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G.B.C.
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REJECTS MERCER S 1
FOR FEDERAL AID
The Georgia Baptist Convention, the denominational body controlling
Mercer University, has rejected to allow the University to apply for a
$500,000 federal loan to provide expenses for construction of a science
center here.
Meeting at the 145th annual session in Columbus November 16, the
Convention heard arguments from members both for and against the federal
loan, and then voted down the reuqest by a two-one margin.
The Convention, at its meeting last year, urged that the loan be sought
from private sources, but the Mercer Board of Trustees resubmitted the re
quest this year on the basis that a loan from “non-federal” sources would
cost Mercer more than $125,000 in excess of the cost of the federal loan.
Dr. Rufus C. Harris, Mercer University president, had previously an
nounced intentions to have the science center constructed with or without
federal aid, although he was very much in favor of obtaining the government
loan.
Dr. Alvin Brackett, of Macon, voiced the recommendation to the Con
vention that federal loans to the University be permitted so long as no
subsidy is involved.
Following several arguments over the controversial issue, Dr. Maurice
Trimmer ,of Macon, chairman of the Mercer Board of Trustees, told the
Convention that it should approve the measure or get itself a new Board
of Trustees.
The defeated proposal instructed that should government loan costs
change and a subsidy become evident, “the institution voluntarily pay the
government at the close of the year an amount equal to the deficiency.”
The Board of Trustees of Mercer had prior to the Convention session
given approval to such an arrangement in a resolution stating:
“That the Board of Trustees of the Corporation of Mercer University
hereby expresses a willingness to pay to the federal government a sum of
money exceeding interest charge stipulated by the government for the
construction of said science center building when necessary to avoid a
subsidy.”
The federal funds, if the request had been approved, would have been
loaned under provisions of the Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963, one
of many recently passed U. S. Government aid-to-education programs.
The conservative Georgia Baptists have long been skeptical of any
governmental financial aid to the church-supported university, apparently
fearing federal “intervention in church affairs.”
President Harris has on many occasions pleaded for the Baptists to
change their position regarding federal aid, believing that financial support
from the government will not destroy the wall of church-state separation,
but that it would be a form of cooperation.
^ Mtrttx © Cluster
Volume XLVII MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON, GEORGIA, NOVEMBER 18, 1966 Number"!
Calendar of Events
NOVEMBER 18:
10:00—Chapel—Rev. Bill Self
9:15—Wesleyan Homecoming
Begins
NOVEMBER 21:
10:00—Chapel
8; 00—Newman Club
8:30—Swingle Singers
NOVEMBER 22:
10:00—Chapel
7:00—Chess Club
NOVEMBER 23-27:
Joyous recess of classes for
Thanksgiving ....
NOVEMBER 29:
10:00—Blub Key tapping
[NOVEMBER 30:
Pre Registration
3:30 Bridge
Mercer Shares $4,000
Grant with Wesleyan
W. E. Thompson, representing the Sears-Roebuck Founda
tion recently presented unrestricted grants totaling $4,000 to
Mercer University and Wesleyan College.
The checks, accepted by Dr. Earl
Strickland, president of Wesleyan,
and W. T. Haywood, Mercer’s vice-
president for business and finance,
were part of $1,000,000 in grants
being distributed this week by the
foundation to private colleges and
universities across the nation. Ten
other colleges in Georgia are also
receiving grants.
“Altogether, more than 000 col
leges and universities from coast
Smngk Singers
Perform Monday
“The Swingle Singers” emitting a provacative and new
ind in music will appear in concert here on November 21,
8:30 p.m. in the Willingham Chapel.
to coast will participate in the
program this year,” Mr. Thompson
said.
The purpose of the Aid to Higher
Education program, which was in
stituted five years ago, is to pro
vide systematic financial support
for non-tax supported institutions
of higher learning.
The monies allocated under the
program are not restricted as to
use. College administration is free
to apply them to areas of greatest
need.
In addition to the direct-grand
program, the SearsRoebuck Foun
dation this year will invest an ad
ditional $800,000 in various scholar
ship programs, bringing its total
expenditure for higher education
to more than $1,800,000.
Hie group’s first record release
1983 entitled "Bach’s Greatest
ts” won the acclaim of the new
ssical left and two Grammies
the annual balloting conducted
the National Academy of Re
ding Arts and Sciences. “The
ingle Singers’ ” style is an intri-
e blending which changes its
de as it moves from Bach to
ndel to Moxart. The group com
es the compositions of "the
»t»rs” over a light 4/4 jass
rthm. The four female voices
float over the two tenor and two
bass-baritone male voices in a
syncopated rhythm reminiscent of
the flowing ab-lib jan of the late
1940’s.
Ward Swingle, the director, is a
thirty-seven year old Alabaman
who brought the eight French
voices together in November, 1963
This is the group’s second interna
tional tour and as was indicated in
their last release, “Anyone for
Moxart?,” they may try their hand
(Continued on pagaS)
Mercer Choir Performs
at Georgia Baptist
Convention
Mercer’s seventy-member choir
presented its annual program at
the Georgia Baptist Convention in
Columbus, Georgia, November 15.
Featured songs were “Lord, Thou
Hast Been Our Refuge" and
"Saints Bound for Heaven." Mr.
Jack Jones, Mercer music instruc
tor, led the choir, and Mr. John
Van Cura, Mercer voice instructor,
sang a solo as part of “Lord. Thou
Hast Been Our Refuge.” Accom
panying the singers was Miss
Redonda Lawrence, organist.
After their participation in the
choir's program, Mr. Jones and Mr.
Van Cura entertained Mercer
alumni at a statewide luncheon.
Then the choir, which left Mercer
at 8:15, returned to the campus
about 5:46.
76ave A
fhjfout
‘Jkank&giving
M. U. COED HIT BY TRUCK
NOW 8, Charlotte Lindsey, Mercer coed, receives aid from
passers-by shortly after having been struck down by a truck
at the intersection of College Street and the Co-op parking
lot. Miss Lindsey was taken immediately to Macon General
hospital where she was treated for lacerations and released
after examination.
President Harris Returns From
London Conference On Education
Dr. Rufus Carrollton Harris re
turned November 10 from London,
England. The University president
represented the Commission on In
ternational Education and Cultural
Excnange of the U. S. State De
partment at a London conference of
international education.
The conference studied the role
of international education and cul
tural affairs in the American
foreign policy.
Phases of international education
dealt with were: exchange pro
grams, follow-up programs, the role
of the universities in mutual under
standing .and the development of
bilateral faculty and resource* to
higher education.