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I Greeks announce pledges pageS Mercer Main Library page 6 Home Video Review page 9 Coach Selgfrled page 10 txttt ©luster 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