Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / March 24, 1999, edition 1 / Page 4
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Meredith Heratd March 24, 1999 4 Campus Extras Freshmentoring provides role models Christina Holder staff Writer Technical writer, Meredith alum nae president, high school teacher— you? These are just a few of the pro fessional women who came togeth er with first-years in the 3rd annual Freshmentoring Program that began Thursday, Feb. 11. The program, designed by Chrissie Bumgardner, director of the First Year Experience, matches first- years and Meredith alumnae who share common interests. It was first introduced to Meredith in the Fall of 1996 through a Creative Ideas Fund. The program aims at providing first- years with encourgement, answers to questions about career choices, and advice ftom someone who has already experienced Meredith. ‘The goal of the program is to offer first year students a support system, to give them a person who can serve as a role model and a friendly advisor, so they have the Meredith connection,” said Bum gardner. All participants in the pro gram were mailed an application to list their interests, career goals, and personality traits. After receiving the applications, first-years and their mentors were matched by a committee composed of Bumgardner, intern Sarah Isham; first-year class advisor Cathy Rodgers, Residence Director Kelly Conkling, and two first-year class officers. “We are trying to connect pieople with similar interests so that person can guide [first-years] in a constructive way,” said Bumgard ner. The committee tried to match people as closely as they could so that both people could benefit from the experience. Isham, who is interning in Bum gardner’s office, was responsible for planning the activities of the pro gram. The schedule includes recent events, such as a night of Laser Tag, and future events, such as a Coffee KITCHEN continued from page 1 presidents were downstairs having lunch with the Board of Associates for the College. Executive Vice President Charles Taylor became aware of the situation within moments of the incident. “The good news is the system works; the bad news is it works when we don’t want it to,” said Taylor. For dinner Thursday night, the staff could only use the bake shop ovens, pizza ovens and serving line grills to prepare the food for all residents plus about 85 additional people having catering events in the Wainwright suites in the basement of Belk. “No one was ever in danger because there was no fire,” said O’Briant. Taylor said that the entire fire extinguishing system in the dining hall will be upgraded once the semester ends. “We regret the unfortunate discharge of the fire preventing chemicals caused difficulties with food service to the students; however, we were pleased with the way most students respond ed to the situation,” said Taylor. “We were very proud of the way our people responded so quickly.” FANJUL continued from page 1 someone supporting her. She encouraged the audience to develop a support system for the women that rose to leadership positions because that was how more women would become inspired to take on predominantly male positions. She says that by listening to others carefully, she has learned to make effective decisions as a state policy maker, elected offi cial, and mother. By designing inventive programs, being coura geous in her beliefs, and knowing that at least one person sup ports her, she has experienced the strength and wisdom of that comes with being a woman leader. Fanjul stressed that the knowledge she had gained from women she had known in the past as the guide towards her lead ership position. She believed that each woman of the past has passed a new insight on to the woman after her. As a final note, Fanjul said, “Find the stories. Remember the stories so they can tell you what ground they broke. The women that went before us gave us this gift of freedom.” and Dessert Social, Sunday in the Park with George, dinner at TK Tripps, and a final dinner to close the Freshmentoring program. A total of 43 mentees and 40 mentors are paiticpating in the pro gram. ‘This year was the first year we had an almost equal number of mentors and mentees,” said Bum gardner. Mentors come from many differ ent career backgrounds and experi ences. They are writers, dancers, teachers, administrative assistants, and presidents, among many other careers. “It is always so neat to see the alums come back. I have seen them grow and now they are helping others grow and develop. It is a chance for them to give back to the college,” said Bumgardner. Sarah Pritchard, a mentee, is pleased with the experience she has had with her mentor, Jan Yow, a math teacher at Athens Drive High School. “Even though I have only met with my mentor one time, I feel that she is going to be very helpful to me and to the decisions I make about my career in teaching,” said Pritchard. The mentois and mentees are encouraged to meet on their own time and to get to know each other better. Many pairs have already par ticipated in activities outside of the program, such as going to the movies or to dinner together to dis cuss life at and after Meredith. “I think the program is an excel lent way for Meredith students to see what it is like in the teal world and to have many of their questions answered,” said Pritchard. The program is offered every year for all interested freshmen. For the mentees now, many may wish they could do it again. When the program ends on Apr. 26, the direc tors hope the mentees will have an role model and friend in one. Meet actor Vitale Lisa Gilliam Clubs Editor Many people have heard about the coming play Sunday in the Park with George, but many people have not stopped wonder who will be perform- the role of George. That role ongs to Peter Vitale, the most ent addition to the Meredith ater crew. Vitale is by no means unfa miliar with North Carolina or Meredith. The New York native lived in North Carolina from 1982 to 1993 while he attended school. Vitale obtained an undergraduate degree in music at Duke University and went on to obtain his graduate degree at the University of North Caroli na at Greensboro. Around the time that Vitale was finishing grad school, he decided to move to Minneapo lis, where he has been living for the last six years. Vitale said that Minneapolis has a great theater and arts environment. He said that it is an “incredible city” with a “vibrant, educated environment.” However, Vitale says that it is “nice” to be back in North Car olina “where it’s warm.” He says he has physically missed all of the “lush vegetation” which is just “not quite the same on the prarie.” Vitale’s position as a free lance performer is one that keeps him quite busy. He says that being self-employed and living from job to job is exciting but a “little unnerving some times.” Vitale says that Min neapolis is a great place for the kind of work that he does because there are dozens of small theater companies there and many original pieces. Although Vitale is a resident of Minneapolis, he has done extensive work in North Caroli na as well. His places of perfor mance include the Raleigh Lit tle Theatre, the NC Theatre, the Raleigh Ensemble, the Man- bites Dog Theater in Durham, and Meredith College, where he performed in The Fantisticks in 1991. Vitale arrived at Meredith on Sunday, Mar. 14 and remain until the last performance of Sunday in the Park on Apr. 18. He will be staying in residence at the Sara Lemon house. In addition to his role as “George,” Vitale will also be working with students when needed and pro viding support and help with activities in classrooms. When asked what he is most looking forward to during his stay here at Meredith, Vitale said that he is “most excited about working with students and this environment,” which he said is different from where he’s been. Vitale is used to a strict environment which does n’t usually allow a performer time to “explore pieces” and to find out the different “layers” of a piece. Spend Sunday in the Park with George Jessica Watson Guest Writer It’s time for the Department of Music, Speech and Theatre’s latest spring production, Sun day in the Park with George. This acclaimed musical has won honors such as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and it will make its appearance on campus the week of April 13. This musical takes a look at the life of the French artist George Seurat. The story revolves around the creation of Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The department is excited to introduce its guest artist Peter Vitale, who will be portraying the character of George Seurat. Vitale’s acting career dates back to his childhood years and has developed further through his college career, regional the atre performances and graduate school career. Vitale has previously worked professionally with one of the theatre performance professors, Catherine Rodgers. He explained that they had dis cussed that they would like to work together again in the future. Vitale also expressed his confidence in Bill Rodgers’ ability to create the elaborate set needed for the show. About a year ago, when he was asked to be in this production, he accepted. Vitale said that he relates to the character of Seurat’s search for a way to express his own voice, since Vitale’s recent study of opera singing has con vinced him that self-expression a great goal and challenge. The entire cast, crew and department has worked hard preparing for this show. Perfor mances are April 13-17 at 8 p.m. and April 18 at 2 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. Meredith student, faculty and staff tick ets are free. Adult tickets are $8 and non-Meredith student and senior citizen tickets are $6. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 760-2840.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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March 24, 1999, edition 1
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