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THE MERCER CLUSTER
February 17, 1966
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sandy Harriaon
BUSINESS MANAGER
Lae O'Brien
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Wally McCollum
TECHNICAL EDITOR:
Rich VanBuakirk
SOCIAL EDITORS
Margie Singley
David Wanaley
NEWS STAFF: Dale Freeney,
Judy Howell, Kay Eubank, Mar
tlel Babbitt, Danny Sheffield,
Billie Uaelton, Reace Stanford
Sally Heath
SPORTS EDITOR:
Tom Lang
CIRCULATION MANAGER:
Everett Coker
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Tommy McGehee
ADVERTISING
Nancy Barrett
Sherri Clark
EXECUTIVE EDITORS:
Diana Denton
Bill Dayton
FEATURES STAFF: Mila Laeal-
la, Frank Donnelly, Clyde Hoo
ver, Suaan Wiseman, Annette
Gen til, Sara June McRae
COPY STAFF: Pam Norton, Gail
Brown, Suaan Veraam, Nancy
Willett, Hope Slaton, Barbara
Gantt, Heather Dailey
Lynn Kite
CIRCULATION STAFF: Kathy
Kennedy, Bonnie Lawrence
Homecoming Needs Beefing
Homecoming activities at Mercer are one of the highlights
of the school year. The activities are surrounded by school
spirit and tradition. Each year there has been the traditional
homecoming game, but the other activities associated with
homecoming have changed many times and in many ways.
Homecoming, 1953, was the first since 1942, the last year
of intercollegiate football. Included in the activities were a
semiformal IFC dance, the traditional Homecoming Queen,
Toby and Tot, a pep rally, and a barbeque. In addition, there
was a Bear Day Parade—the first time that Bear Day activi
ties had been combined with Homecoming.
The first Bear Day had been observed in December, 1948,
“showing that the spirit of Mercer had remained triumphantly
alive through the Second World War and seven years without
football. The elaborate celebration in 1948 honored the return
of our symbolic bear—without his football.” The whole city
joined the celebration, and the affair was such a success that
Bear Day was proclaimed an annual event. Bear Day was the
idea of Pete Murray to “create more campus spirit and Mercer
tradition.” The 1948 parade included a live 300-lb. bear.
From 1954 to 1957 there was little change in the Home
coming activities. In addition to the traditional game, the
activities included a Homecoming Queen, Toby and Tot, IFC
dance, a barbeque, and a pep rally and bonfire. A Sunday
worship service conducted entirely by students was begun in
1954 and continued through 1957.
The 1958 Homecoming was Mercer’s 125th Anniversary
Celebration. Some of the special activities included were a
gym night hi-jinks, a beard contest, the ROTC sponsors
parade, and a costume contest. A student-faculty basketball
game was added to the Homecoming activities, and continued
as a part of Homecoming until 1963. The traditional activities
of the four previous years were also included in the celebration.
To these festivities 1959 added an informal student party
(in addition to the traditional IFC formal), the ugly man con
test, and a dormitory decorations contest to the traditional
activities. Gym night was made a traditional part of the
celebration, and tne parade was called the Homecoming
Parade instead of the Bear Day Parade. The 1969 Home
coming committee recommended that a permanent date be set
for Homecoming, but this has never been done.
Bear Day was the name given the 1960 Homecoming. It
replaced the traditional Bear Day Parade. The three-day
celebration was reigned over by a 12-foot papier mache bear.
A “Bear Queen” was named in his honor, and sacrifices from
“Dean Orr, to a pledge trainer, to a slightly used toilet” were
made to the Bear. The traditional parade through downtown
Macon was replaced by campus decorations and displays. There
was a “Bear Ball” and the traditional Toby and Tot.
From 1961 to 1964 Homecoming activities remained the
same. They included Toby and Tot, the IFC dance, and the
Toby and Tot Parade, but no Homecoming Queen, barbeque,
pep rally, or bonfire. The Ugly-man contest was discon
tinued in 1961, and 1963 was the last of the campus displays.
* Let’s revive a few old customs in 1966.
a
The University of Miami has made a startling discovery
which may revolutionize dating habits across the country.
Dental researchers there have discovered that tooth decay is a
highly contagious disease rather than a hereditary defect. And
what all-American male would knowingly destroy his ivory
smile or earn himself a premature set of false teeth simply be
cause he had been kissing the wrong girl? Now a person will
need to check a prospective date’s dental history as well as
other vital statistics. At any rate people at Mercer shouldn’t
have any problem, since everyone knows that Mercer students
don't indulge in that sort of activity, anyway.
Hie small South Vietnamese village of Long Yen may
have a new medical clinic as a result of fund-raising efforts by
Michigan State University’s chapter of the People-to-People
Assn. The MSU chapter hopes to staff the clinic with a male
nurse and a pharmacist, according to Judith Rice, chapter
president
Better Late Than Never
In response to many well-founded queries
as to the whereabouts of the rest of the results
from November’s poll, the Cluster duly pre
sents the remainder of the questions and their
subsequent replies. Students opinion on cer
tain issues has been reported to the proper
people capable of action upon the questions.
1. Do you feel that the religious activities
on Mercers campus are: overemphasized 31%
underemphasized 16.5% at a good level 49% ?
2. How often do you favor chapel? The
replies on this one ranged from a vehement
NEVER! written in black block letters two
inches high to an equally sincere scrawl of
“3 times a week”. The general consensus was
to leave it as is. Should it be compulsory?
Yes 41%, No 55.8%.
3. Do you favor required Christianity
courses? Yes 52.5%, No 45.3%. Also asked in
reference to this was the courses that should
be required. Most students are satisfied with
the present system, although many felt that a
course in comparative religions might be added
to the compulsory upper division choices.
4. Do you believe that intercollegiate
athletics are worth supporting at Mercer?
Yes. 86%, No 10.5%.
5. Do you feel that Mercerians show
enough spirit at athletic events such as basket
ball games? Yes 11.8%, No 62%.
6. Would you like to see an unlimited cut
system at Mercer? Yes. 58.5%, No. 39%
7. Would you like to have some seminar
courses in the liberal arts college? Yes. 55.8%,
No 32.7%. If so, what courses? There were
many votes for some in philosophy, English
and foreign literature, and history. Also a
good many voted for courses in religion, psy
chology, and biology-chemistry-physics.
8. Do you believe dancing is sinful and
unmoral? Yes .07%, No 97.8%. It is interest
ing to note that the two persons voting against
dancing were both female. But many males
expressed their doubts about those of con
temporary vintage.
9. Do you think we have enough out
standing speakers at -Mercer during the year?
Yes 29%, No 65.5%. Who would you like to
have? POLITICAL speakers, those having
some part in a controversial issue! The list
has been given to the administration for
processing.
10. Would you like to have the library re
main open on Saturday nights? Yes 83%,
No 9.3%. How late? Almost everyone desired
that it be kept open until 10:00 or 11:00.
Perhaps, since there is a shortage of help, the
library would only be open for study: there
would be no checkout of books or records
after, sav, 5:30.
11. Would you like two survey courses in
science instead of two in one field being re
quired? Yes 42.4%, No 47.2%.
12. Do you condone drinking? Yes 62.61
No 32%. ■
13. Would you favor the semester sysUg
over the quarter system? Yes 8.9%, No 88.8$
14. How many quarters of a foieip
language should be required? 79.4% vot*
for the present system of 2-4 quarters. 16;]^
wanted none at all; and 2.8% wanted non
15. Do you feel a great amount of cbq'ifcfc
ness between groups? Yes 55.9%, No 34 9%
16. Do you agree with U. S. action i
Vietnam? Yes 81.3%, No 11.5%. One trfe
summed the whole thing up in a few Wcr&
“a). Justice for humanity, a sufferi ig
and oppressed huihanity, might be
“melodramatic”, but damn if it isn’t
something to think about
b) . We MUST fulfill our commitment
to South Vietnam or our prestige will be
destroyed and encourage the Reds to try
again and again and again. ...
c) . 6 million people would be alive tod ly
if Hitler had been stopped at the Rhiia.
d) . This is what the leaders of cor
country deem necessary at the time.
e) . A hell of a good time to let the Co n-
munist powers know that when we sty
‘Nuff, gang; the fun’s over* we mean i .
17. Do you agree with the current Via,
nam protest demonstrations evident in A me
ica? Yes 6.5%, No 90.3%. But it wat. et>
lightening to note that many recognized the
right to hold them, even though they dit
agreed.
18. Do you think students derive an;
benefit from panty raids? Yes 65.2%, Ni
29.5%. This one was fun. Here is a parti*
listing of the responses (some could not bi
reprinted): school spirit, Fun Fun Fun!, to
getherness, brotherhood, panties, breaks the
monotony, raises morale, personal contact
with the dean.
19. Would you be in favor of federal aid ti
Mercer? Yes 70.9%, No 25.3%.
20. What do you like most about Mercer!
campus and people, classes, faculty-studtt
relationship, Wesleyannes.
21. What do you like least about Merce!
The FOOD, poor social conditions, regiatn
tion, low faculty salaries (this was from a stri
dent), water sprinklers, complacency, provinc
ialism, and as one freshmen female calmly put
it, Wesleyan.
22. Do you think the Mercer bookstore i
meeting the needs of the student and faculty’
Yes 57.2%, No 41%. Enumerate your com
plaints. Both faculty and students complained
about the lack of books for courses at the be
ginning of each quarter. Many want to see
used paperback business started. And every
one wanted to know what was going on in tk
buying back and selling of used textboks.
HALLELUJAH CORNER
Here’s another contribution to the Hallelujah Comer. This
time it’s for the new doors recently installed on either side of
the chapel.
Perhaps we should be modest about the whole thing, but
it’s been so long and the doors look too good to ignore. So
permit us a little note of thanksgiving. Many thanks. And
amen three times.
Student Union
Chatter
With the Student in Mind
by T. D. Wilcox
Last week some of the convocation crowd, Bruce, Arthur and Hen
ry. joined forces with the Phi Mu washboard band for a trip to the
Milledgeville State Hospital. The recreational director of the hospital
reports that it was one of the most entertaining evenings the patients
have had in a long time.
Anyone interested in horseback riding who has not joined the
weekly riders is missing a great deal of fun. The Union Director rode
one week; however, due to certain complications he has been just
watching of late.
There is a new art exhibit in the student center. Remarks on the
collection have been varied. Its different—reminds one of the "Bat
Cave”. Everyone should see it.
Next week: Toby A Tot The SGA has worked hard to provide
the students a big week in the Toby A Tot tradition. Participate in as
many of the week's activities as you can. Georgia Southern and Jack
sonville are two old rivals that must be taken. Support the Bears.
Aside from Student Activities there is a new game on the campus
scene: "Trivia”. Most of you have probably read about it already,
therefore with no explanation of the game I would like to ask the two
following questions:
1. What was the name of Hopalong Cassidy's hone?
2. What was the name of the TV program where you had to put
a transparent cover on the screen and use crayons to get the hero out
of trouble?
Answer* should be mailed directly to the Union Director's office.
MEDEA REVIEWED
The speech and drama d«patl
ments joined to present a brillha
performance of Medea on Fsh
and 4 in Willingham Chapel
Beverly Williams gave an «
cel lent portrayal of Med«a,
super-human woman racket' will
the agonies of love and hate Ala
excellent was the portrayal J
nurse by Vicky Graves. Th *
Vicky's first performance at
cer, and she was marvelous.
Margaret McMillan is to lx
ly commended for her wt -k
choreographing the dance o 6
along with the play. Margan . Be
Sonen, and Kay McDonald «**
outstanding as dancers, ( lttat
much expression and meanir: o*»
their dancing. Also good we e tfc
rest of the dancers—An >
Hendricks, Peggy Malott, W
Morris, and Barbara Beaucl uap
John Johnson was partk ihrt
good as Jason, and Roger BA
Stephen Gower, and the ch dn»
Martin Westmorland and B*^
Youman were also very good
The lighting was marveiou >. A
the scenery was splendid. vB •
all the production waa super >. A
Mr. Layne and his cast are W k
highly praised for their work
Pnct Corps Tost Hors
Mercer University students
have an opportunity to take
Peace Corps Placement Test
campus on Feb. 21. It will be
in Room 102 in the
Bldg- at 2:46 P.M. The
Test takes about an hour aal
half. An optional French or 0
iah achievement teat require*
other hour.