Meredith herald
Volume X, Issue 18 February 16,1994 Ralci^, North Carolina
Senate urges students to vote on Open House
by Traci Latu
Whether Meredith adopts an open
house pohcy will partly be decided
Thursday when the Student Govern
ment Senate invites the st udent body to
vote on the Open House referendum.
The Open House referendum was
written by Senate Chair Kelly Fortny-
Duval, Residence Hall Ektard Chair Jen
nifer Smith. Senate Adviser Cheryl Smith
and the Office of Resident Life. Formy-
Du^ and Smith will present a proposal
K> the trustees Friday, February 25, ^ong
with the results from the voting, Senate
surveys, RHB s^in results and secu
rity reports compiled from the past trial
Open Houses.
The ballot students will vote with
indudes the referendum, which asks
students if they want open visitation on
given Saturdays or Sundays. The ballot
will also ask students for their dassifica-
don and if they are residence hall stu
dents or commuters. This will ensure
that every student at Meredith has a
voice on whether this referendiun is
adopted.
The proposal has been two years in
the making and as of last spring, when
open visitation had its first trial run, the
Senate has been following up on the
resultsof each visitation and listening to
the comments of the students. There
have been both supporters and oppo
nents of open house visitation and the
decision of the trustees could go either
way. It is this fact that has Formy-Duval
stressing to the student body that they
need to take this issue seriously and
vote.
“I’m going to put up. balloons all
over campus to let the students know
that they need to vote,” said Formy-
DuvaJ.
Formy-Duval also staled that if die
trustees did not accept the proposal
that the Senate would not push the
issue any further.
Formy-Duval and Smith vrill go be
fore the trustees again in April. If the
proposal in February is taken into con
sideration, the trustees could have a
decision on whether Meredith will per
manently adopt an Open House policy.
The Senate will be sponsoring an
Open House this Saturday from l-5p.m.
Senate asks students to please remem
ber the conditions of Open House.
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Yes, Meredith...there is a St. Valentine
by Traci Latta
It's that time of year ^ain when
throi^s of people flodc to the Hallmark
store to purchase sappy cards profess
ing their love to their significant others,
mothers and friends. This year I persoih
ally boycotted Valentine's Day. Not
having a Valentine this year and not
wanting to see other people walking
around with stars in their eyes, flowers
in their hands and rings on their fingers
left me with an overwhelming feeling
of disgust (and curiosity). My feeling of
curiosity led me on aquest for the party
responsible for Valentine’s Day, and
this is what I foiuid out:
The Legend of St. Valentine
The story of Valentine’s Day begins
in the third century with an oppressive
Roman emperor and a bumble Chris-
Hanmartyr. TbeemperorwasClaudius
II. The Christian was Valentinus.
Claudius bad ordered all Romans
to worship twelve gods, and be bad
made it a crime punishable by death
to associate with Christians. But
Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals
of Christ, and not even the threat of
^ath could keep him from practicing
bis beliefs. He was arrested and im
prisoned
During the last weeksofValentinus’
life, a remarkable thing ht^pened
Seeing that be was a man of learning,
ptMo by Frances Pate
Those o( us without valentines avoid Johnson Halt
on Valentine'sDay, while those who receive flowers
and balloons from that spwial someone hurry to
pick up their presents.
theJailer asked whether bis daughter,
Julia, might be brought to Valentinus
for lessons. She bad been blind since
birth.JuUa wasaprettyyoung
girl with a quick mind.
Valentinus read stories of
Rome’s history to her. He
taught her arithmetic and
told her about God She saw
the world through bis eyes,
trusted in bis wisdom, and
found comfort in bis quiet
strength.
'Valentinus, does God re
ally bear our prayers?"Julia
asked one day.
Tes, my child, He hears
each one,"he replied.
'Do you know what I pray
for every morning and every
night? I pray that I might see.
I want so much to see every
thing you've told me about!"
'God does what is best for
us if we will only believe in
him," Valentinus said
'Oh, Valentinus, I do be-.
Ueve,’’fulia said intensely. 'I
da ” She knelt and grasped bis hand.
Then they prayed together. Sud
denly there was a brilliant Ugbt in the
prison cell. Radiant, fulia cried,
"Valentinus, I can see.' I can see!"
'Praise be to God'" Valentinus ex
claimed
On the eve of bis death, Valentinus
wrote a last note U)fulia, urgingherto
stay close to God and be sigrted it
'From Your Valentine."
His sentence was carried out the
next day, February 14,270AD, near a
gate that was later named Porta
Valenti in bis memory. He was buried
in wbat is now the Church of Praxedes
in Rome. It is said that Julia herself
planted apinhblossomedalmond tree
nearhisgrave. Today, the almond tree
remains a symbol of hiding love and
friendship. On each February 14, St
Valentine'sDay, messages of love and
devotion are exchanged around the
world.
There you have it. The scoop on
where Valentine’sdaycame from Wow,
aren’t you glad you exchange cards
now instead of trees?