3/21 Full Print Edition

Feature: Organization Spotlight: Halo Effect

There is a new organization bringing magic to Meredith College,  the Meredith College Chapter of Raleigh Magic Club, Halo Effect. This newly established chapter aims to embrace and redefine magic as an art form while challenging stereotypes associated with it, according to the chapter's founder and president, SarahElla Harlan, ‘25.

For over 50 years, Raleigh Magic Club has been a pillar in the magic community, with its members having appeared on shows such as “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and “Masters of Illusion” and headlined in Las Vegas, as shared by Harlan. According to Harlan, one of their magicians will soon represent North America at FISM 2025 in Italy—the “Olympics of Magic,” a remarkable honor for any magician. Now, through Halo Effect, this distinguished legacy is being brought to Meredith College, offering students an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most accomplished magicians.

The idea behind Halo Effect was born from a deep-rooted passion for magic and its potential to teach, connect and inspire. Harlan has been involved with Raleigh Magic Club for over a decade. For them, magic is not just an art form, but a means of understanding and connecting with the world in profound ways. Harlan shared that “Magic mirrors life in such a vibrant way.” Harlan added that “It’s a great way to connect with others and teach important lessons. [They have] seen teachers use magic to explain complex concepts in the classroom, and [they] want to bring that energy to Meredith.”

But Halo Effect is not just about magic as a performance art—it is also about breaking down outdated stereotypes. Historically, the magic world has been dominated by a narrow image, but Harlan is committed to challenging that. “Magic has long been seen as an ‘old white guy’s’ club, but that’s not the reality of today’s magic community,” they emphasize. “By bringing this chapter to Meredith, [Halo Effect is] opening the door for students from all backgrounds to explore magic and help create a more inclusive, diverse space.”

At the center of Halo Effect is a commitment to learning, creating, and growing together. There will be opportunities to connect with other students who share the same passion for magic. Harlan shared that each meeting is designed to cater to the needs and interests of its members, so whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced performer, you’ll find a space to develop your skills.

One of the most exciting aspects of being a member of Halo Effect is access to Raleigh Magic Club’s extensive network of professional magicians. Harlan shared that members will have the rare opportunity to learn directly from some of the most respected magicians in the world, all of whom are eager to share their knowledge and experience.

The club is also deeply involved with MAGiCon, a festival that brings magicians and magic enthusiasts together. This year, the event will take place on Meredith's campus, with a one-day convention in September and a full-weekend convention in the spring, according to Harlan. As a sponsor, Halo Effect will play an active role in shaping this exciting event, offering members even more chances to engage with the broader magic community.

Two interest meetings are scheduled for the end of March—Friday, Mar. 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Monday, Mar. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. These meetings will be a chance for students to learn more about the club, meet other members and try out a few magic tricks. Whether you’re new to magic or already have some experience, these meetings are the perfect introduction to the club.

Members of Halo Effect are also encouraged to attend Raleigh Magic Club’s general meeting on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Wainwright Music Building, Room 106. This meeting is a great way to connect with magicians from the broader Raleigh Magic Club community, which includes professional performers and enthusiasts from around the world.

The creation of Halo Effect represents an exciting new chapter in the world of magic at Meredith College. With the support of Raleigh Magic Club and the flexibility to shape its own future, Halo Effect has the potential to become a vital and vibrant part of the Meredith community. Through a commitment to creativity, learning, and inclusivity, the club promises to offer its members the chance to learn from some of the world’s best magicians and to develop both their skills and their sense of wonder.

By Ellie Phillips, Staff Writer

News: MIA Upcoming Cultural Show

On April 2, the Meredith International Association (MIA) will host its annual Cultural Showcase at 6 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. According to MIA Event Co-Ordinator, ‘25, Atiqua Prithu, the showcase is “an annual event that celebrates cultural diversity through performances, music, and fashion.” The showcase will include dance, music, spoken word and more. There will be a theme reveal for the event in the coming weeks as the event approaches. Prithu encourages students to keep up with MIA on Instagram @mia_mereco for updates.

Prithu explains that this event is important to the Meredith campus as it provides an “opportunity for cultural exchange, especially on a predominantly white campus, where representation and inclusion are important.” Students can “celebrate their own heritage while also experiencing the richness of others' cultures, and most importantly have fun!”

Prithu shared with The Herald that much effort and planning is required to execute an event of this magnitude, explaining that “the MIA board started preparing right after last year’s showcase ended.” Prithu added that MIA  “[works] with and [receives] support from the Arts and Theatre Department, the Events Department, and campus organizations for logistics, marketing, and coordination.” While this event is hard work for all involved in MIA, Prithu expressed that the work is “incredibly rewarding and driven by passion for MIA’s mission.”

Further, Prithu credits the Office of International Programs (OIP) and Rebekah Suydam, the event’s stage director, with helping manage the logistics of the event. Ryan Suydam, Rebekah’s father, will continue his role as the volunteer event photographer, as he has since 2023. 

Prithu hopes that after all of this work, students will take advantage of the event and experience “the richness of global traditions.” She commented the “[The showcase] fosters community, belonging, and cultural pride, allowing international and multicultural students to share their heritage while inviting others to participate in the celebration.” Prithu and the MIA board hope to see a “packed auditorium filled with energy, appreciation, and excitement!” 

By Cady Stanley, Associate Editor

News: International Women's Day and Women's History Month

International Women’s Day (IWD) began with marches in America in 1908 and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated across countries in 1911, according to BCC. IWD was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, according to the United Nations website and is celebrated every year on Mar. 8. The Herald decided to explore some ways in which IWD has been celebrated so far.

Meredith’s History, International Studies, Political Science and Religion Club co-hosted an “inspiring event featuring two incredible women who are breaking barriers in sports and beyond,” according to the flyer. This event with speakers, Piña Pozo and Yolanda Cori, was held on Mar. 5, 2025. In addition, the WINGS students hosted a flower workshop on the same day. Once flowers with messages were completed, WINGS students handed them out around campus “to honor the powerful women who inspire and motivate young minds to pursue their dreams and embrace their potential,” according to Halo Happenings.

There have also been several events in the broader Raleigh area. The North Carolina Vibes Event Planning and Management held the third annual Women’s Day Expo on Saturday, Mar. 5 at the Raleigh Convention Center, according to Eventbrite. ABC11 noted that, at the expo there were “18 speakers with backgrounds in law, education, commerce, education, technology, branding, and health.” Additionally, the United Nations (UN) held a digital and in-person event with a wide array of speakers and performers on Mar. 7. This event was streamed live but is available to view on the United Nations YouTube page. 

Women’s History Month is celebrated every March. The month-long celebration first began as a week in 1982 then was proclaimed as a month-long celebration in 1987, according to the Women's History Month website. Womenshistory.org noted that former President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Women’s History Week, and years later, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) picks a theme for Women’s History Month every year and has presented the 2025 theme as “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” according to NWHA. 

Meredith International Association (MIA) will be hosting “Women in Bloom,” a flower bouquet making event, in Cate Student Center on Mar. 24 at 10:00 a.m., according to the flyer. This event hosted by MIA will be open for all students to create their own bouquets while honoring achievements of women in the past across the world. 

On Mar. 21, the Cary Night Market at Downtown Cary Park will be a Women’s History Month Market, according to The Night Market Company. In the week that follows, The Historic Raleigh Trolley will be hosting special trolley tours on Mar. 29, and according to Historic Raleigh Trolley, these special tours aim to “celebrate the influential women who shaped Raleigh's history and explore their stories throughout the city, from the women who broke barriers in North Carolina politics to those who fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement.” 

Both International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month have long and rich histories. Past and upcoming events for these celebrations provide opportunities to uplift women’s voices and reflect on female empowerment. 

By Kailey Wurr, A&E Editor

A&E: MDT Attends ACDA Mid-Atlantic

The American College Dance Association (ACDA), according to their website, has the primary focus to “support and promote the wealth of talent and creativity that is prominent throughout college and university dance departments.” Over spring break this year, the Meredith Dance Theatre (MDT) attended the ACDA Mid-Atlantic at the University of Maryland from Mar. 6-9. The Herald had the opportunity to learn more about the conference in speaking with some of those who attended the conference. 

Carol Finley, Chair of the Department of Dance and Theatre and Professor of Dance, shared that MDT has a longstanding history with the ACDA since 1984 and has attended 34 regional conferences since. In addition, Finley shared that Meredith has even hosted two conferences. 

There is a lot of preparation that goes into attending the ACDA conference, with planning for the March 2025 event beginning in October of 2024. Finley shared that as of early December, the dance company “decide[s] which dances to take for adjudication and determine if re-casting is needed based on dance availability.” From there, rehearsals begin in early January along with determining costume design. However, Finley does not do this alone, and explains that she “luckily” has Assistant Professor of Dance Courtney White as Co-Artistic Director. White is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Meredith. There are many hands that go into the making of a successful conference, with Finley adding that she also works with Jim Frick, their Lighting Designer and Technical Director, who works on “transfer[ing] his lighting designs from the Jones Stage to the stage [the MDT is] visiting.” At the event itself, Finley describes that she and White are “drivers, event coordinators and cheerleaders.” They do several other things while at the conference as well, including teaching a class together as well as attending panels, meetings and workshops.

Savannah Stainback,’25, is a choreographer for MDT and attended the conference this year. Stainback explains that she choreographed a piece titled “my brain,” which was originally intended for the MDT Fall concert last November, but was then selected as the student choreographed piece to be taken to the adjudication concert at ACDA. She shared that the choreography of the piece was “bittersweet” since it was her last MDT piece she choreographed. Stainback added that she was able to attend ACDA as a “Professional Development opportunity with student teaching.” 

In addition, Stainback also spoke about the challenges that come with choreography. She shares the difficulty that comes with constantly trying to create new ideas and movements. Stainback added that she finds it easier to “choreograph on the spot” and see the “organic process of the movement.” As for her piece “my brain,” Stainback shared that the piece is an “accumulation of different feelings, ideas, and moments that don't all seem to fit together, and yet do.” She wanted to take the time to thank Cady Stanley, Sydney Nelson, Sue Boyd, Riley Howell, Charlotte Smith, Hannah Smith, Zoe Gray and Izzy Hemric for their “hard work and dedication to their craft and artistry” as well as give thanks to MDT for selecting her choreography to showcase at the conference. 

Stainback and Finley shared their favorite moments of the conference as well. Stainback shared that her favorite element was the Vogue Fem class she took along with a few other students from Meredith. She added that it was an “incredible experience” to dance with her Meredith community and dancers from across the East Coast. Finley shared that her biggest takeaway was hearing students “relay their favorite moments from classes and concerts” and seeing students “return inspired artistically and physically and with a new awareness of what arts organizations can do.”

Overall, the ACDA was a successful and meaningful conference and Finley hopes that those who are unsure about attending conferences in their field are inspired to do so.

By Shae-Lynn Henderson, Editor in Chief

A&E: Elaina Attends Durham Mini Con!

On Saturday, Mar. 8, the annual Durham Mini Comic Con took place downtown in the Durham Armory. It hosted a variety of interests including the Marvel Comics and Detective Comics (DC) universes, anime, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), various TV shows and plenty more for anyone to find goods from something they enjoy. There were various booths and vendors selling crafts, art, toys, comics and other items for those attending the comic con. Some of the vendors had their own original works that people could purchase as well. The Herald had the opportunity to meet with some of the vendors and learn more about what they each had to offer.

The booth LochNessie, run by Ness, featured a cute style of art in which they adapt regular cartoon and anime characters into birds. When asked about how their idea started, Ness shared that they got into their art through their love for their own pet birds. When they started their art business, Ness described selling their art as small items, like stickers, before moving on to create larger prints and commissions. Moving forward, Ness would like to continue to meet new people and create, but they would also love to travel around the country and attend larger events. Ness’ art can be found on Instagram @lochnessieart, and they also run a few online stores where their art can be purchased. 

Riley, from the booth Floral Dead, makes art centered around fantasy and botanical themes sprinkled with pop culture references like Miles Morales Spiderman and Chappell Roan. Riley explained that their career in art began in 2020 after they lost their job as a result of the pandemic. Similar to Ness, Riley also started their business making stickers for people to buy. Still, their lifelong dream is to become an artist at Artist Alley, which refers to spaces at conventions where individuals can sell and promote their art much like they did at the Durham Mini Comic Con. With the excitement of being able to participate in the Durham convention, Riley expressed that they want to continue to work toward going to bigger conventions and that they are going to participate in C2E2, a Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which they explained is “one of the biggest cons in the Midwest.” In addition to that, they would also like to visit Japan or Europe and attend cons in those places as well. Riley’s art can be found on their Patreon and Etsy, both of which are linked in their Instagram bio @floraldeadart. 

Kevin Hardin is an illustrator who has been working on comic book art in his unique style for around 10 years; however, he has been an artist his whole life. His art features a lot of pop culture characters like comic book heroes and cartoons, and he does commissions for those looking to buy his art. Hardin described that, in the future, he would like to do art as a full-time job rather than a side hustle. Hardin currently works as a full-time technology manager, and running his art booth is something he does only about five times a year. In addition to that, Hardin is working on a comic book that he wants to release by the end of this year. Hardin shared that his comic is called “Mender and the Realms of Astor” and is inspired by works from Studio Ghibli and The Legend of Zelda franchise. It is a fantasy-genre comic book centering around nature themes and featuring original creatures, such as the “cool little mushroom people called Roomans.” His work can be found on Instagram @kevinxhardin, and he also makes appearances at local shows. 

Ron Williams and his family operate the publishing company Genius Reading, which they established in 2020, according to Williams. Williams shared that Genius Reading aims to inspire children to find joy in reading through fun and interactive stories and activities. Williams started the company with one book, which he titled “Raccoon.” Since then, the company has published several more books, including “Jewel the Magical Chef” and “Bryson Fars,” along with coloring books and workbooks. Moving forward, Williams shared that he and his family would like to expand online with Genius Reading and eventually create a video game out of their financial literacy books. Their work can be found on their website, geniusreading.me, which has all their books and resources. 

While each of these artists has their own unique background, they all share a common goal of continuing to grow as artists and share their work in places across the world. The Herald enjoyed being able to experience the Durham Mini Comic Con while also supporting small businesses and growing artists. 

By: Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor

OPINION: Bringing Back Physical Media

There is nothing that I love more than buying a new record, taking it out of the clingy plastic, and placing it on my turntable. In such a digital age, physical music media has arguably lost its importance to the general public, but it is undeniable that the need for it is still there. Not only for the ones buying the music, but also the ones making it. Let’s dive into why physical media is so important. 

With all of the streaming services that we have today, music is more available than ever before. Services like Spotify can be free with ads or for a small fee per month, you can have millions of songs at your fingertips at any given moment. According to Royalty Exchange, “ In 2020, streaming accounted for 83% of the music industry's revenue.” Thanks to the ease of online streaming, people are not concerned with owning physical albums anymore. 

Physical music media is more than just a way to listen to your favorite music, it is an experience in itself. No matter the platform, record, CD or cassette, you have to physically play the media. Whether you are flipping a record or pressing next on a CD player, you are a part of the music you are listening to. That is half the fun of it. Personally, when I'm streaming an album, I'm more likely to skip from song to song. Sometimes I don't even listen to the song all the way through. When I listen to an album on vinyl, I am more likely to listen to every song fully. I have discovered such great songs from vinyl that I have passed over when listening on Spotify. 

When buying physical media instead of streaming alone, you are giving more money to the artist. According to Ditto Music, “Spotify pays artists between $0.003 - $0.005 per stream on average.” With this in mind, let's do some math. One of the biggest songs right now is “Good Luck, Babe” by Chappell Roan. This song was released a little under a year ago in April of 2024. Roan recently posted on her Instagram that the song has reached over one billion streams on Spotify. When you total that out, Roan has made about three million dollars on that one song alone, before money is distributed to her team. While that still seems like a huge amount of money to make, smaller artists are having a hard time making any money at all. Greg Holden, singer and co-host of the @droppedpodcast, a podcast that focuses on the music industry, states on Threads, “an artist needs 15,000 Spotify streams to make the same amount as selling one vinyl record for $35.” He goes on to say that he has “sold 70 vinyl records + 40 CDs in a month, which might not sound like a lot but, it would require over 1,200,000 streams to make that same amount and that’s only if you have 100% ownership.” Smaller artists are making almost no money from streaming alone.

Buying physical media is also helpful to small businesses. Going into a record store, browsing the racks, and finding the one album you have been searching for is the best. It is also a great way to discover new artists. Instead of giving money to a multi billion dollar company, consider giving money to a small business.

Next time your favorite artist puts out a new album, maybe buy a physical copy. Not only will it change the way you experience the music, you are also helping that artist earn a living,helping a small business, celebrating music as a whole andcreating a more intimate experience with the music. Bring back collecting physical media. 

By Dawn Arnold, Contributing Writer

OPINION: How Do We Engage in Content?

To celebrate Black History Month, the Meredith Black Student Union (BSU) took a field trip to the City of Raleigh Museum for the “Joy Cometh in the Morning” African American Symposium on Feb. 22. The event featured three speakers: Dr. Brandi C. Brimmer, Marie Stark and Shenette Swan. Dr. Brimmer spoke on her book “Claiming Union Widowhood” and her research on the involvement of impoverished Black women in politics. Stark shared her research on the history of Shaw University and the concept of “Freedom Through Education” in the foundational years of the institution, which she addressed in her presentation. Lastly, Swan gave an interactive music performance and shared how she has dealt with adversity through music, giving insights into her creative process. 

This symposium was interesting and inspirational because seeing accomplished, educated women succeed in their fields in the face of adversity is empowering. However, my sentiments about the experience were slightly dampened by the distraction of individuals passing through to look at the “Diamond Days: The History of Baseball in Raleigh” exhibit. As these individuals passed, some were quiet, some stomped, some even jogged through the tight space and only a few briefly stopped to listen on their way out. Naturally, this took away from the experience because it was hard not to redirect my attention to the passers-by, asthey were distracting. 

However, I observed that the majority of the crowd attending the symposium was composed of Black women, our BSU group included, and that frustrated me. Considering the current political climate with the retraction of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, I couldn’t help but feel irritated by the idea that the only people who care about Black history are people who are directly affected by it. 

Obviously, I understand that history is not an interesting subject for everyone, however, I believe that having a basic understanding of history, especially regarding racial injustices, is important for squashing existing racial disparities. However, I feel that it is common for people who already know about these layers of Black history to be the ones that continue to seek out opportunities to learn more about it at opportunities like this symposium. I do appreciate that a couple of people stopped for a brief moment instead of just rushing through, however, it would have been nice to have them join the symposium. 

Aside from the general lack of diversity in the crowd, I was mainly disturbed by the blatant lack of respect by those who were seeking out the other exhibits. It is one thing to be uninterested, but it is another thing to disrupt the ongoing event and take that experience away from people who are there to learn. Small behaviors like rushing by events covering topics such as Black History subconsciously promote racism, in that it feeds into stereotypes of Black people as aggressive because there was no threat or other reason to provoke one to run by such an event considering they also weren’t crossing in front of anyone. These behaviors can non-verbally communicate fear and unease, but I understand that such messages are open to interpretation. Even now as I write this article and reflect on other articles I’ve written on a similar topic, I struggle with the idea of sounding like the stereotypical “Angry Black Woman.” But I am angry. I am angry that my history, Black History, is something that people both ignore and feel the need to rush by without consideration for how their behavior may be impacting others. 

I know that their behavior was most likely not a personal attack, nor can I truly assert that I knew what those individuals were feeling—so this is all speculation and based on my experience. However, that experience was eye-opening in a good way and a way that it shouldn’t have been. To lighten this, I want to use this as a teachable moment to be mindful of how people engage in educational spaces, especially ones outside of your cultural bubble. I don’t expect everyone to be interested in everything, however, I think self-awareness is valuable in any scenario. I would’ve loved for that kind of mindfulness in how individuals chose to pass through the symposium. 

By: Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor