MEREDITH
THE HERALD
October 19, 2022
meredithherald.com
Wings Students Left Out of Ring Dinner By Riley Heeb, Contributing Writer Ring Dinner is a milestone tradition at Meredith College. Meredith Alumnae can be spotted worldwide by the Onyx ring that they received at their Junior year Ring Dinner. Unfortunately, many Junior Class Wings students were unaware that they were eligible to participate in this tradition. By the time they were made aware of Ring Dinner being so soon, it was too late in the year to buy a ring and RSVP for the Dinner. This Meredith Onyx ring has been the Meredith Class Ring since a student committee designed it in 1953. The ring includes a black onyx stone engraved with the Meredith seal and an oak leaf impressed on the band. While all students with sixty credit hours are eligible to buy the ring, most will wait until the standard time of Junior year so that they are receiving it with their class. Non-traditional students usually come in with many college credits. Still, they are considered first-year students, which leads to them not being added to the cor-
rect class email lists to participate in traditions. The Herald reached out to the Wings Program president, Valerie Rodriguez-Jusino, who stated that they “did not know that [they] could ask to be added to the Class [of] 2023 email group until last spring semester.” An anonymous Wings student shared that they “wish [they] had automatically been included [in the email list] and then given an option to opt-out,” when asked about the email delivery system. The Herald also spoke with the Director of Student Leadership and Service, Cheryl Jenkins, to inquire more about this situation. Jenkins stated that she was “made aware [on Oct. 4] in [the] SGA Executive Board meeting that a Wings student attending [the] meeting was not aware of Ring Dinner or ring sales.” Jenkins said a message was sent out later that week that “encouraged any Wings student interested in Ring Dinner to attend and provided key details about the event, including ticket sales, attire
and how to find more information about the loaner ring program.” The Herald also talked to the Director of Alumnae Relations, Hillary Allen, who was not aware of the exclusion of Wings students, stating that they are “so sorry to hear about [it] and would welcome ideas and recommendations on better methods of sharing information about ring sales.” Anonymous Wings students shared how they felt about the whole mishap after the email was sent out. They stated that they “wish that more of an effort would have been made to make us [Wings Students] feel welcome and included once the mistake was realized.” Efforts are being made to prevent this from happening in the future. Jenkins stated that “moving forward, [they] will work with the Wings President to provide information that she can send out regularly for all Wings students to see. Also, [they] will have her send out a message to ask Wings students to join the
Photo by Aminah Jenkins
class [email] listserv that most closely matches their class affiliation for receiving information about traditions.” Everyone involved is saddened to hear that some students were unaware of the Ring Dinner and ring sales. Jenkins stated that the Office of Student Leadership and Service “want[s] all Wings students to know that they are invited to Ring Dinner whenever it fits best for them as they reach that milestone in their lives. [...] Wings students are invited to all traditions, and we will work to ensure that invitation is clearly communicated in a timely manner.”
Campus Police Experiences By Aminah Jenkins, Editor in Chief On Oct. 13, two anti-abortion protestors came to Meredith’s campus. Both protestors, as The Herald reported in an article on the incident, were not Meredith students. The men were escorted off campus by a Campus Police officer, but the incident sparked concerns about campus safety. Students expressed concerns about how the protestors were able to access the campus so easily and how long it took Campus Police to arrive. Concerns about Campus Police have been ongoing for quite some time on campus. Back in 2020, when the Instagram account @dearmereco was still active, students shared their negative interactions with Campus Police officers. One student shared that two campus security guards closely inspected her car for a parking decal, but didn’t to others. Lex Hanson, ‘23, experienced communication issues with Campus Police this past summer. She was unable to use her CamCard to get into The Oaks. Hanson sent an initial email to Chyna McQueen, the Apartment Manager,
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for assistance but did not hear back. She then reached out to Campus Police for help. It took them 45 minutes to get there, and, in that time, Hanson “was already in [her] hall (someone else had let [her] in), took a nap and was getting ready to leave again for work.” “They were very unapologetic for how long it took for them to get there and did not help me whatsoever,” she said. The interaction made Hanson feel like she wasn’t seen or heard. “I felt that if they couldn’t show up for something unimportant, then they wouldn’t show up if I actually needed something,” she explained. Amanda Duran, ‘22, shared a similar experience. Duran was locked out of her apartment around 1 a.m. on a weeknight. According to the Apartment Guide to Community Living, students locked out of their apartments on Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m, on weekends and during campus closing should contact Campus Police. However, when Duran did this, they received no response. “I called them three times within the
span of an hour, and they never answered me,” she said. Though Duran wasn’t in any danger, they said it was concerning that no one picked up. “If I was actually in danger, they were not answering,” she said. Another student, who wanted to remain anonymous, shared her experience of a car accident that happened close to campus in January of 2021. During a storm, she hit a guardrail on I-440 and hydroplaned. She explained that her car was visibly damaged, saying, “My radiator was hanging by a thread, and my bumper had [torn] off completely.” Though her car was damaged, she decided to drive back to campus. When she arrived at the front guard house, the security guard at the front “just stared at [her].” “She never once asked me if I was okay or if there was anything she could do to help me,” the student said. “All she did was lift the gate and let me in.” Looking back, the student wishes that there had been more
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Photo by Elisabeth Sinicrope
concern about her wellbeing. “It really made me feel like I wasn’t cared about at Meredith,” she stated. More than anything, all three students want Campus Police to show up when students call them. “That’s their job,” Hanson said. In the future, the anonymous student hopes that incidents like this are taken more seriously. “I hope that if someone came through the front [gate] with the hood [of their car] messed up that they would take some consideration in asking if we’re okay,” she said. “If we are supposed to have top security, they aren’t acting like it.”
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NEWS
THE HERALD
October 19, 2022
Cornhuskin' Schedule By Cady Stanley, Arts and Entertainment Editor dents will march from the fountain in the Courtyard to President Jo Allen’s house. At Jo Allen’s house, students will sing and celebrate the beginning of Cornhuskin’. On the way to and from her house, students will pass through the tunnel, freshly decorated with Meredith memories by the Class of 2023. Wings Wednesday, Nov. 2 Wear your Meredith gear! Photo by Kayla Dunn
In Fall 2020, Meredith College Cornhuskin’ 2022 begins on Monday, Oct. 31, and ends with the parade and main event on Saturday, Nov. 5. Below is an outline of the events that will take place throughout the week of Cornhuskin’ and how you can participate to help earn points for your class. If you have any questions about the information below, contact your class’s Cornhuskin’ Co-Chairs. Friday, Oct. 28: Corn Service Day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Northwestern section of Commuter Lot 6 This year, Meredith College has partnered with the Food
Bank of NC to put on Yam Jam. Students can volunteer for a portion of the event and mold their participation hours to fit their schedules. Participating will also contribute towards class points. Monday, Oct. 31: Theme Reveal at 10 a.m. in the Belk Dining Hall (BDH) Courtyard Come dressed to match your class’s theme, and see the other classes reveal their themes! Odds and Evens Tuesday, Nov. 1: President’s Raid and Senior Tunnel Reveal at 8:15 p.m. Meet at the Courtyard fountain. The President’s Raid is on Tuesday this year rather than Monday due to Halloween. Stu-
Throwback Thursday, Nov. 3 Show off your best throwback outfit! Friday, Nov. 4: Can Art Competition at 4 p.m. in the Courtyard Watch your class create an image out of cans that represents your theme. Can Art is a timed and judged event that begins the weekend’s competitions. Saturday, Nov. 5: Parade at 3:30 p.m. along Main Campus Drive Join spectators and watch each class and various campus organizations parade through Main Campus Drive. Because of the parade, Main Campus Drive
will be closed from 3 p.m. until all parade participants are safely off the road. See the Cornhuskin’ 2022 Spectator Guidelines on the Student Leadership and Service (SLS) MyMeredith page for more details. If your student organization is interested in participating in the parade, fill out the Parade Request Form by Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. Dinner at 4 p.m. at Belk Dining Hall Students and guests are welcome to eat dinner at BDH following the parade. Note, cash is required for anyone without a meal plan and exact change is preferred. Cornhuskin’ Main Event at 6:30 p.m. in the Amphitheater Watch each class’s main skit, Hog-callin’ skit, and tall tale performed by students. After Cornhuskin’ Breakfast and Party at Belk Dining Hall The Meredith Activities Board will sponsor the After Cornhuskin’ Party in BDH for all students immediately after the main event. In the event of inclement weather, there is a Rain Plan that students can view on the SLS MyMeredith page with alternate dates for Can Art, the parade and the main events.
State and Local Elections Updates By Danika Ray, Contributing Writer
The voting races in local elections are underway with the final day to vote being Tuesday, Nov. 8. As discussed in the Upcoming Elections article from The Herald’s first publication this fall, the upcoming North Carolina elections have positions open for candidates for the U.S. Senate. The two frontrunners were Cheri Beasley (Democrat) and Ted Budd (Republican). Mail voting has already been underway and is placing the campaign as being close between Beasley and Budd. There have been more than 3,000 ballots already placed for the 2022 general elections, Michael Bitzer at Catawba College notes in an article by NC Policy Watch that the key takeaway from the early ballot process is that “We’re seeing a substantial uptick in returned ballots from the last midterm election, which means there is some interest and engagement amongst these early voters.” As far as the developed difference between Beasley and Budd’s campaigns, there has been
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a wide emphasis on the ruling of Dobbs in 2022, which declared that abortion is unconstitutional in the United States. Beasley has shown countless instances of disdain regarding the decision made in late June regarding abortion. Budd, on the other hand, has taken actions to co-sponsor a nationwide federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, which was introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The most recent update for this campaign was the debate that happened on Oct. 7 between Beasley and Budd, which was the first and only debate scheduled in the campaign season. The debate was streamed on Spectrum News and moderated by Tim Boyum. This debate was out of character for Budd, after avoiding debates throughout the GOP (Republican Party) primary. The main discussion during the debate was on the different visions regarding inflation, abortion rights and immigration.
Graphic by Aminah Jenkins
In regards to inflation, Budd placed blame on the Biden administration, stating that the COVID-19 relief packages were unnecessary regarding its spending and instead proposed a cut on regulations. In turn, Beasley also criticized the administration but also emphasized that Budd has not helped in lowering the prices and voted against lowering prices of goods and services. In regards to the topic of immigration, both can-
didates stressed the importance of the topic. Beasley pushed for stronger borders with changes in policies that would allow for legal resources and programs for immigration. On the contrary, Budd stated that he supports a border wall and control workers. For more information on the race and debate, go to ncpolicywatch.com.
THE HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mike Flanagan Series Reviews
Satire: Lucky Stump Scones
By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor On Friday, Oct. 8, Netflix released the fourth series in Mike Flanagan’s horror and thriller genre TV series "Midnight Club." This series follows a group of terminally ill teenagers as they navigate the complexities of death and loss with each other. Before watching this series, I also watched the three previous ones, including: "The Haunting of Hill House" “The Haunting of Hill House” follows the Caine family after one particularly odd summer in their childhood. Their father and mother bought the property in hopes of renovating it and selling it. However, following a series of strange and unfortunate events, the kids are forced to leave Hillhouse in the middle of the night, leaving their mom behind. Years later, they are brought back to face their mental and physical demons. This series is by far my favorite series from the shows by Flanagan. It’s raw and emotional
and gives us a deep dive into the intricacies of grief. Following the tragic loss of their youngest sister, the remaining four struggle to pick up the pieces in their ways. "The Haunting of Bly Manor" Following the success of “The Haunting of Hill House,” Netflix released “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” which was released in October 2020. The series follows a young au pair as she navigates life at Bly manor with just the staff and two children in her care. The villa is filled with secrets, tragedies and ghosts. While this series was less scary than its predecessor, it contained the same level of thought and care. The beautiful backdrop of the English countryside in the 1980s, paired with the feeling of unlocking the mysteries of the manor, made this the perfect cozy fall thriller I was searching for. "Midnight Mass" “Midnight Mass” was
Cans Across the Conference By Piper Carriere, Reporter This year marks the 19th year that the USA South Athletic Conference has held this food drive. In addition to serving the community, schools compete to be crowned the Cans Across the Conference Champions Raleigh Rescue Photo by Aminah Jenkins Mission is a non-profit organiCans Across the Conference zation dedicated to serving the is a yearly canned food drive held homeless in the Raleigh and Wake every fall by schools in the USA County Area. Collection bins are South Athletic Conference. Until located in Weatherspoon and the Nov.17, Meredith’s Student Athlete Cate Center and will be at all fall Advisory Committee (SAAC) will Meredith College Athletic events. be collecting any non-perishable For any further questions, contact food items to donate to a local Megan Rahn, the Meredith Basketcharity called Raleigh Rescue Misball Head Coach. sion.
Graduate Nutrition Program
released on Netflix in September 2021. The series tells the story of “Crockett Island,” a small Catholic fishing island. At the beginning of the series, you are introduced to a young man who spent four years in prison for a drunk driving incident resulting in a pedestrian’s death. His arrival is paired with the mysterious appearance of a young priest desperate to revive the dying faith of the community. In all honesty, I have not finished this series for personal reasons, but I understand its importance. Mike Flanagan wrote this series as a commentary on his upbringing in the Catholic church. Mike Flanagan can write a series that simultaneously excites, terrifies, and intrigues his audience. I would highly recommend this series to anyone! This spooky season takes a deep dive into the "Midnight Club."
White Iris Ball By Abigail Ruehle, Contributing Writer This school year, the annual White Iris ball, hosted by the Meredith Activities Board, is returning after being put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic. This semi-formal dance will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the “reimagined” Cate Center parking lot. You can purchase tickets in advance on Square Space for $20 by Oct. 18 or pay $25 at the door. Dates are welcome! Some small refreshments will be provided as well. This Meredith tradition is a great opportunity to come out and dance with your friends. Anyone in search of a dress can visit the Dress Closet located in Heilman 100. Run by Meredith's Service Scholars, stuednts can take dresses to try on and return ones that do not fit.
By Kayla Dunn, Reporter
The Graduate Nutrition Program is for students with an undergraduate degree in a related scientific field who dream of becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
Graphic courtesy of @meredith_gradnutrition on Instagram
The Dietetics concentration is accredited by Accreditation. There are numerous professional developments and research opportunities, and there are complete/ part-time options and an accelerated 1-year option. An upcoming event is the Raleigh Crop Walk at Pullen Park. Educational booths will discuss the importance of food and clean water in our lives. It's free to register and will be on October 30th. The crop walk is to help families who are struggling with hunger. To make a donation visit the web page events.crophungerwalk.org.
October 19, 2022
Graphic courtesy of Meredith Activites Board
By Rebecca Simmons, Contributing Writer
A popular spot among Meredith College students is Lucky Stump, a small, inaccessible coffee shop across the street from Hell our fine school. The scones at Lucky Stump are like no other. They are terrible and painful to eat, but like magic, you will return to Lucky Stump and order them again and again like you enjoy food that becomes a weapon in your mouth. The scones do not taste good. They do not feel good to chew unless you like feeling bad (I haven’t forgotten about you, my little masochists). They liberally deposit crumbs as a Hansel and Gretel precaution. These scones are what you give to children so they don’t get lost. Lucky Stump scones should come with a complimentary tube of Orajel, a dust broom, and an apology, but instead, come with what feels, upon doing the mastication tango, like sand. Like, beach sand, the stuff you long to step on when dirt begins to feel predictable. I say this not to imply that the scones don’t strongly resemble dirt in taste and effort but rather to highlight that the sand is novel and more interesting than your run-of-the-mill vegan scone, if no less unpleasant. In other words, Lucky Stump scones are a disappointing vacation from your horrid culinary life. Still, this sandy, oceanic experience can be appreciated two hours inland by pretending to be a beach crab while you chew, with frequent reminders that if you’re lucky, you’ll die from climate change before finishing your meal. A Lucky Stump scone is the surest cure I’ve found for imposter syndrome. If those cursed croutons can be a scone, you can be a functional adult. Rarely do I eat something that so wholly convinces me the ingredients were scooped up in a parking lot and put into an oven like that would make them edible. If someone can bake those scones and sell them, you can at least get baked and sell anything. Want to tell your parents you flunked calculus? Got gay? Got monkeypox the sinful way? Give them a Lucky Stump scone. Let Lucky Stump scones be useful and disappoint your parents for you. If they can’t have flavor, they can have a purpose. EDITOR'S NOTE: The views expressed in columns and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of The Herald staff.
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OPINION
THE HERALD
October 19, 2022
Legends Nightclub Experience as a Queer Person By Kayla Dunn, Reporter
There are too many straight people at Legends Gay Nightclub. I went for the first time a couple weeks ago with a group of friends. As a lesbian, I had expected to meet other queer people and for it to feel like a safe space to meet people within my own community, but my experience was not that. When I walked onto the dance floor, the bright rainbow lights blinded me, and the loud music blared in my ears; it was sweltering from all the people crowded together, dancing their hearts out and screaming at the top of their lungs to their favorite songs. The whole place smelled like body odor, alcohol, and weed– which was not appealing. As soon as I stepped onto the main dance floor, I noticed the overwhelming number of straight couples dancing around me that dominated the place. Gay clubs are supposed to be a safe space for queer people
to meet other people within their community, a place to listen to queer music and artists, and a place for us to be able to express ourselves freely. But, it doesn’t feel as safe and inclusive when straight people come into our safe spaces. Straight people come into our queer spaces because women generally don’t feel safe in standard clubs because of the toxicity within average dance clubs. Straight women bring their boyfriends to dance with, which makes queer people feel uncomfortable. They also might come into our space because they want to experience queer culture and see drag performances. While having straight friends support us in our queer spaces is good, we must remember that it could create opportunities for discrimination and microaggressions against LGBTQ+ people. When straight people in the club are assumed to be gay, they might get offended and make
both parties feel awkward and uncomfortable. It should be safe to presume while at a gay club that the other people there are queer as well, but that’s often not the case. Straight people may treat queer people differently in these places even though it is supposed to be a safe space for queer people. For example, they might ask gay couples who the man/ woman is in the relationship, even though the point is that they are both of the same sex, and it isn’t going to model a heterosexual relationship. They could also place stereotypes about queer people, such as assuming that all gay men are stylish and funny or that lesbians dress/look a certain way. Queer couples could be asked who’s the top or bottom in the relationship, and there could be the sexualization of queer relationships by straight women and straight men. Gender non-conforming and transgender people
could be asked personal questions about their gender that are uncomfortable to answer. When straight people enter our safe spaces, it makes us feel like we can’t be ourselves because the outside world is now brought into our space. Straight, genderconforming people are allowed to be in public anywhere with their partner and to be authentically true to themselves without getting strange looks or being side-eyed. Gay clubs are places meant for queer and gender non-conforming people to be able to be themselves and to feel accepted, not the opposite.
Photo courtesy of @bitwitchy on Instagram
Tainted Love: The Romanticization of Serial Killers By Cecilia Thompson, Contributing Writer
Content warning: this article mentions abuse, rape and murder. It’s Friday night. You’re tired but not tired enough to go to sleep, so instead, you’re sitting on the couch and scrolling through your phone. After a few moments, you turn the TV on and log onto Netflix. You begin to scroll. Then you see it: “DAHMER” in bright yellow letters. Evan Peters, of American Horror Story fame, sits in the middle of it with messy blond hair and metal-framed glasses. “Oh…” You think, “He looks good.” You aren’t the first to think so; you certainly won’t be the last. Even serial killers have their fangirls. Ted Bundy proposed to Carole Ann Boone while being questioned on the stand during his marriage trial. John Wayne Gacy, who killed and raped thirtythree young men, received enough
love letters to fill a book. Women still send Richard Ramirez, the “Nightstalker,” fan mail and marriage proposals. He died in 2013. This strange phenomenon is called hybristophilia, a type of paraphilia characterized by sexual desires and attraction towards people who have committed horrific crimes such as murder and rape. There is no definite cause. Some theorize that it’s caused by the desire to fix them, to see the broken person inside, or a base want for fifteen minutes of fame. It is a condition that is more commonly observed in young women and survivors of past abuse. “If there was one thing that was common to all these women, it was probably insecurity and a willingness to have their sense of self-determined by the men they were involved with.” Said author Elizabeth Woollett in an interview
with Vice. The story is still the same: a woman falls for a man who puts on a darling smile in front of the courtroom camera. Their story doesn’t end there. After being put behind bars, these women are their chosen killer’s only link to the outside world. “You can decide when to make the visit, when to accept the phone call, or if you will accept the call, and you are that man’s primary link with the outside world. So as you can clearly see, it’s a compelling position to be in.” Sheila Isenberg wrote in Women Who Love Men Who Kill. This is their way of claiming back the power that was taken from them in the first place It’s important to note that the coverage of these women either infantilizes or demonizes them. They are either helpless waifs or scheming temptresses,
opposed to being truly humanized. They do not deserve to be idealized or pitied. Yes, there is manipulation at play, serial killers are notoriously charismatic and intelligent people. However, that shouldn’t be the only thing to consider. The next time you watch a Ted Bundy thirst trap, think about the grander psychological and cultural context at play.
Photo courtesy of @ahscults on Instagram
CORRECTION: In The Herald's last print issue, the "Advancing Accessibility Initiative" article had two edits. First, Hull is not affiliated with Arts Access, but rather, partnered with them during her time as gallery director and is currently and audio describer. Secondly, the phrase "nothing about us, without us" was spoken by Michael Masutha and William Rowland, who were the two leaders of Disabled People South Africa in 1993.
The Meredith Herald is Meredith College’s campus newspaper, produced bi-weekly by Meredith students and based in Raleigh, NC. The staff of The Herald is committed to representing our diverse community by publicizing local events, addressing controversy, cultivating civic engagement and empowering students.
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Aminah Jenkins
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Evelyn Summers
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rachel Van Horne
COPY EDITORS Caroline O'Daniel Clary Taylor
FEATURES EDITOR Freya Dahlgren NEWS EDITOR Shae-Lynn Henderson A&E EDITOR Cady Stanley
PODCASTING DIRECTORS Destiny Calvin Grayson Morris
REPORTERS Piper Carriere Kayla Dunn Khadejra Golding Anna Prince Haileigh West CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stella Bowers Camila Cardoso-Herrera Charlie Hatch
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, cont. Gabriella LeBron Danika Ray Abigail Ruehle Rebecca Simmons Sheridan Taylor Cecilia Thompson PHOTOGRAPHERS Lex Hanson