THE TWIG
MflLUME KUV HUMBER S
Meredith College. Raleigh, N.C. 27607
'September 23, 1985
Johnson Hall
Alumnae Go All Out For Meredith
by Vanessa Goodman
Managing Editor
Meredith received more moriey from
outside sources In 1985 than any ottier
college or university in North C^llna.
This success is credited to the alutrt-
nae.
The atTxxjnt contributed this year
was $400,000. That sum accounts for
over forty-six percent of the alumnae.
This contribution shows a seventeen
pereent tacteaed aiAce^147&
in order to receive this money every
year, the alumnae staff, led by Anne
Purcell, CHrector of Annual Giving, and
Cleo Perry, CMrector of Alumnae Affairs,
must remain in contact with the grad
uates of Meredith.
They have a volunteer staff made up
of class representaMves and class
agents who write and call the alumnae.
The staff also has a personal visitation
team that also encourages alumnae to
give.
Acconjing to Dr. Jerry E. McGee,
Vice-President for Institutional Ad
vancement, in charge of public rela-
ttons and overall giving, "the alumnae
are the base of all giving.” The gifts that
they give help operate the college and
keep the costs of tuition down.
“Without the alumnae,” says Dr.
McGee, “tultlon would be $300 more,
thecollege would still belnthieneed of
a chapel, there would be a scramble for
adequate financial aid, and the overall
campus would be deteriorating."
Money is r>ot the only thing that the
alumnae give.
Alumnae serve as members^on boards
and offer advice for the future of the
college. Some alumnae work with the
Admissions office in the search for
prospective students.
Dr. McGee cites that alumnae give,
because “they like what they see.” He
feels that progress is being made at
Meredith and the alumnae take pride In
th^.
One final observation of Dr. McGee’s
states that “when all other contributors
to the college say no, the alumnae can
always be counted on to be there.”
WOMEN'S COLLEGES:
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
by Amy Hudson
Staff Reporter
A tradition that Is slowly becoming
ectinct Is that of college's exclusively
for women. Luckily, Meredith 4s still
one of the six women's colleges still
operating in l^h CaR3llna Others in
clude Peace College and St. Mar/s
College, in Raleigh; Bennett College In
Greer>stx>ro, Salem College In Wlnstorv
Salem and Queen’s College In Char-
krtte. There are only 110 women’s col
leges in the entire country.
Meredith College, as well as the
other Raleigh women's colleges, t>olds
to tradition as a way of life. Ttiat is one
thing that makes women's colleges so
special. Tradition such as ComhusMn',
Daisy Chains made by underclassmen
to honor graduates at commencement,
and the presentation of a class doll,
dressed in the attire of that year are a
few traditions that have been continued
since the early 1900’s. This sense of
tradition creates a very energetic sense
of sdKXtl spirit and an atmosphere of
closeness that a co-educatlonal school
cannot offer.
Meredith’s casual atmosphere also
creates a closeness among students.
One does not have to worry about get
ting totally dressed to go to classes be
cause thm are no men to impress, an
added incentive to place more import
ance on academics Instead of appear
ances.
Annette Thorpe, a sophomore states,
“I like not having to worry about wtiat I
look like going to classes.” She also
likes the idea of going to a private “all
girts”’ school because she feels that
she Is getting a better education than at
a state supported school. She likes the
individual attention that she receives as
a person, not being treated as a num
ber, as you are in large co-educational
institutions. She also likes the spiritual
[Continued on page 8\
Colleges VS. Universities:
Is Biggest Always Best?
by Usa Plercy
Features Editor
Women choose Meredith over other
colleges and universities for many rea
sons, but what makes a person choose
colleges over universities In general?
Rrst, we must consider the technical
differences between the two: a college
is usually smaller, with a nrtore general
ized educational base; universities are
divided into “schools” such as Engin
eering, Humanities. Natural Sciences
and Education. ITte student-teacher
ratio at colleges is generally smaller
than universities, and the class size Is
also smaller. The smaller ratio allows
professors to provide more individual
ized attention and affords students an
opportunity to become better acquaint
ed with professors on an informal t>as-
is. Many students in both colleges and
universities see advantages and disad
vantages in the smaller class size: ad
vantages in that it gives professors
more opportunity to monitor students'
progress; disadvantages in that
classes may become more pressure-
filled as a result of this scnjtiny.
Another disadvantage — or advarv
tage — depending on the viewpoint
taken, is the general impersonality of
professors at the larger universities;
many of them take no interest in at
tendance, and it is very easy in the larg
er classes for one student to pay
mther to take his exams for him.
Another issue concerning education
is the availability of classes. With some
colleges, class offerings are rather
limit^. However, Meredith students
may take classes offered at any of the
five CRC institutions, whict) provides
an opportunity to diversify the educa
tional experience.
The educational aspect of the college
versus university question aside, the
social aspect also exists. While a per-
80 I at a university does have her own
circle of frierKls and acquaintances, the
proportion of her friends and people
she even recognizes) to that of the en
tire enrollment is very small. At a srrell
college, a student has her friends, but
also recognizes neariy everyor>e on
campus, lending a more close-knit at
mosphere. In talking with some stu
dents at NCSU, their biggest complaint
was the impersonality - in academics,
but especially in their interaction with
the university community as a whole.
One of the major complaints about
small colleges is that the opportunities
for educational, social and cultural, and
athletic pursuits are limited. While this
may be true at some colleges, Meredith
is an exception. It ttas become the
center for a wide range of cultural pre
sentations, such as Meredith Art and
Dartce and the North Carolir>a Sym
phony. There are many on-campus op
portunities for Meredith students to
paiicipate in athletics, as well as to
enjoy those available in the area- es
pecially at State. Not only do these
events at State provide for athletic in
terests, they also provide Meredith
women with one of their greatest social
outlets.
All of these aspects, and many more
too numerous to mention, m^ Mere
dith unique: an institutton with smail-
coilege closeness and access to cos
mopolitan opportunities as wel).
Dexheimer to Speak in October
The Deputy Director of International
Exchange in West Germany will be
speaking at Meredith CoHege Octctier
22, 198S.
Dr. Wolfgang Oaxheimer will talk on
“German Youth Look at the United
States,” in 103 Joyner at 7:00 p.m.
During the day, Dexheimer will meet
with some German language classes
and some politics classes and will have
lunch with some faculty members and
administrators wt>o are Interested in
making Meredith students more aware
of international students.
Decheimer’s visit is sponsored by Phi
Omlcron of Phi Alpha Theta, and ttw
department of History and Politics.