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may ». im THE MERCER CLUSTER PAGE 11 From tl bench by Ton Robinson This is the last time that this column, or at least this writer, shall appear in this paper. A lot has happened in three years, but then again, a lot of things usually happen In threenyear-spans. Going over it again in a re view, Mercer’s athletics have expanded greatly-owing to ti c greah amount of success the basketball team has experienced since Dwane Morrison became coach. How much success Joe Dan Gold will have is hard to tell, but his credentials indicate that more success for Mercer's basketball efforts would not be totally surprising. In spite of Morrison (and his fiery assistant, Jay Nidiffer) leaving Mercer for Georgia Tech, there remains at Mercer the man moat responsible for getting the two men-Athletic Director Jerry Stone. There are a lot of people who don’t like Stone. They seem to dislike his participation in many activities around the Mercer campus. But, then again, there are a lot of apathetic dead beats on this campus, too. People who go to one basketball game or one baseball game, sit like a lump on a log, and then claim themselves to be ‘school-spirited.’ Those same dead-beats’ ar pretty much the same people who dislike Stone. I, personally, like the guy. He gave me a job on the campus that I liked, that of keeping the stats together, and. really, he neverbroke his word to me-which is more than I can say for some other people I know He has been patient with me in spite of my journalistic bunglings, which at tmes, would have made me, if I had been in his position, a lot madder than he was. I’m not trying to brown-nose the guy, to build him up to something he isn’t. He has his shortcomings; what the heck, he’s human. But I think that we should all realize what be has done for this school. Don’t forget, Dwane Morrison's first year as coach was also Jerry Stone's first year as Athletic Director. Morrison, of course, had the experience in pushing a basketball program, while Stone had, and still has, the drive for seeing that that job gets done. Not only that, but Stone has had to try to appease several other students who have interests in other sports, such as wrestling, soccer, and track. and who wanted to get these sports on Mercer’s varsity roster. Also, Stone has several other positions-such as the student union board advisor, audio-visual , and several others. Sometimes that can be a handi-cap when you’re trying to get a sport, like basketball, national attention. So, the next time you feel like criticizing Jerry Stone, because you think his name is everywhere, just remember that somebody around here h*»d to get involved. And if that somebody is a guy who graduated from Mercer seven or eight years ago. that isn't saying very much for the present obident body-and I include myseK in that, of course. Not to dwril on this point so that everyone gets tired of it but just remember howmany sports there were on Mercer’s in tercollegiate schedule. If you weren’t a giant or quick as a cat, or if you didn't like shooting bullets through paper, then you had to chose either golf or tennis. Now you have wrestling, track, soccer, girls' tennis, girls’ basketball, as well as a much improved intramural program So, thank you. Jerry, for at least getting Mercer started on the road to recognition, and for giving people a chance to par ticipate.. Another man in the ad ministrative faculty who has been wrongly criticized has been none other but the President of the school. Dr Rufus Harris. I know I am stepping out of line by writing about a person who u\ not usually associated with the Ahletic part of the school, but then again Dr. Harris, as president, is a part of all of the things that go into Meroar. He has been sometimes called the "Phantom President”, because certain students claim that he is never seen in between greeting freshmen and handing out diplomas to seniors. That is bologna, to put it bluntly. Ever since I have t>een here. I have seen Dr and Mrs. Harris on the campus, strolling around or heading for a meeting. And the times that I have heard Dr. Harris talk he has impressed me as a very intelligent man who is involved, and who wants to help people. So, the next time you feel hke calling Dr Harris the "Phantom President", open your eyes the next time you walk across campus. Again going to polilitics, which I relalize I shouldn't, but will, anyway, the realtionship between the Blac v . and White students on this campus is rather bad. It is better than when I was a fresh man, but that is not saying very much. In the first place, the frater nities ought to grow up. They should allow minority groups, specifically those of African descent, into their holy grounds' If they have so many drunks running around, surely they can allow some worthy people in, without looking at their skin color. Hopefully, a lightning bolt will strike the KA house. (With no one in it at the time) so that that spot will be gone. As for the Omega Psi Phi. or the "Black Fraternity", I say it is a long time overdue, but one thing puzzles me. For all the talk,and justifiably so, about eradicating the memory of the curse of slavery, it seems paradoxical to me that men should allow themselves to be branded, in the same manner as their un fortunate forefathers, just to be ‘cool’, or to allay the pressures brought on by peer group pressure. I’m quite sure that if Frederick Douglass. Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott and Nat Turner had their choice, they would just as soon ha ye been brand-free. Coatfnaed From Page 1 Gandy And Wood Honored level w.tA .. isoners rather than ripping o t people as doctors and businessmen do, or helping the society continue on its present course to destruction, it would be a much more practical and humane use of education than we know experience " Ms. Wood also stated that in retrospect, the Alternate Fresh man Program and the op portunities it opened up in terms of interpersonal relationships were undouhtubly her moot rewarding experiences at Mercer She stated that for her, Mercer had proved to be an educational experience "Although I do not believe that education can be equated with the structure of institutions or with a degree, I think that Mercer has offered not only opportunities for experimentation but also opportunit.es to be with people which have really helped me to learn to live in this world?” Bruce Gandy appeared to be as overwhelmed as was Ms Wood when the Cluster talked with him on Wednesday Said Gandy, “I really don’t know what to say. Perhaps the best word to describe the feeling is ‘num bing’.” Gandy stated that his plans for the next year will call him to graduate school at Duke University. Gandy is an Englsih major and plans to do further study in this field. When asked what he felt were the most rewarding aspects of Mercer University, he stated that educationally AFP was the most interesting program in process "I think that AFP reflects the basic intellectual climate of the university. It addresses the difference between education and Continued From Page 10 Victorian Homes I would like to see one of these ol houses renovated ad used as a center for folk life and Georgia Folk Culture. In it would be a collection of material folk objects such as quilts, coverlets, pottery, farm implements, musical in struments, clothing, toys, etc. Also there is a need to record much of the folklore of the state before it disappears. The house could serve as a central agency to help research projects and to provide equipment needed to record folk processes. A restored Victorian cottage would be the ideal setting for such a venture, and would serve to incrAase interest in social history among the students and townspeople as well. Sincerely yours. Joy Carter Ilv r*c*p» of oil motori«l loctor. • p«n» *• PUnt Monitor Salai licioaft tonndorobi* overtime employment per-od May » to >n operating plant of ttiu peach formation, call collect to Plant Man««or. Mo.mrtl* Wme Company. HoSort* Oa. training." he said Gandy also expressed great concern over the proposed medical school. ”U is not the fact that I am against medicine, or for that fact medical schools, he said, my concern is that there are so few small Christian Liberal Arts Colleges left in the world.” The Cluster asked Gandy what he liked most about Mercer. The fact that it is a small private Christian Liberal Arts College, he said. He also added. "At Mercer it is possible to feel that the faculty offers comradeship and not just lectures as we try and investigate the culture. Mercer is small enough that students can be aware at the end of four years of all the differing intellectual currents on campus. You t come Coatiaued From Psge 1 aware of the tension and conflict on callus which is something you mi s at even a little larger instituti m, because there is no dialogvj between departments. At Mercer the specialization and isolation of departments does not end communication as well The tension on campus is what makes this Mercer community a family. It is only in a family that ac ceptance and respect is offered without stipulating conditions other than healthy growth." When asked "What don't you like about Mercer?" He replied, "I have really regretted Mercer's not having a fountain on campus. They provide wt only humidity *nd babbling sounds, but they are such perfect symbolic representations of institutional education.” SGA Waverly Plans Affairs, Student Life, and Fiscal Affairs, break into discussion groups Tuesday Afternoon- Presen tation by Academic Affairs to General Session. Tuesday Night- Presentations from Student Life A Fiscal Af fairs. Wednesday Morning- Review, Town Meeting, Awards ceremony Below is a list of the Ad ministration, Faculty, and Students who have been invited to the Waverly Conference: Administration: Dr. Rufus C. Harris, Dr. Garland F. Taylor, Dr. William Haywood, Mr Robert Skelton, Mr, Ed Bacon. Mrs. Dori Bonner, Mr.. Joe Hendricks, Mr. John Mitchell or Mr. Jim Whitlow, Mr Jerry Stone, Mr. Tom Trimble, Mrs. Carolyn Sanders. Mr Bob Davies. Mr Robert Neal. Mr Julian Gordy. Faculty: Dr Alpha Bond, Dr. Michael Cass. Dr. Thomas Glennon, Dr. Theodore Nor- denhaug. Mr Louis Becker. Mr. Gary Johnson. Dr Henry War- nock. Dr Marvin Dawson. Dr. Mary Wilder. Students: Ken Bryant. Joe Davis. Kay Cole, Tim Estes, Jan Suffolk, Mac Bond, Duncan Hitchcock, Karen Murphy. Sam Heaton, Jorge Vega, Rick Johnson. Ben Valde*, Cindy Redmond. Allen Baldree, Margaret Car lock. Frank Bragg. Katie Cantwell, Bill Keithcart, Robert Alexander, Barbara Ann McIntosh. Bob Kelly, Louis Johnson, David Price. Bob Goodwin. Doug Hardy. Leon Larke. Brian Carney. Marilyn Allgood, Judy Williams, Tracy Highsmith, Felice LaMarca, Mike Streetman, Chris Edwards. Jools Lusk. Bruce Gandy, Martha Ham. Fred Niemann. Linda Pitta. SKY DIVING FIND FREEDOM IN FREE FALL Don’t be satisfied with anything but the best and most complete Jump Training available Greene County has the most experienced parachute training facilities in the world. In the past 12 years we have trained better than 16,000 maintaining an absolutely unblemished safety record AND YOU CAN BE ONE OF THEM. COME FLY WITH US OPEN EVERYDAY 8 AM Till Dark First Jump Course $37 :*) your own group of 5 or more $27.50 per person price includes log book, all training, all equipment ana first jump Parents permission not required for those 18 and older FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT GREENE COUNTY SPORT PARACHUTE CENTER Phone 1-775-9067 - After Dark 471-74MO South of Atlanta on 1-75 taLocust Grove - Hampton exit • turn left for 4 mile - right on 42 - 4' j miles - Look for sign on right.