Meredith Herald
1891 - Honoring Our Heritage...Expanding Our Vision -1991
Volume VIII, Issue-S^^ X*- ^
April 24,1992
Raleigh, North Carolina
’’Deciding for the Best”: Baccalaureate
speaker advises seniors to prioritize; have
fun
by Trista Schagat
Wednesday, April 22, 1992 at
10:00a.m., Dr. Gayle Carlton Felton,
former assistant professor of religion
and philosophy at Meredith, gave the
1992 Baccalaureate Sermon in Jones
Chapel entitled “Deciding for the
Best.”
Dr. Felton’s sermon was adressed
to the graduating class of 1992 who
attended in cap and gown adorn
ment. She spoke about the decisions
that must be faced as the graduating
seniors strive to meet the challenges
that the world will offer them upon
leaving Meredith. She encouraged
them to prioritize when making these
decisions and reminded them that
when feeling the pressmes of trying
to win “the ratrace,” even the winner
is a rat.
Dr. Felton is a graduate of North
Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky
Mount with a B.A. in history. She
went on to earn her Master of Divin
ity degree at Duke Divinity School,
and she received her Ph.D. in History
of Christianity from Duke Univer
sity. She was also ordained into the
ministry of the United Metodist
Church in 1983.
Dr. Felton is currently an assistant
professor of Christiam Nurture at
Ur. Gayle Carlton Felton
Duke Divinity School and is a mem
ber of the Board of Trustees at North
Carolina Wesleyan College.
Dr. Felton emphasized that you
caimot have it “all”; there is always
something more that can be achieved.
And though you feel the pressures of
college will be alleviated at gradua
tion, there will be new fo^essures,
new challenges, new endeavors. The
“free time” that some future gradu
ates hope for never seems to materi
alize, for there is always something
that must be done. She encouraged
the seniors not to become entangled
in the pressures of everyday life -
take time to have fun along the way.
She concluded by advising, “You
can be rich in two ways. One is to
have alot; the other is to want very
little.”
Meredith community asked to help prevent fire
hazards on campus
Spring has sprung an just as surely
the Fire Prevention Bureau of the
city of Raleigh’s Fire Department,
more commonly known as the Fire
Marshall’s office, sent out its inspec
tor. During that last visit several
problems came to light which only
the Meredith community as a whole
can help solve. These problems are
campus wide and involve what at
first glance appears to be harmless
personal practices but in fact are de
ceivingly dangerous.
A list of these problems in
clude:
1. Items placed in hallways
or stairwells that could partially block
Class Day traditions will continue
by Amity Brown
What Meredith tradition is older
than Comhuskin’ and even dates
back to the original Meredith Col
lege campus? Class Day, a day in
which the Little Sister Sophomore
class honors its graduating Big
Sister class. Class Day is held the
Saturday before graduation on
Sunday. This year’s Class Day is
May 9.
According to the Meredith Col
lege Student Handbook, the cel
ebration is characterized by sev
eral strictly-followed traditions.
Tlie sophomores, dressed in white,
march into the amphitheater in
two lines, each line carrying a
chain of daisies. They hold the
chains and sing Big Sis/Lil’ Sis
songs while the seniors come in.
During the ceremony, the class
historians highlight the class’s
years at Meredith. Later there are
more Big Sis/LiP Sis songs sung
by the seniors, their Big Sister
class, and their Little Sister class.
At the end of the ceremony, the
sophomores carry the chains on
the island and form the class nu
merals of their Big Sisters’ class.
In addition to the sophomores’
wearing white, the seniors of odd
year classes wear black gloves on
their lefthands and give their little
sisters wish bones to wish them
luck, and the seniors of even year
classes give their little sisters bags
of sticks and stones to protect
them from the Odd Spirits’
bones.
English professor Dr. Jean
Jackson, Class of 1974, said,
“Largely, Class Day is very
similar [to today], except that
the numerals stayed on the is
land until the next morning be
fore graduation.” Over the past
several years, however, the Se
nior class goes on the island at
the end of Class Day, rushing to
get souvenir daisies from the
chain.
Professor Emerita of English,
Dr. Norma Rose, Class of 1936,
recalled that when she was a
sophomore, the lake was not
there, so Class Day was held in
a small am^^theater near where
the gazebo is now. Dr. Rose
added that the sophomores be
gan practicing for ClassDay six
weeks before the ceremony, ris
ing at6:30a.m. to perfect march
ing with the daisy chain and
singing Big Sis/Lil’ Sis songs.
Dr. Jackson said that her class
rose early only on Class Day,
getting up at 5:00 a.m. to pick
daisies and ivy. She remarked,
“I was an ivy picker, and it was
the payment of Krispy Kreme
doughnuts that got us up so
early.”
escape routes in the event of a fire, or
that might ignite and create a smoke
hazard. Nothing can be placed in a
stairwell or hallway not even a desk
or chair.
2. Papers such as posters or
notices placed on walls, exit doors,
and stairwell doors. These also could
ignite and create smoke that might
prevent a safe exit from the building.
These items can only be placed on
office doors, room doors, or bulletin
boards.
continued on page three