Letter to the Editor: Faculty respond to Antonio Saravia’s debate points denying systemic racism
November 21, 2019
This is a letter to the editor submitted by members of the faculty at Mercer University. It does not reflect the views of The Cluster, Mercer University or faculty members not listed. Dear Mercer Community, A recent campus debate presented opposing and forceful arguments about whether ‘social justice is just.’ The debate was intended to provoke conversation and to demonstrate the benefit of the university as a “marketplace of ideas.”...
Letter from Dean Pearson: What every student, faculty and staff should know about Mercer traditions this fall
Douglas Pearson, Vice President and Dean of Students
August 17, 2019
In a letter to the editor, Vice President and Dean of Students Douglas Pearson encourages Mercerians to attend upcoming events this fall.
Opinion: Stores closing in Macon affects the community
Suzanna Arul, Contributing Writer
May 2, 2018
On March 26, the Kroger on Pio Nono Avenue announced its closing due to profit loss. The store opened its doors in August 1994 and officially closed on April 20. For many Mercer students, this means now going a little farther to get the groceries a meal plan doesn’t cover, but what does this closi...
Opinion: Macon-Bibb Leaders Fail to Protect their Citizens
Jacob Lugenbeel, Contributing Writer
April 11, 2018
The Macon-Bibb County government is critically underserving the most vulnerable members of our community: those struggling with homelessness. An estimated 10,174 people struggle with homelessness in Georgia, according to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. Nearly 500 people in Macon,...
Opinion: Is Spring Break Too Early?
Sachin Khurana, Contributing Writer
April 8, 2018
As several Mercer students envisioned their spring break having fun on the beach, reality made them wonder if they had started winter break. Students on group vacations at Florida beaches experienced unpleasant conditions of 60 degree temperatures in addition to constant wind gusts over 20 mph. Alt...
Opinion: Why you shouldn’t be a doctor if you want to help people
Blossom Onunekwu, Staff Writer
April 4, 2018
Are you majoring in biology? Do you love helping people? Are your parents immigrants? If so, you’re probably at this school to become a doctor. Becoming a doctor seems like every parent’s dream for their child. It sure was my Nigerian mother’s dream. Why would she leave her home country to ...
Opinion: Food on campus is the worst
Julianna Tollett, Contributing Writer
March 26, 2018
As someone who is in their second year at Mercer, I think I have completely exhausted all of the places on our campus where they serve food. I’m the type of person who tries to eat three times a day, and I also try to make sure that I’m eating something healthy every day. I grew up eating homem...
Opinion: Mercer should add art on campus
Solomon Simpson, Contributing Writer
March 13, 2018
When walking around Mercer University there are lots of things to look at, but there is also a noticeable lack of color and art. On the way to class, a student will primarily see common, hazel-colored buildings lacking life. The campus fails to reflect the vibrant personalities of the students and ...
Opinion: Stop sending good vibes and start taking action
Julianna Tollett, Contributing Writer
March 13, 2018
On Feb. 14, 17 lives were lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. At 2:19 p.m., Nikolas Cruz walked into his old high school with an AR-15 style rifle and killed 17 of his former classmates and teachers. A 19-year-old was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, according to Sun Sentinel, a lo...
Opinion: How Mercer can grow its medical school
Ben Hitchcock, Contributing Writer
March 10, 2018
There are a total of five medical schools in Georgia with enrollments ranging from 200 to nearly 1,000 students. Each one has medical care facilities including hospitals, clinics, primary care, sports medicine and psychiatric care. The largest and most famous of these are all staffed by Emory Un...
Opinion: Why you should care about DACA
Devyn Mode, Layout Editor
March 9, 2018
Democrats’ recent unsuccessful attempts to take action on the status of former Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients proves the safety of those individuals is not a priority in the House, but it should be for you. DACA was enacted by the Obama Administration in 2012. It allows ...
Opinion: Being sick in college sucks
Kate Eckrote, Contributing Writer
February 12, 2018
I would consider myself a fairly healthy person. I often stay up until 3 a.m. watching health documentaries on Netflix. I always skip the whipped cream on my tall, double shot, extra drizzle, caramel Frappuccino. And I exercise regularly in the sense that I sometimes take the stairs. Theref...