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VOLUME 72, NUMBER 2
MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON. GEORGIA
MONDAY, OCTOBER It, l»»
Mercer administration proposes
Semester System for 1992
By TAMM1 ROBINSON
The administration has presented
two proposals that will greatly
change the present academic year
at Mercer. These proposals involve
reorganizing the Fall Quarter
calendar and convening from the
Quarter system to the Semester
system.
The first proposal, from Dean
Sammyc Greer, is the possible
revision of the Fall Quarter calen
dar from the current September-
November schedule to
September -mid- Dtrfl
schedule.
Possible Calendar
Fall Quarter. 1990
50 Class Days
Residence Halls Open
24
Orientation September 24*26
Registration September 26
Classes Start September 27
Thanksgiving Holiday November
22-23
Reading Day December 10
Final Examinations December 11.
12. 13
Christmas Holiday December
14-January 1
The second proposal, from the
President’s Executive Council and
James C. Coomer, Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs,
suggests converting the Universi
ty’s Quarter System, with the ex
ception of the College of Law and
thc School of Medicine, to the
r System. This change, if
accepted, will be implemented
beginning Fall 1992.
According to the proposal by
Coomer the rationale for this policy
is. "To enhance the academic pro
grams of the University. To bring
Mercer University in line with most
of the major colleges and univer
sities in the United States. To
enhance the budget process by
reducing from three to two the ma
jor revenue income pci iods of the
University. To reduce the oppor
tunities for students to transfer dur
ing the academic year."
Should thfc Semester policy be
accepted, the University will have
two years to order revised
schedules, catalogs, and recruit
ment literature. Also, if accepted,
all present University literature will
include the statement that Mercer
University will be converting to a
Semester System effective Fall,
1992.
A forty-five day comment period
on the Semester System Proposal
began October 1. 1989 and will ex
pire November 14, 1989. All con
stituencies wishing to address the
policy must submit comments, in
writing, to the Office of the Senior
Vice President for Academic Af
fairs prior to November 14. 1989
Also, there will be a Question and
Answer Forum November 1. from
7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Trustees’
See Semester System, page 3
Mercer's baseball Odd was dedicated to Coach Smith in 1977.
Coach Claude D. Smith
dies at age 81
iX-iJ J«l IfcSVHUV IIIWMIV K —
Mercer Atlanta goes to court
By WILLIAM N. SMITH
The future of Mercer Atlanta re
mains uncertain. When University
officials decided to close me Atlan
ta campus last spring, a definite
decision on the matter seemed to
have been made. However, outrag
ed students and faculty members of
the school threatened to sue for
breach of contract, and in June of
this year, they filed their suits
against Mercer. On September 30,
in the Gwinnett County Superior
Court, the first round of hearings
on these proceedings began.
The major issue being question
ed is how the cases are to be tried.
The nine to ten students and four
to five faculty members who have
sued are seeking a class action
status for their cases. Such a rat
ing would mean that all of the suits
would be tried jointly, strengthen
mg their cases and possibly increas
ing the number of students who
might join in the court action
(Since the students are providing
the costs for their legal foes, any
additional support would help their
cause.)
The lawyers for Mercer are not
contesting the actual law suits
themselves. Instead, they are only
arguing against the class action
Status. They claim that each of the
cases is completely different and
because of these differences, they
should be tried individually, on a
case-by-case basis. To some of (he
students and faculty, this request
seems to be little more than a
"divide and conquer’ ‘ lactic, which
will weaken their collective cases.
The decision on how the cases are
to be beard will be made withing
the next couple of weeks.
In a separate action, one faculty
member has filed an injunction
against the University to prevent
the closing of the school. If com
pletely successful, this injunction
could force Mercer to keep the
Atlanta campus open until all the
students who have made a commit
ment to attending Mercer Atlanta
for four years have completed their
courses of study. Therefore, the in
stitution could be forced to remain
open for up to four years. On Oc
tober 30. the motion for this injunc
tion will be heard.
According to Jeff Hanon, the
president of the Student Govern
ment Association of Mercer Atlan
ta. the main issue and focus of the
students now is die injunction,
which-could keep die doors of the
campus open. "Our main motive
right now is to try to keep Mercer
from dosing." Hanon comments.
By HEATHER RUMBLE
Editor-In-Chief
Claude D. Smith, former head
baseball coach at Mercer Univer
sity. died on September 29. 1989.
Smith served on Mercer's faculty
as an Associate Professor of Health
and Physical Education from 1943
until his retirement in 1977. After
his retirement. Smith continued to
be a strong source of support for
Mercer University and her teams.
During his 34 year career as Head
Coach of Mercer's baseball pro
gram. he produced many outstan
ding teams, one of which set the
Mercer record for most wins in
1977. "Coach Smith," said Bob
by Pope. Mercer Athletic Director,
"instilled a spirit of self-diacipline
and dedication lhai has helped his
players become successful, produc
tive adults. He loved people and he
loved life."
Known as "Red Dog." by fami
ly and players, Smith received his
master's degree at North Carolina.
Credits to his athletic record in
clude All-State honors on the
gridiron while in school at Decatur.
IL and two time Little All-
American status at Appalachian
State College. Smith is also in the
Athletic Hall of Fame at both Ap
palachian State and Mercer.
On May 7. 1977 Mercer's
baseball field was dedicated to/
Smith as a tribute to his years ok. _/
dedication to Mercer University,
his students "his boys." and his
community.
A memorial service for Coach
Smith was held in Newton Chapel
on Survey Oct. 8. 1989.
Gambrell named ABET Fellow
By MICHELLE RENN
Dr. C.B. Gambrell. dean of
Mercer's School of Engineering,
has been named a 1989 ABET
Fellow by the Accreditation Board
for Engineering and Technology,
Inc.
Dean Gambrell is one of 10 peo
ple in the U.S. who will be receiv
ing this award on November 9 in
New Orleans at ABET's annual
meeting
ABET is a group of 26 profes
sional technical and professional
societies that represent over 1.2-
million individual engineers.
It is a volunteer organization
whose primary objective is to main
tain and improve the quality of
engineering education. Members of
ABET visit and evaluate engineer
ing schools to see if they meet the
minimum criteria for accreditation
"I know the oilier nine people
who received this award.” Gam
brell says. "They are all highly
qualified individuals of con
siderable reputation and I'm
honored to be part of them. "
Gambrell also feels that Mercer's
Engineering School will benefit
from this award, since it has yet to
be accredited He believes that ac
creditation is in the near future for
the Engineering School and hopes
to see some follow ABET members
at Mercer soon
Gambrell is die founding dean of
See Gambrell, page 3