Opinion: Young female dance teams are unnecessarily sexualized
Mandi DeLong, Staff Writer
February 12, 2020
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster. I was at a basketball game a while back when a dance team of a bunch of adorable little girls performed at half-time. The oldest couldn’t have been more than seven, but the ma...
Opinion: The Women’s and Gender Studies major encompasses more than you think
Emily Rose Thorne, Digital Editor
February 11, 2020
While it’s easy to write off WGS courses as “fluff,” that hasn’t been my experience. WGS is an interdisciplinary field of study that helps students understand how gender underlies all that we see and do. WGS students are diverse in terms of gender, sexual orientation and career goals, and the major offers flexibility to choose the classes that matter to us most. It’s also just as academic as any other social science. By the end of my sophomore year, I engaged in service learning with a community crisis center for survivors of domestic violence and completed a formal research project that was accepted for presentation at two undergraduate conferences.
Opinion: Creative careers are slept on
Chance Allen, Staff Writer
January 30, 2020
Personally, I feel as though many families across generations take a wrong view in regard to creative careers. There’s a strong relation between risk-taking and any field that’s not directly “academic” per se.
Opinion: How to understand Mercer’s Great Books program
Morgan Prillaman, Contributing Writer
November 24, 2019
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster. As Plato says, opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance, so I hope to bridge the gap between what Mercer students think they know about Great Books and what Great Books actually is t...
Opinion: The time is now for gender inclusive housing
Drew Bryant, Contributing Writer
November 22, 2019
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster. Last spring, one of Mercer’s finest went on to graduate and begin the next chapter in his educational career in Rochester, New York, to pursue a PhD in chemistry. James Stair has lef...
Letter to the Editor: Faculty respond to Antonio Saravia’s debate points denying systemic racism
November 22, 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.”...
Opinion: ADHD is more than a learning disability
Mandi DeLong, Staff Writer
November 7, 2019
This is an opinion article. Any views expressed belong solely to the author and are not representative of The Cluster. Most people dismiss attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a learning disability or something that you “get over” after school. In reality, however, ADHD is actually a neurodevelopmen...
Tech Review: iOS 13 is underrated, and the iPhone 11 is confusing
Emily Rose Thorne, Digital Editor
October 26, 2019
"Slofies," upgraded cameras, Memojis and more: here's what you can expect from the latest season of Apple products.
Opinion: The Caf’s inconveniences outweigh its benefits
Mandi DeLong, Contributing Writer
October 11, 2019
The inconveniences of the Caf are a lot more prevalent and make it a far less desirable place for lunch on campus.
Opinion: Blackfishing is an Instagram trend that needs to go
Aliyah Dorsey, Lead Lifestyle Writer
October 10, 2019
My issue with blackfishing is that these models are clearly mimicking my culture for clout and money, when every time I perform my culture, it’s ridiculed and sometimes even criminalized.
Opinion: A new plan to address textbook prices head-on
Jacob Lugenbeel, Contributing Writer
September 27, 2019
I have concluded that the administration of Mercer University must take steps to reduce the price of textbooks that students are required to purchase for their classes. In particular, the University must institute a price limit on the books and materials that professors make mandatory.
Opinion: Our Access & Accommodations office is not helping students
Chas Pridgen, Copy Editor
September 27, 2019
Someone I am very close with went through the entire process to get accommodations for her disability. She turned her papers in and made plans to live off-campus at a doctor’s request. However, she never heard back from the office.