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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.