April 8, 2016
The Evolution of CSA Day Brooke Mayo, Staff Writer An excerpt from “Meredith takes a day to ‘Celebrate Student Achievement’” by Christy Sadler on April 30, 2003: Meredith held its first annual Celebrating Student Achievement Day on April 24 [2003]. The specific idea for this daylong celebration began to be discussed last summer by Dr. Rosalind Reichard, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Jean Jackson, Vice President for Student Development. However, the seeds for this day were planted several years ago. Dr. Rhonda Zingraff, director of the program, said 90 research submissions were received this year, and 78 of these were accepted for the conference. These 78 posters and presentations represented the work of 95 students. [Ganey Mozley, ’13, stated that] “presenting [at] Meredith was a great experience… The audience was interested in what I had to say and they asked me thought-provoking questions. I’m convinced that nowhere could I find a more supportive group of fellow students and faculty.” The administration plans for Celebrating Student Achievement to become an annual event, and plans for the day will continue to evolve. As current students at
Meredith College, we’ve never had to experience this institution without a CSA Day. However, former students would be able to tell us that presentations and awards ceremonies used to be during actual school days. Because of scheduling conflicts with classes, many students did not participate in sharing their research with their peers and faculty. CSA Day changed that, for it allows us to have a full day dedicated to presentations and awards, and it also engages non-Meredith people – like our own families and outside friends – to see what we’ve been working on. CSA Day is one of Meredith’s youngest traditions, as it began in 2003. When asked how CSA Day has evolved over the years, Dr. Jean Jackson - now the Vice President for College Programs, as we have come to know her as - notes that “the primary changes have been in adjusting the schedule to allow more time between programs and events, as well as having some events one year and not another.” For instance, Dr. Jackson explains that one year Meredith had yoga before breakfast and a different year included a memorial walk. She said that, despite what improvements this day makes each year, “in every year, we have had much to celebrate
in the achievement of our students.” Dr. Jackson encourages students to attend the presentations that interest them and also the ones that they know very little about. She says that one of the most memorable presentations that she’s attended in the past was about the Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. It fascinated her so much, she and Dr. Lindquist actually took a trip to Costa Rica with Legacy and Presidential Scholars and was able to see this forest in person. “[It was] an amazing experience,” Dr. Jackson explains, “and one I would recommend to any adventurous traveler.” Dr. Alisa Johnson, a professor in the English Department, parallels Dr. Jackson’s excitement about CSA Day. She claims that it’s one of her favorite events in the spring semester, and she tries to go to as many presentations of her students as she possibly can. Dr. Johnson says that “one of the things that [she] love[s] most about CSA Day is that parents often come to hear the presentations, and meeting and being able to sit with them during the day is a delight.” She explains that “the parents are excited and proud, and watching them watch their children is heartwarming. I have heard many wonderful stories from the parents of students, and I am very grateful that
Meredith College hosts an event that brings us all closer to one another.” As for my own opinion? It’s probably the same as most undergraduates’. It’s a day off from school – why would we do anything but sleep, watch Netflix, and catch up on our own homework and studies? However, as a senior, I can’t emphasize how much I regret not taking advantage of attending my peers’ presentations these last few years. As Meredith students, we ought to support one another, and we should encourage private research. Yes, get a nap in during this day, but also try to attend at least one presentation since most are only about fifteen minutes long each, anyway. Do you honestly have an excuse not to attend? This year, there are over 100 presentations being made, with over 150 students being represented in areas such as poster presentations, teaching and learning, business and related topics, studies in humanities, and much more. Get your hands on the 2016 CSA Day schedule and go ahead and figure out which topics interest you the most. There truly is something for everybody. As Dr. Stephanie Hurt from the Business Department likes to say: “Happy Learning!”
Hijab Awareness Week Teaches Meredith about Islam Elizabeth Huss, Contributing Writer
Photo Credits Maryam Ahmed
This year at Meredith, the Muslim Student Association and the History and Politics Club organized Hijab Awareness Week—a week for the Meredith community to learn more about Islamic culture. MSA Vice President Miriam Zouhri says, “We both felt the need to hold a week like this at Meredith to spread knowledge about Islam and create an open dialogue. Our idea was to help educate and spread awareness throughout the week and to also ensure that Meredith Muslims feel safe, at home, and welcome on campus.” Friday’s
culmination event was an interactive activity about Islam around the world, which was held in Kresge auditorium. Of Friday’s event, Zouhri says “We felt the need to end the week on an open dialogue between not only Muslims, but all faiths on campus.” As part of Hijab Awareness Week, the groups also painted a free expression board on campus which prompted students to respond to the phrase “When I hear ‘Muslim,’ I think...” with what comes to their mind when they hear the word Muslim. Zouhri says, “That just really built up morale amongst the Meredith Muslims and made us feel welcomed and supported during such a trying time in society.” MSA member Adeelah Sayed says, “For some students, college is when they first meet a Muslim, so that makes it really important for us as the Muslim Student Association to represent the real Islam.” Zouhri says, “We really wanted to help Meredith students to better know their peers who are Muslim and to feel comfortable having
a conversation about faith and about the hijab.” Breaking down the misconceptions that some have about Islam and Muslims and educating the Meredith community about the religion were just a few other goals Hijab Awareness Week, thought of by MSA and the History and Politics Club. “Our idea was to spread knowledge in order to combat ignorance and a lack of knowledge is what creates stereotypes and hate,” says Zouhri. Adeelah Sayed also says, “Our biggest successes were just clarifying Islam to Meredith students and dispelling misconceptions that women are oppressed or seen as secondclass citizens in Islam.” Sayed also notes that teaching the Meredith community about the hijab was just as important; saying, “The hijab that some see as something forced on women, is an individual choice, and is meant for modesty, safety from men’s lust, and being acknowledged for what is inside your mind, rather than your
appearance. Of the events during the week, Zineb Baali says, “We had a great turnout and participation. I was happy to see that some people knew about Islam through their classes or from traveling to Muslim countries.” Baali also says, “The events during the week went well and it would be nice to keep this tradition going at Meredith.” Hijab Awareness Week drew many students and staff members to learn more about Islam and Muslims. Kat Bonner says she wanted to participate in the week because, “I wanted to gain the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. I gained a lot of confidence and respect for this group of women.” Speaking on the success of the week, Adeelah Sayed says, “I think we were able to reach out to a lot of people during Hijab Awareness Week and we were able to show them through examples what being a Muslim woman means.”
STAFF
Rachel Pratl, Editor in Chief. Emily Chilton, Assistant / A&E Editor. Cheyenne Williams, Op-Ed Editor. Laura Douglass, News Editor. Faith Rogers, Layout Designer. Olivia McElvaney, Online Editor. Instagram Manager, Sarah Kiser. Twitter Manager, Valerie Bobola. Sarah Haseeb, Website Designer. Staff Writers: Katrina Thomas, Brooke Mayo, Caroline Garrett, Niki Bell, Kat Bonner, Kayla Kushner, Alexa Ianuale, Sarah Kiser, M’Beyanna Robinson, Katie Murphy, Baileigh Jones
News The Downfall of The Odyssey Rachel Crawford, Staff Writer Chances are, you’ve heard of The Odyssey Online. Without a doubt, you’ve seen one of their articles shared onto your Facebook feed at some point. The Odyssey is a news website with contributing teams from over 75 colleges and universities. There is a team of unpaid staff writers at each college, as well as an editing team with an editor in chief, a contributing editor, a social media director, and a photographer, who also receive little to no payment. Then, there are the salaried editors, who manage multiple campuses from a central office in Manhattan. Junior Linda Sankat sparked something of a revolution when she announced on March 18 that she was stepping down from her Editorin-Chief position at the Odyssey’s Meredith branch. “On the surface, it may appear that I had no reason to resign, but behind the scenes, I’ve been to hell and back,” she wrote on the Odyssey team’s private Facebook page. “Over the past few months, I have been incessantly harassed to push you all to write tons of articles, and to recruit more writers, just so that the higher ups of The Odyssey could make a profit. I simply cannot stand for that. You all are much too talented to be exploited by this disgusting Ponzi
scheme of a company.” Ever since this Facebook post, many staff writers have decided to step down from the Odyssey in solidarity with Sankat. Later, Sankat said she decided to quit because the Odyssey staff treated her and her writers like commodities. Sankat said, “I knew that behind all of that there are just these people on top who are making a profit off of our work…It just didn’t sit well with me…I don’t like it when people are taken advantage of.” Sankat also quit because her supervisors pressured her to put her Editor-in-Chief duties over schoolwork. She wrote about her boss, Liz Posner: “She would constantly harass me, blowing up my phone with texts and phone calls during class.” The final straw for Sankat was when Posner told her that it was her “obligation” to answer her phone, even during class. Sankat quit almost immediately after that incident, and ever since, she says it has been a weight off her shoulders. Sankat is not the only person who felt disrespected by the Odyssey staff. Damaris Griffith, a staff writer who joined the team in the fall, had a negative experience with managing editor Posner regarding one of her articles. Griffith wrote an article titled “Why Education Is The Most
Important Thing In Your Life” about how social change can only come through education and patience. The article’s main focus was not on racism, but it did mention some examples of racial ignorance and it contained one sentence about a man who used blackface. Despite the fact that it was such a minor part of the article, Posner pressured Griffith to change the article’s cover photo to an image of a man in blackface, which Griffith refused. Griffith said about this incident: “Liz wanted to change the photo to a photo of blackface, which I WAS NOT okay with. That’s clearly not what the article was about, and it was a clear drive to get more views… There were way more examples used in the article that were not nearly as controversial. When Liz asked to do that, it’s pretty much when I realized that the Odyssey was all about views. I’m not entirely mad about thateverything is a business. Prisons, even non profits...but the fact that we (as writers) we’re working to meet a ‘requirement’ every week, hosting ads on our articles, and no money came to us or as far as I know our editors, that made me angry.” Today, the majority of the Odyssey’s writers have stopped
contributing due to disagreement with the company’s values. Some writers, however, have decided to stay on the staff. Sarah Kincaid stands by her decision to continue writing for the Odyssey because she thinks her articles can reach a certain audience that other forms of media might not be able to. “I know I am the unpopular opinion here, but the reason I write for the Odyssey is not only for the experience, but also so maybe I can write something [that] helps a fellow college student get through a hard time they might be going through,” Kincaid shared on the team’s Facebook page. Even though there are many positive aspects to writing for the Odyssey, Sankat urges writers to at least reconsider their contributions to the website: “With Meredith being such a close-knit sisterhood, the Odyssey is just too corporate for our community... If somebody really wants to write for the Odyssey, they shouldn’t let my experience deter them necessarily, but I do urge those people who are still writing for the Odyssey to look a bit deeper into the inner workings of the company and then decide if they still want to continue.”
in conference. The Angels will travel to Newport News VA, Wednesday April 6, to face non-conference opponent, Christopher Newport. Meredith Athletics continued going strong on the weekend with a big non-conference win from Meredith lacrosse. The lacrosse team faced off against non-conference rivals, Rhodes, in Danville Kentucky on Saturday April 2. The Angels lost to Rhodes last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament; however, this weekend’s storyline was altered. The Angels defeated the Lynx 19-9 with key scores from senior Katie Burnet and freshman Julie Capretti. These win keeps the Angels first in
conference with a 5-0 record and 13-1 overall. The Angels travel to Ferrum Saturday April 9 to match up against the panthers. Finally, the Avenging Angels launched their very first track & field program this spring. The team is coached by Leslie Payne and has a roster size of 21. The Angels have competed in four meets on the season with a 6th overall finish meet one and an 8th overall finish in meet two. The Angels next meet will be the Aggie Invitational at North Carolina A&T University this Saturday April 9.
Avenging Angels Sweep the Weekend Julia Allsbrook, Contributing Writer April fools weekend was no joke for Meredith tennis, softball, and lacrosse as all three teams came out with big wins on the weekend. Meredith Tennis improved their record to 10-6 overall and 8-3 in conference with big wins on the road against Ferrum and Averett. The Angels shut down the Panthers of Ferrum 9-0, and the Cougars of Averett 8-1. Sophomore Ran Zhang continued her undefeated season winning her singles match 5-0 and her doubles match, alongside senior Catherine Bryant, 9-8. The tennis team plays at home this Saturday April 9 for Senior Day, against Maryville. The Avenging Angel softball
team also did their fair share of swinging this weekend after defeating conference opponents Mary Baldwin and Ferrum. The Angels matched up against the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin on Saturday April 2, and recorded 17 runs with 24 hits between the two games. The double header on Sunday April 3 against Ferrum was defensively driven as the Angels won 3-1 in game one, followed by 1-0 in game two. The Angels are led offensively by senior Courtney Saunders with 34 hits on the season, and sophomores Brittany Bucklin and Maria Annunziata with a combined total of 54 RBIs. The Angels have improved their record to 19-13 overall and 9-7
A New Addition to the Communications Department Avery Dubuque, Contributing Writer In the upcoming fall semester the communications department will be welcoming in a new faculty member. Alan Buck is currently a professor at Campbell University and has worked as an adjunct professor at St. Augustine’s, Peace, and even here at Meredith. His work specializes in video production, social media, film, television, and interactive media. Before he was a professor, Mr. Buck got his B.A. from UNCG in Media Studies and his M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University. He also has a freelance video and TV production company, was a promotions manager for WTWB, and was a videographer for WLFL, WRDW, and WHNS. Alan started off working in the field at a TV station and worked his way up through
several stations until he became the promotions manager for WTWB. However, during that time, he got tired of television and decided to go back to school for his degrees, and graduated with honors. He started teaching as an adjunct while also doing his freelance work and fell in love with it. He has been teaching ever since. Alan Buck describes his teaching style as not being a teacherbut instead, he likes to impose his knowledge to help others apply it to the real world. He is looking forward to teaching at Meredith because he sees the leadership in our students as an important skill and the focus Meredith students have as a benefit to the classroom. He plans on bringing social media, digital media, and interactive
media coursework into the curriculum, and also wants to bring our students to Chapel Hill’s TV station so they can have internships and experiences as part of a film crew. Mr. Buck is also looking forward to doing workshops with speakers for video classes and looking at organizing resume building clinics and events. He feels that any student in today’s workforce needs to have a digital media background in order to be competitive when searching for a job. If he had an unlimited budget he would add a working TV studio to the communications department and start a media lab to allow campus and nonprofit organizations to come in for media help; like his Digital Media class did with Campus Kitchens last year at Meredith. He would also love
to have an international component either during spring break or in the summer that would enable students to travel abroad and be partnered with a non-profit of their choosing. They would have the task of producing all the media necessary to sustain their operations, such as producing a promotional video, building a website, taking all of their pictures, and setting up social media accounts. The students would get a great experience, and the organization, who may otherwise never be able to afford it, would get all the help they need to operate in a digital age. Lastly, Mr. Buck is looking forward to learning and helping out with all of the Meredith traditions, and is ready to “just experience” everything Meredith has to offer.
Celebrating Student Achievement The Herald interviewed a few Meredith alumnae who are continuing their research after graduation.
Marlena Brown ‘15 Major in History and English, Minor in International Studies Research topic at MC: My research focused on the intersection of Western and Eastern culture from the 1930s to the 1950s based on the biographical accounts of Nien Chang, Adeline Yen Mah and others, and historical fact. I specifically focused on how Western culture influenced the social landscape of China from the mediums of fashion, education and changing social norms of women during the period. Takeaway: I learned more about a culture that is different from my own. Specifically, there are several stereotypes that seem to be floating about regarding women in non-Western cultures (i.e. they are oppressed by men and cannot attain a decent education, gainful employment, etc) and tend to be exaggerated from a Western view. What are you working on now at grad school? Currently I am working on my Master’s degree in Physiology at NC State, which is a big switch from the humanities! But I am pursuing a lifelong dream in the sciences (my intention was to enter Meredith as either a biology or chemistry major so I could attend vet school, but I also came in with many minds!). How did MC research impact you/ your career? Although my research is not directly related to my graduate studies, it has been more help than I could possibly have imagined. The skills that I gained with writing and critical thinking have been very important in my graduate studies. While most people may believe that the life sciences do not demand students to know how to write, they are very mistaken. I think I have written more papers and assignments than I have done problem solving and studying anatomical diagrams!
Tamara M Shovelton ‘14 Major in History, Minor in Religious Studies
Photo Credits: Tamara Shovelton
Research topic at MC: Queen Elizabeth I and her relationships with men.
Takeaway: I learned the importance of having a community around you that could help to guide you towards your dreams. What are you working on now at grad school? I am currently writing my Master’s thesis on the “Lessons of a Queen.” Based on the relationships of Queen Elizabeth I during her adolescence. How did MC research impact you/ your career? My research at Meredith helped me to get to where I am today. Having to write these as an undergraduate taught me how to do research. I had a leg up coming into grad school because I had already written both a historiography and a thesis. Doing research at Meredith gave me the opportunity to participate in CSA day when I was a senior and it was one of the best things I ever did.
Puja Patel ‘14 Major in Psychology and Sociology
Ariel Nikas ‘14
Lara N. Pantlin ‘14
Major in Mathematics, Minor in Studio Art
Major in Psychology, Minor in Economics
Research topic at MC: Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling of the antibiotic ertapenem.
Research topics at MC: For my senior thesis, I researched social support structures during transitional stress.
Takeaway: Using some clinical data we can map the location and effective agents of a drug at any given point in time after administering it with some confidence. Models like these can eventually be used to recommend effective dosing levels for different weights and heights, as opposed to a certain amount based on the average person.
Takeaway: Having a strong social support network through transitions can come in many forms and having a mentor or some form of social support in both the network your are leaving (e.g. home, or graduating from college) and establishing one in your new network (e.g. new school, job) are of high importance.
What are you working on now at grad school? Currently, I am working on quantifying and predicting how ultrasound waves bounce back from elasto-dynamic tissues in the human body in order to decrease uncertainty and better identify potentially dangerous tissues, like cancer or tumors, sooner.
What are you working on now at grad school? PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience with a concentration in Statistics. I am a doctoral candidate and just received my master’s this January. I research timing in clinical populations using EEG, neuropsychological assessment in dementia/TBI with transcranial magnetic stimulation, and I also work as a data analyst for a music therapy project.
How did MC research impact you/ your career? Meredith College taught me the skills and perseverance that have enabled me to continue in mathematical research.
Dr. Jayme M. Hickman ‘01 Major in Psychology, Minor in Computer Studies Puja Patel and Lara Pantlin with Dr. Cynthia Edwards
Research topic at MC: Parent-Child Communication Amongst Asian-American Families and its Relationship to Bicultural Self-efficacy in Young Adults. Takeaway: Bicultural efficacy is an individual’s belief in his or her ability to live effectively and satisfactorily within two cultural groups without having to compromise his or her own sense of cultural identity. The results indicated that high levels of communication with one’s mother, whether in the adopted culture’s language or native culture’s language, affect the young adult’s sense of self and ability to navigate between cultures. What are you working on now at grad school? Currently working on neurocognitive impacts of HIV/AIDS and substance use as a part of the HARP lab at Duke University. I hope to continue researching these topic in terms of cross-cultural intervention methods as a part of the Duke Global Health Masters in Science program next year. How did MC research impact you/ your career? Having the freedom to explore topics that were completely in line with my interests and having the opportunity to work closely with such amazing faculty was a priceless experience. I was able to use all of the research skills I gained at Meredith for my Clinical Trials Assistant position at Duke University. The research experience gave me an upper hand and paved the way for my success here at Duke.
How did MC research impact you/ your career? I would have never received the opportunities and support had I not attended Meredith College. The small class size offers opportunities to create lifelong, meaningful relationships with mentors. Meredith not only provided me with the intellectual stimulation and challenges I constantly seek as a student but also with the confidence to venture into a male-dominated field and continue to be successful.
Michelle Maiden, ‘14 Double Major in Mathematics and Chemistry
Dr. Rosemary Hornak, Laura Eischen, Eva Rose Hornak Snapp
Research topic at MC: The effects of effort training and time delay on task persistence Takeaway: During training, it is important to keep instruction simple and gradually increase complexity. Additionally, the aspect of time increases task complexity. What are you working on now at grad school? I finished my doctoral research at Georgia Tech in 2009. My research focused on the effects of age and time on training older adults to use technology such as cell phones and medical devices. Currently I own a government contracting firm focused specifically on instructional design, training, and user experience (UX). How did MC research impact you/ your career? Meredith in general fostered my love of learning and imparting knowledge. My research showed me that the design of development of training can greatly improve or inhibit learning.
Research topic at MC: Mathematically describing a Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction Takeaway: Special types of chemical reactions are self-sustaining. As such, you can see really interesting patterns that look like fingerprints! These patterns can be described mathematically using dynamical systems. What are you working on now at grad school? Now, I’m a grad student in Applied Math at CU Boulder. I study how magma moves in the Earth’s mantle. I even get to do experiments! Instead of magma, we use corn syrup in our lab. We see a wide variety of waves, and my goal is to understand these waves and their interactions with each other better.
How did MC research impact you/ your career? Through Meredith College, I was able to hone my skills in independent research. I learned how to begin, sustain, and wrap up a research project in a meaningful way. I was also able to work on a variety of projects in chemistry and math, and this helped me find something I am passionate about for graduate study.
Celebrating Student Achievement The Herald would like to offer a sampling of the multitude of research being presented by undergraduates on CSA Day, April 12th. Presentations will be held in various locations on campus.
Oscar’s letters, his poetry, his writing, and biographies to track his time in Italy and visit to as many places he went as possible. I traced themes of romanticism, aestheticism, Catholicism, and varying perceptions of... homosexuality and compared these Morning Conference Sessions Poster presentation- 7:30 AM -9 AM, themes between Italy and London to find how Italian culture affected him in Carlyle Campbell Library. Teaching and Learning: Educating Chil- ways Victorian Britain did not. dren and the Public - Ledford 101. Laboratory Science: Research and A What did you conclude? Closer Look - SMB 162. Literature: Classic to Contemporary - My conclusion was that Italy is a reflection of Oscar that provided him Kresge Auditorium. Social Science: Quality of Life, Diver- an outlet to be most in touch with who he was as a writer, a gay man, and sity, and Immigration - Ledford 111. an icon. He would not have been the Business and Related Topics: Research, Renovation, and Cryptology same without his connection to Italian culture. - Harris 110. Communication & Media presentations Brooke Mayo - SMB 118. Octavia! performing - Carswell Concert Zelda Fitzgerald’s Save Me the Hall. Waltz: Through the Eyes of a Afternoon Conference Sessions and Events Clinical Practice and Human Emotions - Ledford 101. Scientific Field Research and Sustainability -SMB 162, 1:40 PM. Studies in the Humanities: Gender, Feminism, and Film - Kresge Auditorium, 1:30 PM. Art History and Picturing Time - SMB 118, 1:30 PM. International Programs: Study and Research Abroad conferences - Harris 110, 1:40PM. Performances and Exposition - Carswell Concert Hall, 1:40 PM.
Ann Cox Oscar Wilde’s Italy
Woman What was your thesis? It is a discussion on Zelda Fitzgerald’s conditions that she was under when she wrote her first and only novel. Long story short: She wrote it in only six weeks in an asylum, her husband was mad that she wrote about their lives (and therefore changed most of her book), and his influence resulted in the novel not receiving proper editing. The book had horrible reviews, and it’s still considered a literary failure; however, my thesis digs deeper than that. I discuss the significance of Fitzgerald’s novel in the sense that it’s semi-autobiographical, and it’s a fascinating approach to understanding the mind of a woman during The Roaring Twenties. What led you to pursue this topic?
Photo Credits: Ann Cox
What led you to pursue this topic? I chose this topic because Oscar Wilde is my favorite writer and I grew up reading and performing in his work. While he is often associated with London and British society, if one digs deeper, it is clear to see that he was greatly influenced by his time in Italy. When I was accepted to study abroad in Sansepolcro, I knew I wanted to follow in Oscar’s footsteps to learn just how this beautiful place impacted his life and work. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? I would do this project again in a heartbeat! I learned so much about Oscar and about Italy through this research. I got to stay connected with my roots as a theatre kid, but from the lens of an International Studies major. How did you conduct your research? To conduct this research, I analyzed
A couple of summers ago, my father was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama, and I decided that it would be a good experience to spend my break down there. I went to Barnes and Noble a lot, and I found a book called “Z” that got my attention. Plus, it was on sale for $4, so of course I got it. It was a modern novel based on the life of Zelda Fitzgerald. Being the English nerd that I am, I loved it, and I was obsessed with the idea that the American culture didn’t truly know who she truly was. The F. Scott Fitzgerald museum is also in Montgomery, and I knew that my life would be changed forever as I stood and read her letters to her husband and father that were hanging on the walls. She had a story to tell, in spite of the patriarchal society that she lived in, and I wanted to be a part of it. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? In a heartbeat! She has become a part of me, and I feel drawn to tell her story. She deserves this. I chose a tough subject since there isn’t a lot of information on her in comparison to other writers, but it was and is worth it. How did you conduct your research? English majors have to do a thesis, and we also have to take a research seminar class, which is probably the
most work I’ve ever had to do for a class while here at Meredith: that was my spring semester of my junior year. Now, the spring semester of my senior year, I’m finally putting all of the research together to share with others. I’ve had to look up original reviews of the novel, letters that Zelda wrote, biographies (of her husband), etc.
What did you conclude? We all have stories, and they all deserve to be told. It may appear that somebody has a perfect life, but it could actually be the farthest thing from it. Also, research isn’t something that just happens overnight. I’ve been working on this for technically two years now if you add in my preresearch of going to the museum and whatnot. Even now as I’m writing and presenting, I’m finding more and more information that I could use. What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? Pick a topic that you love, and it won’t really seem like work - it’ll be more of a mission. I have made it my mission to prove a point about Zelda, and that has made this an extremely enjoyable experience. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it when it’s all finished. Oh, and save your sources in print as well as on a thumb-drive. Y’all should have seen my face when my hard-drive crashed earlier this year. Luckily, I have an amazing adviser that saved some things for me and I also saved the majority of things in another place, so I didn’t have to start from scratch
Nicole Lawson Acts of Love: Increasing Empathy for People with Mental Illness
wanted to study this process in order to better understand how it affected participants. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? Absolutely! I have had the privilege of working with an incredible group of women and have learned so much about the power of dance to create social change. How did you conduct your research? I have been working with a cast of five women in a dance-making process based in praxis. We discuss topics about mental illness, discrimination and empathy and then engage in “embodied reflection” of these topics through movement improvisation and composition. I am also collecting journal entries and conducting interviews with the participants in order to learn more about how they are experiencing the process and how the process is impacting them. Our process together will culminate in the performance of a work that we have created together that will premiere at DanceWorks 2016 April 22-24, 2016. What did you conclude? So I am actually still in the process of conducting my research. What I have learned so far, however, is that dance really can impact people’s empathy for others. During my first round of interviews, one of my dancers said this about what she has learned about discrimination against people with mental illness: “This should be impacting how I vote.” She went on to tell me how she would be researching candidates’ policies on mental health in order to choose to whom she would give her vote. It is incredible to see how much these dancers’ attitudes toward people living with mental illness have changed in such a short period of time. What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis?
Lawson with her anonymous dancers after a rehearsal. Staff photo by Sarah Kiser.
Your advisor can make or break your thesis project, so choose wisely. I have been so lucky to have Carol Finley as my advisor. She keeps me focused and knows how to ask the right questions to get me thinking about project in new ways.
What was your thesis? I am studying a process that educator and activist, Paolo Freire, called “praxis.” It is the process of reflecting on the world that we live in and then acting on that world in order to make it a more compassionate place to live. I have two research questions: 1) Can praxis increase empathy? 2) Does dance constitute a form of praxis? What led you to pursue this topic? I have been involved in mental health activism since I was in middle school. I am also very dedicated to the idea that dance should serve the community. When I came to Meredith, I learned about a type of dance-making and research process that incorporated feminist and critical pedagogy as a means to create social change. I really
Tess Coleman Differences in Motivational Strategies in K-2 and 3-5 Classrooms. What led you to pursue this topic? I first got interested in this topic when I took Dr. Schrocks Educational Psychology class where we read a study on motivational strategies in classrooms. I decided I wanted to take this research a little further and investigate the different age groups in elementary school and how teachers are motivating their students. How did you conduct your research? (Continued on next page)
Celebrating Student Achievement I surveyed a group of teachers who all graduated from the same MED and MET program and analyzed their responses to make conclusions. What did you conclude?I concluded that teachers in both k-2 and 3-5 grade levels are using satisfaction strategies (extra recess, verbal positive reinforcement, sticker) at a high rate. What advice can you offer about starting/writing a thesis? One piece of advice I would give to a student first starting the thesis process would be to read a model thesis from start to finish. This gives you an ideaof what the final product of a thesis looks like. When you start the writing process, it is easy to get caught up in each section of the paper. Make sure you keep the bigger picture in mind
Jessica Williford Adaptive Piano Lessons for Children with Autism Using the Lovaas Model of Applied Behavior Analysis and Discrete Trial Teaching
What did you conclude? My study showed that ABA and DTT can be used in teaching music skills to children with autism. However, further research would be needed in order to understand the full possibilities of using ABA to teach music, and how it compares to a more traditional method. My study also confirmed that teaching piano to a child with autism is highly complex and that there are individual ability and behavioral needs that have to be considered. Each child in my study showed very different learning and behavioral needs and there was never one solution that worked for every child. Usually, many different teaching techniques and strategies had to be tried in order to find one that worked. Although the rate of learning among my participants varied significantly, each child showed individual successes and breakthroughs during the study. Most importantly, each child enjoyed his musical experience and looked forward to his lesson times! What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? Start early! It took me 1 ½ years to complete my thesis, and it was so nice to be able to thoroughly invest in it and not rush through it. Also, don’t be shy about talking to a variety of people outside of just your adviser. I was blessed to have a wonderful thesis advisor, but my project benefited so much from the advice and assistance that I received from other professors and staff members at Meredith.
Williford 2nd from left with Meredith Autism Program employees
Is there anything else you would like to add? What led you to pursue this topic? I have been working with the Meredith Autism Program since my freshman year, and have seen firsthand how successful applied behavior analysis (ABA) is in teaching young children diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Because of ABA’s success in teaching self-help, pre-academic, language, and social skills, I was interested to see if it could be used to teach a young child with autism to play the piano. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? Yes! For sure! I learned so much through the experience and I am hopeful that my thesis will serve as an inspiration for others to continue to research the use of ABA in teaching music. How did you conduct your research? I began by doing an extensive literature review on ABA and traditional early childhood music education and piano pedagogy. Using this information, I developed six teaching programs that were modeled after traditional ABA programs and targeted different areas of musical development. I then taught these programs to three preschool-age children with autism over the course of 8 weeks. During this time, I took qualitative and quantitative data to measure the learning gains of the three children.
Don’t be afraid to pursue a topic or idea just because it hasn’t been done before!
idea for what all Meredith students think about their nutrition. The survey did ask more quantitative questions to test their nutrition knowledge. This included questions about how many servings of vegetables should be consumed in a day, what are quality sources of protein,and how many calories is ideal for a woman in one day.
write, but loving my research topic didn’t make it so bad. It Being proud of my project motivated me. Also, knowing that by writing about my project meant that other people could learn from me. If I didn’t personalize my project and love my topic I don’t know how I could have finished my 72 page thesis.
What led you to pursue this topic?
Kaity Melvin
I am a nutrition major so I wanted to research about nutrition at Meredith College. When I was working on my literature review, I found that a lot of research said that weight gain for most people occurs during young adulthood. I then read about how those who attend college gain more weight than those who do not attend college. However, not much of the research explained why is happened. I want to help fill that knowledge gap by understanding how weight gain could be happening at Meredith. I couldn’t find any current research specifically reporting on nutrition status on Meredith’s campus, so I started from scratch and just asked students about their own nutrition. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? YES! I loved this research topic so much. I feel like my results could really help college students to make healthier choices and not develop bad diet habits during college. The results from this project helped me to understand how much food choice plays a part in people’s diets. I would like to learn more about this topic if I continue my research in the future.
What did you conclude?
Illa Jones Surveying the Food Climate of Meredith College: A Qualitative Study
Jones presenting at the event “A Taste of Research.”
What was your thesis? I led 6 focus groups only including Meredith College undergraduate students asking them how Meredith College affect their diets. This took place over summer of 2015 and fall semester of 2015. I focused my questions a lot on the transition from high school to college for the participants. This way they could think better about how the college life affected their nutrition as opposed to before college. I depicted the results in a conceptual model that could be used as an education tool for college nutrition educators. I used the results from the focus group to create a survey that was sent to all Meredith college undergrad students. This way I could get a better
I concluded that the transition from high school to college greatly affects Meredith College students’ diets. A lot of people seemed to talk about how they completely relied on their parents for their intake and then when they came to college they had no idea how to cook, grocery shop, or choose healthy foods. Most participants from the survey did answer the knowledge questions correctly. This made me think that if students know what healthy food is, they must be struggling with some other aspect of food choice that negatively affects their diets. I concluded that this was because college students are making convenience-type foods a greater priority than healthy foods. College students feel pressed for time, so they just consume the cheapest, fastest food options. Nutrition educators could use this information to help college students find cheaper and faster ways to consume healthy foods. What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? The main piece of advice that I can offer is to pursue a topic that you are passionate about, because this can be a very stressful process, but loving your research can make it feel worth it. I remember many nights having to stay in instead of hanging out with friends or getting off from work at 11pm and then having to go home and
Life on Mars? The Challenges of Colonizing the Red Planet What was your thesis? My thesis was more just a general question of what are the challenges of colonizing Mars, specifically the biological challenges, and how could they possibly be handled to ensure that a mission or possible colonization of Mars could go as swiftly as possible, with little to no hitches. What led you to pursue this topic? I’m mainly working on this project as a way to finish up my last credit of physical science that’s required for my B.S in Biology. However, I’ve always had a deep set love of space, for as long as I can remember. Space is just absolutely fascinating to me, and I will devour any information about space that I can find. When Dr. Schmidt suggested a project about space travel that could combine my major with my love for space, and my knack for writing, I was absolutely sold. If you could do your research over again, would you chose the same topic? If I could do my research over again I absolutely would, simply because I have had so much fun with it in the past few weeks. Which surprised me, as 90% of what I’m doing starts with reading relevant scientific literature, and books written by some fabulous science writers, instead of working in a lab. How did you conduct your research? I conducted my research by reading Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, who is one of my favorite authors of all time, and Mankind Beyond Earth: The History, Science and Future of Human Space Exploration by Claude A. Piantadosi, who actually works over at Duke. These two books provided the basis for my research, and some excellent jumping points so that I could really delve further into. From there I completed writing assignments based on hypothetical what if questions and attempted to find scientific articles that would help me see if there was anything in the literature that helped solve the specific challenges of going into space for so long. What did you conclude? So far I have realized that space travel is far more dangerous than we really give it credit for, and what is so terrifying is that going into space for long periods of time can actually affect your physical health permanently, which we (Continued on next page)
Celebrating Student Achievement -often don’t think about. Not only that, but going into space for long periods of time also affects your mental health adversely, which obviously has to be combatted if we want all the astronauts to come back mentally stable, and without the urge to kill their fellow crew mates.
Abigail Lorentzen
Abigail Lorentzen
as my thesis advisor.
The Effects of Government Censorship of Media on the Culture and Global Awareness of the Public
God of Wonders: An Examination of Late Classical and Early Christian Art
Nyssa Tucker
What was your thesis?
Miranda Ameen A Review of Sea Turtle Migration Studies
Photo Credits: Abigail Lorentzen
What was your thesis? Photo Credits:Miranda Ameen
What led you to pursue this topic? Over the summer, I interned at the NC Aquarium and took an immediate interest in sea turtles. Unfortunately, information on sea turtles is scarce due to the fact that sea turtles only return to land to lay their eggs. With limited funding and technology, tracking sea turtles is a difficult task. The goal of my research was to compile various literatures to create a better understanding of sea turtle migration patterns, as well as highlight a need to focus future research efforts on examining the correlation between sea turtle movement and survival. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? Yes. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching this topic. How did you conduct your research? I conducted my research by reading various journals and studies that examined sea turtle migration patterns. What did you conclude? I concluded that sea turtles do not appear to have set migration patterns. Migratory factors include: food, water temperature, and water currents. Loggerhead sea turtles found along the east coast of the United States typically migrate toward Florida during the winter season and toward the North Carolina-Virgina coast during the summer season. Further research can be conducted examining other species of sea turtles and migration patterns of sea turtles in other areas.
My thesis explored the censorship of television media by the government and how the type of governmental regime in a country influences the global awareness of citizens within that nation through media censorship. What led you to pursue this topic? I love to travel and during my time abroad, I noticed that each country I visited presented certain issues differently. During my semester studying abroad in London, I realized that British news presents information in a much different manner than American news outlets. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? I would choose the same topic, but I would choose different countries. My countries were in North America, Europe, and Asia, so if I conducted this research again, I would include countries in Africa and South America. How did you conduct your research? I selected four different countries, each falling in different categories of censorship according to the World Press Freedom Index, and conducted a case study looking at television coverage of certain domestic and international issues. Additionally, I surveyed international students and study abroad participants from Meredith College. What did you conclude? I concluded that, according to my research findings, the more restrictive and less democratic the governmental regime of a nation, the more censored the media is, causingthe public to have a lack of global awareness. What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? When writing your thesis, make sure you set deadlines for yourself. I found that deadlines helped me stay on track and helped me space out the bigger sections of my writing. Also, make sure to utilize your thesis advisor; Dr. McLennan and Dr. Holder were both great resources for me as my thesis advisors.
CSA Day 2015
When early Christian artists began making art, they had no examples from which to draw inspiration. They did not even know what Christ actually looked like. Christians wanted to depict Christ in a manner similar to that of classical emperors and gods, and as a strong and compassionate ruler. Similar to classical artists, they wanted to send a message through their work, one that shared the Gospel story with the multitudes. In order to share that story with the pagan public, Christian artists needed to find a way to portray Christianity in a way that would be understood by an illiterate pagan public and did so by adopting pagan iconography and giving it Christian significance. Over time, such images began to lose their pagan significance and began to be recognized only for their religious meaning. What led you to pursue this topic? I took Latin for four years in high school and was always fascinated with Roman and Greek art. When I traveled to Rome my senior year of high school, our guide at the Vatican told us that many of the Christian statues in St. Peter’s Basilica were actually ancient Roman statues that were repurposed to portray Christian figures. This made me think about what other classical art was altered by early Christian artists, inspiring my thesis topic. If you could do your research over again, would you choose the same topic? I would choose the same topic, but I would like to explore other iconographical symbols and Christian figures in order to get a more well-rounded view of the relationship between late classical and early Christian art. How did you conduct your research? I started with my topic and began doing research to try to understand the relationship of pagan images and how they influenced early Christian artists. When researching, you are exposed to other ideas and avenues you can pursue in your writing and I used the information I found in my research to influence my writing. What did you conclude? I concluded that many images that were traditionally used to portray pagan figures have since lost their pagan meanings and are now solely known What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? When writing your thesis, make sure you set deadlines for yourself. I found that deadlines helped me stay on track and helped me space out the bigger sections of my writing. Also, make sure to utilize your thesis advisor; Dr. Mulvaney was a great resource for me
I’m presenting on both my research in synthetic medicinal chemistry and my honors thesis research entitled: Finding the Feminine in Watchmen. What led you to pursue this topic? My interest in Ethics stems from my interest in developing myself as a person. Ethics is a discipline uniquely engaged with the conversation of what it means to be a ‘good’ person and, although it varies from person to person, can be said to generally be a discussion on how it is best to treat another person. This doesn’t automatically make ethicists better at being ‘good’ people, but they can be trusted to at least have some argumentation to back up their actions. At the Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association National Conference I discussed my thesis work in a presentation named Finding the Feminine in Watchmen. My goals here are entirely personal: how to better develop myself and enrich my way of thinking to better reflect how I believe the world should be. I presented on a graphic novel that was written to satire classic superheroes like Batman and Superman, presenting the stereotypes in a variety of lights through multiple characters. It’s a great book, and beautifully illustrated. But the women in Watchmen were few and far between! The ways they were presented were annoying to me because, true to the genre, they were hyper-sexualized and their plots were centered around sex. I want to see a kick-ass female superhero who acts to further their own agenda, not to encourage male sexuality. What did you conclude? Looking at gender within Watchmen has opened my eyes to the issues of gender, the superhero genre, and to the world of academic discussion on popular culture. The conference was incredible. I have never felt more invited and engaged in conversation with strangers than I did at the Seattle PCA conference. The level of academic discussion was formidable, but in such a way that I felt encouraged to question and contribute. What advice can you offer about starting/writing your thesis? I would share with my honors sisters the importance of a liberal arts education. Curiosity and inquisition are essential to learning and growth. Exercise your interests and allow yourself to get excited about new ideas, no matter if the subject is in your major or not. Those ideas that you do not make your bread and butter from are the ones that will lead to conversations and connections that no amount of networking can fabricate. Get excited! I know that it isn’t cool and feels really uncomfortable, but those ideas that get you going are the ideas that have the most meaning to you. Figure out what they are, and keep figuring out the increasingly abstracted meaning for yourself.
Arts & Entertainment Spring Play: Merrily We Roll Along Dakota Bailey, Staff Writer This April 6 through the 9 the Meredith theater is putting on Merrily We Roll Along. This play is about three friends (played by Meredith senior Karyn Raynor, local actor Jon Skinner, and guest artist Peter Vitale) as we travel with them through their lives and milestones. The only trick is, we’re going backwards, starting in 1976 and ending in 1957. Peter Vitale, Meredith’s guest artist, is a professional Equity actor who is located in Minnesota. Dr. Catherine Rodgers, who is also directing the play, told me a little about our special guest. “He is currently the musical director
for Ten Thousand Things Theatre (in Minnesota). He has played several leading roles for Meredith Ensemble Theatre since moving to the twin cities. Peter was in the first musical I directed here, The Fantastiks.” The theater is very happy to be having Mr. Vitale here again, especially since his character has some challenging things to accomplish. “Frank (Vitale’s character) is… a demanding role that requires the actor to play the piano while singing or accompanying other actors while they perform. Not just any actor is able to do this as effortlessly as Mr. Vitale!”
Dr. Rodgers, having directed plays before, was kind enough to share her favorite part of directing Merrily We Roll Along. “My favorite part of directing this show has been the strong collaboration between my colleagues and friends--musical director Dr. Jim Waddelow, choreographer Cindy Carbone, scenic/lighting designer Jenni Becker and costume designer LeGrande Smith. In addition, it has been so valuable to have Peter Vitale here to model for our students what a professional actor is/does and to see them respond to his strong work ethic. Finally, the biggest gift is always to see
firsthand the growth that our students have achieved during their four years with us.” Merrily We Roll Along is showing in Jones Auditorium April 6-9 at 7:30pm and the 10th at 3pm. Tickets are free for all college/university students who present a valid id and for all Meredith faculty/staff. Adults are $10 and other students or seniors are just $5. This musical does contain adult language and themes so parental guidance is suggested.
Meredith student, professor, and Art Department Chair states that art classes and exhibitions have been a part of Meredith College since its opening. “There were not that many courses offered at Meredith in the early days, but art was one of them,” stated FitzSimmons. He also added that she believes the first student art exhibition to be on campus would have been in 1900. As for its location, having the exhibition displayed in the Rotunda in Johnson Hall has proved to have benefits not only for the students and faculty that are already a part of Meredith but for those considering Meredith as a higher education institution or place of work. FitzSimmons who believes the exhibition should return to the Rotunda said that placing students’ art in a public space acts as a recruiting tool. “The student art exhibition hanging in Johnson Hall was one reason I took the job as gallery director and adjunct faculty teaching color theory,” said Roth. Roth went on to say that the exhibit “represented the
vigor and spirit of the art department” and that the mother of a prospective Meredith student told her that the exhibit and its placement in the administration building finalized her daughter’s decision to attend. Even though the exhibition itself shows the talents of students its location is crucial in allowing others to observe and appreciate it. “Each year, the quality of work seems to improve, and there are new ideas and innovations,” said Roth. Not only do the techniques and media of artwork improve and change as the years go by the judges change also, originally being faculty from the art department and branching off to curators from the North Carolina Museum of Art and N.C. State University. Aside from supporting fellow students in their artistic endeavors as well as celebrating their talents, attending the exhibition qualifies as an academic and cultural event. This exhibition will be open until September 11.
seniors to interact and network with alumnae. What type of impact does the club have on campus? When Alexis Trell, ’15, was a student at Meredith, students were not provided with nearly as many opportunities to network with alumnae. Students didn’t understand the importance of philanthropy and giving back to Meredith. The 1891 Club has been the solution to these problems. Students have become more connected to The Alumnae House, which will hopefully translate into more engaged and committed alumnae for the future.
and will be invited to alumnae events in their area. It is important to keep us up to date on your contact information so you can receive these updates and invitations! Graduates can also stay involved by attending events, or serving on the Young Alumnae Board. Graduates may also volunteer as a class gift agent, event agent, or historian. The Alumnae Office wants to do everything we can to help you stay connected to Meredith after graduation.
Origins and Impact: Student Art Expo Alexa Ianuale, Staff Writer
Photo Credits: Meredith College Art Department
The Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition juried by Indy Weekly writer, poet, and art critic Chris Vitiello will have its opening ceremony on Thursday, April 7th from 4-6 pm in Gaddy Hamrick. Displaying works ranging from paintings to stitch work the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition shows the mass amount of promise and talent that lies within Meredith students. The exhibition which is known for its display in the Rotunda of Johnson Hall has been moved to the first floor of the art building, Gaddy Hamrick, due to renovations in Johnson Hall. With
rumors that the exhibition may remain in the art building, people have come forward stating that the exhibition provides multiple benefits for the school while displayed in the Johnson Hall location. This exhibit not only gives students a chance to showcase their artwork but to go through a juried experience. Former gallery director Ann Roth stated, “This is a ‘real life’ experience and confidence builder. There are also cash awards, which is common in most juried shows and is an added incentive.” Current gallery director Lisa Pearce says, “The Galleries at Meredith College are active learning labs that not only hold artifacts of creativity from international artists to our students, but like the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, they provide opportunities that can begin a student’s professional art career by providing a professionally reviewed/juried exhibition.” Although the origin of the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition is unknown, Linda FitzSimmons who is a former
What You Should Know About the 1891 Club Brooke Mayo, Staff Writer What is it?! The 1891 Club was founded in the spring semester of 2014 and it is devoted to helping current students prepare for lifelong relationships with the College as partners, advocates and investors. There are membersonly opportunities in which students can network with alumnae and gain the professional and social skills necessary for life after graduation, and members also benefit from admission to special events, discounts at local restaurants, and free t-shirts! How do you become a member? How much is it? Interested students can join online at community.meredith. edu/1891-club or in person at the Alumnae House. A membership costs $25 per year, but first-year students can get a year for free if they join for four years at a discounted rate of $75.
Membership fees go toward t-shirt giveaways, benefit cards, decals, and they pay for the free events for members throughout the year. Considering that the cost of a oneyear membership could basically pay for one of the free shirts, this is a deal! What types of events does the club participate in? Well, just this year alone, the 1891 Club held a luau-themed event with a waterslide and free snow cones. There is also a meeting each semester that encourages philanthropy and the importance of giving back to the community. Members will also occasionally be invited to other special alumnae events such as the 125th Anniversary Lunch and Learn this year. Graduating seniors have also been invited to the upcoming “Life after Meredith” panel and dinner, which provides an excellent opportunity for
What is available for the students graduating soon or already graduated? All students who graduate from Meredith are members of the Meredith College Alumnae Association
We are indebted to Alexis Trell, Assistant Director of Alumnae Relations, for all of this information about the 1891 Club. If you’re interested in more information, you may email her at amtrell@meredith. edu.
Editorials Never Trump Emily Chilton, Associate Editor As the primary presidential elections continue, the likelihood of Donald Trump as the Republican candidate is becoming more and more real. While many hoped that Trump’s campaign was somehow a long, drawn-out joke, April Fool’s Day has come and gone and we’re still left with the glaring possibility of a Trump presidency. Typically conservative voters (such as myself) that would be likely to vote for the Republican candidate are faced with a choice of voting for the liberal candidate, someone that they probably completely disagree with, or Trump. If anyone needed convincing at this point not to vote for Trump, to vote for literally anyone but Trump, here are a few reasons.
He’s reversed many of his own previously held positions, seemingly in order to appeal to Republican voters. One example is the complete 180 that his position on abortion has taken; whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it’s not a good sign that Trump has completely changed his mind just to run under a certain party. Trump is misogynistic and degrading toward women. Comments include: completely irrelevant sexualization of a woman during an interview; continually commenting on the attractiveness (or lack thereof, according to him) of particular women and relating it to whether they can do their job; actually saying on live television that if Ivanka Trump were not his daughter, perhaps he’d be dating her; and attacking Megyn Kelly
for apparently no other reason than her hard questions in a debate. He mocked a disabled reporter, again on live television. Trump mockingly imitated a man with a disability which causes his hands to shake. Again, the only reason for this cruelty seemed to be the reporter’s criticism of him. Trump is anti-Muslim, but only when it serves his purpose of getting elected. He has spouted islamophobic rhetoric, yet does huge amounts of business in majority Muslim countries and lists Islamic businessmen among his close friends. If he actually believed everything he has said about the Muslim community, he would be ideologically bound to cut off these personal ties. What’s worse: someone spewing hate that actually
fundamentally believes it, or someone spewing hate (which has already had terrible effects) that he doesn’t believe just to appeal to or stir up actual xenophobes? The danger seems to be much greater in the second case; Trump readily adopts harmful and problematic messages. All this, to say nothing of the increasingly eerie comparisons to Hitler’s rise to power. I’ll leave you with this haunting quote: “If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican. They’re the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.” - Donald Trump, 1998 in his search for power.
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia are being removed for oil and gas drilling. The Obama decision represents a great victory for the North Carolina coastal environment and the beauty of the pristine coastline. The decision was announced by Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell. Secretary Jewell stated that the reversal “protects the Atlantic for future generation.” Thank you to our President, Meredith College community and other activists across the state who have stand firm to keep our coasts
protect. North Carolina has a bright future to continue to prosper our local economy and preserve the beautiful coast. Together, with the power of the people, we have won this battle.
Letter to the Editor Meredith Hovis, Contributing Writer After months of gathering petitions, comments at Meredith College, and coalition sign-ons, I am ecstatic to hear that President Obama publicly reversed his decision to pursue offshore drilling in the Atlantic in March. The coastal waters off North
CSA Day Schedule Morning Conference Sessions Poster presentation- 7:30 AM -9 AM, Carlyle Campbell Library Teaching and Learning: Educating Children and the Public - Ledford 101 Laboratory Science: Research and A Closer Look - SMB 162 Literature: Classic to Contemporary - Kresge Auditorium Social Science: Quality of Life, Diversity, and Immigration - Ledford 111 Business and Related Topics: Research, Renovation, and Cryptology - Harris 110 Communication & Media presentations - SMB 118 Octavia! performing - Carswell Concert Hall Afternoon Conference Sessions and Events Clinical Practice and Human Emotions - Ledford 101 Scientific Field Research and Sustainability -SMB 162, 1:40 PM Studies in the Humanities: Gender, Feminism, and Film - Kresge Auditorium, 1:30 PM Art History and Picturing Time - SMB 118, 1:30 PM International Programs: Study and Research Abroad conferences - Harris 110, 1:40PM Performances and Exposition - Carswell Concert Hall, 1:40 PM
Women of MC Katie Murphy, Staff Writer
“I was in a hard place when I started applying to colleges. I had really low self-confidence, and I had a feeling that colleges would see right through me and wouldn’t accept me. When I came to tour Meredith, something changed in me, and I didn’t realize it until I was driving back off campus again. At that point I realized that Meredith was going to help me. When I chose Meredith, I really chose myself. I’ve accomplished so much since I arrived, and I’m confident enough now to know that I’ll do a lot more before I graduate. Meredith didn’t see through me, they saw right into me!” - Annie Morin, ‘18