Mercer University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mercer University is a private, coeducational university located in the U.S. state of Georgia.

Mercer enrolls approximately 8,300 students in its twelve colleges and schools: liberal arts, business, engineering, education, music, continuing and professional studies, law, theology, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions.

Mercer is ranked first by US News and World Report as the best value among comprehensive universities in the southern United States; overall Mercer is ranked seventh in the "Best Universities-Master's-South" category (2013 edition). The Princeton Review, in its 2014 "Best 378 Colleges" guide, ranks Mercer in the top fifteen percent of all colleges and universities nationwide.

Mercer University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The school was named for Jesse Mercer ,a prominent Baptist leader who provided a founding endowment and who served as the first chairman of the board of trustees.  The Georgia General Assembly granted a university charter in December 1837. Mercer adopted its present name in 1838 and graduated its first university class, of three students, in 1841. Mercer was one of the few Southern colleges or universities and the only college or university in Georgia to remain open throughout the American Civil War. In 1866, Mercer awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the only college or university to grant him an honorary degree.

Mercer was founded by early 19th century Baptists, but is no longer formally affiliated with the Baptist denomination; Mercer ended its affiliation with the Georgia Baptist Convention in 2006 after 173 years. Before the affiliation ended, Mercer had an independent board of trustees; the convention provided financial support, but did not control the university. The lack of control caused friction with Mercer resisting restraints on intellectual freedom while the convention saw Mercer as becoming secularized and not conforming to its values. Without formal affiliation, Mercer's James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology continues to partner with the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; the organization provides financial support, but does not control policy or initiatives.

***

Orange Is the New Black revolves around Piper Chapman (Schilling), a woman from Connecticut living in New York City, who is sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison in Litchfield, NY, for transporting a suitcase full of drug money for Alex Vause (Prepon), an international drug smuggler and Chapman's former lover.

***

My Two Beautiful Girls

Tater Tot and Fellicia

Roy Eugene Barnes (born March 11, 1948) served as the 80th Governor of Georgia from January 1999 until January 2003. Barnes was also a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election.

In 2003, Barnes was awarded the Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Library for his success while governor of minimizing the Confederate battle emblem on the Georgia state flag despite the political fallout. It is widely believed that his support of the flag change significantly contributed to his re-election defeat in 2002