Organization Spotlight: SGA
The Student Government Association (SGA), according to their constitutuion and by-laws, is an undergraduate, student-led “governing body for all students and all campus organizations,” with the SGA Senate overseeing all campus organizations. SGA is comprised of the SGA Executive Board, Senate, Honor Council, Student Life Committee, Elections Board, Association of Meredith Commuters, Residents Housing Association, WINGS, DEIB Board, and Student Activities Fee Committee. The Herald reached out to several members to learn more about the governing body and their goals for the 2024-25 year.
SGA President Sophie Phillips, ‘25, has had experience with student government in both her highschool and college career. She shared that she was very involved in highschool and knew it was “something [she] was passionate about” when coming to Meredith. Prior to leading as SGA President, Phillips was the 2025 Class President and also served as the Freshman Member at Large. Phillips also shared that “passion” is at the forefront of the legacy she hopes to leave at Meredith, which is reflected in the SGA goals and projects. Phillips hopes to “increase awareness” about their board and functions while rebuilding a post-Covid Meredith and highlighting the voices of the Meredith community.
Ella Cannon, ‘25, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Board Chair shared a similar goal for the upcoming year. She shared that she hopes to “continue to build DEIB’s presence on campus” as well as “supporting the different cultural and identity based students” among other goals. Cannon spoke more about the purpose of the DEIB Board, noting that they host different events or workshops. More specifically, her role is to bring “DEIB-related concerns occurring on campus to the executive board.” Cannon added that the DEIB board will be hosting a movie night on Nov. 4th at 6 p.m. and that her collaboration with the Traditions Review Committee (TRC) will bring “a lot of exciting things” in the spring semester.
Similar to Phillips, Georgia Fulghum, ’25, the SGA Vice President, was also involved in student government at her highschool and learnt from an early age the importance of “serv[ing] in the community you are a part of.” Fulghum has been the Vice President for the past two years and involved in SGA in some capacity since her freshman year. She recognized that Meredith is a “special place” and hopes that through her role, she can better the Meredith community.
Another integral part of the Meredith community are the WINGS students. WINGS President SarahElla Trustman, ‘25, shared how the WINGS Student Organization has played a big role in her success at Meredith and that she became involved as a means to support students. For Trustman, she hopes that by the time she leaves, more of the Meredith community will see “what an asset WINGS students are to [the] Meredith community.” Trustman also noted some of the projects that WINGS and SGA have been working on. WINGS recently hosted a toy drive for the Duke Children’s Hospital[SH1] and worked with the SGA and other student organizations on coordinat[ing] and streamlin[ing] hurricane relief efforts across campus.” The hurricane relief efforts continued through Oct. 21, according to Phillips.
With respect to student life on campus, Alysia Rosenzweig, ’25, is the Student Life Chair and part of her position includes sharing student grievances with the SGA Board, according to Rosenzweig. She encourages students to “advocate for change” and meet with the SGA Board to reach fair solutions. Rosenzweig also shared that there are still positions that are needed to be filled, including a Freshman Representative, Senior Representative and Black Student Union (BSU) Representative. She added that you can reach out about these and any other positions not listed through her email ahrosenzweig@email.meredith.edu.
Grace Dunn, ’25, Resident Housing Association (RHA) Chair, wanted to thank everyone who helped get her where she is today and that she will take lessons learned at Meredith into her profession as a future educator. She shared that leaving a legacy at Meredith is not a “top priority” for her and that the work she has done is to “pave the way for others and help them succeed.” Dunn also spoke about her role as RHA Chair, noting that she “provide[s] updates in regards to RHA and participate in discussions” and acts as a voice for the Meredith residents.
Lastly, The Herald spoke with the Honor Council (HC) Chair, Lydia Bonecutter, ’25. She shared that many people may be “unsure of HC and its process” and wants to ensure that everyone feels educated on how the process works. Bonecutter also encourages students to reach out via email ljbonecutter@email.meredith.edu regarding any honor council question. She hopes to leave a legacy of “respect and support” on campus, with honor council being an opportunity for students to learn and grow.
Phillips shared that the SGA holds open meetings every Tuesday in SMB 175 and encourages students to attend. She iterated that it is a forum to voice concerns, ideas or even just connect. Her goal is for “every student to feel empowered, to experience the magic of Meredith, and to walk away with memories that will last a lifetime.”
By Shae-Lynn Henderson, EIC
Dedication Site Unveiling
At noon on Oct. 17, the statue at the new dedication site for honoring Jo Allen’s presidency was unveiled at the main entrance round-a-bout. Many guests were in attendance, including students, faculty, the Meredith Board of Trustees, President Aimee Sapp, and Former President Jo Allen. Guests stood around the new site as the red cover was taken off to reveal a large golden onyx statue.
Many people in the Meredith community had opinions about the new addition to campus. Several students who attended the ceremony as well as faculty members spoke with The Herald about their thoughts. Grace Dunn, ‘25, was one of the students that The Herald had the opportunity to speak to after the official unveiling. When asked if the ring succeeded in honoring Jo Allen’s prior presidency, Dunn stated that Allen had a “right to be honored.”
Dr. Sapp gave a speech to the crowd in attendance prior to the unveiling, stating that there was “nothing more iconic than the onyx,” which she believes represented the achievements of both students and Allen as a symbol of accomplishment in the following statement that she made that day.
Dr. Sapp, according to Meredith College’s news column on the official website shared that “The Onyx is a symbol of the academic achievements of current students, of connection, love, and loyalty for alumnae, and of recognition and gratitude for Dr. Jo Allen, the College’s eighth president.”
As well as the dedication site serving as a permanent reminder of the work Allen had done for the college, the site also features concrete paths for visitors to walk on if they wish to view the statue up close. The new location could also serve as a new place for juniors to take photos during Ring Week, as Dunn had noted when speaking with The Herald, saying that she was excited for the “[class of] ‘26 being able to [take] pictures” for Ring Dinner–which was coming up at the time of the ceremony. In fact, after the unveiling ceremony had officially closed, alumnae in attendance rushed to snap a photo of the new statue with their own rings that they had previously received in their junior years.
When asked about how the statue looked on Meredith’s campus, students and faculty seem to be content with it. Fahamida Nowshin, ‘26, stated that she “like[d] where it's at,” and that the statue was “pretty,” noting that the “aesthetics” were nice. Grace Dunn also said that the statue “looks like an onyx that [she’s] wearing on [her] finger.”
Elizabeth Yaros, Senior Associate Director of International Programs, ‘06, stated that “as an alum, [she] think[s] it adds” to the campus as a whole. According to Yaros, Allen was responsible for providing substntial financial support to both the campus and students, as she stated that Allen had a “legacy of scholarships” that were fundamental in many student’s educations today, which also helped her believe that the new site did do a good job of honoring Allen’s presidency, despite it being “hard to encapsulate someone’s accomplishments” with only a statue. In an Instagram post, Meredith College announced the “New bling on campus,” sharing that the Onyx statue was funded by current and former Trustees and ring partner Balfour, who are the new class ring vendors for Meredith. In a Balfour Connect Instagram post, they shared that the monument is a “symbol of pride and belonging that will inspire memories and capture the Meredith spirit for years to come.”
With the ring statue now being one of the first things visitors may see when arriving on campus, Grace Dunn stated that she “didn’t expect” it to be placed there, and that she “expected something a little bigger.” However, Elizabeth Yaros said that she was “very content” with the site’s placement.
Now that the site is permanent, students will be able to view and visit the statue at any time. The statue will serve as a reminder of the work that Jo Allen had accomplished during her time serving as president of Meredith College, and a way for students to feel connected with both their own classes and alumnae for years to come.
By Ericka Hewitt, Contributing Writer
Countdown to Election Day 2024
Election Day is November 5, but more than one million voters in North Carolina have already been to the polls in the first days of early voting, according to early voting data reported by the State Board of Elections.
Voting advocacy groups like Progress NC are stressing the importance of voting in this election and the role North Carolina could play on the national stage.
Progress NC Communications and Outreach Director Durrell Johnson tells The Herald North Carolina is a politically diverse and traditionally split-ballot state. Who wins the gubernatorial and presidential elections can vary in North Carolina between political parties. For example, in 2020 Republican candidate Donald Trump won the presidency, and Democratic candidate Roy Cooper won Governor in North Carolina. The state is referred to as a ‘battleground state’ because residents care about representation and not a political party. “This is because voters vote according to who they are aligned to. Residents are truly concerned and want a candidate that aligns with their values,” Johnson stated.
“Voting in any election is important,” Johnson stated and noted that is the chance for people to have their voice heard. Johnsons believes that it is “a chance to showcase the voices of the community and families, as well as how [people] want the world around [them] portrayed.”
The upcoming election is on Nov. 5. In this election, people are voting for the President, Vice President, Governor, Attorney General, State Supreme Court justice, and more. A full list of offices up for election can be found on the North Carolina State Board Election website, where individuals can also find the full list of North Carolina candidates running this year. In-person early voting began Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. Be sure to bring photo ID to the polls, this is the first election in North Carolina where voters will be required to show a voter ID.
Dr. David McLennan, professor of political science at Meredith College, also shared important information regarding absentee voting and tools to learn more about the candidates on the ballot. Dr. McLennan shared that absentee ballots must be returned on or before Nov. 5 by mail. He also added that voters must have a witness over 18 and a photocopy of their ID. Absentee ballots can be requested online or on paper and turned into the county of board electors. Absentee request forms are available in English and Spanish. To learn more about candidates, Dr. McLennan shared that voters can utilize these nonpartisan tools from The Assembly and The League of Women Voters.
‘Angels March to the Polls’ will also occur Friday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Students will meet at the fountain in front of Johnson Hall and walk to the Talley Center at North Carolina State University (NCSU) to vote if you are registered in Wake County. Transportation will be provided for those who cannot participate in the walk. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Dr. McLennan (dbmclennan@meredith.edu)
By Enfiniti’ Jones, Contributing Writer
Sneak Peak into the Fall LookBook
This year’s upcoming lookbook is inspired by sustainable fashion, because who says you can’t have drip and be eco-conscious? While fast fashion may seem like a budget-friendly, fast shipping, exactly what you're looking for, size inclusive option, it's also important to consider the environmental implications of mass production. With around 85% of fast fashion ending up in landfills according to Earth Org and the exploitation of underpaid labor according to Humanium, it’s time to rethink consumer shopping habits. This sneak peek of the upcoming lookbook serves to showcase how sustainable fashion can redefine your wardrobe. The Herald will look toexplore the importance of sustainable dressing, offer tips for revamping old clothing, highlight local thrift stores, and share where you can find this year's lookbook.
Implementing sustainable alternatives is crucial because fast fashion significantly harms the environment by contributing to waste and pollution, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Avoiding overconsumption and resisting the lure of cheap trends can make a difference. Sustainable dressing is not just a trend; it’s a necessary shift in our consumer mindset. College students especially can benefit from using sustainable methods for dressing fashionably, as reducing participation in things like micro trends can and will make a difference, according to State Press.
Why not bring old items in your wardrobe back to life? By simply dyeing, sewing/tailoring, or adding embellishments, old pieces can be transformed into trendy staples. Inspiration for creative ways to revamp old clothing can be found online through websites and apps like Pinterest, Lemon8, YouTube and many other social media outlets.
Local thrift shops are another great way to sustainably dress. Thrifting not only saves money but also promotes a circular fashion economy. In the upcoming lookbook The Herald will share tips for successful thrifting, including what to look for and how to style your finds. Keeping hand-me-downs from friends and family is another great way to keep the cycle going.
So with this all in mind, get excited for this year’s edition of the Fall 2024 lookbook, available in the upcoming Corn print edition and online via The Meredith Herald! A huge thank you goes out to all the students who modeled for this issue. Who knows? You might find inspiration to upcycle your old clothing and save some money in the process!
Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s make sustainable fashion a part of our style rotation!
By Lys Evans, Contributing Writer
Learn More about the State Fair!
Every year in October, hundreds of people come from all over the state of North Carolina to Raleigh, NC for the North Carolina State Fair. According to the North Carolina Agriculture and Consumer Services website, the first state fair was held in 1853 and was four days long with an attendance of 4,000 people. In addition, the website notes that the attendance has since significantly increased and the event was stretched to a fourteen day event.The website also notes the mission of the N.C. State Fair is to showcase and promote the state's agriculture, agribusiness, arts, crafts and culture through the annual agricultural fair. The Fair offers the agricultural community a venue to showcase its crops, livestock and new technology. The Fair is also an opportunity for the state's ever-increasing urban population to learn about agriculture through educational and competitive exhibits in the areas of livestock, horticulture, cooking, folk art and much more. In the mission statement, it is noted that more than $700,000 in prize money is awarded each year.
The Herald had the opportunity to attend the fair this year and speak with various vendors and agricultural programs about the community of the fair and their personal roles in the event.
The first vendor we were able to speak with was Steve Fuller. Fuller is the owner of two food vendors, Fuller’s Charcoal Hearth and Steve’s Dog House. This year was the mark of 50 years of Fuller’s Charcoal Hearth serving at the state fair. The business is family owned and operated in Raleigh, NC. They have been serving only at the state fair since 1974. “This stand was actually started by another gentleman, [Fuller’s] dad worked as security out here when they met. It soon became a family business,” Fuller stated. Fuller shared with The Herald that he used to attend North Carolina State University (NCSU) and worked parking cars at the fair. One rainy day his father asked if he’d like to work the stand and he took the offer. The stand has been in the family for three generations and serves fresh burgers on a charcoal flame grill. “It’s all about the experience. People can come get a fresh burger, watch it be made to their liking, and indulge their sense of smell along the process,” Fuller said. Fuller plans to continue running the stand with his family and hopes the next generation of children will continue on its legacy.
The Herald also spoke with farmers and showmen in the Agricultural exhibit after speaking with Fuller. We got to meet a lot of families from the N.C. region who have been showing cattle and farm animals for generations. Molly Anderson has been showing cows at the state fair for 12 years with her father. They are from Marion, NC with a farm located in Pelman, NC. Anderson shared that her “favorite thing is the atmosphere and the people.” She also noted the “very interactive group” and loves networking with other showmen. Anderson has wrangled bulls and heifers by herself, while as a duo her and her father mainly show heifers. Their family comes to the fair every year from the mountain region to showcase their cattle.
Lilly Godwin is a senior at NCSU and is an animal science major. The animal science program is a huge part of NCSU campus and the agriculture scene in N.C. NCSU ANS has been attending the fair for the past twenty years. Godwin told The Herald more about NCSU ANS, sharing that, each year the program brings dairy cows to the fair and hosts a milk booth which allows the public to milk their lactating females. This year, the program brought dry cows for the public to interact with. The program also sells chocolate milk which is a huge hit for patrons. Godwin has been attending the fair with NCSU ANS for the past four years and shared that her favorite part is “the education and interaction with the public.” She also highlighted that she enjoyed teaching people about dairy cattle, adding that “Most eyebrows raise,” and that she “love[s] when people learn new facts.” Godwin plans to go to Nebraska to get her masters degree in beef cattle production. She’s originally from Charlotte, NC and is a Goodman Scholar at NCSU.
The Herald also got to see the local produce from all over the state. The showing included sweet potatoes that weighed up to ten pounds and pumpkins up to two thousand pounds! There was a range of squash, peppers, cucumbers and much more. A fair attendant told The Herald that only 10% of the produce shown came from farmers and the rest were from homeowners who grew their own fruits and vegetables!
It was amazing to see firsthand the agricultural side of the fair and how much the state has to offer. There’s a wide variety of new foods to try this year including pickle pizza and pickle stuffed hot dogs! The fair operates Sunday through Saturday, and closes at 11 p.m. on weekdays and at midnight on weekends.The fair will be in town until Oct. 27. If you head to the fair this year or next, be sure to check out local food vendors and visit the agriculture expo!
By Enfiniti’ Jones, Contributing Writer
OPINION: Silent or Silenced: Performative Activism
According to the Boston Medical Glossary, performative activism is a form of activism or allyship in which individuals participate to make themselves look better rather than actively seeking to address whatever issues they advocate. People who engage in performative activism present themselves or say things so that they are not perceived as racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., however, they continue to engage in behaviors that are harmful to the oppressed groups that they speak about.
With that being said, performative activism often does more harm than good for marginalized communities because it is done selfishly without regard for those who are impacted by systemic issues. For example, in 2020 the #BlackLivesMatter (BLM)movement, “Black Out Tuesday”, swept across social media where influencers took to posting black squares in support of Black lives. There were a couple of issues with this, according to Sage Journals. The first issue is that the idea of posting black squares for BLM was an adaptation of a mission started by Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, two Black musicians, to halt social media activity to hold the music industry accountable for benefiting off of Black people. In its origin alone, the BLM movement became a movement for white people to talk over Black voices, and the day that everyone posted Black squares on social media, without proper education on the movement and without listening to other Black activists, they flushed out all the useful information on BLM and ways that people could educate themselves and become more active against systemic racism.
We are still seeing examples of this currently with other issues, especially the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. According to Dazed, an AI-generated image with the text “All Eyes on Rafah” began circulating on social media and was shared by many people including celebrities. Much like with “Black Out Tuesday,” this image itself was vague and did not contain any useful information for actively supporting Palestinians, and of course, its circulation washed out any real educational resources or pointers provided by Palestinian and Pro-Palestine activists.
Performative activism does not only occur on social media, but it is also something that happens in everyday life. I, a Black woman, have been to a few events on Meredith’s campus geared toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and have felt everything but included. For instance, during the time that the De-Lux brunches were occurring, I attended the first event and within the first few minutes of being there, I had been cut in line by a group of white women. Another woman noticed this and actually spoke out on my behalf to which she was immediately shut down. Throughout the rest of that event, there was a sour taste in my mouth because I felt that individuals were not in attendance out of their own motivations but for the social benefits along with the benefits of food or potential extra credit opportunities in their classes (my history class at the time was offering extra credit to those who attended).
According to ALJAZEERA, white guilt is also a form of performative activism that is counterproductive to seeking change in our systems. I have had experiences with individuals on Meredith’s campus where they act as allies to people of color but are too “uncomfortable” to engage with content to educate themselves on racial issues or even talk about challenges that people of color have faced in their lives.
I find encounters with performative activism to be extremely discouraging because it leaves marginalized groups feeling ignored in their efforts to tear down walls of oppression. In my opinion, talking over the voices of those impacted by systemic issues is just as bad as silencing them in the ways that their oppressors do. Being an active participant in the fight against oppression means educating oneself, listening to the experiences of those who are oppressed, and uplifting their voices in such a way that does not redirect the focus or main intentions of the movement.
By: Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor
OPINION: Thoughts on Prime Day Deals
Every year, Prime Day sparks a frenzy of online shopping, with promises of huge discounts on everything from electronics to household goods. But as enticing as these deals may seem, it's worth asking: are they truly a bargain? In my opinion, Prime Day often leads consumers to buy more than they need, and the savings might not be as substantial as they appear. I believe that while the event might offer some genuine savings, it often leads consumers down a path of overspending and impulsive buying with some of the so-called deals being less significant than they appear.
To understand the hype behind Prime Day it is important to recognize that the event is designed to drive consumption. Retailers know that by framing an item as discounted for a limited time they can create a sense of urgency. This strategy feeds off of the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) phenomenon. When people see items marked as "50% off" or "lightning deals" that expire in hours, it increases the likelihood of rushing into purchases without taking the time to compare prices or evaluate whether we need the item. For example, there are a hypothetical pair of shoes you want but don’t have the funding for. On Prime Day, you may be more likely to purchase this pair of shoes because it’s a “limited-time offer.” I have fallen victim to this numerous times. Whenever I see something I want marked with “30% limited time discount” I automatically rationalize this with “When is a deal this good going to come around again?”
We, as consumers, tend to rush to fill our carts without carefully considering whether the deal is genuinely worthwhile. I have also heard that retailers raise the original price of the goods before Prime Day to make the deals appear larger than they are. Wired.com agrees and states that “Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers tend to jack up pricing on all sorts of products that have long since sunk below their manufacturer’s suggested retail price ahead of a major sale.” Too often, what appears to be a great discount is simply a small markdown from an already inflated price.
Moreover, many of the products heavily promoted during Prime Day are lower-quality or obscure brands that might not offer the same durability or performance as more well-known brands. Purchasing lower-quality goods can take away from your previous savings. You might save a few dollars at the moment, but if the product breaks down quickly or doesn’t perform as expected, you’ll end up replacing it sooner, negating any savings. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, but it's important to evaluate whether these deals represent good long-term value.
NetImpact explains that another important factor is the environmental impact of the excessive consumption that Prime Day encourages. The allure of cheap products can lead to over-purchasing, with many items eventually discarded or replaced. This contributes to a cycle of waste that harms the environment and perpetuates a throwaway culture. The additional transport of goods and packaging required for these goods just adds stress to the environment.
While Prime Day can offer genuine savings for those who have been patiently waiting for a specific item, the majority of deals seem designed to trigger impulsive buying rather than true financial benefit. In the end, it’s essential for shoppers to be cautious and informed, and think twice before falling into the trap of flashy discounts.
By Miriya Carson, Staff Writer
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