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THE MERCER CLUSTER
February 24, 11M
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sandy Harrieon
BUSINESS MANAGER
Laa O’Brien
TECHNICAL EDITOR:
Rich VaaBueUrk
SOCIAL EDITORS
Margie Singlay
David Wanaley
SPORTS EDITOR:
Tom Lang
CIRCULATION MANAGER:
Bonnie Lawrence
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Tommy McCeheo
ADVERTISING
Nancy Barrett
Sherri Clark
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Wally McCollum
EXECUTIVE EDITORS:
Diana Denton
BID Dayton
NEWS STAFF: Dale Freaney,
Judy Howell, Kay Eubank, Mar
tial Babbitt, Danny Sheffield,
Billie Ueelton, Reece Stanford
FEATURES STAFF: MOa Laaal-
la, Frank Donnelly, Clyde Hoo
ver, Suaan Wiseman, Annette
Gen til, Sara June McRae
COPY STAFF: Pam Norton, Gall
Brown, Suaan Vernam, Hope
Slaton, Barbara Gantt, Heather
Dailey, Lynn Kite
CIRCULATION STAFF: Kathy
Kennedy
Let's Not
Defer Rush
J. Thomas McGehee
The faculty of the College of Liberal Arts has recom
mended to the University Council that rush be deferred until
the entering freshmen have satisfactorily completed two quar
ters of work. Two reasons have been given for this: 1) that it
interferes with orientation; and 2) that it interferes with the
student’s work. Deferred rush will destroy the fraternity and
sorority system and, eventually, Mercer.
The fraternities and sororities will lose a large number of
members at the end of spring qaurter due to graduation. If
rush is deferred, these members will not be replaced until the
beginning of the following spring quarter. During the inter
vening fall and winter quarters, there will be only a few mem
bers paying dues. Thus, there will be a lack of money for any
type of activities. There can be no parties and no participation
in such activities as Toby and Tot Weekend. There will not be
enough members for intramural sports. Thus, the social life
of Mercer may be destroyed.
The fraternities and sororities encourage students to
attend Mercer. During the summer, they write letters and
make personal contacts with prospective students. There are
no university sponsored social activities at which the new
freshmen can make new friends.
All of the fraternities and sororities have some type of
scholarship program. They all encourage their members to
study with the new pledges and help them whenever possible.
If rush is interfering with orientation, then it could be
scheduled for the week before or after orientation. If the
reason is scholarship, it is unfounded. A comparison of grades
shows that 66% of the freshmen who pledged a fraternity or
sorority made their grades while only 46% of the unaffiliated
freshmen did. If the university still believes that the fratern
ities and sororities require too much outside activity for the
new freshmen, then let them restrict to some extent, but not
completely, the outside activities of the new pledges, rather
than defer rush.
Fifteen Students
VisitMilledgeville
Fifteen Mercer students were the honored and enter
taining guests of the Macon’s Junior Chamber of Commerce
and some one hundred inhabitants of the Yarborough Re
habilitation Building at the Georgia State Hospital, Milledge-
ville on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Organized by Director of Student Activities T. D. Wilcox,
the student group presented a program of folk and fun-type
music for the Milledgeville patients, including folk singers
Brace Bickner, Arthur Browning, and vocalist-flamenco-
guitarist Henry Duvall, topped off by the 8 lovely lasses of
the Phi Mu Washboard Band. “Pianist” Wilcox and a few
fellow students were on hand as friends of the Jaycees and
the entertainers.
The program was one of a series of informal evenings
which have been provided for Milledgeville patients in the
past two months as a part of the Jaycees’ Mental Health
Project. Each visit provides a different type of entertainment,
a different aspect of talent either local to the City of Macon
or gleaned from the neighboring campuses of Mercer or Wes
leyan. The entertainment is taken each time to a different
building and different group of the Milledgeville complex. Six
or eight Jaycees and their wives usually provide transportation
and aid in socializing with the patients.
The Jaycees would like to see more Mercer participation
with this procram. Anyone interested in performing or in ob
serving should contact Mr. Barnes O’Neal of Macon. Students
willing to donate clothing or costume-jewelry (desperately
needed among hospital patients) might organize a drive or
make contributions through Mr. O’Neal or Diana Denton. This
would be an excellent project for some social or service organi
zation, and the Jaycees would greatly appreciate the help—as,
of course would those hospitalized.
■ SANDY HARRISON
/ HA VE CHANGED MY MIND
To defer ruth on* quarter would help itudenU at both *oda
to heroin* batter acquainted and would help freabmen especi
ally to M* the situation more objectively. It would nearly
eliminate having to drop or suspend pledges due to grades
and would reduce the number of people dissatisfied after
they had been accepted.
Oct. 1. 1111 Cluster
I wrote this. And I definitely see its merit. How
ever . . . since that time the Cluster has held an
opinion poll, and I have discussed the problem with
various Greek leaders. Slowly, they have made me
aware of the other side of the issue. Therefore, taking
a woman’s prerogative, I have changed my mind.
Reasons? Via the poll. . . .
1. The majority of the students do not desire defer
red rush (68.4% as opposed to the 86.6% for it). If
the university has any democratic leanings, the will
of the majority should certainly be considered.
2. lFC and Panhellenic spirit is marred by pro
longed competition. Delayed rushing would certainly
ease the problem of freshmen learning the relative
merits and demerits of each organisation. But, the
continual friction between groups trying to rush the
same people would increase hostility and reduce
effective inter-Greek relations.
8. Prolonged anxiety for both parties. Amen. Recall
the harrowing experience of that aingle week and
stretch it out over an entire year. Freshmen would
be constantly on their guard to make sure that they
did nothing to reduce their chances. Upperclassmen
would be forever wondering if the frat or sorority
could get enough pledges to save the organization
from financial oblivion.
4. Financial oblivion. This is the strongest point
the anti-defer people make. Without pledge pay
ments, the organizations lose $2,000. Granted, after
the first year payments will be resumed; but can
the Greeks survive the twelve month dearth? Fur
thermore, in that the freshmen will be members of
the group for 6 months less that at present, the
organization would lot* additional money from d*
amounting to approximately $1,500.
6. No social life fall quarter. Without Greek danc«
parties, etc., will there be aay social contact f (
students? Will freshmen and upperclassmen be p*
mitted to mingle freely? If this is the case, tkc
probably the organizations will unofflcally githi
the pledgea tong before actual rush. If mingling
prohibited, the freshmen will be an isolated rn
Could the administration substitute an active tort
atmosphere (not a once-a-quarter deal either) *
6. Destruction of the quality of intramural
Pledges are the main source of players—and en'.hw
asm. Intramurals between stodgy upperdas
would be spiritless. Agreed, after the first yea
pledges would again be available, but the one jm
without them would do irreparable damage.
7. “An increase in the gap between freehmet u
upperclassmen.” This one needs no explanation et
8. "Depledging and wildcat rush are availab!)
those dissatisfied.” Many do take advantage c'
privilege of depledging. Wildcat rush is availab e fi
those who wish to ponder before choosing. But
freshmen need the closeness and companionshi
mediately, not a year later. (The Cluater sc licit
statistics on fraternity-sorority dropouts.)
9. Upperclassmen help pledges with their studh
Staying in an organization and getting initiate 1 si
great incentives for studying. Upperclasamei u
glad to be of service in tutoring. The main contents
on this point is that the mulititude of Greek-impon
activities reduce study time. All right, restrict th
activities to which pledges are liable, (cf. “Let’s N.
Defer Rush”), but don’t defer rush.
Argumentation of any sort is welcomed in th
paper. As long as they are in good taste, we *j
print opinions from the faculty, students or ti
administration on either side of the issue.
A Liberal “Arts” College?
For 15 years, so we’ve been told, the question has been
raised. For 16 years, it’s been put down—or aside—repressed
or ignored.
It came up again this year, and the fighting (behind the
scenes and well concealed, of course) was fiercer than usual,
perhaps because it was the last gasp of the effort and seemed
stronger in its death throes. Perhaps it had the same strength
as before, but just seemed worse because the rebuttal was the
same as ever, only seeming more antiquated in the light of
the progress Mercer has been making of late on other fronts.
The question was whether Mercer should offer a major
in art.
All of the old arguments were there. First, this isn’t the
type of study appropriate to a liberal arts school. Where then
should art be studied? And what should a liberal arts school
afford? Looking at some of the majors we now have—biology,
chemistry, Christianity, physics—one wonders what sort of
school of “arts” we have. These courses seem more at home
at a Duke or seminary.
Second, there aren’t enough students for a major. This
is true now, perhaps, but there might be, if such a major was
made available.
Third, it seems a common misconception that art is an
easy field. Any student who has taken art can tell you that’s
not so. True, talent is of essence in this area, but whereas in
nate ability might make the courses easier, few truly dedi
cated artists do anything of worth without effort.
Let this be a warning for any student eyeing art for easy
credit.
Statistics prove that art is not as easy as it’s assumed.
Mr. Marshall Daugherty, chairman of the Art department,
compiled grades given in all departments on campus during
the last 4 quarters. He found that his department occupies a
good solid median on the scale, considerably below (indicating
harder work or at least harder grading) several courses upper
classmen warn freshmen about.
What obstacles would have to be overcome to offer an art
major at Mercer? Most of all, new equipment is needed and
that has already been ordered to go into Hardman Library,
being renovated as a Fine Arts Center.
There would be no need for increased faculty. Mercer
already provides three instructors of art and an additional
artist-in-residence.
No courses would have to be added; there would be no
basic change in curriculum. A change is already being insti
tuted to replace the current instruction in crafts with a course
in graphics, and the new machines are going into the new
center.
The main thing to be changed will be opinion. Studenta
taking the proper courses would be credited on them for a
major.
What is there to lose?
Diana Denton
HALLELUJAH CORNER
We wish to thank Dr. Otto for the extraordinary Religi
ous Week services recently held. We received none of the trite
cliches or rehashed dogmatism but a stimulating, enlighting
discussion about basic and really pertinent issues. For once,
our intelligence and interests were recognized.
Dr. Mueller provoked comment—sometimes con, many
times pro—but at least he provoked comment To gain the
interest of our students, Dr. Mueller and Dr. Otto should be
congratulated.
Book Review
A LOW VIEW OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Richard Armour’s 29th bod
"GOING AROUND IN ACADE10
CIRCLES: A LOW VIEW 0
HIGHER EDUCATION,” recent!
published by McGraw-Hill, ia i
inside job spoof on the Amerin
College written by a man wi
more than thirty-seven years’ e
perienee as a teacher and admii
strator in schools all over ti
country.
Tha book is a parody of a cos
plete college catalogue, covert
such topics as admissions, expetw
the campus, and the curriculun-
all seen from Armour’s n
special point of view.
The author includas a history
higher education from preh stsc
times to the present. The follow)
comment on the Middle Ages is si
one of many hitherto-une: rib
facts about education thrt
includes:
"Members of the faculty v en
better off than previoi »lj.
because they wore suits of
armor. Fully »rcourted, si
with their visors down, i tsj
could summon up enough c ur
age to go into the Preside iti
office and ask for a promc ios
even though they had not : ub-
lished a thing.”
The author presents a c< np<
henaive guide to financial aid
will be of kelp to all need 8
dents:
“Financial aid takes n wj
forms, all of them invol is*
money. There are, for exan pk
scholarships. One of thee *
the Henry M. Humpyemtrtr.
available to any worthy sri
needy student of good char
acter who comes from Norib
Dakota, has a mole on bk
right cheek, end is under fiv*
feet tall.”
Many other areas are covers)
thoughtfully as tha above-metth 1
ed, and this book will he of ink
to the student, the faculty,
alumni, the administration,
drop-outs, and all those who
a sense of humor.