1. STAFF
Editors: Julia Dent, Editor in Chief. Marlena Brown, Managing Editor. Cody Jeffrey, Assistant Editor. Emily Chilton, Copy Editor. Monique Kre-
isman, News Editor. Fantasia Evans, Editorials Editor. Rachel Pratl, Online Editor. Layout Editors: Stephanie Livesay, Olivia McElvaney, Laura
Douglass, Samantha-Kate Shuford
Staff Writers: Sarah Cullen, Ellen Cleary, Kristen Lawhorne, Shantel Jordan
The Meredith Herald is produced by the College throughout the academic year. The paper is funded by the College and through independent adver-
tising. The opinions expressed in the editorial columns do not necessarily reflect those of the college administration, faculty, or student body. The
policy of this paper requires that submissions be made by 5:00 p.m. the Thursday before publication and that contributors sign all submissions and
provide necessary contact information. The editors and staff welcome submissions meeting the above guidelines.
February 18, 2015
Students Prepare for CSA Day Presentations
Julia Dent, Editor in Chief
RHA Plays a Big Role on Campus
Emily Chilton, Staff Writer
The abstracts for Celebrating Student
Achievement Day have been turned in, and stu-
dents are busy working on a variety of theses
and research projects. Although CSA Day isn’t
until Apr. 14, here’s a glimpse of the fascinating
presentations that are to come.
Senior Stephanie Livesay is a Graphic
Design major, and she is designing an addition-
al project to go with her paper. “I am designing
the identity, stationery suite, website, way find-
ing and various print materials for a boutique
hotel of my own creation,” she said. “The hotel,
Chroma, is a modern yet eclectic boutique hotel
located in downtown Raleigh that reflects the
vibrant and unique culture home to Raleigh.
Complementing the design, I am researching
the relationship between hotel success and ef-
fective advertising and branding… Through my
presentation I hope to demonstrate to the Mer-
edith community that design reaches across
multiple disciplines and that great design em-
ploys various skills and knowledge beyond cre-
ative talent.”
Junior Kim Hinton is working on her
Chemistry thesis, which is based off of two
semesters of research. “The idea came from a
conversation Dr. Powell and Dr. Agorham had
about connecting organic synthesis to biochem-
istry,” she said. She will “examine the effects of
two inhibitors, difluorosuccinic acid and 2,4-di-
nitrophenol, on the succinate dehydrogenase
complex. The question posed is to what extent
the two synthesized inhibitors will obstruct the
succinate dehydrogenate’s ability to catalyze
the removal of two hydrogens from its sub-
strate succinate… The samples were examined
using ultraviolet spectrophotometer in order to
numerically measure the enzyme kinematics of
our inhibited succinate dehydrogenase.” After
graduating, Hinton wants to pursue a doctorate
of pharmacology, and she hopes her project will
“communicate how research can lead to cross
departmental connections, specifically Chemis-
try and Biology.”
Senior Connor Dixon hated reading
when she was a child, but that changed when
she read the Harry Potter series. She became
interested in how the series and the films were
so wildly successful and focused her English
thesis on that. “I focused my argument around
the successful adaptation from novel to film
and exactly how that happened through pro-
duction, narrative scope and staying relatively
true to the novels,” she said. “I learned a lot
about film production and the massive amount
of work that goes into making a film adaptation
of a novel… I discuss some of the changes made
in the translation process and yet how the film
series still stays true to J.K. Rowling’s beloved
novels.”
Dixon hopes to continue her research
and “one day become an encyclopedia of Harry
Potter knowledge,” she said. “I feel as though
I’m getting there right now, but I don’t think
one can ever know too much about Harry Pot-
ter. Hopefully I can continue to develop and
expand more on this subject and one day get it
published as an article or book. I believe Harry
Potter is important for many reasons, and one
of those reasons is how it reaches out, across
industries, across genres, across readers’ ages
and reading levels, and inspires people to wait
patiently for their acceptance letters to Hog-
warts. “
Honors Thesis presenters:
Christa Allen
Kara Barrett
Marline Brown
Marinda Carraway
Julia Dent
Taylor Haines
Haley Harris
Alex Herel
Kimberly Hinton
Keila Jaen
Cody Jeffery
Jennifer Jervey
Sarah K. Johnson
Catie Jones
Tia Joyce
Neda Kazemi
Stephanie Livesay
Elizabeth Marshall
Cheyenne Parrish
Samantha Sherlin
Mindie Stanford
Alexis Trell
Jessica Williford
Alyssa Zsido
Resident Housing Association obviously plays a big part on the
campus of Meredith, but do you know exactly how big? Actually, RHA
hosts several events in the fall and spring, and they’ve been busy this
year. This fall, RHA hosted two Meredith and a Movie events, a BRA Day
Drive, a breast cancer awareness panel, the Penny Barrels fundraiser
and Pancakes @ 11.
The BRA drive, done in partnership with Sisters United, was very
successful, spreading awareness for breast cancer and receiving 50 do-
nated, gently used bras.
This was RHA’s second year hosting the breast cancer awareness
panel, and RHA Chair Ashley Byrnes says it won’t be the last. There were
five panelists, including three survivors who shared their stories. “I think
this issue is especially important at an all women’s college, since we are
all women students and we need to be aware of this disease and how
early it can affect people,” said Byrnes.
Penny Barrels during Cornhuskin’ week was a huge fundraising
success; $1,500 were raised and donated to Sisters United’s mentorship
program. “I heard from seniors that every bank within a mile radius was
out of pennies one day,” said Byrnes jokingly.
Pancakes @ 11 has become a tradition for the last day of classes,
and this year RHA partnered with two organizations to help with the
event. FCA and Delta Upsilon both came to help, and are both planning
to come for the spring Pancakes @ 11 event as well. The event is usually
$2 per person, which gets you in and purchases a cup commemorating
the event. The guys from NC State that help actually make the pancakes,
and other fun things like dancing also take place.
This spring, RHA got the ball rolling early. Two Meredith and
a Movie events have already taken place this semester, and more are
scheduled.
The weekend of Feb. 6-8, the members of Meredith’s RHA attended
the NCARH conference and plan to bring some ideas back with them
to campus. “The conference reminded me of Cornhuskin’ to be honest,”
said Byrnes. “We actually won awards for Best Banner, Best Display, and
Most Spirited. We’re really excited to take from that conference ideas for
campus; expect new and improved socials coming up!”
Be on the lookout for more RHA events this spring, including a
possible fundraiser and Pancakes @ 11 just before finals.
2. News
Suicide and Prevention
Ellen Cleary, Staff Writer & Laura Douglass, Layout Editor
Ukrainian Crisis Reaches New Ceasefire Agreement
Monique Kreisman, News Editor
Angels Moving Forward
Kristen Lawhorne, Staff Writer
With all the dangers in today’s society,
suicide still makes up a major portion of the
death rate in America. According to The Cen-
ter of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
41,149 people committed suicide in 2013, mak-
ing it the 10th leading cause of death in the
United States. There are many resources avail-
able for people who feel that suicide is their
only option.
Veterans commit suicide at a higher
rate than the civilian population in America.
According to Time magazine, 22 veterans com-
mit suicide each day. That’s more than double
the rate of the typical population.
Sen. Johnny Isakson R-GA told Stars
and Stripes, “When you have 8,000 veterans a
year committing suicide—which is more than
have died in all of Iraq and all of Afghanistan
The conflict between the
Ukrainian government and pro-
Russian separatists has lasted sev-
eral years and has cost many lives.
The ceasefire agreement signed
last week comes after a long strug-
gle for peace.
Since 2013, Ukrainians
have protested then-President
Yanukovych’s attempts to ally the
country closer to Russia. In Febru-
ary of 2014, the protests became
very violent, and more than 80
people were killed in Kiev. A few
days later, the Ukrainian Parlia-
ment voted to remove President
Yanukovych and hold new elec-
tions. In March of 2014, Crimea
was absorbed into the Russian
Federation, and President Obama
asked Russia to move back its
troops. In May, Petro Poroshenko
was elected President of Ukraine,
and President Obama support-
ed him. The next month, the EU
signed an association agreement
with Ukraine, also showing its sup-
port. On July 30, a Malaysia Air-
lines flight from Amsterdam was
shot down over land controlled by
pro-Russian rebels. The incident
was widely covered in the me-
dia internationally, and the U.S.
soon announced sanctions against
Russia. In September, a truce be-
tween Ukraine and the separatists
was signed, and over the next two
months, Russian troops were with-
drawn.
However, in Novem-
ber, Russian troops re-entered
Ukraine. Fighting particularly
centered around Donetsk’s air-
port and the port city of Mariupol,
which is strategically important
geographically. In Jan. 2015, peace
talks were scheduled, but fighting
continued. The U.S. loaned money
Every year, one out of three students
experience some sort of loss in their life. Many
students suffering from grief feel alone, help-
less, and overall unsupported. It is for that rea-
son campuses nationwide have created a club
called AMF, otherwise known as Actively Mov-
ing Forward. These clubs were created by stu-
dents to help support students.
At Meredith College, there is a club
called Angels Moving Forward. The overall
goal of the club is to help comfort students by
offering love, support, understanding, and ac-
ceptance. I myself am a member of the club.
My dad has congestive heart failure. Without
support, students cannot successfully get over
grief.
Ms. Beth Meier, director of the counsel-
ing center, is the club advisor. For Ms. Meier,
the purpose of the club is to “bring everyone
together and give support to those that need
it.” Club President Tociana Watley says that the
club will meet every other week beginning on
February 25.
Club members manage their grief by
serving others. Last year the club volunteered at
the Ronald McDonald house and made break-
fast for families living with terminally ill chil-
dren. This activity helped bring the group to-
gether emotionally. The club itself is not meant
to always be a solemn occasion. The group par-
ticipates in fun and light-hearted conversations
to help the healing process.
The club president is willing to have
one-on-one sessions with anyone who needs
support. As a member of the group I have
learned that grieving is a natural process. You
are not alone. There are many that have or are
currently experiencing the same pain. The club
does not require commitment so feel free to
come when you just want to talk.
Email Ms. Beth Meier at this address:
meierb@meredith.edu
The counseling center in Carroll has a 10am
walk in time and 1pm crisis hours. For more in-
formation got to this address:
http://www.studentsofamf.org/about/
since we’ve been fighting—then you have a seri-
ous problem and this is emergency legislation
that we need to pass to help our veterans.”
And pass they did. This month, the Unit-
ed States Senate passed the Clay Hunt Suicide
Prevention for American Veterans Act. This law
will create a network for veterans to reach out
to one another. It also contains initiatives for
psychiatric doctors to work with veterans and
more over watch of the VA to help improve
quality of care.
While veteran suicide has gained atten-
tion recently, suicide on college campuses hits
even closer to home. There has been a rising
number of suicides on North Carolina’s own
Appalachian State University campus. Since the
beginning of this school year, four out of nine
student deaths are or (based on certain police
statements) appear to be suicides.
While the deaths have all occurred
close together time wise, they do not appear
to be connected, according to the ASU Police
Chief. According to High County Press, Dr.
Dan Jones, ASU’s counseling center director,
has stated that “a number of universities have
lost students in a short span of time” and “we
are no exception.” Dr. Allen O’Barr, director
of counseling and psychology at UNC Chapel
Hill, has commented that their campus went
through a similar issue a decade ago, and NYU
experienced it in 2003. He also said that UNC
went through a policy review and didn’t find
anything wrong with their policies themselves,
referencing the fact that ASU is probably going
through a similar thing. Blaming the problem
on Appalachian and its policies is not truly jus-
tified.
Following the recent events, Erin
Griffith, an App State student, commented:
“As a student, I feel like I am a part of a tight-
knit family at App. I feel safe on this campus
and firmly believe that Appalachian has suffi-
cient resources for myself and other students.”
When asked how she feels that the campus has
handled the tragedies, Griffith responded, “Stu-
dents have come together across campus to cre-
ate and attend events regarding positivity and
suicide awareness. A lot of emails have been
sent out by our chancellor and extra hours are
being offered at the counseling center.”
Suicide remains a problem, and it’s im-
portant to know that you are not alone and that
someone cares about you. The national suicide
prevention lifeline is 1 (800) 273-8255. Mer-
edith offers counseling services on campus. The
counseling center can be found at 208 Carroll
Hall or reached at (919) 760-8427.
to Ukraine, and several countries
considered supplying Ukraine with
weapons.
On Feb. 12, 2015, a new
ceasefire agreement was signed in
Minsk,Belarus,byRussia,Ukraine,
Germany, and France. The agree-
ment includes, among other provi-
sions, amnesty and release of hos-
tages, international humanitarian
aid, and a deadline for Ukrainian
constitutional reform. Also on Feb.
12, the International Monetary
Fund offered a $40 billion bailout
package for Ukraine, with the con-
tingencies that the country reduce
government spending and corrup-
tion. Although previous ceasefire
agreements have failed, there is
hope that this one will succeed in
reinstating peace in Ukraine.
via Getty Images
via appstate.edu
3. The North Carolina State Men’s Basket-
ball team has had one of the toughest sched-
ules this season. After completing the first half
of their ACC schedule, they were ninth in the
nation for conference strength. The Wolfpack
claimed their biggest victory back in January,
when they beat Duke with an impressive 87-75
win over the No. 2 Blue Devils.
However, N.C. State has had some
trouble on the road. One of their weaknesses
has been maintaining the lead while going up
against stronger defensive teams. Trevor Lacey
has been a staple to the team’s success show-
ing great leadership and dedication. He is the
leading point scorer and has been playing with
what some have termed “ice in his veins.” His
tenacity was certainly highlighted after a buzz-
er beating three-pointer in the game against
Georgia Tech on Jan. 31. The team had a full
week off before taking on the Virginia Cavaliers
on Feb. 11, who are currently a ranked team.
Another big game for the Pack was
against Louisville. This is the first season we
have seen the Cardinals in the ACC and they are
maintaining a winning record. These tougher
match-ups have been an eye opener for the
younger guys, as well as, great motivation for
the team as a whole. N.C State only has five
games remaining in the regular season, three
of which are against ranked teams. With only
a handful of contests left, the Pack has two re-
maining home games and they hit the road for
a three game stretch in between. Their upcom-
ing match-up will be against Virginia Tech on
Feb. 21 at home. Let’s support our neighbors
down the road and head out to PNC Arena to
cheer on the Wolfpack. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
For more updates on the Wolfpack fol-
low @_ShantelJordan on Twitter.
For those who do not know,
or have been ignoring every form
of media lately, it is awards season.
From the Golden Globes, to the
Grammys, to the upcoming Acad-
emy Awards, our televisions and
timelines are flooded with dresses,
divas, and drama surrounding the
stars of every red carpet.
In case you have missed
the last two, here is a little recap
to put some perspective on the up-
coming Academy Awards.
Golden Globes:
Best Musical or Comedy Motion
Picture – The Grand Budapest
Hotel
Best Original Score – The Theory
of Everything
Best Animated Feature Film –
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Grammys:
Album of the Year – “Morning
Phase” by Beck
Best New Artist – Sam Smith
Song of the Year – “Stay With Me”
by Sam Smith
So what does the antici-
pated Academy Awards bring to
us this Feb. 22? Here is a little pre-
view of the nominees and what is
to come…
Best Picture – American Sniper;
The Imitation Game; Birdman;
Selma; Boyhood; The Theory of
Everything; The Grand Budapest
Hotel; Whiplash
Actor in a Leading Role – Steve
Carell (Foxcatcher); Bradley Coo-
per (American Sniper); Bene-
dict Cumberbatch (The Imitation
Game); Michael Keaton (Bird-
man); Eddie Redmayne (The The-
ory of Everything)
Actress in a Leading Role – Mar-
ion Cotillard (Two Days, One
Night); Felicity Jones (The Theory
of Everything); Julianne Moore
(Still Alice); Rosamund Pike (Gone
Girl); Reese Witherspoon (Wild)
What movies have you
seen? Did any of them blow you
away? If so, who would you place
your bets on?
While the Academy Awards
might not have the drama of the
Grammys (enter Kanye, “Imma let
you finish…”) but the classy Acad-
emy Awards are sure to bring so-
phisticated glamour and elegance
in both speech and fashion.
So grab your friends, room-
mates, and a bag of popcorn to
settle down into a night of award
show excitement.
And the Academy Award Goes to...
Sarah Cullen, Staff Writer
Strong Victories for NC State basketball
Shantel Jordan, Staff Writer
Arts & Entertainment
via Getty Images
vis Getty Images
4. This week: Finding your perfect Netflix match
Ellen Cleary, Staff Writer
As the winter blues are settling in, what better time to start watching a new show on Netflix? You may choose to watch one episode a
week, the old fashioned way, or you watch the first three seasons in one sitting. Finding a new show is a great way to temporarily forget about
Mr. Groundhog’s prediction of six more weeks of winter.
First, you must pick the show that will possibly become an obsession. Think of it like a mystery novel; each chapter leaves you hanging on
what will happen next, and you can’t help but read the next installment. Netflix leaves you with only 15 seconds to decide to forgo another hour
of sleep or to find out what happens next in that new show.
When choosing a show, also consider the genre. Will this show leave you feeling confident and ready to take on the world? After watch-
ing a billion episodes of Grey’s Anatomy you have to realize you can’t perform open-heart surgery, and a marathon of Scandal isn’t the only
prerequisite for running for President, but shows such as these might just give you the confidence you need to go out and create tangible goals
to pursue those dreams.
Finally, choose a show with characters you can care about. Better yet, choose characters you can relate to. If you don’t care about what
happens to the characters, you will have no incentive to see what happens to them.
Get your snacks ready and tell everyone you know not bother you for the next three days.
Meredith Hacks: Life Hacks for Avenging Angels!
Check out our new website!
meredithherald.wordpress.com
Editorials
Exploring the Archives:The Scrapbook Collection
Jessica Feltner, Contributing Writer
Spring Break 2k15:Stay-cation Ideas
Mandy Astor, Staff Writer
From class rings to Cornhuskin’ sweat-
shirts, the Meredith College Archives has col-
lections of many different items. There are over
170 scrapbooks from 1906 to 2014, containing
a variety of materials that showcase the experi-
ences of the Meredith College community. The
Archives divides the scrapbook collection into
three separate categories: individual, class and
organization. Donated by alumnae, faculty or
their relatives, these books reveal over a hun-
dred years of Meredith’s history.
Looking through the scrapbooks, you
will be acquainted with the voices of important
Meredith women, such as Sophie Lanneau, the
inspiration of Student Leadership and Services
Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Devel-
opment Program. Her letters pepper the scrap-
books of early Meredith students. The presence
of the Astrotekton and Phileration Literary
societies saturate many of the students’ scrap-
books. You never know what you might find, as
students from the early twentieth century were
fairly open-minded in their scrapbooking mate-
rials. For instance, one student collected weeds
from a nearby lake and the remains of a hun-
dred year old cheese dinner. From 1910’s paper
hats to 1930’s cigarettes, oddities abound.
Moreover, the scrapbook collection has
more to offer than a rare glimpse inside the per-
sonal musings of early Meredith students. You
might peruse the scrapbooks of later eras, tak-
ing a glimpse at the Meredith community of the
1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It’s even possible to
spy photos of current Vice President of College
Programs, Dr. Jean Jackson during her time as
a student in the early 1970s.
The scrapbook collection speaks to the
importance of preserving class history and even
your own personal history for future genera-
tions. Collectively, the experiences of students,
staff, and faculty make up Meredith’s history.
In their pages, the scrapbooks have collected
the spirit of the Meredith community.
For more on the scrapbook collection
or other archival materials, please email ar-
chives@meredith.edu or visit http://infotogo.
meredith.edu/archives_scrapbooks.
Spring break is rapidly approaching (t-
minus 30 days, but who’s really counting?!).
While this is traditionally a time to get your
friends together to hit the slopes or relax in the
sun on a tropical island for a week, not every-
one- college students in particular- can afford
to take an extravagant trip this year. Although
it might seem like a bummer to skip out on a
fun-filled spring break, you’d be surprised how
many cool, rather inexpensive things there are
to do right here in Raleigh! Here are just a few
ideas for a great spring break stay-cation:
1. Go to museums- Going to museums is fun
way to spend a day! Not only are the local mu-
seums free to explore- you might even learn
something while you are there! Depending on
your interests, you can check out the North
Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North
via Getty Images
Carolina Museum of History, or the North Car-
olina Museum of Art, all located in Raleigh, NC.
2. Take a day trip- The beauty of Raleigh is
that it is located between the scenic mountains
and the “Crystal Coast” of North Carolina. If the
weather is nice, you can gather a friend or two
and have yourself a mini-road-trip. Spend the
day exploring a new city and making memories!
3. Pamper yourself- If the above sugges-
tions don’t thrill you, consider spoiling yourself
another way. Everyone can use a pick-me-up!
Whether you head to the spa for a well earned
massage or get a fresh mani/pedi for spring,
you will be sure to leave feeling pampered and
refreshed. Living Social and Groupon frequent-
ly offer affordable deals for beauty services, so
you might as well treat yourself!
Since spring break is a week to relax and
enjoy some down time before the madness of
finals begins, be sure to find a way to spoil your-
self, no matter what your budget may be!
Remarkable Meredith Women
Literary Essay contest
Now is your chance to recognize some-
one whom you think of as a remarkable
Meredith woman.
The Friends of the Library organization is
asking students to submit an essay about
a remarkable Meredith woman. The es-
say should describe her connection to
Meredith College and how she has posi-
tively impacted your life and/or the lives
of others.
Cash prizes will be awarded!
See http://infotogo.meredith.edu/library-
essaycontest for further details.