Organization Spotlight: The Student Success Center
The Student Success Center (SSC) is an organization on campus that provides academic support services that promote equity, reinforce and extend classroom learning, and help students move towards graduation effectively, according to Steven Lemmons, an advisor for the SSC. The Student Success Center notes that their four pillars within their department include: Success Coaching, academic advising and tutoring as well as testing at the Learning Center and the Tutoring Center. All of these resources are available to all students at any point in their academic journey at Meredith.
Lemmons noted that , “It is the Student Success Center’s goal to provide support for students through academic planning support, Success Coaching, and tutoring.”
The SSC helps with academic planning support by working with both students and faculty advisors to create an expected graduation timeline, explore different majors and minors, and review graduation requirements, according to Lemmons. In addition, he noted that students are able to arrange meetings with their advisors in-person or online. Lemmons shared that this resource can be utilized to start the journey towards completing their degree.
As Lemmons shared more about the SCC, he added that it also has Success Coaches who connect regularly with students to answer questions, point students towards resources and help them create a plan for their college experience. Lemmons explained that Success Coaches are there to provide consistent guidance to students throughout their time at Meredith. They also can support students through goal setting, study skills, time management, and more.
Another branch of the SSC that is available to all students is the Learning Center, where students can receive free peer tutoring in a one-on-one setting. These peer tutors are fellow students who are trained in 100- and 200-level courses to help students edit papers, solve math and science problems and more, explained Lemmons. Lemmons stated that the Learning Center has services that “empower students to become more confident and capable learners.”
As an extension to the Learning Center, there is the Testing Center, which provides a quiet environment for students with documented accommodations to take their tests and exams. Lemmons also noted that students must meet with their professors to determine if the Testing Center would be the best setting for certain tests, and professors should make reservations ahead of time.
To get in contact with Disability Services (DS) about accommodations, their website notes that students can visit DS main office at 208 Student Health and Wellness Center on the second floor Monday through Friday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Students can also email Disability Services at DisabilityServices@meredith.edu or call (919) 760-8427.
The Student Success Center tries to get involved in as many events as possible. Students can find the SCC at events like ‘Think Meredith’ Open House and ‘Transfer and Wings Information Sessions.’ They are also involved in StartStrong and New Student Orientation. This semester, the SSC will be hosting some events and workshops, so keep an eye out for those on their social media page @meredithcollege_ssc on Instagram.
If students want to use the Student Success Center, they can go to the first floor of the Cate/Park Center. The Learning Center and Testing Center are located in the basement level of the Carlyle Campbell Library. Students can also reach out to SSC at success@meredith.edu with any questions.
By Ellie Penton, Contributing Writer
What's New with Corn?
Over the past two years at Meredith, the Traditions Review Committee (TRC), Meredith Recreation Association (MRA) and the Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Board have been in an ongoing process of making changes to one of Meredith’s biggest traditions, Corn, to make it more inclusive to the Meredith community. According to a Halo Happenings email sent on Aug. 26 to Meredith students, the SGA Executive Board and the Vice President for College programs have already approved five recommendations to change Corn including renaming the event, creating educational opportunities about Corn’s history, increasing participation opportunities, updating the Corn manual and finding more ways to engage the Meredith community in Corn events.
In speaking with Kacey Reynolds Schedler, the Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Services, The Herald learned that “Corn” is a placeholder name for this year’s event until they decide on an official name change considering the history of it’s previous title “Cornhuskin’” as explained in the article previously published by The Herald, titled “Cornhuskin’ Review Pt.2”. Reynolds Schedler explained that moving forward, she and the MRA President are working on a “Corn Packet” that will be sent out to every student organization detailing Corn’s history and it’s evolution and also give student organizations the opportunity to send in name suggestions for the event moving forward. They will also provide an opportunity for individual students who are not involved in clubs/organizations to attend meetings and learn about the changes and also have a chance to vote on the name change themselves so that it will include “campus wide” involvement in the process.
In addition to changing the name, Reynolds Schedler explained that “student participation has been declining” in the recent years of the Corn tradition and they want to make it “appealing, accessible [and] inclusive” for everyone. While the main event of Corn won’t look much different, there have been additions to the tradition “behind the scenes” to help reach the ultimate goal of inclusivity. For instance, the MRA, along with Reynolds Schedler, worked to make the Corn Manual “accessible, fun, interactive, and clear,” and she encourages students to look through it to not only learn more about Corn rules and misconceptions but also for the jokes they included as well. She explained that for the past few decades the Corn Manual has been a “copy paste” of the manual in prior years, however, they have now made the manual more up to date and user friendly to allow users to easily navigate through it. One change in the Corn Manual is that “now choreography is actually a judged element” unlike the years before this year where it was still a big part of the main event but left out of the judging process. In addition to that, they have also created a rubric for the judges that did not exist prior to this year. Reynolds Schedler explained that these changes ensure “the elements that [classes and class co-chairs] worked really hard on” are acknowledged and appreciated and that things will be more clear for students and judges participating in Corn.
Other ways they have made Corn more inclusive is the implementation of the “Corn Accessibility Action Plan” which details ways that the MRA intends to provide “reasonable accommodations” for students that need them, according to Reynolds Schedler. They have created visual schedules for accessible entrances to the amphitheater as well as one for sensory issues. Reynolds Schedler shared that the MRA will be hosting Corn 101 “Sensory Grab Bag Assembly Parties” for students to come and learn more about Corn and help put together sensory bags for students who may be overstimulated by the volume of the event. They will also hold accessibility tours for the event and have purchased Mobi mats for students with mobility aids.
Reynolds Schedler explained that the main goal for Corn moving forward is to build a “sense of unity, community and spirit” through the tradition. Reynolds Schedler, along with the MRA, intend to make school spirit a bigger deal by emphasizing Corn Week as a way for students who cannot get involved in Corn events to earn points for their classes by participating in the themes throughout the week. Reynolds Schedler’s expectations for the upcoming Corn tradition is to facilitate healthy competition between classes while also making sure that everyone leaves Corn “feeling good about the experience.” She also hopes that the Meredith community “can see the really positive exciting changes” that the MRA has worked on implementing and how they have tried to keep Corn’s original traditions while also adding elements that expand on its “sense of spirit, inclusivity and unity” so that it is a “fun, positive and happy experience” no matter which class wins.
By: Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor
Updates on Red Hat Amphitheater
The past month, there has been an uproar in the Raleigh community regarding the future of the Red Hat Amphitheater according to local Raleigh businesses and residents. The Red Hat Amphitheater (commonly known as Red Hat) is part of the Raleigh Convention Center (RCC), serving as a music and entertainment venue in the heart of downtown Raleigh. It’s known for hosting outdoor concerts and The Rink during the winter holiday season, according to their website.
According to ABC 11, Red Hat was always a temporary site intended to grow into the expansion site for its sister venue, the RCC. The time has finally come with the growth of Raleigh to expand the RCC, and with this change, officials have had to determine whether they would move Red Hat to a lot on South Street or shut down the venue completely according to local news sources like Raleigh Magazine. This was the dilemma due to traffic concerns with the growth of the Downtown Raleigh area between residents and commuters for work. Shutting down South Street could cause lots of delays and inconveniences for residents and commuters according to the City of Raleigh.
Business owners and Raleigh residents weighed in extensively on this topic. Red Hat is a staple to the Raleigh community and its economic stability according to the venue’s website. While many agreed that the closure of South Street would impact the community, the loss of the venue would impact the community even more. On social media, Neptunes Parlour shared the economic benefits that the venue brought local late-night businesses, especially after concerts.The Instagram post noted that they “see a big bump with additional people coming in and out before and after the shows.”
The Herald spoke with a new Raleigh resident about the potential closure, and she shared that “personally [she thinks] closing the arena would be a devastating blow to the growing economy of downtown Raleigh.” She shared that she had been told about Raleigh’s struggles to bounce back after COVID-19 and that, since moving to Raleigh in 2021. In addition, this resident noted that Red Hat shows have brought some of the largest crowds to downtown Raleigh she’s seen. The resident added that she “would love to see a thriving downtown scene in the future” and thinks “it’s one of the best parts of Raleigh.”
Another Raleigh resident shared that they “believe that Red Hat is important to [the] community, but protecting housing communities is also important.” They believe that the city has to “find a common ground that would benefit all and keep downtown Raleigh a thriving place.”
According to Red Hat’s website, in 2023, the amphitheater produced $17.6 million in revenue. Through just 26 concerts, the website reports that total attendance for concerts was 143,749, which led to 65,189 overnight stays for the Raleigh area. In 2024, the venue plans to host 50 concerts and reports having already sold 260,000 tickets.
ABC 11 reported that the city council met on Sept. 17th to discuss the issue of whether Red Hat will remain open and relocate or close permanently. After reviewing plans and hearing from residents as well as business owners, the decision was made to shut down South Street temporarily and relocate Red Hat to the lot on South Street. The decision calls for the permanent closure of one block of South Street between Dawson and McDowell Street, according to articles such as The News&Observer. The city will provide new details on traffic patterns and detours according to Red Hat. The venue also stated it has been determined that this change will not cause a detrimental negative impact on the community.
The plan for the expansion of RCC and the move of Red Hat is to start in early 2025. The current Red Hat will operate until the end of 2025 and move to its new site in early 2026 according to the Red Hat relocation section of their website.
For more information regarding the Red Hat move and updates, their website has updates regularly.
Enfiniti’ Jones, Contributing Writer
Kendrick Lamar Named as Superbowl Half-Time Performer
After a summer-long dispute with popular Canadian rapper, Drake, Kendrick Lamar announced on YouTube and social media that he will be performing at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. Lamar did make an appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2022 alongside other artists including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and more, but according to The Grio, he will be the first rapper to headline the Super Bowl alone.
In response to his announcement on Sept. 8, social media erupted in an uproar over the decision to have Kendrick Lamar perform at the Superbowl. The Grio also reported how fans’ reactions were split between supporting the famous rapper and feeling disappointed in the decision. Lil Wayne, a New Orleans-born rap legend, has openly expressed his desire to perform the halftime show, according to Today. Lil Wayne explained how the decision to have Kendrick Lamar perform in his hometown on such an important stage “broke [him]” and blamed himself for not being “mentally prepared for a letdown.” In his statement on Instagram, Wayne also apologized to his fans for not being able to secure such a huge opportunity but explained that now he is trying to “put [him] self back together.” In addition, the Today article noted that several artists, alongside other social media users, spoke on their feelings toward the announcement. Rappers like Nicki Minaj, Master P and Cam’Ron expressed their thought onthe decision by saying that Lil Wayne deserved “love [and] respect,” says Nicki Minaj, and to “be a part of this celebration,” says Master P, especially considering that it takes place in his hometown. Fellow rapper 50 Cent stated that he feels the decision to have Kendrick Lamar perform the halftime show will be “good for the culture,” in reference to hip hop, but he also admits understanding why Lil Wayne and other hip hop fans are upset, according to an XXLMag article.
Despite the controversy, fans have also had humorous responses to the announcement and speculate that Kendrick Lamar will perform his summer hit “Not Like Us” on repeat, much like he did during his Juneteenth concert, to be spiteful toward Drake. Some fans on X have even made memes poking fun at Drake and his previous statement in his song “First Person Shooter,” which happened to be the song that started the whole dispute, where he claims to be “big as the Superbowl” alongside popular rapper, J.Cole. Fans have also made remarks on the seeming nail in the coffin of their dispute and how Kendrick Lamar’s opportunity to diss Drake on such a large platform is quite amusing.
On Sept. 11, 2024, following his Super Bowl announcement, Kendrick Lamar released a song referred to as “Watch/Let the Party Die” on Instagram that openly criticizes the current state of hip-hop culture. Lamar refers to several rappers within the song and expresses disapproval for the way current rappers have glorified drug use, scamming and “pushin’ propaganda for salary,” and are generally misleading the youth. In his song, Lamar also emphasizes the importance of education in saying that reading books allows one to “change his life” and “find out what’s right” while also expressing his desire to start over and “burn it down to build it up” about rap culture and the existence of ignorance among popular rappers. He also mentions experiencing dread toward releasing music by explaining how he feels that with fame his “spiritual is tried,” which explains his inconsistent album releases in an effort to maintain his inner peace.
According to an article from VIBE, other rappers have come forward to defend Jay-Z, rapper and founder of Roc Nation, an entertainment company partnered with the NFL that helps decide on Super Bowl headliners, against the backlash for the decision. Many people feel that Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the halftime show, and Roc Nation’s previous decisions about Super Bowl performers, have done a lot for representing the Black community and Black culture in reference to an article from The HillTop.
The Triibe reports that many hip-hop fans and rappers alike feel that Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl, while controversial, will be a much-needed cultural reset, for hip-hop, and look forward to what is coming next.
By Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor
Emmys 2024 Recap
On Sept. 15, the 76th annual Emmy Awards was hosted in Los Angeles, California. The evening was hosted by father-son duo and “Schitt’s Creek” stars Eugene and Dan Levy, according to CBS News. If you did not get to watch this year’s Emmys or you are not up to date on how the night went, The Herald has all the details for you!
According to Elle, Netflix took top of the leaderboard as the streaming service to have the most number of nominations (107), followed by FX (93) and HBO/Max (91) respectively. However, the article points out that thanks to shows like “The Bear” and “Shōgun,” FX took the lead in terms of wins for the evening.
“Shōgun” had the most nominations of the evening with 25 nominations, and “The Bear” closely trailed with 23 nominations, which is the most for a comedy series ever, reports CBS News. The article further reports that “Shōgun” made Emmy history with 18 Emmys being taken home, which is a record for a single season.
The Emmys website shows that “The Bear” won big in the comedy series category, with wins for Jeremy Allen White (outstanding actor), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (outstanding supporting actor), Liza Colon-Zayas (outstanding supporting actress), Jon Bernthal (outstanding guest actor), Jamie Lee Curtis (outstanding guest actress) and Christopher Storer (outstanding directing). The only awards not won by “The Bear” in the comedy category was for best comedy series, lead actress and writing, all three of which were won by “Hacks.”
As for “Shōgun,” the Emmys website highlights that the show won several awards in the drama category including ‘outstanding drama series,’ and wins forHiroyuki Sanada (outstanding lead actor), Anna Sawai (outstanding lead actress), Nestor Carbonell (outstanding guest actor) and Frederick E.O. Toye (outstanding directing), to name a few. Other notable winners in the drama category include Elizabeth Debicki (outstanding supporting actress) for “The Crown.”
The Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” also had a big night, winning six Emmys for outstanding casting of a limited or anthology series or movie, outstanding picture editing for a limited or anthology series or movie, outstanding supporting actress for a limited or anthology series or movie (Jessica Gunning), outstanding limited or anthology series, outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series or movie and outstanding lead actor for a limited or anthology series or movie (Richard Gadd), according to the Emmys site.
Some other exciting wins of the evening went to Lamorne Morris for ‘best supporting actor in a limited series’ for his role in “Fargo,” “Blue Eye Samurai” for ‘best animated program’ and “Quiz Lady” for ‘best TV movie,’ as noted in a New York Times article.
Other than the awards for the evening, Vogue also highlighted the seven best moments of the evening. The article highlights John Oliver’s tribute to his late dog, several olympic athlete appearances, the “Schitt’s Creek” reunion and more. Rolling Stone made mention of the moment when “Slow Horses” writer, Will Smith, won for ‘best drama writing’ and began his speech by stating that “Despite [his] name, [he] come[s] in peace,” a reference to the Will Smith-Chris Rock incident at the Oscars in 2022.
The Emmy awards are important for actors and fans alike to keep an eye out for every year, especially in the age of streaming. For a full list of all nominees and winners in their respective categories, visit the Emmys website.
By Shae-Lynn Henderson, Editor-in-Chief
Graphic by Shae-Lynn Henderson, Editor-in-Chief
OPINION: New Lead Singer for Linkin Park
Content warning: mentions of suicide, depression and addiction
Linkin Park (LP) is an alternative rock band that mixes the sounds of hip-hop and metal in a genre referred to as numetal. The band was formed in 1996 with their debut album, “Hybrid Theory,” being released in 2000, according to Loudwire.
The band was originally named Xero, then changed their name to Hybrid Theory before becoming Linkin Park after releasing their first album, according to American Songwriter. The original founding members include Mike Shionda, Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn and Mark Wakefieldand Dave Ferrel. In 1999, Mark Wakefield left the band, and Chester Bennington joined as lead vocalist. Their discography of studio albums, which can be found on Linkinpedia, includes “Hybrid Theory,” “Meteora,” “Minutes to Midnight,” “A Thousand Suns,” “Living Things,” “The Hunting Party” and “One More Light.”
"One More Light" was released in May 2017, and all of the band members had a part in writing and producing the album. This album is filled with emotion, many of which resonate with those who have dealt with mental health issues. As someone who has personally dealt with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, this album is a foundation for feeling less alone and finding healing. The title track is about grief and regret, and I feel that a lot of people can relate to the lyrics, especially if they have lost someone close to them in sudden ways.
For the album release, LP performed their new songs on the Jimmy Kimmel Late Night Show and dedicated the performance to Chris Cornell, as Jimmy Kimmel stated as he introduced the band. Cornell unfortunately died by suicide on May 18, 2017, the day before LP’s live performance. Cornell was the lead singer and guitarist of bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Almost exactly two months later, the music world was shaken even more as news of Chester Bennington's death spread. According to CNN, Bennington died by suicide on July 20, 2017, which was Cornell’s birthday. Cornell and Bennington were known to be good friends. These untimely deaths were arguably devastating to the music industry and fans. According to LouderSound, Bennington had a history of depression and addiction, which makes the “One More Light” album even more meaningful. To me, this album serves as a tribute to Bennington and preserves his voice and legacy through his final music.
LP is now returning to music after a seven-year hiatus. The current lineup includes Mike Shionda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Ferrel and new additions Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain. A new album, From Zero, is set to release on Nov. 15, 2024. A single from the album, “The Emptiness Machine,” was released on Sept. 5, 2024. This is the first new music Linkin Park has released in seven years, according to HotPress. LP announced and debuted the new members and music during a live performance, which streamed on Sept. 5, 2024. The stream is still available to view on YouTube, and I highly recommend watching it before forming an opinion on the changes.
The band’s return with two new members has caused controversy online. I’ve seen fans upset online for many different reasons, but I’ve also seen fans who are excited and supportive for this new chapter for the band. Some so-called “fans” have taken to social media with misogynistic comments about Emily Armstrong, saying that they don’t think a female voice fits LP. According to The Signal, Armstrong also has her own controversies from the past, including rumors that she is a Scientologist and has supported an alleged sexual harasser, as reported by Vox and Hollywood Reporter respectively. I think that Emily Armstrong has a really powerful voice that is great for rock music, but she still has to take some time to get adjusted to LP.
I’m torn on whether I like LP returning to making music or not. On one hand, I’m happy for the rest of the band, but on the other, I struggle to see LP the same without Bennington. Obviously, it is up to the band to decide if it is right to move forward and return without Bennington.
This new music gives me the same feeling as listening to old LP songs, but it is going to take a while for me to get used to hearing someone other than Chester Bennington. I do think it was a really good idea to introduce a new singer and drummer during a live performance, along with releasing a single for fans to get a taste of the new LP. However, a part of me wishes that they changed the name of the band, as I feel that Chester defined Linkin Park. On the live stream, Shionda told the fans, “In the role of Chester Bennington this afternoon is each of you,” which is emotional for fans and band members alike, but I feel that Shonda is right because Chester is in the hearts of Linkin Park fans forever.
In “One More Light,” Bennington sings, “Just ‘cause you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” These lyrics, I believe, are an important reminder and opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Bennington and remember that his legacy will live on. I feel that fans should go forward in remembering Bennington and supporting LP in all their forms.
By Kailey Wurr, A&E Editor
OPINION:Selling Nostalgia
In a time where the world is practically at our fingertips at any given moment, it does not feel surprising to me how quickly news, fashion, trends and life in general flies in and out of our scope of perspective. Whether you are chronically online—or not online at all—it feels impossible to stay in the loop about what is in and what is out.
To be fair, I tend to have a flair for the dramatics, but I am going somewhere with this train of thought. If you are anything like me, I feel like I am being swept along for the crazy ride and just trying to cling onto anything reminiscent of the things I recognize in the world of fashion and entertainment. Is this why we are seeing so many reboots of movies and tv shows and our favorite 90’s and early 2000’s bands re-entering the scene and 90’s fashion making a comeback? I truly believe that companies and industries are selling nostalgia, and they are succeeding because we crave the comfort of that stability.
Off the top of my head, I can list several new movies that are ‘long-awaited’ sequels or remakes: “Top-Gun Maverick,” “Freaky Friday,” “Twisters,” “Mean Girls,” any movie from the “Kung Fu Panda” or “Despicable Me” franchises, the list of “Shrek” movies and the list goes on. Rotten Tomotoes notes that there are six movies in the “Despicable Me” franchise and four “Kung Fu Panda” movies. The latest example is the sequel to the 1988 original film “Beetlejuice,” with the newest film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” released on Sept. 6 according to IMDB.
In addition, old cast members of shows are constantly asked about show reboots, if they want them and when they might happen. At the Emmy Awards on Sept. 15, Lamorne Morris was asked about a potential “New Girl” reboot, and he jokingly stated that everyone except Jake Johnson is on board, according to E News. Despite the rumors of a potential reboot, some members of the “Modern Family” cast reunited for a Whatsapp commercial earlier this year, reports The Hollywood Reporter. If it's not a reboot, it is a podcast about old shows, such as “Office Ladies,” “Sidebar,” “The Mess Around with Hannah and Lamorne” and many, many more.
Lastly, in the world of music, there is plenty of nostalgia to go around. Taylor Swift has re-released several of her original albums including “Fearless (Taylor's Version),” “Red (Taylor's Version),” “Speak Now (Taylor's Version)” and “1989 (Taylor's Version),” as noted by Cosmopolitan. Regardless of her reasoning behind re-releasing her albums, it is nostalgia, and it arguably sells. NBC News reports that Oasis also announced their reunion after 15 years. And who could forget about when some of our childhood bands like The Jonas Brothers or Big Time Rush announced their return?
I am certainly not mad that these movies and artists are bringing back remnants of my childhood in a way that is fitting to where I am in my life now, but it speaks a lot to our concept and understanding of our role in the success of the entertainment industry. Are these reunions actually good and do they contribute to the development of the characters and storylines? Alternatively, I propose we support and enjoy them as much as we do, because it feeds into our sense of belonging in a world where we often feel left out.
In addition to playing into our nostalgia, the marketing for these concepts play into the excitement. For example, Glen Powell arguably sells us on wanting to see “Twisters” and “Top Gun: Maverick” and Taylor Swift puts on a three and a half hour show, but consider me there if I get to sing all my favorite songs from every era.
Without diving deep into the psyche of it all, I am genuinely curious about what keeps us coming back to what we know. Furthermore, I am left to ponder about living in a blissful naivety or challenging how and why we engage in media. Do we really need a reunion or do we need an intervention?
By Shae-Lynn Henderson, Editor in Chief
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