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PAGE 2-THE CLUSTER. FEBRUARY J», »•*
Marty describes America from the ‘distances’
By JEANNA SIMONS
The fourth of the lecture series,
"How I See America". wu held
in Newton Sanctuary last Thursday
night. The speaker was Dr. Mar
tin E. Marty, who has been called
"the most influential interpreter of
religion in the U.S.” by Tune
Magazine. With wit, humor, and
intellect, he gave his views of
where America is. and where it is
going.
Dr. Marty began by pointing out
that there are different views of
America from people from dif
ferent aspects of America's culture.
For esample, from where one sees
America, when one sees it, and
from what walk of life one sees it.
Dr. Marty stated that, of course,
someone from a less advantageous
region or background would see
America different than someone
who has never known haruship.
Also, those people from earlier eras
saw those eras differently than the
people of today. “I do nor think
there was a golden age." said Dr.
Marty.
As for Dr. Marty's individual
view of America, he described it by
outlining the "distances" from
which he could see it. His dittaners
were those of a satellite, a weather
plane in the eye of a hurricane, and
"on the scene" reporter, and a
person in a house in the midst of
the storm.
From the satellite. Dr. Marty
said he saw the historical aspect of
America. He could see that
America is jeapordued by nature,
because of the carelessness of its
people past and present. “We don't
have the luxury to say. in 40-60
yean, we'11 get busy." Instead, he
feels that we must get busy now.
on issues such as the environment
and others, before it is too late.
Dr. Marty also said that, from a
military viewer bu powers and ra
tionality" were*riS the threat, but
"small powers and irrationality"
are. Israel with the bomb, for ex
ample. rather than the United Stales
or Russia, is the danger.
Dr. Marty stated also that he sees
the United States as having fallen
from the lead economically, and is
behind in Christianity. Instead of
being a primarily Christian coun
try, the U.S. is losing Christians
and gaining members of other
religions.
From the weather plane-view.
Dr. Marty said the main things to
be seen were "-ations and-isms".
Secularization, he /aid. was very
evident. However, be does not fed.
he said, that secularation is always
wrong. He commended seculara
tion on its ability to save lives,
medically. For lack of a better
word. Dr. Matty called his next
observation that of' ‘ rdigiousifica-
tion". This, he said, is evident in
.the fact that, although America is
not viewed as a religious nation,
only 8% of its population don't
Eight recieve Old Crows Scholarships
(MUR)- Eight students from the
School of Engineering, who are
receiving The Old Crows Scholar
ships. were honored Jan. 26 by the
Dixie Crows Club members' lun
cheon at the NCO Cub at Robins
Air Force Base.
The students are the recipients of
an electrical engineering scholar
ships awarded by Dixie Crows.
They are: Peter Bryant, a senior
from Juliette; Scott Home, a junior
from Macon; Phillip Ladzinske. a
senior from Warner Robins; Hope
Letson, a senior from Lizella;
Tracy Patel, a senior from Warner
Robins; Stephen Pcnley. a senior
from Macon; Erin Wright, a
freshman from Roberta; and Brian
Youmans, a freshman from
Macon.
Delivering the address was Ma
jor General John B. Marks, na
tional president of the Association
of Old Crows, from the home of
fice located in Washington, D.C.*
Marks is serving his second term
as president of the association. He
said there are scholarship programs
in over 40 chapters, and interna
tional clubs now are offering the
scholarships.
These scholarships are awarded
to students who have demonstrated
outstanding academic ability and
meet all established criteria. To be
qualified for the scholarship, a stu
dent must be a resident of Bibb.
Houston. Peach, Bleckley.
Crawford. Pulaski, Baldwin, or
Jones counties: be accepted for ad
mission to the School of Engineer-
Phi Beta Phi rush moves to spring
By SHARON COLLEY
For seme time now. efforts have
been made to get a new soronty.
Pi Beta Phi. on campus. This was
due to the increasing number of
ladies on campus and the number
who went through rush but did not
receive a bid because sorority
quotas were already filled, accor
ding to Davis Palmer of Student
Activities.
Pi Phi did not hold rush as plann
ed this past month. A period of bad
communications hampered ar
rangements. Palmer said, and
housing commitments could not be
finalized by the time of the propos
ed rush. At this time, it is unknown
bow the Pi Phi housing situation
Commission
Jones, who
from Mercer in 1974 and
'during hi* last two yesrx, cited his
coromamenl to academe* by poin-
tmg out that be. himself. although
be wa* very involved in Men&r
noon become a suc-
I pafiathdan. He also takl he
involved Mercer graduate* who
have gone an to become successful
doctors and lawyers.
Jooes said that they will need to
have a proposal drawn up by the
April Trustees’ meeting if any of
his ideas are to be put into action.
He raid (hey are planning a meeting
claim some kind of religion.
Dr. Matty's third observation
from this particular distance was
that of modernization, or the
"chopping up of life into little
spheres."
Dr. Marty's description of life
from the “on scene” distance was
to say that this was the distance
where people experience things,
participate, and ask questions, like.
' •'Who am 17' ’ sod How do 1 make
sense of this world?”
The people "in the houses." Dr.
Matty said, are the ones who get
the evidence of what's going on
through mass media and other
means. He saw these people as hav
ing four choice*: get out. "sandbag
themselves in", try to do
something about the situation, or
hide.
Dr. Matty ended his lecture with
the simple statement that, unlike
Lincoln, he would not say that
America is "the last, best hope" of
the world, because there may one
day be s‘‘letter, better hope." He
did, however, agree with that
fatuous statement that Americans
juat may he God’s "almost chosen
people."
ing as an electrical engineering ma
jor; possess one of the two highest
grade point averages at the end of
the winter quarter from among
freshtna* engineering students
deeikring an electrical engineering
major, and must be a U.S. citizen.
The Dixie Crows is the Middle
Georgia chapter of the Association
of Old Crows, a national organiza
tion of military and civilian person
nel that are involved in all aspects
of electronic defense.
Attending the luncheon from
Mercer University's School of
Engineering were Dr. Allen F.
Grom, chairman of the industrial
and systems engineering depart
ment. and Dr. John Patterson.
Chairman of the electrical and com
puter engineering department.
will be resolved but, according to
Palmer, it is being worked on.
"We're still interested...,”
Palmer said, regarding Pi Phi on
campus, but stated the move would
need to be mutually beneficial.
Current plans are to hopefully
have a Pi Phi tush sometime in the
spring.
Continued from page 1
everything we can to keep a quell- knows several other athletically- February 27 with selected Troauea.
key individuals in the athletic pro
gram and other interested backers
to put together the proposal. Jones
concluded by saying that in order
for his program to work, they will
have to raise approximately 25 to
50 percent of the current athletic
budget.
“Engineers - Turning Ideas
Into Reality”
National Engineers Week
Feb. 20 - $5, 1989
MONDAY: Preparing For Your Engineering Career - Cooperative
Education; Career Placement: Interviewing Techniques
TUESDAY: Tau Beta Pi Night - Video/Slide Series: The Miracle
Force end BkNBP’Ia Pcrsepctive
WEDNESDAY: Mereer Engineering Research Center Night -
Research Activities Update
THURSDAY: Student Association of Mercer Engineers Night -
Lecture/Video Series: Bob Grizzard, "Applications ctf Simula
tion"; and video, "Student Action in Engineering"
(All Activities During The Week Are Held in Room 203. Engineer
ing Building)
FRIDAY: Open House from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Engineering,
SATURDAY: Engineering Preview '89 for high school students
from 9 a m. to 1 p.m.
IIIMTF
U U \J U Usai
Amnesty International
meets every
first and third Monday
of each month
NEXT MEETING!
TODAY
Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
in Duncan Lounge. CSC