Newspaper Page Text
Volume 'XLVfll cs
MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON, GEORGIA, APRIL 21, 1967
Number 16
TRUSTEES VOTE TO LET PRESIDENT
HARRIS HANDLE CAMPUS CRISIS
Only One Dissenting Vote Otto's Position Appears Safe
— T. E. Cauthorn —
Last week on Wednesday and Thursday, the 12 and 13
of April, Dean Otto delivered his chapel talk to the Mercer
student body which was followed by reactions from WBML
radio and protests by the Macon Baptist Pastors’ Association.
DEAN OTTO
During Dean Otto’s talk, which
reached the question. "What must
re do to be saved?”, the problems
I religious observances by mem-
prs of Mercer's student body and
lenity were searched. Dean Otto
ripil to make clear the paradoxes
i each individual’s thought con-
erning the age old question. "Have
ou been saved?"
It is interesting to note that
lean Otto tried to capture his
udirnce’s interest and through this
Merest develop a cogent line of
ilk Prying as he has many times
t the |>ast he put his talk on the
olksiuial level of the students in
n effort to show that "Yeah. I
hink you’re pagan.” The text of
lean Otto’s talk brought to each
tudent the reality of the question
nd because of its appeal to stu-
rnt vernacular it had its desired
ffect
Accusations of “vulgar" and
obsi me’ have been leveled at
lean Otto without a reference to
he i mtinuity that this vernacular
•<1 in his talk
At this writing the students of
Mercer have certainly dispensed
with the irrelevancies of passion
and have attached almost 1000
signatures to a petition supporting
Dean Otto The stand of these
students is liest represented by one
of the leaders in the movement.
Sam Oni, who incidentally had
been refused admittance to one
of Macon's Baptist churches last
fall quarter
The movement to support Dean
Otto made its stand clear to the
Cluster Monday evening April 17
in which it stated the main point
was Dean Otto's sermon, not a few
quotes lifted from context. It is on
this ground that the petition slip
ixirts the Dean of the ("ha|>el
At this printing the Trustees are
to meet Thursday. April 20 and
perhaps may discuss the statements
of interested groups. Dean Otto's
position is that of Dean of f hapel
and minister to the students and in
this capacity he directed a state
ment in his talk to those who would
refuse to meet students on their
own terms. "We still prefer a cir
cus tu bread "
Honor Council Appoints
fhree To Fill Vacancies
The Honor Council announces
* appointment of Martiel Bab
■t, Mike Camp, and Bill Ingram
1 the council to fill the vacancies
I graduating seniors Jacob Beil,
oanie Rougher, and Davis Laney.
Babbit, Camp, and Ingram were
tketed from among approximate-
' twenty-five applications.
Installation of these justices and
•* election Oi Chief Justice and
krk wiU be held on Wednesday,
April 27, to be followed by a twin
quet.
Martiel is a sophomore from
Augusta. Georgia, a member of Chi
Omega, Dean s List, BSD, Sigma
Thu Gamma, SNEA. and KDE
Mike is u freshman from Rome,
Georgia and is a pledge of Alpha
Tau Omega. Ingram is a fresnman
from New nan, Georgia, pledge class
president of MIMA, member-elect
of the SGA Appropriations Com
mittee, and a Dean’s List student.
(Following is an excerpt from
Dr. Harris' address to the
Board of Trusteeft yesterday)
"Mercer is a good anil vital Chris
tian college We should not accept
anything less than that The good
college, Christian or not, respects
and protects the academic Ireedom
of the individual scholar to search
for truth, proclaim and teach it in
his classrooms and in his public ut
terances. despite the fact that being
human, he may sometimes err in his
choice of techniques and terms.
Likewise, the Christian college re
spects the freedom of the man of
God in the pulpit to preach the
word of God in that pulpit as he is
moved by the Spirit of God to do
so, despite an occasional error in
manner or in the use of speech. It
is the total eontext of the ministry
that must be taken into aeeount.
whether that of classroom or pulpit
"The Chapel means ton mueh to
Mereer, and Dr Otto means too
much to the Chapel, and to those of
us who know him best and there
fore trust him most, to consent
that he be subjec ted to rash, puni
tive and shortsighted official abuse
and judgment This would injure
him no less than it would injure the
stature of the University. This, no
educator could ever accept.
“I request that you receive Offi
cially this statement."
Law School
Names 21
Twentv-one students in the
Walter F. George School of
Law at Mercer University
have been named to the
Dean’s List for their scholastic
attainment during the winter
quarter.
Dean James (’. Quarles said stu
dents attaining the Dean’s List
must have a grade average of 78
or higher for the quarter, and this
group comprises the upper ten per
cent in scholarship in the Ijjw
School
Students on the list include:
J Eugene Beckham. Jr.. Carroll
ton; Steve I) Bowen. 111. Eastman:
William E. Cetti. Pensacola. Fla.:
Albert H. Dallas. Lincolnton;
Arthur Curtis Farrar. Douglas:
Hardy Gregory. Jr.. Vienna; Har
mnn Terrell Griffin, Macon: Robert
L. Hartley, Jr.. Macon. James W
Hurt. Cordcle; J. Harold Mimbs.
Lumber City; Guerrv R. Moore,
Atlanta: Harvey N Pearce, Colum
bus; Charles B. Pekor. Jr. Colum
bus; James F'dward Peugh. Mill
edgeville: Wallace W. Plowden. Jr..
Bainbridge; James Howard Pope,
Macon; Charles T. Shean. III.
Sparta: William B Shearer, Jr.,
Macon. George Thomas Williams,
Vidalia: Joel C. Williams, Jr.. Da-
cula; Edwin S. Varner. Jr., Bain-
bridge
Dean Quarles also announced
that James Edward Peugh of Mill-
edgeville was recipient of the
George B. Connell Memorial
Award as the student earning the
highest scholastic average in all
courses taken during the winter
quarter.
Hudson Is S.G.A. President
Cauthorn Elected Editor
Campaigning on the promise of safeguarding student in
terests, David Hudson, McDonough, Georgia, junior, swept to
an impressive victory over David Wansley last Friday in one
of the most active political campaigns ever at Mercer Uni
versity. Student politics reached a fever pitch on Friday when
some nine hundretf'students went to the polls to make their
choices for student government positions.
When interviewed by the Cluster. I ministration ;and second by taking
Hudson reflected on the positions i a leadership position in matters of
he would like to see the student 1 student opinion."
government take next year. Hudson
said his primary duty would he to
carry out the functions of the Stu
dent Government Association in ac
cordance with the revised consti
lotion which was recently approver!
hy the student body. These func
tions come in th<‘ form of Orienta
tion Week. Homecoming. Student
entertainment and activities, opera
tion of the student-faculty leader
ship conference, and the many
other administrative duties.
With regard to the cafeteria
problem, Hudson said. We are
going to definitely push for pro
fesional caterer to make an esti
mate lor food services in light of
improving the cafeteria" In re
sponse to other questions, the new
President said he would take a
leading part in standing up for stu
dents and faculty when there is
any interference in academic free'
dom. an obvious reference to the
chapel controversy which o ecu red
last week.
Hudson said he was looking for
ward to the VVaverly Conference
to be held soon. He said this is the
proper place for students to air
their gripes and make suggestions
for improvement in the adminis
(ration of student needs.
Roger Anderberg, a junior from
Bridgeville, Penn., was elected
Vice-President' of the Student
Government Association in his
election battle over Jim Wood
Anderberg maintains that he
stands for a stronger student voice
in student affairs and stronger stu
dent unity Anderberg said. I
think that if the student body acts
as a unit on the things they want.
DAVE HUDSON
Other student body officials who
were elected in the heated political
campaign include: Secretary of
S.G.A., Janice Baker; Treasurer of
S.G.A , Carol Ann Wright: Fresh
man Advisor. Ed Bacon; Town
Representatives. Marty Leverett
and Bud Maddox; Dormatory
Representatives. Rick Davison and
Dori Ripley: Appropriations Com
mittee. Martiel Babbit. Judy Force,
Bill Ingram. Nancy Smith, and
Mark Steinbeck; Cluster Editor.
Tom Cauthorn: Cauldron Editor.
Jim Ressiger. Senior Class: Presi
dent. Roddy Clark: Vice-President.
Bill Wehunt: Secretary. Lynn
Goveu; Treasurer. Sara
Junior Class: President.
Brenner; Vice President.
Winkle; Secretary, Janie
Treasurer. Stephannie
Smith.
Gary
John
Ball
Fid gar,
they will get them .” "My function l Sophomore Class: President. Rob
as Vice-President is to lie the tool i ert Belloir: Vice-President. Charlie
of the students; first hy represent- jWitzlehen; Secretary. Tish Eubank:
ing student opinion before the ad | Treasurer. Sara Hackney.
..VICTORY..
Sunday Library Hours;
2-10:00 P.M.
Mr. Larry McConnell £'
£ Cluster Office
Dear Larry:
The Library will lie open on Sunday from 2.00 p.m £
£ until 10:00 p.m. beginning April 23. It will also he open i-i;
£ until 10:00 p.m. the last three Saturday nights of the £
£ quarter. •£
i-i: Sincerely yours, £
£ Daniel Lamar Metts, Jr.