Organization Spotlight: OCP
Meredith College offers several campus-wide programs that promote professional development for both on and off-campus students. The Office of Career Planning (OCP) is an example of one of these programs, primarily focused on creating success in the workforce. Students may recognize it from the online platform called “Handshake” that they were encouraged to join at the beginning of their college career. However, the OCP extends help to students in many other ways which Jane Matthews, Associate Director and Employer Relations for the OCP, provides more insight on what OCP has to offer at Meredith College in an interview.
The OCP hosts many services and events that allow students to explore their professional options before and after graduation. Matthews stated that the OCP offers “1-1 career counseling as well as workshops, classroom presentations, and events throughout the academic year.” These are chances for students to discuss their future plans and see what they should be doing to improve their future results in the workforce. Events like this year’s recent Career Fest brought several employers, according to Handshake, including the Wake County Government, Eckel & Vaughan, and Planned Parenthood to Meredith’s campus for students to network with and browse for future employment opportunities, showcasing the OCP’s dedication to getting students adjusted to important career-based skills that they’ll need in the future.
Matthews stated that the OCP’s mission is to “empower students to be successful in careers that align with their strengths, values, and interests”—which is demonstrated by their support in personal professional assets as well, such as resumé-building workshops and mock interview sessions. Every year the OCP hosts one of their “signature events” and this year it is Mock interview week, according to Matthews. She shared that by going out and meeting employers face-to-face, students at Meredith are able to explore the types of environments that their potential industries may provide as well as gain insight on the questions that they may be asked in future, real-life interviews. Matthews shared about having seen several students gain real-life connections with employers during this event simply due to their success throughout the week. Jobs in CAPTRUST and Burns & McDonnell are examples of real job opportunities that Meredith students have been offered as a result of this week-long activity, according to Matthews. She added that while there was no legitimate hiring during this event, employers took note of how Meredith students responded, and gave the students a call back thus leading to employment or internships.
While the OCP is already an accessible platform for opportunities to speak with employers, the online platform Handshake offers “a more tailored experience for student users” according to Matthews. It is where students make appointments for career counseling, register for events such as field trips, and look at approved internships and job opportunities for any industry imaginable. She points out that “employers on Handshake [want] to hire Meredith students,” showing that Handshake is a helpful platform for college students looking for jobs, tailored to their particular experience.
In the future, Matthews hopes that the OCP will “continue to strive to make recurring programming even better.” Events like Career Fest and Mock Interview Week are planned to continue taking place every year, and hopefully become even more relevant to the never-ending search for careers after college, according to Matthews.
By Ericka Hewitt, Contributing Writer
The Impact of Hurricane Helene
Between Sept. 25 and Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene hit the Western part of North Carolina, devastating the region, as addressed by CBS News. Areas like Asheville and Boone were hit with extensive flooding. The highest current estimated rainfall was in Busick with 31 inches of rain on Sept. 30, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office affiliated with NC State University . All over the region, residents have shared their experiences with the storm, detailing buildings destroyed, property lost and people endangered, to name a few. The Herald reached out and spoke to a student who has been impacted by Hurricane Helene.
While Meredith itself was not located in the most impacted regions of the state, many students have been impacted, knowing people directly affected or potentially having homes in affected areas. Sophia Bateman, ‘27, is a clear example of a distant yet still heavily affected student, being a Boone native studying abroad in Italy for the semester.
Bateman shared some of the challenges with regards to being far from home, approximately 4,724 miles away, in the wake of a natural disaster affecting her family.. According to Bateman, she didn’t expect Boone to be hit as hard as it was, considering its high altitude. She shared that it is “ hard to believe that somewhere that high in elevation and so far from any coastline could ever receive such damage as Hurricane Helene caused.”
Bateman added that she has faced a “real challenge navigating the heavy emotions that have come with the circumstances,” noting how she felt the true harshness of the situation only in the aftermath.
Bateman reminisced on her experiences in Boone and noted some of her activities, including the places she visited, the strolls on roads she knew, and her summer on the river, all of which are “ unrecognizable now.”
NBC News has been reporting live updates. As of Oct. 3, it is estimated that more than 215 people have died and more than half of those deaths have been in North Carolina. It is also reported that more than 1000 National Guards have been deployed to provide resources to isolated communities. Bateman addressed how she has chosen to focus on the steps being taken to resolve the situation, and has taken measures to remove herself from social media posts about Helene, in order to avoid overwhelm. Bateman shared that her loved ones are safe and that Boone has already begun an extensive effort to rebuild after the tragedy. Fundraising has been incredibly successful according to Bateman, and she thanks her tight-knit community for this. Apparently, a Red Cross link that aimed to financially support Boone had seen “$25,000 raised to over $350,000” within 24 hours, according to Bateman. She notes that this fundraising was likely impacted by Appalachian State University. “Fortunately, because of the University, Boone is going to be one of the lucky cities/counties to receive funding, . . . but unfortunately, there have been significant damages to parts of the county that will receive less funding…”
Bateman hopes that Boone will change the way that it builds infrastructure in the future as a result of Helene. She hopes that bridges will be better reinforced and that “better drainage” will be discussed in future city plans. One large question that Bateman anticipates is whether or not property owners will want to rebuild along rivers–a common choice in Boone.
“It’s unlikely that businesses and homeowners will want to build anything that close to the river again, although prior to Hurricane Helene riverfront properties [were] about the best thing a person could have in Watauga,” she said.
Ultimately, only time can tell how the western side of our state will fare as a result of Hurricane Helene. Meredith College has already begun to organize efforts to aid in the rebuilding as much as they can, with Dean of Students Ann Gleason stating in an email to the Meredith community that “Chaplain Pardue and Kacey Reynolds Schedler from the Office of Student Leadership and Service are also working on a plan to coordinate a donation drive to collect donated items on campus.”
With respect to other ways to contribute and help, there are many resources online, including The American Red Cross, which is a helpful resource for finding ways to contribute. For updates on the ongoing efforts and circumstances, NBC News is providing live coverage.
Ericka Hewitt, Contributing Writer
Ring Dinner
Ring Dinner 2024 is being hosted on Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. Ring Dinner co-chair Sadie Gaines, ‘26, announced that they “are holding Ring Dinner at a new location this year; The Fairview!” Gaines added that she and her co-chair, Caroline Goodwin, ‘26, have “put [their] own spin on [the dinner] and are excited for everyone to see what [they’ve] worked so hard on!”
The new location also comes alongside a new ring supplier this year. Last spring, Meredith College announced that it was changing its ring supplier from Jostens to Balfour & Co., which was highlighted in a previous article for The Herald. This change is also advertised in the current issue of the Meredith Magazine. According to Gaines and Goodwin, who mentioned the previous supplier, Jostens, “are interested to see how Balfour compares and if [Meredith] will continue to use them in the future.”
Gaines and Goodwin said that anyone who knows them knows that they “love color and a good time” and that this will be reflected in the dinner itself. They also added that they “hope their class will love everything [they] have done and will have memories of [the] Ring Dinner forever.” Gaines and Goodwin suggest that students use the bus that will be provided, as The Fairview will have limited parking. Boxes for Ring Week can be purchased online for $25, which will include a ticket to Ring Dinner.
By Lola Mestas, Copy Editor
Good Reads from the "New" Book Section of the Library
In the far right corner of the main floor of the Carlyle Campbell Library, there is a section full of new books. There are different genres in both fiction and nonfiction by a variety of authors. The Herald wanted to highlight some of the books that are in the library’s “New Book Section.” These summaries and reviews have been compiled based on the authors research on Goodreads.
“Kaikeyi” by Vaishnavi Patel
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Indian culture
Vaishnavi Patel is a New York Times bestselling author. She focuses her writing on Indian myth, feminism and anti-colonialism, according to her biography on bookreporter.
“Kaikeyi,” is about a girl living as a princess in the kingdom of Kekaya. She loves listening to tales of the gods; however, no matter how many times she calls to the gods they would never answer. It is up to her to evolve from a princess to a warrior and a queen for her people. She must choose to fight for her own destiny no matter what the gods say.
This book has a heavy influence from Indian culture and myths from the Hindu faith. There are also topics of this story that are found in the Ramayana epic. It presents the readers with a moral and spiritual situation, which the main character must figure out for herself.
Average rating 4.19 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
“Planting Clues: how plants solve crimes” by David J. Gibson
Genre: Nonfiction, science, crime, Biology
Dr. David J Gibson is a Professor of Plant Biology at Southern Illinois University. He is originally from the UK. Dr. Gibson has received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in botany, according to his “About the Author” page on Amazon.
This book takes readers through legal cases in which plants have aided investigators to find clues and answers where botanical evidence can be linked to an actual crime. It invites readers to realize that plants have more uses and can put a criminal behind bars or give clarity to a victim and their family. This 8 chapter book takes readers through the wonders of botany in relation to crimes involving drugs, poisons, and murder.
Average rating 3.55 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
“The Eyes and the Impossible” by Dave Eggers
Genre: Fiction, fantasy, adventure, children, animals
Dave Eggers is a writer, editor, teacher and literary advocate. In his writing, Eggers focuses on conversation and empathy. He has written many books and “The Eyes and the Impossible” is his newest released book, according to his website.
This illustrated book follows a stray but free dog named Johannes. He loves to watch everything that happens at the park and reports all of his findings to the three ancient Bison who are the protectors of the park. However, Johannes finds out that times are changing as new people, animals and society come to the park. Johannes must discover what happens as society grows and understand what that means for him and the Seer of the Park. This book is a fantastical story of overcoming and courage.
Average rating 4.25 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
Students are welcome to stop by the Carlyle Campbell Library and check out these books or look at the many other books that are newly available to students. Anyone can also visit the library’s website to look for new books or the wide array of resources that the library offers. The books described above are just a few of the many options available in the “New” Book Section.
By Ellie Penton, Contributing Writer
MomTok: The Hulu Series in Review
In 2022, the creator of the viral “MomTok” group, Taylor Paul Frank, released a livestream video online that led to controversy and scandal within the group. “MomTok” is a group of Mormon moms in the Utah area focused on empowering Mormon women. I have watched the show and wanted to explore the topics of the show more in depth from
my perspective and what I saw.
Taylor Paul Frank is arguably the blueprint for Mormon MomTok. Frank started out posting choreographed dances with other like-minded Mormon moms and her then-husband, Tate Paul. In May 2022, Taylor posted a TikTok implying she was separating from Tate and moving out of their shared house, which led to speculation in the Mormon mom community. On May 25, 2022, Frank went on TikTok live and revealed that she was in an open relationship and violated the rules of that relationship with another couple, all of which is covered in a timeline composed in a Business Insider article. Frank was careful not to name anyone in her live stream, but rumors on social media began revolving around the Mormon MomTok and who was involved in the scandal. This scandal led to the creation of the Hulu show, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which gives the audience an inside view of the group, their relationships, and their “secret” lives. The show consists of Mormon mothers of MomTok, including Taylor Paul Frank, Macyi Neely, Jennifer Affleck, Mikayla Matthews, Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, Layla Taylor, and Whitney Leavitt.
While watching, there were a few themes I noticed throughout the show that really grabbed my attention. The biggest theme is toxic relationships, both platonic and romantic. The show and friend group gave me “Mean Girls” vibes. There is a leader of the group, and everyone follows suit. Because Frank had a scandal before the show and was arrested for domestic violence during the show, according to Daily Mail, some of the moms were on the fence with Frank being the face of MomTok, especially Whitney Leavitt. From watching the show, Leavitt seemed concerned about Frank as the face of MomTok because she thought Frank’s actions didn’t reflect Mormon values and traditions. However, she went about it in a very ‘mean girl’ way, in my opinion. On the show, Leavitt constantly appears to need to be in the spotlight, and I believe that she has a victim mentality. Leavitt would do inappropriate things to her peers, such as turn a private conversation into an inappropriate joke, and later be upset that they were upset. She also left a group chat and was upset that no one chased or checked in on her. To me, this seemed like high school drama.
The “Mean Girls” theme makes viewers like me wonder if these relationships are genuine or are just rooted in money and contracts. Demi Engemann posted a TikTok clarifying a video she posted with Leavitt in it. In the clarifying TikTok, Engemann said that all the drama and issues on the show were genuine, but they still had to create content together because of contracts. The gossip and remarks made about each other in the group were at times not so empowering, and it felt like they were putting up a front for the sake of social media, but the show does allow the audience to see the real-life dynamics. There are some genuine friendships within the group, but there is also behind-the-back, unnecessary drama between adult women. Another “mean girl” aspect was cliques. There was one event where Jen Affleck didn't invite certain moms to her son’s blessings because they weren’t where she was in the church. This led to a split in the group and members judging each other for how Mormon they were.
The show also gives an insight into other perspectives on the toxic relationships between Frank and her boyfriend Dakota, as well as Affleck and her husband. Dakota and Frank are seen on the show having multiple fights and disagreements, one of which leads to Frank’s arrest, mentioned above. In the show, Dakota wants to rush into marriage while Frank doesn’t want to rush into another marriage so soon after her separation, which causes issues in their relationship. There’s also speculation from other moms and social media, that Dakota had relations with his ex-girlfriend while dating Frank at the same time, in which Frank asks fellow MomTok member Macyi to reach out to Dakota’s ex.
Affleck and her husband also face issues, which are shown to the audience in the show. Affleck’s husband threatens to divorce her over something she never engaged in, trashes her character, and says he doesn’t care about her happiness. The other women in the MomTok group rally behind Affleck during this time by calling out the concerning behavior, saying she doesn’t deserve this, and calling her husband controlling. At the end of the season, Affleck moved to New York against her wishes so her husband could chase his dream of medical school.
The first season ends on a cliffhanger with Frank giving birth to her newborn son. The season also ends with Leavitt being “kicked” out of the MomTok group due to her behavior and drama towards the other moms. Leavitt then claims that the group won’t survive without her. It also ends with Neely asking Jenna about the relationship between her and Dakota but cuts out. Affleck is in New York with her family at the end of the season. Viewers like myself are anxiously awaiting the second season to answer all their burning questions. Is Whitney Leavitt officially gone? Will Taylor and Dakota’s relationship survive? Will Jennifer return to Utah? What did Jenna tell Mayci Neely? Season two has been confirmed, according to People.
By Enfiniti’ Jones, Contributing Writer
OPINION: Ethics: Dramatized Shows, Real Cases
From Jeffery Dahmer to the Menendez brothers to Gypsy Rose, convicted criminals who were involved in killings have been the basis for many “based on a true story” fictional television shows that center on their lives and crimes.
Television producer Ryan Murphy has returned to making more series about real-life events surrounding criminal cases. Murphy has produced several shows, including “American Horror Story,” “Glee” and “9-1-1.” He went on to produce “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” which was released on Netflix in 2022. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” was also released on Netflix in September 2024. According to Tudum, Ryan Murphy is producing a third series based on Ed Gein, who, according to Biography, robbed graves and committed several murders. Murphy is also the producer for the new television show “Doctor Odyssey,” which currently has three episodes available to watch.
Jeffrey Dahmer was a convicted serial killer and sex offender, as recorded by Biography. He was killed while serving time in prison, as recorded by History. The Netflix show about Dahmer received a significant amount of controversy, according to Slate and other news outlets.
Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents after years of alleged abuse and are still serving time in prison, as noted by People. The newly released television show about the brothers is also facing controversy. According to Vox, “any true crime fans who wanted Monsters to take steps forward from that controversy must be recoiling in disbelief at the direction Murphy has chosen to go instead — not only fictionalizing details, but almost certainly fabricating a relationship between the brothers.”
Erik Menendez has commented on the show from prison, and family members close to the Menendez brothers have also spoken out, as reported by Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian respectively. The cast of the show has also responded to the criticism, according to The Hollywood Reporter. So far the cast has defended “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” while also supporting the Menendez brothers’ right to dislike the show. According to People, Cooper Koch, who plays Erik, was the only cast member to visit the Menendez brothers in prison to talk with them and learn about their lives. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Koch said, “Hollywood is retelling this story in a dramatized fashion.” He also said he stands with the family and understands their opinions of the show. Koch seems like a great person, and my issue is not with him, but with “dramatizing” murders that involved real people.
I think Slate says it best when sharing that “Ryan Murphy’s done it again (derogatory).” Personally, I don’t believe it is ethical or moral to create fictional shows or movies based on real murder cases. These shows, particularly Lyle and Erik’s story, include made-up events or events that lack evidence. Murphy arguably creates a narrative that the Menendez brothers were having an incestuous relationship which is based on a theory of Dominick Dunne, as also mentioned in a Los Angeles Times article. This relationship has been actively refuted by the brothers in court, according to People. I feel that it is best to make documentaries on real stories rather than fictional portrayals. As an avid viewer of “9-1-1” and “Glee” it shocks me that these shows are produced by the same person who, in my opinion, is gaining off of retelling real stories in dramatized plots. I think Ryan Murphy should stick to producing more lighthearted shows that are most importantly completely fictional.
By Kailey Wurr, A&E Editor
OPINION: Museums Should be Free
Museums are a great place to learn about the world around you. I believe that the Meredith community is lucky to be surrounded by many museums in the Raleigh area. With the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) and North Carolina Museum of History (NCMH) just a few miles from Meredith’s campus, a quick museum trip is fairly easy. The NCMA has free entry for the People’s Collection in the west and east wing as well as the Museum park, according to their website. However, this is not the case for museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA) in New York and actually announced price increases in 2023, as per their website. The function of a museum is to provide education, a community gathering space and to preserve cultural heritage. For these reasons, I believe that all museums should offer free admission.
My expertise is in the art world so for this article, I’ll be discussing this issue as it relates to art museums. To begin with, art is an intrinsic part of human culture. When thinking about art, I believe that it is a natural human reaction to being alive, and the act of creation can be traced back to the very first humans. It exists outside of societal boundaries and can connect people of all backgrounds. Because art has this power, art museums have a responsibility to open their doors to people who may not otherwise be exposed to art. If art is such a significant aspect of human life, shouldn’t access to it be considered a fundamental right?
Museums like The Met and the Whitney Museum charge arguably exorbitant fees for admission, around $30 (for adults) for both, according to their respective websites. This acts essentially as a paywall for viewing art and excludes those who can’t afford the arguably steep admission fee. This not only perpetuates the idea that art is elitist, but also discourages people from exploring art in general. Currently in the art world, there’s a lot of talk about democratizing art, which advocates for making art accessible to everyone. Free museum admission is one of the first steps we can take to make that happen. By offering open access to museum collections, museums would possibly create a larger pool of dedicated patrons, ones who are more dedicated to the well-being of the museum which would in turn create more engagement. A more diverse museum audience would also encourage growth in the art world as well. By opening up the pool of people who are exposed to art, more diverse artists would spur the movement of art forward. There are also economic benefits to free museum admission as well. A museum that offers free admission may encourage more tourists to visit the area.
Oftentimes when people are met with an opinion that something should be free, the instinct is to be resistant. Free museums are already a reality, so to discredit the possibility of free admission to museums is illogical. The People’s Collection at the NCMA is a collection of work open to the public that is always free. The NCMA promotes the “transformative power of art,” as per their website, and strives towards creating a “sense of welcome and belonging.” If you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of this museum. Additionally, when discussing implementing free museum admission, I’m not saying every part of the museum has to be free at all times. Charging for some experiences could be an easy way to bring revenue into museums. For example, many people would pay for a chance to see an exhibition before it opens to the public, and having just a few free admission days at a museum would make it much more accessible. Solutions like these are simple ways to bridge the gap between generating profit and keeping museums a public institution.
Making museums free is to eliminate barriers between financial stability and creative knowledge. A significant way to create a more empathetic and open-minded society is through exposure and understanding of different cultures. Museums are institutions founded on the preservation of cultural artifacts and provide knowledge that would otherwise be inaccessible to those without exposure to the art world.
By Liese Devine, Features Editor
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