The Meredith Herald
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February 2, 2022
Meredith’s Decisions Regarding Course Modality Spark Conversation By Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor On Jan. 10, the Meredith College community received an email from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) stating that classes would be delivered remotely from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14. This decision was made in order to improve safety on campus following the break, with the Omicron variant being more contagious than other variants. On Jan. 13, the ELT announced that in-person instruction would resume on Jan. 18. When asked about why the decision was made, Dr. Jean Jackson, Vice President for College Programs, and Dr. Matthew Poslusny, Senior Vice President and Provost, said in a joint statement, “Waiting to start in-person instruction until [Jan.] 18 gave us more than two weeks between New Year’s Eve…and the start of in-person classes. In addition, we were also monitoring the availability of vaccinations and testing, knowing that [members] of our community were trying to schedule vaccinations, including boosters, and many wanted to test before returning to campus.”
They also stated, “While we ety about the transition heading could not reasonably change the back into a crowded classroom.” start date of Dr. Jackthe semester to son and Dr. mitigate expoPoslusny said, sures over the “If conditions holidays, we warrant, we could change could go back the delivery to online classmethod.” es for a peSturiod of time.” dents’ opinions George said about the start that “even if of the semester cases continue Photo by Elisabeth Sinicrope vary. Megan George, to rise, [she] would ‘24, said that she very much prefer to “didn't understand the reasoning stay in person.” behind the team's decision to begin “I would like to go back with three days of online learning.” online if the cases continue to “I learn much better in perrise,” Ponder said. “Even though son and was very disappointed to I am a senior and this is my last hear classes would not be in person year, I’d rather be safe and locked the first week,” George said. down than be forced to go in On the other hand, Laurelyn person…We have the tools to use Ponder, ‘22, said, “I wish I had more technology [for communication], warning about the decision beforesocialization and education so hand so I could continue isolation why don’t we use it?” with my family than in the commuDr. Lori Brown, Profesnity dorms. However, I appreciate sor of Sociology and Criminolthe [ELT’s] decision to reevaluate ogy, was given special permission in-person [modality]...Starting onfrom the Dean of Arts and Huline actually really helped my anximanities to hold classes online for
What is MC Alert?
By Aminah Jenkins, Associate Editor At Meredith, the MC Alert system allows students to receive information about incidents that pose a threat to their safety. According to Meredith’s website, MC Alert is “Meredith’s emergency notification system for students, faculty and staff.” The system, which is run by Meredith’s Executive Leadership Team, only provides information about incidents that occur on campus. Following recent incidents like car robberies on Hillsborough Street and on neighboring university NC State’s campus have prompted some students to question why MC Alert does not notify Meredith students about these situations. Ann Gleason, Dean of Students and Head of the Incident Response Team, explained that the safety of Meredith’s community members is the College’s highest priority. She stated, “Meredith follows the requirements of the Clery Act, a federal statute requiring colleges and universities to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and security information.” Meredith’s current criteria for reporting an incident is “[any] on-campus emergency that poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of the campus com-
munity and about College closings, delays and modified campus operations schedules.” When asked about why MC Alert does not include off-campus incidents, Dean Gleason explained that the College was unable to. “No other institution is considered part of Meredith’s geographical area,” she said, referring to the requirements for the Clery Act. “Students taking classes at NC State or any other Cooperating Raleigh College should be eligible to sign up for that university’s alert system,” she said. Additionally, Dean Gleason recommended signing up for local news outlets’ breaking news alerts, neighborhood crime apps or listservs to stay alert. For more information about how to sign up for the MC Alert system, visit mcis.meredith.edu and select MC Alert under the Miscellaneous tab.
Photo by Elisabeth Sinicrope
the first two weeks of the semester. When asked why she requested to do so, she said, “I am over 60, have my 83-year-old mother living with me and I am diabetic.” She does, however, believe that in-person learning is more conducive to student success. “College students need more social interactions in an environment like a classroom where you talk to people as a routine part of your day,” Dr. Brown said. “However, many of the faculty and staff have high anxiety and health issues that make returning to faceto-face highly stressful.” Dr. Brown stated that she is “sympathetic with the hard choices [the ELT] and others in the community must make, and [she hopes] students take this into account as they think about these issues.” Dr. Jackson and Dr. Poslusny said that when changes to the college’s schedule are made, “the Marketing and Communications team drafts a message to go out to the entire community. Once the [ELT] has approved the message, it is sent out, typically the same day.”
Student Election Season Begins By Lauryn Turner, Contributing Writer The start of the spring semester calls for the re-election of various class and campus-wide positions. Campaigning Week, which began Monday, Jan. 31 and will run through Friday, Feb. 4, will give students the opportunity to see the running candidates. “Running in the elections can be a crucial part of a student’s college experience,” Elections Board Chair Sophia Bogan said. “It can provide necessary leadership skills that you will absolutely need in the future.” Bogan also emphasized the importance of voting in the elections. “The students who are holding executive or even nonmajor positions are the ones who represent the student body,” she said. Candidate cards for all positions will be hung on the second floor of the Cate Center outside the Office of Student Leadership and Service (SLS). These cards include the candidate’s name, the position they are running for, a picture of themselves and any strengths or qualifications they believe make them a good pick for the position. During Campaigning
Week, candidates will also have the opportunity to advertise their campaigns through social media and posters that can be hung in various buildings around campus. Bogan added that students will be able to watch a 1-minute video of the candidate discussing their goals for the position prior to the voting period. The polling period for the elections will run from Monday, Feb. 7 at 8 a.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. All ballots will be sent out via email. Results will be announced to candidates by email Tuesday night and to the rest of campus the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 9. Bogan says students should think of these elections as just as important as the national elections for our country. “Pay attention to your student representatives and leaders on campus as they are working hard to better the Meredith campus,” she added.
News
Professor Lormarev Jones Joins Theatre Department By Emma Johnson, Contributing Writer Professor Lormarev Jones is a Meredith College alumna from the Class of 2005. She recently joined the theatre department as a faculty and says she hopes to “usher the theatre department into the next stage of its evolution.” Jones received her Master of Fine Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and has “written and performed two solo plays, one of which won an award at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.” She credits her degree at Meredith for teaching her how to “market [herself] better to employers” and discovering “how many skills developed in my major were ap-
plicable to other more traditional jobs.” Jones is directing A Grand Night for Singing in the spring, which presents a unique musical experience for the audience. She said, “There is no plot or story, so it really falls to the performers to imbue the music with their own sense of personality and style.” This play was chosen, Jones explained, in anticipation that COVID-19 restrictions would still be in place. Jones said that the pandemic inspired her to “create rehearsal rooms and classrooms where people can be their whole selves…the pandemic illuminated for everyone how much we com-
partmentalize parts of our lives, sometimes to our own detriment.” The theatre department has, according to Jones, “a lot of unexplored terrain” in the current curriculum, and she plans to expose students to “some lesspopular forms and expressions in theater,” including devised theatre, or collaborative improvisation work, solo performances and physical theatre with a focus on movement and dance. Looking back on her years at Meredith, Lormarev says, “[she] made [her] lifelong friends at this place” and values “the camaraderie and the community.”
Photo by Emma Johnson
Undergraduate Research Programs Holds CSA Day Abstract Workshop By Anna Prince, Staff Writer
On Thursday, April 7, Meredith College will be hosting their 20th annual Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day. CSA Day is a day-long event that is composed of research presentations, performances, awards and workshops. All students have this day off from classes so that they may attend the events and view their peers' works. On Feb. 9 from 10-10:50 a.m. in SMB 162, Isabella Rossi and Dr. Carolina Perez-Heydrich are hosting an abstract workshop to help students prepare their
abstract for the presentations that take place on CSA Day. Abstracts can be submitted for CSA Day from Feb. 18 to Feb. 25 until 4 p.m. The CSA Day abstract workshop will also prepare the workshop participants for when they have to write abstracts in a professional setting. “Participation in undergraduate research at Meredith College improves students' communication skills, promotes active involvement in learning, helps further knowledge in a field of study
and provides students with the opportunity to present and publish their own ideas,” said Rossi. At Meredith, about 51% of students conduct undergraduate research alongside their faculty mentors. An abstract plays an important role in a student’s research. Rossi explained, “Abstracts are professional tools that consist of self-contained, brief descriptions/summaries of a student's larger work. Abstracts are important because they provide the reader with enough informa-
tion to make an informed decision about the content, context, importance and validity of the work presented by the student.” Presentations will be available to attend in person as well as virtually via YouTube. Attending CSA Day is strongly encouraged by Meredith faculty and staff. It is a way to support your peers and gain knowledge on undergraduate research and each student’s individual presentation.
Tech Services Holds "Gone Phishing For 'Friends'" Pop-Up Event By Haileigh West, Contributing Writer On Feb. 9 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Cate Center Alcove, Meredith College Tech Services will be holding an informational pop-up style event, “Gone Phishing for ‘Friends,’” to provide information for the latest bitcoin social media hacks. Many Meredith students have found themselves at the forefront of this social media attack. Victims of these hacks may see their social media accounts taken
over and posts advertising bitcoin mining posted. Lauren Hickey, Student Technology Outreach Coordinator, says that this pop-up event will allow students to “talk about safe social media practices and what to do when you or someone you know is hacked.” Hickey added, “Students will get a chance to look over different types of phishing messages and talk through what their next
actions or responses should be.” STAT Team member Molly Perry, ‘22, said, “The event will feature a ‘Gone Phishing’ game that we have done in the past and has been popular among students, and anyone who participates can get a Valentine’s Day themed goodie bag that includes helpful tech tips. Students will also get a chance to win some special prizes!”
Reminder: Meredith College Adjusts Quarantine Requirements as In-Person Classes Resume
Graphic by Molly Perry
By Elinor Shelp-Peck, Co-Editor in Chief
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On Jan. 13, the Meredith College Executive Leadership Team (ELT) confirmed that classes will resume in person on Jan. 18 following three days of virtual classes. Meredith also urged students to follow safety precautions, including recommending a PCR test prior to coming to campus for the first time. The ELT also recommended that students receive a COVID-19 booster and use “a highquality mask such as a surgical mask, a KN95 or N95 to fulfill the
mask requirement, rather than a cloth (washable) mask.” The email also stated that “low-cost KN95 masks are available in the campus store.” In an email sent on Jan. 14, Meredith Student Health Services announced their modified quarantine and isolation policies. The changes to these guidelines were made “in consultation with local county health officials” following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s changes to
recommended quarantine times. Within the new guidelines, students are broken into three categories: up-to-date with their vaccination, unvaccinated and vaccinated but not up-to-date. Those who are up-to-date have received a COVID-19 vaccine and, if eligible, a booster shot. The new guidelines specify that unvaccinated or not up-todate individuals will follow the same quarantine guidelines. Individuals must quarantine for
five days after exposure. If the individual is asymptomatic and tests negative for COVID-19 on the sixth day, they may be released from quarantine. However, between days six and 10 after exposure individuals are required to mask and remain socially distanced from others. Read the full story at meredithherald.com.
Arts & Entertainment
Students Produce Play for Senior Theatre Project By Olivia Slack, Co-Editor in Chief On Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, the play Lilith in Pisces will be shown in Jones Studio Theatre. Shows will occur at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. The show is directed by MacKenzie Ulibarri, ‘22, and stars Cas Corum, ‘22, as one of its main characters. Ulibarri and Corum have put on this production as their senior theatre project. Also starring in the play are Carolina Gao, ‘23, and James Poslusny. Members of the Meredith community can RSVP to attend through this Google Form. Corum said that they have “always wanted to do an acting role for [their] senior project.” They explained that usually, a senior project for an actor will involve them playing a lead character or other major role, but the COVID-19 pandemic cast uncertainty on their ability to do this. “I hoped putting on my own production would help me
grow as an actor,” Corum said, Kayla Eisenberg. It was perfect… “which is always my goal.” The characters had great arcs and Ulibarri said the show talks a lot that since she has about astrology. So most of her experiwe settled on it!” ence in designing Ulibarri said that plays, it made sense the show is “certainly for her to take on about femininity, that aspect of the and the expression production. “We’d of what that can look just had our directlike…it’s about the ing scenes last sepretty, nurturing, mester, and I learned yearning and lovely I really enjoy directside of femininity, ing, so it became and how strong it more and more of a can make people, really exciting thing but it also shows the Graphic by Carolina Gao to take on,” she said. ugly side, the vengeful, Corum and Ulibarri partangry, manipulative side.” nered for this senior project, and In astrology, Lilith refers to they said their first step was to find a specific moon phase, and when the play they wanted to produce. in the twelfth house its energy can “We wanted a small play be especially powerful. Corum exwith a mostly female or nonbiplained that in the play, “Lilith…is nary cast,” Corum explained. “I associated with an innate animalstumbled across Lilith in Pisces by istic instinct. [She is] bent on lust and unorthodox societal behav-
Art Exhibit on Campus Explores Safe Spaces and Trauma By Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor
The newest art exhibition on campus at Meredith College, entitled I Carry Them On My Back, Of Course! was curated by artist Alexandria Clay. The exhibit is in the Frankie G. Weems Gallery and is on display from Jan. 24 through March 11. A conversation with the artist is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 7 p.m., a workshop with the artist is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. and the closing reception for the exhibition is scheduled for March 3 at 5 p.m. In a press release sent out by Dr. Jean Jackson, gallery director Molly Hull describes the art as “a body of work that eagerly searches for shelter from the
trauma of experiencing marginalizing spaces.” Hull also states that “in Clay’s experience, Black matriarchs constantly craft and preserve places of refuge in her community—a practice that is due in part to domestic expectation.” These ideas are displayed in Clay’s work. The Weems Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekends. The exhibit’s poster advertises “braille labels, reading guides for persons with low vision and audio descriptions.” Attendance at events for the gallery can also be counted as an academic and cultural event at Meredith.
Exploring the Perspectives of Euphoria
iors, potentially creating tangled messes in [characters’] lives.” “The audience can expect an intimate show that talks about serious things, like self-reflection and feeling trapped in your life,” Ulibarri added. “It’s not too serious, and it has its funny moments, but there are heavy topics like abortion and suicide.” Corum said they hope that this production will inspire other students to embark on similar projects. “It's been a long time since an actual full-length play has been put on by students, Vagina Monologues notwithstanding," they said. "We hope to use this experience as a guide for future students.” “Putting on a production is no easy task, and it requires community,” Ulibarri said. “Our faculty have been very supportive of what we’re doing, and we are grateful that we’re able to do this.”
New Albums to Listen to in 2022 By Aminah Jenkins, Associate Editor, and Melissa Taylor, Contributing Writer Sick! by Earl Sweatshirt Earl Sweatshirt released his album Sick! on Jan. 14, 2022. Earl touches on topics such as the Black community, the power of music, self care and old memories. For the early Sweatshirt listeners this album really does bring back the feeling you get from his 2015 work. You can stream Sick! from Apple Music, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube.
to emphasize prioritizing mental health (hence the title of the album). Each song offers a distinct sound while also blending seamlessly with the others. The band stays consistent with the concepts of their previous work, but have made significant growth in the songs like “High Beams” through complex vocals and strong bass lines.
Water Your Garden by Magic City Hippies Most of this group’s discography evokes feel-good vibes—their sophomore album is no different. The album was written during COVID-19, and the band wanted
Keys by Alicia Keys The beautiful, talented and legendary Alicia Keys gave a gift to the world and called it Keys.
herself.
realistic situations in all areas of the show. Though Levinson does a decent job of portraying addiction through Rue, the lack of in-depth analysis for characters like McKay and Kat highlights the disconnect between him and those with marginalized identities on the show. The impact of McKay’s hazing experience in season one episode six has yet to be discussed (more than likely because the actor playing him left the show), and Kat’s main plot line fixates only on her body image. That isn’t to say that these experiences aren’t important. However, relegating characters to simplistic plot lines in a show with complex interactions does significant injustice to them.
Read the full story at meredithherald.com.
By Aminah Jenkins, Associate Editor Warning: spoilers for Euphoria season 2 ahead HBO’s smash hit Euphoria has returned for a second season. Similar to when the first season was released, conversations about the show’s portrayal of serious subject matters have arisen. From drug addiction to handling of traumatic events, the show has faced criticism for the way that these stories are told. It is important to keep in mind that the entire show is told from Rue’s perspective and that situations are explored through the context she gives. Rue is portrayed as someone whose addiction causes her to idealize people and events to her benefit. As an addict, she often tries to rationalize her use of drugs. When Rue begins to
use drugs again in the third episode of season two, she devises a plan to downplay her addiction to those in her life. Rue’s role as the protagonist evokes feelings of empathy and desire for situations to turn out in her favor (even if it isn’t always the best thing for her). The audience sees Rue’s life the way she sees it, which manifests in the support systems that Rue creates for herself. Jules, Rue’s primary love interest, is romanticized to the point where any decision Jules makes outside of Rue is seen as negative. The sadness Rue experiences when Jules leaves her at the train station at the end of the first season stems from this. In turn, the audience expects Jules to be solely accountable for Rue’s sobriety rather than Rue
The second season is beginning to explore the impact that Rue’s idealized perception has on the show as a whole. Even when she tries to justify her behavior, the reality of Rue’s actions is seen in every step. In season two episode three, we are able to see the way that her relapse impacts her relationship with her sister while also seeing how harmful her gaslighting tendencies are to those around her. Some of this is because Rue has internally acknowledged the harm of her behavior while simultaneously continuing to engage in them. But we also have to keep in mind the perspective of the show’s writer, Sam Levinson. Levinson has been heavily criticized this season for his inability to portray
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Opinion Student Worker Pay Should Be Increased By Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor As both a student and employee of Meredith College, I feel taken advantage of. Student workers on campus at Meredith make $8.25 per hour for their first year holding a job. Then, it increases by 30 cents every year afterward with a cap at $9.15 per hour. This pay rate is atrocious to any students working on campus at Meredith. The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour, but the average adult makes $13 per hour in NC according to ZipRecruiter. That is almost $5 more than first-year student workers make at Meredith. According to Admissionsly, the
average monthly college student expenses are about $2,000, which includes rent, car payments and gas, utility bills, cell phone service and food payments. If a student worker made $8.25 and worked for 40 hours per week, each month they would make $1,320. However, student workers are only allowed to work 10 hours per week at Meredith during the fall and spring semesters and 30 hours per week in the summer. The minimum living wage in Raleigh for 1 adult with no children, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, would be over $16 per hour. Even if full-time college students
aren't expected to be able to work full time, Meredith should demonstrate its commitment to providing a living wage by paying student employees at least $15 per hour. Even if Meredith did allow full-time student work, few college students have the time to work 40 hours per week on top of classes and studying. My point still stands, though: if students could work 40 hours per week at Meredith, those hours would be wasted because students would still need to make nearly $700 more per month to cover the average cost of monthly bills. If these students also cover their own
tuition without scholarships or financial assistance from parents or family, they would need to make even more. That’s a disgrace. Paying students $15 per hour would enable students to have more flexibility and make them feel valued. Personally, I wouldn’t feel so overextended with my schedule if I could work fewer hours to make the amount of money I need. Meredith College’s low student worker wage is disrespectful to students’ time, which is scarce to begin with.
Should Classes Be Held Face-to-Face? By Maggie Barnhill, Staff Writer The Omicron variant has caused a new surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. In North Carolina, the seven-day average of new cases on Jan. 30 was over 24,000. On Jan. 30, 2021, when most classes at Meredith were virtual, the seven-day average of new cases was just under 5,000. Despite the vast increase in the number of cases in North Carolina since this time last year, Meredith—along with most other universities—is holding classes inperson. While the COVID-19 vaccine is required for Meredith students and employees, not all Meredith students have been vaccinated due to exemptions, and not all have access to high-quality masks. Additionally, Meredith is holding multiple classes in a classroom per day, which may increase the chance of the virus spreading from one class to the next. Though no one wants to revert back to fully online classes, are we safe continuing to attend courses fully
in-person? A hybrid option might help decrease our risk of exposure to the virus. While there have been a few changes compared to last semester—like the vaccination requirement—the overall atmosphere of classes and campus events is largely the same. Though there are precautions in place to prevent the spread of the virus, the Omicron variant is much more contagious than previous variants. Meredith is also strongly encouraging but not requiring boosters, which would be effective to continuously keep Meredith College students, faculty and staff safe. Cloth masks are being discouraged, though the recommended surgical, N95, KN95 or KF94 masks are not being provided. While these masks are available in the campus store at cost, purchasing new masks is not achievable for all students. Additionally, not all students are able to make it to distribution points where free masks are available courtesy of the
Photo by Elisabeth Sinicrope
U.S. government. If Meredith were to incorporate a hybrid option for courses, those who are feeling under the weather or feel unsafe in the classroom could use Zoom like they could during the 202021 school year. This would allow students to continue receiving their education while keeping themselves and others safe. Whether or not the mode of classes changes over the course
of the semester, it is in everyone’s best interest to continue following clear, set measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Keeping up with one’s vaccinations, wearing masks properly and following social distancing guidelines will continue to help keep Meredith students safe.
levels of endorphins and oxytocin” levels in humans. Not only do these interactions have a positive impact on the people, but they also release excess oxytocin in the dogs. Therefore, both parties benefit from these interactions. Therapy dog teams have historically been brought to college campuses to relieve students’ stress during finals and other high stress times. In a study published by the National Institutes of Health analyzing the impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic on college students, 82% of students indicated that they had increased stress about academic performance and 71% stated that they had increased stress and anxiety. Therefore, aren’t therapy dog teams needed now more than ever?
Who Let the Dogs Out? By Elinor Shelp-Peck, Co-Editor in Chief
Photo courtesy of Elinor Shelp-Peck
Has anyone else noticed a lack of canine friends on campus recently? While PEARLS did have a therapy dog team visit in Nov. 2021, Meredith College has not had a regularly sponsored therapy dog team on campus in a notably long time, and that is a mistake. According to the American Kennel Club, therapy dog teams, which consist of a trained therapy dog and handler, “help lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce patient anxiety and increase
STAFF
Olivia Slack and Elinor Shelp-Peck, Co-Editors in Chief. Rachel Van Horne and Aminah Jenkins, Associate Editors. Ally Cefalu, A&E Editor. Molly Perry, Features Editor. Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor. Staff Writers: Maggie Barnhill, Jeanine Carryl, Shae-Lynn Henderson, Anna Prince, Mia Russell, Evelyn Summers, Hannah Taib. Contributing Writers: Emma Johnson, Melissa Taylor, Lauryn Turner, Haileigh West. Podcasting Director: Sofia Gomez. Copy Editor: Cady Stanley. Staff Photographers: Elisabeth Sinicrope.
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