STATE
LOCAL
President Barack Obama (left) and former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney
will debate three times during the 2012 election. Image via polltlco.com
What to Watch for in the
Presidential Debates
Emily Hawkins, staff writer
Though media coverage of the
presidential election has been going on
for more than a year, the party conven
tions are now over and general election
season can formally begin. The Repub
licans chose the former Governor of
Massachusetts Mitt Romney as their
nominee, while the Democrats selected
incumbent President Barack Obama.
The two have the opportunity to debate
three times: Oct. 3 with a domestic poli
cy focus, Oct. 16 with a town hall format
and both domestic and foreign policy
questions and Oct. 22 with a foreign
policy focus.
The vice presidential debate is set
for Oct. 11 between Democratic current
Vice President Joe Biden and Repub
lican Rep. Paul Ryan. This debate will
have questions about both foreign and
domestic policy. Biden is known for
his gaffe-prone personality and long
tenure in the U.S. Senate, while Ryan
is known for his controversial GOP
budgets, Including his Medicare plan,
in the U.S. House. All vice presidential
and presidential debates will be held at
9 p.m. eastern time.
Comparing the presidential can
didates’ strengths and weaknesses,
Romney’s strength is his private sector
success as partner at Bain Capital
which many believe will translate
to high rates of job creation for the
economy. Obama will have to counter
this claim directly in the debates, as un
der Obama, the unemployment rate has
decreased but stayed steadily around or
above eight percent. Obama’s strength
is his foreign policy and national se
curity successes such as the killing of
Osama Bin Laden and the ending of the
wars. Neither Romney nor his running
mate Ryan have much experience with
foreign policy, so expect Romney to
face some foreign policy questions.
Both presidential candidates are ex
pected to answer tough questions about
the realistic value of many proposed
policies. Romney has not given much
detail about his tax plan to the public,
namely never mentioning the loopholes
he plans on closing in order to neutral
ize his planned tax cuts. And Obama
has not given a clear answer on how his
next four years will be more successful
at reducing the country’s high deficit.
The two should be prepared to face
questions about their inconsistent,
flip-flopping views on many policy
areas. Obama changed his mind about
the raising of the debt ceiling and how
strict he believes immigration law
should be, while Romney changed his
views on healthcare and many social is
sues including abortion. Both have had
inconsistent ideas about the legality of
same-sex marriage.
A neutral commission plans the
debates so the American people can
expect a thorough and fair process,
but most political scientists agree that
neither side should get their hopes up.
Historically, debates have not changed
polls or election results drastically. The
election will be held on Nov. 6 and the
deadline to register to vote in North
Carolina is Oct. 12.
Retention (continued
academic policies and procedures that
impact student success. This year we
are placing a particular emphasis on
advising, and I hope that students will
seek out their advisors and discover
the advantages of working closely
with a faculty member to plan their
academic program.” She asserts that
“academics affect retention in several
ways,” explaining that “a student who
is struggling with her course work may
be unprepared or too discouraged to
continue pursuing a degree. In ad
dressing academic opportunities and
success at Meredith, Dr. Gaiy Walton,
Dean of Arts and Humanities, adds
tliat professors have high “hopes and
expectations that students will take
advantage of resources provided by
the faculty members.” He notes that
professors provide many resources for
students, including syllabi, assignment
sheets, Blackboard modules and office
hours in order to provide academic
mentoring for students and insure the
academic success of enrolled students.
In addition to academic fit and
success, Director of Financial Aid
Kevin Michaelsen asserts that there is
a correlation between retention and'
financial aid, noting that the Office
of Financial Aid “works closely with
Dr. Green to create a fair distribution
of funds by taking into account the
individual student’s needs and per
sonal situation.” Unfortunately, “the
Office of Financial Aid is on a limited
budget in terms of institutional, state
and federal funding that it can offer
to students.” In a March 27 article
published by Lou Carlozo on Reuters,
com, Carlozo establishes that the price
for “a four-year private college educa
tion tripled in price between 1980 and
2010...and that student loan debt for a
bachelor’s degree now averages more
than $23,000 per student borrower.”
He notes that “financial barriers play a
key role in students’ decisions to drop
out of college. [...] Among adults age
18 to 34 who lack a bachelor’s degree,
two-thirds halted their education to
support a family, 57 percent preferred
to work and make money and 48 per
cent simply couldn’t afford college.”
Social and cultural fit also contribute
to student retention and Vice President
of Business and Finance Craig Barfield
relates that everyone on campus has
a role in how a student feels about the
Meredith community. He notes that
staff members in offices from Account
from front page)
ing to Security, Facility Services to the
Dining Hall provide the best service
possible and aim to create a friendly
campus culture.
Regarding campus culture. Direc
tor of Student Leadership and Service
Cheryl Jenkins marks the correlation
between student involvement and a
feeling of campus community that
influences retention. She states that
“Meredith Collfege students who are
involved in student organizations feel
a stronger connection to our institu
tion because it gives them a sense of
belonging to a community and they
feel ‘ownership’ of our college. By be
ing a part of a student organization, a
student has the opportunity to build
lasting relationships, fulfill a passion,
learn leadership skills, and make con
tributions to campus.”
Student Government President
Jade Rice personally supports Jenkins’
statements, asserting that “being a part
of the Student Government Association
since my sophomore year has really
helped me feel like I am a part of the
Meredith Community. I have had the
chance to meet so many students,
faculty and staff that I would not have
otherwise met. Not only does being
involved help with connections and
feeling like you are a part of something
it is also a lot of fun!”
While Meredith is working to im
prove retention rates. Dr. Green notes
that of traditional-aged students at
Meredith 49 percent graduate in four
years and 60 percent graduate in six
years. Data ft'om the National Center
for Education Statistics Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data illus
trates that this is a higher four-year
rate than at other local schools, where
North Carolina State University had
a 41 percent graduation rate for four
years and a 73 percent graduation
rate for six years, and William Peace
University had a 23 percent graduation
rate for four years and a 35 percent
graduation rate for six years.
Looking beyond the numbers. Dr.
Green adds that “the hopes of the
strategic plan that is currently under
consideration is that all students who
enroll in Meredith will obtain a won
derful Meredith College experience in
a reasonable amount of time and that
these students upon graduation will
be able to get their dream job or enter
graduate school to achieve their profes
sional and personal goals.”
HERALD@EMAIL.MEREDITH.EDU
Editors: Amy Hruby, Julia Dent — Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Duncan — Layout Editor: Emily Hawkins
Staff Writers: Alexus Stout, Cheyenne Williams, Christa Riley, Cody Jeffery, Lizzie Wood, Helen Kenney, Jennifer Cash, Jessica Feltner, Larissa Icard, Leslie Bunch, Maiy
Ryan, Mary Baines, Marzia Nawrozi, Monique Kreisman, Sarah Haseeb, Shanna Alley, Shea Pierson, Vicky Pivitsiripakde, Tonette Thomas
The Meredith Herald is produced by the College throughout the academic year.and published by Hinton Press. The paper is funded by the College and through independent advertising. The opinions expressed
in the editorial columns do not necessarily reflect those of the College administration, faculty, or student body. The policy of this paper requires that submissions be made by 5 p.m. the Thursday before publi
cation and that contributors sign all submissions and provide necessary contact information. The editors and staff welcome submissions meeting the above guidelines.