Mercer University - Cauldron Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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“We’ve got that MERCER----- Jn order to encourage more school spirit amon the students of Mercer, SlIAH. the Student Union Activities Board, and Alumni Relations sponsored a pep rally early in the year. The highlight of the event was the awarding of the “Official Mercer Spirit Car”. Pam Joncss, a sophomore, won the 1988 Hyundai after having entered the contest 53 times. Her name, along with those of nine other students, was drawn from the car, hut it was she who received the “lucky key. The event also included a |ier- formance by the cheerleaders and an introduction of the 1988- 89 athletic teams. SPIRIT!” 1 Pep Hally

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he S.H.A.R.E. (Shorter Hall Active Residence Experi- ence) program has become Residence Life’s great ex- periment for the next two years. Newly renovated, refurnished, and equipped with a new security system. Shorter has been set aside for a third of the freshman class — both male ami female. “We hope to start an attitude change among the residents at Mer- cer.” says C.D. Merricks, director of Residence Life. S.H.A.R.E. is a two-year pilot pro- gran» designed to give freshmen more stability and to get them in- volved in Mercer sooner, thus in- creasing the chances that they will return their second year. Merricks hopes that S.H.A.R.E. will promote active hall associations and bring about a positive attitude toward campus residence. On a practical level, it provides more evenly dis- tributed housing for both women and men Two floors of the building are designated as women’s halls, (iround, first, and second floors are men’s halls. Residence Life spent over $1 10,000 just on repainting and refurnishing the dorm, down to the Sl.oOO can- opies over the doorways. Most floors got new furniture and mattresses; the girls' bathrooms are now equipped with makeup mirrors and stools; new carpeting covers the hallways; and three-fourths of the building was repainted, including the blinds. The key card security system, pro- vided by Detex Multi-Door Systems, is one of the most obvious additions to the residence hall. It comes com- plete with a “prop alarm,’’ which sounds when the doors are held open for more than one minute, and a printer that records who was denied access to which floor. Another benefit of the program, according to Merricks, is the extra attention residents receive from the resident advisors. Two R.A.’s per floor reduce the average 10:1 ratio of student to R.A. to 20:1. Merricks says that the Shorter R.A. is expec- ted to be a friend to each resident and lead him or her through their first year in college. This seems to be happening on the women’s floors es- pecially, he says. ‘‘They’re neat, says Felecia Williams of the R.A.’s on fourth. “I can talk to them about anything I want to. Merricks says he is hoping that the closer interaction with R.A.’s will change the student’s attitudes about the position of resident advisor. “I think this will he the year that the resident advisor image turns around from the disciplinarian,' he says. “I predict that half of our male R. A. applicants will come out of Shorter next year.” After two years, Residence Life will review the effectiveness of S. H.A.R.E. and determine whether tin program would work in other dorms. Merricks says he would like to allot a fourth of the space in Shor- ter and allow students to apply to stay there after their freshman year. “We’re real excited about it. says Merricks. (Adapted from an article written bp Susannah Vans for the CLUSTER.) S. H. A. R. E. The new fur- nishings In Kennie Me- Cosh’s room enhance both the looks and the practical- ity of the liv- ing space. S.H.A.R.E. 3

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At left: Pam Jeness, winner of tin car, shares her excitement and sur- prise. Below: Even Mercer’s official mascot made an appearance at the event. Yeingarden, Angel inr lotto Tomlinson rformance begins. Opposite page (top): The Mercer cheerleaders have no problem with being full of spirit. Opposite page (bottom): Jerry Bridges and Tom McAffe of Mercer Television interviewed the winner. Pep Rally 5