Volume XWIIII, Issue 12
Educating Women to Excel
April 12, 2007
ON THE
INSIDE:
Memories of Dr.
Creagh
p. 2
Memories Cent,
p. 3
Memories Cont. &
Campus Events
p. 4
WEATHER
TODAY:A.M. showers/
Wind. Low 48, high 75.
Friday: Mostly Sunny.
Low 55, high 74.
Saturday: Isolated T-
storms. Low 60, high 78.
Sunday: Scattered T-
Storms/Wind. Low 44,
high 65.
Source: www.weather.
com
Fallen Angel
By: Leanne Woodard
Contributing Writer
Those of you who
knew Dr. Creagh can
understand why he is a
man that will be greatly
missed, but for ^ose of
you who did not I hope
you are lucky enough
to experience someone
that touches your life as
meaningfully as he has
touched mine and many
others.
It's always difficult
when you lose someone
important in your life.
I've been a student at
Meredith College off and
on for about six years now
and I am finely grad
uating in December. I
have changed my major a
handful of times and each
time I felt lost and alcaie
in a sea of difficult ded-
sica\s. I have always had
support from my friends
and family but never
really freon an academ
ic figure head. I made
a decision in the spring
semester of 2006 to major
in Mass Communication.
I was assigned an advi
sor in the commimica-
tion department and was
scheduled to meet with
him ^e day before the
term started. I walked
into Harris, took the eie
vator to tiie second flocH’,
turned left, and walked
into what soon become
my safe haven from the
pressures of academia.
I met Dr. Creagji
on that cold winter day
almost a year and a half
ago in his culturally dec
orated office. I walked in
unsure of what I would
be greeted witti because
I had heard stories of
how tough and cynical
he was. What I found
was a man full of insight
who supported tfie strug
gling underdog wi^
open arms and an open
heart. He took a look at
my wounded transcript
for a full five minutes,
glanced up with a gleam
in his eye, and asked me
why exactly I was sitting
in his office? I fell for his
charm instandy and knew
that he was a no-bullshit
kind of guy. He was Ihe
first advisor I had experi
enced since beginning my
college career who I knew
I wouldn't have to hold
back my opinions and
personality with. I spent
a good hour vmleadiing
my frustrations about col
lege and politics and the
seemingly hopeless aid
to my collegiate journey.
That was the first of many
pleasurable encounters
between Dr. Crea^ and
me.
Dr. Crea^ socffi became
one of my favorite teach
es, but also one of my
hardest. He expected
so much of me and at
times I would became so
frusfrated with him and
his many tangents that
I would storm into his
office unannounced and
just basically lay into
him. He would always
smile, sit back, place his
hands intertwin^ across
his stomach, and let me
finish before interject
ing and setting me in my
place. There were times
he would get frustrated
witii me, especially wh«i
he felt that I wasn't giv
ing my all, and he would
dutifully let me know.
He tau^t me that life is
tougji; he challenged my
opinions, and forced me
to tiiink outside of my
box and comfort zone.
He never babied me and
only got angry when I
expected to be babied.
He shared stories about
his life during our many
hours in his office, touch
ing on his many hard
ships and strug^es that
made him stronger. His
biggest accomplishment
with me was to help me
academically rise from
my slight stumble and to
restore confidence in my
own ability and intelli
gence. He inspired me to
work harder than I have
ever worked. Dr. Creagh
saved me from myself,
whether he knew he was
doing ttiat or not.
He never actually
came out and said that he
was proud of me exc^t
once: upon completing
my Mass Communication
internship with Bill
Brown. Dr. Creagji was a
close friend of Bill Brown
and knew the high expec
tations Bill Brown had
of me as an intern. Dr.
Creagh said to me one
day in the hallway outside
of Harris 202, "Woodard
I know you're struggling
to maintain and balance
everytfiing this semester,
but don't get down on
yoursdf. I know you can
handle it all, I have con
fidence in you and I'm
proud of what you're fry
ing to accomplish."
the same instance Dr.
Creagh didn't take any
of my excuses or attitude
when I wasn't in a com
pliant mood. His opin
ion mattered more ^an
most. It became apparent
how much his opinion
mattered one day dur
ing Oral Interpretation
of Literature class. Our
assignment was to per
form a piece from
William Shakespeare, Dr.
Creagh's favorite, and I
wasn't quite as prepared
as I should have been.
It dnowed once I got up
to the front of the class
and got jumbled up on
the lines about halfway
tiirough my performance.
Dr. Crea^ pulled me
aside after class and said,
"Woodard, your perfor
mance was the most dis
appointing. I expected
more from you than that.
You really let me down
this time." The look in
his eyes when he spoke to
me broke my heart and I
felt like I had committed
an ultimate sin. I had let
him down and he made
sure that I knew it. That
was the first time I actual
ly understood how much
confidence Dr. Creagh
had in my success and
future.
I will never forget
aU of die many lessons
Dr. Creagh taught me not
only in the classroom, but
also in the sanction of his
office. I will forever frea-
sure the long talks at the
end of a long day and ihe
confidence he bestowed
upon me through his
supportive words and
kind heart. I will forever
sfrive to one day live up
Angel cont. pg. 3