MEREDITH
THE HERALD
meredithherald.com
December 7, 2022
SAAC Stoles Survey for Student-Athlete Graduation Recognition By Evelyn Summers, Senior Copy Editor
The Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) hopes to garner community support for graduation stoles (Photo by Aminah Jenkins)
For years, college graduates have been displaying their academic success, participation in honor societies, fraternity or sorority affiliations, or recognition of their military service by wearing stoles to graduation. This year, members of the Meredith College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) pushed for athletes to receive recognition for their hard
work as student athletes during graduation ceremonies. The Herald spoke to Grace Olufemi-Ajayi, Class of ‘23 and Vice President of SAAC. "The objectively tiny pin (that is often covered up by the hair of graduates) is simply not enough recognition for years of tears, blood, sweat and passion given to the athletic [program] at Meredith College," she explained.
During this semester, Olufemi-Ajayi wrote the "Student-Athlete Stole & Recognition Proposal" and released a Google Form asking the student body their thoughts on this issue. In the proposal, it was written that "[The SAAC] believe[s] this is a more inclusive way of celebrating all student-athletes, regardless of their GPA or academic performance, something which Chi Alpha Sigma lacks." Chi Alpha Sigma is a chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society, which "recognizes student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and in competition," according to the athletic program’s website. The "Student-Athlete Stole & Recognition Proposal" Google Form asked the questions "Do you think student athlete[s] should be allowed to wear a graduation stole that says ‘Student-Athlete’ on graduation day?" and "Do you think that a student's status as an athlete should be announced and recognized on graduation day?" Within five days of the Google Form being sent out, SAAC received 240 responses, with the majority being in favor of
this initiative. The Herald also spoke to Isabella Saudo,‘23, a member of the SAAC proposal committee, to hear her opinion on the matter. Saudo commented that "[she] was the one who actually brought up the idea to push for the studentathlete [stoles]." She also mentioned that "[she] think[s] stoles are a fantastic and simple way to recognize all student-athletes at graduation," especially since "Meredith already has wonderful ways of recognizing academics and certain clubs with stoles, so adding in the athletic perspective would really show how wellrounded and diverse the students of Meredith are." Saudo shared that she holds this opinion as a result of "seeing [her] teammates and other student-athletes not only going through the normal pressures of school but also going [through] and dealing with the pressures and strains that being an athlete [has] on [athletes’] bodies, minds and ability to perform [their] best outside of just [their] sport." The proposal has not yet been approved.
Section Editor Reflection: Features By Freya Dahlgren, Features Editor The purpose of the Features section is to produce Raleigh or Meredith-centric content typically containing interviews. The Features section of The Herald is committed to providing the Meredith community with accurate, timely information on things happening on and around campus. As 2022 comes to a close and the fall semester wraps up, it is fitting to reflect on accomplishments and highlights from the Features section of The Herald this semester. The Herald covered content such as security concerns, housing experiences, ring dinner, Cornhuskin’ and much more. Our Features content sparked conversations across campus and incited change and responses from groups like Residence Life. None of what we accomplished with the Features section of The Herald could have been done without our Meredith Community readers and support. In the upcoming semester, our hope is that the Features section will continue to engage the Meredith community and provide
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honest, well-researched and relevant reporting. Herald Reporters carry themselves with grace and honesty. I look forward to working with our Herald staff as I step away from the Features section and into an Associate Editor role. Through education, respect and willingness to explore, the Features section will thrive and continue to fulfill its mission. Editing for The Herald for the past year and a half has helped me to engage better with the Meredith community and grow as a person into the writer I am today. Stepping into this new role comes with greater responsibility and I look forward to fulfilling the position to the best of my ability. Student willingness to interview with us at the drop of a hat and to voice concerns for us to investigate situations around campus is truly a gift. The Herald sincerely thanks you for reading and engaging with the publication in every way that you continue to do. The Features section of The Herald would not be the same without you.
Responses compiled by Evelyn Summers, Senior Copy Editor Graphic by Freya Dahlgren, Features Editor
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NEWS
THE HERALD
November News Recap
By Aminah Jenkins, Editor in Chief, and Khadejra Golding, Reporter
The month of November has seen its fair share of news. With a large influx of events and constant updates, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest stories. Below is an up-to-date synopsis of top events from November’s news cycle. Elon Musk Twitter Takeover Mass firings, longer hours and many changes have riddled Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter since Oct. 27. Matthew Southern wrote about from having to pay for your blue checkmark to being fired for expressing disagreement, as well as offering to reinstate Donald Trump’s account, this Twitter takeover has been rather eventful.
ber. Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 23, opened fire on three of his classmates after a school trip on Nov. 13. An article written by Keith Alexander et al. tells us that Jones’s family stated that this shooting happened because of the bullying he had received from high school onwards. However, police have yet to find evidence of Jones being friends with the victims or interacting with them. The UVA football team canceled their remaining games, ending their season early.
Death of Shanquella Robinson Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year old from Charlotte, NC, was murdered after traveling to Puertos Los Cabos with friends in late October. Her friends called her mother on Oct. 29 to notify her that Robinson had alcohol poisoning and that she would receive medical attention shortly. Her friends returned to the United States but left her body in Mexico. A month later, an autopsy revealed Robinson died of a severe neck injury. The Mexican and United States’ authorities have since been working together to search for answers and those involved.
University of Idaho Students Killed Still in the university sphere, four students of the University of Idaho were found stabbed to death in their offcampus housing on Nov. 13. Mike Baker covers this story telling us that the police have yet to identify a suspect let alone a motive behind the killing of the four students. Videos surfaced of two of the victims at a food truck with two men trailing and lurking from the shadows. At least one of these men, however, has been cleared in connection to the killings. Students felt unsafe returning to the campus, causing the University to increase their presence of security and allow students to complete the rest of the semester online if they’re not comfortable physically going to school.
University of Virginia Shooting Mass shootings, which can be described as any shooting where three or more persons were killed, were frequent in Novem-
Donald Trump Announces 2024 Run for President Former President Donald Trump announced his campaign for president on Nov. 15. With his third presidential bid,
Trump is aiming to make ground for the Republican party after their midterm disappointments. Experts speculate that Trump will have serious competition during the primaries, with expected bids from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence.
December 7, 2022
Section Editor Reflection: News By Shae-Lynn Henderson, News Editor
Senate Passes the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) On Nov. 29, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that required the government to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. The RFMA requires states to recognize the legality of same-sex and interracial marriages in all 50 states. It would also repeal the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, which limited the definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman. The bill now has to pass through the House for a second time to accept amendments made in the Senate. Democrats are hoping to get it passed before Republicans take control of the House.
As the 2022 fall semester and the year draws to an end, it is typically the time in which people reflect and practice gratitude for the people and things they hold dear. The Herald in general is a resource that many members of the Meredith community have come to enjoy and use for updates. Looking back and seeing the growth of the paper as well as readership engagement is both rewarding and a privilege for me to be a part of. The News section of any newspaper is an essential element to any community and helps inform its members on information that impacts their lives on a daily basis. While the News section can oftentimes be disheartening or reflect the major cracks within systems, it also provides a voice and empower community members to stay informed of their surroundings. Knowledge is a powerful tool that sheds light on the truth, whether we want to see it or not. I am grateful for The Herald and all of the Reporters who have dedicated their time and effort to providing fair and accurate information to the Meredith community. The News section is only a fraction of the organization, but when co mbined with the others, makes a powerful attestment to the strong voices of the Meredith community.
student anonymously stating that “students would be better able to gauge impact and more inclined to donate if they understood how the funds were used.” Seniors also gave ideas of how the money could be put towards a more specific project while still contributing to the disability services, including signs to show people where accessible entrances are, reconfiguring the campus map to show accessible routes and braille signage. The senior also stated that while they know that confidentiality is important at disability services, “if confidentiality is able to be maintained, [they are] sure that many students would like to know how their donation will positively impact the campus community.” When it came to revealing
what the class gift would be, many were left unaware. During “Seniorsgiving,” the gift was revealed to attendees, but many seniors were not in attendance and did not learn about the class gift until days later from their fellow classmates. When asked about this, Cruz-Valencia stated that she and Lopez-Bello “were unaware that people did not know the class gift would be revealed at our Seniorsgiving event” and that their “advisor sent out an email to all seniors to RSVP,” with an official announcement for the event To keep up to date with the senior class gift, follow @ mc2023classgift on Instagram. Cochairs Cruz-Valencia and LopezBello will keep everyone updated on that page about future events coming up in the spring semester.
Virginia Walmart Mass Shooting On Nov. 22, 31-year-old Andre Bing, an overnight manager at Walmart, opened fire on his coworkers, killing six (including one 16 year-old), before killing himself. Co-workers described Bing as stand-offish and stated that he had shown signs of violence before. Michael Corkery covers this story, uncovering that Bing is said to have kept a “Kill List” on his phone of the employees he held vendettas against and those he wanted to hurt.
Class of 2023 Reveals Class Gift By Riley Heeb, Reporter
Graphic courtesy of Emma Bailey
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Every year, the graduating class raises money to donate a gift to the college to commemorate their time at Meredith College. This year, it’s the Class of 2023’s turn to leave their mark on campus. In the past years, classes have donated benches, trees, recreational spaces and even a cross-
walk. Last year, the Class of 2022 donated permanent hammock swings. The Class of 2023’s goal has been to raise funds for Meredith’s Disability Services. Consepcion Cruz-Valencia, the Class of 2023 Gift co-chair, stated that she and her co-chair, Rebecca LopezBello, “hope the senior class gift will positively impact future students with disabilities.” They plan to donate the money and let disability services decide what to do with it. This was not their original plan, however. Cruz-Valencia stated that their “initial class gift project idea was to build a ramp in the amphitheater, but it was not feasible since most similar projects cost [over] $20,000.” Some seniors wish that the gift was more specific, with a
THE HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
December 7, 2022
"Carrie" Comes to Meredith By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor This spring, Meredith College will see a full return to musical theatre with its production of Carrie. The Meredith Herald interviewed Director Lormarev Jones about this exciting return. When asked why "Carrie" was selected as this year's spring musical, Jones shared that “this musical is a story about women, puberty and sensing change in your body that you can't quite understand. It is also a musical with no less than six featured roles for women, which is such a
rarity for most classical musicals, which tend to be male-centric. It is also modern in sound—although a much different version of the musical premiered in 1988, the revised version that we're producing first premiered off-Broadway in 2012.” Jones went on to say that she is “excited to do a full-fledged musical with a plot, as well as one that requires a lot of dancing [and] movement. Choreographer Courtney White, '08, is going to make some truly beautiful dances!”
For those interested in auditioning, auditions will be held Dec.12 and 13 at 7 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. Jones shared that “singing auditions will be on Monday and Dance/Acting auditions will be on Tuesday” and that “those auditioning will be expected to prepare a 32–64 bar cut of a pop song or a song from a modern musical.” Break a leg to all those auditioning!
Graphic by Aminah Jenkins
Christmas Lights in Raleigh By Kayla Dunn, Reporter themed lands, “Nights of Lights” spreads over 1.3 miles and includes a beautifully lit 250-foot tunnel. You’ll find an array of different displays, including elves and a 30-foot dinosaur. It’s open from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the following nights.
Graphic by Aminah Jenkins
With the holidays just around the corner, Christmas light shows are popping up all around Raleigh. From gigantic light-up Santa Clauses to dinosaurs and Barbies and shows being held both indoors and outdoors, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Nights of Lights at Dorothea Dix Park: With five differently
Vehicle nights: Friday, Nov. 25 and most nights through Dec. 24 Bike nights: Wednesday, Nov. 30 and Wednesday, Dec. 7 5k Fun Run/Walk: Saturday, Nov. 19 General admission tickets: $20 each Individual tickets for a bike ride: $10 dollars each, $30 for a family of four 5k Run: $30 each Purchase tickets at: https://www. etix.com/ticket/o/6585
Magic of Lights Drive Through at Coastal Credit Union: “Magic of Lights” features a 32-foot waving Christmas Barbie. You’ll also find huge Christmas displays featuring reindeer and snowmen. “Magic of Lights” runs from Nov. 18 through Dec. 30. The show is open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night except for Mondays in November. Nov. 2–Dec. 8 standard vehicle tickets per vehicle: $20 Dec. 9–Dec. 30 standard vehicle tickets: $25 Limo/party bus tickets: $55 Purchase tickets at: https://magicoflights.com/events/raleigh/ Illuminate Art Walk Downtown Raleigh: From Dec. 2 to Jan. 14, this
free event is a self-guided tour through downtown Raleigh’s multi-colored light-up artwork. There are different pieces such as mushrooms and a huge ornament that you can walk under, as well as other oddly shaped colorful pieces. More information available at: https://downtownraleigh.org/illuminate Stonehenge Neighborhood: Another free light show is in the Stonehenge neighborhood. Residents at Stonehenge go all out for Christmas every year by putting up a variety of different Christmas lights and decorations, and the neighborhood welcomes both residents and visitors to enjoy the Holiday spirit!
Editor Reflection Piece
By Cady Stanley, Arts and Entertainment Editor The Arts and Entertainment (A&E) section of The Meredith Herald is a joy to edit. The section highlights artists, events and pop culture trends relevant to the Meredith community, and I love being able to participate in sharing my love for the arts with other students through this section. We all love watching TV shows and movies; reading novels or listening to music. Art can deeply and powerfully unite the Meredith community. It can provide a much-needed outlet for all kinds of emotions that we face as we grow into adulthood. We can take our heartbreak, stress, grief and joy and express them in profound, creative ways. Meredith College has an abundance of art on campus: studio art, theatre, dance, graphic design, music, chorus and more. Highlighting these programs and student accomplishments
within them is one of my favorite parts of editing this section. Growing up surrounded by art, I have cultivated a deep appreciation for the extreme commitment and discipline required to succeed in any art form. My experience with art here at Meredith has also reaffirmed my understanding of art’s importance in our society. While the arts are often underfunded and represented, having the opportunity to prioritize the creative efforts of students and the surrounding Raleigh community is an extremely humbling opportunity. The A&E section also provides students with information to access art on campus that may speak to them and empower them. Having access to receive and view art is equally important as having the opportunity to create it. All students have their own preferred forms of entertainment
and personal expression, and the goal of the A&E section is to provide information to students about the Meredith arts community and other popular entertainment
events. I hope that this section allows students to find themselves in the media they consume, and I hope they can use this section to deepen their love for the arts.
The Meredith Herald's annual Holiday Card (Photo by Grayson Morris)
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OPINION
THE HERALD
December 7, 2022
Student Loan Forgiveness is Beneficial By Khadejra Golding, Reporter
Student loan debt is just one of the many factors driving economic and racial disparity in the United States . 1 in 7 Americans currently have student loan debt, which decreases their overall spending power in the economy. The average American doesn’t have $30,000 or more to pay for tuition, housing and books per year for a college or university education —so they have to resort to taking student loans. Student loan debt has been one of the most controversial and talked about topics in recent years.o ease the burden that paying back student loans places on the average American household, the Biden administration sought to implement a Student Loan
Forgiveness program that would see eligible borrowers receiving relief of up to $20,000. Persons who earn less than $125,000 or $250,000 in a joint income household may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. Some people however thought the concept of forgiving student loans was unfair. Many have argued that they worked hard and paid back their loans, so it is unfair now to provide debt relief — however, they need to be mindful of the several other factors that are present when one is unable to repay their loans. Many individuals struggle to repay their loans because the wage that they’re paid is grossly inadequate to rent
or own a home, lease or own a car, have kids, buy groceries, spend on leisure activities and then repay loans — sometimes at rates that eat all of their monthly income. Others have argued that the government needs that money that they loaned to them. The government needs money to fund federal programs but it may be a case that the relief that forgiveness provides these households, increases their purchasing power and in turn increases the amount that lower and middle class borrowers pay in taxes, streamlining to fund federal programs anyway. Since the introduction of the student loan forgiveness program, the plan has been met with a slew of court cases includ-
ing that of a lawsuit against the Biden Administration by 6 GOP states, stating that executive powers are being abused. Currently the forgiveness program is on pause but hopefully will be able to continue in the future to provide much needed economic relief. Persons who are finding fault with this program, are those that are economically well-off, supported by two income households, rich parents or maybe by luck with businesses. They cry that the program is unfair but don’t stop to think about how unfair it is that the average American is not able to attend college or receive higher education while being economically disadvantaged for the rest of their lives.
then what is? Non-existent lights on campus pose further risks to the well-being and safety of all who occupy this campus. From venomous snakes and uneven paths to the sudden increase in random intruders, Meredith does not feel safe anymore. In places where there are lights, they are oftentimes covered by overgrowth or trees, effectively blocking any light that may be present. Additionally the area leading up to the amphitheater is exceptionally dark at night, looking more like a void than a safe space to walk. Safety on the Greenway has been a major concern since the greenway’s introduction to Meredith's campus. Frequently by the back tunnel, I have wit-
nessed joggers from the green way jump the gate dividing the greenway and Meredith to gain access to Meredith’s property. While I appreciate the fence being a bit of a barrier, it would be good to station a guard down in that section to prevent people from gaining access to campus in that manner. All of these are serious issues on campus that students should see fixed within the next year. Just because someone hasn’t been injured or a serious crime hasn’t occurred yet shouldn’t mean that students should be left to feel unsafe on their campus. We want to see action from Meredith Campus Police and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
Lack of Security on Campus By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor Meredith College has always felt safer to me than any other campus I’ve been on. It’s small, everyone knows everyone, and during the weekdays there’s plenty of people around giving that false sense of safety and security I’ve grown so accustomed to during my three years here. But recently there’s been numerous instances of strange men and individuals on campus including anti-abortion protestors, an unknown man in the library, and a man walking around campus asking students to let him into their dorms. All of these instances have reminded me that we are not safe here and there aren’t enough protocols to keep us safe in the event of an emergency. Other holes in our security
include the lack of blue boxes in all areas of campus, campus lights that are too dim or nonexistent in places where students frequently traverse, and campus security staff who pick and choose when to do their jobs. On the issue of Blue Light Boxes on our campus some have argued that the Blue Light Boxes are irrelevant and are more about security theater than actual safety. According to Rave Mobile Safety, Blue Light Boxes were implemented “after the tragic murder of Jeanne Clery at the University of Chicago in the 1980s.” In a postcellphone era, though, they’ve become a costly and often underused part of campus safety. So if the implementation of more Blue Light Boxes isn’t the solution,
Section Editor Reflection: Opinion By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor Opinions—we all have them, but not everyone has the platform to share them. The Meredith Herald serves as the voice for students at Meredith and has worked diligently to provide that platform since the newspaper's inception in 1921. In the April 22, 1921 edition of The Twig (former name of The Meredith Herald), the firstever student opinion shared as an article was published. The article detailed the recent dismissal of
compulsory Sunday school and attendance of Sunday service. A decision that at the time garnered several opinions on the change. Most recently, The Herald has published opinions on buildings on campus needing improvement, the dangers of assuming student voting habits, Legends nightclub experiences as a queer person and so much more. At The Herald, we seek to identify and diversify the opinions that truly matter to students.
While I serve as the Associate Editor, this semester I have also been in charge of opinion editions. As a fourth-year staff member, I know firsthand the value of having my opinions heard. The first opinion article I wrote and felt personally connected to was titled “ Meredith in Memoriam'' and stressed my concerns about how students were handling the COVID-19 pandemic at the time. Without The Herald, I would have been
left feeling unheard at a time when I felt my voice mattered. The Opinion section is a safe space for students of all backgrounds to share their ideas in a published space. The Herald encourages everyone to share their opinions, regardless of if they're on staff! If you are interested in writing an opinion you can submit your piece after reading the Article Submission contract on our website
EDITOR'S NOTE: The views expressed in columns, letters to the editor and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of The Herald staff.
The Meredith Herald is Meredith College’s campus newspaper, produced bi-weekly by Meredith students and based in Raleigh, NC. The staff of The Herald is committed to representing our diverse community by publicizing local events, addressing controversy, cultivating civic engagement and empowering students.
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Aminah Jenkins
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Evelyn Summers
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rachel Van Horne
COPY EDITORS Caroline O'Daniel Clary Taylor
FEATURES EDITOR Freya Dahlgren NEWS EDITOR Shae-Lynn Henderson A&E EDITOR Cady Stanley
PODCASTING DIRECTORS Destiny Calvin Grayson Morris
REPORTERS Piper Carriere Kayla Dunn Khadejra Golding Anna Prince Haileigh West CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stella Bowers Camila Cardoso-Herrera Charlie Hatch
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, cont. Gabriella LeBron Danika Ray Abigail Ruehle Rebecca Simmons Sheridan Taylor Cecilia Thompson PHOTOGRAPHERS Lex Hanson