February 1, 2017
Behind the unity principles of Women’s March Seung Pang, OP-ED Editor
An educational facilitator and self-described activist, Victoria Miller was chanting along with marchers on the sidewalk next to her young son and her husband at the Women’s March in Raleigh this past Saturday. Growing up a Buddhist in Memphis, TN allowed Miller to embrace diversity: “I grew up with the understanding that we’re all kinda different.” Her beliefs in women’s rights and minority issues led her to join the Noisy Majority, another name for Women’s March protesters. Miller believes that spreading awareness will have an impact on the new government. “Us being able to be in solidarity for a number of issues is gonna be very important in the future.” One purpose of Women’s March was to stand in solidarity with diverse and vibrant communities.
Their mission statement is empowered with a quote from civil rights activist Audre Lorde, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” This idea of inclusiveness attracted 17,000 people in Raleigh, according to WRAL, over a million in Washington D.C., and more than five million worldwide, according to Women’s March. However, contrary to their unity principles, a group of women, especially those who oppose abortion, did not feel included in the movement. “I believe in abortion, but the fact that they’re not including pro-life women is hypocritical,” said Joanna Rackley, a self-identified Republican who studies at North Carolina State University. “They’re marching in order to protest President Trump for
discriminating women, but again, they are excluding a group of women who do not agree with them.” “This is what we conservative women live with all the time, this idea that we somehow aren’t really women and we just reflect internalized misogyny,” said Charmaine Yoest, a vocal opponent of abortion who is a senior fellow at American Values, a conservative organization, according to New York Times. “Pro-life organizations weren’t allowed to be sponsors,” said Dr. Jeffrey Martinson, a professor of political science at Meredith College. He witnessed pro-life groups marching to protest against Women’s March in Washington D.C. “The conflict of prolife and pro-choice. That’s the most problematic for this march.”
Women’s March declared their commitment to reproductive freedom to fight gender discrimination in health care. “Women’s access to health care services gets restricted in ways that men’s access to health care never does,” said Caitlin Williams, an organizer of Women’s March North Carolina, in an email interview. “Our entire platform is organized around one fundamental principle: women’s rights are human rights,” said Williams. “Some folks may tie this line to Hillary Clinton, it’s an idea that women’s rights activists and feminists had been organizing globally, long before she said it in Beijing.” “That idea isn’t a liberal one or a conservative one. It’s a human one,” she said.
us with doughnuts.” Through all of the hard classes, she says, “I learned I am stronger than I think...I also learned that good grades matter but to not stress out too much when I get a bad grade or do not understand something.” Despite struggles throughout the semester, she kept her focus and even made the Dean’s List! This semester, Haughey hopes to get more involved on campus, get to know more of her classmates, and stress less about homework.
on campus: “I immediately felt very at home and was welcomed by so many different people on movein day!” Brown adds, “If I had the chance to give myself advice before arriving at MC, it would probably be to just be myself and do what I’m passionate about...Being different is completely normal and you should just embrace it!” Brown is proud of her newfound independence at Meredith; this semester, her goals are to study harder and get rid of distractions.
Meredith Brown, a freshman interior design major from Wilson, says the most surprising thing about her first semester was how easily she transitioned into her new home
You go, freshmen! Keep on rocking your sisters’ socks off. We can’t wait to see where you end up in 2020 and beyond.
Keeping Up with the Class of 2020
Rachel Crawford, News Editor
Fall semester flew by and here we are in 2017! Times are changing, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the freshman class is pretty outstanding. From blowing us all away at Cornhuskin’ and snagging third place, to working their butts off and filling up the Dean’s List, the class of 2020 has never failed to amaze us all. After their exciting but exhausting first semester, the freshmen now have thoughts on how they have grown and changed for the better since coming to Meredith. Freshman Janie Midgett, who proudly describes herself as “a beach girl from the Outer Banks” and calls the little town of Stumpy Point home,
says she learned the importance of hard work and dedication during her first semester at Meredith. “I think the most important thing I learned from my first semester is that if I put my mind to something and work hard, it will pay off,” Midgett says. “I am most proud of my grades from first semester. I really shocked myself, I always study hard, but I didn’t think I would do that well, but I was pleased with my final grades.” Alanna Haughey, a freshman from North Raleigh, says her favorite memory from her first semester was Cornhuskin’ practices, especially “the gym practices we had until midnight where our Bigs came and surprised
Student Teachers of MC Sarah Smerko, Features Editor
For seniors earning a teaching license while at Meredith, their spring semester is always spent a little differently than the previous seven: student teaching. Here are just three of the great student teaching Angels this semester! Elementary: Name: Katherine Sneid Grade: First Favorite subject to teach: “ I don't think I have a favorite subject to teach yet, as I am slowly gradually taking over the different content areas, but I enjoy different aspects of all of the content areas.” Best part of student teaching: “The best part of student teaching so far has been getting to know the students I am teaching and building that relationship with all of them.” Advice for future student teachers: “My advice for future student teachers would be to keep and save everything that you learn, do, read, and hear from the Meredith professors and when you go out into your education placements. Those ideas and experiences can be great resources for student teaching and beyond!”
High: Name: Sara Lee Grade: High School (9th and 10th grade) Subjects: Math I and Math II What part of student teaching are you most excited about? “I am most excited about actually getting experience teaching and being able to learn from my cooperating teacher.”
Middle: Name: Meredith Pope Grade: 7th grade Subjects: Math 1, Math 7+, and Math 7 Favorite Subject to Teach: “My favorite subject to teach is Math because if you can learn the beauty behind mathematics you can see how it is all around you! “ Best part of student teaching: “My favorite part of teaching is listening to all of my students’ “breaking news stories” of their Middle school days. Trust me, they are hilarious.”
News Skipping the Inauguration? Local Politician Leans in Seung Pang, OP-ED Editor
Jan. 20, 2017 was a decisive day for most of our country. For some, it was a day of rejoicing and welcoming their beloved president-elect into office. For others, it was a day of mourning and fear, as they questioned how someone with so opposite their beliefs and values ended up in the nation’s highest office. And for others still, they just did not know what to think regarding the new man stepping into the role of the President of the United States. On Inauguration Day, some members of Congress chose to opt out of attending the inauguration for various reasons, while other Congress members decided to attend. Democratic Congressman G.K. Butterfield, who represents areas such as Vance, Warren, Pitt, and Durham counties, decided not to attend. When Republican representatives were contacted, U.S. Senator Thom
Tillis’ office was unavailable for an interview and U.S. Senator Richard Burr’s office failed to respond. “I have watched Donald Trump over the past 12 months and watched his demeanor and behavior. I find his style to be unacceptable,” Butterfield said. “I don’t like the manner in which he conducted his presidential campaign—it was divisive. I just could not be a hypocrite. I could not sit [at the inauguration] and cheer.” Despite skipping out on the 55th inauguration, Butterfield expects to attend Trump’s State of the Union address. While watching the inauguration from home, Butterfield observed the stark differences in Trump’s acceptance speech compared to so many previous presidential acceptance speeches. “His speech was so self-serving and it had a political overtone
to it. Most presidents at their inauguration are visionaries and bring people together—to give hope to the American people,” Butterfield said. “That was not the speech I heard on Jan. 20.” In addition to feeling that Democrats now will be faced with large setbacks and oppositions to their plans to support policies that will benefit average Americans, Butterfield believes that Democrats will have to be more defensive during Trump’s time as president. “We, [as Democrats], are relegated to a defensive mode. Instead of legislating, we have to block the legislation that Donald Trump will be putting forward—legislation that will greatly damage the middle and lower classes of our country,” Butterfield said. For example, Butterfield points to women’s issues as a possible area where the new administration may cut rights.
He points to how women’s issues had been front and center during former U.S. President Barack Obama’s time in office. As Butterfield reflects on the intense and ever-changing political environment that Americans are facing today, he encourages students at Meredith College to become politically active and maximize their influence. “I would like to say that our college students and young adults need to pay attention to what is happening in Raleigh and Washington D.C.,” Butterfield said. At the end of the day, Butterfield sees that because Trump is now the president of the United States, his office must be respected. “I have great honor and respect for the office of the president,” Butterfield said. “[Trump] is indeed the president, and he will be for the next four years.”
voting period will be until Feb. 14 at 5 pm. If any positions are still open after elections end, then that class or organization will be responsible to interview or take applications for that position. Emily Kelleher, ‘17, is the current Elections Board Chair. For the past three years she has been one of class of 2016’s Elections Board Representative. Kelleher said “[Campus elections] are important because they give our students the opportunity to run for leadership positions and it shows that our students are excited
and willing to run for different things. I think voter turnout with the elections is also really important because it shows that our students on campus care about who is running for a position and they care about who they vote into the elected positions.” Kelleher explained the election process. “We make it as easy as possible for people because the ballot is emailed to them. The campus wide election ballot gets sent out in a student all email, so seniors, you’re even allowed to vote in the student-wide elections.”
Campus Elections are Coming Up
Sarah Kiser, Associate Editor
It is almost time for campus elections. Candidates can file as late as Feb. 1 at 5 pm. for all positions including SGA officers, Elections Board Chair, Residence Housing Association (RHA) Chair, and Association of Meredith Commuters (AMC) President. Each class will also be electing their class officers as well as Cornhuskin’ Co-Chair, Class Stunt Co-Chair, Honor Council Reps, Elections Board Reps, Senators and Student Life Reps. To run for a position, students must have attended an information session, then
they may file until Feb. 1, then campaigning will begin on Feb. 6 at 8 am. This is where most students will be concerned. Campaigning will last until voting ends on Feb. 14 at 5 pm. Students can find out about candidates by reading the campaign cards, which will be hanging on the maroon boards on the wall in the first floor of the Cate Center. Campus-wide and class ballots will be sent out via email. Each candidate prepares a video that can be viewed by clicking the names on the ballot. Feb. 13 at 8 am. ballots will be sent out and the
Microbe Exhibit Katrina Thomas, Staff Writer The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is full of detailed exhibits, and “Microbes: The Secret World Inside You” is among the most recently opened. This exhibit is full of signs, videos, and hands-on activities simple enough for elementary schoolers but still interesting for biology and chemistry majors. As one walks through the exhibit (s)he learns
about the role of bacteria in human and animal health and behavior, and topics range from Bacterioides fragilis and autism to how moving to a new house does (or doesn’t change) one’s microclimate. Visual learners will enjoy all the models and bright colors, while tactile learners will be drawn to the “choose-your-own-adventure” style games about diet and an-
tibiotics and verbal learners will benefit from the detailed paragraphs and the film depicting one lady’s battle with an unusual infection. There is even a section where visitors can see the bacterial profiles of local celebrities. All of this is especially relevant since, as the museum’s webpage points out, microbial DNA is 100 times more prevalent than human DNA in
a given person! This exhibit is found on the second floor of the museum and will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 12. Tickets, which can be purchased online in advance or at the box office upon arrival, cost $8 for students, seniors, and veterans, $10 for adults, and $7 for children.
Arts & Entertainment And the Nominees Are: Teressa Berton, Staff Writer
The 2017 Oscar nominations were officially released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on Tuesday Jan. 24, 2017. This year’s favorite? Director Damien Chazelle’s musical, La La Land. While the film did well enough at the Golden Globes, winning seven out of seven nominations, La La Land tied for a record 14 nominations
from the Academy. Other standouts include Moonlight and Arrival both taking seven, Lion with five, Fences taking four, and finally Jackie and Hidden Figures taking three apiece. One of the more notable changes from the past year was the nomination of six black actors, a record for the Academy Awards. This,
coming on the heels of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy from the past year, is seen as progress. Other nominations include black filmmakers within the documentary nominations category. While many acknowledge that these are positive steps for the academy, there is hope for further diversity of those who are represented in the celebration of
the achievements within the film community. The 2017 Academy Awards is shaping up to be a year for shake-ups in the academy, with minorities gaining their long-deserved respect, and a long-lost friend, the musical, coming to the forefront of film. The 89th Annual Academy Awards will be televised on Feb. 26, 2017.
A Series of Unfortunate Events finds New Life as a Netflix Series Carolina Brust, Staff Writer
Incredibly Deadly Vipers, secret organizations, and conspiracies, oh my! Netflix started off 2017 with the longawaited premiere of ‘“A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Adapted from the thirteennovel series by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket, Netflix reintroduces the story of the Baudelaire orphans. A teaser trailer had been uploaded July of last year on YouTube, and Netflix later revealed its plans to turn the novel series into a show. After a fire destroys their childhood mansion and
kills their parents, Violet, Sunny, and Klaus are placed into the care of the villainous Count Olaf (played by Neil Patrick Harris), who intends to take their fortune by any means necessary. Narrated by Lemony Snicket (played by Patrick Warburton), the show follows the children as they move from guardian to guardian, each time trying to escape Count Olaf and his band of villains. Meanwhile, they continue learning more about their parents’ former secret double lives. Unlike the 2004 film, the
show manages to perfectly capture the depressing world of Lemony Snicket, courtesy of Daniel Handler himself. “The idea was to bring forward certain events and ideas lurking in the background of the books,” Handler revealed in an interview with Inverse Entertainment. Fans of the book series will experience nostalgia and appreciate Handler’s ever-dark but whimsical touch on the overall script. The show features a star studded cast, including Will Arnet, Cobie Smulders, Oscar-nominated actresses
Joan Cusack and Alfre Woodard, Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara, and many more. The eight-episode show is already said to be in the works for a second season, according to an interview Patrick Warburton did with POPSUGAR Entertainment. “I know that there’s talks and pre-production going on right now,” said Warburton. So, get some tissues, grab some friends, and prepare to enter the mind of Lemony Snicket.
Check out her NPR Mu- College Exhibition: Roots sic Concert on YouTube. North Carolina Museum of Arts Excision: The Paradox Tour Feb 12 – May 14 The Ritz Friday nights (5-9pm) free Feb 8, 8:30pm, (prices vary) with college ID Tickets at ritzraleigh.com Chris Rock: Total Blackout The ComedyWorx Show Tour 2017 Durham Performing Arts CenMargaret Glaspy with Bad Goodnights Comedy Club Feb 10, 8pm, $8 with college ter Bad Hats (Indie/Folk) ID Feb 13- Feb 15, 8pm (times Cats Cradle – Back Room and prices vary) Feb 6, 8:30pm, $12/ Day of: Tickets at worxnc.com Tickets at dpacnc.com $15 on etix.com
The Taming of the Shrew (screening) NCMA East Building, SECU Auditorium Feb 17, 8pm, $5 with college ID Tickets at ncartmuseum.org
Events Preview Emma Gomes, Staf Writer
Here are some local events to check off your bucket list this month Little Mermaid – Carolina Ballet Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Feb 2 – Feb 19, (time and prices vary) Tickets at dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
Penny and Sparrow with Corey Kilgannon Cats Cradle – Back Room Feb 24, 8pm, $15 on etix.com Check their Audiotree Live session on YouTube
Editorials Rape is wrong, and so is jumping to conclusions Morgan Whithaus, Staff Writer
Earlier this semester my article titled “UNC Rape Case Holding Universities Accountable” was published in The Meredith Herald. My op-ed piece commended 19-yearold UNC Chapel Hill student Delaney Robinson for speaking out about being raped by football player Allen Artis. I thoughtlessly framed Artis to be a rapist although no facts had came out proving or disproving this point. This is where I failed my readers. I gave suggestions about how UNC Chapel Hill and other college campuses across the country could be more supportive of students who are victims of sexual misconduct. I presented my ideas about how community members could change the stigma around the term “rape culture” by raising their children to know that sexual misconduct is wrong. But in doing so, I fell prey to something
dangerous, if not as dangerous as sexual misconduct itself. I too quickly pointed my finger to blame Artis for actions that had not yet, and have not yet, been proven. I neglected to state how, although Robinson’s testimony was powerful, a significant amount of factual evidence had not yet confirmed her statements. In being negligent to fully consider the facts before so boldly asserting that Artis did rape Robinson, I only pushed the controversy of rape culture from one extreme to another. My suggestions are valid in and of themselves, but they lose their credibility when I jump to conclusions and fail to stop and consider the facts, or lack of facts. When I fail to consider all that is at stake by my thoughtless assumption—Artis’ image, Robinson’s credibility, The Herald’s reputation—I realize that I sound as if I am on a
pedestal preaching about something I know and care little about. In a world where news comes from a variety of sources such as websites, blogs, and tweets, writing must be factually based so that the truth can be sorted out from lies. I wrote in my original article, “Teaching about consent needs to start at a younger age, and families, sports teams, and schools must condemn children, teenagers, and adults when they make excuses for rape. Blaming the victims, asking ‘what were you wearing?’ and ‘were you leading him on?’ must stop.” But jumping to the whole other side of the spectrum and blaming all who are accused has to stop, too. By shifting the blame so quickly with no facts behind my words, my writing potentially damaged the work that has already been done to dismantle rape culture.
I hope that my mistake will serve as a reminder to all as we approach many different situations in life—whether it be related to sexual misconduct, political news, or the gossip we hear about the girl down the hall—that statements without supporting facts rarely amount to anything other than misrepresentation and the deluding of the situation at hand. And finally, let this serve as a reminder that as empowering as it is that survivors of rape, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual misconduct are receiving more media attention with each passing day, we must be careful not to too quickly pass judgement on an alleged rapist before the facts are presented. Rape culture will never be dismantled if we, including myself, are too quick to jump to conclusions.
Meredith Hacks: Cornhuskin’ Hangover Cure Teressa Berton, Corn Correspondent As the Cornhuskin’ season comes to an end, the common Meredith College woman problem crops up: the post-Cornhuskin’ hangover. After spending evening after evening out in a parking lot working towards one goal, life after the harvest can tough. But worry not, there is a Cornhuskin’ hangover cure. Get some sleep. Cornhuskin’ season always leaves a lady in need
of some Z’s, so take your newly discovered free time and invest in your REM cycle. Put some of your evenings free towards classwork. While this may not be the most fun, your extra time can help save your grades from their Cornhuskin’ hangover as well. Keep in touch with your corny friends. After bonding with your class, stay in contact with your practice
buddy and find a way to hang out together outside of practice. Say thanks to your class cochairs. Your class co-chairs have been working super hard to make corn a memorable experience for you and all of your classmates! Let them know you appreciate their hard work. Share the corny times with friends and family. When you head home, tell your loved ones what you
have been doing at your midnight ‘prop’ circles. Show them the photos you took with your squad- cause we all know that you were looking like cream of the crop. However you choose to work through the post-corn season, remember that you will always have your sisters to help you carry on, and remember, there’s always next year!
Dunanananananana Goose Dog Sarah Kiser, Associate Editor “No geese have been harmed in this process.” Aaron Schettler Did you ever notice that we don’t have flocks of monstrous geese on campus? In the past, goose droppings on our sidewalks became an increasing problem. “We were spending a tremendous amount of time and effort removing goose poop from the sidewalks,” said Grounds Manager Aaron Schettler. But no longer. As alumnae may remember, that was thanks to none other than Goose Dog and Mr. Schettler. As grounds manager, Schettler has multiple duties, one of which used to be goose chasing. In fact, Meredith chosen dogs used to be picked from professors’ pets. “I started inviting professors to bring their dogs to campus. I would train their dog and we would chase geese.” “I had golden retrievers or Australian shepherds,” said Schettler. “Dogs are natural predators for geese. If you’ve got a flock of geese on campus...if you study them, there’s a couple geese who are looking out for threats... The geese see the dog and the ‘look-out goose’ would start to signal... They would watch the dog, and if the dog showed them any attention at all, then the geese would take off.”
Dr. Brent Pitt’s Lacy, an older Australian shepard mix, is an experienced goose chaser. “She is a great, affectionate dog,” said Schettler. “She was my most reliable goose chaser.” Lacy has the instinct to herd and chase. Schettler ‘interviewed’ a young, “rambunctious” golden retriever, but decided “the trick was to have a dog that would respond and be able to work off leash.” Lacy was the Goose Dog for two years. Of her age Pitts said, “She had two other homes before ours. She may be 14, but we’ve been saying 14 for four years now! She is getting tottery now in her old age.” According to Pitts, Lacy “enjoyed coming to campus and meeting everyone here. Many people still remember her and ask about her, even today. She was the goose dog for many months, but I have to say I never saw her chase a goose on campus. I think she just liked hanging out on campus and riding in Aaron Schettler’s Gator!” Three years ago the facilities department began contracting with a local company, Goose Masters, who will routinely bring their own Border Collie to serve as a guest Goose
Lacy, on the job in the heat of the chase. Photo courtesy of Dr. Brent Pitts
Dog. The new Goose Dog can still be seen on campus. “This time of year they come daily,” said Schettler, who explained that flocks are flying south this time of year and are looking for places to nest. For example, “If we see a flock of geese in front of the oaks apartment, I text the local guy who has several accounts in our area...then he says, ‘I’ll be there in 20 minutes.’” With the geese chasing occurring on a regular basis Shettler says, “The geese pretty much know the...dance. They see the car, then the dog hops out. The dog might run 10 steps in their direction then they take off.” But don’t worry, the grounds manager insists that no harm comes
to the geese during the chasing. “It is a simple strategy that’s not considered cruel,” added Schettler. “It’s using the natural system.” Goose Masters will sometimes have to follow a flock all the way down to the amphitheatre, recounted Schettler. Then the dog will get them out of the lake. In the end, according to Shettler, “The geese are fairly smart. They see the dance. They go through the motions.” The geese know that the amount of energy gained from eating this grass is not worth the energy it takes to avoid the fearsome Goose Dog.
Lacy on the front stoop, her favorite spot. Taken recently. Photo courtesy of Dr. Brent Pitts
STAFF
Emily Chilton, Editor in Chief. Sarah Kiser, Associate Editor. Sarah Smerko, Features Editor. Caroline Garrett, A&E Editor. Niki Bell, Op-Ed Editor. Rachel Crawford, News Editor. Mallory Dean, Layout Designer. Olivia McElvaney, Online Editor. Staff Writers: Katrina Thomas, Yessy Anorve-Basoria, Kayla Kushner, Laurie Diggett, Carolina Brust, Morgan Whithaus, Lauren Cannon, Lizbeth Hall, Anesia Fletcher, Teressa Berton, Seung Pang.