FEATUDES
"It’s better
sometimes to
come over to
Cate Center, get
something to
eat and watch
T.V."
(Photo by Stephanie
Bennett)
Le Greenhouse: More than
just a good place to eat
by Julie Bell, Features Reporter
It’s upstairs in Cate Center.
Many students find its bright
ly colored wall hangings and
plants appealing. It also has a relaxing
atmosphere in which to study, talk
quietly or listen to music. The place Le
Creenhouse, is filled with day students
during the hour of lunch.
“About 30^ students come in each
day to eat, enjoy conversation or study,"
said Thelma Watkins, an employee in
Le Greenhouse. “Many students will
come in here to have a cup of coffee or
tea and study for about 30-40 minutes."
ARA took over the snack bar in
January of 1984, changing the name
from Meredith^ snack bar to Le
Greenhouse. It enhanced the traditional
menu of cheeseburgers and french fries
by adding new, popular items of
chicken salad, grilled cheese sandwiches
and a mini-salad. It also included ■
healthy snacks of raisin and nut mixers.
And, when it's cold out, '*the soup is .
usually a popular item," said Watkins.
Not only do day students come to eat
at Le Greenhouse but students like
Sherri Ellis and Kay Peebles eat there as
well. "Some times when dinner is not so
appealing, I will come over to enjoy a
sandwich like pimento cheese," said Kay
Peebles.
“It's better sometimes to come over to
Cate Center to get something to eat and
watch T.V. because it can be boring in
the dorms," said Sherri Ellis.
There is a 25* T.V. in the lounge next
to Le Greenhouse which is an incentive
to some students to hang>out upstairs.
“It is just a great place to come, sit
down, and talk," said Watkins.
Franks presents tribute to Tubnnan during Convocation
by Casey Bass, Features Editor
Saundra Dunson Franks — her make
up, gait and speech very much like that of
a very elderly black woman from the
Deep South — entered the stage in Jones
Auditorium, Feb. 10, for the Black
Emphasis Week Convocation. She mes>
merized the audience for the next 45 min
utes with her portrayal of Harriet Tub*
man, a leader of the Underground Rail
road system during the Civil War.
The stage was simply set: a rocking
chair, an old truck, two plants on a simple
porch which had curtains open only
halfway. The lights were extinguished as
music filled the auditorium. Slides por
traying images of slaves, slave notices,
and scenes of what a slave's life must have
been like were shown.
Harriet Tubman, bomaslave, became
one of the most admired figures in Black
History. She conducted over 19 trips of
the famous Underground Railroad, into
the Deep South, leading over 300 staves
to freedom. Her “train" never lost a
passenger.
Equitation program provides entertainment for students
by Amy Hamilton, Features Reporter
While many students and fac
ulty members are in class or
in bed at eight o'clock a.m.,
Mr. Luke Huggins, the full-time riding
instructor and stable caretakei- at Mere
dith is going through his morning rou
tine of feeding the horses.
Huggins joined the Meredith staff 17
years ago not only teaching students to
ride, but also working with the horse
shows the women would participate in.
Huggins felt that showing the horses
was a good idea but there were
problems.
“The only problems were that it (the
program) only catered to a few students
and the cost of transporting the horses
and the girls became expensive." Hug
gins said.
Now Meredith offers three levels of
equitation. The beginning level is for
students that have not ridden at all or
very little. It also helps get the students
acquainted with being around horses
and teaches them the basics of riding.
The second level is for those students
who have ridden before, and are famil
iar with horses. The instructor teaches
the proper way to ride and work the
horses. Methods of posting with and
without the stirrups are also practiced.
The advanced level is similar to the
second level but it goes in more detail.
Meredith doesn’t buy the horses, but
receives them through donations. The
college only accepts mares and geldings.
“It could get a little rough trying to
teach with a mare and a stallion in the
ring," said Huggins.
Most of the horses in the Meredith
stables can't be resold on the market.
This is one reason patrons of the college
donate them for use in teaching. The
horses are thoroughly checked by a
veterinarian prior to accepting them to
make sure they are in good health.
However, health is not the only factor
as to whether the horses stay. There are
two major determinants.
“One is ~ can the girls get along with
the horses — and the other is — can 1
teach them to ride on them?," said
Huggins.
When the equitation program began,
students and horses were both in abun
dance. Yet in the past few years the
number of students has dwindled. In
1983. the program was revised by Presi
dent John Weems, Vice President Joe
Baker, and Vice President of Business
Finances Charles Taylor. The stables
gained seven new horses; however, since
then it has let go of twelve to fifteen.
“When the horses are let go. they are
donated to North Carolina State Uni
versity for breeding," Huggins said.
“Then the foals can be bought by any
student within the CRC program.
Because the interest in the program
has not been overwhelming, Huggins
feels an expansion will not be seen any
time soon. This decision to expand
would come from President Weems and
his committee.
“The only way for it to grow Is for us
to begin showing horses agun. This isn't
feasible because the program has been
designed to teach the women of Mere
dith how to handle and ride a horse,"
said Huggins. “The equitation program
is purely recreational."
Meredith's equitation program is strictly recreational. (Photo by Stephanie
Bennett)
4 February 28,1986