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/ THE MERCER CLUSTER "The Pacesetter of the Seventies Volume Lll Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, February 16, 1971 No. 13 SGA senate delves into housing problems with men’s conselor Sparks Following a heated discussion last week on open dorms, the SGA elected Senior Senator George Leske to act as a liason between the senate and housing director, Joe Sparks to attempt to find a solution to problems surrounding visitation hours in the men’s dormitories. Sparks told the Senate that - the Administration is open to listening to any proposals the senate may have on open dorms, “but I don’t think you (Senate) represent the majority of students and I don't think the students want 24 hour open dorms or even an extension of the pi'esent hours. Sparks spoke to the SGA in an attempt to «*c*te ideas for keeping the dorms open and yet satisfy everyone, including those who want different hours Director of Housing Joe Sparks appears hared wKh proceedings at last Monday's SGA meeting. Mr. Sparks was asked to ghre the Senators information on the possibility of better open dorm hours. (Photo by, Chuck Jachsoq.) \ • Librarian estimates $15,000 lost due to stolen books Over 1,000 books have been stolen from the Mercer library according to Mr. Daniel L. Metts, University librarian. This amounts to a monetary loss of around $15,000. Metts said, “Psychology, medicine, and sex books tend to walk out more, than they cir culate.’’ Books from education, religion, philosophy, sociology, political science, and library management are especially difficult to keep on the shelves, and according to Mr. Metts, black studies books “are notoious" for being stolen. Of the some 1250 volumes missing, over 100 are in thejleld of education, and ap proximately 250 in English literature. Mr. Metts. when asked why books are being stolen, said that “People take them just because they think it’s too much trouble to check them out.” He also added that the library staff feels thfiTVome are going out the windows. He feels that some books are being- stolen by Mercer students tut believes that a portion are stolen by others. A recently completed thes s estimates from a questiooai; e sent to 064 colleges wi.h enrollment-of less than 5,000 that on the average these colleges lose each year about one volume for every five students, every 100 circulation, and every 125 volumes. Mer cer’s circulation Has bgj»n running between 35,000 and 45.000 over the past three years The volume copnt is now roughly 120.000. Mr. Metts said, “It would appear that our losses are probably high in com parison with most colleges of under 5,000 enrollment, though not necessarily in comparison with our own enrollment.” In order to protect these books, several systems have been considered, among them various types of magnetic- electronic anti-theft systems or full-time checkers. Checkers are not considered very effective however, and hiring them would cost the library $7,000 per year. The • various magnetic-electronic systems would cost ap proximately 7 to 9,000 dollars, but if effective would prevent the * by Chock Jackson and those who don’t desire visitation privilages at all. Setting up dorran with dif ferent hours has been proposed as a solution to the problem he said, however some men don’t want the open dorms at all. “I think we will have halls with no visitation hours, he said. “However, peer group pressure may result in only four people living on such a hall.” He pointed out that some student* would undoubtedly sneer at such people and stereotype them as queer. He saU he felt the only adequate way to determine a policy on open dorms would be to cooduct a survey. Sparks also noted that at various administrative council meetings open dorms had been termed success as they are operating now. However, "we have had a few more violations than we would like. Right now, 1 would be against extending the hours,” he said. Tension on the open dorm question seemed to center around a change in the hours which the dorms are kepi open. Paul Howell, freshman ad visor pointed out that the university requires all students to live on campus until they are 21 years of age and said he felt that if there was no chance of changing this rule, students should be extended the same rights as if they were living off campus. • Sparks said he felt the university’s rule about on campus living was “rinky- dink", but said the reasons were mainly economic. "Keeping people in the dorms pays for the dorms," he explained. He said that the same argument had been used to open the dorms last year. The senate noted that as the university policy stands now, students can be charged more for a dormitory room than for an off campus apartment and yet, if they are under at and desire to come to Mercer they have no alternative. Howell said the real problem now is that the students want more than the administration is Coat, on Page I. AWS conducts new Wednesday classes The AWS is offering three Wonderful Wednesday classes this quarter. They are courses in exercise, decoupsge. and wine and food. The classes will meet every Wednesday and are open to all members of the Mercer community. The “Wine and Food” course is a connoisseur class conducted by Mr. Tony Stansfleld. "Decoupage," an art .ap plique technique involving painting and collage, is being taught by Andrea Frost. Dori Brenner and Dianne Lister are directing a fitness exercise course Courses to be offered Spring quarter are now being planned. Two have already been an nounced and suggestions ire being accepted for others. "Nuts and Botta," a practical home repair, course and ad vanced decoupage a con tinuation of the present course, will be offered next quarter. Ann Pope, president of AWS, says, “Each of these classes' was designed to meet specific needs or desires of Mercertans and. although aimed primarily at women, are open U> the entire Mercer community . 1 ' ;Acr£omtt0> Q--1 have been plaenlag to write you ter a tong time, but since 1 did not I have several questions to ask. a (-First of ill. 1 have cut this article out of the II of F- Alligator as s simple .uggetUon, I know the Deer Abbey’ ind (.osolp columns are too "high tchooUlh” to hove much significance for the Cl os ter. but I wish there were a few more comics or "lighter” typo articles. Do you understood what I mean? The other cut-out la .something which runs ta quite a few local papers. Is there os way we could hove them is the Cluster too? bl-geeoudly. 1 wonder why the plug pong tables hove oot heeo made available to all students. Certainly, the.peol room tan t the place for them. 1s there do other place for them in the Student Center? ' / .. . . c)-Thirdly. I wonder why Wednesday hot breakfasts cannot he served trim, possibly 7:00 or 7:M to 8:30. I realise that L. taw students heed to hove theirs before 8:00. hut stare on Sot. ano Sun. the line ta open until 8: JO. can’t Wed. be included in such a schedule? Thank you for your time and I do neceaaarily aak that these be put in the Clutter. I’m Jukt aaklng for Information. L.F. (sophomore) A-Bcfore 1 begin to answer this bumongoua question, 1 have to commend the young lady who sent It, ‘cause its one of the best questions I’ve received and at the same time ! would say an excellent suggestion for the Cluster. I had a talk with our editor why replied, We have been wanting to run Classified ads, but there ta do one to do it”, Well, that sort of left me puzzled ’cause 1 personally liked the ideaof running such ads, but. Was 1 witling to give the tune myself ? After speculating the isaue, I eventually said, “Hell! Why not so aa you must have noticed in the previous issue of the Cluster, an ad was run stating, "ACTION UNE-The Ouster is now ac cepting Classified ads. Send ad copy to Action Man Pervaiz Peter Box 29. Student rates are 50 cents a column inch ” , but Cant, on P»«c 2