It’s Homecoming, Mercerians, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion has some great ways for you to celebrate.
The office will be collaborating with the Office of Nontraditional and Evening Services (ONES) to host a virtual workshop on success strategies for veteran students at 6 p.m. Nov. 11. The event will feature a panel discussion including Mercer University‘s own retired Lt. Col. Scott Mahone and Ernest Farmer, as well as several special guest veterans. Please register with Zoom meeting ID 942 8411 8151. For more information, email mercerones@mercer.edu or call (678) 547-6544 or (678) 547-6847. This workshop is done in conjunction with Veterans Day. Mercer has been designated as a Purple Heart University. Veterans Day will be observed as a federal holiday on Nov. 11, honoring all military veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will also display a memorial wreath during this time.
This week, the Mercer Social Justice Book Club will be discussing the book “The Stem of Jesse: The Costs of Community at a 1960s Southern School” by Will D. Campbell. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Doug Thompson, professor of history and the director of the Spencer B. King Jr. Center for Southern Studies. The event will take place on Nov. 11 in the Willet Science Center auditorium at 6:30 p.m. If you are searching for a copy of the book, Mercer’s Tarver Library and the Middle Georgia Regional Library both have some available. A preview of the book is available on Google Books. The book discussion will also feature a discussion of Mercer’s history with distinguished alumni including Blanche Smith Presley, CLAS ’70; Paul and Susan (Watt) Cable, CLAS ’71; and Sam Oni, CLAS ’67. Please come and hear their stories about Mercer’s historic class. Mercer students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend this and all book discussions.
The Mercer Mondays podcast is also back with two featured stories. The latest episode celebrates LGBT History Month, which was recognized in October. The podcast features Student Government Association members Rylan Allen, Sarah Moore and Cierra Crawford, and Dr. Natalie Bourdon, associate professor of women’s and gender studies. Next week’s episode will explore Native American Heritage Month, celebrated in November, and will highlight the experience of student Dakota Martinez. In conjunction with Native American Heritage Month, the Mercer Social Justice Book Club along with the Women’s and Gender Studies Department and anthropology program will feature a screening of the documentary “Gather” in Willet Science Center on Dec. 1 from 6-9 p.m. “Gather” is an essential documentary from Sanjay Rawal. It tells the story of how Indigenous people and Native Americans are reclaiming their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty. NPR and People offer more ways to celebrate and honor this month.
Lastly, this month we will celebrate International Week, which is observed from Nov. 14-19, by hosting International Day on the Atlanta campus from 3-6 p.m. Nov. 17. We will have a live fashion show, lion dance performance, faculty and student cultural showcase, free international food trucks, a Magic Mirror photo booth, T-shirts and more. The event is free for all Mercerians to enjoy. Students on the Atlanta campus represent over 40 different countries and nationalities. The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, International Student Services, Stetson-Hatcher School of Business and Study Abroad.
