FEATURE: Organization Spotlight: Show Love for Angeles Latines
Angeles Latines are among the many active cultural organizations here on campus. According to the organization's description on Meredith's website, the group was "created to support and represent the Hispanic and Latin student body." As the college's Hispanic and Latine population grows, so does Angeles Latines, as noted by Co-President Paola Zelaya-Deras, ‘27. "This has created more opportunities for representation and making [the] campus more inclusive." According to Zelaya-Deras, in addition to providing a space for Latine students to celebrate their heritage, Angeles Latines works to educate the broader Meredith community about Latine culture and issues through events and initiatives. Zelaya-Deras shared that the mission of the organization is to provide a supportive environment and community where students can connect and learn.
But among the things that make Angeles Latines so special, it is important to mention a commitment to making students feel as if they are at home. As Zelaya-Deras described to The Herald, the organization seeks to "foment a space for [members of the] ethnic group to feel most at home and comfortable to be able to embrace [the] cultures." Members are given the opportunity to share their traditions through events such as the “Day of the Dead ofrenda” and “Hispanic Heritage Month” kickoffs, while also educating the broader campus on what it means to be Latina, Latinx, or Chicana. The organization also hosts workshops that break down these terms and explain what they represent in today's world. It's not only about celebrating the culture, but also building awareness and understanding among everyone at Meredith College.
For Social Media Coordinator Genesis Romero, ‘25, one of the biggest rewards of being involved with Angeles Latines is seeing the friendships that blossom from their events. Romero shared that she has seen "such meaningful friendships come out of the events [Angeles Latines] hosts, and it fills [her] heart to know that [the organization is] creating something so beautiful." The organization's emphasis on building relationships within the Latine community and with allies has helped to create an inclusive space in which students can feel like they are truly part of a family. Romero also said she hopes to continue reaching out to underclassmen who may be searching for a group with which to connect, adding that her goal is to "help them find their people at Meredith."
The impact of Angeles Latines only deepened in October when Meredith College joined the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, HACU, according to Meredith’s website. It's more than just a membership; it's a step towards visibility and opportunity. As Romero said, "Becoming part of HACU is a step toward greater representation, resources, and opportunities for Latinx students at Meredith."
Throughout February, Angeles Latines has had several events that promised to bring students together in fun and meaningful ways. On Feb. 11, they hosted a Galentine's Day celebration where everyone could destress, craft and make connections, according to Romero. On Feb. 12, the organization hosted its third annual “Sweet Love, Sweeter Treats” fundraiser, offering treats and a chance to support their work. Events like this are a reflection of Angeles Latines' mission: “to create a welcoming and supportive space for Latinx students and allies,” as stated by Romero. It's not only about having a good time but also making people feel included while raising awareness and celebrating Latine culture in that process.
Angeles Latines, in all its initiatives, has remained a supportive and empowering avenue for Latine students at Meredith College. Through engaging cultural celebrations to social and education-based events, the organization aims to build an inclusive campus where diversity is considered a treasure rather than just celebrated. According to Romero, Angeles Latines is “more than just a club… [it] is a community where vulnerability, deep bonds, and cultural celebration thrive.”
By fostering a sense of belonging, they are helping shape a Meredith community that values inclusion and makes everyone feel seen, heard and appreciated.
By Ellie Phillips, Staff Writer
NEWS: How Loved is Fizz at Meredith?
Fizz launched for Meredith College students on Jan. 23. According to its website, Fizz “is a private discussion and new feed for your school with a full suite of features such as direct messages, polls, and images,” where students can make posts anonymously. Students must verify their school email address in order to gain access to the platform. Students are able to share images, memes, polls, sell items and post about anything they like—without their name being tied to any of it.
Students have taken to the platform with gusto, sharing memes and posts about a variety of issues, like dorm quality, spring semester struggles, the dining hall, campus happenings and shared experiences between students. Users do not have accounts, but they can opt to have usernames or pseudonyms in order to post. Users also receive “karma,” based on the total number of likes a student receives, which is available on a leaderboard. As of Feb. 10, the top user is “YolkHero,” with almost 60,000 karma. The experience of students has been generally positive, but not all students have had great experiences with Fizz. One Fizz user anonymously reported that “Fizz is a fun platform to connect with others but it has also become somewhat problematic. [T]here have been instances of homophobia, transphobia, and overwhelming amount[s] of bigotry, which, at times, discourages [them] from using the app.”
According to Dean of Students, Ann Gleason, “Meredith College does not have control over the Fizz platform and it is not affiliated with Meredith.” She expressed concern over the manner in which students use the platform, saying that “Social media platforms can be positive tools for building community and connections, but they can also have negative effects, depending upon how individuals use them for communication.” Gleason stated that “The anonymous aspect of platforms such as Fizz, Yik Yak, etc. provide opportunities for the posting of disrespectful, harassing and discriminatory posts,” particularly for small campus communities like Meredith where users can more easily infer who is being discussed, which can lead to students feeling “targeted, fearful and isolated,” and because there is “no way to hold individuals accountable for their actions.” Additionally, Fizz’s page claims that all identifying information about users is hidden from all other users, including moderators.
Gleason stated that “The College, including the Honor Council, cannot take action against students who post on Fizz, since individuals are permitted to post anonymously,” unless enough identifiable information is provided by the users to determine who is involved. “Because of the anonymous aspect of this and similar platforms, there is not a way to identify suspected violators of campus policies, the Honor Code, etc. unless the violating student self-reports for a violation,” Gleason said.
Fizz’s community guidelines do not allow for identifiable information to be shared about students, hate speech, misinformation, spamming, illegal activity or other forms of disturbing or dangerous content. Gleason encourages concerned students to submit their concerns to Fizz so that Fizz’s moderators can remove harmful content. According to Fizz’s page, the moderators are a “team of students” who remove content through a “democratic voting system.”
Gleason also raised concerns about information security, since the app is “free” and requires a college email to sign up. Fizz’s website claims that they do not sell user information to third parties and that Fizz adheres to “industry-standard security protocols” to protect user data. Their website also states that Fizz is currently not generating any regular revenue and is being supported by a “team of investors” while the Fizz team explores “different monetization opportunities and brand partnerships.”
“Social media platforms can be positive tools for building community and connections, but they can also have negative effects, depending upon how individuals use them for communication,” Gleason said, encouraging users to “communicate constructively and respectfully, keeping in mind the values of the Meredith community.” Students who feel targeted by the platform are encouraged to reach out to the Dean of Students staff, Chaplain Pardue or the counseling center.
Dean Gleason also noted hearing from students “who want to know how to support their friends, which is indicative of the care that students have for each other and how they want to support and advocate for them,” Gleason stated.
By Lola Mestas, Copy Editor
NEWS: Fall in Love with Meredith's New Nursing Program
The Nursing program at Meredith is finally underway! The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) approved Meredith’s proposed nursing program, which was announced at the Board’s meeting on Jan. 16, 2025, as reported by the Meredith College website. According to the North Carolina Board Of Nurses (NCBON) website, NBCON is the governing body in North Carolina that approves pre-licensure nursing programs in the state. The establishment of this program has been underway since early 2024.
The journey for a nursing program at Meredith began when the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the nursing program, which was announced on the Meredith College website on Apr. 29, 2024. As published by Gaye Hill in Dec. 2024 on the Meredith College website, the program was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
According to a press release from the Meredith College website on Jan. 21, “Meredith College’s undergraduate nursing program for women will provide a rigorous curriculum within a supportive environment to help students become leaders and innovators in the nursing field.” Applications to enroll in the program will begin after midterms in Fall 2025. Applications for the nursing program for both incoming and current Meredith students will have a separate application process which will have a “holistic application process” with several requirements, as reported by the Admissions page. Theserequirements include: Minimum GPA of 3.0 after the first semester of their freshman year, minimum grade of C or score equivalency on AP testing in MATH 175, BIO 112/142, and CHE 111/141, personal statements, two letters of recommendation, and the ability to meet technical standards, according to the same Admissions page. In addition, as outlined by the link to the technical standards for this program on the Admissions page, it details the “Essential eligibility requirements for participation in the nursing program” which includes details on the ability to acquire information, use and interpret information, intellectual ability, communication ability, motor/physical ability and behavior/character.
Information regarding the program will be on Meredith College’s official website, including a four year course plan. The course plan is rigorous, including all general education requirements as well as foundational STEM courses. While fulfilling these major requirements, students will also be meeting the 640 hour nursing clinical requirement, as per the same website and additionally found in the plan of study. This program boasts the ability to prepare students for successful STEM careers, and allow “students to be ethical leaders and advocates for patients’ care and healthcare equity,” as per the Jan. 21 statement on the Mereddith College website.
The director for this program is Dr. Michelle Hartman, who has 25 years of experience as a nurse, and previous experience as the Assistant Dean for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Program at Duke University School of Nursing, according to her profile on the Meredith College website.
By Liese Devine, Features Editor
A&E: Love in the Lyrics: Bruno Mars and Sexyy Red
On Jan. 24, 2025, famous pop and R&B singer Bruno Mars shocked the internet by releasing a raunchy music collaboration with Sexyy Red, a rising star in the rap industry. The song is called “Fat Juicy & Wet” and features Mars’ usual groovy R&B sound, paired with Sexyy’s rap style and explicit lyrics. The two artists teased the song through a series of interactions on social media, beginning with an Instagram post by Bruno Mars. Mars wanted to celebrate his number one placement on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart by heading to the studio “to make a strip club anthem” and asked for help getting in touch with Sexyy Red. In response, Sexxy Red posted on X that she heard Bruno was looking for her and commented “Heyyyy Bruno!” on his initial post on Instagram. The next day the two posted a picture together on Instagram with a snippet of the song.
An article by USAToday reported that “fans were skeptical of the collaboration” as the two artists’ usual music styles do not seem to pair up well. Bruno Mars is known for his “old-school” style and “romantic crooner” tracks, as per the same article. Mars’ more recent work is arguably a bit edgier with more explicit lyrics in Silk Sonic, a music collaboration with Anderson Paak, who is also a popular R&B singer and rapper, according to USAToday. Sexyy Red’s breakout hit was her song “Pound Town,” which initially received backlash because of the explicit and raunchy lyrics before it became a viral sensation, according to HotNewHipHop.
Once “Fat Juicy & Wet” was officially released, social media platforms erupted into a series of responses and debates about the song. Many fans expressed feeling shocked by Bruno Mars’ explicit language and expressions. One TikTok user stated that Bruno Mars should “unrelease” the song because he is a “good boy” and does not “need to do this.” Another TikTok user comedically expressed their concern about Bruno Mars’ well-being and asked about his rumored gambling debt as a potential reason to shift from “singing about DuWops” to “singing ‘bout WAPs” (a wordplay reference to the song “WAP” by Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B). Other social media users have had similar reactions to the song. After listening to the song, one user posted a meme clip on X stating, “That sh*t was *ss.” Another user posted a reaction picture of the cartoon character Spongebob sitting in shock.
While there was a lot of backlash for the song, a lot of fans also expressed approval of the song. One X user wrote “The Bruno Mars and Sexxy Red song is actually a bop [they] FEAR,” and another user claimed that despite the songs’ controversy, it is “catchy and fun.”
According to People, Bruno Mars took to his Instagram story, to acknowledge the songs’ success by making a joke about the rumors of his alleged gambling debt encouraging users to “Keep streaming! [he’ll] be out of debt in no time!” Good or bad, “Fat Juicy & Wet” took the internet by storm and the seemingly unlikely collaboration was able to produce a viral hit by combining their unique music styles.
By Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor
A&E: Who Doesn't Love a Good Word Search?
***See attached pdf version to complete the word search.
OPINION: Bean Soup Whataboutism: A Need for More Love Online
In Aug. 2024, TikTok user @vibinggranolamom posted a high-iron, vegan bean soup recipe. Many commenters expressed gratitude or eagerness to try a new recipe and put their own spin on it. Users were somewhat surprised, however, to see several comments with an underlying theme: “[They] don’t like beans.”
This is obviously an absurd reaction to a video recipe about bean soup. The solution is clear to many users—Don’t like beans? Then scroll. It’s TikTok; there are countless recipes and food creators for any and all tastes. But the Bean Soup Controversy of 2024 is a symptom of a much larger problem: a complete lack of empathy in online spaces.
Increasingly, commenters are questioning why they are being shown content they don’t specifically like. The TikTok algorithm is powerful, but it’s not perfect. If you engage with food content, of course you’re going to come across recipes that you’re allergic to or don’t like. If you engage with fashion content, you’re not going to like every trend that you see. If you like political content, you’re going to be shown content you don’t necessarily agree with. And that should be fine. TikTok isn’t going to be able to guess your specific likes and needs. Not to sound like everyone’s grandpa on Facebook, but the real world isn’t sanitized and curated. TikTok users should expect to be confronted with content that they may not personally relate to.
There is sometimes an edge of truth to user concerns. If you’re making a recipe with gluten, for example, it might be polite to suggest an alternative for gluten-free users. For a makeup tutorial, product recommendations could be made for those with different skin tones and types. But ultimately, no one is entitled to the efforts of content creators to tailor content to them and their own experiences.
Last October, the “wake up, I died" trend, according to dailydot, gained popularity in time for “spooky season.” The trend featured people describing events where they had nearly died and showing where they are now, accompanied by creepy music and generally chilling vibes—a scary, seasonally appropriate trend. Some users were upset by the videos, however, as they found them to trigger derealization and be potentially upsetting to users who struggled with mental health. Solutions were proposed, such as blocking the sound and some videos including content warnings for derealization, but some people were not pleased with the compromise and wanted the trend stopped altogether, leaving comments under videos about how harmful it was to participate in the trend.
Demanding that other people stop participating in trends and certain types of content because it’s uncomfortable is not behavior that any person would show in real life. So why do we accept it online? Asking someone for a substitute on a recipe or a content warning on potentially upsetting topics is one thing, but demanding it is another. Online spaces are public spaces, and other users probably aren’t necessarily thinking about strangers' specific needs.
Of course, it’s not just TikTok. A tweet about how much someone loves spending time with their husband is going to be met with a swift, public rebuke. What about people with no husbands? Appreciating your mom? Someone else may have an abusive mom, how dare you? You love your dog? My dog died last month, this is so sad. People are so used to being the center of their online worlds, that they can’t help but ask “What about me?” on other people’s content. Online spaces are expected to be thoroughly sanitized of any content that is upsetting and uncomfortable for any user. The consequence? We get to hide in our echo chamber algorithms and stew in our own beliefs, unchallenged and uninterested in seeing others' perspectives.
This is, of course, chronically online behavior. Chances are, you’ve probably never gone into someone’s comment section and demanded that they acquiesce to your needs. But you probably also never thought to see the other side of things, to look for content outside of our specific algorithms.
We all like to feel like the main character. Online, where our worlds are specifically curated to our tastes and interests, it’s easy to forget there’s a whole world out there that is not for us. As a result, we don’t feel a need to learn to understand other people online, which makes it so much easier to pass judgment on what slices of people’s lives we see online.
We live in a polarized society, and social media is a big driver of this fact. Tribalism is easy when online since we are never even confronted with the “other side” of the argument. The “us” and “them” of social media means that we can completely wipe the “them” from our attention spans. We don’t empathize with or try to understand those we don’t agree with because we don’t have to—our algorithms filter out most of that content, anyways. The real-world effect is that when we meet people who we don’t agree with, we automatically write them off as “them” and make no effort to understand them. From pop culture debates to politics, we are so assured of our “rightness” that we never even stop to think about why people hold different opinions.
I’m not saying that you must change your beliefs, opinions and worldview to understand others. Instead, I implore you to be curious about the opposing side. Ask questions, start dialogues, and listen without judgment. You don’t have to like everything you hear, but you should be able to listen to your opposition with empathy. It’s easy to fall into the “what about me” mindset online—we’re human. It’s in our nature to like the comfortable and safe and avoid anything else. It can be hard to be curious and considerate when we disagree, especially when we don’t receive the same consideration in return. Being conscious of how we get entrenched in our ways, though, can be the first step to being able to meet in the middle.
By Lola Mestas, Copy Editor
OPINION: Love or Hate to See John Cena Retiring?
John Cena is a well known actor and pro-wrestler who has announced he will be retiring from being a pro-wrestler at the end of 2025. Cena made the announcement during a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) premium live event on Sat. July 6, 2024. This announcement was covered by several news organizations across the globe, including BBC, NBC News, CNN, E! News, Men's Health and more.
According to his bio on WWE’s website, Cena is “a 16-time World Champion, New York Times best-selling author and record-setting ‘Make-A-Wish’ granter.” Cena has also “released a hit album, starred in blockbuster movies and carried the torch for WWE since he first set foot in a WWE ring nearly two decades ago,” according to WWE.
Cena has wrestled in a few different wrestling companies, mainly Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), but his longest tenure has been in WWE. According to Britannica, Cena began his time in WWE in 2002. Since his debut, Cena has been a widely loved multi-time champion and holder of several championship belts. WWE has rolled out a line of merch for the farewell tour, including new and retro items.
Fans have been voicing their opinions and love for Cena on social media platforms since he made the retirement announcement. Some fans on Reddit think that Cena should branch out to other wrestling companies before he retires, other fans have been speculating who Cena will face at WrestleMania and their expectations for Cena’s farewell tour.
Many fans were disappointed when Cena did not win the Royal Rumble on Feb. 1, 2025. According to the WWE website, the Royal Rumble is a match that gives over 20 WWE superstars the opportunity to fight for a chance to challenge the world champion at WrestleMania, WWE’s annual superbowl type event. Jey Uso is a great pick but I wanted John Cena to win the 2025 Royal Rumble so badly. Admittedly I do feel a little disappointed with the Royal Rumble outcome, even after saying I would be okay with almost anyone winning. I didn’t realize that I only wanted Cena to win until he was the one who didn’t.
In a post-show interview, Cena stated that he will be entering into this year’s Elimination Chamber, which could give him another chance to be in a championship match. In the Elimination Chamber, Cena would only have to contest with five opponents rather than the 29 he had to contest with in the Royal Rumble, according to WWE match rules.
I am hoping to see John Cena have a fantastic farewell tour and break even more records. In my opinion, Cena is one of the greatest pro-wrestlers of all time, known for his talking skills, in ring abilities, popularity, audience interactions, history and much more. I, as many other fans, firmly believe that Cena should dethrone Ric Flair as the WWE pro-wrestler with the most world championship reigns. As one fan said on Reddit, Cena “was and is the face of the WWE and will probably stay the most famous wrestler for a long time. And thats why [they] still don't understand dudes from older or newer eras disrespect John Cena when he clearly was the star of the WWE in terms of popularity.” I feel that a lot of fans are riding a high of Cena being back wrestling on an almost weekly basis, and when the farewell tour ends, many will realize just how much we didn’t want Cena to retire.
By Kailey Wurr, A&E Editor
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