About The Mercer Cluster. (Macon, Ga.) 1920-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1990)
Defense Dept, forces closing of Mercer ROTC MERCfR CAMPUS STREET CLOSINGS CAMPUS W\\\ ACCESS \\\ (PHASE I ^ROAD BLOCKED ROAD BLOCKED ( REMOVE PHASE I CAMPUSI ACCESS | (PHASE I CAMPUS ACCESS (PHASE I) / I—ROAD BLOCKED / ' L. ROAD BLOCKED ( REMOVE PHASE I I ) ROAD BLOCKED CAMPUS ACCESS (PHASE I) Access to campus cut, get out those walking shoes By GWEN POLLOCK As a result of a growing campus safety awareness among the Mercer community, the city of Macon has officially closed some major roads that cut directly through the cam pus. This will eliminate the heavy traffic that passes through Mercer and also reduce the possibility of robberies and other crimes. Phase one began on September 25 and will continued until October 19. It will involve closing the cam pus to vehicular traffic at specific points. College St., Adams St. and Linden Avenue at Montpelier Avenue will be blocked to traffic. Access to campus will be restricted to Winship St. and Johnson Avenue. All other traffic will be diverted to the new downtown con nector. During this time, a crosswalk will be constructed in front of the Mary Erin Porter dormitory. Phase two is scheduled to begin on October 20 and will complete the street closing plan. This will in volve closing parts of College St. and Edgewood Ave. Eventually, permanent devices will be used in these prohibited areas of the cam pus. Only emergency and maintenance vehicles will be allow ed to pass through Mercer. Also, the campus will be divided into quadrants with each section being accessible by a particular street(s). The idea of closing off Mercer’s campus has been discussed ever since Robert Neal of the Physical Plant came to Mercer seventeen years ago. However, no official permission was given from the City of Macon until July 1985. Originally scheduled to be com pleted in 1988, the campus street closings went into effect on Sept. 25, at which point the public was warned that the changes would begin the following day. These changes will be brought about in a two phase plan. Although this plan will prohibit the majority of traffic, pedestrians will still be allowed on campus; therefore, students are still advis ed to use caution. These changes, although temporarily inconvenient, will help make Mercer a nicer and safer environment for the entire community. Painting in the new year. Bill Drury refreshes the look of Mercer’s signs. Though there won’t be any noticeable changes, as of Sept. 1, 1991, Mercer’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units will be in the hands of Georgia Military College. Budget cuts within the U.S. Department of Defense have reduc ed the number of ROTC host in stitutions across the country, in cluding Mercer University and Berry College, the two schools af fected here in Georgia. It is not yet definite how many instructors from Georgia Military College will be on Mercer’s cam pus permanently, nor is it known how many commuting instructors will be involved. Whatever changes do occur, the status of the cadet at Mercer will not change. They will continue to be elligible for national ROTC scholarships, receive the same education and upon graduation, enter the armed forced at the same level that they always have. Maj. William H. Cox, professor of military science, who is in charge of making the transition a smooth one for Mercer’s cadets, said that the main goal of the ROTC department “is to keep a good, viable program going at Mercer. “The changes have nothing to do with the quality of Mercer nor the quality of (Mercer’s) cadets,” he added. “It has simply been a mat ter of cutting back within the Ar my." Classes for ROTC students will no longer be held in the Engineer ing Building, instead, they have a permanent place in the Stetson Library. Changes required within the building to suit the needs of ROTC are nearing completion.
