August 31,1994
2 Campus Opinion
Editorial: The Lake, a Meredith Treasure
by Melissa Masssngill
I was actually excited to return to
campus this year.
Espec^ since I spent a rather
large part of sununer navigating the
beltline.
After months of dodging orange
barrels, wodunen and bulldozers Q
had a nearly perfea record), 1 needed
to find peace in the comfortable and
familiar atmosphere of school.
I knew Meredith would return the
last threads of sanity that I had lost
somewhere between (Henwood Ave.
and Six Forics Rd. over the course of
the summer.
I realized I even smiling as I
turned into the main entrance.
That was when I saw the first sign
of trouble.
Hoping that the flash of bright or
ange in the comer of my eye was just
a flashback of my days in the wori:
zone, I made a beeline for the lake.
A few moments later, dazed and
confused, 1 stumbled down to the or
ange fencing that kept me from my
little spot of heaven.
My lake was nearly destroyed.
After a few days of thinking, 1 real
ized the administration made its deci
sion to drain the lake based on the
condition of the lake.
Over 50 years old, the island and
the amphitheater were in desperate
need of repair.
The water in the moat began to rot
the wooden posts surroundii^ the is
land.
The bricks of the seats began to
shift and loosen because of inadequate
drainage.
Dirt under some sidewalks eroded
away, making the concrete unstable.
The ckm^e was bad.
So bad that it caused safety haz-
uds.
People could trip and M on the
bricks, or the side^Iks could possi
bly apart under someone's feet.
The administration had two op
tions: They could drain the moat,
make a concrete bottom and replace
the poles, or they could drain the moat
and fill It in and remove the poles.
Creating a concrete bottom and
refilling the moat seemed to be the
best solution, until the administration
discovered the cost would be large.
Too large, in faa.
So they took the latter option.
Fillingtheffloat^thdirt up to the
amphitheater seats will have some
advantages.
With more space, the island can
accommodate la^er productions of
plays and other events.
Performers wiH have more room in
which to work, and even more room
for technical equipment and props.
Also, performers as well as the
audience will lose the feeling of isola
tion thatthe presence he moat gaveas
it separated those on the island with
those in the amphitheater.
People can now walk up and inter
act on a more intimate level with those
in the seats.
I can understand the
administration's dilemma.
The amphitheater will be usable
forCornhuskin' andby graduation we
will have grass on which to walk.
But somehow 1 still can’t admit the
administration made a good decision.
When I look at the lake, I can’t
realty see the advantages or the logis
tics of ^lut they've done.
My vision is blurred by the other
things I see in my head.
Myself as a child— standing on the
island, looking at the turtles popping
their heads out of the water.
Wondering how deep the moat
really was.
Bringing the ducks bread to eat.
Telling my self that when 1 was big
and strong, I would be able to jump
overthemoat to the other side just like
Wonder Woman.
Standing on the island just last year
and realizing that sometimes-isolation
can be good.
Reliving the memories now and
wishing 1 had time to make more.
Meredith Herald
LegioutEdHor..
Editor..
6u«in^ Manager..
darl^ Uiob
Addle Tschanrri«r
............Came Shaw
BdibritfPoUcy
tfte College throughout tfte eeadar?)t« yeiH;
l%«piipw4B!unded^^C(i*S*^^rou9hadveri{^. ThaHersldfetanslhe
p(d}lieh (Hfiertali ««KtsiRin9 personal attacks, ireula, iWicule er
fibflbiie Moments.' Ai !«tt^ Id editor must be 'Th»
In eA(^'’columna'M not necessariV reitect o( ^ Sie8»
' tftiMiiMon > facul^ or «tudi»8t bod^.
&eiy«)a'in the Martd^ convmit^ w invited to wi^e a lettir i» the acTsaf. All
pul^NdMterarnue^t^writtsnwfiheontactnamasuKiaddr««andt6i»|^)omt
Mieftaffi ftMttiiaainedby the author, but names will hawiU^held
Raleigh community wants
you!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 8:00 pm.
Dogwood room (BDtfl
Everyone is welcome.
You can make a difference.
Meredith College Women's Club
Contact Amy Harper X7734