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Pajfe Two
THE MERCER CLUSTER
November 2, 1956
Cluster Urges Students
To Vote This Tuesday
Election day is next Tuesday! It is your
duty as an American citizen to vote and,
whether you favor the Republican or Demo
cratic party, like Ike or Stevenson, ap
prove of the farm policy or the soil-bank
plan, it is your duty to express your senti
ments in the one place in life where each
American is an individual. Here, in this
small area, you and you conscience can
argue the facts and decide the issues at
stake; here you are truly free to make that
‘‘by the people” phrase come true.
And yet many college students never
1 >other to vote. It’s just too much trouble
to send home for an absentee ballot or too
far to go home this week end to get one.
It seems to be of no consequence that Geor
gia is the only state which considers 18-
year-old mature enough to vote. Yet if we
are mature enough to be given the duty
and privilege of voting, then we should
be mature enough to fulfill that responsi
bility ; otherwise, we might soon find the
opportunity withdrawn.
We won't use that trite expression; “It
doesn’t matter how you vote; just vote!”,
because it does matter. But only you can
decide which is the righ' way for you to
vote. And only you, afteV careful considera
tion, can transfer the philosophy of the
heritage of America into actuality by vot-
ing—it’s your duty, your responsibility,
vour privilege!
J. W.
Cluster Suggests Front
For Shorter Hall Dorm
While Mercer is in the midst of the pre
sent building program it would be a good
idea to complete some of the unfinished
buildings on the campus.
One large dormitory on the University
grounds is actually not finished. This dorm
is Shorter hall, built in 1947.
According to some, the dormitory plans
first included a front for the building. All
other dorms on the campus, Sherwood, Ro
berts, and Mary Erin Porter have front
door entrances. Not so with Shorter. Stu
dents who live in this dorm must enter
and leave via fire escapes on the sides of
the building .
The building is, in a sense, unsafe. Al
though the enclosed fire escapes are fire
proof, the absence of a middle exit or back
fire escape could prove disastrous if a fire
were to close off !x>th exits on the upper
fl<n>r.
The building looks and feels incomplete.
Unlike most dormitories, it has neither
a porch or a lobby. It is simply a well-con
structed building with four monotonous,
unbroken, brick walls.
The structure and the University
grounds would look much better if a front
porch, fronted by white columns, facing
Edgewood Avenue, were added to the dorm
itory.
A lobby could be built on the front. It
could include one or two of the rooms on
the ground floor and be enlarged by an
addition to the outside front of the dorm.
There is no immediate need for this
added construction. And class buildings
should certainly have first priority but
since so much planning is being done for
future building work the Cluster feels that
this addition to Shorter Hall should be in
cluded.
B. S.
Many Students Are Not
Considerate of Others
A considerable amount of unrest and
murmuring has been noticed in the meal
line of Sherwood Hall lately. This especial
ly noticable during the noon and evening
meals .This unrest is caused by the incon-
sideratiori of men—or should we say juven
iles breaking in line.
There have been several occasions when
the line has grown toward the front while
the rear end of the line remained station
ary. The inconsideration of these immature
little boys should not be tolerated in any
college or university. Conduct such as this
is just not expected of a man who is old
enough to be a college student.
Measures to prevent this action should
not have to be taken. Every man should
respect his fellow students and their po
sition in line and take his own position
at the back of the line.
If a man insists on acting like a high
scool boy, then he can only be expect to be
treated as one. Therefore, we of the
CLUSTER urge you "line jumpers" to
grow up and be college men. Be respect
ful and considerate and you will receive
the same treatment, and harmony will
result.
T. J.
Mtrttr Cluster
MERCER UKIVKUmr, MACON. CIOBOIA
NOVEMBER 2. 19&6 VOLUME 17. NUMBER S
Mat Btmd
Editor-bi-Chief
Cynthia Hut
Managing Editor
Tw
Putina** Ma**«#r
N*w* Editor John Kaufman
Amociat* Editor „ —Jukk Waiter*
Exrcativ* Editor - - - - _^Jim M*iaa*r
Boeiaty Editor* Sharon Draka. Abm Gtrardot
Marty Lajrflald
Buddy Hurt
ha WUaoa
l Maftoory
Editorialist—Bill Nash. Tom Johnson, Jacki* Waltars
Sports writer*—Alice Porter, Martha Ana Abbott, Roth Brideae
New* writer*—Norman Burn a*. Morton Boyette. Tern Johaaea. Lacy Border*. Jay Waamaa. Cliff BeaBria. Buddy Hurt.
Bob Steveaa
Faatnr* wittei*—Betty Langford.
Cartoonist—Charlotte Moor*
Proofreader— Bill Lea
Tha Mercar Cluster U published weekly, except 4uta| UMiy ui eia»to»tU* perteda, by tba
stud ant body of Mercar Uaivsrsity, Macao, Geergto. wader tba authority af tba BUdaat Cover*-
**t Association. It I* written, edited, aad pabhabad by tba ■dirfradaaU itadaat body of
Mercer UajTsrsity. An neredited opiniooa bi it are tba sptol—a af tba itadaat editors, aad
not aacaaaarily tba Uaivaraity’a viewpoint. All latton ta tba editor aaat be signed; aawes will
be withheld am request. Lattan da eat aacaaaarily reflect tba pattey af tba pa par ar tba epto-
io«« of tba editon. Lattan aboald aat be laogar tba* W weeds. Addraaa all lattan to: *ditor,
Tba Mercar Claatar, Box B, Mortar University, Mara*. Oaarft*.
STEED'S
Cluster
Comments
"WHY NO DANCING AT MERCER?
An Englishman visiting this country was watching a dance at one
of the high schools. After observing a few of the gyration that go Into
what la- called by some "dancing", he asked hi* friend. ‘‘They do get
married later, don’t they?”
Thla mUHt be the attitude of the "power* what are” at Mercer
Since I have.been here, entering freahmen have alway* had thi* question;
"What do you mean you can't dance on the Mercer campus?" and the
upperclassmen give the clasele auswer, "because."
No one knows exactly why we cannot have dances on campus One
professor told me that It was not because the administration felt It was
sinful of un-Mercerllke but because there are simply no facilities.
This couldn't be so because Mercer, like every small college in the
United States, has a gymnasium. All other colleges use their gyms for
dancing, why not M. U.?
One fraternity has a lodge, another fraternity Is building a lodge
and others plan to do the same In the near future. Why couldn't these
organizations hold small dances in these lodge* Instead of paying four
or five hundred dollar* a year to rent places like Ingleslde. Idle-Hour
or the YWCA
There> Is a glaring inconsistency concerning the University’s policy
on this matter. Anything that Is allowed to go on off the” campus should be
ullowed to happen on the campus And the University not only sanction*
dancing off the campus, It requires that the date* of the dances be placed
on the official calendar and that faculty chaperones be obtained for
these functions. If they are going to control dancing off the campus,
why don’t they control It on campus.
If dancing is wrong why aren't students prohibited from going to
places In town like ther Flnebrook, Little T., Whistle Stop. etc., where
they enjoy dancing to the music of bands hired for that purpose.
A definite stand should be taken on the matter. Kither dancing is
immoral and un-Mercerllke and should be outlawed altogether, on and
uff campus, or It should be officially approved by the University and
allowed on the University grounds.
To me, the suggestion that dancing U wrong or sinful Is ridiculous
and I fall to see anyone, even by the most fantastic warping of any
theology could come to such an absurd conclusion.
Our sister college, \Ve*leyan. a Methodist school, hold* quite a
few dances on their campus with no noticeable crime-rate or Immorality
Increases as a result
If Mercer University would dust the cob-webs off their antiquated
book of social standards and spend a little student activities money to
have one big "name-band” dance about once a year the Increuse In
student spirit would be tremendous.
In my freshman yeur. Hilly May and his orchestra were booked,
probably by mistake, for u concert in chapel Although no dancing was
allowed, that one concert caused mre spirit to be generated on this
campus than I have ever seen before. Since then we have had Symphony
orchestras. Dublin Players and Piano duos which have gone over like
lead balloons
Whatever steps must be taken to get the University to saictton
dancing should be taken soon and If It means bringing this silly question
VP on the floor of the Baptist convention I think that might be In order
Mercer Opinions
by Bob Steve*.
The question this week 1st "l>u >n« think we shoald have faculty
supervises! dance* o* Ike Mercer ( aatpasr
Warren Robertson, senior: “Yes. because I think It would help
build up something Mercer needs—school spirit."
Robert Hchell, settlor: "Ye*, because dances are the type of en
tertainment enjoyed by nearly all college students. School dances add
greatly to school spirit."
Rill Hagan, junior: “I think we should have faculty-supported
dunces on the campus because they are held on rumpuses all around
Us, and I do not find anything buslcally wrong with dances. If they
were held on the campus. It would be more convenient rather than hav
ing to rent u place, sometimes several miles sway, for'a dance By hay
ing dances on the campus some people could attend who would not
otherwise because of the transportation problem .”
Betty Jean Carter, sophomore: "Yes, why can't we dance on rumpus
as well as off campus at sorority or fraternity socials?"
Nancy Hall, sophomore:. "Yes dancing on rampus with faculty-
supervision would be Just like a chaperoned fraternity or sorority
dance. So why should we have to have sperlal occasions?"
Rrucklnghani, senior: "Faculty supervised dances would be more
orderly, carry more prestige, and create a closer union betwesm faculty
and students. In the long run. I believe it would also create better
school spirit. These dahees would also serve as a check against the
student's conduct.”
Katie Reed, senior: VYes, I do. My reason is that 1 believe dancing
to be wholesome fun. and I'd rather participate on campus than having
to go find s place off ”
Bill Nash, senior: "Yes. because I have yet to see any element
on the campus so sacred or hallowed tbst would raaks dancing on the
campus sacrilege. Furthermore, I don't see how anyone could be so
stupid as to think that there Is. It appears to me that It Is sheer
hypocrisy and nonsense for the school to prohibit dancing on the one
hand and then turn around and allow the various social organisations
to have dances with the stipulation that they are sponaored by the
alumni of the organlxatlous. This I* pure fiction, and the school knows It."
Terh Hadgtas, senior: "Yes. I think It would help the school spirit
slid bring the students closer together. At present various social organi
zations have dancing off campus, but I think It would be a good Idea to
bring the whole campus together as a group and have faculty supervised
dances."