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(04/25/13 5:33pm)
Holly Burrell:
When I accepted the challenge of reminiscing about my time at Mercer, I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. Then I struggled with words for a while. Then I thought about sending in a piece of paper with tears and smiles drawn all over it because I honestly cannot think of a better way to summarize how I feel about my home for the past four years. Sometimes I’ve wished to be elsewhere. Sometimes I’ve wanted to go back to Carrollton to see my parents. But I’ve found that living life at Mercer is like any good relationship: sometimes it’s hard and sometimes you want to give up, but if you stick through the tough times, it can be the most rewarding experience of your life. I came to Mercer thinking that I was going to study a lot, never procrastinate, and find my fulfillment in straight A’s (no joke). Mercer has since given me a slap upside the head and reminded me that life is more than academic and professional success. Instead, it is about having a little fun, serving the community we are in, learning to deal and laugh when times get tough, finding your faith, making friends, and loving through brokenness. Sometimes people treat college as a stepping-stone that isn’t really reflective of “real” life. While that is true on some level, I think that Mercer has taught us what is important and how to strike a balance between things that matter a little and things that matter a lot. This is our real adult life, and we are living it. I originally fell in love with Mercer in the spring of 2008 for the beautiful campus. The honeymoon period is long over, but I am still in love with Mercer University because of the lessons I’ve learned and the people I’ve learned to love.
Brittani Howell:
I honestly don’t know how to sum up my time at Mercer, and that’s partly because it doesn’t feel like it’s over yet. In a month plus a day, I will board a plane for Thailand to teach English for ten months with Service First—something I probably would not have done if not for Mercer and the experiences it granted me with Mercer on Mission. The reality that I am leaving has not sunk in yet. Earlier today, I was walking across the Quad toward the CCJ, looking at the white admin tower against the glorious blue spring sky, and I thought, “This isn’t really happening, is it? There’s no way.” I meandered over to Jesse’s Plaza, toward the bench where my favorite Mercer picture was taken: myself and my five closest friends from freshman year, laughing and falling all over each other in a chaotic pile. I gave Jesse’s head a rub as I passed, more for the familiarity of the gesture than anything else.
I could not begin to thank all of the people who deserve it for getting me through my college experience—friends, family and professors who listened to my stress and my woes and celebrated my triumphs. When I came here, I did not expect to find such a nurturing community: one where professors invited me to their offices and their home, and gave me books, encouragement and much-needed advice. I owe so much to Mercer’s travel programs that allowed me to visit ten different countries during my undergrad career, to The Cluster for turning me into a journalist and to the friends who helped me grow (and put up with my less-than-graceful growing pains).
Mercer—and Macon, really, and everyone I’ve known in those two communities—has worked its way into the bedrock of who I am, and it will continue be part of me as I build on that foundation. Maybe that’s why I feel like I’m not really leaving. In a way, a part of me will always be here, and a part of here will always be with me.
Suzanne Stroup:
My time at Mercer has been filled with art and beauty. I know that sounds really cheesy, but as a journalism and theatre double major, I’ve been supremely lucky to be surrounded by so much talent.
Freshman year, I did a show at a local theatre instead of auditioning for Mercer theatre right off the bat (because, if I’m totally honest with myself, I was completely intimidated by the Mercer Players). As I was sitting in Jay Black’s office after my show closed, he told me that I needed to get involved with Mercer theatre. Then I auditioned for Cinders the next semester, and the rest is history.
I’ve been in 12 shows in the past three and a half years, and have seen countless more. I’ve been lucky to get to participate in my passion in so many capacities, from learning about production and performance theory from Marian Zielinski, to performing my hour long senior performance project, to seeing shows for free. Now that I have a professional acting job lined up after graduation, I realize how much of an incubator this program has been for me and I couldn’t be more excited to see what the Mercer Players are going to do after the current seniors leave.
At that same meeting with Jay freshman year, he also told me that I needed to get more involved with The Cluster and journalism through Mercer. I didn’t take him up on that advice until my senior year, but I’m so glad that I did. I’ve made some really great friends through working on The Cluster, and have made some really good memories. I’ve learned so much from the other editors and writers, and I wish I had gotten involved much earlier.
I’m really going to miss this place and all of the people that made it feel like home, and I know that Mercer is going to thrive to a level that we can’t even fathom once we’re gone.
Shawn Patterson:
I started at Mercer as a transfer student. As a transfer student it was not easy to meet friends, and on top of that I didn’t live on campus. During my first year at Mercer I kept to myself. I didn’t talk to people much and went home right after classes. I later learned that treating college this way wouldn’t work. College is about the experiences as well the education. If I had stayed to myself I would missed half of the college experience. It was not until I was well within my ‘major’ classes that I started making friends. I started to get involved with some of the clubs around campus,too. Over my last two years I have worked on some projects that have helped me move towards what I hope to do for the rest of my life. Through these projects I have made valuable contacts in my career field.
Through all my experiences I would have to say the best piece of advice is to be yourself, but don’t be too shy. Get involved with your major, clubs and activities. Go have fun! College is about having fun and learning both academically and through new life experiences.
(04/10/13 2:28pm)
The Georgia Department of Education recently received six letters of intent to establish charter schools in Bibb County. This wave of state charter school activity follows the ratification of Amendment 1 in the Georgia Constitution.
Amendment 1, sometimes called the Georgia Charter Schools Amendment, gives the state the right to grant permission in the commissioning of a charter school.
For people devoted to education, state-commissioned charter schools bring up a controversial debate. On the positive side of the spectrum, people see the state as bringing change in a failing district. Critics, however, oppose the state’s step toward privatization for charter schools.
Many residents of Bibb County and other districts where charter schools emerge misconceive basic concepts about the establishment and functioning of charter schools in general.
Charter schools choose to be public schools and operate under similar districting guidelines. They differ from state-funded public schools in that a group of individuals or groups from a community come together to found the school. These individuals write a charter for their particular school based on the needs present in the local community’s education system.
The community identifies an imperative education need and aims to accommodate this need in the charter, the formal document authorizing the school.
Dr. Margaret Morris, the Chair-Teacher of Education at Mercer University said a common myth concerning charter schools centers on their ability to do whatever they want. This myth is completely false. Although charter schools are not required to follow all state regulations, they must be in accordance with all federal regulations for public schools, especially those dealing with health and safety.
As a result of all the community confusion surrounding charter schools, the Georgia Charter School Association is giving residents of Bibb County an opportunity to learn more about how charter schools work.
The first of these opportunities will be an informational community meeting held on April 22 at Lundy Missionary Baptist Church from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The second opportunity will be April 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is at the same location as the first meeting and is a workshop titled Charter Development 101.
Three basic structures of charter schools exist: conversion, where a school already in existence is reformed into a charter school; start-up, where the school does not exist prior to its founding of a charter, and state commissioned charter schools. The majority of charter schools in Georgia are start-up charter schools.
In Bibb County, the six charter schools’ letters of intent have been sent to the Department of Education with only five of the six being confirmed as signed. The six charter schools in the works for Bibb County are Perkins’ and Stokes’ Academy for Classical Education, Georgia Charter Education Foundation, the STEAM Academy of Macon, MTC Academy Charter Middle School, Macon Charter Academy, and Stone Academy.
Most of these potential charter schools plan to begin with only a few grade levels and expand in the coming years.
In order for these charter schools to become a reality, they must apply for their charter through the local school board.
“It is very important for the local school system to be a part of charter schools,” said Morris.
While not acting as a governing body, it is instrumental for a charter school’s success to work side-by-side with the local school board.
A charter school possesses its own governing body called a charter school governing board. At times Education Management Organizations step in to help manage charter schools. EMOs are for-profit and manage about thirty percent of all charter schools.
(04/10/13 2:11pm)
Experience the crafts, pets, food and carousel
David Riley, the office manager of Smiley’s Flea Market, sold outdoor table spaces to vendors, whom he called by name, on a Friday morning before the weekend business hours began, telling the vendors to be sure to be set up by 8:00 a.m.
“Flashlights and headlights, you know they’ll be out here, “ Riley said to a vendor who wanted to rent a table to sell yard-sale type items. Gates open for vendors on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 5:00 a.m., but most vendors arrive much earlier to try to beat the crowd.
Smiley’s Flea Market, located on Hawkinsville Road just a few miles from the interstate, caters to buyers and sellers alike with over 15,00 total indoor and outdoor rental table spaces and an almost excessive variety of goods and services waiting to be found.
Anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 people visit Smiley’s on an average weekend, but Riley said tax season and spring season are their busiest times of year.
Smiley’s claims to be Georgia’s largest and finest flea market and are devoted to creating a positive experience for everyone involved.
Carl Dorego, the manager, said that since Smiley’s is a family-owned business, it strives to be family-oriented in its operations.
Holiday events add to the family-oriented atmosphere. The most recent celebration featured an Easter egg hunt, and even the Easter bunny was in attendance.
Riley said, “Smiley’s is one of the best places I’ve ever had the opportunity to work for.”
Try to let the name fool you because you certainly will have a smile on your face walking around the grounds. Decorated with colorful, triangular banners and even boasting a carousel where kids can catch a ride for only a buck, Smiley’s in Macon treats its customers and vendors to a distinctive and amusing experience, while also being safe and clean.
Fragrant oils, furniture, custom belts made to order, appliances, self-defense tools and a variety of baked goods are consistent goods offered at Smiley’s. Local craftspeople, however, travel near and far to showcase their one-of-a-kind treasures.
Once a month, Smiley’s gives away a free table to non-profit organizations who aim to educate the public.
Transitory vendors, who are usually only passing through, offer unique pottery, antique Civil War collectibles, handmade chairs and tables, custom birdhouses, custom fishing lures and handmade knives, and even clothing made by hand.
These types of vendors remain on the road, trekking from one flea market to another and selling their custom creations along the way.
Dorego said the craziest thing he ever saw being sold at Smiley’s were little animals nicknamed sugar gliders, what he described as tiny flying squirrels.
For the people who experience hunger and thirst after shopping, there exists plenty of cuisine to choose from: Jamaican food, authentic Spanish cuisine, BBQ, Cuban food and even carnival-like food. All vendors wishing to sell baked goods must follow Bibb County Health Department regulations.
Smiley’s always searches for ways to expand. Soon they will demolish the back half of the antique market to make room for a new farmer’s market. The farmer’s market will sell a variety of fruit, vegetables and plants.
Other Smiley’s Flea Market locations include Fletcher, N.C., and an antique mall in Micanopy, Fla.
(04/10/13 2:00pm)
Last weekend was about supporting cancer survivors, remembering loved ones and battling against the elusive disease, as both Mercer and Wesleyan held their Relay for Life events.
Mercer hosted its Relay for Life April 5 on the intramural courts in the University Center from 6-11 p.m.
Different Mercer organizations set up tables or areas for their activities, which included the Relay for Life committee’s photo booth and KA’s water pong table. The Phi Mu table provided a tie-dye station; Delta Sigma Pi had a cookie decoration booth; and Alpha Phi Omega named their table “Beads and Beef,” where customers could make nachos, tacos, and jewelry.
Mercer alumni Brian Apling was the designated speaker, sharing the story of his wife, Catherine, also a Mercer alumna and a survivor of breast cancer. She celebrated five years cancer-free this year. Apling told the crowd how the cancer affects their family and why it is important to support the American Cancer Society. He emphasized how important the caregiver role is while battling cancer.
Relay for Life is a very important event to the Aplings for several reasons, especially because Brian proposed to Catherine at the first Relay she celebrated cancer-free.
After Apling finished speaking, Relay volunteers participated in a luminary ceremony, writing down cancer patients they wanted to honor or remember. When the crowd was asked if they had family or friends affected by cancer, every single participant stood up.
Relay committee member and Phi Mu team member, Molly Anderson explained why Relay is important to so many on a college campus.
“It connects us to community and other schools and gets us involved in things other than Mercer-related events,” said Anderson.
Mercer Law team member, Minerva Steele, had a similar opinion about the importance of Relay, saying, “[Relay for Life] brings attention to a problem by people who might not know about it already – people with enough energy and time to help.”
Mercer’s Relay volunteers concluded the night learning a group dance and participating in line dances.
So far, Mercer’s Relay for Life has raised $3,300.
Wesleyan’s Relay for Life event also drew a crowd on Friday, April 5 to raise money for cancer research through the American Cancer Society.
Attendees enjoyed face painting, henna tattoos, ice cream bars, sand art and a moon bounce. Wesleyan also sold t-shirts to further contribute to the money they raised for Relay for Life.
The event was originally scheduled to take places outdoors on Wesleyan’s quad, but due to the chilly temperatures it was moved to the dining hall.
The change in location did not subdue the excitement in the air, however, as attendees and volunteers gathered for this event. Smiling faces filled the crowd with the knowledge that their temporary fun would bring long-lasting help to those affected by cancer.
Everyone at Relay has a story. Each participant has been affected by cancer in one way or another. Some come to honor survivors, some come to remember lost loved ones and others come to celebrate as a survivor.
Relay volunteer and Wesleyan student Blaire Bagwell relays in honor of her grandfather who is battling cancer for the second time.
“He is such a genuinely sweet and caring individual, and has impacted my life in every capacity,” said Bagwell. “Meeting him, you would have no idea he has anything to worry about. I strive to live life as he does, and thank God for placing such remarkable role model in my life.”
Relay for Life events mean so much to so many people because this organization is truly making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
Bibb County will be hosting their all night Relay for Life event on May 13 at Al Sihah Shrine Park.
During these events, participants walk around a track to honor others or to celebrate their own triumph over cancer. They will also light luminaries with the names of their loved ones written on them.
Relay for Life raises money for the American Cancer Society. And the Relay does even more than fundraising, its events, held nationwide, give people closure, a way to give back and most importantly hope for the future.
The American Cancer Society works “to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.” That includes informing people about cancer, helping current patients and conducting cancer research in order to find a cure.
Relay for Life is a large part of supporting the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life events are now held in 21 countries, and have raised nearly $3 billion to date.
(03/27/13 2:07pm)
The Mercer Service Scholars Class of 2014 hosted a 5K race Saturday, Mar. 23, to raise funds for the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing in Kerala, India. They dubbed their event the Curry Scurry—“a catchy race name that also encapsulates Indian culture,” said cohort-member Lindsey Autry.
The race lasted an hour while runners scurried around Mercer’s campus and finished in Mercer Village.
In accordance with the Service Scholar program requirements, the group traveled on mission to India last summer to help the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing in the construction of homes. One part of their mission included a fundraising effort for the Fuller Center in Kerala.
“We set a goal of $5,000 because that’s how much one house costs to build,” said Autry.
After settling on a 5K race as the fundraising method, the group began organizing the event and splitting responsibilities with Kelsey Jones and Gillian Ford spearheading the bulk of the project.
“Everyone has little tasks, like I’m picking up fruit and granola before the race on Saturday,” Autry said about the combined efforts of the entire cohort.
Jones and Ford met with city officials to make sure the race was feasible and gathered sponsors from around the community.
Jones called sponsorship the biggest obstacle, yet she said it also allowed a unique opportunity for the MSS class to tell stories of their experience in India. She said “it took a long time to find and spark interest in sponsors mostly because it’s hard for people to relate to a cause benefitting somewhere a half world away.”
Despite the hardships, Jones said great sponsors who are fully supportive of the cause have endowed the event.
Jones said she and Ford wanted to personally extend a thank you to all of the sponsors: Signature Salon and Spa, Karats and Keepsakes, Macon Nail and Tan, Fountain Carwash, College Hill Alliance, Roadld, Runfit Sports, Macon T-shirts, Mrs. Dianne Fuller of the Fuller Center for Housing, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Dr. Chris Grant, Dr. Mary Alice Morgan, Dr. Mary Ann Drake, Miss Chelsea Flieger, and Mercer Police and Chief Collins.
The sponsors’ role with the event lessened out-of-pocket costs for the 5K, including the alleviation of a t-shirt fee added to the cost of registration for runners. Efforts to keep registration fees low allowed more people to sign up for the run.
A discount for Mercer students, faculty, and staff was provided to lower costs to ten dollars, a more reasonable amount for college students to pay.
Sponsors also ensured all profits for the event would be sent to the Fuller Center in India by helping fund other additional costs.
Usually police who offer their services to 5K runs must be paid, however, Mercer Police decided to work the event as a part of their normal hours with essentially four officers on-duty to cover the event. Jones and Ford especially appreciate their efforts and cooperation.
“Undertaking a 5K alone is not so bad, but prior commitments stretched both of us to the thinnest,” Jones said of her and Ford’s work with the project. “Support from others and [the donations from] sponsors made everything easier, but it was a learning experience all the same.”
(03/27/13 2:04pm)
On-campus bands tour, record CDs, play shows
Original music created by students is hiding right under the nose of the Mercer community, existing as unknown components to the university’s culture. On-campus bands, however, are now aiming to release their music and expand interest for Mercer’s blossoming underground music scene.
Dustin Murdock, Andrew Bennett and Leland Rayner comprise the rhythm section of Mercer’s jazz band. Each also works on multiple side projects and were eager for the opportunity to talk about them.
Murdock, a first year student who plans to major in music performance, is the guitar player for a band called Xavii, named after a song reference from a group called the Russian Circles.
“We gig out a whole lot,” Murdock said, concerning their extensive performance schedule. Last summer Xavii toured all the way to Boston and back.
When the group began releasing albums, other people asked Xavii to produce their music. So the members of Xavii thought of starting their own record label, and Macon Noise Records was born.
“Ideally we want to work our way up to touring self-sufficiently [in order] to make money,” Murdock said. “In the event of unexpected success, I will probably stop going to school.”
“I think that making original, new music is akin to a spiritual endeavor,” he said.
Murdock wants to encourage the student body to go downtown and support local music. Murdock believes that, culturally, Macon is missing a youthful element, and music is the missing link to enrich the lives of students as a whole.
Xavii’s music is available for listening at xavii.bandcamp.com.
Bennett, a music performance major, and Rayner, an environmental policy major, along with a third band member, form Otic Collusion. Otic Collusion can be defined as a progressive instrumental sound.
Fairly new to the music scene, Otic Collusion has only been together since August. Currently, they are writing music and preparing work for an album, which they hope to have out before they begin to perform more.
Bennett described the band’s sound as “music for musicians, inspired by uber musicians who do clinics.” Clinics are master classes of music outside of classes offered by universities. Musicians who do clinics talk about their approaches to different aspects of music.
Although their music is not as accessible as pop, the group doesn’t seem too worried about not being mainstream. “We make more scholarly music. We want to be acknowledged in the music community for talent,” Bennett said.
In addition to Otic Collusion, Rayner plays bass and keyboard for Dirty Sound Professors. Dirty Sound Professors played at the Big Bird Bash in March and are also the winners of Quadwork’s Battle of the Bands.
The band’s name originated because they had a gig booked and lacked a name. The original bass player went on Google to a band name generator site, and it produced the name Dirty Sound Professors.
Although it began as a cover band, the Dirty Sound Professors have recently started writing original material. DSP has recorded three songs at Shadow Studios downtown and plan to finish an album this summer. The money won through the Battle of the Bands competition is going toward funding their album.
Rayner described DSP’s sound as a layered mix of southern, classic rock with a funky vibe and a harder edge, but also textured with depth. Each member of the band brings his own unique flavor to the music.
DSP has opened for The Works and The Lee Boys, an opportunity Rayner called “a great honor.” Rayner believes in the music the Dirty Sound Professors are producing and says their strongest aspect is their live shows. He said, “with our showmanship, we can compete with top bands because we love playing together, and it shows onstage.”
Anyone can listen to the band’s music for free at dirtysoundprofessors.bandpage.com.
Mercer students John Maddox and Will Childress comprise Perfect // Stranger, which Maddox described as “an ambient, indie-rock band.”
The band formed in January, with Maddox doing guitar and vocals and Childress playing drums and the occasional guitar.
“We are hoping to get some shows together soon,” said Maddox. They are also working on material for an EP. Perfect // Stranger is playing a show at Jittery Joe’s on April 10.
They also have a page on Facebook where fans can listen to a short demo.
(03/06/13 5:27pm)
Confections! concert features jazz, hip-hop, West African influences
Hayiya Dance Theatre, Inc. celebrated its 16th anniversary with ‘Confections!’ on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Douglass Theatre.
The show featured contemporary and jazz performances, hip-hop collaborations and concluded with a spirited West African piece - the style of dance the company is best known for.
Sweet-flavored routines launched the show, followed by excerpts from Hayiya, Inc.’s upcoming fall concert ‘Off the Wall.’ The show finished with a reunion act, which included former members from the original dance group.
Djembe, conga and dundun drums reverberated from the inside of the theatre throughout the reunion finale, played live by local community volunteers. These drums are traditional to West African culture.
Current members of the company learn how to play percussion instruments in addition to dance lessons.
Pilar Wilder founded Hayiya, Inc. (pronounced ha-ye-yah) in 1997 on the campus of Wesleyan College, but the group was called Harambee African Tribal Sounds Unlimited back then.
Today, Wilder works as the Artistic Director for Hayiya, Inc., the oldest West African dance ensemble in Macon.
With three studio locations and 11 performances just last week, the ensemble stays busy, especially during Black History Month when the group performed over 25 times.
Wilder said the group receives so many opportunities to dance before others because of their reputation and high energy.
Recently, Hayiya, Inc. performed alongside Ugandan Thunder, a children’s choir, to help raise money for Pennies for Posho, a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding children in Africa.
“It feels like the community is saying thank you back to us,” Wilder said, in response to the unending support through donations and volunteers.
Wilder feels people in the community take note of her aim to positively challenge her students, to “give them something beyond what they thought they could do.” She wants students to be proud of their accomplishments.
At one time, Wilder funded all of Hayiya, Inc.’s vast productions. However, now the non-profit organization engages itself in the community with initiatives, such as their scholarship fund and Arts in Education.
Stained Glass, the annual fundraiser concert, helps raise scholarship money for dancers who wish to pursue their dreams of higher education, while also serving as a missionary outlet for the dance company. Wilder believes community engagement and the ministry of God go hand in hand.
Coming to the Grand Opera House on March 24, the recital interweaves James Weldon Johnson’s seven sermonic poems entitled God’s Trombones with dance and music. The collection of poems tells the story of man’s existence from beginning to end.
Wilder created the name for the performance, Stained Glass, by referring to human beings as “stained sinners because of our imperfections, but [like glass] we are also reflections of God’s image.”
The Arts in Education program supports the integration of dance and music into school curriculum to promote creativity and success.
In the fall Hayiya Dance Theater, Inc. will perform ‘Off the Wall,’ a concept of bringing paintings alive through dance. Wilder borrowed the concept from Jonathan Green, an artist in Charleston, N.C.
Wilder hopes to highlight local painters, potters and photographers to further involve the community in her efforts to tell the stories of particular pieces of art with dance.
(03/06/13 3:55pm)
To the Editor,
In a 2007 Harvard University study, it was stated that, “…where there are more guns, there are more suicides.
The higher suicide rates result from higher firearm suicides…” The statistics on gun deaths in our country are disturbing.
For young people, gun homicides and gun suicides are the second and third biggest causes of deaths.
We need relevant information on the dangers of guns and then we should take action.
The tragic murder/suicide at Sandy Hook Elementary may have brought attention to matter of gun violence, but the ensuing discussion has largely ignored the facts about gun deaths.
The most likely person to be killed by a gun is its owner, and the next most likely person is a family member.
This may help explain the surge in popularity of voluntary gun buyback programs.
Earlier this month the city of College Park, Ga., held a gun buyback event.
Citizens were paid $100-$150 for their firearms. These guns will be destroyed, forever removing their risk of misuse from the community.
I hope students will petition the Macon city council to emulate the College Park gun buyback program.
Take care,
Don McAdam
6422 Vernon Woods Dr.
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
(02/20/13 3:34pm)
Mercer students’ efforts with the AVID tutoring program expand this semester to include five of the seven Bibb County middle schools.
Students began involvement last semester by facilitating tutorials at four local middle schools in conjunction with their service-learning classes.
Advancement Via Individual Determination launched at the beginning of the Fall 2012-2013 school year in all of the Bibb County middle schools but began nationwide in 1980.
Since its conception, the AVID program has helped improve the reading, organization, writing, inquiry, and collaboration skills of the students involved. The program targets seventh and eighth graders.
Senior Vice Provost for Service Learning and Mercer professor, Mary Alice Morgan, said the cohort-type program follows students to their high school graduation and focuses on students most likely to take advantage of the intervention. Morgan expects the program to “stem the tide of dropouts” in the area.
Southwest High School, the school most of Bibb county middle schools feed into, holds the eighth highest dropout rate in the state of Georgia, but results from nationwide AVID efforts hint at the promise of change.
Ninety percent of AVID graduates from the state of Georgia plan to enroll in a college or university, according to the AVID Center Senior Data Collection System.
AVID’s mission is to allow all students the opportunity to pursue the college dream by providing college students as role models representing where the children want to be in the future.
Morgan calls it a “win-win situation because [college] students get the benefit of viewing education differently while also giving back to the Macon community.”
The GEAR UP federal grant program, funded by the Department of Education, made AVID possible for schools in the Bibb County region.
GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The program provides seven-year grants to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools.
No grant yet exists to include additional grade levels, but with teachers already trained in the program’s operations, Bibb County schools want to maintain and reach more students if possible, Morgan said.
AVID selects children for participation and places them into an elective class. Unlike traditional subject learning, the program focuses on problem-solving techniques with a foundation of inquiry.
Children present a Point of Confusion to their classmates and are asked probing questions in order to solve the problem for themselves.
College tutors, including those from Mercer, serve alongside the students and are a critical component for the program’s success. Tutors are trained in the procedures of the tutorial process before sessions with students begin.
Josh Funderburke, a first year student who tutors double the required once-a-week visit, said he only wants to set an example for the students and have them respect him.
Commuter Kaitlynn Jones, who tutors at Ballard Hudson Middle School, said the teacher engages students by using clapping and hand movements, so students know it’s time to “dive into” their work.
Along with classroom tutorials, AVID students may enjoy field trips to nearby colleges or “Gear Up for College Days” Saturday events hosted by Mercer University. During the events, students partake in science labs while parents attend workshops.
Chelsea Flieger, Director of the Center for Leadership and Volunteerism, said the Saturday events received positive feedback last semester: 96 percent of teachers and parents said they would recommend the program to others.
Many Mercer volunteers from last semester returned this semester. Although the current program contains only students in service-learning curriculum, other trained volunteers may be accepted in the future, according to Flieger.
(02/20/13 3:19pm)
Home connotes feelings of warmth and comfort, but families devastated by illness lack that homey environment when they have to stay in hospitals and hotel rooms. Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation provide families going through difficult times of sickness with a home-away-from-home.
Fortunately for Mercer students and organizational groups, the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia, located just a few blocks away from campus on Forsyth Street, is always seeking compassionate and eager volunteers to help make the House a “home.” Whether affiliated with a group or serving as an individual, anyone 16 years or older can offer his or her personal skills to support the nonprofit organization and families staying there.
“The Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia is an organization where you get to meet a lot of great people who truly appreciate the services the volunteers provide,” said House Manager and Volunteer Coordinator Keysha Smith. She said volunteers make the burden of disease easier for the families.
Individual volunteer positions available include office and managerial assistance, greeting families and sponsors, cleanup and fixing-up the House, gardening, staffing booths at festivals or exhibits, mailing or fundraising. Basic tasks range from making brownies to making beds.
Smith said that personable and well-rounded people are the best type of volunteers for the service opportunities available at the House. However, she said volunteers usually interact more with caregivers than with patients themselves.
With only six staff members (three full-time and three part-time) and shifts beginning Monday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m., the House never ceases to need more volunteers. On the last Wednesday of each month, the House holds volunteer training sessions so volunteers can become acclimated with the sorts of tasks they will be performing.
The House especially searches for volunteers when they have upcoming events. On March 16 the Sixth Annual Pull for the House will take place downtown, and on April 3-6 the Pro-Am Horse Show will take place at the Perry Agriculture Center. Both of these events are in high need for volunteers.
Group service opportunities include sponsoring meals for the families or hosting a donation drive based on the necessities of the House.
Most group volunteers usually reserve volunteer times on the weekends. A maximum of 12 people per group is requested, and there is no appointment or orientation process necessary for groups.
Efforts are made to accommodate skills set with the type of tasks assigned to each volunteer, whether that be making a bed or taking out the trash. A certain flexibility, however, is required from volunteers.
Callie Sartain, a freshman who has volunteered a few times at the Ronald McDonald House with her sorority, said “it feels really nice to be able to provide a home cooked meal to help those away from their own homes.”
Sartain gave this advice for first time volunteers at the House: “go with an open heart, an open mind and a cheerful attitude.”
First time volunteers will be assigned a position where they feel most comfortable completing the task and may even be paired with an experienced volunteer.
Applications for individual volunteers are available at the Ronald McDonald House website (www.rmhccga.org), and additional questions concerning volunteer opportunities may be directed to hm@rmhccga.org.
(02/20/13 3:16pm)
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) appreciated the compliments Mr. Ellis outlined in the unfortunately titled opinion piece Academic Resource Center: poorly staffed, poorly funded.
As Mr. Ellis stated, the ARC is “always here to help” and we do indeed help boost the grades, cash flows, and resumes of Mercer students.
The ARC strives to support Mercer students academically through our Supplemental Instruction (SI) and tutoring programs.
We also take pride in supporting students professionally by providing jobs to many students through our lab assistant, tutor, and SI leader positions.
In this brief follow-up comment, we would like to offer some background information about some of the staffing issues Mr. Ellis raised.
The ARC operates on a budget that, like the budgets of many other campus departments, does often get stretched to its limits.
We prioritize our staffing based on factors such as outreach potential, demand, and historical trends.
Direct support for students at all levels of study and in each subject taught at Mercer might be an optimum solution, but the targeted support we provide leverages our resources so that we reach a broad audience as students embark on the University’s core academic programs.
When we are unable to accommodate specific tutoring requests, we connect students with useful web resources, meet with students individually to discuss their study skills, and hold workshops on how to study specific subjects.
As does any employer, the ARC first defines our positions and subsequently fills them according to established hiring procedures.
Our hiring managers respond to student and professor inquiries about ARC staffing through courteous and professional dialogue.
When students speak to supervisors about available positions, we ask them to complete an application that we will keep on file or we suggest a better time for them to look for available positions (beginning or end of each semester).
We do not coordinate or sponsor any volunteer tutoring.
The ARC deeply appreciates the amount of support we have received from Mercer students, faculty, and administration through the years.
Be assured, we will welcome and be happy to plan for opportunities that allow us to expand ARC offerings and our great student staff!
In the meantime, come find us in the breezeway of Connell Student Center or look us up at mercer.edu/arc.
Jenny Zimmerman,
Director
Stephanie Mooring,
Assistant Director
Emmilee Mercer,
Administrative Coordinator
(02/07/13 4:26pm)
Dear Mercer family,
In response to the announcement of Mr. Erick Erickson as this year’s Founders’ Day speaker, a few students and faculty have voiced concerns about his previous controversial statements that have resurfaced this week in light of his most recent career move. Many students and faculty have questioned his place among previous Founders’ Day speakers like the Honorable Judge Yvette Miller, Donald Baxter, Sam Oni, and the late Ferrol Sams.
While the Student Government Association does not endorse Mr. Erickson’s political beliefs or the manner in which he may have previously communicated his views, we stand by his selection as a Founders’ Day speaker. In keeping with tradition, this year’s event will be an opportunity for students to hear from a prominent alumnus about his experience at Mercer University and how that experience shaped his future. As in the past, the speaker was chosen because of his distinction as an alumnus and success in his chosen profession. Mr. Erickson’s political beliefs will not be the focus of the Founders’ Day event.
As Mercerians, we pride ourselves in upholding a community of respect on campus in which dialogue welcomes opposing and diverse views when expressed with professionalism and consideration for others. Let us not abandon these principles at the first sign of controversy. Regardless of Mr. Erickson’s political standpoint or candor, he should be welcomed back into this community as a Mercerian to be heard and respected by our faculty, staff, and students.
This Founders’ Day, our campus has a great opportunity to show that our principles at Mercer are more than rhetoric and Mercerians are a community regardless of race, beliefs, or religion. Founders' Day is not a political forum, but a celebration of the uniqueness of our Mercer community and its impact on each of our lives when we allow our actions to be driven by our principles, not our emotions.
However, in light of the concerns several of our faculty and students have expressed, SGA is coordinating an additional event on February 13 with Mr. Erickson on “Civility in Politics.” We are pleased that Mr. Erickson has agreed to attend this event and field questions about his role in national politics. As a community of respect that embraces a diversity of opinions, we believe that it is our role to seek out and create environments where thoughtful and respectful dialogue can take place on a wide range of topics. This event will be held in Conference Room 1 of the Connell Student Center at 2 PM and we encourage all to attend.
Please join us in sharing with others the importance of our response to this event in maintaining a community of respect. If anyone has questions or concerns, please contact us directly so that we might hear your views and explain our own.
God bless and go Bears,
Mollie Davis and Joshua Lovett
Student Government Association President and Vice President
mercerusga@gmail.com
(01/23/13 3:55pm)
Dear Editor,
Thank you for your Nov. 28, 2012, Opinions column about the 24-Hour study room at Tarver Library. This kind of study space was one of the things that students asked for specifically as we planned the new library back in the 1980s and since we opened Tarver in 1990, it has been a very popular part of our services. Just in Fall 2012, we had over 2,475 students use their BearCards to enter the area after hours.
I wanted to let you know that the 24-hour area group study rooms were repainted over the 2012 Christmas break and the whole place got a good cleaning. We hope students will be glad for a spruced up space.
Again, thanks for your comments about our popular student space. I’d be glad to answer any other questions you might have.
Beth Hammond
Dean of University Libraries
(01/23/13 3:55pm)
Dear Cluster Staff Members:
I just want to say to you all personally, via email, what an awesome job to see how the Cluster has grown from the paper it used to be. I am very proud to say that every article is filled with a chock full of information! Sometimes I feel as if I were reading the daily Macon Telegraph. I love the new layouts of each individual section:
The enhanced Sports section which gives me an up close and personal view of our many talented student athletes; the very informative Bulletin filled with the monthly activities and last but not least, the extra added splash of color to each page. Please continue to keep up the good work, for believe it or not, the New and Improved Cluster is truly a joy to read!!! Kudos to the Cluster Editors, I tip my hat off to you all!
My Best Regards,
Miss Zelda D. Hill
Administrative Assistant - Career Services
(01/23/13 3:46pm)
Making year-end lists are always difficult, especially for films. Many lists either focus on the big box office winners or only look at the critical darlings that come out during award season. This is going to be a hybrid between the two, focusing on films that were well made as well as enjoyable. The Cluster has already covered some of the best films of the year: “Les Misérables”, “ParaNorman”, “Chronicle”, “Cloud Atlas”, “Skyfall” and “Wreck-It Ralph”, to name a few. The rest of these films deserve a little extra attention.
“The Avengers”
“The Avengers” is truly a first in film history. The Marvel cinematic universe has spent several films working toward this goal. It was a gamble; no other company has tried to develop five separate films that lead up to one massive crossover that is the culmination of the efforts of five production teams. The all-star cast is wonderful and the film itself is outstanding. All of the effort and hard work definitely paid off.
“Django Unchained”
This film was one of the most controversial of the year. The quality of the actors and direction is undeniable. Quentin Tarantino delivers a shocking take on one of the darkest periods in American history. Yet, despite his unusual approach, he somehow manages to treat the horrific events that occurred in the South with a strange sense of reverence. The film is not degrading; instead, it is an empowering story that shows the lengths that one man will go through in order to overcome adversity.
“Argo”
This may have been the best film of the year. Like Django, it is about people going to incredible lengths and facing impossible odds. Affleck proves himself to be one of the best up-and-coming directors in the business. Despite being based on historic events, the film manages to be compelling and suspenseful and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats at its climax. The colorful cast keeps the overall mood of the film light with witty banter and well-written dialogue. This is truly one of the most memorable of the year.
“Moonrise Kingdom”
This was a film that was unfortunately overlooked this year. Wes Anderson’s latest film is set at a small island community in the late 1960s. It follows two youths as they conspire to run away together from their oppressive lives. The cast is phenomenal, perhaps the best ensemble cast of the year, featuring Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. Out of all the films that came out this year, this is one that deserves to be seen.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
Adapting a book to a movie is never an easy feat, especially not when that book has had a cult following for well over half a century. Nevertheless, Peter Jackson carried off the first installment of his adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit” to great acclaim (or at least begrudging appreciation). As fans of the book know, the movie begins before the unexpected party with which the first Lord of the Rings movie opens, taking the viewer back to Bilbo’s youth and ending just after the hobbit and his friends are rescued by giant eagles. The movie adds a good bit of action and develops some of the backstory that Tolkein left untold in the book. Also, because “The Hobbit” was written for younger audiences, the film is considerably lighter and funnier.
“Dredd”
The box office failure of “Dredd” remains one of the saddest moments in film this year. The movie has wonderful set pieces and a unique sense of style throughout. Karl Urban’s stern and stoic Dredd plays the hero against one of the most unique villains of the year. The world of Dredd is as much of a character in the film as the rest of the cast. It also presented an interesting and unique way to use 3D to achieve an actual artistic effect. It was the smartest action film of the year. Sadly, it will most likely not branch off into a franchise of films. Despite rave reviews, the films underperformance at the box office has seen to that never happening.
These were but a few of the highlights of 2012. If space permitted, countless pages would be filled with discussion and analysis of each, but that cannot happen. 2012 was a strong year for film, one of the best in years. Many films that were not included on the list definitely warrant watching. Hopefully 2013 will be just as strong of a year.
(01/23/13 3:44pm)
Suzanne Stroup's review
When I heard the music from Broadway’s “Les Misérables”, I thought it was forgettable, to go along with the convoluted story and the one-dimensional characters. When I heard about the movie, I was not planning on seeing this one in theaters. Then I read the cast list. While people like Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman don’t exactly float my boat, people like Samantha Barks and Aaron Tveit do. Because of these two names, I thought I’d force myself to see it.
The highlights for me were “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and “Master of the House”. Sascha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were absolutely perfect as the Thenardiers. I was not so impressed with the main characters. Hugh Jackman was...disappointing. He acted extremely well, but he sang as if he’d never met a note he didn’t want to sing sharp. Also, what was with creating a new song just for the movie? Seems like the producers are getting a little Oscar hungry.
I am in the unpopular club of kind of hating Anne Hathaway. She’s a decent actress, but should she win Best Supporting Actress because she butchered one of the best songs in a musical and got her hair cut off with a knife? She was in the movie for 30 minutes, tops, and she just cried the whole time. Anyone worth her million-dollar contract should be able to do that. And then we come to Russell Crowe. He just needs to learn to move his tongue when he is singing, and most of his issues would be resolved.
After enduring these people for an hour and a half, we finally meet the students who set up the Barricade. Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks and Eddie Redmayne were all fantastic, but any theatre-lover knew that they would be. Even the people cast as bit parts, just students, were incredible.
All of that being said about the actors, the movie was actually really watchable. It was gorgeous, full of rich colors against the stark contrast of the streets and the poor. Tom Hooper is a fantastic director and did a great job. He certainly deserves the Oscar. My only complaint with him was, at times, it seemed like he was focusing too much on the fact that the actors were singing live rather than on the storyline. Also, the handheld camera in the first few scenes was nauseating.
Obviously, I didn’t have the heart-wrenching experience that most people do, but hey, I’m in the minority. So let them eat their metaphorical cake, and watch this emotional porn. I’ll just be in the next theater over.
(01/23/13 3:44pm)
Joshua Whitfield's review
Let me be the first to say that the movie adaptation of the musical “Les Misérables” is fantastic. The adaptation’s musical genius, visual appeal, scope and sense of detail make it the best musical I’ve seen in a decade. I heartily recommend this movie to my fellow Mercerians, whether you are a fan of the musical or Hugo’s original novel or if you aren’t a fan at all.
Yet the movie has received criticism from “Les Misérables” purists.
Many of them have argued that the movie’s casting is hit-and-miss. I’d like to suggest, however, that this critique is aimed at the professional actors who aren’t also professional singers. When adapting any musical into a movie, one invariably encounters the dilemma of trying to cast either good actors who can also sing or good singers who can also act. I think most of the casting choices were excellent: Anne Hathaway’s Fantine is the best performance of her career, Cohen and Carter complement each other’s performance flawlessly, Samatha Barks was born to play Éponine, Eddie Redmayne can hit all of the high notes without breaking a sweat and even Amanda Seyfried can warble like a songbird. Furthermore, while many question Hugh Jackman as the male lead, none have questioned his ability as an actor.
The only real criticism concerns Russell Crowe’s complete ineptitude as a singer, yet his sheer gravitas ensnares the audience so that they totally ignore his tone-deafness; this Academy Award winner merely becomes Javert.
A further criticism of the film has been that the film changes many parts of the musical’s arrangement and plot after the transition to the big screen. Yet some of these changes ironically improve the overall experience. Boublil and Schönberg, for example, composed an entirely original song for Hugh Jackman called “Suddenly” to better reflect a moment from the novel in which Cosette rests her head on Valjean as a sign of her love and trust. Additionally, when the filmmakers altered the circumstances of Éponine’s moment of heroism (no spoilers), they changed the scene to follow the same scene from the novel. Therefore many of these changes, insertions and deletions allow the movie to better reflect the original novel than the musical can.
All things considered, give “Les Misérables” a shot. This star-studded tearjerker is bound to hold dominion over even the most Javertian audience.
(11/28/12 11:00pm)
First Year Seminar, Scientific Inquiry, and Senior Capstone are slowly phasing out of Mercer’s curriculum.
With these classes gradually being phased out, new INT and WRT courses are being added each semester.
The number of questions about new requirements are increasing, and advisors are stuck in a state of academic flux.
There have been a lot of changes to Mercer’s academic programs, but there is one change floating around the rumor mill that could disrupt the entire academic calendar, and one that I am not sure will be good for Mercer: a January Term.
A January Term, or J-Term, is a shortened period of study for a month between fall and spring semesters, where students can earn a lot of credits in a short amount of time.
There are many schools that have J-Terms instead of the more common Maymester, including NYU, SMU, University of Virginia, and University of New Hampshire.
Students have the opportunity to study abroad, conduct research, work in an internship, or take classes during January before beginning their spring semesters.
J-Terms are usually optional and students apply for admission into J-Term programs during their fall semesters.
I can see why J-Terms would be beneficial. Students with rigorous majors, like pre-health or engineering, can use J-Terms to study other subjects or requirements to free their semester-long schedules.
Because J-Terms are short and concentrated, students can take difficult classes and focus their studies on one or two specific classes.
Flights are sometimes cheaper in the wintertime after the new year, so study abroad can become more accessible to students as well.
Students can also seek to hold internship positions from December through January, allowing them to gain valuable work experience.
But, there are some drawbacks, and I don’t think Mercer should introduce a J-Term.
The HOPE Scholarship covers Maymester terms at public schools in Georgia, but that means having to deal with Financial Aid and the Bursar, as well as the online GACollege411 applications, and that would only cover a small portion of tuition unless Mercer decided either to change scholarships or give us more money (both of which I doubt would happen!).
I believe that the financial benefits are marginal and don’t justify introducing a J-Term.
A J-Term would also make our winter breaks really, really long. This could be a good thing, and this could also be a bad thing.
On one hand, with an optional J-Term, students would be able to choose whether or not they want to come to school in January.
Students who don’t need or want to enroll in a J-Term would have three extra weeks of winter break. And extra three weeks of break sounds great, right?
Well, considering where those three weeks come from, it might not be so great.
Semesters at Mercer are four months long, so if the spring semester doesn’t start until February, it won’t end until the end of May.
Those three weeks for a J-Term would come from our summer vacation, cutting it short by almost a month.
At SMU, for example, the final week of classes is the third week of May and students take their exams the week after.
I know I’d be bored out of my mind in between the fall and spring semesters with a month and a half of break, but a month and a half for summer is not long enough!
I may be speaking for myself when I say that I would much rather have a longer summer than winter break; so, for me, a J-Term is unappealing.
Like I said, the implementation of a J-Term seems to be an idea that the upper administration is throwing around.
These changes would not likely affect any students currently at Mercer, so I guess there is nothing jeopardizing our winter and summer vacations.
But think of future Mercerians - do they really need to escape the “harsh” Georgia winter by studying abroad in January?
Is it really fair to cut an entire month of summer vacation out?
Should seniors go through another month of battling senioritis and classes to make it to graduation?
If you answered no to any of these questions, I’d say we are in agreement that Mercer’s first J-Term would do more harm than good.
(11/07/12 11:00pm)
Mercer Police would like to remind the Mercer community of our anonymous tip site. You can report anything anonymously but it should not be used for immediate needs. The link is http://www.mercer.edu/forms/police/crimestopper.shtm. You will not be identified or contacted unless you provide contact information.
Also be aware of the Mercer Police Facebook page where we provide updates on various issues you need to know about. The link is http://www.facebook.com/MERPO911. Many of the items reported stolen were taken after they had been left unattended by the owners/people in possession of the items. Anytime something is left in plain sight while you are not present, it stands the chance of being stolen.
Below are selected events from our casebook.
Aug. 17: A contractor reported a phone had been stolen.
Aug. 17: A professor reported her laptop was stolen.
Aug. 20: A manager reported a burglary to a Mercer Village business but nothing was taken. An arrest was made in this case.
Aug. 26: A student reported he was robbed by two men on the corner of Oglethorpe Street. The victim was accosted from behind and was not able to identify the suspects.
Sept. 1: A student reported a bicycle was stolen from the Mercer Village.
Sept. 3: A student reported his car had been broken into at an off campus location.
Sept. 13: A student reported a stolen guitar.
Sept. 14: What began as a student prank wound up with seven or more students facing judicial sanctions.
Sept. 20: A business manager in the Mercer Village informed us of counterfeit money in the village coffers.
Sept. 21: A student was attempting to jump over a wall, did not make it, and had to be transported to the Med Center by ambulance.
Sept. 22: A police car caught on fire within minutes of being parked.
Sept. 23: A black coach wallet was reported stolen from the cafeteria.
Sept. 24: A man previously given a Criminal Trespass warning was back on campus and therefore was arrested.
Sept. 24: A student reported missing an Oakley book bag.
Sept. 27: A contractor reported a theft from the campus post office.
Sept. 29: Air Jordan backpack was reported stolen from the cafeteria.
Oct. 3: A student reported her bicycle was stolen.
Oct. 3: Byron City Police advised they had located a car belonging to a Mercer student stolen from the Mercer campus. The car was found before it was reported missing. An arrest was made.
Oct. 8: A student reported their phone was stolen. Contact was made with the thief but the phone was not recovered.
Oct. 15: Officers respond to a call about a dog and took the dog to the pound. It turned out to be a student’s dog. Students are not allowed to have pets on campus.
Oct. 17: A contractor reported being locked in a bathroom.
Oct. 21: A student was stopped for running a stop sign but didn’t have a valid license. Students should always make sure they come to a full stop before proceeding and they should never drive without a valid license.
Oct. 21: A student reported brassieres were taken from laundry baskets.
Oct. 23: A student report a laptop and a book bag was stolen while in an academic building.
Oct. 23: a student reported a computer was stolen from a shelf in a bathroom
STATS: Between August 1 and October 30, Mercer Police responded to various calls including but not limited to 4 Car break-ins, 12 Traffic Accidents, 19 Sick or Injured Person, 54 Jump Starts, 52 Keys Locked In Vehicles, 22 Fire Alarms, 40 Unlock Doors, 82 Alarm Activations, 5 Assist Motorist, 2 Assist Macon Police, 55 Escorts, 8 Disorderly or Unruly Persons.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
Mercer students have reacted to an anonymous flyer, which stated opinions about having white history months and organizations on campus. The flyer was posted throughout various residence halls and academic buildings.
The flyer expressed that “it is just as fair to have White History Month/s as it is to have Black History Month/s.” In addition, the flyer suggested the need of white organizations on campus to equalize students since “there are African American Societies, Black Student Organizations, and Indian Heritage Associations.”
The anonymous flyer also touched on politics, as its creator expressed that “the voting ballot of next month might as well say ‘black’ and ‘white.’”
The flyer was removed from the locations the next morning, Oct. 16. When asked whether or not Resident Assistants (RAs) were instructed to do anything with the flyer, Gary Wall, senior RA, said they “weren’t instructed on anything due to the timely effort that it was taken down. It is the official policy of the RAs to not post anything without the approval of Residence Life.”
On the morning of Oct. 16, Mercer University President William Underwood addressed the student body through a campus-wide email.
“As a community committed to intellectual freedom, we seek to enrich the mind and spirit by promoting and facilitating an open and rigorous search for understanding,” said Underwood. “Thoughtful people of good will frequently disagree on how best to move beyond centuries of legal, institutional, and cultural racism in America. In this community, these disagreements should be expressed through respectful dialogue. We should always endeavor to rise above the thoughtless rancor that characterizes so much of our public dialogue today.”
The creator of the flyer is currently unknown. All flyers and posters are required to be approved by Mercer’s Student Life Department prior to being displayed, but these flyers were posted without the approval of the university.
“Any kind of discipline will be up to the Student Life Department,” said Larry Brumley, Senior Vice President for Marketing Communications and Chief of Staff.
“At this point, the president is really wanting everyone to move on. He’s addressed it and has outlined in his email his expectations on how we have discussions about these issues,” said Brumley.
Many students have expressed their views on the flyer through social media outlets and in class discussions.
“Initially when I saw this flyer, I was shocked,” explained Erikka Ennis, a current student. “I believe that people are allowed to express how they feel about the situation, but it is the way that you go about it. Minority groups and clubs that are created on campus are to help people feel comfortable and to let them know that there are people who they can relate to. It’s not meant to exclude anyone.”
Another current student, Felicia Fowler said, “My first reaction was anger, but as conversations continued I became deeply saddened at the intentional disrespect towards the organizations that were mentioned in the flyer and everything they stand for, which is to invite everyone to learn about their organizations and cultures. Mercer does try its best to promote diversity and unity, but it is up to the individuals and students to make a change and respect each other.”
Dr. Cynthia Gottshall, Journalism and Media Studies Department Chair, led a class discussion in her Race, Gender and Media class. The students decided to host a meeting held at the Jesse Mercer statue on campus the night of Oct. 16. Noah Maier, a senior currently in Dr. Gottshall’s class, said that the event was not a protest but an outpouring of love to the people who were affected negatively by the flyer. “We wanted to have some sort of response,” said Maier.
On Oct. 17, an email was sent to a number of Mercer faculty and staff from “Michael C” asking the employees “to please reverse the anti-white positions adopted by Mercer University.” The email states that “every other racial and cultural group is recognized on campus and is encouraged to organize. Yet, anything pro-white on Mercer’s campus is denounced.”
No further action has been taken regarding the posted flyers. Doug Pearson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said “Mercer has never condoned anonymous mass postings in the residence halls, regardless of the topic and point of view put forth.”
Pearson said, “Some of the issues raised in the flyer are controversial, but colleges and universities should not seek to eliminate debate on those issues as much as to create forums in which civil and intelligent conversation can take place. Many such forums have been provided in the past, including one within the last month that specifically addressed many of the issues raised in the flyer.”
Members of Student Government Association, National Panhellenic Council, and the members of Dr. Gotshall’s class have already met with Pearson and plan on meeting again to discuss the next steps for Mercer’s campus.
“The students shared with me that they did not want this flyer to represent the wider view of the student body or this institution, and hosted an event calling for calm discussion and respect. I wholly support that point of view,” said Pearson.