Newspaper Page Text
Senators optimistic
Revamped SG A tackles old community problems
The Student Government
Association has modified its
meeting procedure in an at
tempt to improve student
participation and achieve better
results from the committee
system. President Ernie
Robinson iniated the new
procedure in order to spread
responsibility among the
senators. The regular meeting
held Monday, January 18th was
the first time that the new
system had been used.
Robinson explained that the
new format is an issue oriented
meeting which is not like the
usual business type meeting
governed by Roberts Rules of
Order. Committees are
organized around specific
issues which have been brought
before the Senate. Each
Monday meeting will be
devoted to one specific issue
which will have been in
vestigated ^nd studied by the
particular committee in
question. The topic
discussed last week was
committees. This weeks
meeting will concern Mercer's
community relations, and
Mnday. February 8, is the date
set aside for discussion of
student and faculty evaluation.
Robinson made the change in
format because he felt t'.iat
individual senators were not
participating in the activities of
the Senate much as they should
have been. He said that the
purpose of the new committees
is to ‘‘provide specific,
pragmatic, possible solutions"
to the issues they are assigned.
Robinson emphaszed that the
new setup is a community
approach to problems involving
the faculty, administration,
alumni and university em
ployees. He commented ' that
‘‘its kind of like a town meeting
at Waverly-year round." Vice
President Charles Bowen noted
that many different areas would
be covered under the new
system and that some com
mittees might be restructured.
Several committee chairmen
have resigned and are angry
about the changes.
Bowen said that one ad
vantage to the new system will
be the influx of new members of
committee chairmen. The
purpose of this move is to
counteract . the apathy aiui
dissatisfaction of the old
committee members who have
been working on the same
problems for a long time.
Senator Julian Gordy said that
the new format would provide
an opportunity for many in
terested freshmen to work on
issues which upperclassmen
are tired of.
Most of the senators approve
the move and are optimistic
about it. Ernie Robinson and
Charles Bowen both expressed
hope that the procedure would
open up solutions to problems
which the SGA has been
(liberating for several months.
Bowen said "Just because it is
something new. hopefully it will
cause some enthusiasism or get
people interested." Gordy
pointed out that "the students
have no faith in the SGA. . .it is
powerless in the sense that it
does nothing." He is optimistic
that the new system will im
prove the situation.
i, MERCER
I CLUSTER
Mercer University, Macon Georgia,
"The Pacesetter of the Seventies"
Volume HI
JUl
Desegregation project
initiated by Mercerians
J racial teams will assess U
organization which does
research in southern life.
A group of Mercer students
have initiated a school
desegregation project in an
attempt to answer some of the
needs of both black and white
students in desegregated high
schools around the state. The
students are working in co
operation with the Southern
Regional Council, * an
Jammie Samuel, a member
of the committee at Mercer,
stated that the project does not
deal with the pros and cons of
desegregation nor is it an at
tempt to promote integration
Instead, it deals with the
realities of desegregation. Bi-
problems in individual schools
in their hometown and attempt
to help assess the particular
needs of the students. Ac
cording to Samuel, because of
recent school desegregation
black and white students have
been thrust together without
preparation which has resulted
in racial tension. He said, "We
feel that communication bet
ween students-black and white
on issues is the foundation with
which solutions to the problems
can be found."
Samuel emphasized that the
racial problems in the recently
desegregated highschools must
be approached from both sides.
"If we don’t attack it from all
angles, it’s going to kill us all,"
He! stated The bi-racial teams
composed of interested Mercer
students will talk with high
school student .lea&s of both
races in order to assess the
problems of the school.
Although teams will be sent to
schools in the Macon, Samuel
encourages Mercer students to
work in their hometown high
school because they will be
accepted more readily and are
more familiar , with the
problems.
Samuel stated that the teams
will work with the high school
students in what they want to
do. He said. It’s important that
they feel a part of what's
happening.’’ The bi-racial
teams will also work with the
school community. Because the
differences of communities and
schools, the project will be
Ceat. on Page 2
/AcnomtK€>
Q-Many of my fricndl hivt tiprru<4 lo me an intereat in
majoring in bwinesa here at Mercer. I myaelf, aa near aa I can
figure, am majoring in bsaineaa. The regiatrar haa made no
committment, aa lo whether there ia a buaiaeaa major or not.
Some courier in buaineaa art offered. I would lihe.to know if
there ia a hoaineaa major and if there ia why doean't anyone
know about it. Many freahmao and aophomorea. who I have
apohen with, are planning to leave Mercer to find a buaineaa
major. I believe Ihia I, of prime Importance to me. my frienda
and university.
A-The faculty met laat Spring and approved, aa the registrar
said. In Principle’, the idea of having a Business Ad
ministration major, program
The details for this program are still being worked on by
the faculty committee and will be approved this year, hopefully,
but will be presented in Fall *72.
The committee haa already introduced 3 courses this year
which are of a business nature and are already being taught,
these are ECN-ltl, ECN-162, and ECN-163, in the Math-
Ecooomica budding. This ensures us. that the buaineaa Ad
ministration major program will definitely be presented.
But. I would like to clarify one point, that might cause some
miminAwvwfaw.ting that ibis program will enable stud .tits to
procure a BS. or B.A. degree with a major in Business Ad
ministration. it will definitely not get you a B.B.A. (Bachelor of
Buaineaa Administration) degree
For further details, please contact Mr Scott Avery, who
presented this program. and 1 presume ia also the chairman
of the committee
Paul Howell asd Marcy Hobbs are (his year's Toby and Tot. They
were elected by the student body, in a special referendum Friday,
January 22 and announced at the Tom Rush concert that night.
Photo by Bob Johnson
SGA looks at
committee reports
There is very little hope that
compulsory meal tickets will t-2
abolished in the near future
according to Marion Murray,
chairman of th^ auxiliary
services committee of the SGA.
' Marion, speaking before the
SGA last Monday night,
January 25, told the senators
that food service officials say
the money from the meal
tickets is needed to help pay of.
the cafeteria's part of the dept
on the student center.
In other business, the SGA
talked about reorganization of
the auxiliary servics com
mittee, the library, and the
publications board.
Vice President Charlie
Bowen, presiding, suggested
that the auxiliary services
committee be divided into three
committees. . . s food service
committee a committee on
dorm life, and s general
committee on campus life.
Marion Murray further
suggested that the food service
committee be broken down into
groups responsible for the co-op
and the cafeteria.
11m library committee, being
frequently by passed or
overlooked in the past, is at
tempting to get on its feet again.
Meanwhile, students who
want the library to order
specific book&are urged to see
Mr. Metz, the librarian. This
priviledge has been accorded
faculty members for years and
the SGA is pushing for its e^\
tension to the students.
Students who are turned down
when they request a request
card are urged to keep going
back and asking until something
is done.
Mr. Lane announced that the
first meeting of the newly
formed Publications Board,
would take placed on Thursday,
January 28 at 4 in,, room. 396 of
the student cenPY.
Betsy Jutes, and LaRonce
Beard were appointed by the
SGA to serve on this board.
Interested students and faculty
members will be allowed to
attend most meetings of this
board Mr. Lame said.