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TM'E MERCER CLUSTER
MAY 14, 1*71
Essential Public
Support Found Lacking
by Frank Spooner
Saturday, May S, 1973 a voluntary and individual effort was made
on the part of a handful of Mercer students to raise money and
generate some community support for the Macon Association for
Retarded Children. Under the direction of John Maffeo and Bob
-•Kelly fourteen students canvassed several Macon resid nlial areas
for about two hours and a half,. During that time $86 in donation; and
association memberships were received, not a bad showing for such
a small group said the leaders. If you are interested in averages it
figures out to an average of about six dollars collected per drive
participant or about the price of one membership in the local
association.
The student leaderaorganixers feel that the drive was mildly
successful, (after all the group collected more money for the center
than if no effort had been made at all), but what is so greatly
disappointing is the widespread lack of interest in community ser
vice projects such as this one of behalf of moat Mercer students and
the community at large. For example the S.G.A. was notified several
times in advance about the need for help in this volunteer effort, but
publicity was not generated. All sororities, fraternities and other
independent campus organizations were made aware of what was
going on by the drive organiters, however on Saturday, the only
known campus group to put together an organization campaign for
the MARC training centers and the Macon association was the
Mercer Independent Coed Association, (MICA).
I gave up on the S.G.A. doing anything a long lime ago but I still
had a little faith In the rumor going around that some Greek
organizations did support community service projects in the general
area in which they exist. Wrong again, I'll recover
The response received in the community by the Kelly-Maffeo in
dependent group was another area for diaapointment. Fourteen
people could have easily given six dollars each that Saturday mor
ning and spent the rest of the day in the Coop. The results are
especially poor considering that the neighborhoods worked were
middle to upperelass economically. Of course a lot of people were
not at home on Saturday morning, or at least they didn't answer tbelr
doors, but it's hard to believe that a guy with two Continentals in the
driveway and a mammoth home garnishing an expansive lot could
nbt afford to give a few dollars to help the retarded children of the
area. The key word l. 1 that sentence is not afford but rather give.
Now some people gave ligitlmate excuses for their nonconce, n and
for this I can’t condemn all people who refused to buy memberships,
after all some mentioned that several fund drives had been through
the area in recent weeks, but the amount of uninterested, busy, and
down right hostile people encountered was staggering. One could
almost wish misfortune on a person who stares out through a window
for a few momefits and then sics an especially misguided but
viciously angry canine on you without even knowing why you rang
the gold enlayed door bell.
The money that was collected, in the group that I was in, came
completely from the middle income folk It should be realized that
these people who gave, the ones who could probably least afford it, do
not have a greater chance of producing retarded progeny, but should
this occur these are the citizens of Macon who would have to scrape
together the $3,400 to send a child to the MARC center. Maybe its only
• right for those who will have to utilize the center's facilities, should
needwarrantit,to support thecenterandnot to even expect to receive
aid from those people financially independent enough to go to private
'and more expensive programs. If this is the thinking behind the lack
of support of the drive then it is my opinion that these tight in
dividuals are more retarded, (emotionally and morally), than any
child in the available centers.
The MARC centers do not depend wholly on government financing,
however they do depend on public support. Government aid only
started trickling into the centers during the early IMO's and is now
being substantially cut back. The Macon centers won't die without
aid, however the function, ie. the benefit that they are rendering to
the community, would have to halt if the already waning public
backing decreased further. Mr. Jim Edwards, MARC Executive
Director, points out that the Macon center is one of the three oldest
organizations for training mentally retarded people in the state but it
ranks in the lower five, out of lit centers in Georgia, in community
membership based support. Mr Edwards further illustrates this by
mentioning that in Moultrie, Ge. their center is not two weeks old and
they already have 3S0 members. (Moultrie la a city in south.vest
Georgia about one sixth the size of Macon).
It would seem to me that a government that could spend $5 billion
to destroy a-natlon of people to save them, and to construct weapons
that are obsolete before construction, and to increase the already
unneeded potential to blow up the earth, could spare a few billion or
Just a few million extra for programs such as this, which aid the
public both socially and economically, and not have to further
burden the public for support. Since we don't provide adequate
government financing that unwilling public support is the only
support available.
Mental retardation claims more victims than permanent polio,
deafness, blindness, multiple sclerosis, cerebal palsy , rhuematic
heart disease, and epilepsy combined Unlike many people striken
with these other afflictions the retarded child cannot speak in his own
behalf, he has no agent to deal for him In his fight for survival other
than training centers like those provided by MARC, and these
essential centers cannot exist without an avidly concerned com
munity supporting its efforts 100 percent.
Letters To The Editor
Courts Use Questioned
Dear Editor.
Something has come to my
attention and I would like to
express my feelings on the
subject. The problem is the
Mercer tennis courts and their
use.
Mercer has eight hard surface
courts for use by studenk. (law
and under graduates), faculty,
staff, and of course Mercer’s
Intercolligate Tennis teams
(men's and women's). In the
spring both Mercer tennis teams
practice daily during the week
from approximately 1 p.m. to 5
p.m. After this and on weekends,
unless there is a home tennis
team match, the courts are used
by the afore mentioned groups.
Tennis enthusiasts at Mercer
compose a large group. The in
terest in tennis on campus has
grown. This is evident in the good
turn out at tennis team matches,
the crowded courts on weekends,
and Mr. Bobby Wilder’s large
tennis class, not to mention the
private individual lessons Mr.
Wilder gives both at Mercer and
the Macon Tennis Center (Tat-
nall Square).
I realize that most tennis en
thusiasts at Mercer know that the
actual problem is the lack of
courts. However, I think
everyone realizes that the
probability of the administration
and Trustees giving the oJt. for
more tennis courts is as
reasonable as the “powers-that-
be” okaying the construction of a
new parking lot (no matter how
small). Thus the question boils
down to regulation and use of the
existing courts.
At times the courts are
regulated by a student who
assigns courts for a one hour time
limit and checks identification
for authorized use by legitimate
players of the Mercer com
munity. However, problems arise
because of ineffective regulation.
Thus the courts are used by
people other than the Mercer
community. This problem could
be erased by strict regulation
that is unfortunately not the case.
However, one of the bigger
problems is the continuation of
the fact or myth that Mercer’s
tennis courts are under Mr.
Wilder's control by whim or
fantasy. It seems Mr. Wilder is
responsible for the MLTSA
(Macon Lawn Tennis
Association) playing matches at
Mercer instead of Tatnall Park,
thus causing several players to
be forced to give up their game
and court for use by members of
the MLTASA team. Also, it seems
Mr. Wilder is responsible for the
Georgia High School Tennis
championships (Boy’s and Girl’s
classes A and B). For the past
three years (while I’ve been
here) the courts have been tied
up for approximately three
weeks while these tournaments
have been held. Thus every
spring quarter when many wish
to play, they cannot. This year
while both the law school and
Mercer have their intermural
tournaments, the High School
tournament has arrived again
However, I have heard that
Georgia has canceled the "C”
class tournament and "A” and
“B” class play will be played-on
Friday and Saturday only.
However, having been here three
years, 1 have the ’Tve been
screwed by Mercer before”
feeling that there will be more
tournaments by the MLTA and
High Schools before the quarter
ends. Thus Mercer’s tennis en
thusiasts will be barred from
play.
I am of the assumption that Mr.
Wilder is largely responsible. It is
dreadful that many cannot play
tennis because of outside events.
Perhaps a time will come when
students, the Mercer Intermural,
and Law school intermural
tournaments can be played
without interference from non-
Mercer events sanctioned by Mr.
Wilder, Mr. Stone, or Mr. Peek
whomever is responsible. I don’t
know what benefit Mercer
derives from this-outside interest
but 1 do know it grates on almost
every tennis enthusiasts at
Mercer. I feel it is deplorable and
should be halted.
Respectfully.
Douglas B. Clendaniei
Dear Editor:,
This a letter concerning the
Blacks, don’t be shocked by this
first statement because I am
Black and I want my people to
find unity here at Mercer
University. I am aware that
Whites will rtfcd this letter, but
they can never hope to really
understand the situation that
prevails here on campus.
Like an innocent child too
young to have any conception of
oppression, I have lived here for
nearly four years without trying
to do anything to unite my
brothers and sisters. This I am
guilty of and I feel quite ashamed
for my actions. Strangely enough
not many brothers and sisters
have really done anything or
made any attempt to help "Our”
Black community here on
campus. Yet we dedicate hours
and hours of valuable time trying
to condemn each other. This we
are all guilty of. We have stood
around trying to get along with
Whites while we emotionally, and
spiritually destroy fellow Blacks
If 1 am wrong for saying this
please excuse me, but my people
on campus have tried to play the
role of a liberal White instead of
acting like an interested Black.
‘‘We as Blacks have an obligation
to our people first!” It is totally
ignorant for a Black man to go to
Whites to ask for help in uniting
our campus.
The message I have to com
municate is a message from
Malcolm, Martin, and all the
brothers and sisters that have
died for the cause. If we continue
to live this way, these individuals
will have given their live* in vain.
I speak for Malcolm and Martin;
“We have to wake up, and help
one another.” It is only fitting
Continued On Page 3
The Mercer Cluster
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Frank Spooner. Roger Cordes
Weyman Johnson. Frank Abbott. Jim
Elizabeth Holloway
George Howell
Frank Spooner
Tom Robinson. Bob Alexander
Nancy Loveday. Roger Cordes
Ash Williams
Charlie Roberts
Wriltag sun-. Bob Goodwin. Joe DavU. Thomas Norton, Diane
Wood. Brian Carney, Martha Ham. Katie Cantwell, Pal Barron.
Mary Beta, George "oeager and David Thompson.
Published weekly by the students ol Mercer University. Address
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pH . V, 7 i y ™' phon ' : 343-1518 or Ext. 331. All letters subject to
Editorial privelges.