Brooke Mayo, Staff Writer
An excerpt from “Meredith
takes a day to ‘Celebrate Student
Achievement”’ by Christy Sadler
on April 30, 2003: Meredith held
its first annual Celebrating Student
Achievement Day on April 24 [2003],
The specific idea for this daylong
celebration began to be discussed last
summer by Dr. Rosalind Reichard,
Vice President for Academic Affairs,
and Dr. Jean Jackson, Vice President
for Student Development. However,
the seeds for this day were planted
several years ago.
Dr. Rhonda Zingraff, director
of the program, said 90 research
submissions were received this year,
and 78 of these were accepted for the
conference. These 78 posters and
presentations represented the work of
95 students.
[Ganey Mozley, ’13, stated
that] “presenting [at] Meredith was
a great experience... The audience
was interested in what I had to say
and they asked me thought-provoking
questions. I’m convinced that nowhere
could I find a more supportive group of
fellow students and faculty.”
The administration plans for
Celebrating Student Achievement to
become an annual event, and plans
for the day will continue to evolve.
As current students at
Meredith College, we’ve never
had to experience this institution
without a CSA Day. However, former
students would be able to tell us that
presentations and awards ceremonies
used to be during actual school days.
Because of scheduling conflicts
with classes, many students did not
participate in sharing their research
with their peers and faculty. CSA Day
changed that, for it allows us to have
a full day dedicated to presentations
and awards, and it also engages
non-Meredith people - like our own
families and outside friends - to see
what we’ve been working on.
CSA Day is one of Meredith’s
youngest traditions, as it began in
2003. When asked how CSA Day
has evolved over the years. Dr. Jean
Jackson - now the Vice President for
College Programs, as we have come
to know her as - notes that “the primary
changes have been in adjusting the
schedule to allow more time between
programs and events, as well as
having some events one year and not
another.” For instance, Dr. Jackson
explains that one year Meredith had
yoga before breakfast and a different
year included a memorial walk. She
said that, despite what improvements
this day makes each year, “in every
year, we have had much to celebrate
in the achievement of our students.”
Dr. Jackson encourages
students to attend the presentations
that interest them and also the ones
that they know very little about. She
says that one of the most memorable
presentations that she’s attended in
the past was about the Cloud Forest in
Costa Rica. It fascinated her so much,
she and Dr. Lindquist actually took a
trip to Costa Rica with Legacy and
Presidential Scholars and was able
to see this forest in person. “[It was]
an amazing experience,” Dr. Jackson
explains, “and one I would recommend
to any adventurous traveler.”
Dr. Alisa Johnson, a professor
in the English Department, parallels Dr.
Jackson’s excitement about CSA Day.
She claims that it’s one of her favorite
events in the spring semester, and she
tries to go to as many presentations of
her students as she possibly can. Dr.
Johnson says that “one of the things
that [she] love[s] most about CSA Day
is that parents often come to hear the
presentations, and meeting and being
able to sit with them during the day
is a delight.” She explains that “the
parents are excited and proud, and
watching them watch their children
is heartwarming. I have heard many
wonderful stories from the parents of
students, and I am very grateful that
Meredith College hosts an event that
brings us ail closer to one another.”
As for my own opinion? It’s probably
the same as most undergraduates’. It’s
a day off from school - why would we
do anything but sleep, watch Netflix,
and catch up on our own homework
and studies? However, as a Senior, I
can’t emphasize how much I regret
not taking advantage of attending my
peers’ presentations these last few
years. As Meredith students, we ought
to support one another, and we should
encourage private research. Yes, get
a nap in during this day, but also try to
attend at least one presentation since
most are only about fifteen minutes
long each, anyway. Do you honestly
have an excuse not to attend?
This year, there are over 100
presentations being made, with over
150 students being represented in
areas such as poster presentations,
teaching and learning, business and
related topics, studies in humanities,
and much more. Get your hands on
the 2016 CSA Day schedule and go
ahead and figure out which topics
interest you the most. There truly is
something for everybody.
As Dr. Stephanie Hurt from the
Business Department likes to say:
"Happy Learning!”
Hijab Awareness Week Teaches Meredith about Islam
Elizaaeth Huss, Contributing Writer
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Photo Credits Maryam Ahmed
This year at Meredith, the
Muslim Student Association and the
History and Politics Club organized
Hi]ab Awareness Week—a week
for the Meredith community to learn
more about Islamic culture. MSA Vice
President Miriam Zouhri says, “We
both felt the need to hold a week like
this at Meredith to spread knowledge
about Islam and create an open
dialogue. Our idea was to help educate
and spread awareness throughout
the week and to also ensure that
Meredith Muslims feel safe, at home,
and welcome on campus.” Friday’s
culmination event was an interactive
activity about Islam around the world,
which was held in Kresge auditorium.
Of Friday’s event, Zouhri says “We felt
the need to end the week on an open
dialogue between not only Muslims,
but all faiths on campus.” As part of
Hijab -Awareness Week, the groups
also painted a free expression board
on campus which prompted students
to respond to the phrase “When I
hear ‘Muslim,’ I think...” with what
comes to their mind when they hear
the word Muslim. Zouhri says, “That
just really built up morale amongst
the Meredith Muslims and made us
feel welcomed and supported during
such a trying time in society.” MSA
member Adeelah Sayed says, “For
some students, college is when they
first meet a Muslim, so that makes it
really important for us as the Muslim
Student Association to represent the
real Islam.” Zouhri says, “We really
wanted to help Meredith students
to better know their peers who are
Muslim and to feel comfortable having
a conversation about faith and about
the hijab."
Breaking down the
misconceptions that some have about
Islam and Muslims and educating
the Meredith community about the
religion were just a few other goals
Hijab Awareness Week, thought of by
MSA and the History and Politics Club.
“Our idea was to spread knowledge
in order to combat ignorance and a
lack of knowledge is what creates
stereotypes and hate,” says Zouhri.
Adeelah Sayed also says, “Our
biggest successes were just clarifying
Islam to Meredith students and
dispelling misconceptions that women
are oppressed or seen as second-
class citizens in Islam.” Sayed also
notes that teaching the Meredith
community about the hijab was just
as important; saying, “The hijab that
some see as something forced on
women, is an individual choice, and is
meant for modesty, safety from men’s
lust, and being acknowledged for what
is inside your mind, rather than your
appearance.
Of the events during the week,
Zineb Baali says, “We had a great
turnout and participation. I was happy
to see that some people knew about
Islam through their classes or from
traveling to Muslim countries.” Baali
also says, “The events during the
week went well and it would be nice to
keep this tradition going at Meredith.”
Hijab Awareness Week drew many
students and staff members to learn
more about Islam and Muslims. Kat
Bonner says she wanted to participate
in the week because, “I wanted to
gain the opportunity to step outside
my comfort zone. I gained a lot of
confidence and respect for this group
of women.” Speaking on the success
of the week, Adeelah Sayed says, “I
think we were able to reach out to a
lot of people during Hijab Awareness
Week and we were able to show
them through examples what being a
Muslim woman means.”
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