November 10, 2022

SPECIAL EDITION

CORNHUSKIN' 2022

Masterchef Reigns Supreme as Seniors Win Cornhuskin'

By Evelyn Summers, Senior Copy Editor

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 on sweeping the Cornhuskin’ win as this year’s overall winner. After a long night of impressive Cornhuskin’ skits and dances from all four classes, it could have been anyone's win.

The Class of 2026 per formed their “Winx Club”-inspired “Angel Wings Club” themed danc

es and audience-grabbing skits.

The Class of 2025 gave enthusi astic performances of “Mystery at Meredith,” inspired by “ScoobyDoo, Jinkies!”

The Class of 2024 chose a celebratory theme after recently receiving their Onyx class rings with their baseball-inspired “Swing for the Bling.” The Class

of 2023 stole the victory with their “Masterchef: Corn” themed per formances, which included guest appearances by Pal Fieri, Gordon Daisy and Bobby Slay.

Each class competed in Skit, Hog Callin’ and Tall Tale on the night of the event. However, factors like sweatshirt design and unity points were determined

prior to Cornhuskin’ and used to calculate the overall score.

Despite seniors winning Cornhuskin’ overall, the juniors took home the spirit stick and victories in other categories (see “Full Cornhuskin’ Results” on Page 3). Congratulations, and great job everyone!

MEREDITH

November 10, 2022 meredithherald.com

Following the Class of 2025 Co-Chairs the Day of Cornhuskin’

By Cady Stanley, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Cornhuskin’ co-chairs are extremely busy on the day of the event. The Class of 2025 co-chairs, Savannah Stainback and Ella Can non, began their day by getting dressed in all their Cornhuskin’ at tire (including overalls) and head ing down to Kresge Auditorium to build their class’s balloon arch. From 10:15 to 11:00 a.m., Stain back and Cannon tied balloons together with about ten of their classmates. Then, they went out to grab lunch with their families before the Cornhuskin’ festivities commenced.

After lunch at 2:15 p.m., the co-chairs and their classmates went to Kresge Auditorium to carry their balloon arch to The Oaks parking lot to prepare for the parade. The class arrived at 2:45 with the balloon arch, signs, bells and lots of spirit to line up for the parade!

Getting the balloon arch to The Oaks lot for the parade was quite a challenge with intense bursts of winds. Three classes had their balloon arches snap, including the Class of 2025. Stain back and Cannon’s balloon arch snapped twice in addition to one of the lobster claws that are used to hook the arch to the benches by Johnson Hall coming untied. After the Class of 2025 got their balloon arch under control with each class member holding it down, Stain back and Cannon stared in horror as the balloon arches of the Class of 2026 and 2024 snapped and

After recovering from the

loon arches, Stainback and Can non lined up with their class for the parade. They marched with their class down Main Campus Drive and completed the parade route with their vehicles while the walkers clipped the balloon arches. While completing the parade route, the co-chairs missed the beginning of the Big/Lil’ Serenade that began much earlier than expected. Luckily, Stainback and Cannon hurried back to Johnson Hall just in time to watch the last couple of songs.

After the parade and serenade, Stainback and Cannon got ready for the Main Event and brought to campus by Stainback’s parents. The afternoon heat dur

Meredith Hosts Abortions Rights Panel

By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor

On Oct. 26, The School of Arts and Humanities at Meredith College hosted their “Living in a Post Roe America” panel. The panel hosted two guest speakers including UNC Public Policy As sociate Professor Rebecca Kreitzer

the North Carolina Medical So ciety Michelle Laws. The panel moderator was Kate Polaski, Class of 2023.

Topics discussed in this panel included voting, rights to birth control and health care. During the panel Krietzer shared that “we need to be having having the conversations about rights to abortion and health care access with everyone. Even the relatives we would rather not talk to.” In the panel, Krietzer shared that she believes the perceived backlash is so high that we've been avoiding this conversation by self-silencing.

Laws believes that the Dobbs decision was a “political decision that was informed not so much by legal tenancy but by

religious extremist ideology” and the communities most at risk are “Black women, poor women and those living in healthcare scarce areas.”

Justice Alito's comments on abortion and it’s legal prece dence in the constitution were brought into the conversation. Kritzer reminded the audience that “Benjamin Franklin wrote a diy recipe in the math book on how to perform an at home abor tion.”

for students to ask questions. Students asked about LGBTQIA+ access to health care following the Dobbs decision, how to be actively involved in politics beyond voting and about the validity of Natural family planning.

To check your voter regis tration status check tubovote.org. For more information on candi dates and results for state and local elections, check the North Carolina Board of Elections web site.

ing the parade was brutal in Stainback’s long overalls, so both she and Cannon were grateful to be back inside. They were feel ing “okay” at this point of the day, but they were hoping that the Main Event would go much more smoothly than the prior events.

At about 5:15 p.m., the co-chairs left their residence hall to save their seats in the amphi theater which opened 15 minutes later to students and guests. They met their class at the Johnson Hall Fountain to line up for the proces sional at 5:45 p.m. From there, Stainback and Cannon enjoyed the

away) and some picture-taking with friends and classmates. At 6:15 p.m., the co-chairs led the Class of 2025 just outside the am phitheater, where they stood ready for processionals to begin.

As the Main Event began, the co-chairs led their classmates in a mysterious processional to their seats, where they then cheered on the Class of 2024 and the Class of 2023 as they entered. Stainback and Cannon led dancers in setting up and taking down their class’s props before their skit, Hog Callin’ and Tall Tale. Stainback and Cannon both danced in their class’s main skit, and Cannon’s pre-recorded narration played throughout the skit. The co-chairs also led the Class of 2025 in sing ing to their Big class throughout the event.

As the event came to a close and the Class of 2025 came in third place, the co-chairs cheered loudly and proudly for their class. They continued to hang around the amphitheater after the Main Event ended to take pictures and congratulate students on their hard work.

To end their Cornhuskin’ festivities, Stainback and Cannon joined in on the After Corn Party at Belk Dining Hall hosted by the Meredith Activities Board for some music, celebration and pancakes. The following day, the co-chairs loaded the props into a classmate’s truck to be taken to Cannon’s house for storage until next year. Later on Sunday, the co-chairs got to pop all of the balloon arches at Johnson Hall (they agree that the task is quite fun). Thus ended Stainback and Cannon’s 2022 Cornhuskin’ season.

ence and Math Building.

Graphic by Layla Davenport and Aminah Jenkins

Full Cornhuskin' Results

By Haileigh West, Reporter

Overall Results

1st Place: Seniors ('23)

2nd Place: Juniors ('24)

3rd Place: Sophomores ('25)

4th Place: Freshmen ('26)

Skit

Overall Performance

1st Place: Juniors

2nd Place: Seniors

3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Word Parade

1st Place: Juniors and Seniors

Tied 3rd Place: Sophomores

4th Place: Freshmen

Costume/Props

1st Place: Juniors

2nd Place: Seniors

3rd Place: Sophomores

4th Place: Freshmen

Script

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors

3rd Place: Sophomores

4th Place: Freshmen

Hog Callin’

Overall Performance

1st Place: Juniors

2nd Place: Seniors

3rd Place: Sophomores

4th Place: Freshmen

Script

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors

3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Tall Tale

Overall Performance

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors 3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Script

1st Place: Juniors

2nd Place: Seniors 3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Costumes/Props

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors

3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Can Art

1st Place: Seniors 2nd Place: Juniors 3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Execution of Design

1st Place: Juniors 2nd Place: Seniors 3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Intended Design

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors

3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Sweatshirt

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Juniors

3rd Place: Sophomores 4th Place: Freshmen

Overall Design

1st Place: Seniors

2nd Place: Sophomores 3rd Place: Juniors 4th Place: Freshmen

Service Project Results

Sophomores earned 2 points Freshmen earned 3 points Seniors earned 4 points Juniors earned 5 points

Each class kept their 20 Cooperation points. The Spirit Stick went to the Class of 2024.

De-Lux Brunch Pt.2: A Look at the History of Meredith Traditions

By Aminah Jenkins, Editor in Chief

states that it is meant “to explore the value of illuminating aspects of the past that have been hidden, obscured, or forgotten.”

Dr. Sarah Roth, the Dean of Arts & Humanities, heads up the CXP. She explained that the De-Lux Brunch series was started after the Board of Trustees re named Joyner Hall in April of in some gaps in the understanding

evolved. Dr. Daniel Fountain, Professor of History, will share the history behind Cornhuskin, going back to the nineteenth century. Nichols will also show a video that discusses how Cornhuskin’ at Meredith has changed over time.

The BSU Executive Board shared that they wanted students to be as informed as possible. “We really hope to see as many stu dents as possible, hence the topic of traditions we are touching on

sented some of their research at a conference at Guilford College, but had yet to share it with the Meredith community. They are hoping to use these events to do so.

The high attendance rate

Oct. 5 indicated that “students are interested in learning more about the long history of exclu sion in the college’s past,” Dr. Roth said.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16., the Arts & Humanities Depart ment's Common Experience Committee (CXP) will be host ing their second De-Lux Brunch covering the history of traditions at Meredith. The event, hosted in collaboration with Meredith’s Black Student Union (BSU), is the second of three events that will examine the history of Meredith College.

Every year, the committee selects a theme to "explore... from multiple diverse perspectives. This year’s theme is Lux, or light. The

had about Meredith history,” she stated.

BSU President Chorro Jobe reached out to Dr. Roth and Liliana Madrid, Meredith’s DEI Coordinator, about ways to collab orate on making that information more accessible to the Meredith community.

Janice Sniker from the Archives Department will dis cuss older traditions that have been phased out over time. Car rie Nichols, the head of Technical Services, will discuss how Crook Hunt, Stunt and Class Day have

all culture of this campus,” they explained.

Meredith is also a mem ber of the Universities Studying Slavery (USS) initiative. This na

University of Virginia that focuses on “sharing best practices and guiding principles as they engage in truth-telling educational proj ects focused on human bondage and the legacies of racism in their histories.”

Dr. Roth explained that Meredith’s USS team had pre

The BSU Executive Board wants Meredith to be “a place of empowerment,” especially for those who feel they can’t embrace Meredith because of the commu nity’s “unwillingness to amend our history.”

“We must create a space that we can be proud of and come back to celebrate with others that

stated.

A third event in the spring semester to include student re search and the USS team’s work on Thomas Meredith.

Graphic by Arri Woodhouse

Missing Corn Signs (Again)

By Shae-Lynn Henderson, News Editor

As the Cornhuskin’ 2022 celebrations of the past week end come to end, it has been yet another year where a class’s signs have gone missing. This Corn huskin' season, two signs belong ing to the Class of 2024 were taken from areas surrounding the quad, including one near Belk Dining Hall (BDH) and another near Vann Residence Hall.

On Nov. 3 of last year, the Alumnae House sent out an email to the Meredith community regarding two Cornhuskin’ 2021 signs that had gone missing from areas near the front drive. This year, Michaela Altman, the Class of 2024 Cornhuskin’ co-chair, was “not sure why some of [their]

spirit signs were taken during this Cornhuskin’ season” and believes that “they may have been picked up by some students who thought it would be funny to steal [their] signs.”

Altman noted that the

duck located outside BDH that had been put up immediately after the return from fall break. Within twenty four hours, it was gone, but it reappeared in the courtyard two weeks later. Altman had it returned to its original spot before being taken again, and it “still has not been found.” Another of the signs taken was a corn-shaped cutout with a countdown on it that was located near Vann. Altman

Johnson Hall Fountain Raid

By Riley Heeb, Reporter

This year, the over forty year tradition of Hall Raids was changed. Instead of students run ning through dorms in the middle of the night banging pans and yelling, the tradition was moved to the Johnson Fountain. Why did this change happen and how do students feel about it?

The tradition was changed to be more accommodating to students as it caused distress to people with sleep issues, Posttrau matic Stress Disorder, Emotional Support Animals, anxiety, sensory issues, and other related disor

ders. Many people have expressed

tion over the years and Meredith College listened, canceling the tradition hall raid and changing it to a less upsetting activity.

Students gathered Thurs day Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at the Johnson Fountain and banged their pans and hollered in a safe environment that did not disturb sleeping students.

Michaela Altman, Class of 2024 Cornhuskin' co-chair, responded that she “enjoyed being able to go outside with [their] pots

Native American Heritage Month

felt particularly upset about the signs’ disappearances because “both of these signs were passed down from [their] big sis class, so they have a sentimental value to them,” and she was particular

[was] being taken advantage of.” Despite being in contact with Meredith Recreation As sociation (MRA) Cornhuskin' co-chairs Mary Grace Teachey, ‘24, and Consepcion Cruz, ‘23, as well as Kacey Reynolds Schedler, the Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Service (SLS) and knew what happened to the signs

Altman concluded by

it in the middle of the day.” Altman suggested, “making the fountain raid later at night” as “many stu dents… wanted to come but were not able to because the fountain raid started at 4:30.”

As a junior, Altman experi enced an actual Hall Raid last year and said it “is a really sweet and fun memory for our class, and believe it's one of many events that really embody the liveliness of Corn huskin' season.” She stated that she “completely understand[s] remov ing [Hall Raids] for the purposes of

By Aminah Jenkins, Editor in Chief, and Sheridan Taylor, Contributing Writer

November is Native Ameri can Heritage Month. This month is an opportunity to celebrate the prosperous and mixed cultures, customs and history of Native Americans, also known as Indig enous Americans. Living Indige nous ancestors crossed the Bering Strait from Asia to what is now the United States at least 15,000 years ago, possibly much earlier. This resulted in the eventual develop ment of a wide range of peoples, communities and cultures.

However, the new diseases, war, ethnic cleansing and enslavement brought on by European coloniza tion of the Americas, which began

drop in the Native American population.

After its founding, the United States continued to wage war and commit massacres against numerous Native Ameri can peoples as part of its policy of settler colonialism. It also forc ibly removed them from their ancestral lands and subjected

them to one-sided treaties and discriminatory government poli cies, which were later centered on forced assimilation. The Wampa noag Confederacy's sachem, the chief, Ousamequin, also known as Massasoit, and governor John Carver of the Plymouth Colony, drafted and signed the PilgrimWampanoag Peace Treaty on Mar. 22, 1621. Both parties agreed to uphold the terms of the agree ment, which maintained amicable relations between the parties.

In 1915, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, the president of the Congress of the American Indian Association, signed a proclama tion that declared the second Saturday in May to be “American Indian Day.” From there, individ ual states declared their own days to honor the heritage of Indigne ous people in the U.S. It wasn’t until 1990 when President George H.W. Bush declared the month of November “Native American Heritage Month” that nationwide recognition was achieved.

Today, Native Americans make up 6.79 million people in the United States, or roughly 2.09% of the national population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 574 Native American tribes are

States, and over 100,000 Native

North Carolina has eight tribes that the state: the Coharie, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Haliwa-Saponi, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the Meherrin, the Sappony, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and the Wac camaw Siouan. Other tribes like the Tuscarora Tribe exist in North Carolina, but do not have state recognition.

Native American Heritage Month is also an ideal time to learn about tribes among the broader public, to create a better under

Native Americans have encoun tered throughout history and the present, and to highlight the ef

quoting the Cornhuskin' manual, which states that "Spirit must be inclusive of all classes; vandal ism of other classes’ spirit and/or slander of other classes will not be tolerated." preventing any complications for those with PTSD, anxiety, etc.”

As an alternative, Altman suggested that “it could be fun to do a raid around campus… we could follow a pathway around campus, bring our pots and pans, take pictures and videos, etc.”

Perhaps continuing in the future, Meredith College will develop this new tradition to be more enjoyable for people who want to participate without caus ing major disruption to people who do not.

forts made by tribal members to way to celebrate Native American Heritage Month is by attending educational events. On Nov. 16 at 6 p.m., NC State is hosting a Native American Heritage Month Cultural Showcase. The North Carolina Museum of History is hosting its 27th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration. The event is free to the public and will include performances, presenta tions and live demonstrations.

Additionally, a variety of public organizations have com piled resources on Native Ameri can history and culture, includ ing the National Archives and the Library of Congress. Several Native American authors have received praise for their work, including Tommy Orange, Louise Erdrich, Stephen Graham Jones and Joy Harjo. Not all of their but they do provide opportunities to diversify one’s library.

Graphic by Aminah Jenkins

Cornhuskin': A (Visual) Timeline

Editor in Chief

10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

3:30-4 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 7 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:25 p.m.

Student Artwork in Cornhuskin'

By Haileigh West, Reporter

There are many creative contributions by students during Cornhuskin’. Between choreo graphing, writing scripts and cre ating artwork for the class shirts and tunnels, student artists really have a chance to use their creativ ity to its fullest potential.

Layla Davenport, Class of 2025, was in charge of creating their class’s t-shirt and sweat shirt design as well as designing and painting the sets with fellow student and Cornhuskin’ co-chair, Ella Cannon.

When asked about the importance for students to be creative during Cornhuskin’, Davenport said “as an art student,

I know that much of the art de partment is not involved in ma jor campus traditions, especially Cornhuskin', and I can't fault them for it because there are so many issues with it.” She continues, “I participate in Corn because I know I will use the opportunity to ensure that the designs and other art are as accessible and appropriate as possible. It allows me to have a hand in bettering a tradition that has many problems at its core.”

Davenport goes on to dis cuss some of the roadblocks she faced as a student artist for one of Meredith’s most anticipated traditions on campus. She reports having “been heavily involved in

the process this year, as well as last, and administration does not make it easy. Funding is limited, and support for students that basically non-existent.” She also said that “throughout the design process, marketing would reject many iterations and would only list one reason for the rejection, even though there were several. I was having to constantly revise the designs and resubmit through the co-chairs. Meredith also doesn't have accessibility guide lines for design which means designs don't have to use legible fonts or colors.”

Despite the issues that

The Role of Meredith Events in Cornhuskin'

By Caroline O'Daniel, Copy Editor

This year, Eric Leary and Chris Droessler operated lighting and sound for the event.

year, I ran a camera, managed the video streams and ran sound all at the same time,” Leary stated.

have been faced throughout the design process for Davenport's ar tistic contributions, she said, “ulti mately, I hope that students enjoy the designs and interact with them as much as possible.” Davenport encourages students to participate in Cornhuskin’, saying, “I think that a more diverse body of students participating will allow for change and growth of the tradition.”

munication with the campus at large to stay in alignment with the mission and the culture.”

Each year, the Cornhuskin’ main event in the amphitheater is decorated with impressive lighting are responsible for deciding what use throughout their class’s per be made possible without the help of Meredith’s events employees.

Eric Leary is the Assistant Director of Events at Meredith, and his job for Cornhuskin’ 2022 was to play the audio cues for each class’s skits, dances and other performances. However, this isn’t the only task Leary has been assigned to for this event in the past. In his seven years of as sisting with tech for Cornhuskin’, every production role we provide for Corn on one year or another.” These roles have included audio engineer, lighting director, video streaming engineer and unas

experience as an artisan tech nologist under his belt, Leary is responsible for the quality of all of the operations of Meredith’s events department. “That in cludes our data systems (notably the GUSTO reservation system),

our execution as artisan technolo gists managing the event spaces on campus,” Leary stated. “In

I try to stay actively engaged with all of our processes–data entry and reporting, lighting, sound and video production–and com

Chris Droessler, Meredith’s Production Supervisor, was in huskin’ 2022. Though Droessler since 1975, this year’s Cornhuskin’ this Meredith College tradition. Droessler’s job at Meredith con sists of providing technical support for school events, but he stated that his favorite part of the job is “sharing [his] knowledge by teach ing students how to run sound systems and stage lighting, as well as the design and production of events.”

Photos compiled by Grayson Morris, Podcasting Co-Director, Kayla Dunn, Reporter, and Alina Avellaneda, Contributor Descriptions by Aminah Jenkins,

Graphic by Layla Davenport

Photo by Aminah Jenkins

Balloon Arches Made Parade on Main Campus Drive

Attendees arrive Main Event begins

Tall Tale Performances

Hog Callin' Performances

Skit Performances

Classes spend the morning and part of the afternoon carefully buidling their balloon arches for the parade later.

Students, adminstration and alumnae ride down Main Campus onlookers cheer them on.

Guests and student spectators alike pare for the Main Event in an hour.

MRA Cornhuskin' Chairs Mary Grace Teachy, '24, and Consepcion Cruz, '23, host the Main Event.

Meredith puns and dance breaks. energetic dances and suey-t pig puns.

One student from each class showcases a monologue as an item related to their theme.

Final scores are calculated, and it is announced that the Class of 2023 has won Cornhuskin'.

By Evelyn Summer, Senior Copy Editor

Creating things with her hands was one of Fischer’s favorite childhood pastimes, which led her to earning her BA in Studio Art at Meredith in 1999. During her time, she primar ily focused on sculpture in a vari ety of media including clay, stone, welding and cast paper. Professor

commissions and also worked part time in the North Carolina Muse um of Art educational department.

bound to happen, and she tries to maintain a nimble approach that shows students it's okay when things don't go as planned. Professor Fisher “hopes to help [her] students gain deeper self-

to her and hugely inspiring. She loves hearing that her sculptures speak to someone.

Photo courtesy of Professor Fischer

Professor Holly Fischer is the Coordinator of the Ceramics Studio and an Assistant Professor of Art. She teaches various ceramic and sculpture classes, as well as a Decoding Images: Gender in Art & Advertising class. Professor Fisch er is a Meredith College alumna from the Class of 1999 and is well known for her sculpture work that explores paradoxes inherent in perceptions of femininity and her warm, vulnerable classroom envi ronment.

Professor Fischer remem bers a key moment during her

of her sculpture class. She was taught by Professor Lisa Pearce, who is still an Associate Professor of Art at Meredith today. Professor

Claudel” during class. Professor Fischer stated, “‘Camille Claudel’ has a tragic story, but I connected to the intense passion portrayed in

ed that her gender held her back.” In that moment, she knew that helping to “shape and contribute to a contemporary movement of female sculptors” felt like a calling.

Professor Fischer grew up in a creative environment. Her

father was a skilled woodworker.

She later completed a three-year MFA program at the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on ceramic sculpture. She took many women and gen der studies classes, which helped inform her work as an artist. She taught for a year at Savannah Col lege of Art and Design, received a funded fellowship and artist residency at the Worcester Center for Crafts and then in a sabbatical replacement position in ceramics at the School for the Museum of

came back to Meredith College to teach part-time. In 2018, Professor Fischer stepped into her current role in the Art Department.

As an instructor, Professor Fischer is dedicated to creating a positive and welcoming environ ment. She strives for her enthusi astic energy to be contagious, and has found that this establishes the necessary trust needed for a

tionship between teacher and stu dent. Fischer believes that focusing on what individual students need to be inspired and successful is extremely important. She carefully plans the curriculum in her cours es to be accessible and challenging, accommodate a range of learning styles and make her expectations clear from the very beginning of the semester.

Professor Fischer under stands that the unexpected is

and the belief that they can make conduct their lives.” She also explained that she hopes students leave her class with a more resil ient form of strength and a will ingness to take risks, understand ing that “failure” is an opportunity for growth. She hopes they learn that they each “have a unique voice worthy of being heard, and that they have many tools for selfexpression and communication.”

Professor Fischer ex plained that the inspiration for her

on life experience. She stated that she explores “what it means to be a woman, an artist and a partner within our culture” and that “the dichotomies surrounding concepts of femininity and [her] personal struggle to be comfortable in [her] skin inspire much of [her] work.”

She said that art-making is an ex piration of her fears and desires— private thoughts made visible and tangible.

That personal connection with her work is critical to her creative process. Each piece is a confession and celebration of her growth. As personal as Professor Fischer’s work is, once the work is made, the aspect she values most is the new life and meaning it ab sorbs through new interaction. In her view, “each sculpture is born as an expression of something I’m feeling and experiencing, but it’s important to me that the work retains enough ambiguity that viewers can read their own story in the forms.” Hearing how others connect to the work and how they see themselves in it is meaningful

Meredith Theatre Presents "The Wolves"

By Kayla Dunn, Reporter

The Meredith Theatre Department will present the play, "The Wolves," Nov. 9 through Nov. 13 in Jones Auditorium. The Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matineé will begin at 2 p.m.

"The Wolves" is a “play [that] centers around a team of high school soccer players and fo cuses on the trials and tribulations of that group of young women. [It] deals with several heavy themes, but that material is treated in a way that makes the subject matter digestible and appropriate for our

audience,” says Steven Roten, the director of this play. The themes discussed are teen pregnancy, homosexuality, multiple genocides and mental health among others.

The play features a girls indoor soccer team during the cold winter months as they prepare for a game. While they prepare, they build each other up and have

each other about their lives and the world around them. Roten says, “Progressing at weekly intervals, we get a glimpse into their lives and the things they are struggling to understand in this complex

Professor Fischer is also inspired by the dangerous and al luring beauty of carnivorous plants and poisonous underwater crea tures. “These seductive and deadly forms readily become metaphors for our culture’s inherent mis trust of female empowerment and common fears regarding gender

added. Her work challenges binary

cial separation between feminine and masculine qualities. Professor Fischer seeks to embrace daulites through the morphing of seem ingly incongruous attributes to form new identities that are at once familiar and strange, mysteri ous and beguiling. She hopes this subtle tension between viewer and object will encourage observers to question the nature of their fears and desires and to contemplate assumptions regarding beauty, gender and sexuality.

In terms of interests out side of sculpting, Professor Fischer has a substantial plant collection. At one point, she counted over a hundred potted plants in her home, and that number has grown and expanded into the ceramics studio at Meredith. She especially loves succulents, orchids and car nivorous plants, as they inspire much of her artwork.

She has been a yoga in structor for over 12 years and strongly values the connection be tween mind, body and breath. The lessons her yoga teachers share have helped to manage chronic anxiety and depression. Fischer is a cat mom to a beautiful and sweet four-year-old rescue kitty named Stella Bella Boo Bop. Professor Fisher explained, “she makes my day when she runs to greet me when I get home.”

world.”

Roten says "The Wolves" is important “because it is a play about teen women,” and it’s “a powerful one.” He also says that he thinks it’s important that a play about young women be produced.

“The play is important for many reasons,” Roten says.

The production is open to the public and admission is free. Attendees must reserve a ticket through the department’s SignUp Genius prior to attending. The link can be found in their Linktree on their Instagram page @meredith theatre.

Graphic courtesy of @merediththeatre on Instagram

OPINION

Inaccessibility at Corn: You Just Have to Experience It

By Rebecca Simmons, Contributing Writer, and Kai Tilley, Contributer

and no clear point-of-contact was established for communicating ac commodation needs. Additionally, the manual listed Angels for Dis ability Advocacy (ADA) as a good starting place to bring disabled students onto the planning com

in ADA that we were not contacted by students for this purpose. Nei ther SLS or MRA checked with us before listing ADA as a resource in their manual.

abled students may be unaccom modated based on the constraints of an environment that SLS chose to use (i.e., the amphitheater), students needing sensory consid erations will be unaccommodated

of the nature of Cornhuskin’. As of now, Cornhuskin’ is only depen dent on access barriers to facilitate an authentic experience because its origins never considered disabled students as worthy of inclusion.

Cornhuskin’ is a time-hon ored tradition at Meredith College. Through practiced skits, enthu siastic Hog Callin' and synchro nized(?) dancing, the main event and week of festivities leading up to it are meant to promote class camaraderie and school unity. Each element would seem to add another opportunity for connec tion. For disabled students, it’s one more thing to ask about and understand. We learn the same thing every time: Cornhuskin’s biggest, worst-kept secret is inac cessibility.

As a response to questions from disabled students, the phrase “you just have to experience it” is incredibly frustrating. Our ques tions are often meant to identify access barriers that could prevent us from attending or participat ing in Corn. To receive an answer other than “you just have to expe rience it” we are often required to disclose our disabilities. This is a barrier to inclusion because many students, like those with anxiety or invisible disabilities, will not feel comfortable telling someone they have a disability for fear they might not be believed.

The potential for disbelief is not the only reason that selfcilitating access. As students who have been disabled for years and required accommodations in aca demic settings for nearly as long, we know that asking departments

ship and Service (SLS) about the accessibility of spaces and events individuals don’t consistently recognize barriers to access. It’s easy to see stairs as inaccessible, but less obvious are sensory barri ers such as excessively loud music

and the attitudinal barriers that let them persist.

Consider the use of strobe lights at Corn. This can change an nually depending on the discretion of Corn co-chairs, so SLS may not have consistent, readily available information about the use of the lights during the main event. This

who need to avoid strobe lights (e.g., individuals with photosensi tive epilepsy) may be forced to opt out each year. Because of the cul ture of secrecy surrounding Corn, students also may not realize they need to ask about strobe lights or seek out accommodations for them. Instead of SLS banning the use of strobe lights during perfor mances and communicating that ban to the student body, they risk preserving “fair play” in competi tion by failing to distinguish be tween giving someone an edge and not giving someone else a seizure.

What guidance exists to include disabled students is outlined in a section of the 2022 Cornhuskin’ Manual for promot ing accessibility. Among other rec ommendations, inviting disabled students to join the planning com mittee, communicating in multiple formats (e.g., not limiting an nouncements to just email or In stagram) and establishing a point of contact for accommodations is solid advice; it would be helpful if it was implemented along with other measures like transparency and a consistent tone from the top. Unfortunately, we haven’t noticed all of these elements present in Corn email updates for the Class of 2023.

An accommodation form was made, but no image descrip tions were provided for t-shirts

More concerning than the actions of class leadership that rely on volunteer student labor, SLS has had opportunities to fol low their own recommendations and not done so. The wristband reservation form, for example, did modation needs. No other forms or mentions of accessibility have been sent out by SLS for this purpose. Promotional materials have not contained an accessibility state ment on Instagram or in emails, despite the guide stating that these should be added to “everything.” SLS did not establish a clear, des

to address accessibility concerns. These oversights set a poor exam ple for student leadership who look to SLS for guidance.

Regardless, any and all recommendations made in the

by transparency. Providing the op tion to list accommodation needs on forms is important, but if this is not paired with detailed event de scriptions, what good is it? If event details aren’t clear to students, it is unreasonable to expect them to anticipate what they need for an event they don’t fully understand.

It’s like winning a free vacation to an undisclosed location

and using only that information to decide what to pack or if you would even like to go. Similarly, a student may respond requesting wheel chair access in the appropriate section of a form, but if the person processing the accommodation re quest doesn’t know that wheelchair access includes more than a ramp, then that student’s self-disclosure

commodate was as performative as it was well-intentioned.

Further complications occur for those whose needs are contrary to parts of Corn that many assume to be vital. Physical access barriers, like stairs, may not be viewed as essential to the Corn huskin’ experience, but concert-

and cold weather often are. This means that though physically dis

Failures in transparency and a full commitment to acces sibility by event organizers limit opportunities for disabled students to connect with their class. The success of accessibility recom mendations for Corn depends on SLS honoring them and provid ing students with the resources to follow them. Detailed descrip tions of each Corn-related activity should be written and available to students prior to the event, and attempts to promote surprise and excitement should be carefully bal anced against the needs of disabled students. Many confuse upholding tradition with upholding discrimi nation. The use of the amphithe ater for Cornhuskin' should be dis continued, even if it means further limiting the attendance of guests and alums. Most importantly, no one should think that this article is a complete representation of the is sues we see with the way that Corn is conducted.

Addendum by Rebecca: Just as accessibility includes more than taking a ramp, it also in cludes not implicitly stating that disabled students aren’t welcome. On November 1, 2022, the walk to the Tunnel Reveal and Presi dent’s Raid managed to take two wheelchair-inaccessible paths. The through the curb-ridden parking lot opposite the CHESS Building, and the second occurred when student leaders went over a long stretch of grass with no curb cut.

This was noticed by one individual who continued on and called out as they left for me to use another route, which my friend

accessible. We had to circle all the way back from the gym to the top of CHESS, and back down through the Commuter Lot. Had I not been with friends who knew the way, I would not have known where to go

the tunnel. This inconsideration on the part of event organizers pre sented such a delay that it caused my friends and I to miss the Presi dent’s Raid.

Rebecca Simmons wearing an apron with the words “Is this accessible?” to protest the inaccessibility of Cornhuskin’ (Photo by Aminah Jenkins)

It's Getting Hot in Here: A Senior Perspective on Cornhuskin'

By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor, and Pal Fieri, Generic Guest Star Star

Today's piece was written with the help of Pal Fieri, a generic celebrity guest judge on this week's episode of the Amazing Corn Expe rience!

Let me take you on a cruise through Flavortown as we experi ence everything the MC Kitchen

This hoedown began its throwdown on Friday, Nov.4, after a week of lost sleep due to Corn practices, the classes emerged from their lairs carrying giant containers full of soda cans and carnage from previous year's com petitions. However, this doesn’t mean they weren’t spirited, before the competition the seniors took time to sing to and encourage their best.

the seniors scurried with ambi tion and 3 previous years' worth of disappointing losses. As a famous pop star Taylor Swift would say “Lately they’ve been thinking about revenge.” When the Can Art co-chairs made their appear ances: one was on the ground delegating tasks while everyone scrambled desperately to get their

of Faircloth stood their fearless leader shouting directions from the balcony to the workers below. This event is not for those of weak will, carnage is expected and while everyone will be playing nice with their fellow classes, no one said the heat wouldn’t be turned up to the highest degree. The juniors not to be outdone by the seniors struck a homerun as they claimed a win ning category in the can art com petition for overall execution and importance to the theme.

Now we get to the good part: the main-day activities of Cornhuskin’. Starting that day a giant parade was held on the main drive of Meredith. This is where each class has the opportunity to smile and wave to the unsuspect ing family and friends. Alums in the crowd smiled because they knew, and they were here for the drama. Classes carried in their class banners, made the sounds of their battle cries, and smile and wave cheerfully as they prepared for the battle of their lifetime or at the very least the next semester. A devastating loss occurred for the freshmen and the juniors as their balloon arches were made like the

Buildings Need Improvements

By Riley Heeb, Reporter

Colleges are expected to be accommodating to all people, no matter the disability. Meredith College has changed some things, but there are still buildings that need improvements to reach a standard.

Lux is the oldest academic building on campus, having been built in 1956. Despite some im provements to the building, it still has ways to go before it is com pletely accessible to all.

An elevator was added to the building, but there are no signs new people either thinking there is not one or going around the it. Another problem is that there are three exit doors in the build ing yet only one ramp. Not only do wheelchair users have a hard time entering and exiting the building, people walking out of the building also have a hard time as they must

step down out of the building. Other than being able to get into the building and chang

is also a big problem. Most of the doors have knobs instead of handles like doors in other build

people who are in wheelchairs and people who do not have much arm strength to turn the knob com pletely.

Once in the classroom, the desks are small with the chairs attached to them instead of large tables and chairs like other build

even happened. The seniors and the sophomores were the only sur vivors of “The Great Gust of 2022.”

Thank goodness not all was lost though, as the juniors did manage to hold onto the bare minimum scraps of the balloon arch that de cided to become a foul ball in our upper stratosphere.

Later on in the evening, the dance processionals are showcased for all to marvel at. The fresh man started strong and whimsical as they processed to their seats. Their fairy wings were a beauty for everyone to see. The sophomores took center stage as they worked to get to their seats without getting hit by the “Sophomore Slump” and the juniors came in with a fastball having the most elaborate and choreographed processional of the night. After a malfunction with the sound system, the seniors were left

gredients for their 8-minute-long processional. Despite the improv, the seniors were able to recover and serve a medium well looking processional.

Following the proces sionals all chaos ensued as the amphitheater was inundated was fairies both “good” and “evil,” a

bout of the “Sophomore Slump”, a visit from the Maroon Socks, and last but not least me (Pal Fieri)! I turned up the heat all the way to level 100 as I judged the Amazing Corn experience with my best pals, Gordon Daisy, Bobby Slay and Paulie Raleigh.

At the end of the night, there were tears and hugs all around. Laughter was shared as the Oddballs told jokes in their

and memories were made while the Bathtub Ring sang their songs. At the end of the festivities, the wise judges of Corn cast upon us mere mortals their decision as to the Cornhuskin 2022 winner. In a close race between the juniors and the seniors, the juniors struck out in a devastating loss to the seniors

corn dish that was the true em bodiment of corn-spirit.

Until next time this is Pal last) Cornhuskin' article!

as the chair table must be moved in the already cramped room and then they do not have a desk to use. This is also unaccommodating

able.

Lux also does not have an

accessible bathroom on the second and walker users must go down the they need to go to the bathroom. The Science and Math Building (SMB) also has a few problems in that the doors are quite heavy. Accessible dorms have a keypad that automatically opens the door as they are dense, but the same doors are used in SMB with out the push button. This makes it strenuous for people to enter and exit classrooms along with the ac cessible bathroom.

Other than academic build ings, resident halls also require improvements to make them more accessible. The four main resi

things built when we moved to the current campus over one hundred years ago, and while they have been renovated over the years they need to be updated again.

boards stick up along with nails, which is not only dangerous for all

people who rely on feeling to move around.

a continuing problem in Brewer is that the elevator is broken despite Brewer having accessible accom modations in the building. This makes it impossible for wheelchair and walker users to meet with their friends that are on the second or

Many of the buildings need improvements to be accessible to everyone and until this happens, no one will be truly equal on our campus. Meredith College needs to

create a more inclusive campus for the current and future classes.

is Meredith College’s campus newspaper, produced bi-weekly by Meredith students and based in Raleigh, NC. is committed to representing our diverse community by publicizing local events, addressing controversy, cultivating civic engagement and empowering students.