EREDiTH Herald
Volume XV, Issue 4
We attract bright, talented, ambitious students. Naturally we're a women's college.
September 16, 1998
On the
inside:
□ Freshman
election results
are in. See who
won.
Page 3
□ Meet the
Student Develop
ment interns here
at Meredith.
They’re here to
help you.
Page 4
□ Check out
the scores and
key playing
points of all the
sports matches
from last week.
Page 5
Meredith Herald
at
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 760-2824
FAX (9J9) 760-2869
Email:
carterd@im^th.edu
Search committee hears constituents’ opinions
n Constituents voicc
the qualities they would
like to see in a president.
ALLISON CARTFR; BCTII HAI.t.
Bailor in Cf>ie(: News Editor
Meredith consiituendes spoke
directly to the Presidential
Search Committee earlier this
week, offering their suggestions
for the comp>onents of a presi
dential profile.
Again and again, the question
of whether the comrnittcc should
seek out a woman to he Mered
ith’s new president was raised.
Many constituents, including
faculty, administration, staff, stu
dents. alumnae, and community,
discusscd the importance of
seeking out candidates who have
proven to be succcssful fund
raisers, advanced scholars, spiri
tual leaders and visible leaders,
as well as appreciative of Mered
ith’s tradition and knowledge
able of small women’s colleges.
Some constituents also discussed
whether the new president
should encourage non-traditional
age programs or should strive to
retain Meredith’s focus on tradi
tional age education.
While no one at any of the
public forums suggested that t^e
.search committee seek out a man
specifically for the job, there was
debate over whether the search
committee should seek out
women exclusively. Some, like
Alyson Colwell-Waber, an asso
ciate professor of dance, said the
committee should recruit
women. She pointed out the
committee was a search commit
tee, not a selection committee;
therefore “find the best woman
possible.”
Colwell-Waber felt that this
would help change the public
perception that Meredith stu
dents go around in “white gloves
and hats." The change in percep
tion would increase student
enrollment and biost alumna and
community support of the col
lege, she felt.
Former Dean Allen Burris said
“the time was right" for Meredith
to have a woman president, and
that choosing a female president
would be “important symbolical
ly." Alumna Barbara Massen-
burg '48 said. "It is pa.st lime for
the largest women’s college in
the Southeast to have a woman
leader." Dean of Students Sharon
Cannon said “this is the perfect
time to break the glass ceilings."
Others, like Lyn Aubrecht,
professor of psychology, fell a
woman president would serve as
a belter role model for the all
female student body, but the best
person, regardless of gender,
should be chosen. Janet Free
man. head librarian, agreed,
“The right man is better than the
wrong woman.”
There was another debate of
whether the new president
should encourage age diversity
within the student enrollment of
various academic programs.
Some, like Sandra Close,
director of the 23+ program and
a 1996 graduate of the program,
praise non-traditional age pro
grams and want a president who
will help those programs grow.
However, others, such as alumna
Mabel Claire Maddrey '28, said
the idea of Meredith becoming a
“community college" should be
“wiped out.”
Another qualification many
felt the next president should
have is a commitment to finan
cial assistance. The college
should remain affordable, noted
Director of Financial Assistance
Philip Roof
The candidate should also fos
ter a sense of community around
campus, said some, icluding
Campus Minister, Sam
Carothers. Carothcrs said a can
didate should promote communi
ty among academic departments,
staff departments and the stu
dents.
Students at the forum felt that
the candidate should be visible to
everyone on campus, especially
the student Ixxly, in order to pro
mote a sense of community. Gin
ger Hudson, president of the
senior class, via a letter which
was read into the tapH; recorder.
See SEARCH page 2
Meredith Christians celebrate community fellowship
□ MCA sponsors
week’s events from cam
pus picnics to laser tag.
Kelly fish
Statf Reporter
Food, fun and fellowship were
abundant last week on campus
with the celebration of
MCA Week. Daily activities
were scheduled throughout
the week to which the entire
Meredith community was
encouraged to attend.
On 1'uesday, Crosspoint,
a weekly meeting with
songs, games, and Bible
study, was held. Chapel was
held Wednesday at 10 a.m.,
where Rachel Bennett
inspired the audience with
her message, and music was
provided by Becky Thomp
son and Amy Pleasants.
Thursday, the campus
was overcome by the sotmds
of Refuge, a contemporary
Christian band, and a picnic
was held in the courtyard.
Molly Jensen explained,
“Refuge was uplifting; It was
refreshing to hear someone open
ly talk about their relationship
with Christ." Friday was a time
of fun and relaxation. MCA went
to play laser tag at Ultrazone in
Raleigh. MCA also docs a vari
ety of community service.
Saturday, a group of students
met and did community outreach
at the Food Bank, and another
group visited a local retirement
home. Many students expressed
that it makes them feel good to
help others and that volunteering
is a great way to witness to olh-
Students enjoyed a courtyard picnic last Thursday as a part of MCA
Week. The band Refuge entertained all who attended.
ers, young and old.
Sunday, students were encour
aged to worship at local church
es. Some of the area churches
provided transportation and even
Sunday dinner for Meredith stu
dents.
If you are interested in finding
a local church, you are
encouraged to see Reverend
Sam Carothers. Campus
ministries has compiled a
directory that contains
churches of all denomina
tions, their locations and
their times of Sunday school
and worship. An online
directory is available at
WWW,meredith.edu/
newsinfo/worship.html.
According to Michelle
Barefoot, “MCA week was
really awesome! It gave our
fellow “Angels" the chance
to get directly involved in
MCA. It also gave them a
chance to hear the Word of
Gixl and worship with other
Christians."
Photo m Aii.'un Flood