11 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(04/27/11 11:11pm)
by Kayleigh Irby
Since this is my last column as a Mercer student, I wanted to do something a little different. I want to write about what I have learned through writing this column over the past two years. As cliché as it is, I have learned beauty truly is not just skin deep. It doesn’t matter how many lash-lengthening mascaras or lip-plumping glosses you own; if you are not a beautiful person on the inside, you will not be beautiful on the outside.
So, how do you achieve inner beauty? For each person it is a unique adventure but there are a few universal similarities.
First, be a nice person. Seems simple enough, but sometimes we are so self-absorbed that we forget kind gestures like holding a door open or saying “thank you” and “excuse me.”
Second, be caring. You may think this is the same as “be nice,” but by caring I mean take time to actually care what other people say or do. When a friend wants to talk, put down the iPhone and have a conversation. When there is a fundraiser event on campus, find out what it is for and how you can get involved.
Third, be positive. Yes, we all have bad days, weeks or even months, but staying positive may help pull you out of that funk. Being a positive person is a conscious decision.
I have loved writing this column and I hope you all have loved reading it. May your life be as beautiful as you are!
Kayleigh Irby is a senior at Mercer. She attended Central Georgia Technical College and obtained her esthetics license in 2008. Irby is a journalism major and believes beauty starts with a smile and ends wherever the lip gloss takes you.
Have a question for Kayleigh? E-mail your question to askkayleigh@gmail.com
(04/13/11 10:27pm)
There are just a couple of weeks left in the school year and if you are a senior, chances are you have fallen victim to an epidemic going around campus: Senioritis.
Senioritis is a contagious feeling that affects high school and college students preparing for graduation. Symptoms can come as early as junior year and if left untreated can have a huge effect on performance.
Symptom 1: Eye-rolling
Eye rolling is one of the first symptoms to come up. It is most commonly experienced in class when a professor gives out an assignment and your first response is to roll your eyes and think, “This is stupid and I don’t want to do it.” Often eye-rolling is accompanied by a slight grunt or overly dramatic sigh.
Symptom 2: Lack of motivation
This symptom can come and go at any moment during the Senioritis epidemic. It can be confused with procrastination. However, it lasts much longer and doesn’t carry with it any feelings of anxiety or regret.
Lack of motivation also takes many forms, from not wanting to do a simple homework assignment to not wanting to write a paper or finish a large project. The symptom is at its worst when you no longer have the drive to finish projects you once enjoyed.
Symptom 3: Thinking you are a freshman again
Symptom number three is the most harmful of all the symptoms. As a freshman you stayed up until 3 a.m., ate junk food all the time and partied every weekend. As a senior, your body can no longer handle junk food at every meal followed by partying until early morning hours. You need your veggies and sleep. As a freshman, you did not have half the responsibilities you do as a senior. This symptom causes temporary responsibility-memory loss.
How to beat Senioritis
Senioritis can be harmful if left untreated. The best cure is to admit you have caught the epidemic. Realize you are having trouble focusing on school and projects.
With just a few weeks of college left, don’t start taking on new projects because it will cause you to feel overwhelmed and make Senioritis worse. To help ease the feeling that graduation will never come, count down to smaller events on your calendar like dinner with friends next weekend or the last day of class in a couple of weeks.
Finally, sit back and enjoy being in college because in a few weeks you will be considered alumni, professionals and adults. Don’t focus so much on just getting done; focus on ending this chapter of your life on a positive note.
(04/13/11 9:26pm)
Porter Patch was filled with students enjoying dancing and food last Thursday for the second annual Dating, Dancing and Desserts.
The event featured dance acts from both the Mercer and Macon communities, including Zumba Latin Dance, Mercer Dance Revolution and Chamatkaar.
There was also a silent auction where participants could bid on date ideas. Dates included dinner for two at Mirkos on Bass Road, two tickets to the Georgia Aquarium and dinner for four at Ingleside Village Pizza.
The desserts represented a variety of international cultures and were donated by students and various international organizations. Food included an assortment of American desserts as well as traditional dishes from across the world.
D3 was organized by juniors Gene Mitchell and Matt Hickman, who partnered with the Mercer International Affairs Organization to coordinate the fundraiser. Proceeds from the event benefited the Fuller Center in La Florida, Peru, by providing them with a truck and cement mixer.
The fundraiser was part of Mitchell’s and Hickman’s Mercer Service Scholar senior project and was inspired by their Mercer on Mission trip to Peru this past summer. While on the trip, the students helped build homes, which involved hauling a cement mixer a mile back and forth each day.
Mitchell said, “It would be impossible to build their homes without that kind of equipment. They have over 500 family members that need homes currently, and without the trucks they can build only 20-25 homes a year.”
Mitchell said the decision to work with MIAO made sense because both groups were hoping to host an international event.
Junior Laurel McCormack, co-president of MIAO, was enthusiastic to work with Mitchell and Hickman. She said that the event could be more beneficial with combined resources and she and her co-president, Kathleen Richardson, were happy to see money go to La Florida as they also went on the trip last summer.
McCormack said, “It was honestly one of the more rewarding things I’ve done at Mercer because it was such a diverse group coming together to help other people.” She went on to say this event is right in line with what she hopes to do in the future.
Dr. Eimad Houry, professor and chair of the political science department, said he was proud and impressed by the event.
As the faculty advisor for MIAO, Houry worked with members of the organization for several weeks to coordinate the event and also kept in close contact with Mitchell and Hickman.
Houry feels that the Fuller Center was an appropriate organization to benefit from the fundraiser. “It sounds like a real need and a very noble cause,” he said.
The number of students present at an event in the middle of the week also impressed Houry. “It really says something about our students,” he said.
If you would like to donate to the Fuller Center, visit https://www.fullercenter.org/civicrm/contribute/pcp/info?reset=1&id=122.
(04/13/11 2:55pm)
Q: What are some professional make-up looks I can try after graduation?
A: Once you have your ‘real world’ job, the days of throwing on sweats and wearing no make-up are over. You want to make a professional impression on your boss, colleagues and possible clients if you have them. You want to use products that help enhance your appearance and make you look polished and fresh.
Instead of heavy foundation, try a tinted moisturizer and balance powder like Laura Geller Balance & Brighten.
For a job interview, keep your eye make-up natural. You are there to get a job, not drinks. If you have blue eyes, try a peach or gold-based taupe shadow to help your eyes pop. If you have green eyes, try a plum liner that will make the green stand out. Brown and hazel eyes can wear any color liner or shadow, just be sure to keep colors neutral and simple for day.
Once you have the job, use make-up that keeps you looking awake so your boss knows you take pride in your career. Try Eye-Bright by Benefit Cosmetics to keep eyes looking wide awake or Bella Bamba blush (also by Benefit) to give cheeks a natural glow. Be sure to take a few products to touch up before after-work drinks with your co-workers. Some good staples to have are: oil absorbing sheets, blush, mascara and a pink or red lipstick. With these products, you can go from day to night in no time. Now go out there and make those big bucks!
Kayleigh Irby is a senior at Mercer. She attended Central Georgia Technical College and obtained her esthetics license in 2008. Since then she has worked for Ulta Cosmetics and is currently a Mark Representative. Irby is a journalism major and believes beauty starts with a smile and ends wherever the lip gloss takes you.
Have a question for Kayleigh? E-mail your question to askkayleigh@gmail.com
(04/13/11 6:00am)
[caption id="attachment_3698" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="This appetizing entree is a fresh salad with strawberries, walnuts, and lowfat dressing. It’s as healthy as it looks!"]
[/caption]
Food is culturally how Americans socialize. We enjoy going out to lunch or dinner with family and friends and ordering appetizers, meals and desserts.
It’s no wonder the website WebMD.com stated in an article in February 2010 that 63.1 percent of Americans are overweight. Some of the biggest pitfalls are choosing between healthy and unhealthy foods on the menu.
Do you know what to choose?
FAST FOOD
Most people gravitate towards salads on a fast food menu. However, salads can have hundreds of hidden calories if you’re not careful. Imagine you’re in a hurry and stop by the Wendy’s drive through. Would you choose a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or a Chicken BLT Salad with honey Dijon dressing? If you said the salad you would be consuming over 790 calories and 1,665 milligrams of sodium, compared to the burger with about 400 calories, according to the website besthealthmag.com.
Salads seem to be a healthy alternative to a burger and fries until you start adding croutons and cheese which can add over 200 calories. If you add the honey Dijon dressing you have added over 150 calories with just one pack. For the healthiest salad, ask to hold the croutons and cheese and use a low-fat or lite dressing. Also, stay away from salads with dried fruit which have high calorie and sugar counts.
RESTAURANT
With all the delicious items on a restaurant menu, choosing the healthiest entrées can be difficult. Let’s say you sit down at Applebee’s and you are torn between the Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl and the Margarita Chicken with rice and vegetables, which do you choose? If you chose the bowl, you would be eating about 1,800 calories compared to 700 calories for the other, according to the book Eat This, Not That. The margarita chicken is grilled with a light salsa and served with a single serving of rice and steamed vegetables.
The best way to navigate a menu is to look for key words. Fried, sauced and breaded are all words you should avoid. To help keep your portions under control, ask for a to-go box as soon as your food arrives and go ahead and divide your meal in half. A third rule is the 1-plus-2 rule. Chose your entrée then chose two extras for your evening out. These extras include the complementary bread, an appetizer, dessert or an adult beverage.
At Home
Going out to eat is not the only place we fail to see the truth in our food choices. Sure, those Lean Cuisine meals seem like a good choice, but are those preservatives and sodium worth feeling hungry in an hour? It is time we go back into the kitchen and learn to create meals we love that are not only delicious but also healthy.
When cooking pasta dishes, try whole-wheat pasta or be really adventurous and try grated zucchini in place of pasta. When thinly grated, zucchini has a similar texture and taste as pasta. Instead of white potatoes, try using sweet potatoes. You can cook them like white potatoes, but they pack much more flavor and nutrients.
Try cutting them into thin strips and baking at 375 degrees for delicious sweet potatoes fries. A third switch out you can try is using large Portobello mushrooms in place of meat. The mushroom has a sturdy texture and a woody taste that will make a great burger substitute.
(03/16/11 2:55pm)
[gallery]
Downtown Macon got a serious case of the blues when the third annual Blues Festival came to town Saturday, March 5.
The festival, named The Blues is Alright Tour, was held at the Macon Centerplex and combined the best of old school sounds and new school blues. The event was catered to an over 18 audience and brought out a range of cultures.
The show kicked off at 7 p.m. with a soulful band playing traditional blues. The music was a slow tempo compared to the rest of the evening, but it helped set the mood for the sounds to come.
As the first band played, the audience slowly poured in, and by the time the next set took the stage, the floor area was almost packed. The second act featured piano playing that rivaled that of John Hermann from Widespread Panic and a lead guitar that seem to sing to on its own.
Although not many people were dancing, it was hard to not tap your toes to the beats and get lost in the smooth vocals. One audience member said she loved the music because it was “sexy.”
The second set had the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along and featured female talent with a powerful voice. The music mixed traditional blues sound with remixes of today’s R&B songs like “Bust Your Windows” by Jazmine Sullivan.
Between the sets, event promoters keep the crowed hyped up by offering hors’devours to the audience in the floor seats and having a group of dancers showing their talents on stage.
Royces Foreman, also known as DJ RollsRoyce, took the opportunity to promote her business Roycevents & Sounds. She offered the crowd a chance to participate in a pre-show event that would give ticket holders a social hour with live music and dancing before their entertainment begins. Roycevents & Sounds up graded a lucky couple’s seats to front row for free.
Foreman said she wants to help entertainers by getting the crowd ready to enjoy their event beforehand. “We want entertainers to stay, hang out with us and talk to us because they are in our city,” Foreman said.
The night wasn’t filled only with sultry music, but also comedy. Although the comedy was very crude, the audience seemed to be in the right state of mind to enjoy it. They may have found it funny, but the comedy seemed to be competing with the blues and took away the chilled atmosphere created by the music.
The festival overall was a great way to pay respect to the blues, and being in the audience, you could feel all the elements that make the blues so powerful. “Tonight has the right atmosphere with the blues playing while the rain is coming down,” said Foreman. “If only it was a Monday, then it would be perfect.”
(02/24/11 1:01am)
Q: What are the necessities to take on spring break?
A: Spring break is right around the corner and no matter your destination, there are a few simple beauty items you must pack:.
1. Sunscreen! This is a must. No matter if you’re going to the beach or the mountains, your skin needs protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
2. Vaseline, one of my favorite products, helps sooth windburn, sunburn, cracked heels and chapped lips and can be used to add a dewy look to skin. There is nothing better than a product that is super affordable and has multiple uses.
3. A light scarf, layered over a simple T-shirt or tied in your hair, can take any look up a notch.
4. A bright cream blush like Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-on Cheek Tint. Applied with a light touch, the cream will give your cheeks a healthy glow and the product can double as a pretty lip balm.
5. Good moisturizer for face and body will keep skin soft and subtle, just in case you have a little spring break fling.
Kayleigh Irby is a senior at Mercer. She attended Central Georgia Technical College and obtained her esthetics license in 2008. Since then she has worked for Ulta Cosmetics and is currently a Mark Representative. Irby is a journalism major and believes beauty starts with a smile and ends wherever the lip gloss takes you.
Have a question for Kayleigh? E-mail your question to askkayleigh@gmail.com
(02/23/11 9:00pm)
[singlepic id=41 h=390 w=weight float=none]
Downtown Macon hosted the 6th annual MAGA film festival Feb. 17-20. The festival featured documentaries, student films, feature films, animation and much more. Events took place at The Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre and The Macon Marriott Center. (Kayleigh Irby/THE CLUSTER)
[nggtags gallery=film,wordpress,... ]
(02/09/11 1:28am)
Tucked away on the second floor of the Hardman Art Building is the darkroom that photography students use to create unique prints for pinhole and black and white photography.
Professor Gary Blackburn knows how to guide and push his photography and sculpture students to help grow their creativity and technique.
Professor Blackburn sits down with the Cluster.
Cluster: First things first. Where did you grow up?
Gary Blackburn: I grew up in south Texas.
C: That sounds nice. When did your interest in photography start?
GB: My interest in photography began in high school. I was more interested in how you could communicate with an image and in college, when I learned how to develop and control the process, I thought, “This is cool.”
C: Speaking of college, what did you major in at school?
GB: I got my bachelor’s at Corpus Christi State University where I majored in art and I earned my master’s in fine arts at Stephen F. Austin State University.
C: With all that school, you clearly have a passion for art. What is your favorite thing about photography?
GB: I enjoy working in black and white, and landscapes in black and white are my favorite. After a while you start to find what’s successful for you in a proof sheet and for me it was always landscapes.
C: So how did a Texas boy end up at Mercer?
GB: I was just getting out of graduate school and my wife and I looked up every college west of the Mississippi River with photography/sculpture programs and sent them a letter of interest. I ended up with a job in sculpture photography in Montgomery. Eventually a job opened up at Mercer and I took it in the fall of 1987.
C: So I guess you were destined to be east of the Mississippi. What has been your favorite part of teaching?
GB: I would have to say interacting with college-age people. I like seeing students grow from freshmen to seniors, and seeing the growth is like being a part of it.
C: So outside of teaching, are you involved in the art world?
GB: In the art world, having work shown is the same as having papers published. I have had museum shows, regional shows and a number of national competitive exhibitions.
C: With all these shows, have you had time to work on anything new?
GB: Lately I’ve been working on a piece that includes formal architecture elements held together with organic limbs. It’s a contrast of architecture and nature. I also worked on a piece outside a public library. It is a structure over 12 feet tall with abstract pieces made from scrap metal.
C: Obviously you have worked hard. Have you thought about what you will do when you retire?
GB: I will continue to make art and do a lot of fishing. Probably travel more and do the things I want to do but never have time to.
C: That sounds really nice, but for now you are still going strong as a professor. Why should students take a photography class?
GB: Students should take some type of visual course because as we get further into the digital age, we are getting more and more removed from original materials. It’s critical for everyone to work hands on.
(02/07/11 4:17am)
Given the current tense national political atmosphere, The Cluster decided to spotlight a department that teaches students to analyze and understand our country’s government. We sat down with a power-couple studying political science, Liz Bibb and Gene Mitchell.
C: Why did you choose political science as a major?
Liz Bibb: I became interested in politics during the 2008 elections. I was a senior in high school when I attended the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in which Hillary Clinton spoke. I was there working alongside the press with a group of student journalists and in that moment, I knew this is what I wanted to do with my life: political journalism. Politics is one of the most exciting things Americans can take part in, so I double majored in journalism and political sciences.
Gene Mitchell: My story is a bit shorter. I was already interested in foreign affairs when I came to Mercer. I feel like if you’re not in a major that keeps you up with current events, you’re wasting your time in college.
C: You are both very passionate about your major. After graduation, what are some career options?
G: Foreign services are a great option. I worked with foreign embassies while serving in the Marine Corps.
L: Most people assume if you are a Poli. Sci. major you are automatically going to law school, but I want to report about politics. You can also work as a political analyst or campaign coordinator.
G: Poli. Sci. is such an asset in any field because it increases your critical thinking skills, which prepare you for any career that requires quick absorption and analysis of a lot of information.
C: It sounds like Poli. Sci. really pushes you to be a more analytical student. What is your favorite part of your major?
L: When I came into the department there were three possible tracks and I chose international affairs. I really enjoy that the classes challenge me. I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time at college because I am constantly on my toes. The classes are difficult, but that comes with a sense of pride. I know the grade I get in each class is one I really worked for and deserved.
G: Politics is about educating the population in which it governs. All the tracks in the department teach a better perspective of politics.
C: You two make Poli. Sci. sound very intriguing. Makes me wish I had taken some classes!
L: Politics is a public relations game.
C: You’ve sold me. Why should other students consider Poli. Sci.?
G: First, politics influences your life in many different components, so it’s important for people to know about government and politics. Second, the professors in the Poli. Sci. department are incredibly intelligent. They care a lot about you and they want you to succeed. They want to push you to help you grow.
L: I agree. The professors in this department are incredible and we are lucky to have them. They want you to love the political field as much as they do.
C: What advice would you give someone on the fence or just starting out in the major?
L: The benefits are great, but you need to be ready to work.
G: Give it a shot and just take a class. The field isn’t for everyone and you need to be willing to put in a lot of work outside of classes to be successful. You have to care.
C: It’s clear y'all really care. What is something you have learned in the classroom that you applied in the real world?
G: I went from writing well to writing thoughtfully. You learn to articulate your thoughts and opinions which can be applied in all aspects of life. I have worked on campaigns, interned with the Department of State and helped facilitate forums for candidates.
L: I am better able to see both sides of an issue. You can’t make blanket statements and I learned to take time to form my statements and be able to back them up.
G: And we both went with the department on Mercer on Mission to Moldova over the summer. I think these classes make you think more broadly.
C: One last question. Who is your favorite professor?
L: I am a political science major. I know better than to answer that question.
(01/31/11 11:20pm)
New Year’s Day is viewed as a fresh start, a chance to begin again, so people make big com- mitments to themselves about things like getting healthier or more organized. But why do we promise ourselves things we can’t, and don’t, keep? This year, instead of making resolu- tions of grandeur, let’s find new and exciting ways to break these New Year’s regulations. After all, rules are made to be broken.
Eating Healthier:
Better eating habits are always on the list of top New Year’s Resolutions. Come Jan. 1, we swear off all fast food, throw out all our cookies and vow to eat more fruits and veggies. But, two days into the diet, we pass by a cupcake shop and stare longingly at the icing, then break down and pig out. So why not just indulge to begin with? Eating well-balanced, healthy meals is important, but so is keeping our sanity. A fun way to break this resolution is to have a baking party with your friends. Everyone brings a different home-baked treat and recipe to swap. You can even keep the treats semi-healthy by trying vegan or fruit-based desserts.
Saving Money:
With the economic climate still fair, saving money is a smart
resolution, but not a fun one. For every penny added to the piggy bank you think of some- thing fun you could be buy- ing, like new shoes, trip to the movies or dinner with friends. But, like the healthier eating plans, occasionally break- ing this resolution can be fun. Give yourself small goals and rewards to start. Try saving $5 a week for a month then buy a small treat like a new accessory or used video game. Soon you will be saving money without even knowing it. Just be sure to splurge once in a while so you don’t become a Scrooge.
Read More:
Promising that you will read a Dickens novel by Valentine’s Day is a great resolution, but as college students we can barely get our required reading fin- ished without adding mounds of “just for fun” reading as- signments. If you must read more, pick up a magazine (or newspaper), sit back and enjoy breaking your ambitious reso- lution. No, you won’t be able to boast about your long per- sonal reading list, but you will be up to date on some current events. Technically you are reading more and instead of forcing yourself to focus, you can enjoy a little break from your studies.
Get Organized:
They say if you get organized, you can get more stuff done. Sometimes, though, trying to get and stay organized can be
Kayleigh Irby/ Cluster Staff
Many resolutions become obsolete when sugar cookies are brought into the equation. Realize some goals are either unachievable or pointless. It’s better to enjoy your year.
more stressful than letting your stuff be a little messy. The best way to break this resolution (without losing your home- work) is to keep a designated disorganized area in your room. Life is forced to be organized enough and having a little place to throw stuff without worry can help relieve some stress.
Study More:
Getting good grades in college is great, but it’s not everything. College is about the experi- ence you have and the people you meet along the way. The best way to break this resolu- tion, without feeling too guilty, is to have a study group. Invite some friends over to review chapter notes and eat good food. Soon, studying and tests
will be a distant memory and you will be having fun. If you have been studying a lot re- cently, chances are you haven’t had much fun and blowing off steam can help boost your grades. After all, your brain can hold only so much infor- mation. So go ahead, take a lit- tle break. There is always time tomorrow for studying.