Happy First
Day of Fall!
The Meredith
Herald
@meredithherald
@ @meredith_herald
M/f meredithherald.com
September 22, 2021
Meredith College to Require COVID-19 Vaccination
in Spring 2022 Semester
By Elinor Shelp-Peck, Co-Editor in Chief
Photo by Madison Sholar
On Thursday, Sept. i6, the
Meredith College Executive Leader
ship Team (ELT) announced that
they are “adding the COVID-19
vaccination to the list of required
vaccinations for students...and
employees, except for those with
religious or documented medical
exemptions.” Meredith had previ-
semester. To remain
in compliance with
the mandate, students
and employees must
submit their vaccina
tion status by Jan. 4,
2022. Any student or
employee who wishes
to apply for a medical
or religious exemp
tion will be able to do
so starting on Oct. 15,
2021. All medical ex
emptions must be physician-docu
mented. The email stated that those
who receive a waiver by Meredith
College “will still need to [wear]
masks and be tested weekly until
further notice.”
The email stressed that the
ELT “listened to a wide range of
opinions, arguments and applica-
ously only highly recommended the tions” and chose to implement
vaccine, but given the recent Food the vaccination requirement after
and Drug Administration (FDA) ap- consulting with “Meredith’s Ad-
proval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
they decided to make a decision for
ministrative Management Council
and health experts.” As of Sept. 21,
the “health and safety of [the] entire 2021, 78% of students and 79.4% of
community.”
In order to give individu
als time to get the vaccine, the new
vaccination requirement will not
take effect until the Spring 2022
employees are vaccinated against
COVID-19, according to the Stay
ing Strong webpage. That value has
changed since the original email
was released on Sept. 16, which
stated that “nearly 80% of em
ployees and over 73% of students
have submitted proof of vaccina
tion.”
On social media, there has
been backlash amongst current
students, parents and alumnae
who believe that requiring the
COVID-19 vaccine does not allow
them the personal freedom they
desire. Others have been quick to
point out that Meredith already
required a Certificate of Immu
nization for many other diseases.
President Jo Allen released a
video on Sept. 17 further explain
ing the College’s decision-making
process, which is viewable on the
Staying Strong website.
When The Herald asked
Meredith students what they
thought about the new policy, the
majority of responses were sup
portive. Naiylah Harris, ‘22, said
she is “so happy they finally made
it mandatory...One step towards
our campus’ safety!” However,
some students have concerns
about compliance. Natalie Baker,
‘25, said, “I am concerned about
how many people are talking
about faking religious exemp
tions...and hope they are report
Renovated Lake to be Revealed on Oct. 7
By Haileigh West, Contributing Writer
Interview conducted by Freya Dahlgren, Staff Writer
The Meredith Lake, located
behind Mclver Amphitheater, is
set to have its donor celebration
for the reopening on Oct. 7, 2021.
According to President Jo Allen,
the college has planned “outdoor
celebrations with masks, social
distancing and more” following
the lake being unused for five and
a half years. Dr. Allen said, “Our
intention [for the celebrations] is
to include those who have donated
to the costs of renovations as well
as...students and employees who
love the lake.”
Renovations to the dam,
lake and island were slowed due to
COVID-19, Dr. Allen stated, and
“the return of a booming construc
tion economy also waylaid some of
our earlier efforts for renovations.”
She said, “It took a long time to get
engineers, designers, compliance
officers and donors together to see
what needed to be updated from
the 1960s when the lake and dam
were built...all sorts of codes have
changed since then, necessitat
ing additional structural support,
compliance regulations for the
.-i*/,'.*■ '-i ’■ ■ - . - ■ —'
dam, site development,
landscaping and accessi
bility options and more.”
With lake renovations close
to completion. Dr. Allen is “de
lighted that our students and others
throughout our community have
a destination at the college for all
kinds of community-building and
sharing” or for enjoying solitude.
In addition to events like weddings
and family reunions, the Meredith
ed.” Alumna Mary Kathryn Keleher,
‘99, stated that she is “so happy
[her] alma mater is taking a stand
for health.”
An anonymous student
shared a personal story regard-
ing those who are considering
submitting a religious exemption
for nonreligious reasons. “I had to
have an exemption on file to go to
school here because my parents are
anti-vaxxers and it was physically
impossible for me to catch up on all
of my primary immunizations from
the time I was 18 to my enrollment,”
they said. “Getting all my vaccines
takes months, time, a driver’s li
cense...and I still got the COVID-19
vaccine. Hearing people complain
about a privilege they have been
able to receive their whole lives
makes me question where their
logic is.” The student went on to
say that if anyone was scared about
getting the vaccine, they encour
aged them to fight their fears and do
their own research about the risks
and benefits. “It can be really scary,”
they said, “but I promise you’ll be
okay.”
Photo by Molly Perry Lake “has been the site
for Cornhuskin’ for some
time,” and other events such as
theatrical performances and guest
speakers have taken place here.
“And, as always, the lake offers a
peaceful respite from the stress of
college life—and a quiet place to
read, study, talk with friends, eat
lunch, walk and more,” Dr. Allen
said.
When asked what the lake
signifies for alumnae like herself.
Dr. Allen shared, “The lake has
always been a focal point for the
campus. When I was a student,
we would often take our lunch out
to the lake and chat with friends.
It was a nice site for an afternoon
[or] early evening date, too...I’m
also pleased that the lake is a site
for research and study. Our stu
dents and employees, for instance,
have tested water quality, algae
blooms and environmental priori
ties.” Dr. Allen said that the college
also uses water from the lake for
irrigation purposes during hotter
months.
Dr. Allen is grateful for
everyone’s patience with the lake
renovations and for gifts from
special donors, referred to as “the
Ladies of the Lake,” for making
these renovations possible.