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MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON, GEORGIA
November i, 1‘ttiO VOLUME II, NUMliKK
RITHIA McGI.AUN
MANAGING EDITOR
Charlie Ethridge
Nancy Mintor
John Weatherly
Ward Lowrance
RALPH BASS, JR.
EDITOR
JANE LOVETT
BUSINESS MGR.
Sports Editor
, Associate Editor
Executive Edit..i
Staff Photographer
Editorial aloft: Carolyl, Arnold, Bu.isir Hruncr. t-o><- Hii„h. Mary Juno <'iiir**r. Judy
Clement*. Ellen DillorJ. Mill English. Frances Korins*. Amy l.uitison, I nn lull, Jerry
Godwin, Pope Hamrick. Leslie Iteilleke, l.ynn Holmes l.ynn llownril. Kar,n hennoly,
Inyy Knight, tohn Krueger, Delay l.ivingaton. Elaine McLeod, llori N,-elsrry l’nt Nor-
ton. J M. Quinone,. Jimmy Kachela, Yvonne Keevea. I.ranger Itok*. Joe Sakai!, lull
Scarbrough, Martr* Share, Dick Shiver, Patrieia Smith. Sylnl Still, l< *• t,,, . >, lerrv. Fay,*
Trawirk. f.arkie Watson. Margretla Wells, Judy Williamson Honme Dentil-.. Juanita l ee
Huaineas staff: Dan Ilradtey, Sandy Hridges, Linda fast, .John Larks. I at rv Malt,
Fredonia Patterson, Carole Hhddenhiaer, Jean Smith, Lynda Shan, Holly Wo,draff
Spurta staff: Jerry Johnson, Jere Key, Hugh Lawson. Linda Smith
Hugh Burke
La^t Sunday afternoon a Mitcit mini -1«* r lal Mii'lnit ha<l tin* «luty tn
toll several of his friends that Hutfh llurke had died Th* he Used
were simjde, uttered from a heart fuH or |»rief "llu^h didn't quite make
it."
Hutfh was a Mercerian for only a few week-; he had been graduated
from Statesboro Hij^h Srh<*ol last spring. Hut in his brief stay at Mercer
he became active in church and in BSl,\ He pave freely <»f the talent he
had He made close friends and actjuaintances who admired him. Hut last
weekend Huph Burke went to the BSl’ eomention and didn’t make it
hack to his .school.
Jtut did Huph make it? Then is no doubt that we all were confront
ed with the harsh reality of death, and equally s«» with an existence in
which people with pood intentions can suddenly find themselves involved
in tragedy. Hut we must press through this painful reality to other reali*
ties and ask if then* are not some who can contribute to and find more
in life in an hour than others do in a life time, and if the personal reality
to whom Hugh Rurke was committed can not turn the harshest tragedit"
of this existence into eternal significance.
Hugh Burke made it in res|h use to the challenges that came in »>*
years and knowing him and the reality to whom he was committed, he
made it last Sunday too.
Tests Should Be
Equal Yardstick
Mciccr professors, in giving tests, shmilil realize t h.it c-x;tinit\;iti<-nw
.should In- nnc equal measuring stick of the kimwlpilgc of the student- in
his class. There may he "brains" in the class; certainly there are those
of varying average abilities, yet the same test is used to measure the
accomplishments of them all.
Competition i- keen. The average student might possibly put much
more work into the course than the mure gifted student, but on tile
tests, each student is measured by the same yardstick.
Certain professors have the habit of giving the same tests ipiartcr
ill and quarter out. Students naturally obtain copies of these examina
tions through fraternity files ji n ,| friend*, study them and if the pro
fessors gives the same test, they have an advantage over their fellow stu
dents
v ,n h an advantage is not consistent with our general conception
of fair play nor with standards of academic emu pet it ion. Should one
student sutler if he could not obtain a cop; of the test from a friend
or from his fraternity’s files?
'"pie- of tost, have a valio* in suggest ing. t he type ,.f questions a
• r.a. i profe>.or ass ; they can serve as guides to the important points
of a I ijr*i'. but profe-sors should lie beware of Using old tests lest they
jmonseiousiy put one -tudent in an advantage over another, thus meas
uring them !,y uni q lal yardsticks.
Flags Stand
Every i.atn i has a banner, a
flag which s'TVes a- a symbol of
that f.*i which tin nation stands.
Groups. • ;■». havi flag- to suggest
their am, . principle-- and ideals,
for example, the C hristian flag.
The American people, espeeia'ly,
hold a formal r, pert for th. ir
flag. I>..<;ts have written about it;
musician 1 , ,'e composed songs on
it; artist f..vo featured it in their
drawings. Back in I!'12 the Con
gress outlined lertaul rules for
those who use the American flag.
It must be handled with awe and
respect.
While the Christian flag does
not hold the same nation-wide re
spect that the American flag com
mands, it is respected and honored
by many groups.
Mercer once had two flags, the
American and the Christian, in
Willingham chapel. They -suggest
ed that this institution bad a re
sponsibility both to the nation and
to the Christian faith.
But now they have been removed
from the chapel. For several weeks
they have been honored with a
corner position in the hall in the
bottom floor of the administration
building. Recently a broom and a
With Broom
fishing rod, plus some odd hits of
trash, were added to intensify the
reverence due these flags.
How long are they going to re
main there?
r i t h i a
Freaks And Theology
Last week Flannery O'Connor was a guest
-peaker at Wesleyan during the annual Lamar
Lecture Series. On Thursday afternoon she
spoke of the contemporary Southern novelist
who draw- upon the grotesque. Miss O’Connor
insisted that any writing will lie labeled “grotes
que’' by u “Northern" reader "unless it is grotes
que, in which ease it will lie tailed realistic.”
Stic gave a very interesting explanation of why
the Southerner does not confine characterization
t . men in grey-flannel suits. According to Miss
O'Connor he deals with freaks fur one reason.
He is still able to recognize one.”
Why is the South still regarded as a place
of the par'icular and the peculiar? Why is
the South still "the South”? To some extent
the answer may he found in the observation
lhat the concept of man in "the South” is
still theological. The South cannot be called
"Christ centered" but it is still "Christ
haunted."
Allen Tate has insisted upon a strict distini
4ioii between the local and the provincial. Th»
local is not necessarily synonymous with the pm.
vinciul which implies a narrowness. The South u(
fundamentalism, haunted by its record of so
cial injustices among other things, furnishes a
certain safeness and richness through tradition
The contemporary Southern writer has the dis
tinct advantage of a point on which to build; tin
distinit advantage of the locality and the haunt
ingness that somehow survives the shallownesi
of pretension. The South does not deserve to In
called "Christ centered” but it has aptly beer
described as “Christ haunted."
Between Coffee and Existence
Time. Between fourth period and lunch and
fifth period, time. Between conversation and
sleeping and waking, time.
Between registration and term paper dead
lines, time. Between the co-op and third floor ad
ministration building, time. Between the library
and tin- drug store, time.
Between friends and enemies, time. Between
people and friends, time. Between people and
not people, time. Between existing and'coffee
time.
“Tiny is but the stream 1 go afishing in," but
Thoreau’s esthetically fragile gleam of words
are tragically ill-at-ease after the words that
have preceded and so the gleam of words should
he unconnected and left to peace.
Because the time between existing and coffee is
not a stream nor especially peace. But it is time
ami also slips away.
NANCY MINTER
Pomegranates and Hospitality
Doesn’t anyone besides Persephone and me like
pomegranates? Fruit for the gods, they arc—
like so many sparkling rubies, with a bittersweet
taste that makes common fruit like apples look
Mfk.
But T digress. Pomegranate- arc not my topic.
Where they tame from is.
Along the way to Atlanta, just outside one of
those little towns that must be concentrated on to
be noticed, stands a big square home sui founded
by the usual farm buildings, pieces of machinery,
and some fruit trees. On its bark porch are a well,
a tomato plant, flowers and two white cats. The
view from the rocking chairs includes lush mea
dows, lug trees and vestiges of cattle.
It’s not listed in a tourist’s catalogue of
Georgia bill to a lihrary-and-meeting weary
collegiate who hasn't been home in six weeks
il was the essence of peace, though not her
ow n home.
New southern hospitality decorates the interior
uf that house. The traditional crackling fire on
the hearth and offering of six different tempting
snacks were available, but there were, too, the
comfort of a lounge chair and the Sunday night
pleasantness of Danny Kaye smiling from the
corner T V. Greeting gently and talking easily,
the host couple whiled away the time with an
ease that forgot the collegiate was a stranger
“Good night and come again” rang sincerely
m the ears of the collegiate, who now armed
with tranquillity and two pomegranates, returned
to the library and meetings more than ever aware
of the goodness of Georgia country.
- - Letter To The Editor - -
Nov. 1, 1'HiO
Dear Editor:
The Winning Team; Nixon and Lodge
"There is no man in the history of America
who has had such a careful preparation as has
Vice President Nixon for carrying out the duties
of the Presidency,” says President Eisenhower.
Former President Truman, addressing his re
marks to Senator Kennedy, said, "Senator, ure
you certain that you are quite ready for the coun
try or that the country is ready for you in the
iole iif President in January, I'.Hil ? 1 am greatly
concerned and troubled about the situation we
are up against in the world now and in the im
mediate future. That is why I would hope that
someone with the greatest possible maturity and
experience would lie available at this time."
In these limes of crisis there's no time for
“on-the-job" training of a new President. The
Nixon-Lodgc lickel lias experience, ability
and maturity of judgment. Together these
two men have served in the House, Senate,
Cabinet. National Security Council, State
Department and Armed Forces.
Richard Nixon has traveled on five continents
and 51 countries, meeting presidents, prime min
isters and citizens of all classes. Cabot Lodge has
dealt effectively with the representatives and
leaders of all the countries of the UN.
On the domestic’ scene. Vice President Nixon
respects the rights of the individual, a principal
which has made America great. He believes in
creating even greater opportunities for the indi
vidual in a free enterprise system. He wants the
states to assume greater responsibility entrusted
to them by our Constitution.
All this is in direct opposition to the Kennedy-
Johnson ticket. They believe Americans can no
longer he trusted to lead their own destiny, hot
must be led about by all all-powerful central
government.
V A NI) E It 110 K F A N S \\ E RED
The Nixon farm program would aid the
farmer while putting the surplus to use for
the hungry at home and abroad.
The Kennedy program would raise food prices
around 25',; , according to a Department of Agrt
culture study.
The Democrats say that under Eisenhowei
1 1 v million farmers left the farms. What they
don’t -ay is that under Truman the figure wa.-
t 1 - million and under Roosevelt 7 1/2 million
In his acceptance speech, Senator Kennedy said
America must make “great sacrifices." He has
never named these sacrifices. Maybe, he means
higher taxes! (It would be qecessary to pay for
the big-spending programs he advocates). Maybe
he means higher food prices! (as the Agriculture
Department survey shows). Maybe he means we
must give away more free World territory! (As
Truman and Roosevelt did in giving away most
of Asia and Eastern Europe, and Senator Ken
nedy now says we must do with Quemoy and
Matsu). Maybe he means we must appease the
enemy and take peace at any cost! (The last
three Democratic administrations tried this and
in each ■ use we ended up in war. Now Sen. Ken
nedy says we must apologize to Khrushchev).
As for the South’s place in the election, it
was the Chairman of the Democratic party
who told the South to “get out." It was Sen.
Kennedy who said he "didn’t need them"
and "could win without them." And it was
the Kennedy brothers who directly inter
vened in the affairs of Georgia in the Martin
Luther King case.
In domestic and foreign programs, in experi
ence, ability and maturity, the ticket of Richard
Nixon and (.allot Lodge far-exceeds the Demo
cratic standard-bearers. For this reason the Re
publican ticket should be elected on November 8.
Sincerely,
College Youth-for-Nixon
Ed’s Note: This letter was not edited.