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Rocky Wade
Is Mercer A Plastic Society ?
The Plastic Society I: Mercer
On the city’s messed on borders.
Keeked against the sky
Proudly stands our alma mater
Mercer smells, all smells!
A calm smell has invaded our campus. It is
not only the paper mills, it is more. It Is the
smell of that artificial environment we inhabit,
as one author has coined it, "the plastic socie
ty". Mercer is a plastic society. Our morning
dew is not real, it is submerged in the filth of
urban progress. Our meals are not real, they
are submerged in the disguise of seasoning
Our education is not real, it is submerged in a
philosophical values arrangement. It can be
unequivocally stated that no substance of Mer
cer has been left unmarred by the raping fin
gers of isolation combined with ecological cas
tration.
The littering of the Mercer campus contin
ues while students scream forth with a Free
University. The grass was not asked if it
wished to lie treated freely. Black Studies is
initiated while the skies of Mercer darken with
the exhausts of Mercer’s progressive heating
Students demand better cafeteria conditions
while leaving rat-contractive trays in, the halls
of the dorms. The Plastic Mercerians hide in
their shells of lism and they forget their fu
ture. By corrupting the epicurean ideals to
sensual pleasures of living for today, they have
no concern for the ecological balance they
must inhabit as alumni The dcathknell of
Mercer tolls and for whom does it toll?
The buildings will stand as monoliths long
after we suffocate in the filth-ridden air of
Macon. We, the plastic Mercerians, will suffer.
We are doomed to be crucified for our trans
gressions -*• transgressions against the natural
order
There is one chance that the mocking joke
of pollution that harrasses us can be eradi
cated. The answer is elementary — education.
Who gives a damn about Christianity if he
won’t be around to practice it? Who cares a-
bout Philosophy if one has an oxygenless
brain that does not function The concerned
must educate themselves in the alternatives
present to this premature burial we face.
The Mercer community is a plastic society
inhabited by plastic men and women who are
collectively killing each other off prior to
euthanasia. Let us ask ourselves some ques
tions like where does Msercer dump its gar
bage - ' Do I help litter my home for three-
fourths of the year? Do I toss beer cans on
the lawns? Do I dirty the showers?
The ecological balance of our community is
shot. Let us look at our plastic society and
hope that Mercer can have alternatives let us
attempt to visualize once again a Mercer
where:
Ifonor always be thy watchword.
Conquer and prevail
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Mercer, hail! All hail!
Snack Bar Sit-In Has
Stirred Attention
As a result of the sit-ih in
the Co-op mentioned in the
Cluster last issue many
changes have taken place.
Namely: plans are in the
works to repaint and remodel
the 1 co-op. also to install more
kitchen facilities during the
summer. At present there is a
man in charge of keeping the
co-op clean at all timeS The
difference is notible!
Ping pong tables are avail
able in the rec room located
behind the post office and are
now m frequent use. Pool ta
bles are being Sought by the
school through the Alumni
Association. There are long
term plans for a complete rec
reational facility.
Mercer’s, University spon
sored, 95.6 fm radio station is
slated to begin broadcasting at
the beginning of spring quar
ter.
There still appear to be no
definite plans to keep the co
op open later, however it is
hoped that those who want
something to eat between ll
and 12 p.m. will press Mr.
Krakow who runs the snack
bar and Jerry Stone who is in
charge of the booth area for
later hours. The committee of
concerned students who meet
with Dr. Jean Hendricks Mon
day nights at 9:30 encompass
changes in curriculum, com
munity and social life are
looking for support. See Pat
Kelly or Judy Wright about
the co-op in particular.
CONCERNED??? Make
yourself heard!
APO Plays Vital Role
In Campus Development
The existence of service or
ganizations at Mercer is doubt
ful, but it does not seem to
matter. Service organizations
play a vital role in the devel
opment and livelihood of any
campus. They provide not on
ly a source of individual in
volvement, and beneficial ser
vice projects, but also serve as
a link between the campus
and community. Through
these clubs, an individual can
see the results of his effort. If
he is a member or not, he can
accomplish more, and know
what he has done.
Often projects appear in
many different ways. Some
are known to be needed, but
are just waiting to be initi
ated. Some are needs which
have been recently brought to
light. Even those which just
cannot be done by anyone
else are useful as projects.
But perhaps the most im
portant job of any service or
ganization is serving as a link
between the campus and the
community. The service organ
ization represents the college's
interest in the community by
direct help to the people (the
heart of any lasting relation
ship). If mutual relations are
not lasting and evident, a col
lege’s dependence on the com
munity for support and help
may be impaired.
With this immenae task be
fore them, service organiza
tions seem to be wavering.
But who is to blame — if any
one? Maybe if we consider the
weakness of a typical aervlce
organization like APO, it
would help us In solving this
problem and preventing others
like it. APO is a little group
of hardworking individuals,
but it could accomplish so
much more if It was not hin
dered by many weaknesses.
Lack of membership in
APO is a tremendous problem.
Service organizations seem to
have a notorious lack of ap
peal to students, because of
the misconception that one
cannot have fun working — in
this case on a service effort
Until APO and the other ser
vice organization get the stu
dents to understand this, in
terest will stay low. If it is
hard to reach members, it is
even more difficult to obtain
good leaders in APO. They
usually find other organiza
tions which are better estab
lished in which to apply them
selves.
Lack of response is proba
bly the greatest single plague.
For when an appeal is made
to the students, any kind of
response cannot be depended
upon. Is it because of the in
adequate interest created by
FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE - Winter 1970
Monday, March 16, 1970
9:00 a m. to 12:00 noon All 2nd period classes
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All 4th period classes
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m All 9A period classes
Tuesday, March 17. 1970
9:00 a m. to 12:00 noon All 3rd period classes
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m All 5th period classes
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m All 7, 8, and 9B period classes
Wednesday. March 18, 197A
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon All 1st period classes
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m All 6th period classes
Lab instructors will arrange schedule prior to these dates.
There must be no change of schedule without previous arrange
ment with the Dean.
PAUL TUCKER
APO and other cluba? Or is it
because students and others
do not consider this type of
purpose worthy anough to
merit a little of their time.
Much of the work of APO
and other such ciuhg goes un
noticed. Although recognition
is not the purpoee of this type
of club, only through ac
knowledgement of lu work by
others can internet both for its
members and the vast majori
ty of students be created,
toward achieving its purpoee.
Finally, work coordination
among APO and its fellow ser
vice dubs seems never to be
applicable. Huge undertakings
can never even be considered.
Though joint projects might
have wonderful possibilities,
each club thinks it is working
for a different type of pur
pose in its service.
Although other weaknesses
may exist than these in APO
and service dubs in general,
these probably are the most
evident.
What can be done about
this problem and who should
do It? You ere the one who
can and must do this. First by
just realizing that there is a
need for improvement in this
area of campus life, you can
help.
Secondly, you as an indivi
dual can give your total sup
port either actively or passive
ly in some small way. Join it,
criticize it, praiae it, or sup
port It, but at least do some
thing! i
If something is not done
and soon, the future outlook
is uncertain and this problem
may spread into other areas of
campus life. This is ooly one
aspect of a serous weakness
in Mercer which basically goes
back to that of personal indif
ference and value placement.
It is called “School Spirit"
and apparently it has been
quite dead for some time
now!
We must get involved at
least somehow. Maybe we can
start with the service organi
zations, but what is important
that we must start!
In the 42nd annual Georgia Press Association Institute, the Mercer Clutter as the recipient of
Best Campus Coverage award - feature - 1969. This is the first time the Mercer student news
paper has ever received an award in state competition. The plaque is on dtaplay in CSC lobby.
R. S. THORPE & SONS
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520 Mulberry Street - 745 1055
Cricketeer Clothe* British Walker Shoes
Ixod Shirts „ Jantzen Sportswear
Austin Hill Slacks Sego Shirts,
“Wow Fashions for Spring”
THE MERCER CLUSTER • March 12. 1970 • 4