Mercer University - Cauldron Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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INTRODUCTION

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r V, In the grand tradition each of us arrive » .it Mercer We -«eh out old friends in order to recommence summer-delayed lives and take note of new faces to add to chapter rolls Wc look forward to comradeship and competitum to fill out the coming year with memorable memories and fear that those events more scholastically centered will prove less memorable After dropping unpacked suitcases into our rooms wo gather cn masse before the dining room doors to lament why the few freshmen must all cat at 4:30 In the idle days before classes start wc re examine the quality of water in the fountain and determine that the green soap-suds will add a ZCSty taste to our classmates palate when they ate dunked in some mild afternoon Amid half-voiced curses, over- priced books aie bought for classes which we hope will improve our CPA’s. And through too many weeks of Ru -h wc affect platonic affections fot those freshmen who also have a streak of Greek sum» where within them Hopefully, though, they see through us and recog- nize our pretensions as only the means to sincerity Basketball becomes the regular Tuesday-night recreation although it may not give ade- quate reasons for rejoicing in the streets. But slowly, as the Chapel bells tolls the passage of each day. these small traditions of Mercer become mere routines, and we endure Occasionally, however, the routines break «in a Sunday morning the bell rings twenty-two times, causing campus-wide destruction of alarm clocks; during Chapel- break, at last, the Great Snow returns, causing campus- dustiuction Opportunity knocks and wc answer by pelting professors' children with snow balls as they strut pompously in front of us paying residents, (’.rumbling we eat on paper plates until thp snow melts. Presidential debates are held with shaving cream and buckets of water until only one side retains their campaign stickei Concerts are attended (for the third time) with no bands showing up, but nobody cares because it is too sunny to listen In mad attacks we sling midnight snacks at each other in the cafeteria on the night before finals. But no matter how delirious arc the attempts to rebel, the traditions are always reinstated Madness is unsurped by all-night vigils over lukewarm coffee Bears games arc attended on a somi- tegular basis beneath a simmering sun with cool refreshments served beyond center field. Professors children regain their supremacy and flash serenely down chipped sidewalks on skateboards. Intramural tournaments are won by old favorites or new up starts who suddenly become the old favorites. Solemnly we seek out old friends and new friends to comfort us as grades are posted nd judgment is handed down Fall and winter and spring, each passes by. each is less memorable than the one succeeding, until all have passed us by Then, we turn back to those memories which once were just moments and we wonder it wc could have lived without them But without these moments there would be nothing to call ourselves. What were once mere routines become part of Mercer s grandest tradition Some of our friends gathet together for the last time in robes and uncertainty And as we delay our lives again for a few of our friends some of our friends leave us forever Z© INTRODUCTION

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 - --------------- IM I Illi I Greek letter organizations have certainly made a unique contribu- tion to college campus life during the past two hundred years. Phi beta Kappa was founded by five students on the campus of William and Mary College on December 5. 177o. The first Greek letter society for women. Alpha Delta Pi. was founded at Wesleyan Col- lege about seventy-five years later. The Greek lifestyle started at Mercer in with Chi Pi leading the way. Kush is the first exposure anyone has to this lifestyle This is a time of fun. laughter, anticipation, and maturity At the same time, rush is also full of tears, confusion, and despair Kush is filled with tradition and ritual, hut at the simi' time is filled with many parties This year almost 300 rushees enjoyed the parties which ranged from casual barbecues to formal rush activities. When rush is over, then comes one of the most exciting events of the year countdown. This is when the fraternities show off their pledges to the anxious girls waiting at the Panhellcmc House. This year Sigma Nil and Chi Omega added the most pledges this year with 41 and 27 respectively.