President
to Corn
image via meredith.edu
Corn. The one word that excites the
masses at Meredith and rekindles memo
ries of a long-held tradition. It is the
epitome of friendly competition and
creative cooperation that includes many
activities such as can art, dances, and
skits by all the classes. Cornhuskin’ is
celebrated and obsessed over at Meredith,
not only by the students involved but also
by many faculty members, such as Presi
dent Jo Allen, who is a Meredith alumna.
To her, corn evokes her own experiences
at Meredith College and the anticipation
of this year’s Cornhuskin’.
When Jo Allen first became an Angel, she
had heard some things about Corn from her
older sister, who also attended Meredith,
but she was still unsure of many of the
aspects of Cornhuskin’ (“You just have to
experience it”), as most freshmen are. “It
started out as bewilderment,” the President
told me with a chuckle. “I had heard a little
bit of it. My sister, who is two years older
than me and a Meredith alumna as well, she
and her friends had tried to tell me what
it’s like and what you do and all of this. I
thought . . . okay.”
“It’s a tradition
that we share...I
think it’s some
thing that ties
us through the
years
9?
It may be a relief to the many freshmen
participating this year that everyone, in
cluding Meredith’s very own president,
went through a period of confusion and ap
prehension before embarking on the adven
ture of Cornhuskin’; however. President Al
len offers some hope on that front as well;
“But then once we started practicing for it
and getting the picture, it was like ‘Oh, oh.
rns
Christa Riley,
Staff Writer
so this is what it is’ . . . it was so much
fun.”
When asked about her personal par
ticipation in her first year of Corn, the
President remembers she was in the
skit and she had one word, though she
doesn’t recall what the word was. “I was
happy to do it,” she said.
The president is looking forward to
this year’s Cornhuskin’ events, even if
she isn’t quite sure how different they
will be. “It was far simpler than I hear it
is now, so I can’t wait to see Cornhuskin’
and see what it’s like.” Indeed, according
to President Allen, her first Cornhuskin’
in 1976 was held for only one night in
Jones Auditorium, rather than being a
week-long event.
Though the celebrations of corn have
grown and changed over time. Presi
dent Allen believes that not only is corn
unique to the Meredith experience but
that the tradition itself is important.
“It’s a tradition that we share ... I think
it’s something that ties us through the
years,” she said. From thp way President
Allen spoke, it was evident that she loves
Cornhuskin’, but she also believes that
it may divert so much energy away from
other projects. Her view of Cornhuskin’
is that it’s a “double-edged sword.”
“If we could devote that much energy
to other things ranging from classes to
research, we might be a very different
kind of college,” President Allen said.
Campus Calendar: ±±/2-±±/±5
If'
collated Iby Kristen Gallagher
Ocf. 31-Nov. 4: Cornhuskin’ Week
Ock/31-Nov. 4: Nontraditional Students Week
lM(bv. 2: Can Art, Cornhuskin’ Practices
4: Cornhuskin’
5: Soccer and Volleyball- USA South Finals
6; Alpha Sigma Lambda Inductions
6: Catholic Angels luncheon
8: Election Day
8-12: 8pm, Intimate Apparel, Studio Theatre
11-12: Art Department Holiday Art Sale
12:1-4 pm. Keyboard Day, Carswell
13: 3pm, Intimate Apparel, Studio Theatre
14-18: International Education Week
15: 6pm, International Film Festival Screening, Kresge
17; iiam-2pm, Meredith Abroad Fair, BDH
l8: 8pm, Graduation Recital: Hannah Mohr, Carswell
i8:2pm, A Deeper Look: Cambodian Experiences,
Kresge
19J 8pm, Graduation Recital: Carrie Stinchcomb,
Carswell
20: 3 pm, Junior Recital: Erica Rogers, Carswell
18-20: 8pm, Meredith Dance Theater, Jones
21: 7:30pm, Faculty & Guest Recital: Carol Chung,
violin, and lyler Wottrich, piano
23-27: Thanksgiving Break
29; 9am, Fair Trade market, Cate
29: Tpm, Moravian Love Feast, Jones Chapel
30: Last day of classes
Dec. 1: Reading Day
1- 2: 8pm, Directing Scenes, Studio Theatre
2- 8: Final Exams
4: 3pm, 8pm, Winterfest Choral and Sinfonietta
Concert
5: 7:30pm, Junior Recital: Megan Crosson, Carswell