Open House Hours: A
Student Forum in Print
Recently, discussion on campus
has centered on possible changes
in Open House hours. The Mer
edith Herald has gathered student
comments and opinions on the
topic. Read our open forum here:
Anna Beavon Gravely: On Tues
day the 30th of March, the Student
Life forum featured an open floor
concerning the change in Open
House Hours. There were a wide
range of comments from the major
change of allowing boys on the
halls during the week to the minor
change of merely expanding the
hours on the weekends. However,
the majority of students felt that
the Open House Hours should only
be adjusted on the weekends. I
feel the slight change advocated by
a majority of the students at the
forum shows the overwhelming
desire to respect Meredith College’s
tradition and focus on education.
Staci Lee Pulp: Meredith’s campus
is buzzing with talk about poten
tial change in Open House hours.
There are several opinions floating
around as voiced at the Student
Life Forum on Tuesday, March
30th. Some feel that instating Open
House hours during the academic
week will take away from the Mer
edith College tradition. They argue
that if Open House hours were
allowed during the academic week,
then the feeling of a “safe haven”
would be gone because female
students would have less privacy if
male guests were allowed in dorm
rooms during the week. On the
Other side of the issue, students
feel that incorporating male guest
hours during the academic week
would give a more “normal col
lege experience.” I can see where
this would come into play wheft
you see other women’s institutions
with male guest hours and over
night male guest policies. How
ever, changes like these normally
take time and gradual implemen
tation to find what will benefit all
students. As students, we need to
take into consideration the opin
ions of alumnae as w’ell. As hard as
it is to believe that funding could
be taken avvay because of Open
House hours, it is a possibility.
So, let’s start with smaller steps
and not expect things to change
overnight. I argue that the change
needs to begin with extending
hours on the weekends and then
progressively moving forward. It is
a long process, and we need to be
considerate of those who are trying
Jo help make this change in policy.
Kristen Gallagher: Many women’s
colleges and co-ed schools alike
have begun to devote specific
dorms and even halls to certain
interests, living arrangements, and
requests. I think that if Meredith
started to move in the direction of
allocating certain halls or even one
dorm to “specific” interests, stu
dents here could experience more
freedom while maintaining respect
and dignity for all other students.
There could be a quiet hall with
extended no-noise hours, a hall
that didn’t allow boys at all (or only
at very restricted times), and even
halls dedicated to sports fans or
“arts’’ people (with theater, music,
and art students living together). In
terms of implementing this strat
egy, Meredith really wouldn’t have
to do much at all but market the
dorm or halls as whatever they’ve
been designated, thus allowing
girls more choices when living on
campus.
Notes from Beth Howard, SGA
and RHA representative: Thanks
to everyone who responded to
the survey! We had close to 500
responses. The results will be sent
out soon via email From here, a
normal policy change process will
ensue. The organization (RHA)
will make a proposal. The proposal
will come back to the students for a
vote, which is called a referendum.
If the students vote in favor of the
referendum, then the proposal goes
to SGA Senate. Senate will review
the proposal and vote in the best
interest of the college. If Senate
passes the proposed change, then
the proposal moves on to SGA.
SGA will then review it and vote on
the proposal. After SGA, the Senior
Management Team will review
the proposal and also take a vote.
Finally, the proposal may need to
go to the Board of Trustees. If each
step is passed, then the policy will
take effect.
CORE 404 Brings
Attention to Worid
issues
From CORF. 404 students: Caroline Exum,
Jenny Cowper, Christine Ocampo, Sabrina
Yeskel, Molh Timbcrlake, Shieasc Piuyear
Did you know...
907 million people in developing coun
tries alone arc hungiy
Asia and'the Pacific region is home to
over half the tvorld’s population and nearly
two thirds of the world's hungiy people
More than 60 percent of chronically
hungry^ people are women
65 percent of the ^vorld's hungiy live
in only seven countries: India, China, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
(Source for above facts: The State of
Food Insecurity in the World. FAO, 2008)
In 2005, almost 1.4 billion people lived
below the international povert>’ line, earning
less than $1.25 per day.
(Source: http://www.bread.ory/
tearn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-interna-
tional.html)
Ways you can help: Think Globally, Act
Locally!
Sponsor a local food dri\ e
V'olunteer at a food bank
Get involved with a global org.
Support a community-run relief effort (in
a grocery store or at a restaurant!)
Take CORE 404 to learn more!
Helpful Resource.s:
• http://w\\vv.foodbankcenc.org/ (R;
leigh Food Bank)
• http://wi\w. worldforworld.org/indcx.
a.sp (Global Organization)
• http://one.org/us/ (Global Org)iitip:'
WWW,bread.org (Global Org)
IN THIS ISSUE...
State & Local: Floating Islands, Student Loan Reform
National & Iiiteriiatioiial; Flooding in the Northeast
Arts & Entertainment; The Vampire Trend, Summer
Campus Life: Sustainability, Commencement
Science & Technologj': Sushi versus Conser\ ation
Sports; Spring Sports Recap
Opinion: Sins of the Signs, Sansepolcro
Congressional Acts that Affect You!
Be a Wellness Coach!
If you love working with people and have an interest in
health and nutrition, you can make a difference in your com
munity as a wellness coach! PT and FT positions available,
email for more information: behealthynow2010@gmail.com
.Amy Hruby, Editor-in-Chief
On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of
meeting with NC District 13 Congressman
Brad Miller to discuss the recent Health
Care and Student Loan acts that have been
passed. Here are a few key points and ex
planations he provided for students:
The Affordable Health Care for American
Act
Young people are more likely to be un
insured due to lack of income or constant
job transitions (as most people currently
get health insurance through their employ
er). New health care laws allow youth to.
stay on their parents insurance until age 26
or to buy affordable health insurance.
The Affordable Health Care for
America Act creates a “Health Insurance
Exchange” which does for health insurance what
Expedia did for travel. Now you can do one-stop
shopping to compare all insurance plans and choose
the best one for yourself.
Student Loan Reform
The maximum Pell Grant award has been
increased to $5550 this year and will increase to
$5975 by 2017.
Students can now receive up to $4000 a year in
up-ffont tuition assistance if they commit to teach
ing in high-need schools for four years after gradu
ation.
If students work in public service or non-profit
ar«as for 10 years after graduation and make pay
ments on their loans during that time, then any re
maining money owed after 10 years will be forgiven.