Newspaper Page Text
THE MERCER CLUSTER, OCTOBER 3, UH — PAGE 3
President’s Desk
By M Murutt
Aa we begin a new ymnr. it In
imperative that students remem
ber, they have a very important
responsibility in maintaining oar
prtviledges here at Mercer. If we
do not realise that it is the
students who are nltimately
responsible far the preservation
of Wonderful Wednesday, then
we might as well kiss that
priviledge good-bye. If we do not
folly ezeerdse our positions on
university staff and facnlity *
committees, then we will lose our
opportunity to serve on them at
aO.
Students must again realize
that education is more than the
mere sitting in a classroom and
having facts and theory shoved
down our throats. Education
involves the active participation
of afl students in the affairs of this
university. If you do not find
yourself involved in the running
of the programs of this school,
soon you wiD see the school
running you. Only through the
active constructive efforts of
students can the student voice be
heard. If does no good for the
SGA to act. if students are not
willing to support it.
This year we are faced with the
very real and very current
possibility of losing both student
representation ‘on faculty and
^Univeriity Senate committees
sod of losing Woodcriul Wed
nesday. Studenta cannot be
satisfied with letting others make
decisions based on our inaction.
We must use the language that
we have; there is power in
numbers. Only If we work
together and fulfill our responsi
bill ties to each other, will we be
sure that our privilcdgcs are
secure. Only if we assume what it
ours to assume, will we be
respected and trusted with more
responsibilities and prtviledges.
The purpose of Mercer Uni vet
sity. as a Christian institution, is
to provide each student with the
opportunity to grow and develope
as responsible and conscious
citizens who are responsive to the
physical anil spiritual needs of the
community. This purpose can
only be achieved when the
students are prepared to accept
the responsibilities that are
placed on them by the university.
Unfortunately, students as a
whole have been reluctant to
shoulder their share af^he
burden. Yet. I am proud to say
that in certain instances, students
have accepted thetr responsibili
ties and have performed thetr
tasks admirably.
One such happy example was
the recent Freshman Orientation
period in which those students
who served as a^istants com
pleted their assignments with a
high degree of competence and
minimum of confusion. They
agreed to come back to school a
week early to perform the
important, yet dreary, dury of
orientating the Freshman to the
rules, regulations, and policies of
this university, knowing that they
would receive little praise and
virtually no recognition. They
assisted the Freshmen through
the hectic activities of registration
and then had to wake themselves
from a well-deserved sleep to
register themselves.
Because of special circum
stances. 1 have to serve as
Freshman Advisor and the
Orientation Assistants were forc
ed to put up with my whims and
disorganization. Despite those
advene conditions, they served
exceptionally and without the
least bit of grumbling. TV > were
a credit to the student body of
Mercer University.
It would be foolish for roc to list
all their names here, but I’m sure
you probably know at least ooe
persoa who served as an
Orientation Assistant. Please do
roe the favor of letting them know
bow much. we. the Mercer
Community, appreciate thetr de
dication and how much w C
respect their eagerness to fulfill
the purpose of the university.
Ever since 1 outgrew playing
•'Army", 1 haven't held the
military in the highest esteem.
For my generation. 1 was early in
my opposition to the war in
Vietnam. I worked for McGovern
in *72. and 1 have always
supported the cutting of the
wasteful portions of the defense
budget. However, while I still
hold strong feelings about these
subjects. 1 am having to eat my
words in regard to ROTC.
In the past I. perhaps unjustly,
associated ROTC with the deve
lopment of the nonstcrous
military-industrial complex I
believed that by partaking of its
offerings you were signing your
life away. This attitude blinded
me to the educational and
recreational benefits that can be
derived through the taking of
ROTC courses.
This realization took place the
week before orientation when
about half of the RA's participat
ed in an Outw'ard Bound
Wilderness Experience conduct
ed at the Army. Ranger School in
the North Georgia mountains
near Dahlonega. Tbit is a
program designed to push people
to their limits, both a* individuals
and as jk group, in an attempt to
broaden and expand ooe’s limits
for the purpose of making the RA
more resourceful and confident us
his ability to cope with other
people and problems. The pro-
gram included intensive moun
tain training in repelling, rock
climbing, and orientating
The program has received
universal and unlimited praise
from those of us who went Part of
the credit for its success must go
to the caliber of instruction and
quality of leadership provided by
our ROTC staff. Their expertise
was only exceeded by their
patiepce and their eagerness to
see everyone do aQ the activities
correctly and safely. Every person
who went performed feats of
which they had never before
dreamed that they were able; e.g.
climbing the sheer face of Mt.
Y era ah and then repelling over the
side. The praise belongs to our
ROTC staff who were with us and
provided aO our facilities sad
instruction on their own free time.
It is not often that I’D aay 1 was
wrong, but 1 mean it when 1 say H.
To deny yourself the opportunity
to meet these people and to take
advantage of their excellent
instruction in courses that have
recreation aa #ell aa educational
benefits, simply because of
ideological differences would be
doing yourself and Mercer’s
ROTC a great disservice. Thank
you. gentlemen, for my educa-
Dear
Editor
Linda Few
Ouster Office
Local
Dear Editor
I sm very concerned by the lack
of cooperation*” shown by the
campus bookstore in assisting
students acquiring books and
supplies for this quarter. As to be
expected for the first day of a new
quarter, the bookstore was very
crowded all day. with long lines of
people waiting outside. It seems
that the store hours could have
been lengthened, perhaps only
until 7 p. m.. iq order to better suit
the needs of students, instead of
closing at the usual hour of 5:00.
I would like to emphasize that I .
have no complaints toward the
bookstore employes, as I haye^_
always found them to be wn
helpful and efficient. Howmer.
I am complaining about one of the
inflexible rules under which they
work. After all. isn't it the college
store?
Sincerely.
Judy Barker
Box 172
Dear Editor.
I would like tq put my ad in the
paper aa a pen pal. I am an
inmate at London Correctional
Institute, and I have no ooe to
write or correspond with in any
kind of way. I’m lonely and need
\omepnc. age ts just'a number to
me. race is nor important either.
I'm 23 years old. My sign t«
Aquarius. Thank you.
Arthur Mills 144-142
Box 69
London. Ohio 43140
P.S. You must put my number
by my naro: for me to receive any
mail.
The United States Supreme
Court will rendet its decision on
whether or not it will rehear
arguments on the constitutionali
ty of the death penalty when the
Court reconvenes on October 4th.
On Sunday. October 3rd. the
eve of the beginning of the
Court's October term, families
and friends of persons under
death sentence in Georgia gat
hered in front of the State Capitol
Building for a candlelight prayer
vigil. We wish to impress upon
the courts and elected officials
that the death penalty is not a
theoretical legal question, but a
question of life or death for more
than 60 Georgians. The death
penalty ts cruel and unusual
punishment for those under
sentence,of death and for their
families and friends
' Georgia Committee
Against the Death Penalty
Notice!
Pre-law meeting for inter
ested freshman. Room 203
Knight Hall. Dr. James Cox.
pre-law adviser, will speak.
Ford-Carter
Poll
By Shirley WUaoo
A survey was taken the
weekend of Septem|>er 24 -26
concerning the presidential elec
lion.
To determine who is favored by
the students on the campus. 100
persons were asked who they
would vote for in the November 2
election. Fifty-eight said Carter,
while Forty-two said Ford.
Reasons for decisions ranged
from “Ford’s being stupid." to
“Cxrter's talking in cticles." A<
the same' lime a number ./of
students responded by saying
' - none of them are any good
H
The Mercer (.luster
ffl
Editor-In-Chief
Linda E Few
Managing Editor
Nita Stelnmetz
News Editor
Linda Winter
Feature Editor
Sharon Sovit
Jim Dawson
lairrtaiaawiit Editor
D K Jones
Aosletant to tka Editor
Paul Clements
Faculty Advisor
Dr Steven Blucsione
The Cluster is published
weekly (with the exception of holidays
and exam periods) by the
students of Mercer University
Printed by Keen and Judd Publishers. Inc Macon. Ga
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