CSA Day is tomorrow!
in this issue NEWS Women's NC Recycling & Composting Tea For Two A&E Boston Marriage Performing Arts Blurbs Food Truck Rodeo OPINIONS No Ring in the Spring Bachelor(ette) BONUS: CSA Day Profiles!
New Academic Building Approved By Olivia Slack, Features Editor
Meredith’s campus will soon have a new academic building. The construction was approved at the spring meeting of Meredith’s Board of Trustees in March. According to Meredith’s website, the new building will house the Exercise and Sports Science (ESS) program and the Communication program, two departments that have been vying for new spaces for a long time. The building will be constructed near Weatherspoon Gymnasium, replacing the current Weatherspoon Annex, and is projected to be completed in time to hold classes for the Fall 2020 semester. This new building is an exciting addition to Meredith’s campus for several reasons. For one, the Exercise and Sports Science program has been housed in leased trailers since 2001. However, earlier this semester the trailers were deemed no longer suitable for holding classes. The need for a new space for the ESS department, which had existed for a long time, was heightened severely following that call, leading to the approval of the new building. According to Dr. Melinda Campbell, Head of Nutrition, Health and Human Performance, it is not only current students and faculty who are excited about the new building, but also alumnae of the ESS program, who are “especially elated and willing to contribute to this expansion.” The new space will provide much-needed laboratory space for ESS, particularly their undergraduate research program, as well as areas for “athletic staff who desperately need sufficient office space to meet with recruits, parents, and current players” according to
THE M E R E D I T H
@meredithherald @meredith_herald #harktheherald meredithherald.com
HERALD
April 10, 2019
College as a Commodity: Competing Perspectives on the State of Higher Education By Rebecca Dowdy, Opinions Editor In the past few weeks, college admissions departments across the United States have been under scrutiny, as several administrators and coaches in America’s most elite universities have been accused of accepting bribes from celebrities and wealthy elites. The Department of Justice has arrested upwards of 50 people connected to the case, and even Hallmark movie star, Lori Loughlin has been accused of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure her children’s place in USC. At the heart of the scandal is a college consultant,William “Rick” Singer, who used his non-profit, Key Worldwide Foundation, as a cover to accept and transfer bribes from desperate parents to his connections in college administrations. The scandal calls into question college admissions practices and advantages of the wealthy in that process. However, media focus on elite colleges offers a warped perspective of the admission process. Shery Boyles, Meredith College’s Director of Admissions, noted that the practices of the most selective colleges do not reflect the efforts of the rest of America’s universities. And the facts back her up. While institutions like Harvard and Stanford are releasing record low admission rates, many more regional colleges are struggling to meet their enrollment goals. The Chronicle of Higher Education
published a survey analyzing about 100 public and 250 private institutions and found that 44% of public colleges and 52% of private colleges missed their enrollment goals. Michael Reilly, the executive director of the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, confirms this assessment in an article for The New York Times, saying, “most campuses nationwide fail to meet their enrollment goals.” The Chronicle of Higher Education’s survey notes that many “tuitiondependent institutions” have had to grapple with changes in a difficult market. Factors like rising operational costs, increasing competition and changing demographics are some of the obstacles regional colleges must face in order to stay ahead. Boyles described how college admissions has changed over the past few decades, saying that technological advances like the internet give students access to more information on a wider variety of schools, perhaps increasing the amount of competition between regional schools. Boyles also stated that there’s been an increase of what she describes as “bulldozer” parents, who want to remove all obstacles for their children. Bulldozer parents could explain why college admissions representatives report that parents are often the ones to fill out applications and the success of the surprisingly legal college
consultation industry, as explained by Dana Goldstein and Jack Healy in an article from The New York Times. Joyce Smith, the CEO of National Association for College Admission Counseling, wrote about the “commodification of higher ed” in a letter to members of the organization and warned parents and students to stop thinking of college as a status symbol and “a commodity to be bought and sold.” Some elite institutions have tried to move to a more “holistic” review process, something more commonly found at smaller regional institutions, in order to be more inclusive in their admissions process. Regional institutions have tried to expand their programs and boost their marketing in order to bring in more students. Boyles stated that Meredith College itself has had a holistic review process for quite some time and tries to admit students without regard to socioeconomic status. In fact, more than ⅓ of Meredith’s student body is eligible for Pell Grants. She says that Meredith’s admissions counselors read every single application that is sent in, and they try their best to partner with families to make Meredith affordable. No matter what perspective you look at it from, this scandal is an indication that change must come for colleges across America if they are to stay in business and keep public favor.
Campbell. The Communication department, which is currently housed in Harris Building, will benefit from the move to a new building as well. Dr. Teresa Holder, Head of Communication, shared that the plans for the new building came as a “complete and really great surprise” to her department and that they are “excited to be neighbors with the ESS program and about ways to collaborate with them, like with sports communication.” Campbell shared this sentiment, adding that her department “looks forward to sharing space with a strong and growing Communication department.” With the Communication department’s planned vacancy of Harris, the Business program can expand throughout the building. This expansion will be much needed due to Meredith’s new Hospitality Management program, which is accepting students starting in Fall 2019 as a part of the
School of Business. Moving one of the two departments housed in Harris to the new building will provide more room for each department to grow without being crowded by the other. Though many details about Meredith’s new academic building have not yet been released, the Meredith community will no doubt be keeping an ear out for updates. The
new academic building will bring not only a new home for several departments, but also new spaces for students to study and gather. As Campbell put it, “any time the College makes this kind of commitment to better serve students, everyone on campus moves forward in some way… this building is a blessing for many and represents a better future for us all.”
Photo credit: Mimi Mays
Tea for Two: Traditions of Love
News
By Savi Swiggard, Staff Writer
Beginning in 1991, Tea for Two is an honored tradition for sophomores at Meredith College. The tradition is meant to bring together students and the important female mentors in their lives. On Mar. 30, the 28th annual Tea for Two featured a “practically perfect” Mary Poppins theme at North Ridge Country Club. The event included delicious food, a book drive, photo booths, a Meredith alumna speaker and a show of love from mentor to student. Setting the stage for a high emotion event, speaker Zelle Wiggins recounted how important her mother was in her path towards starting her own business. She expressed how thrilled she was to experience Tea for Two with her mother, which she had missed out on during her time as a student at Meredith. Emotions
Re-News
Photo credit: Savi Swiggard
only rose from there. Following the speaker, Meredith moms and mentors handed their students cards full of memories and care that sent the room into tears of joy and sentimentality. When asked about it, students expressed a deep love for the
By Sarah Kiser, Editor-in-Chief Meredith College has been encouraging recycling and composting on campus. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, composting has a number of benefits besides reducing food waste including its potential to rid “contaminated air” of industrial volatile organic chemicals. The week of March 25-29 was Recycling Week, and the residence
halls and Oaks apartments held a composting competition to make students more aware of food waste and to potentially introduce a larger composting program at Meredith. Graduate students Paige Craven, Bagley Knox, Nicole Leary and Evie Copeland who organized the program and competition set out with their goal of “reduc[ing] the amount of food waste going forward at Meredith College.”
meaning of the event. “I chose to bring the biggest inspirational and extraordinary lady [in] my life—[my] mother—who is my absolute best friend [and] favorite travel buddy,” explained Katie Thompson. “I loved getting to match [hats] with my mother and enjoy an outing with her
that honored not only the Meredith College sisterhood, but also the empowerment that my empowered mother brought to me.” Ashleigh Murr added, “Tea for Two was such a special event for my mom and me. It was one of my favorite traditions so far! We were both impressed with the decor, location and favors.” She went on to explain, “The speaker was fabulous and motivating, and the time for the female mentor to give their student a special note was sentimental and memorable. Overall, the experience made my sophomore year more enjoyable.” Ultimately, the event went off without a hitch and left behind a room of sophomores feeling closer than ever to the important women in their lives.
Concluding yesterday, Oaks residents composted 77.87 pounds of food scraps. Compost Angels hope that the program can be implemented longterm in the future. To achieve this, it takes participation from all, they said. The program was a success in its awareness aspect and in student participation, the group wrote. “The Oaks residents show how strong Meredith College is when making an environmental impact. Thank you for
your participation, we are so thrilled that students are showing an interest in our program!” Students who want to continue composting can take their food scraps to the Three Sisters Garden or a smaller garden tucked away at Martin Hall. There are composters, large crates containing soil, hay, and scraps, where students can contribute their scraps.
there were Meredith students attending the dinner, there was a distinct lack of angelic presence at the forum’s microphone. Elaine Marshall, North Carolina’s Secretary of State, was present at the dinner as well, and one comment from her hit a little too close to home. She said, “There isn’t a lack of awareness, there is a lack of action.” Meredith College is already in partnership with Women’s NC, and now is the time to become
active on the local and global stages. Meredith is Going Strong, and to keep that momentum, it’s our responsibility to make everyone else Strong with us. To find out more about the leadership training, research programs, volunteer opportunities and other ways to become involved with Women’s NC and CEDAW, visit www. womennc.org
Women’s NC Without Meredith? By Savi Swiggard, Staff Writer
On Feb. 28 of this year, Women’s NC held it’s 10th annual Localto-Global forum.It’s an opportunity for the organization to speak on its success gathering North Carolinian support for The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a treaty that outlines the various forms of discrimination women face and seeks to eliminate them. The forum also gives graduate students the opportunity to present their research and underline the key reasons why CEDAW is necessary. Women’s NC is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization working in conjunction with the United Nations, specifically acting as a consultant on women’s issues, from grassroots to global. The organization’s role both on the local and international stages makes it a unique platform for young women to speak, and that was certainly the case at the Local-to-Global forum. One of the central topics of the dinner was the intersectionality between women’s issues and racial issues. Young scholars, alongside Women’s NC representatives, presented their research into core issues in the state of North Carolina, ranging from menstruation to immigration problems for women into our state. Dr. Wendee Wechsberg, director of the RTI Global Gender Center and the panel moderator
of the forum, noted, “we have to talk about things that are uncomfortable” as she opened the forum for presentations. However, these scholars came from all but one of Women’s NC’s partner colleges. Young women from Duke, NCSU, UNC and Bennett College, but not one student from Meredith College presented on stage. Although Meredith is in partnership with Women’s NC, and
New mural in Cate Center; photo credit: Mimi Mays “It’s an honor to have my face on a mural that represents the larger Meredith student life. The picture specifically reminds me of the year that I officially joined the sisterhood and became closer to the best group of women I’ve ever met.” - Sierra Smith, featured in the mural
CSA Day Meredith College will hold its annual Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day on Thursday, Apr. 12, 2018. This daylong event is a longtime tradition at Meredith, for which students share what their undergraduate research and creative projects have yielded. CSA Day includes research presentations, posters, performances, and other creative projects, as well as award ceremonies and departmental events. An impressive percentage of Meredith students—51%—participate in undergraduate research each year. A wide-variety of Meredith’s disciplines will be represented during this CSA Day.
Bailey Birtchet
Kaylie Prince
What is your research? I am one of two students who are involved in the Expanding Moral Community: Plants and Animals research project. The research is interdisciplinary and explores the moral status of non-human animals in our society, which is a subject that is highly contested amongst philosophers and the general population. The question of whether non-human animals deserve the same rights as humans Bailey Birtchet and what makes them deserve such rights is at the core of this discussion. I am approaching this topic from the perspective of a graphic design student studying humanities-based research in an effort to communicate the results of our research through graphic design and animation in order to make our conclusions more accessible and engaging.
What is your research? My research is titled A Study Comparing How Autism Affects Participation Levels in Meredith College Traditions.
Carlyle Campbell Library at 7:30
What inspired this topic for you? This topic was introduced to me by Dr. Benko, and after learning more about the research I was interested in the role that art and graphic design would have in research. In addition to having the opportunity to showcase how art and design can play an important role in communicating research, I was inspired to raise awareness about these issues because of my own beliefs and my responsibility as a graphic designer to raise social awareness. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? My research experience has helped me grow as a graphic designer and animator by expanding my skill set and knowledge about Adobe programs, and it has altered my thinking about graphic design as a medium and my role as a designer.
Paige Lawrence Ledford 101 at 2:35
What is your research? I am presenting my research, called Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Falls in Local Seniors. What inspired this topic for you? Being a Psychology major, I was encouraged to participate in this research grant with other students through the psychology and ESS departments from Fall 2018 to Spring 2019.
Paige Lawrence Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? This research has allowed me to help individuals through homehealth care and has given me the opportunity to experience physical therapy and occupational therapy aspects with seniors. I plan to pursue a career in healthcare, so even though this experience has not led me directly to my future career, it has helped me gain experience on my path towards a healthcare profession.
Carlyle Campbell Library at 7:30
What inspired this topic for you? My little brother and I both have a diagnosis of autism, and even though I work in the Meredith Autism Program, I wanted to learn more about college students with autism since most of the research is done on children and about early intervention. I chose to study the participation levels in the traditions here at Meredith because there are a lot of traditions and I wanted to see if there is a relationship between having autism and the participation levels in traditions here. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? I feel like researching autism, in general, will apply to my future since I am going to graduate school for Applied Behavioral Analysis to work with individuals with autism.
Katelyn Steadman SMB 118 at 8:30
What is your research? Samantha Smith and I will be presenting our research project, titled Environmental Factors Affect Foraging Efficiency of Leaf Cutter Ants in Costa Rica. We wanted to further understand foraging ecology of leaf cutter ants and how foraging efficiency is affected by environmental conditions. Environmental factors included temperature, weather, canopy Katelyn Steadman cover, and time of day. In order to evaluate this, we collected samples from trails varying in canopy coverage and substrate in the morning, noon, and evening over a period of time. During the sampling period, speed of biomass transport and proportion of leaf-carrying ants was recorded. A random sample of 10-20 leaves were collected for biomass measurement. The data collected was used to determine what factors had a significant effect on foraging efficiency. What inspired this topic for you? In the summer of 2017, we studied abroad in Costa Rica along with seven other Meredith students. The study abroad program focused on tropical ecosystem health. During our time there, we had the opportunity as a group to design and conduct a research project. We decided to conduct our project on leaf cutter ants for several reasons. Leaf cutter ants were found almost everywhere in the area we conducted our project. They are a keystone species that affect and advance diversity, productivity, and nutrient flow in tropical habitats. They are also considered to be ecosystem engineers that alter forest structure, microclimate, and regeneration. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? We feel that this research has definitely benefited us and strengthened our skills. This research project required and strengthened skills such as team collaboration, time management, data collection, technical writing, and discipline. These are all skills that will benefit us in our future careers working in labs doing research.
CSA Day Jenna Curia
Kristen Viera
What is your research? Since the fall of 2018, I have worked to complete a pilot study called Gender Inequality and Social Normality: A Qualitative Analysis of Gender in Religious Workspaces. I will be presenting my findings, including tensions between social acceptance and job limitations, guilt that manifests from the implication of never doing enough, feeling “forced to stay” Jenna Curia in job positions due to the fear of losing a supportive religious community, and comparisons between careers in religious organizations to characteristics associated with domestically abusive relationships. Interviews to expand and diversify the sample are ongoing.
What is your research? For our Environmental Resources class, we conducted a greenhouse gas emissions audit of Meredith College. My partners, Annika Hanley and Bemi Wayland, and I worked with Grounds Manager Aaron Schettler to gather the necessary information to then calculate the average annual tons of waste, recycling, and compost that Meredith produces and the annual gallons of gas consumed by Meredith’s vehicle fleet. We then used this information to calculate Meredith’s average annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Harris 214 at 2:10
What inspired this topic for you? This research study came from my personal interest in the subject. I had the opportunity to intern in a non-denominational church for a year in high school, and although this experience was highly beneficial, I experienced a great deal of gender inequality. I noticed that most literature on the subject focuses on the wage gap, and although that is important, the goal of my study is to shed light on the emotional and personal implications that women face in this setting. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? I hope to expand this research to include the use of autobiographical reflection tools to create an interdisciplinary study between my majors in Psychology and English. Although I am still exploring how I would like to use these majors in the workforce, I’m confident that my career will focus on research, writing, and the human condition. Participating in undergraduate research is helping me discover my capabilities and gain confidence in myself; I believe those skills will help me succeed wherever I go.
Megan Evans Harris 214 at 8:55
What is your research? My research is titled The Effects of Social Media in the Tourism Industry What inspired this topic for you? My experiences studying abroad in Costa Rica and traveling to Asia and Europe sparked my interest in researching how social media influences the tourism industry. I am minoring in Marketing, so I wanted to combine my interests in Megan Evans marketing and ardor for travel to better understand the impacts social media has on other Millennial consumers like me. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? As the popularity of social media drastically increases so does the importance of understanding the impacts of social media on consumerism especially in the tourism industry. Social media grants consumers the opportunity to visually share their experiences with family members, friends, co-workers, and followers on any platform. This ability to share on social media allows users to highlight tourism experiences with their followers. Understanding the importance and effects of social media on tourism is important for both businesses and for me as a consumer; businesses will gain a deeper insight and use that information to better market and appeal to consumers’ wants and needs while consumers will be more informed to make better buying decisions.
SMB 118 at 1:45
What inspired this topic for you? I am a passionate Environmental Sustainability Major! Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? Most definitely. It is important to be able to gather and calculate this data to understand the amount of greenhouse gases that a company, organization, institution, or other group is contributing. Greenhouse gases need to be greatly reduced at the industrial level, and as I pursue careers in sustainability, I will be working with such estabKristen Viera lishments to make sure their GHG emissions are as low as they can be.
Stephanie Semaan Harris 214 at 3:00
What is your research? My research investigates the potential influence that music listening habits have on college undergraduate women’s mental health, specifically stress level and positive affect. 113 participants voluntary filled out a selfadministered questionnaire that measured their stress level, positive affect, and Stephanie Semaan music listening habits. The results agreed with the hypothesis, in that, if the music is self-selected, individuals’ stress level will be lower, and positive affect will be higher compared to those that selected forced choice or hybrid. The statistical significance can be attributed to self-selected music providing a sense of control to listeners who feel they have little control when stressed. In regards to positive effect, the more relevant a song is to the listener, the more the music positively affects the listener. What inspired this topic for you? My inspiration to pursue this research topic is that I am an avid music lover and listener. I tend to listen to music throughout the day with a variety of motives behind listening. Therefore, I wanted to investigate the potential relationship between music and mental health. Do you feel that this research or some aspect of what you’ve learned will apply to your future, whether in continuing education or in the working world? During my sophomore year, I took a course where I learned about music therapy and its ability to help individuals with a variety of different needs. Through this research, I hope to add to the research I’ve already done and hope that my research will add more support for music therapy. Post-graduation, I will pursue a Master’s of School Counseling where I believe I could potential apply my gained knowledge of the literature as well as my own research.
CSA Day Molly Smerko, ‘18
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? I presented my undergraduate thesis for the Religious and Ethical Studies department, which was titled “True Love Waits?: Silver Rings, Born Again Virgins, and the Rise of American Purity Culture.” What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? CSA Day was one of my favorite parts of my time at Meredith. I Molly Smerko presented research three out of my four years at Meredith, and each time was a rewarding experience. I participated in CSA Day last year because it was already a requirement to present my undergraduate thesis, and I wanted to do so in an environment that would allow me to share my research with people outside of my department. What was your experience like? Presenting my senior thesis research last year was one of my happiest and most rewarding experiences at Meredith. I had a great turnout to my presentation, and it was a great feeling to see my hard work pay off.
Julia Dent, ‘15
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? I researched the historicity of an Icelandic saga during the Viking Age. What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? I had enjoyed listening to the presentations on previous CSA Days and knew I wanted to participate one year. Since I was very passionate about my senior thesis and wanted to share my research, I gave a presentation about my findings on CSA Day my senior year.
Julia Dent
What was your experience like? I enjoyed giving my presentation and had a lot of questions from the audience. Many people had not read Icelandic sagas previously, so I was happy I could share my expertise and get them interested in a new topic.
How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path? How did your presentation in undergrad help or affect your later How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alterwork? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA natively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect Day affect you or your later path? My research and presentation got you or your later path? me even more interested in studying the Viking Age. This past sumI am currently pursuing my Master of Divinity degree at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Writing and present- mer, I returned to Denmark to study Viking history a second time, ing my undergraduate thesis further fueled my love of research. The and I am currently getting my Master’s in History with a focus on research skills I gained at Meredith have given me confidence and set Medieval Europe. me apart as a strong writer and student in my master’s program. I am seeking ordination as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and eventually want to pursue my Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) degree. I see lots of writing and research in my future, and I’m grateful to Meredith for giving me such a strong foundation!
Lara Pantlin, PhD, ‘14
Melissa Smith, ‘17
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? It was a class project on Cervantes’ works. Each of us worked on a Wikipedia article for a certain work. None of these works had an English Wikipedia page, so it was nice to contribute! On CSA day, we had a panel about our experiences. What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? Although it was a class requireMelissa Smith ment in my case, I was definitely inspired by other people’s presentations from years past. They made their research look fun, and it was enjoyable to learn about in their presentations. What was your experience like? I was REALLY nervous to be talking in front of so many people, but you could see that the audience was interested. It felt like all of our hard work was acknowledged and appreciated–always a good thing to have! How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path? In my case, there was a lot of Spanish and English translation work for the project, which prepared me for the job I currently have. It definitely opened my eyes to how much work is involved in the translation process–especially in literature.
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? I was the co-PI on the Meredith Emerging Adulthood Longitudinal Studies Research Lab (M.E.A.L.S) and presented on research I did at the Environmental Protection Agency on the ocular neurotoxicity of certain nanoparticles. What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? Dr. Edwards and Dr. Fairbank inspired me to participate. They both were formative factors in my decision to go to graduate school, and to help create a competitive application, they suggested I present at CSA day.
Lara Pantlin What was your experience like? Amazing. I learned a lot through my presentations which allowed me to fine-tune important skills, such as communication and creativity that I use every day as an instructor of psychology. I also loved the process of creating a presentation: learning how to break down topics that I understood on a deep level so my audience could follow and enhancing my presentation with clean slides and creative figures. CSA day inspired me to conquer a long-time fear of presenting and speaking in classes. How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path? This not only allowed me to develop these skills, but also opened many doors that would have otherwise been shut. For example, I just (successfully) defended my dissertation, and the skills needed to do this came from my first real research presentation was at CSA day.
CSA Day Helina Biru, ‘18
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? I conducted an undergraduate summer research project titled “Assessing Physical Accessibility in Ethiopia,” which also evolved into my senior honors thesis. The study focused on how inaccessible public environments in Addis Ababa hinder people with disabilities from achieving economic and social development. I Helina Biru went to Addis Ababa in June 2017 and evaluated four higher educational institutions, focusing on mobility issues. The evaluation was used to generate written and visual guidelines, recommended to be applied to existing and future structures. What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? I participated in a Pecha Kucha presentation in CSA Day 2016. I also attended several presentations over the years and witnessed the breadth of knowledge one can get exposed to. Furthermore, a day dedicated to students’ achievements is highly encouraging, if not tremendously educational. Hence, I found CSA Day to be a great outlet to share my research with the Meredith Community. What was your experience like? It was definitely one of my most memorable moments at Meredith! Presenting in front of an engaged audience, who is interested in my research, was very rewarding. I was also fortunate enough to have my family attend, especially my mother, who traveled 20+ hours across the ocean to make it to CSA Day. Receiving a couple of awards on the same day made the experience even more joyous. to conquer a long-time fear of presenting and speaking in classes. How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path? My CSA Day presentation encouraged me to pursue my passion by supporting my research and giving me the opportunity to discuss a topic that is close to my heart. I had conversations with people and received valuable feedback that opened another door –a realization that takes design further beyond aesthetics and functionality. I want to combine design, research, and technology to re-imagine the products we use and the environments we live in. I am now preparing to continue my graduate studies in human-centered design.
Jessie Taylor, ‘16
What was your undergraduate project at Meredith? I completed two CSA presentations. The first was “Demystifying the Female Nude.” The paper discussed the female form in art history, the difference between “nude” and “naked,” and the implications traditional representations have on the way the female body is represented in media today. My second paper was “A Brief History of Natural Dyes.” My presentation stemmed from Jessie Taylor my thesis research and delved into Indigo, Cochineal, and Saffron as dye stuffs. I also discussed my hands-on research with a paper-making/fiber artist, Gibby Waitzkin. With her assistance, I made over 100 samples on various plant fibers using all natural dyes. I also participated in poster presentations to discuss summer research in the Environmental Sustainability department. What inspired you to participate in CSA Day? Originally I was inspired to present because I was already writing my “Demystifying” paper for my figure drawing course. It was an additional challenge to flesh out the paper and finish earlier than required for my course and to present it at CSA Day. There were also some interesting discussions on campus at the time of my paper about how, and where, we could display nude artworks. I wanted to join the conversation in a thoughtful and educated way. For my thesis, I honestly had such an empowering experience with my first presentation–I knew I wanted to participate again. It is such a great program to celebrate the research of all students and to have an audience willing to listen about your work. Otherwise, only a small handful of professors would ever read these papers. What was your experience like? As stated above, the whole experience was empowering and exhilarating. I was terrified going in and felt underprepared. During the presentation, however, you find a groove and realize, “Wow, I truly do know what I am talking about and all of my preparation and research was worth it–look how interested people are.” I would, and have, recommended that all students present at least once at CSA day to conquer a long-time fear of presenting and speaking in classes. How did your presentation help or affect your later work? Alternatively, how did the experience of presenting at CSA Day affect you or your later path? Both papers were snapshots into my overarching collection of studio work. I repeatedly draw upon knowledge I gleaned from these projects to fuel my practice. To this day, I wish I had the structure and discipline to research topics in as much depth as I did for my CSA Day projects, but I have learned a new vocabulary and skillset in applying complex concepts into my visual works.
The Day at a Glance 7:30-8:30 a.m. 8:30-11:20 a.m. 9 – 11 a.m. 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 12 – 1 p.m. 1 – 4 p.m. 4 – 5 p.m. 5 – 8 p.m.
Breakfast and Poster Session – Carlyle Campbell Library Morning Sessions – Kresge, Ledford 101, SMB 118, SMB 162, Harris 104, Harris 208, Harris 214 Office of Career Planning Senior Spotlight Event – SMB Atrium Dickson Foundation Community Garden Tours and Tastings Leadership Awards Ceremony, SGA Officer Induction – Jones Auditorium Lunch & Dessert – Belk Dining Hall Various showcases and induction ceremonies Afternoon Sessions – Cate Center, Ledford 101, SMB 162, Harris 104, Harris 208, Harris 214 Student Academic and Leadership Awards Ceremony – Jones Auditorium Various award and induction ceromonies
Arts & Entertainment
“Women Warriors” Battle Each Other in Boston Marriage By Olivia Slack, Features Editor Meredith Ensemble Theatre performed their final show of the season, Boston Marriage by David Mamet, from April 3-7. The play centers around main characters Anna and Claire as they scheme for money and love, respectively. The play features strong themes of jealousy, friendship and infidelity, making for a lively two hours. Boston Marriage’s script only includes three onstage characters: Anna, played by senior Hannah Davis Johns; Claire, played by sophomore Laura Austin; and their maid Catherine, played by freshman Hannah Hudson. Though the first act was filled to the brim with plot points and witty banter, the second act seemed to take an excessively long time for very few things to actually happen. With such a limited cast, there were fewer opportunities for fresh interaction between characters than in some other plays, and as a result the script had to work in much arguing and backtracking in plot. Concluding the play, Anna and Claire decide to abandon their schemes and continue living as they had been together. The ending felt a bit rushed, as just prior it seemed that Claire was still deadset on romancing the young girl she had fallen in love with at the beginning of the play. Though the final moment between Anna and Claire was touching and played well by the
actors, its set-up in the script felt lacking. The characters’ development as the play approached its closing could have been more accentuated, which would have made the ending less jarring. In addition to the rushed ending, the script on the whole felt vague in its message. Although the focus of the play—that is, a Boston marriage—is indeed a concept that was traditionally blurred on purpose, the play itself never clearly addressed the fact that the two main characters arguably had a romantic history. The script tackled this fact in a way that felt as if it was danced around, apart from the singular peck Anna and Claire shared in the final scene. For the majority of the play, their relationship felt like a classically and stereotypically depicted “are they best friends or are they an item?” lesbian relationship, which is no doubt accurate to some situations, but in this context, it felt out-of-place, seeing as the entirety of the play took place in the privacy of their home where discretion is not as necessary as it would have been out on the streets. The way that the play depicted—or rather, did not depict—this relationship made it seem more taboo or dirty than may have been strictly necessary. Despite complaints about the script, the acting from Meredith’s students was engaging and impres-
By Caroline Garrett, A&E Editor This weekend, Apr. 12-14, Meredith College students will present DanceWorks, an annual showcase choreographed and performed by students. The 34 dances are divided into Program A and Program B, with each program displaying works of both new and experienced choreographers. Program A will be shown on Friday
at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 2 p.m., and Program B will be shown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. The weekend will conclude with a gala performance, featuring selected works from both programs, on Sunday, Apr. 14 at 7:30 p.m. All performances are located in Jones Auditorium and are free for all attendees.
from the audience. The three actors’ performances were at times scathing, at times hilarious and at times heartfelt. It was clear that they poured their all into the final performance of the semester, and for Johns, her final performance at Meredith.
Photo courtesy of Nicholas Tycho Reed
Performing Arts Blurbs OCTAVIA Friday, April 12 8 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall
DanceWorks
sive. Austin and Johns were able to keep the chemistry and tension between their characters running even through the slightly dragging second act, and the comic relief provided by Hudson’s character Catherine brought many uproarious laughs
SPRING CHORAL CONCERT with N.C. State Singing Statesmen Sat. April 13 8 p.m. Jones Chapel GRADUATION VOICE RECITAL: Natalie Overton, Soprano Friday April 26 8 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall
JUNIOR VOICE RECITAL: Jasmine Barnes, Mezzo Soprano Sunday April 28 8 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall MEREDITH PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER SERIES Tues. April 30 8 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall MEREDITH PHILHARMONIC POP SERIES Thurs. May 2 8 p.m. Jones Auditorium
This Ain’t My First Rodeo: A Review of Chapel Hill’s Food Truck Rodeo By Olivia Slack, Features Editor
On Mar. 31, a parking lot in downtown Chapel Hill was filled with food trucks for the Rodeo on Rosemary event. This food truck rodeo was a fun and family-friendly event that featured many of the area’s most beloved food trucks. I attended the rodeo with the intention of enjoying the variety of food offered while still staying on a college student’s extremely limited budget—a feat which turned out to be harder than expected. However, despite the often pricey menus, the rodeo was still an excellent way to spend a couple hours on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. One of the highlights of the event was the huge variety of food there. Food trucks in attendance
included everything from classic taco trucks (like Tacotopia) and ice cream trucks (like the often-seen-aroundRaleigh JAM Soft Serve) to more niche food trucks like Holy Mole, Boricua Soul and Chirba Chirba. These were just a few of the trucks serving international specialties, and there were others that specialized in regional American cuisine. This included Buff-O-Lina, who brings the hot dogs and chicken wings of Buffalo, NY to NC and Succotash, where you can find food from “all the great cuisines south of the Mason-Dixon line,” according to Indiegogo. Also at the rodeo was the Cousins Maine Lobster truck, which was featured on the TV show Shark Tank in 2012
and has become a hugely successful franchise. Of course, with over a dozen food trucks in attendance and the budget of an unemployed college student, it would have been nearly impossible to sample food from every truck. I decided to spend my money on dumplings from Chirba Chirba, and if their quality was indicative of that of the other food trucks, it’s no wonder there were so many people in line. The “Juicy Bun” dumplings, which were filled with pork, came in just a bit of ginger broth and were soft, warm and full of flavor. At a little over $6 before tax for six dumplings, they were one of the most reasonably priced options at the rodeo—far
more affordable than Cousins Maine Lobster’s $15 entrees, to be certain. Overall, the Rodeo on Rosemary was an enjoyable and delicious event. Though some of the more gourmet food trucks aren’t necessarily the most affordable eating options around, I felt my afternoon was well spent in the parking lot with the smell of sizzling food and sound of background tunes (played by a DJ who had fairly acceptable taste in music, with the notable exception of the “Baby Shark” song). Keep your eye out for upcoming rodeos for a chance to try these great trucks yourself, including the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo on May 5 from 12-6 p.m. on Fayetteville St.
No Ring In The Spring
Opinion
By Nikki Wertz, Layout Designer
Spring is the season of new beginnings. The weather is warmer; flowers are in bloom and couples are getting engaged. Congratulations to all those newly engaged people, I suppose. You have much to think about before you sign that marriage certificate. However, if you’re one of the millions who prefer to have a ring be a symbol of your love, you should be asking yourself where the diamond in your ring is coming from, because, more often than not, it’s a conflict diamond, also known as a blood diamond. Conflict diamonds are uncut diamonds mined in an area of armed conflict and traded illicitly to finance the conflict. These diamonds are often mined by child workers in developing parts of Asia and Africa, particularly in India and the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. According to the International Labor Organization, there over 168 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 years that either need or are forced to work. Thus far, there are two main areas within the diamond industry that profit off of the forced labor of these children: diamond mines in Africa and polishing factories in
India. Within both areas, children are forced to perform strenuous tasks; for example, carrying 50-60 kg of gravel in chemically hazardous conditions for more than 12 hours straight on $30 or less per month. Unfortunately, these conflict diamonds will continue to negatively impact the lives of thousands beyond extraction. Once they’re sorted and valued, they’re sold, mixed in with conflict-free diamonds and smuggled into other countries. The funds produced are immediately given to the local rebel movements. These conflict diamonds are then transported to the polishing factories, where laborers risk severe respiratory illness from diamond particle dust. The conflict diamonds are crafted into jewelry by manufacturers and retailers before finally ending up in the display case of a jewelry store. What does this have to do with first-world consumers? Well, as long as we continue to be buyers of diamond jewelry, there will always be suppliers. We as consumers need to start questioning where, how and by whom our goods are produced. We have been unknowingly funding rebel militia that thrive on child
soldiers and tactics like rape and slavery for too long. Honestly, this confirmed to me that a sparkling engagement ring isn’t worth it. A ring is supposed to symbolise love and new beginnings, but love shouldn’t be based on how much money can be spent on a significant other. It definitely shouldn’t involve snuffing out another’s chances of a future while building up your own. I must put aside my iciness towards everything romantic to admit that there are conflict-free alternatives to conflict diamonds. Synthetic diamonds and diamonds from antique rings and jewelry are wonderful options. Synthetic diamonds have an equally impressive shine without the mining process and human suffering. Diamonds from vintage jewelry can easily be reset into another piece of jewelry. Conflict-free diamonds, which are mined under strict standards, are a possibility. According to Time Magazine, you should consider purchasing diamonds from countries, like Canada, Botswana and Namibia. The magazine also suggests jewelers, like Hume Atelier and Brilliant Earth, that are apparently dedicated to
selling diamonds that are ethically mined. I’d still be wary of any diamond, however, as there is no way of knowing exactly where it came from or whether labor and environmental standards were followed during the mining process. If possible, Time Magazine suggests buyers question the jeweler about where it came from. The jeweler should be able to describe in great detail where the diamond was sourced if it was ethically mined. Keep in mind that what I’ve written is not a reflection of the cultures or the people that reside in these areas. I am merely bringing light to the issue of modern slave labor as a call to action to my fellow human beings. To quote Lily Tomlin, “I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then, I realized I was somebody.” I am not saying this is an easy issue to solve, but I believe we are all capable of making a difference. There is no special look, profession or personality trait that makes one capable of impacting lives. You just have to care enough to act and encourage others to act alongside you.
culture that values speed over quality, due to the fact that a majority of Bachelor(ette) couples do not stay together past all of the hoopla that is the show and wedding. Many teenagers are feeling the need to rush relationships because that’s all that the media shows them. This not only harms their concept of dating and relationships for the rest of their life, but it also perpetuates the culture that The Bachelor(ette) creates. The show has become more accepting throughout the 23 seasons it has been on the air; however, it has always had the stench of the patriarchy
written all over it. By idealizing the large romantic gestures and disregarding homosexuality and the small intimate details of a successful relationship, the show continues to oppress groups of individuals who also show love. It continues to repress the needs of a real relationship by making relationships out of large expensive gestures rather than the connection between the people. So, where do we draw the line between entertainment and the health of society’s relationships?
The Bachelor(ette)
By Ell Shelp-Peck, Staff Writer The probability that you know someone who watches The Bachelor is high, but is that good or bad? The show is generally not the best model for healthy relationships for its young, impressionable audience of young women. The Bachelor began in 1999 when Mike Fleiss had the idea to take a very rich man and pair him with 50 women who were willing to be his wife and let him choose which he wanted to marry. The show did not end well, as the man and the woman he chose divorced quite soon after. However from this experience, Mr. Fleiss developed The Bachelor and its spin-offs. The show has been wildly successful with millions of viewers worldwide, but at what cost? In a New York Times article, Suzannah Showler, an academic, poet and an avid member of the Bachelor Nation, the name of the fan base for the show, says “that [The Bachelor] has always pretended to be about the production of fantasy, but is really about how people make do. . .under inadequate conditions.” Showler explains how reality shows place their contestants into stressful situations that may even target their fears or insecurities to create drama. Now when this is applied to real life, it becomes incredibly
unrealistic, which is why a connection can be drawn between The Bachelor and the speed at which American teens are dating. When asked about how she thinks the show has affected America’s youth, freshman Taylor Houser responded with that “people might think the extravagant dates are what is needed to fall in love with someone. If this was not a show people would think it is absolutely crazy, but since it is entertaining no one seems to care what it is really showing and teaching people.” These young people are being influenced by a
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Sarah Kiser, Editor-in-Chief. Mimi Mays, Associate Editor. Caroline Garrett, A&E Editor. Abby Ojeda, News Editor. Rebecca Dowdy, Opinion Editor. Olivia Slack, Features Editor. Micah Clark, Cartoonist. Cro Owens, Social Media Coordinator. Nikki Wertz, Layout Designer. Staff Writers: Ashleigh Murr, Ashley Ricks, Ell Shelp-Peck, Savi Swiggard, Kristen Viera. Contributing Writers: Kathleen Daly, Haley Ivey, Yajaira Ramos-Ramirez.