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MERCER CLUSTER “The South's Most Controversial Collegiate Newspaper" Intramural Highlights See Page 6 Volume LI MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON. GEORGIA. NOV. 18. 1969 Number 8 Georgia Baptists Reaffirm Trustees Trustees Report The Board of Trustees of Mercer University reported to the Georgia Baptist Convention on November 11, concerning their action in authorizing application for grants from the .federal government. Acting on a recommenda tion of the Executive Com-, mittee of the G.B.C., the trustees welcomed the oppor tunity to report some facts of grave importance to Georgia Baptists. On February 7, 1969, the trustees voted unanimously to apply for federal grants authorized by the Higher Edu cation Facilities Act of 1965. It is highly significant that all seven of the pastors on the Board of Trustees were present and voting. Also all four mini sters on the President’s Coun cil, who act in an advisory capacity, were present and expressed approval. The grants applied for would be used to cover half of the cost of (1) a Performing Arts Auditorium (2) a modern infirmary (3) an enclosed year- round swimming pool. It should be noted that Mercer has previously secured several federal loans totaling more than two and three- quarter million dollars. This was done with the approval of the Convention. However, the Convention was not liable to that indebted ness. The Mercer Charter has always fixed that power and responsibility in the Mercer trustees. Mercer as established by the G.B.C. was conceived as a college to be administered by a Hoard of Trustees, it was recognized that a college could, not be operated from the floor of the Convention. In seeking federal grants the Trustees have attempted to exercise their powers in the light of their own "prayerful decision.’’ The trustees have seen fit to attempt to meet Mercer’s grow ing financial crisis by seeking funds from the United States Government. However, this action had brought about much criticism. The main opposition to the acceptance of federal monies if fear of governmental control. This is an unwarranted fear. The federal government merely safeguards the use of federal aid by excluding any facilities which would enhance a religious institution, viz.. Chape! buildings or buildings to house religious departments. Furthermore, federal aid provides that buildings con structed for a certain purpose be used to that purpose until the commitment of the government has been fulfilled - in the case of grants twenty years. It also has been suggested that the trustees wish to sever (Coni. on Page 3) A Special Rnport State Convention Acts On Report By Johnny Turner and Chuck Jackson In a possible step forward for Mercer the Georgia Baptist Con vention voted on Nov. 11 to reaffirm the legal autonomy of the boards of trustees of all Baptist colleges. The motion further The Baptists in opposition reminded the Trustees of their to federal aid who have been so responsibility as . elected 'ocal in past conventions came officers of the convention to W *U prepared to fight the fulfill their, obligation to the trustee decision. Rev. Billie best of their abilities. Angliet in an emotional speech The motion was presented to 4he delegates boasted that by Dr. Thornton Williams of he was The first man to oppose Moultrie, past president of the federal grants for Mercer and convention and j prominent pledged to continue his fight. Georgia Baptist. This floor ^ ev Angliet also deplored the action followed the detailed Wonderful Wednesday program trustee • report given by Rev. an< f other anti-Christian activi- Photo by Johnny Turner Reverend William Ches Smith III, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Tifton, Georgia, delivers the trustees’ report on Mercer to the afternoon session of the Georgia Baptist Convention on Tuesday, November 11. SGA Hews Senate Withdraws Moratorium Support the voice of the people that did not vole in the Poll and the voice of those that did vote in favor of the Moratorium. Sena tor Kirbo explained that to vote in support of the Mora torium would be to disfavor President Nixon in his attempts . lo end the war In other business SGA pul forth and passed legislation to place the intramural program of Mercer University'tinder an SGA committee that would be representative of every team in the program. The committee will be Composed of a Chair man and one representative from each team involved in the program. It was emphasized that this action was not a move to take the intramural program out of the IFC. but a move to develop a stronger and more active intramural program, en compassing ail Mercer Students who participate in the intra mural program. Send Questions To Action-Man Ted Kandler Last week SGA In a vote 20- :l rejected a proposal for support of November Vietnam Moratorium The proposal read by Senator James Norman was .coldly received by the bodv. Senator Howell" says that he was against the war and that he did vote in favor of the Oct. 15. Moratorium, but he did not favor the Nov. 13-H Mora torium The Senate on Oct. 6 gave its endorsement in a close vote of 12-9 for the Oct 15 Moratorium .Other Senators expressing opinions- included freshman Senator Chris Sullivaii, who pointed out that the Senate re presented the. student body and that the Moratorium' Poll last mouth showed that the majority of the students were . ' ." not in support of the Mora- Question: Tb* coke machine* in the raen’i freshmen dorm torium. and thus, the Senate should either be fixed or thrown ouL I thought gambling was should not give its endorse illegal on eampum What can be done about this abnormal source ment Senior Senator Childs of income for Coca-Cola Company? R.W. then reminded the Senate that Answer: “Lifa la but a gamble. Without it things would be if all the Senators voted the worn than dull. However if you deaire you can AU out a form for way the majority did in the • a refund. And gamble again that you will get your tnoney within Moratorium Roll, that inherent i week to ten days ..." I agree. But there are way* of getting iy their votes would leave out mo hey bach that art loat In the coke machine*. Go to the co-op and tell whoever i* at the register what happened and they can -—— — gtve you t form to fill out. Question: What are Che requirements and details of the paaa- Incirlp Cluster fail course? E.R. m»IUC Answer According to the student catalogue: “A Junior or a Senior with an overall avenge of 8.00 in all, previous college work may choon to be graded on a ‘Satis-UnsatU’ bads in one free Childs P 4 elective each of his laat two years. Only One course per year may Finkelstein P i be taken on this bada” A studant may make this decision upon Wade P 4 registering for the course, but he may not change it during the You Said It P * quarter. No coune within the major minor field may be taken in Sports P this manner. Satisfactory wtl ghe the total boon but will not Central State P.2 affect QPA; Unsatisfactory win ftot hurt the rtudsnt in any way. W. C. Smith concerning Mercer’s application for federal grants (see storvt In his statement to the con vention Dr. Williams compared Mercer to a disobedient child and the convention to an angry parent. He called for under standing in all areas and urged the GIB C. to face the issue maturely and rationally. In proposing his motion Dr. Williams recognized that the trustees must operate the university. He also recognized that control by the convention itself ^ould endanger the. accreditation of ihe University. In an interview with the Cluster Dr. Williams declined to say that the passage of his motion was even a mild en dorsement for the Trustees' action to secure federal grants The motion merely helped clarify for the convention the position or the I’rustees.- -— 1 — With the acceptance of Dr. W illiams' motion and the stress placed on the legal autonomy of the Trustees it is hoped that the Board will seek any available funds, even if such remaine,d silent through the funds are in the form of federal discussion o.ii .he Mercer grants. .action ties on campus. Several other delegates spoke out against Federal Aid and sentiment against the Trustee decision ran high throughout the con vention. Formal opposition of the Federal Aid was expected lo come in the form of two motions. The first would establish an ad hoc committee to raise three million dollars over the next two years outside of the' Cooperative Program budget which supplies monies to all Baptist educational insti tutions. It is expected that Mercer would receive a large portion of this sum The second motion would advise the trustees to recind ail' action in the area of federal aid and work toward establishing a' more harmonious relationship with the convention It would also help . establish a more Christian atmosphere, on' the Mcrrer campus .One opposition group SMOGG Save Mercer— oppose Government .Grants/ P.O. Box 29 Question: Why were curfew hours changed this summer foi women resident Students without the approval of RWGA’’ R B Answer: Dean Glenn said that during the summer there wen so few resident women students on campus that they felt it would be better just to let the students who wanted to stay out later, to request this; and they were always granted this pnvi ledge. The reason RWGA was not able to give their approval is that it does not have any members on campus during the summer Question: In the October 14 iarue of the Cluster, there w*s a front page article about the BSA (Black Student Alliance) There wka a statement that Blacks should “live and think Black!” If black students are going to be operating under this type of idea, why are they interested in Fraternities and Sororities? One ques tion in Action Line asks if sororities are prejudiced “as I have been told”? Who has told her this and why? If black students are interested in joining there organisations, why did ho Black stu- dants go out for ruth? It has been a tumor that the Mack upper rlanin students told the Freshmen not to go out for rush — if so why? t’.K. Answer: Jimmy Samuel, President of the Black Student Alli ance answered thusly: “the quote Blacks should "Live and think (Continued on Page 3)