Meredith Herald
October 25, 2000
Campus News
Meredith students have
mixed feelings on RU-486
USA WfLSON
Staff Wrfler
Abortion. This single word
has stirred up emotion all
through history. Even before
the Roe vs. Wade court case
turned the control of abortion
to the federal government in
the early 1970s, abortion has
been a very pubhc issue.
Now, in late September, the
Pood and Drug Administration
approved an abortion pill
called RU-486, or miefepris-
tone.
Simply stated. RU-486 is a
pill that allows women to have
a non-surgical abortion. The
process involves taking five
pills and having a minimum of
three doctor visits. Under law.
women may take RU-486 for
up to seven weeks after their
last menstrual periods. Effects
like extreme bleeding, nausea
and headaches have been
reported.
Produced in a Chinese facto
ry that has been making the
drug since 1992, RU-486 has
been legal in European coun
tries such as France for years.
Legalizing the pill in the U.S.
has made abortion a more heat
ed issue than ever.
Opinions are very strong on
both sides and are a major part
of the upcoming elections. Vice
President Al Gore, who is pro-
choice. has stated that “abor
tions should be safe, legal, and
rare” is already a very well
known comment. Governor
George W. Bush is pro-life and
commented that the legalizing
of the RU-486 pill was wrong.
But, how do Meredith stu
dents feel about the new pill?
In the last edition of the Herald,
junior Courtney Arrington
expressed her concerns about
the pills'reducing responsibili
ty among women for their
actions.
Sophomore Rachel Askew
expressed her concerns about
RU-486. saying that “the easier
our society makes it to have an
abortion, the more abortions
will be made.”
Freshman Jillian Souther
land agrees, “I feel that this pill
will cause abortions to be so
common, particularly among
young women, that the regard
that will be given toward the
value of life will continue to
decline. Abortions will become
second nature.”
However, in support of RU-
486, Sophomore Barbara
Hollingshed said, “Having an
abortion isn't a fad, its not like
people get them ju.st because
they can, or because everyone
else is." She also said that she
hopes that fewer “pe5ple will
get dangerous, illegal abor
tions.”
“The pill almost ha.s to be
legal," said sophomore Ashley
Flatt. “If it isn’t, women will
find other, more dangerous
ways to have an abortion."
Dean for business school sought
Lindsey McAdams
StaH Writer
Meredith College has had a
department of business since
the early 1940s.
Last spring brought big
changes for the department
with the formation of the
School of Business. Degree
options include a master’s
degree in business administra
tion and a bachelor of science
in business administration,
accounting and international
business. The concentrations
offered within the business
administration degree are eco
nomics, management, market
ing. human resource manage
ment and finance.
The formation of the busi
ness school created the need
for a dean. A search committee
was put together last spring to
address this issue. Faculty
members were Dr. William
Landis, nutrition professor; Dr.
Rebecca Oatsvall, accounting
professor; Dr. Anne York, busi
ness professor; and Dr. Tom
Pencek, business professor.
Toni Rhorer of the Career
Center was the staff representa
tive. Other members included
Dr. Rosalind Reichard, com
mittee chair and vice president
of Academic Affairs; Dr.
LaRose Spooner, vice presi
dent of Marketing; and Kristy
Eubanks of the business advi
sory board. Graduate student
Carol Meyer and undergradu
ate student Leslie Gilliland rep
resented the student body.
The committee enlisted the
help of search firm John
McCrae and Associates.
The dean will be responsible
for coordinating all the acade
mic programs of the business
school. These programs
include business, economics
and accounting. The dean will
also oversee the undergraduate
and graduate programs.
Candidates for this position
must have had an academic
background in one area of the
school. The prospective dean
must also be experienced in
working with students, faculty
and the business community.
Knowledge of the AACSB
accreditation process is neces
sary as well.
The search for a dean is still
open. Two candidates have
been interviewed and there will
be two more interviewed next
week.
According to Reichard, the
dean must have the “skills to
make strong connections to the
business community here in
Raleigh.”
She went on to say the com
mittee is also “looking for a
creative person who can facili
tate the vision for school devel
opment.”
GospelFest 2000 a
praisin’ good time
Jamie Tunnell
Staff Writer
On Sunday afternoon, Oct.
22, community choirs and
Meredith College faculty and
students gathered in the Mered
ith Chapel for GospelFest 2000
sponsored by the Association
for Cultural Awareness.
Robert Locklear, a pastor
from New Bern, was the mas
ter of ceremonies for the event.
He had the crowd on their feet
praising the Lord for almost
two hours.
Though the choirs were a lit
tle late showing up, the audi
ence enjoyed three impromptu
solos and some talent on the
piano. The pianist started off
with the first solo, “It Is Well
With My Soul." Two of Mered
ith's own. Residence Director
Kamelah Nelson and student
Natalie Coleman also per
formed solos.
When the choirs arrived, the
audience heard even more tal
ent. The first performance was
by Daughters of Zion, a trio of
women.
The next group was Christ
Temple, a group made up of
three men and seven women.
They sang about four songs
that had the audience on their
feet swaying to the music.
The final choir was Eleva
tion Mass Choir, a group of at
least 30 men and women that
performed four songs to finish
up the GospelFest.
Stephanie Helms, adviser to
ACA, thanked all that had
attended. She said, “Sunday is
one of the most segregated
days of the week,” and it takes
events like GospelFest to cele
brate diversity and close that
gap.
GospelFest was a part of
Meredith's Week on Race,
which is being held this week
to promote diversity and
awareness.
Wade named new VP
TaNESHA WII.I.IAMS
Staff Writer
The new vice president for
the Business and Finance
department has been named.
William F. Wade, Jr. will take
on the role which includes
overseeing the college’s busi
ness, personnel, security, tech
nology services, and physical
plant operations.
Dr. Maureen Hartford
announced the news on Oct.
12. 2000.
“With 25 years of experi-
* Request Absentee Ballots by Friday:
If you aren’t registered to vote in Raleigh, you need to request
an absentee ballot as soon as possible. Absentee ballots must be
received by your county board of elections by Monday. Nov, 7. In
order to meet that deadline, your request has to get to the board of
elections, they mail you a ballot and you mail it back.
Through the end of this week, Meredith Votes will accept
absentee ballot requests. Forms to request absentee ballots are
available at the Meredith Votes drop boxes in Belk Dining Hall.
Cate Center, the library. Johnson Hall and Joyner Hall. Forms left
in the drop boxes by noon, Friday, Oct. 27, will be mailed to your
local board of elections. If you miss the deadline, a relative can
request an absentee ballot for you.
*Vote Early, Not Often
Election day is two weeks away, but you can vote right now.
This year for the first time in North Carolina, it’s possible for any
one to vote absentee. Previously you had to be out of town on
Election Day. If you want to avoid the crowds at the polls, engage
in what is called “one-stop" voting. Go to your local board of
elections between now and Nov. 3.
ence in the field. Bill Wade has
the knowledge, vision, and
expertise needed to successful
ly lead Meredith’s Division for
Business and Finance.” said
Hartford.
In the past, Wade served as
controller and personnel man
ager for Meredith since 1986.
Before coming to Meredith, he
was the manager for the public
accounting firm of McGladrey
and Pullen, LLP.
Locally. Wade serves on a
number of committees at
Meredith including, the Crite
ria Audit Committee for SACS
re affirmation, the Staff Affairs
Committee, the Council on
Institutional Effectiveness, the
Creative Ideas Fund Commit
tee. the Employee Benefits
Committee, the Laptop Initia
tive Steering Committee and
the Datatel Project Steering
Committee.
Wade is looking forward to
serving as the new vice presi
dent of the Business and
Finance Department.
“It is an exciting time of pos
itive change at Meredith, and I
look forward to my role in the
projects and adventures that lie
ahead," said Wade.