The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current, May 19, 1970, Image 1

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VolumaLI MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON. GEORGIA, MAY 19, 1970 -Number ?0 ROTC Honor’* Day proceed* at Mercer ctudents expraet contempt. Student demonstrators protest against U. S. involvement in Indo-China f'Ki*«lr Innlrci Antiwar protester mani fested themselves in two ac tions on campus last Monday. During the morning a small group gathered on the ROTC field at Awards Day for the Mercer and Fort Valley State battalions. Monday night a can dlelight procession was held in protest against U. S. involve ment in Indo-China. The demonstration during Awards Day was attended by about 35 students sitting peacefully at one end of the field and holding protest signs. The signs carried such slogans as: “Peace: Now”, “End the War. Now” and “Leave Us a World Tomorrow”. Occasional obscenity was shouted from the group. The protest was organized by a group of students in the light of what Is happening in the nation, according to Steve Thomas, Summerville, Ga., spokesman for the group. The students feel that peaceful pro test is one method of expres sion, although it is ineffective, he added. Thomas said the protest was against, “the lack of direction on the part of the country and a direct' protest against the Indo-China war .” ——r— r Several of the protesters moved to the side of the grand stand as the troops passed in review. Others remained on the end of the field holding up peace signs At 9:00 Monday night around 50 students assembled on the quadrangle for a candle light procession. Organizers of the march were Reed Ranks, Jinx Schwencke, Steve Senate adopts election code The SGA Senate in iU re ular meeting Monday, May 1, voted to adopt a formal lection code which will go in- o effect next fall with the Tosh men elections. Vice Preai- lent, Charles Bowen moved for he adoption of the code which raa written and presented by lllen Wallace. In the past, the election ilea t*ete drawn up prior to tch election reculting in dif- rrent regulations each year, hanges affected absentee bal >ta, flnea, number of poaters. ad qualification* The new code specifies that lection of SGA officers ahall a on the Thursday one week blowing the day of quahflca- ona. The quallflcationa are to e held the first Thursday after the first Monday of classes Spring Quarter Candidates are limited to five posters and one banner, with a $1.00 fine for each post er or banner above the allotted number. Posters in violation of this regulation are to be re moved. The Election Marshal has the power to remove such poster* after two members of the Elections Committee have submitted in writing an ac. count of the violation, giving the fine and location of the violation. A new feature of the elec tion code la the stipulation that the Election Marshal is autho rized to disburse up to 50% of the forfeited bond fees to per sons who aid in the removing of illegal sign* The bond fee remains at $5.00. RQTC cadets honored at Awards Day " * Twenty-four members of the Mefccr University Army ROTC Cadet Corps were honored at awards -ceremonies Monday for su perior achievement. by Chuck Jackson Thomas, and Gary Johnson, all students. Johnson, spokesman for the group, told the students that the procession was a “Mercer outward expression of feel ings”. Johnson said the pur pose was to get involved and let Mercerians know what is going on. The procession moved from the quadrangle around the Col lege street side of CSC, through the middle of campus, the front of the library, and onto the ROTC drill field. Chris 7a>m was head marshal for the march. The students marched single file, chanting “Give Peace a Chance”. As they passed dor mitories and the library they drew both insults and expres sions of sympathy. Several more students joined the pro cession as it passed. On the ROTC field the pro testors formed a circle and ob served a moment of silence for the four students slain at Kent State. Reed Banks, a Mercer se nior, addressed the group. Ranks said the procession was the means of a beginning. He listed five reasons why the students were “outraged”. These were: the injustice and murders committed by thou sands of involuntarily involved people in the U. S. Vietnam, and Cambodia, a conscience (national or otherwise) that is content to condone these kill ings for whatever reason; a people and government whose committment to order and pas sivness precedes its committ ment to the basic freedoms: a President’s empty sincerity ip saying that what he wants is what the students want; and at - the students powerlessness to accomplish their objectives. Bank’s statements were made in the context of the overriding goal to gel the U. S. out of Indo-China. (Continued on Page 5) The activities included parti cipants from the Second Bat talion of Fort Valley State Col lege. Mercer ROTC offii-ers train these students also R. Avon Bulce of Perry, an attorney, told the cadets from the two ‘ colleges that “The pnee of peace is complete pre parednes for any type of war . . . Our pleas for peace are not measured by the sincerity with which they are spoken, but bv the strength we bring to en force them.” photo by Johnny Turner He said that the idea “that our objective is survival is out- right defeatism ... If we lack the courage to stand firm for our beliefs, or if we lack beliefs which' we are determined to uphold whatever the cost, then fclm • • we are defeated already." Buice defined a peaceful world community as one “in Cluster Policy .2 which all members recognize Gary Johnson 2 the rights of each member to Letters to Editor . ...‘ 3 determine its own future with- Old South 4 out external interference, fear. Report from D. C 3 coercion or threat.” Sports 6 The Superior Cadet Ribbons and Medals awarded to the out standing cadet in every class Sanders addresses Mercer law students by jwright converted into arenas of poli tical warfare, then and only- then can we be confident that we will not witness a repetition of the Kent State tragedy.” Additionally, “the university, as an institution, should remain politically neutral that its re sources shotild he used only to promote the expansion and transmission of knowledge.-” Concerning Ken-l State. Sanders felt “the events dem onstrate in the harshest pos sible way that our great institu tions of higher learning are among the first targets and per haps the first victims.of mind less violence." Last Tuesday morning. May 12. former Georgia Governor Carl Senders spoke before 125 students in Walter F. George Law School. Sanders was tour ing the middle Georgia area in order to ascertain student in terest and to-view Georgia’s in stitutions of higher education. Sanders toured the Mercer campus briefly before continu ing to Macon Junior College and Middle Georgia at Mill- edgeville. Sanders was asked why he is involved in politics. “As ,you live your life you have to feel you’re making a contribution and feel that your life has been worthwhile. I like the challenge of trying to come to grips with the problems I’ve seen from childhood. I wouldn’t feel right sitting on the sidelines. I feel I’m in a position to bring into focus Some of the problems we’re battling and not getting anywhere on." Tn his speech at ‘ Mercer, Sanders expressed his belief in education is the “escalator to an equal chance • for all of America's yijiung people.” He is In favor of higher education for all students though not neces sarlly at a liberal arts college Violence and politicaliza- ttoo are not seen as appropriate on campus. “Our Institutions of higher learning must not be Dr. Spencer King, Jr , chairmen of the Department of History, has been elected president of the Southern Baptist Historical Society. went to Cadet Colonel Union' S. Holsenbeck of Milledgeville (senior). Cadet, Captain Ore-, gory E. Love' of Atlanta (junior-'Fort Valley State Col lege). Cadet Sergeant First Class Charles H. Weston of Tal botton (junior). Cadet Staff Sergeant William A. Cragg of Wiley (sophomore), Cadet Cor poral John G. Adnot of Jupi ter, Fla. (freshman),.and Cadet Sergeant Jerome Johnson of Sylvania (freshman FVSC). Cadet Major John M. John son 6f Hawaii was named win ner of the Reserve Officers’ As sociation Award which is pre sented to the student in the top, 10 pereerit of the ROTC class who demonstrates quali ties of leadership, character and aptitude for military' serv ice. T he trophy was presented by the president of the associa tion Other awards and the reci pients were: President’s Trophy to-the student who has made the most significant con tribuiion toward increasing un derstandmg. of the ROTC pro gram Cadet Sergeant Major Steve C. Carreker of Macon Mercer President l)r Rufus-C. Harris presented this award Professor of Military Science Achievement Award presented to the senior having strong .qualities of leadership, scholarship character and or ganizational' ability Cadet Major Charles 1 Harris , of I-ansing. Mich., presented by the Professor of Military Sci ence at Mercer. Colonel Joseph II Jones The Macon Warner Robins Retired Officers’ Association plaque and Third US Arms Certificate of .Meritorious Leadership \c hi eve men I awarded to the outstanding cade) eoinpalvs coiniutuidcr Cadet . Caplam JantCs E. Nor man of Augusta Colonel : Ret C Angelo J Uoiitselis. president of the' assovia-i on made the' presentation. Sons of the Ymenea.i. Re volution Citizenship Medal .Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Curtis I Kchols-of CohitrVu . ' Daughters of {he Auh i n-ah Revolution Award to-itu- > adet in the upper 2a perier.t ef.his class who has deinynsi ruled outstanding qualities of citizen ship Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Cartyi of Atlanta lire Regent of the - Mars Ho ward Washington Chapter of MaeOn. Mrs. J. ,W Stephens, presented the - Society’s gold medal to Carter . Association of the United States Army Medal presented to the junior m the top 10 per cent of his ROTC class who contributed the most , to ad vancing tbe ROTC on campus and community - Cadet Cap tain Gregory K. Love of .Atlanta. (Continued on Page 5)