The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current, February 20, 1990, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextVOt UME 72, NUMBER 10 MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON, GEORGIA TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1990 Students join faculty to protest Administration By Tobie Gass Th; ongoing faculty protests against the Administration con tinued on Wednesday. February 14. This time, however, the faculty received support from several students. At 1:20 the march bega and as time passed the number protesters became larger. By 1:30, the faculty and student protesters numbered approximately 150. tacuity, wearing academic robes, and the students wearing black armbands, carried signs and circl ed jhbc Administration building picketing what thejrbclicrr to be the injustices of the current administration. Protesting alone since the Christmas break, the faculty was glad to receive the support of the students. Dr. G. Richardson said that he “was heartened to see students taking advantage of their academic freedom—to protest or not to protest." Dr. Glennon felt that the students joining the protest show the Administration that “generations to come do not like what is happening to the Universi ty cither." The prevailing senti ment among the faculty was that, by adding their voices to the pro test, students were doing the right thing. The student protest was organiz ed by the newly formed “Student Activist Committee." The protest was in the works for about one and a half weeks. The fliers and posters around the student center were a product of this committee. The group has met to discuss goals and the best way to get their message across. The result is a list of twenty-seven grievances "in die tradition Martin Luther's Nin Five Theses. ’ elude a concert ministration has s for the voice of tJ that the Ad- »wn no respect student body, to the and the quality concerns of the seriously a Mercer education. The group plans to continue the pressure one step at a time until they are heard. Two students offered very strong opinions. Freshman Willie Banks believes "the administration has forgotten the true traditions and values of Mercer—students and faculty." Sophomore Lisa Treadwell says"it is time for him (President God sc y) to leave." Although there was a big student turnout Wednesday, it is as Dr. Weintraut slated "this will only be work if the students do it every day—a one day demonstration will be ineffective." The Administration has issued Wednesday, approximately 150 students and faculty members joined together in protest of the Administra tion and the Board of Trustees. ** the following statemcn: to the Cluster: Statement for the Mercer Cluster The University respects and defends freedom of speech and academic frcc^pm. We recognize the rights of our students and facul ty to voice their opinions. day's demonstration was an expres sion of those rights. President Godscy and four vice presidents of the University spent considerable time Wednesday night on the lawn in front of the Ad ministration Building, talking with several of the students and listen ing to their concerns. The President is working arrange an open forum with the students to discuss their concerns further John M. Womblc, Vice President for University Relations and Development Psychology Department Recruiting Students to Mercer By DREW NORD Recently, faculty members from the department of psychology along with several Mercer students call ed all prospective students who had applied to Mercer and expressed and expressed an interest in psychology. These calls, according to Dr. Rich Metzger, chair of the Psychology majors, as well as. other students to Mercer. Metzger stressed that "the faculty is pretty visible when we are trying to make a complaint, but what's not so visi- ble is the other things that we are doing to insure the Mercer sur- vives.** Metzger added that the calls to the prospective students were a joint effort between the psychology department and Bill Miller and Tommy Eiland of the admissions office. Metzger added that “all the activities thai the facul ty should be engaged in arc conti nuing here." The prospective students were each sent a letter providing infor mation on the psychology depart menl. These letters were followed by this telephone call from cither a psychology professor or a Mercer student majoring in psychology These calls served as an opportune ty for the prospective students to ask questions about Mercer and the psychology department in par ticular. Metzger stated that “out of 70 people the psychology depart ment spoke to. no one asked any questions concerning Mercer's financial situation. Metzger also said that the psychology department is following up on those students expressing an interest by further phone calls and letters. Metzger said that although most of the students contacted claimed to be in tended psychology majors, only 10% of students go on to declare their intended course of study as their major. According to Metzger, the success that personal contact, phone calls, has over pure mail contact was a key factor in the department's decision to execute these recruiting efforts. No target GFA or SAT was factored into this recruiting process Metzger staled that all interested students were contacted and that in the near Mercer student. Mark C. Bethel, died Sunday. Feb. 18. Although specific information regarding Bethel's death is unavailable at this tune, it is known that his death was accidental. Bethel was a Freshman from Freeport. Bahamas. He was future, all students still in Mercer's applicant pool will be contacted by the psychology department in its continuing effort to aid in recruiting new students a pledge of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Ihe brothers and pledges of Alpha Tau Omega held a memorial service for Bethel on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at II a m. in Newton Chapel. Accident claims life of Mercer student, Bethel

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The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current, February 20, 1990, Image 1