CAMPUS OPINION September 28,2005
8
Letters to the Editor Meredith s campus
Ever since my first visit here to Meredith, I have been excited about the many traditions.
One tradition which really excited me was the Father Daughter dance. I could not wait to
be a sophomore so I could share the dance with my father. Now, 1 am sad to say, I am not
as excited as I was a year ago.
This traditional dance here at Meredith has undergone a recent name change. It has
changed fi'om Father Daughter dance to Guardian Angel dance. I do understand the reason
for the name change, please do not misinterpret that. However, I do not understand why
smdents were not informed about this change in tradition.
This is the main point and question of my letter. As students here at Meredith, we receive
numerous emails from President Hartford, the SGA, and faculty regarding changes around
campus, Vision 2010, and our opinions on these matters. Did the email regarding the name
change of the much beloved Father Daughter dance get lost? I feel students are always
asked our opinions on matters regarding this institution. So, if that is true, why was the
student body not involved in this change here at Meredith or does our opinion regarding
tradition not matter?
Meredith Joyner
Class of 2008
1 noted in the September 8 issue of the Herald an article titled “Open Letter ‘From Your
President’”, and that the writer’s name was “withheld by request”. I don’t read articles.by
unnamed writers due to a personal quirk that I think writers of Letters to the Editor should
stand behind what they write if they choose to have it published. It is a safe guess that the
article was a President Bush bashing piece, which is nothing new—everyone has an opin
ion, but if someone is afraid of repercussions because of a written opinion in a news forum,
they should not write it.
I talked with a Meredith faculty member to determine if there was an across-the-board
editorial policy that writers can request their names to be withheld. I was told it wasn’t.
When I asked how decisions were made about who made the cut, I was given a litany of
reasons: This faculty member said her career is at Meredith and sometimes you have to
make compromises. They stated I had no idea how hard it was to get a paper out with
such a small staff. (I then thought maybe this issue needed a filler and someone was will
ing to accommodate.) In addition, I was reminded that Meredith is a small campus and I
was informed about an incident regarding some lesbians on campus being subjected to hate
behaviors. I don't know what this had to do with my question. At this point I think I would
have preferred a simple “it’s at the Herald’s discretion” who gets to withhold their name. I
probably would not have liked that response, but the answer I did get raised more questions
than it answered.
This article and my response will not be remembered a month from now. My point is if
there is discrimination involved in who gets their name withheld, then that is what should
be addressed.
Beth Williams
Class of 2006
FMLA: Condoms on
MELISSA STALEY’
Finance Chair of the
Feminist Majority Leadership
Alliance
Meredith College has a
goal of educating women
to excel, which it does with
challenging classes, lead
ership programs, and post
graduate opportunities. But
when it comes to educating
and assisting women with
their sexual and reproductive
health, we’re a bit behind.
Campus
Unbeknownst to many, Mer
edith College does not offer
any way to obtain condoms
on campus, not even in the
health center. But the Femi
nist Majority Leadership Al
liance, a new organization
that was formed at Meredith
in the spring of 2004, is hop
ing to change this fact but
they need your help. On
Monday, October 3, 2005,
every student will receive
an e-mail survey about hav
ing condoms available on
Hate Free, I will...
W Smile more W Be open minded W Strive Educate
and Pray Be more aware of my comments and judgment
towards others Not judge others by their appearance, re
ligion or sexual orientation w Not say, “Oh my God that’s
so gay.” W I will take time out to get to know people for
who they are WTry to be an example for people who do
hate people who are different from me Treat everyone on
campus with respect w Be open to everything w Cherish
differences Comfort those who are hurt by those who
hate W Try to show others that just because something is
different than what they are used to doesn’t make it wrong
Embrace people of different cultures, sexual orientation
and political views, I will embrace other religions and
understand them as if they were my own. tv Keep an open
mind and try to educate others about not being ignorant and
hateful to others V? Be nice to everyone and treat everyone
fairly W Support diversity and not encourage or put up with
racism, sexism, or bases against anyone w Treat every per
son kindly regardless of what they may look like, think or
believe ^ Stand up for others when someone is attacking
them because of race or religion Help teach others that
diversity is good W Help teach others to not discriminate
and to show love, not hate ▼▼ Continue to be myself and
encourage others to do the same W Be less judgmental -
especially on appearances tV Embrace our diversity, accept
others, and think before I speak Watch the phrases that
I use that are discriminatory W Not judge based on race,
sexual orientation or religious beliefs, etcetera VV Respect
everyone I come in contact with W Respect everyone and
not judge anyone w Not make judgments or assumptions
about people that I do not know in order W Not assume
that someone is a certain way because of how they dress
vv Show respect for those who are different from me w
Respect the differences of others and learn about them to
end prejudices W Do my very best to prevent prejudice at
titudes of my own...completely forget them w Do what I
can to learn to respect more and reach out to people more w
Be kind to others W Not be so judgmental Watch what I
say w Be careful with my language w Object when some
one makes horrible or prejudice comments w Stand up and
say everything Help society see hate crimes are wrong
Submitted by Meredith Students at Campus Dialogue on Diversity:
Journey To A Hate Free MiUennium on September 21,2005.
Sponsored by the OflSce of Commuter Life and Diversity Programs
campus. The FMLA asks
that you please fill out this
survey, especially if you feel
strongly about pushing Mer
edith College into the 21st
Century. Keep in mind that
having these condoms close
at hand may prevent sexu
ally transmitted diseases and
pregnancy in Meredith sm
dents. Assuring the safety of
sex is no longer in the hands
of the man.. .we too have to
take responsibility.
\^u’re invited...to see What our
Undergraduate Research Summer
Stipend Program research partnerships pro
duced...
to learn about how you can turn your
interests into a project and apply for funding
from our program.
Please join us for ^ A Taste of Research’*
Wednesday, September 28th
5:00-6:30 pm
SMB Atrium
There will be appetizers, desserts, great people
to meet and lots of knowledge to share.. ..come
and get inspired!!!