Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Mttcet duster Cluster Forum Ltc. Brambila See Page 6 VolurrM L MERCER UNIVERSITY. MACON. GEORGIA, APRIL 29.1969 Number 16 Newly-elected SGA Officers: Bobby Potter President: Steve Carreker, Vice President; and hzie Smith Secretary. Jtffary Salter Ed Bacon Receives Ovation As Expression Of Gratitude A banquet for the installation of the new SGA Senators and Publications Editors was held on Tuesday night, April 15. when the new officers took oaths of office and the new SGA President, Bobby Potter, addressed those present. Potter thanked bis supporters for their help and dedication in his recent campaign. He expressed conviction that the problem of communication among faculty^ administration and students can be solved. He proposed to send minutes of the meetings to all Senators and seemed extremely confident of the new CLUSTER, its editor and staft Rotter pointed out what is to him I division of the campus among Greeks, other social groups, and the no affiliated students, stating that although only two days before he had spoken as a Greek, he would now tpcak for every student. Potter pledged to be a strong President and asked for united up port The success of Mercer, he stated, is "our" duty and it will need each student 's personal dedication Prior to this. James Edwin Bacon, outgoing SGA President, reported that there were at that moment 123 standing committees in the old aAminiatrationi he remarked that this had been a major critcism of his administration In his address to the group, Bacon said that for us here at Mercer to develop a superior community we mutt develop oneness" arc must have unity, we must refer to osueelves as 'We.” Iwd the new study of the library subscripnont investment to tee what has been fulfilled. He pointed out that the campus-wide Faculty Evaluation was still underway, and he asked that the SGA President be granted voting membership in the University Council. He asked that the new Senate consider his request for full involvement in matters associated with curriculum, admissions, guidance and athletics. He suggested they decide whether ot not to affiliate with a national or regional organisation of student Governments Bacon pointed out the need of legalising a way of assigning membership on University committees, for he has served on 12 working committees this year alone. He commented on the by-laws which will be formulated this quarter to complement the present constitution He suggested SGA Administration co-ordination to deal with SMOGG and the entire problem of Federal Aid. In relation to other campuses, he pointed out. Mercer has been relatively peaceful but is not immune to riots and disruption Civil disobedience in protest may be in our future. Bacon said, and if problems should arise, outside groups could possibly come in and take over the campus If Mercer were to approach this condition. Bacon stated, it is the (Continued on page 3) Dr. Harris Reports Federal Aid Needed ilap BOW hi pngoa He asked fat I mdmwtm n of a SmJeot Bill of ights and Code ot Conduct, not ■vtag seen them in final form, but bring been coowl ted upon several rafts. He asked that the hniajpmtioa endorse the paaMoa ■per ot the Student College Study lt***Ag Committee and be felt the uapectiut Committee of the SGA Kmld be continued- He referred to the Student ai%itiry Review and wrested it be riouaty nnditeehm. He reminded lose present of the study of ■dent* (Bern and the question of Punitive action against Mercer University as a result of her trustees ^plying for federal granrs would result in great damage to the university and the Baptiat denomination. President Rufus Carrollton Harris told the Board of Trustees at their meeting April 17. In hit report. President Harris said. “It is important which should be expected if die Southern Association of Colleges and Schools should be forced by the (Georgia Baptist) Convention to drop or roapervi Mercer from membership." The trustees approved a SJ.711.312 budget foe 1469-70, an increase of 7.2 percent over current coats. Expenditures in the College of Liberal Arts were budgeted at S1.4J2.0I4. A dight raise to public net. Alto he called hot the budget, an inercaae made necessary by modest salary mcreaaea and higher costa of operation President Harris and The tuition increase for entering freshmen will amount to $50 a quarter in the College of Liberal Arts, S30 a quarter in the Southern School of Pharmacy and J25 a quarter in the Walter F. George School of Law Tuition in the College of Liberal Arts for entering freshmen will be a $500 a quarter All divisions of the university operate on the guaranteed tuition plan A student is guaranteed there will be no change in his tuition during the three to four years he is working toward a degree la discussing the relationship of Mercer to her sponsoring body. President Harris said. “When controversial public and political issues break out and press for resolution . . there should be but one concern, which is that church-related colleges should be qualified m all respects to make genuine and substantial contributions (Continued on Page 3) SGA President Urges Student Involvement Praidtnt Hobart Pottar One of the most discussed issues of (his past week ws* that of communication among that faculty, the administration, and all students. This problem will be solved, or at least partially solved in the coming year First, SGA Senate meeting will be open and publicity announced wet! in asd advanced Secondly, all senators will be sent minutes of the the previous Sga meeting and an agenda of the upcoming meeting. In this way. not only will each senator be better informed, but more students will have access to these minutes. Thirdly, the new Cluster and its staff officers a vast potential as a mode of communication among the SGA and all students, faculty, administration, and even alumni. Committee reports can be published weekly as well as faculty and student position papers. Concerning the student representaion. the executive committee of the SGA will select committee members by applications These appointments will be made from members of the Senate first, then from others who have applied. All comittees will be balanced in an attempt to include the various areas if university life in all SGA actions. Applications wilt be made available to all students and all will be urged to respond. I will not attempt at this time to outline specific goals of the SGA in the coming year This is the objective of the WavcHy Conference to be held immediately after graduation in June • Between then and now preliminary objectives will be examined in order to advance discussion at Waverly. Also, every attempt will be made through the Senate to discuss all student problems and concern* that might be a | h an fled at Waverly. This conference can be the very foundation of the new SGA for it will determine the direction of next year's student actions. An effective student, faculty, and administration croca-section will provide this direction. We will work to carry out all objectives oudined in Waverly. This action will be checked and rechccked by the Excuetive Committee. Perspective Committee (established this year expressly for that purpose), and by the student body. The SGA welcomes ail advice and constructive critcism by every student. V. P. StBvt Carreker There is much do be done and time is precious. Our decisions must be wise, our actions, swift and efficient. To do as much as possible in the coming year we must use aJI the potential leadership and ability of the Senate and the Student Body A first step will be^ to broaden the communications between the faculty, administration, and student body. They must be so broadened as to do away with the apathy, to interest more students in the Senate and to encourage more action by senators Only through fostered relationships among the three areas on campus can these communications be made. Much work needs to be done in the relationships among students. We need to do away with all the differing interest groups and come together as a more united body with better ideas, efforts, and energy, and consequently. more accomplishments After concentration on communications we can better solve the large problems of the budget, cafeteria, and curriculum. 1 will strive to keep our Senate a firm government, rooted in the new constitution, and at the same time make it flexible enough to turn problem confrontation and student demand into resolutions and actions SGA Sec’ty Izzie Smith Prior to being elected to this office I gave little thought to an established platform on which to run. This is not to say that I feel as Sec re t a ry Treasurer my only responsibilities are to call roll, read minutes, and post notices of future meetings. These dudes are necessary and I intend to get them done, but I feel that my major responsibilities are to the interests of Mercer students as a member of the Student Government Senate and the executive committee. As I said, I established no platform but 1 do have specific areas of interest. These include the Food Services Committee (hopefully to become a Budgetary Review Board), the proper function of the RWGA on our campus, and the aim for increased participation in Srudent Government Activities through better communication between the SGA and the student. These areas may seem small when considering such major issues as "Student Power" but I feel that our SGA should reach every student on campus and this can only be done through contact in all areas. I am excited about the prospects of our SGA and the Mercer community in the coming year. Tremendous goals have been set for us and there are no reasons to expect failure in reaching these goals and many more. Fre$hmen Advrsof Tommv Maddox To suddenly find oneself faced with the responsibility of introducing 500 plus Freshmen to college life as students at McrceT is like opening packages on Christmas morning, you just don’t know where to start In light of the broadening scope of student interest and action. Orientation 1969 will be directed toward not only the necessities of academic rules and student regulations, but also toward giving the student an insight into discovering what being a "true Tommy Miuhiox student" in today’s university can mean With the help of Mls*. Patti Ann Richey, newly appointed coadvisor for freshmen Women, we hope to present to ihe I reshmen of 1969 an introductory encounter with every aspect of student life at Me.cer. Presentations on academics. Honor System, and social life arc being planned along with introductions to campus world problems student thought and act on student community encounters inn tt> the personal independence that in a part of collegiate life Working with the lit. and the Pan Hellenic Council we hope to encourage plans tor rush convenient for those involved in rush and also id those not involved l have a great deal of confidence that with your help as a student body we can do a reputable job in orienting and guiding the freshmen of 1969 RWGA Pm Dori Riptov My prime concern as President is to promote a concern among women students to the responsibilities of RWGA, to develop the full potential of women, and to awaken women to all the possibilities open to them. Our real challenge lies in tryii^ to figure out how we (Coarinued on page 3) Representing the Young Americans For Freedom. Sam Dixon speaks to the Open Forum on Tuesday, April 15.