Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Learning about AI comes at a cost. Georgia feels it, too.

By Kaylee Buchanan | March 24

Artificial intelligence is often described as invisible — something that floats in the cloud and that quietly improves our lives from behind a screen.  Until recently, I did not question that metaphor. As a Mercer student in Georgia, I once relied heavily on AI tools for studying, writing and research and rarely considered what powered them or what they demanded from the environment around me.

Opinion

The 12 greatest men's basketball players for Mercer's best season in 12 years

By Harrison Montavon | March 17

Since men's basketball’s unprecedented run in the 2014 NCAA tournament, the program has not found much consistent success. Since that storied season and before this year, the Bears have had just three winning records in conference play, the last coming in the 2019-20 season. But this season, things looked different.

Local News

5 trails and parks in the Macon area to explore this fall

By Hannah Mock | October 30

All around Mercer’s campus, the leaves are changing, the breeze is starting to catch a chill and fall is coming in full swing. In spite of this beautiful change of scenery, students tend to spend more time indoors preparing for finals and completing course projects as the semester comes to a close.

Campus News

Kings of the (Greek Village) hill: Lambda gets its laurels

By Livvy Kerr | September 15

Banners plastered houses down Greek Village for this year’s Interfraternity Council rush season, and they are as IFC-esque as would be expected. The fraternities certainly do not embrace themes the same way sororities do – they typically only present a banner – but someone put time into getting each one prepared for this year's bid day.

Opinion

Opinion: Heartbroken but hopes intact after Greek recruitment

By Joslyn Hicks | September 11

This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster, any organizations the author is a member of or the faculty, staff or administration at Mercer University.Panhellenic recruitment week did not go as I had initially hoped or expected. ...

Opinion

Bids, balloons and banners: An analysis of Bid Day 2025

By Jacob Hossler | September 9

This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster, any organizations the author is a member of or the faculty, staff or administration at Mercer University.Mercer sororities hosted their annual 'Bid Day' event, which celebrates ...

Opinion

The Bamberg Banner: Wrestling time

By Gabriel Kopp | May 17

“We’re a third of the way through the semester now,” one of my professors announced at the start of class this week. This week also marked another sort of milestone: two months ago, I arrived at the airport in Munich with a long list of things to do and places to see, and with the surety that ...

Opinion

The Bamberg Banner: Sunrise to sunet

By Gabriel Kopp | April 20

Last Saturday afternoon, tutors for the international exchange and Erasmus students at Bamberg University led a hike to the city's Altenburg castle. Bamberg, which is known for its seven hills, among other things, is overlooked by the castle, and it has been for roughly 900 years now.On the way ...

Opinion

The Bamberg Banner: Looming pollen and blooming flowers

By Gabriel Kopp | April 7

A few weeks before I left for Bamberg, I switched my phone’s temperature gauge to display Celsius instead of the States’ favored Fahrenheit. Within a day, my browser was littered with entries like “14 Celsius to Fahrenheit” and other versions of that search as I struggled to understand what ...

Opinion

Mercer percussion ensemble put on a concert, I am now a marimba lover 

By Mel Silva | March 25

Mercer percussion ensemble put on a concert titled "Songs of the Human Spirit" on March 14. It featured a collection of pieces played by some of the music students and directed by Marcus Reddick, a music professor at Mercer. The concert was held at the Neva Langley Fickling Music Hall inside the McCorkle music building. 

Opinion

The Bamberg Banner: Macon mobility

By Gabriel Kopp | March 22

Since touching down in Munich on Tuesday morning, there has not been much rest for the wicked. From hiking with my cousin to leisurely walking the streets of Munich, and to hustling through the streets of Bamberg only to be late to my appointment, this week has felt like the longest of my life.

Opinion

The Bamberg Banner: Goodbye, and good luck

By Gabriel Kopp | March 11

To cap off 2024, I moved out of my Resident Assistant suite in Plunkett Hall and went home, leaving campus and many of my closest friends and connections behind. I won’t be back in a while. I didn’t fall out of love with Mercer, nor did I decide to take a gap semester - not exactly, anyway.On Monday, ...

Opinion

OPINION: The Truth Hurts: Experiencing gaps in patient care and women's pain management

By Sarah Cooper | December 6

Many women share similar experiences of their pain being minimized or dismissed in medical settings, leading to unnecessary suffering and trauma. Research indicates that women often report significant pain during procedures like IUD insertions and are less likely to receive adequate pain management.

Opinion

OPINION: Apathy fills Mercer-Alabama watch parties

By Gabriel Kopp | November 22

This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster or Mercer University.Mercer’s Campus Life office sent out a list of restaurants near campus at which Mercer’s football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide was being televised. ...

Opinion

OPINION: Changing the world begins by changing Mercer

By Eric Foreman | April 28

Mercer University has the opportunity to pave the way for increasing the rights of students at private colleges across the country. Instead of shutting them down, Mercer University could propose a way to protect all students while also enabling students to peacefully protest. Additionally, the University can choose to show explicit support for its LGBTQ+ population. This is especially important since the rights of queer and trans individuals across our country are being stripped away as I write this. 

Opinion

OPINION: Pursuing all of your passions in college is possible

May 2

Allow yourself the freedom to unconventionally blend your interests. It is the most satisfying choice that you can make as an undergraduate.

Opinion

OPINION: Being a full-time student and a model is all fun and games until you sleep through class

By Rachel-Kate Bowdler | April 6

As a 16-year-old, I did not know a thing about modeling and the modeling world. 

Opinion

My experience presenting at an academic symposium in Panama City

By Henry Keating | February 23

Out of all the conferences I have presented at, I enjoyed the symposium the most. It felt a lot more like an academic presentation, even if the actual proceedings were a little less engaging than my experience with the Great Books conferences I had been to.

Opinion

OPINION: Despite recent efforts, CAPS is not enough for Mercer students

By Cameron Hutchins | February 20

Programs such as the Same Day Solution Sessions were implemented to help bridge this disconnect between students and counselors, however, it only works to perpetuate the same issues students were facing before. 

Local News

ANALYSIS: Violence continues to rise in Macon. What can be done to fix it?

By Henry Keating | February 6

According to Jones, Bibb County suffered 70 homicides and 61 murders, which was up from 55 homicides and 44 murders in all of 2021. As of Jan. 28, Bibb has already suffered an additional 6 homicides — almost two per week.