Oct 24, 2018

Best of Luck to All This Fall Semester

in this issue

NEWS

THE M E R E D I T H

HERALD

@meredithherald @meredith_herald #harktheherald October 24, 2018

Cornhuskin’ Changes for the Better

By Abigail Ojeda, News Editor

Sleep-deprived angels are ready to parade, perform and (yes) Constitutional Amendments shuck corn in Meredith’s 73rd annual Cornhuskin’ event. Deeply rooted Up for Vote in campus tradition, Cornhuskin’ has evolved since it began in 1945, Eco-Raleigh transitioning from a brief yearly event into a meticulously planned Ring Dinner Reflection annual extravaganza. No one on campus knows more and has A&E been more involved in developing Strange Halloween Stories Cornhuskin’ than the Vice President for College Programs, Dr. Jean Transcending Otherness Jackson. Since she graduated in 1975, she has maintained an active Halloween Suggestions interest in developing this staple event into OPINIONS a fantastic feature of a Meredith fall semester. Scoot Away Describing Cornhuskin’ is a Food Waste difficult feat. Attempts to characterize it as Comic “Meredith’s version of homecoming” or a “competition between the classes” falls short. The frequently By Mimi Mays, Associate repeated line “You just have to experience it” Editor shows that it is more This July, Meredith hired than just an event. As Laquanda Quick as the new head an interview with Dr. Jackson reveals, coach for the Avenging Angels basstudent contributions each year ketball team. Coach Quick, or Coach make every Cornhuskin’ a unique Q as her players call her, comes experience. straight from an assistant coaching When Dr. Jackson first participated and recruiting coordination position in Cornhuskin’, the event was held at the University of West Florida. in Jones Auditorium. Interestingly, During her two years there, the team this setting created the tone of broke school records, won a regional Cornhuskin’ because the performers championship and went to the Elite and audience members were students Eight—an honor in Division II basonly—therefore the skits could be ketball. a bit more bawdy because no one Before that, Coach Q had her first was concerned about their parents watching them a few yards away. college coaching job at Winston-SaIn those days, Dr. Jackson lem State University, in the city where she was born and raised. She was ini- says, Cornhuskin’ was different in tially a high school basketball coach, two ways: complexity and spirit. She reminisces, “When I was a student, I but once she got a taste of college coaching, she vowed to never go back thought we were doing really well if we got over to Ridgewood and had a to high school. Her current position at Meredith is her first time as a head posterboard and glitter.” The main focus was on the skit and the word coach of a college basketball team. parade because there were no dances. The StrongPoints pamphlet Even the faculty used to perform tacked to her office door lists “focus, skits, but that event fell away at some learner, relator, individualization, repoint. In the end, she adds, “the skit storative,” though readers and players has always been the main event in alike m me that her sixth and seventh one way or another.” top strengths are “competition” and According to Dr. Jackson, “strategic.” the spirit of Cornhuskin’ also used Tell me a little bit about your own to be far more mean and secretive. experience playing basketball. For instance, other classes’ themes So, I played four years at UNC-Chawould never be revealed, so “one pel Hill—go Tar Heels. I was AllAmerican there; basically the top 10 How was your time overseas? to 15 players in the country are given It was fun; it was different…in Israel All-American status, so my jersey and Turkey I adapted a little better hangs up in the gym over there. I was because most people spoke English, a first-round draft pick in the WNBA, it was often their second language, so I played two years in Portland but in China, everybody was speakand one year in San Antonio. I also ing Chinese and nobody was speaking played during the off-season, because English. The only person who spoke WNBA is only four months in the English was my translator—an actual summertime, so I played overseas in person that went places with me to China, Israel and Turkey as well. translate for me. It’s a very difficult

2003 Cornhuskin’ Parade Photo courtesy of Dr. Walton In the late 1980’s, organizers were compelled to move Cornhuskin’ out into the amphitheater because Jones Auditorium was so crowded that students were sitting on both the seats and the armrests. In 1995, the 50th anniversary, Dr. Jackson was then vice president for student development and moved Cornhuskin’ from Thursday to Friday. “People thought I was going to kill Cornhuskin,” she recalls. However, this move allowed Cornhuskin’ to get even bigger—more alumnae began to return to the event and then parents wanted to come. Ultimately, this change created a major shift in the scripts: “They cleaned up the scripts a lot,” Dr. Jackson says, “since the families started coming.” Another addition Dr. Jackson contributed was the after Cornhuskin’ pancake dinner. “When I was the vice president, I wanted to institute something to keep people on campus after the event-or to at least put some food in their stomachs--and that’s when the after Cornhuskin’ breakfast began, which was unexpectedly popular with guests afterward.”

Current faculty member and former Meredith student Dr. Robin Colby, who participated in Cornhuskin’, remembers the excitement of the skits and the word parade, but not dances. Since her years as a student, Cornhuskin’ has gotten grander. As she puts it, “The scale is the major difference.” Now, she and other faculty members love to bring their kids to “just experience it.” This newer, bigger, production-style Cornhuskin’ seems to be here to stay. Many people are curious to discover how Cornhuskin’ got its name. Dr. Jackson points to A History of Meredith College 19721989 by Mary Lynch Johnson, which says that the name came in deference to a midwestern faculty member, Ms. Peterson, who was then teaching in the PE department. She said, “‘corn shucks are called ‘husks,’” and the name Cornhuskin’ stuck. In her book, Johnson noted that “The [Cornhuskin’] contests bring out unexpected talents,” something that still holds true to this day. Initially, a chicken calling contest was replaced by a cow milking contest, and generations of students have added or switched out the contests. Now, in the words of Dr. Jackson, Cornhuskin’ is “like a mini Broadway show,” which is impressive but causes concerns for students’ ability to afford Cornhuskin’. She says, “One of the challenges with modern day Cornhuskin’ is making it fun, which means making it accessible to the class.” It is Dr. Jackson’s goal to see that everyone who wants to participate can be able to do so—the experience shouldn’t be about what one can afford. Also, the question of the expansion of Cornhuskin’ persists. How much “bigger and better” can Cornhuskin’ get? “There seems to be an expectation that each class oneups the last year’s class,” Dr. Jackson reflects, “Instead, the challenge should be ‘What can I remove or maintain in a different way?’” While the rivalry between classes does exist, she acknowledged, it would be helpful to focus more on getting to know one’s own talents and the talents of others. Dr. Jackson says, “Maybe the first step is going back to something simpler, returning to the days of the pie-eating contest or chicken calling.”

language. And it was kind of funny because I have this human being with me who obviously can’t be with me 24 hours a day, and sometimes I want to leave and go get food, so she would literally have to write on a piece of paper what I would show to the cab driver to take me into the city. And then you don’t really know what’s on the menu, so you just point and hope there are pictures. An interesting

experience for sure. What’s your favorite memory from playing basketball? I was able to build some really genuine relationships with people. My college teammates are my best friends; these are people that were in my wedding, or people I go to for advice. So just the relationships I built were my most memorable things from playing. COACH Continued on page 2

person fell through the ceiling of Jones Auditorium trying to overhear another class’s theme,” she remembered. In a meaner spirit of competition, students were getting into water fights by dumping water on each other as they walked under breezeways. Most memorably, when Dr. Jackson was the freshman class president, she was kidnapped and held for ransom by the sophomore class. However, when the freshman refused to pay the ransom, she was eventually let go.

New Coach: Laquanda Quick

COACH Continued from page 1 How do you relate to your players? I definitely see my players going through some of the things that I went through as a college athlete. Like, I have a couple of players who are struggling a little bit. I remember myself as a freshman, coming into college basketball, just kind of feeling a little overwhelmed, so I’m able to give them some empathy, knowing that it’s tough now, but you can get from Point A to Point B if you just keep working. So, I try to encourage them and let them know that they’re gonna get there, it might take some time, but don’t get frustrated. I’m gonna be hard on them and tough on them, but just try to see the bigger

Features

picture. Tell me about your first day at Meredith and your first impressions. The word excited comes to mind: everyone, from Dr. Jackson to Jackie Myers—the athletic director, the students I came into contact with, the staff at the student store, it was just amazing that everybody kind of knew who I was for the most part. Everyone was like, “we’re so excited that you’re here!” It was really great. It’s a little bit of pressure; obviously, people want the basketball team to be successful, so there’s a positive side but also a little bit of pressure behind it because they want you to get the job done. But I’m good with pressure. What changes have you or will you make to the program?

Meredith Abroad: The Danish Scoop! By Huma Hashmi, Staff Writer

Ellie Jones, a junior majoring in Religious and Ethical Studies and double minoring in Communication and Environmental Sustainability, is currently studying abroad in Denmark with the DIS program for the fall semester. Jones has deep-dived into the exhilarating, confusing and thought-provoking experience of being a foreigner. Jones has engaged in growth not only in her academics but also as person. Being in a new country is encouraging her to explore outside of her norms to experience another culture, language, environment and education system. She reflects that one of the most important things she’s learned is that “being uncomfortable is not only okay, but a great sign of growth.” Here, Jones writes to The Herald about community, Swedish meatballs and the secret to the work-life balance. 1. What’s your favorite memory you’ve made so far? My favorite memory would

be my trip up to Hellsingør with my Kierekegaard’s Authorship class where we visited places that he studied and wrote the existential philosophy that we are reading and studying. We sat up on cliffs overlooking Sweden and read some of his writings while just existing in the space. So moving! 2. What are your classes like? My classes are a mixture of lecture and discussion. I mostly have readings and papers as far as work goes. My average day includes coffee, class, cooking, lots of bike riding and most likely another cup of coffee. I tend to explore the city on my bike in my free time, and I like finding new cafes as a way of wandering! 3. What are some major differences between American culture and Danish culture? Danish society is incredibly homogeneous, which means that the idea of multiculturalism is controversial and often viewed as a negative aspect within societies. However, diversity is at the forefront Eco-Raleigh continued from page 3

that have a positive impact on the environment, our local economy, and all who live, work, and play in Raleigh.” According to a statement released by the city, Raleigh’s goal is to encourage the use of hybrid vehicles by partnering with organizations whose missions are inline with this objective. In the wake of the rise of “smart”, electric, and hybrid cars, which have gained traction in the mainstream media as a viable alternative to the use and dependence on fossils fuels, Raleigh has followed suit by promoting and utilizing the use of clean energy vehicles. As of 2009, the city has participated in a nationwide initiative called Project Ready, which encourages the use of electric vehicles, by installing public and fleet charging stations throughout the area. The R-Line, the city’s free transite system, is currently servicing three hybrid, electric buses with the

hope of integrating them into the City of Raleigh/Capital Area Transit (CAT) system in the near future for further public use. Additionally, the city operates over 460 vehicles utilizing alternative and renewable fuels, including but not limited to garbage trucks on B20--biodiesel fuel made from vegetable oil-- and police fleets on dual fuels, propane and gasoline, which has displaced the use of over 100,000 gallons of gasoline per a report release by the Office of Sustainability. Partnering with Cree Inc, an “innovator in the field of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), light sources that use less electricity than traditional sources and shines for a longer span of time, Raleigh has begun switching out bulbs throughout the area in favor of these. Many have been implemented through the municipality in areas such as lighting parking decks and in streetlights. The LED Streetlight

I think we’re definitely going to make sure that our roster numbers are a lot higher than they have been in the past. I think it’s important to have more than 10 kids, but at the same time, you want it to be competitive. So if that means having a lower roster but having a competitive team, then that’s what I’ll do, but just to have the option of having more kids on the team would be nice. We’re working a lot on recruiting so that for the 2019 incoming class we can have a bigger roster. What are your strategies for increasing those roster numbers? For this year, I’m just trying to work with what I have. There’s nothing I can do about the roster size now, I can just make the most of it. But I’m putting in a ton of work for the future. I’m getting out there and watching the kids play and contacting them of the political and social discussion with the influx of refugees and immigrants in Denmark. There is also a universal sense of trust and community with Danish people which, I think, stems from their roots of a cohesive and similar society. These are aspects contrasting to cultural norms I have experienced both in Asheville, where I am from, and in Raleigh. Multiculturalism and diversity are not only accepted but encouraged (of course this could be because of the circles in which I run). The sense of trust is similar to the community I feel at Meredith, but is something I have not felt anywhere else back in the states. 4. What are current events that are distinctive to the area at the moment? The concept of culture and the ability and freedom to assimilate into Danish culture and society as someone coming from outside the country is probably the most relevant to now. There has also been recent

Pilot Project is part of a widespread movement to replace street lights with LED bulbs. As of 2016, five areas have been included in the pilot. Solar LED lighting panels have been installed in public and city owned properties as well. The E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant is home to the one of the largest rooftop solar panels in the state, one of three solar arrays, which the Office of Sustainability reports is “expected to generate approximately 325,000 kilowatt-hours a year - roughly equal to the annual energy demand of 22 typical homes.” Helping the environment doesn’t only mean buying the latest green technology but maintaining the land as well through ecolandscaping, which minimizes damage to the environment by preventing soil erosion and keeps maintenance costs low by planting heat-resistant plants. Raleigh introduced an aspect of ecolandscaping in their WaterWise

and emailing them and calling them. And when I increase numbers for basketball, it helps Meredith too because we’re bringing in quality kids: well-rounded students. What’s something you’ve had to change about your coaching style coming to Meredith? I haven’t had to change anything. I am who I am, which is a pretty laid-back person; I don’t let things get to me. When I step on the court in practice, yeah, I’m more intense, but I’m not demeaning to my players. I’m very encouraging to them, and I feel like everything that I’ve done in all the years that I’ve coached has led up to this point, and I’ve been very successful, so I don’t feel like I need to change. feel like the kids appreciate that I’m different from previous For full interview, visit meredithherald.wordpress.com chatter about burqas in combination with Islam causing friction between the historical Danish church-state relationship. I am a religious and ethical studies major and am taking classes that are relevant to that, so some of the social topics I am familiar with here directly correlate to my course work. 5. What’s unique about studying abroad in Copenhagen right now? The concept of “slow living” and having a work-life balance can be weird to Americans, but it is amazing and much more my style. I think that mindfulness and simplicity are some of the key components of life and well-being. In America, that kind of mindset is new and emerging but still radical to many people who are always rushing, always aiming higher, focusing on the future and go, go, going. Life and identity mean much more than accomplishments and future plans. They are about all the struggles, challenges, learning, growth, joys, celebrations, and most importantly, now. Garden with xeriscaping, planting specific strains that will withstand the summer heat and store the water it does use as well as nutrients in their roots. With Wake County, the city has begun planting rain gardens at fire stations where native flora are planted in a tilted area to conserve runoff water, and to provide reusable, drinkable water. All of these sites and projects have contributed transforming Raleigh into an eco-friendly municipal, but there is still more that can be done as citizens to protect and save our planet. According to Sarah Shelton of Angels for Environment, “As for how else students could start change, the largest thing I would say is to start recycling more and convince your friends to recycle. It is something so easy to do, especially at Meredith, that makes a difference.” Students wanting to advocate for these changes should get involved with Angels for the Environment or another local organization.

News

NC Constitutional Amendments By Rachel Crawford, Staff Writer

As Election Day approaches, many voters are researching which candidates for whom they are voting. However, an equally important choice on the ballot will be the six proposed amendments to the North Carolina State Constitution. These amendments can potentially have long-lasting effects on the legislative process in North Carolina, so it is important for voters to know with certainty whether they want to check “For” or “Against” on each referendum on the ballot this year. According to a recent poll from Elon University, only 56 percent of voters are aware that constitutional amendments will be on the ballot, and many voters are unsure whether or not to support the referendums. Most of the amendments are generally supported along partisan lines, with most Republicans supporting all six amendments and Democrats tending to oppose all six, according to the News & Observer. Some are more controversial than others. All were written and proposed by the majority-Republican General Assembly. Voters can choose to support or oppose each referendum individually. The hunting and fishing amendment asks voters if they are for or against a “constitutional amendment protecting the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife,” as written on the Wake County ballot. Critics of this amendment state that its wording is too vague; according to WRAL, Republican representative Pricey Harrison stated that its vague mention of “traditional methods” could protect controversial hunting and fishing methods like gillnetting. Supporters of this amendment like Republican Senator Ralph Hise and the NRA state that vague language is not a concern and that the amendment is necessary to protect traditional methods of fishing and wildlife.

The next amendment, which is often referred to as “Marsy’s Law,” reads that it is a “Constitutional amendment to strengthen protections for victims of crime; to establish certain absolute basic rights for victims; and to ensure the enforcement of these rights.” Marsy’s Law originated in California and is named after a woman who was murdered and whose family reportedly encountered the accused murderer in the supermarket, not knowing that he had been released from jail. Opponents of Marsy’s Law such as the ACLU argue that this law undermines due process and “strengthen[s] the state’s hand against a defendant, undermining a bedrock principle of our legal system— the presumption of innocence.” Supporters argue that victims’ rights should be considered of equal value to the rights of the defendant. The income tax cap amendment is a “Constitutional amendment to reduce the income tax rate in North Carolina to a maximum allowable rate of seven percent.” The current state constitution caps income tax at 10 percent, and most taxpayers pay about 5.5 percent according to the News & Observer. Supporters of this amendment generally support tax cuts and decreased state spending, while opponents suggest that a decreased income tax will raise property taxes and sales taxes, which might disproportionately affect lowincome people. The voter I.D. amendment is a “constitutional amendment to require voters to provide photo identification before voting in person.” Opponents of this amendment say that voter identification requirements disenfranchise low-income people because obtaining identification can be expensive and difficult. Supporters of the voter I.D. amendment state that all registered voters should have identification and that this is

Ring Dinner Reflection By Hannah Flood, Staff Writer The very excited class of 2020 celebrated ring dinner on Oct. 19 at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. The theme of this year’s ring dinner, organized by co-chairs Elizabeth Page and Mikala Verderosa, was “Follow Your Dreams.” After the meal was served, the 2020 Bathtub Ring treated the audience to some traditional songs featuring altered lyrics to accompany the theme of the night. A special rendition of “Wings” by Little Mix, brought back from 2020’s freshman year, reminded Meredith Angels to “spread your wings and learn to fly.” Next, ring week co-chairs

Colbie Normann Stephens and Leah West reflected on the week and the importance that the ring of each day held for students. Next, the Young Alumnae Board presented the first, second and third place winners of the Class Ring Essay Contest with their prizes. Guest speakers Aleah Darnell and Betsy Graves, a Big-Sis/ Lil-Sis duo from the class of ‘10 and ‘12, spoke about the importance of following your dreams. Aleah Darnell is the owner and founder of the highly successful Prestige Dance Institute in Garner, NC and Betsy Graves is the Dance Director at

a necessary step to prevent voter fraud. Legislators in the General Assembly have not yet written the law that would determine how voter identification requirements would be enforced. The wordiest amendment is the judicial appointments amendment, a “constitutional amendment to change the process for filling judicial vacancies that occur between judicial elections…” The referendum states that the current process gives sole appointment power to the governor and proposes that this process change so that a separate commission nominates at least two judges and the governor chooses among the given nominees. Opponents of this amendment believe the governor should retain the sole power to nominate and appoint judges, while supporters of this amendment believe that power should go to the legislature. The last of the six amendments, the elections board amendment, states that it is a “constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement in the Constitution

to administer ethics and elections law.” The current elections board is composed of nine members: four Democrats, four Republicans and one member unaffiliated with either party. This amendment would remove the ninth member and change who gets to appoint members of the board from the governor to the legislature. Support for this amendment is closely related to the judicial appointments amendment; it is essentially a question of whether the power to appoint members should go to the governor or to the legislature. The Wake County ballot will also contain referendums concerning bonds for funding: specifically, a $548 million bond to “construct, renovate, expand, improve and equip school buildings and other school facilities”; a $349 million bond to do the same for Wake Tech; and a parks and recreation bond of $120 million to improve and expand local parks, greenways and recreational facilities. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6, the first Tuesday after Cornhuskin’. Wake County polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Eco-Raleigh

By Carolina Brust, Staff Writer With the United Nations releasing their troubling report on the future of climate change last week, and with 12 years left for global warming to remain at 1.5 degrees Celsius before furthering heating causes natural disasters such as extreme heat and drought, there is cause for concern in the city. What can be done as conscious citizens to help the environment and stall the harmful effects of

Broughton High School in Raleigh, having been named Wake County’s 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year. Both women shared their personal journeys towards their dreams, even in the moments where those dreams were evolving and growing along with them. As Dr. Jean Jackson took the stage to begin the Ring Ceremony, excitement erupted through the crowd. After taking a moment to record videos congratulating members of the class of 2020 who are currently studying abroad, Dr. Jackson asked everyone “to please stand.” Taking those beautiful little rings in hand, with a tight grip, juniors held their Onyxes to their hearts, taking a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the great accomplishments their year has achieved along with those of the hardworking women before them. Dr. Jackson then instructed Juniors to point their Onyxes towards Meredith in the east and back to their

climate change? Better yet, what is Raleigh doing as the state’s capital to combat this issue? The Raleigh Office of Sustainability has released a statement regarding the measures they’ve taken to improve our environment. The Office of Sustainability’s goal is to “save resources and money by testing new technologies and encouraging new ways of thinking

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hearts. The Onyx not only welcomes students and visibly connects them to the sisterhood, but is a constant reminder of the great memories and knowledge gained at Meredith. It was finally time: with the Lux pointed towards the wearer, Dr. Jackson gave permission to finally slip on the Onyx for good, officially welcoming the Class of 2020 to the sisterhood. Excitement, cheers and many tears filled the room. Only moments later, the doors to the hall opened and a sea of eager Littles rushed in to congratulate their Bigs and shower them with love. The remainder of the evening was filled with smiling faces and, so, so many pictures. Feelings of accomplishment and overwhelming excitement were palpable. Rings flashed around the room accompanied by a sea of smiling faces. Welcome to the Sisterhood, Class of 2020!

Arts & Entertainment

Halloween Spooks From the Mouths of Students By Kathleen Daly, Staff Writer I remember when I was trick or treating, my Dad would always wear camouflage and sometimes scare people. There was one time he hid in a bush and a group of people walked by talking. “Is there something in the bush? Is there something there?” they asked. Then, when they were a few feet away from the bush, my Dad jumped out and screamed. It scared them really badly. – Regina Franceschi, ‘22 It was my sophomore year of high school. Being the unpopular kid that I was, I stayed at home on Halloween playing a horror video game and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. It was a normal Halloween night until the doorbell rang. Thinking it was another trickor-treater, I put down my PSVita and grabbed the bowl of candy. Then, I opened the door to see three familiar

neighborhood boys the same age as me, SHIRTLESS. “Oh hey Kath-” they started to say before I slammed the door. It closed so hard on them that I scared my mother in the other room. She asked me if there was something wrong and I told her what had happened. “Why didn’t you just give them candy?” she asked. “Because they can’t bribe me with their shirtless chests,” I replied. – Kathleen Daly, ‘22 The Library once left their Hogwarts decoration out for too long. I remember going to the cubbies and I thought there was a dark figure but it turned out to just be one of the leftover decorations. – Megan Cassimatis, ‘21 I lived in a haunted twostory home in the foothill area of Bryson City, North Carolina, which is in Western North Carolina. I lived

Exploring Otherness on Campus

there when I was 10, back in 2005. My mom hadn’t been told about the house’s history when she signed the lease, it just looked like a good deal on a cute mid-century family home. Over the months of living there, a lot of strange activity would start. First were the cabinets: my mother would be working in the kitchen and turn her back for a second and when she would turn around, all of the cabinets would be open, from the lower pantry to the highest shelf. She used to accuse me of doing it even though often times I was watching TV, playing outside or at school. Then there were the sounds of running: my mom and I would be downstairs hanging out with some family friends when we’d hear distinct sounds of one or two sets of feet running up and down the hall. My brother’s dad would accuse me of being the

runner even when I was downstairs with them. This regularly unsettled guests. Last was the screaming: my mother had repeatedly reported that her bathroom shower would randomly turn on full blast, full heat. The shower would be so hot it would steam and she could distinctly hear the sounds of a woman’s screaming and wailing. I asked her if it could have been old pipes, but she told me ‘old pipes don’t cry like that.’ She refused to cut the shower off herself and often made my brother’s dad do it. Eventually, after months of hauntings, my mother finally confronted the landlady about the issues. Upon hearing her complaints, the woman looked as if she wanted to say “not again.” Apparently they’d bought the land and bulldozed an old early American cabin to build the mid-century home. – Micah Clark, ‘19

By Olivia Slack, Staff Writer Until Nov. 8, the Weems Art Gallery at Meredith is home to the “Transcending Otherness” exhibition. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the gallery is filled with art that explores the concept of deviation from “the norm,” whether that be in terms of sexual identity, race or gender. Each artist’s works are accompanied by a poem written by NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green in response to the art, and the result is both thought-provoking and emotion-stirring. The art in the exhibition is not always easy to view, as some

of the injustices featured are undoubtedly difficult subject matter: from confronting mental illness to combating racial discrimination, the art pieces were clearly made with deep emotion from the artist. Walking through the gallery, the viewer is forced to think about their own concept and idea of “otherness” and what they consider to be culturally normal. These ideas are explored through a variety of artistic mediums, including photography, embroidery, painting and, as aforementioned, poetry. Also featured is an

installation piece that explores the idea of validity. The work is part of artist Stacey L. Kirby’s interactive performance art piece called VALIDnation, which asks gallery visitors to write down a description of their own family/ lifestyle/partnerships and submit it to the “Civil Validation Officer” for “validation” as a part of the performance. These notecards stamped with the word “VALID” can be seen on display on a bulletin board in the gallery. In past exhibitions, prior to the NC Assembly’s vote on Amendment

One (which prohibited same-sex marriage), these notecards were mailed to the U.S. Supreme Court to serve as a reminder that “everyone is valid.” There is much more to see in the “Transcending Otherness” exhibit. In addition to the normal exhibit hours, a special reception with the six artists featured will be held in the Weems Gallery on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.

Dump gravel in kids’ trickor-treat bags because you are poor and unprepared. Forget the terrifying paranormal horror movies that will give you nightmares for days! Watch some old B-movie horror films and laugh at the outdated special effects. Or you can have a Disney

throwback night! Halloweentown marathon, anyone? Looking for a real challenge? Throw a post-Halloween costume contest, 100% thrifted from the clearance section. Nothing like a little out-of-season clothes-hunting to securely cement a friendship.

Weird Halloween Party Ideas From your Herald Staff

The Herald sarcastically recommends these ideas for an evening that is otherwise unplanned: Do you and your friends not have $40 to drop on a fancy costume this year? Throw a “Best Mummy” costume party – all attendees have to make a mummy costume out of toilet paper. Acces-

sible and affordable for all! (But try not to take too many rolls from the residence hall parlors.) Throw a study party because your GPA is the most frightening aspect of this October. Dress up like the last thing you took a picture of on your phone.

Opinion

Scoot Outta My Town? Bird Scooters and Transportation Lawsuits Just Waiting to Happen By Caroline Garrett, A&E Editor This past July, Raleigh residents noticed a new transportation option downtown and in the surrounding areas – Bird scooters. Shaped exactly like a child’s toy scooter, these oversized electric “vehicles” reach speeds of 15 mph and can be unlocked for just $1 using the free Bird mobile app. Over 60 US cities, including 20 universities and five international cities, offer Bird scooters to provide residents with a fun, affordable and environmentallyfriendly option for short-distance travel. However, the newness of e-scooters in Raleigh, as well as the ease of obtaining one, raises the question – where do Bird scooters fit on our city streets? The Bird website and app specify safety instructions for riders, including a reminder that helmets are required by law, and Bird offers helmets to customers for just the price of shipping. Even though riders should use bike lanes when available and avoid sidewalks, many a Birdee has been seen speeding past

a sidewalk pedestrian or weaving through vehicle traffic, the wind rustling through their helmetless hair. I have even seen Birdees using crosswalks with the walk sign off – after all, they are not walking. As a driver, I am often concerned about unsafe scooter riders, especially at night, and the increased focus required of vehicle drivers when sharing the road with a new, less familiar vehicle such as the e-scooter. Bird scooters are designed for a single rider per scooter, above the age of 18 and with a valid driver’s license. Bird also notes that, when finished riding, people should “park” their Bird scooter near a curb, a bike rack or a tree. However, many a scooter has been sighted in a haphazard location or even toppled over, especially following the winds of hurricanes Florence and Michael. For those of you who do not always open your Jean Jackson emails, a Meredith policy statement on dockless vehicles was sent out a few weeks ago. Bird scooters (as well as Lime bikes

Food Waste: An Avoidable Issue By Nikki Wertz, Staff Writer Every day, millions of Americans purchase food from a grocery store. They go home, and devour some yummy meals until their next trip to the grocery store. During this cycle, an excess of perfectly good, uneaten food is left to spoil or is trashed. This uneaten food is known as food waste and is detrimental to the environment and the health of all life. Oh, and it’s a huge metaphorical slap in the face to those millions of impoverished people currently struggling to survive both inside and outside of our country every day. This habit of wasting food in the Western world is unfortunately quite common, which makes the issue of food waste stupid because it’s so avoidable. According to The Guardian, the United States remains the highest producer of food waste, wasting close to a pound of food per person each day. Approximately 150,000 tons of food is trashed per day with the majority of that food being fruits and vegetables. Once that 150,000 tons of perfectly good food is dumped, it (surprise, surprise) ends up in a landfill under piles of manmade products. It rots and eventually releases methane, a greenhouse gas that’s 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, into the environment. Human activity has also increased the amount of methane in the atmosphere, absorbing the sun’s heat and warming the atmosphere. If this gas is allowed to reach high levels, there’s an increased risk of

an explosion at old landfills and mines. All life within the vicinity of this release will likely experience asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Believe it or not, there are simple ways to reduce your food waste. I will happily share 10 of many tips: • Have a meal plan • Food shop with a list and a budget • Properly store food and keep your fridge clutter-free • Save and eat leftovers

and Lime scooters) are only to be left alongside the Meredith Mile roadway so they are visible to anyone on campus. Meredith College also encourages students to wear helmets, and the library actually has a couple of helmets that can be loaned to students during library hours. Alexan Bailey, ‘19, stated that she was initially excited when Bird scooters came to Raleigh this past summer. She and a coworker decided to try it out just for fun, but “it was really unsafe, stopping was difficult and...there was less control than on a bike.” Former Meredith College student Meghan Moss says Bird scooters “embody pure fun. With a max speed of 15 mph, the scooters are a safe and efficient way to get to where you’re going while having fun.” However, she also notes that very few users wear helmets even though Bird will mail one for a low price. While Bird scooters may seem like just a fun way to pass the time, albeit with safety concerns, the company was born from good

intentions. They hope that by offering an affordable e-scooter ride-share program, people will opt for the alternative to short car trips. According to Bird’s website, approximately 40% of car trips are under two miles in distance. Additionally, the company has offered to donate some of their profit to infrastructure and safety development in cities. While Bird attempts to reduce safety concerns by requiring helmets and driver’s licenses in order to operate the e-scooters, few enforcements are in place to ensure these rules are actually followed. Bird scooters have potential: as alternatives to cars, they reduce carbon emissions; they bring together friends who just want to have fun on a sunny afternoon; and they broaden opportunities for individuals without a personal vehicle. However, safety awareness needs to be raised and rules need to be enforced in order to fully incorporate Bird scooters into the thriving urban community.

• Donate to food banks • Remember that ugly food is still

I am aware that some people couldn’t care less about the environment and would probably prefer me to shut up, but I implore you to actually reflect before you waste your food. When we disregard those bruised apples in the grocery store or casually trash an unfinished piece of cake because it wasn’t a favorite, think of the effect on the environment and on those who lack the privilege to choose what and when to eat.

good food

• Pay attention to expiration dates • Compost food scraps • Get creative in the kitchen with old ingredients

• Share what you don’t want

I’m writing this article because I think more people need to be made aware of the avoidable issue of food waste. I’m just a plain human that cares about Mother Earth and all her glorious creatures.