to reboot her plans of getting a college education. Karl followed soon after.
“I had found in my career that jobs that I wanted to pursue — I was not able to because I did not have my degree,” Kimberly said.
Kimberly graduated with her undergraduate degree from the Stetson School of Business in 2009 before deciding to earn her MBA. She also moved to her current position of University Minister Assistant.
Karl began his degree at Mercer in 2010 but had to delay his educational plans due to complications from back surgery.
Eventually quitting his job at the local YKK Zipper factory to focus on his education full time, Karl is graduating at 46 years old with a liberal arts degree from Penfield College. He plans to begin his master’s degree this summer with the Tift College of Education in hopes of securing a teaching job.
Throughout all of this time, Katherine grew up in and around the university, coming to events and getting excited about college.
“When Katherine was in middle school and high school, we always brought her to Mercer events. Trying to get that Bear Spirit,” Kimberly said.
Now 22 years old, Katherine will be graduating with a degree in sociology and will begin medical school at Mercer in the fall. Although having your parents with you at college is unconventional, Katherine had nothing but positive things to say about her situation. [pullquote speaker="Katherine Adams" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]I am proud of my parents too . . . I remember growing up and seeing how difficult it was. I think that is another reason why I was so motivated to get my degree in four years.[/pullquote]
“I am proud of my parents too . . . I remember growing up and seeing how difficult it was. I think that is another reason why I was so motivated to get my degree in four years. I have always encouraged them, and they have encouraged me,” Katherine said.
Kimberly will also be graduating at 46 years old with her MBA. She plans to stay at her current position at the university.
Because the Adams family began pursuing their degrees at different times, they initially never thought they would be together in their educational endeavors.
“It all just fell into place . . . It just kinda dawned on us — we are all supposed to graduate in 2016,” Kimberly said.
Despite the unique nature of their situation, all of the Adams were in high spirits when learning of their shared graduation date.
“Graduating at the same time as my parents has really taught me the importance of family and why it is important to stay together,” Katherine said.
Katherine’s parents also stressed the importance of her graduation over their own. They even asked Katherine how she would feel if they all walked at the same time and will be hosting a separate graduation party just for her. They wanted to recognize her achievement of getting a degree right out of high school, an asset they failed to realize at the same age.
“We are humble at our graduation, but we are really excited and proud of [Katherine],” Kimberly said.
There is still yet another graduation in the Adams house this year: Kole, the youngest child in the Adams family, will be graduating from elementary school this May.
“I think this is the beginning of a legacy. I think our children and our grandchildren will go here,” said Karl.
(04/14/16 4:21am)
The Mercer Jazz Ensemble of the Townsend School of Music will be hosting a concert entitled “Begin the Beguine” Friday, April 22.
The concert will take place at Fickling Hall in the McCorkle Music Building from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
The ensemble’s performance will feature music from the big band swing jazz era of the 1930s to mid 1940s. Students and professors alike will be performing classic tunes from artists such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and Bennie Moten.
“We often receive requests from our older patrons for swing tunes from the classic era of early jazz,” said Director of jazz studies Monty Cole. “I thought it would be fun to put together a program consisting entirely of this genre of music.”
Students have been practicing classic songs such as “Things Ain't What They Used to Be,” “Begin the Beguine,” “String of Pearls” and “In a Mellow Tone,” among other hits.
“Because we are focusing on covering tunes that many of our audience will know by heart, any significant deviations from historical recordings will be obvious,” Cole said. “We are working very hard to present this music as close to the originals as possible.”
Graduate student Rolando Fernandez will performing several trumpet solos as part of the ensemble. The arrangement comprises challenging songs from Harry James and Alberto Pestalozza.
“‘Ciribiribin’ by Alberto Pestalozza is by far one of the most difficult jazz solo pieces I’ve ever had to perform,” Fernandez said. “There have been many times where I have had to walk away from the practice room because of the difficulty level of the solo.”
Despite the difficulty, Fernandez said he is ready and excited to take on the challenge.
In addition to the challenging nature of the music, the concert has also proven to be an educational experience. Cole noted that many of the students had never heard jazz from the big-band era, forcing them to broaden their skill set and bridge the historical gap between modern music and that of a previous time.
“It's music their grandparents and great-grandparents know very well,” Cole said.
The concert is open to the public free of charge.
(03/17/16 11:59am)
The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill Feb. 22 to legalize the carry of concealed weapons on public college campuses.
Bill 859, otherwise known as “Campus Carry,” allows any student 21 or over with a concealed weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus with the exception of residence halls, Greek-affiliated housing and athletic events, according to an online version of the bill found on the Georgia General Assembly website.
The bill then went to be passed by the Georgia State Senate on March 11 in a 2-1 vote, and now it awaits approval by Governor Nathan Deal.
Mercer University is a private college, so the bill does not yet affect our campus. Some students and faculty still have concerns.
“College is often the first time many young adults have been away from their homes . . . As Dean of Students, I would not want to make it easier for students going through that transitional period to have access to guns. I think it would create a more dangerous — not safer — educational environment,” said Douglas Pearson.
Other members of the university held differing opinions on the new bill, arguing that it will make universities safer, despite the fact that it has no effects on Mercer’s campus.
“I have been waiting for Campus Carry to pass for a long time. It is a good step forward for the right to bear arms in the state,” said Austin Paul, chairman of Mercer College Republicans.
Following this bill, the House also passed Bill 792 or “Campus Carry Lite,” which allows students of any age to carry electroshock weapons such as tasers and stun-guns. This bill also only applies to public colleges and universities and has no impact on Mercer.
The bill was passed in coordination with Campus Carry as an alternative to students who do not want to carry actual guns but still want to protect themselves on their respective public college campuses.
Some students, however, felt that neither bill will make campuses safer.
“Maybe they should pass laws strengthening the security of college campuses with more police officers and emergency boxes and implementing faster response times. There are alternatives to opening up safe spaces of learning to potential violence,” said Desirrae Jones, the president of Mercer’s Young Democrats organization.
Mercer’s current policy on weapons is to have every firearm tagged and checked into Mercer Police upon arrival at the university. You can find the policy and further information in the Student Code of Conduct.
Currently MerPo does not allow any weapons or firearms on campus, including storage in a personal vehicle — with the exception of students who are required to carry weapons as per their official licensed duty, such as serving as a police officer or participating in drills for ROTC.
“Personally, I would feel extremely unsafe if guns were allowed on our campus . . . I like our current policy of any weapons of any kind being checked into MerPo immediately when they arrive on campus,” said Andy Digh, a professor of computer science and freshman advisor at the university.
Despite the controversy over the issue, many students and faculty agreed that the implementation of Campus Carry and Campus Carry Lite should be left up to individual universities and that the concerns of students and faculty needs to be taken into consideration.
“This is an issue that the students and faculty should have a majority of the say on since it is our home, our education and our safety,” said Digh.
(03/16/16 7:26pm)
Distinguished poet and novelist Frank X. Gaspar is coming to Mercer University on Mar. 22 to discuss the challenges of being a writer.
The presentation is entitled “A Double Life: The Poet/Novelist” and includes a talk concerning the challenges of writing in different genres.
The event is open to the public and will be held in the Medical School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
Frank X. Gaspar was recently named the Mercer University Ferrol A. Sams Distinguished Writer in Residence and will teach a 400-level writing course at Mercer in the fall.
"The effort to bring Frank Gaspar to campus to teach our creative writing majors and minors in the advanced poetry writing course started three years ago when Dot Dannenberg, a Mercer graduate, won a national award for an essay she wrote, ‘The Sacred Word on the Street,’ about Frank's poems,” said Gordon Johnston, a creative writing professor at Mercer.
Since then, Johnston has been in contact with Gaspar and invited him to serve as a distinguished writer and resident professor at Mercer.
Gaspar has written five collections of poems and two novels. His works focus on his ethnically diverse background and are centered around the balance between American life and global traditions.
“The mundane and the ecstatic don’t just meet in the poems; they often become indistinguishable from one another,” said one university press release.
Gaspar hails from Provincetown, Massachusetts while his family emigrated from the Azorean Archipelago region of Portugal. Growing up with these cultural influences, Gaspar has drawn from his childhood experiences to inspire his works.
“The poems are ecstatic and mysterious. They speak from the collective human experience and the personal human experience at the same time. They do this without ever speaking down to the reader,” Johnston said.
Gaspar holds several awards for his acclaimed writings, including four pushcart prizes, a national endowment fellowship and submissions in the “Best American Poetry” collection. He is currently a member of the faculty at the Pacific University Master of Fine Arts program in Oregon.
(02/26/16 6:43pm)
With just a glance, you may think Linnea Rosendal is like any other college freshman at Mercer University: beautiful, happy and proudly proclaiming an undecided major.
But the 6’1 point guard from Sweden has been distinguishing herself since the day she set foot on campus.
“I came here in August of last year…I’ve always wanted to go to college” said Rosendal on why she traveled to the states.
While initially learning of Mercer from a past assistant coach with the university, Rosendal looked into the possibility of playing her sport for an American team. After correspondence with some of the head coaches, Rosendal said she felt comfortable with everyone at Mercer and decided to make journey from Stockholm all the way to Macon.
Since arriving, Rosendal has played in almost every game since the season’s open in November, scoring 13 points in the game against Samford University.
“I love being apart of something bigger, a team. We share success and even good memories and bad memories.”
This genuine love for the sport has propelled Rosendal to accredited success, competing in three European Championships and being a member of the Swedish National Team.
The fondest memories of her career thus far include traveling with her past teammates to places like Lithuania and South Korea to face off against some difficult opponents.
“I really care for my teammates. I have a different perspective because I’m from a different culture.”
Rosendal said she really likes to make the effort to be a team player and feels her difference in culture has influenced the manner and style in which she plays.
Outside of basketball, Rosendal said she enjoys just hanging out with friends and has recently taken up painting and drawing as part of a class.
After Mercer, Rosendal said she might go back to Sweden to continue her education or try and get a contract here to play basketball professionally. She is unsure what the future may hold for her and her undecided major, but remains optimistic.
“I’m just going to try and take it one day at a time.”
(02/11/16 5:25am)
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many people are scrambling to find the perfect gift, plan the perfect date and maybe even settle on the perfect person.
Sometimes this day goes exactly as planned — whether it be on a date with a significant other or by yourself with a pile of romantic comedies to watch. Other times, it doesn’t turn out quite as expected.
The Cluster asked Mercer students and faculty to share their best, worst, funniest and most unforgettable Valentine’s Day memories. Here is what they had to say:
“So [my] first girlfriend . . . we had been dating for about two weeks. And I got her a stuffed bear that was pink. I give it to her, and the first thing she says is ‘I don’t like pink stuffed animals.’ From there on out, the relationship failed.”
- Nathan Green
“When I was in high school, I was dating this girl named Ashley. I thought about the craziest, most unpredictable thing I could do for [her]. I went to the local lake to a remote beach and began working. I placed down a large blanket . . . and placed all the candles in a heart shape. Then I positioned the roses on and around the blanket, scattered the rose petals around the edge of the candles, and created a path of rose petals that went from the blanket all the way to the edge of the beach. Then, I took [a] poem [I had written] and slid it into an elegant mahogany frame. As I held her hand, we walked to the blanket. I grabbed the framed poem and began reading lines of love straight from my heart. I wanted to create a memory of Valentine’s Day that showed my love and affection that she would never forget. I wanted to give her my heart and all of my love.”
- Jon Erickson
“Our third Valentine's Day together, we went to this Chinese restaurant. It was where we had our first date and very close to campus. It sits right in front of the dirtiest river called El Guaire, and that is where all the sewage of Caracas goes. Safe to say not the best place, but [I felt] like living the bohemian life when I was younger. In the middle of our dinner a HUGE, I mean almost like a Chihuahua size, rat sneaks into the restaurant and starts crawling around the walls. I jumped on top of the table and started shouting. All the Chinese people tending the bar made fun of me. The whole restaurant mocked me. Safe to say I never went back to that place.”
- Professor Alana Alvarez
“Freshman year of high school, we had this thing on Valentine's Day where we would give out roses. You could give them anonymously or not. This guy that I was just friends with tried to give me one anonymously, but I recognized his handwriting. So at lunch, he was walking by and I said ‘Charlton, did you?’ And he goes, ‘you know it’s true’ and walks away.”
- Alex Davis
“This one Valentine’s Day, I was really lonely and sad because I didn't have a boyfriend or date. So I ordered a bunch of Rom-Coms, bought a lot of chocolate, made some brownies and ate my weight in chocolate with my dog on the couch.”
- Rachael Ball
Editor’s Note: Responses were edited for clarity and length.
(02/11/16 1:30am)
The Muslim Student Association of Mercer University (MSA) hosted a “World Hijab Day” event Feb. 1 where all women — Muslim and non-Muslim — could participate in the wearing of a religious headscarf. The organization distributed new hijabs and taught Mercer students how to put them on.
The purpose of the annual worldwide event is to “foster religious tolerance and understanding,” according to the World Hijab Day website, and to invite all women to experience a part of the religion.
Hiba Yacout, president of MSA, said she hopes the event at Mercer educates students on the practices of Islam and lifts some of the negative stereotypes associated with wearing the hijab.
“We hope to allow other people to . . . be more educated about what hijab is and its purpose for Muslims,” Yacout said.
She said that wearing a hijab is a choice made by all women in the Islamic faith. The term does not simply refer to a head scarf, but it is a general word for modesty and the practitioner’s covenant with God.
At the end of the day, participants in the event gathered in the Connell Student Center to talk about their experiences with hijab-wearing. The presentation included Mariyum Kahn, a junior who chooses to wear hijab regularly; Hoor Qureshi, a freshman who chooses to not wear Hijab; and Basil Alrafatl, who spoke on modesty practices for men in the Islamic religion.
“To me, hijab is a sign of modesty, empowerment, beauty and hidden beauty,” Kahn said in her speech.
The talk also focused on the perceptions of Muslims in America and how hijab-wearing women both confront and expel these stereotypes.
[pullquote speaker="Mariyum Kahn" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Politics, news, media, social media. Things are always out there targeting Muslims and especially girls that wear hijab because we are an automatic sign.[/pullquote]
“Politics, news, media, social media. Things are always out there targeting Muslims and especially girls that wear hijab because we are an automatic sign. But if people are staring at me, I just smile at them,” Kahn said.
All three speakers emphasized the women’s choice to wear a hijab and addressed the misconception that women who wear the headscarf are oppressed by men. Alrafatl said that while men don’t have to wear a hijab, they are expected to cover the area from their navel to their mid-thigh and must have their shoulders covered during prayer.
The practice of hijab is also reflected in the way Muslims present themselves and their lifestyle of modesty.
“Hijab is also your character, the way you carry yourself, acting in a way that is modest and in a way that Islam should be,” Alrafatl said.
Similarly, Qureshi said that the practice of not wearing a hijab does not undermine the validity of one’s faith if their lifestyle is in keeping with Islamic custom.
“Those who don't wear a hijab, that doesn't make you less of a Muslim. Your definition is only important to God,” Qureshi said.
Participants in the event were encouraged to speak about their experiences of the day and to share with the group any feelings they had during the process.
Most women who participated in the event said they were hesitant at first but slowly became more comfortable with how they looked wearing the bright blue Hijab provided by MSA.
Others reflected on the varied stares and whispers they received during the day and disclosed how close friends had trouble recognizing them.
“I personally found that people who know me had more of a reaction than anyone else. They would be the ones to say, ‘Oh I didn't recognize you’ and ask me what’s going on,” said Brooke Barker, a non-Muslim participant. “I honestly felt like more people averted their eyes than to actually look at me. They felt like they weren't supposed to.”
Even if they faced strange reactions from their peers, many participants in the event said that they were happy to share in the religious and cultural experience of hijab-wearing. Barker spoke of her time with the hijab as educational.
“I feel like the best way to understand something like this is to experience it and wear it and see how a day in a woman’s shoes is when she is wearing a hijab,” Barker said.
(12/03/15 5:00am)
Fresh out of her own college experience, it might be hard to believe that young Ann Kathrin Kuder is a professor of German and a visiting Fulbright Scholar here at Mercer University.
You may have seen her riding her bike around campus or speaking solely in German with a few of her students. The scholar is at Mercer for the year to teach not only her native tongue but also her culture, all while gathering a bit of knowledge and experience to take back home.
Originally from Hannover, Germany, Kuder completed two exchange programs by the time she graduated from German grammar school. The experience she took away from these adventures, as well as the people she met along the way, inspired her to pursue the English language and American culture as a lifelong passion.
She went on to receive a degree in Political Science and English from Leibniz Universität Hannover and is now here in Macon, Georgia on a German-teaching Fulbright Scholarship.
“The Fulbright Scholarship charge is to promote mutual understanding between the US and Germany . . . German students who are in their graduate year or who are already graduated from university can go abroad to teach,” Kuder said, giving her own take on the program.
Nearing the end of her college experience, Kuder applied for the Fulbright Scholarship, undergoing numerous applications and interviews before being selected for the position.
[pullquote speaker="Ann Kathrin Kuder, professor of German" photo="" align="left" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]“Here it is a closer relationship. I am always here at my desk for my students . . . they can come to me all the time.[/pullquote]
“They asked me about politics. They asked me about the American school system. They asked me a lot of very specific questions, but I was lucky,” she said.
“It is definitely not as easy . . . it’s a very selective process and also a very wonderful and honored program,” Kuder said.
The placement of a Fulbright Scholar is based on a mutual selection process that requires all schools and applicants to rank their preferred options for the duration of the year-long program. It just so happened that Mercer University and Professor Kuder were each other’s first choices.
The match appears to be going well as Professor Kuder teaches an advanced level German class three times a week. Due to the higher level of learning in her advanced classrooms, Kuder said she enjoys being able to share her language and culture with students who are eager to learn.
Other than the obvious language barrier and lack of official teaching experience, Kuder says the biggest challenge she has faced during her time here is the difference in expectations between American and German professors.
“It is the first time that I am really teaching a class, so everything, everything is new to me. [The relationship between the German professors and students] is much more distant,” Kuder said. “Here it is a closer relationship. I am always here at my desk for my students . . . they can come to me all the time.”
Outside of the world of academia, Kuder admitted that the biggest difference between Germany and the United States is the food. Kuder said she wasn’t pleased with our unhealthy white bread or lack of food options but said that the culture shock has mainly been a positive one. The openness of Americans, including the multitude of invitations she received in the beginning weeks of her time here, surprised and delighted her.
When asked about her plans for when the year-long scholarship reaches an end, Professor Kuder said she intends to return home to Hannover to begin the year and half long journey of ‘teaching practice’ required for all grammar school teachers in Germany.
Although the process appears to be more rigorous in Germany, Kuder said her time here at Mercer has, and will continue, to aid her in her journey of becoming a teacher back home.
“This is a wonderful experience because [Fulbright Scholars] have, on the first hand, a knowledge about a new system — an American education system — and also we have the opportunity to teach and to get involved, to speak the language, to enhance our skills. Personally we will grow in this experience.”
(10/29/15 2:41am)
When people open up a literary magazine, they see pages filled with black ink, words on a page and pictures that tell stories.
But behind those words, there is something more. With each singular letter comes meaning, personal to the writer and now personal to the reader—an inspiration that has the power to change lives and make an impact through creative expression.
The Dulcimer, Mercer University’s own literary magazine, strives to make the most of that impact.
With a four-year Associate Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award in their repertoire as well as recognition as a Gold Medalist Publication by the Columbia Scholastic Press, the Dulcimer is certainly making an impression on a grand scale, competing with schools such as Yale and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Each fall and spring, students are encouraged to submit creative writing pieces as well as photographs and other works of art for publication in the annual magazine. Pieces are then anonymously voted on by the Dulcimer’s staff, a group of seven to eight Mercer students who dedicate time and effort to a portion of the magazine.
Of these hardworking students, the editor-in-chief of the Dulcimer, Elise Riggins, recognizes one student in particular for not only her dedication to the magazine but also with her published creative work.
Amanda Barrentine is a senior currently serving as the managing and design editor for the Dulcimer as well as a regular submitter of poems and short stories for consideration in the magazine.
As the layout editor and business manager of The Cluster as well, Barrentine combines her passion for creative writing with the practicality of business administration.
“I have actually changed my major about four or five times,” she said. “I finally settled on creative writing because it’s something that I love to do, and the business administration [minor] is because I want to work in publishing.”
Having discovered her passion for writing in middle school, Amanda said she loves to write because it is her emotional release—a catharsis that is needed amidst the pressure of college life.
Her poems and short stories generally focus on topics relevant to her life, such as her ties to the LGBT community but also arise from the little inspirations she gains every day.
“We were reading “Le Morte d'Arthur” in class the other day, and I had an idea to rewrite it to where it’s not just the typical Arthur-Lancelot-Guinevere love triangle but instead having an LGBT twist to it,” Barrentine said.
Through her passion for creative writing and unique ability to turn daily life into meaningful works, Amanda helps to create a literary magazine that has received national recognition, one that is also actively seeking new Mercer talent to display in this years issue as well.
“Everyone should pick up a copy [of the Dulcimer] and read it,” Amanda said.
To submit creative works, email submissions to dulcimerthat@gmail.com no later than Nov. 6, and follow the Dulcimer on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on all their current events.
(10/27/15 3:27pm)
The SGA External Relations Committee at Mercer is using their new Paint the Town Orange initiative to forge partnerships with local businesses and highlight special offers for Mercer students.
Freshman SGA Senator, Cole Porter, said the goal of the project is to “engage Mercer students with the Macon community” and “foster relations where [they] can.”
Porter noted that many Macon businesses already supply large discounts to Mercer students but the discounts go unused because students don’t know they exist.
The External Relations Committee is hoping to change that with the “Business of the Month” element of the initiative, where students can learn all about a featured local business and the opportunities available to them at this specific location. There will even be a designated day on campus where students can meet the faces behind the business at a table in the Connell Student Center.
“Spark Macon is our first Business of the Month. They already offer a 50 percent discount for students” Porter said.
In addition to introducing students to local businesses in town, “Paint the town Orange” aims at building a better “Shopping Local Community,” where students recognize and feel comfortable spending money at small businesses instead of large brand name stores.
“Instead of getting your groceries from Kroger, you go to Ocmulgee Traders. Instead of getting your bowties from Belk, you go to Bow Fresh Bowties,” said Senator-at-Large and External Relations committee chair, Timothy Lewis
“The prices are similar, but this way you’re putting money directly into the Macon community and that way everybody can benefit from it,” he said.
By shopping at local small businesses, SGA believes that students can help out the local community that supports Mercer while also utilizing benefits awarded specifically to them.
“When Macon succeeds, Mercer succeeds and when Mercer succeeds, Macon succeeds” Lewis said.
Students can find out more about “Paint the Town Orange” by checking out information posted in the Fresh Food Company and on the SGA Facebook page.
(09/28/15 4:06pm)
Will Bryant sat in the crowded cafeteria at a dirty table, with the overwhelming sounds of casual conversation, dishes clanking and food spilling all around.
“What I do best is rap,” he said almost immediately, utmost confidence on his face.
If you’re from the greater Atlanta area or the city itself, you may be privy to the emerging movement of underground hip-hop artists who are trying to “bring lyricism back to ATL” instead of the repetitive, catchy radio hits that dominate the city. If you have not heard him, then Wiley from ATL should definitely be on your radar.
The eighteen-year-old Mercer freshman arrived on campus with a jazz-inspired rap EP under his belt, a new single featuring Chance the Rapper’s brother, Taylor Bennett, and plans for making a rap album with some major collaborations in the near future. But Bryant didn’t start as a rapper.
“I started out as a writer first and foremost,” he said, “but I’ve actually never written poetry.”
Bryant described his process as working in metaphors and layering and mixing songs, stating that he rarely ever sits down and writes an entire song all at once. This process can be noted in several songs included in his EP, such as “Gold” or “Sarasota,” which blend a cool instrumental tone with raw lyrics about relationships, parents and Atlanta itself.
When asked about his influences and start in music, Will responded that almost every inspiration comes from his father or the city he grew up in.
“[My dad] went to Mercer and he was in a band,” Bryant said, beaming, “He would play guitar around the house and write songs, so I grew up listening to the Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers.”
Bryant said his dad did not listen to rap, but the musical influences from his childhood definitely shaped his interest in the art form.
“He used to get this Atlanta-based magazine called Paste Magazine, and they would give you demo tapes of new artists in the back,” he said. “That was when I got the idea of how rap music was supposed to make you feel.”
Little did Bryant know, his roots at Mercer University went even further than his father’s attendance. The creator and former owner of Paste Magazine, Tim Reagan-Porter, holds his office in the Center for Collaborative Journalism building as the center’s director. When asked what he thought of this Bryant said, “Well, he indirectly started my career.”
Such inspirations and small connections give “Wiley from ATL” an unpretentious and rooted vibe as his serious subject matter connects with more uplifting beats. His Atlanta-based lyricism can be traced to his self-proclaimed “concrete backyard.” Growing up in different parts of the city and seeing the economic disparity, Bryant said he was inspired by the people of Atlanta.
“I want people in Atlanta to know me first. (Wiley from ATL) is so that I’m always tied to Atlanta,” he said.
He admitted to living the suburban lifestyle for a large part of his life and made it clear that he didn’t want to pretend to be something that he wasn’t, but he stated that Atlanta isn’t just a place to live. It’s a way of life.
As far as his new home at Mercer, Bryant said he’d love to play shows here and is excited about his possible audience.
“I want people to feel good after leaving my concert or listening to my music,” Bryant said.
For more information about Will Bryant’s Music (Wiley from ATL), follow his Instagram and Twitter at @wileyatl or listen to his latest single “Beautiful Day” featuring Taylor Bennett at
soundcloud.com/wileyatl.
(09/25/15 1:20am)
Friday marked a momentous day for the city of Macon as hundreds of students from Mercer University, Wesleyan College and Middle Georgia State University flocked to the first ever Mac Party.
Designed to introduce new students to the city of Macon, the Mac Party hosted an array of local businesses, free food and interactive games for freshmen and seniors alike. They arrived by trolley and were immediately met by a colorful arrangement of booths showcasing over two-dozen of the small-scale businesses Macon is founded on.
Students could walk through Rosa Parks Square and surrounding Third Street as they picked up free goodies, or, if feeling brave, they could try their skills on the mechanical bull provided by the Crazy Bull or take a plunge on the stunt jump ride in the distance.
When questioned about what it took to put on the event, junior Justis Ward, a volunteer for the Mac Party, says the planning began back in May and hasn’t stopped since.
“It’s definitely a city-wide effort,” Ward said. “It took a lot . . . and the vendors have been planning this for at least a month now.”
The movers and shakers behind the Mac Party put together informational materials on Macon, tickets for free food and drinks, and a scavenger hunt designed to get students into the community.
In addition to fun and games, students could sit on the lawn and listen to live music provided by Corner Concerts or stay late and take the famous ‘Rock Candy Tour’ for free—all of which introduced students to the city of Macon and to each other.
“The Mac Party is super cool. I like getting to see the different businesses and restaurants out,” Mercer freshman Emily Stepp said. “It’s cool to see everyone out here with their friends getting to meet new people.”
But the Mac Party didn’t just help freshmen get to know the city of Macon. Older attendees and volunteers got a chance to explore their home too.
“I’m a junior, and they didn’t have this last year,” Ward said. “In less than 30 minutes, I know what the feel is and got to explore the downtown area . . . [the Mac Party] is new and I love it.”
As for local businesses, many feel that the Mac Party is a great way to get students in touch with the community and introduce them to new offerings.
“A lot of Mercer students haven’t known us in the past . . . but [the Mac Party] is a good way to get our name out and it’s exciting to have the community around here to support all of the students,” Kelly Evans, of Karats and Keepsakes boutique in north Macon, said.
Even with all the fun, the purpose of the event was not lost as the Mac Party offered a place for college students from all across the city to get to know each other and their new home of Macon, Georgia.