lPi& M
March 1, 2017
#BeBoldForChange
Emma Gomes, Staff Writer
For over a century, women
worldwide have confronted gender
inequality by demanding social
and economic equality, and equal
opportunity. Being robbed of these
fundamental rights have placed
women at a disadvantage in both
their personal and professional
lives.
in 1909, a group of
factory workers in New York
City marched out of the Triangle
Shirtwaist Factory (TSF) in protest
of horrible working conditions and
safety hazards in their workplace.
These factory workers were
predominantly young female
immigrants whose efforts went
unnoticed until 1911, when a
deadly industrial fire erupted at
TSF, resulting in 146 deaths.
Mothers, daughters, and sisters
lost their lives due to neglected
safety features in the factory that
could have been easily improved.
Without even knowing it, these
women started a revolution
that would be noted in history
as International Women’s Day
on March 8, 1914. Since then,
countries across the world have
advocated and supported this
movement in an effort to create
a safer world where women can
exercise their rights without fear of
violence and discrimination.
The gender gap, a term
that describes the difference
in rates of pay between men
and women, is a focal point of
women’s rights. Although the
gender gap has narrowed, it is
estimated that the gap itself will
not close until 2064 in the state of
North Carolina. According to NC
statistics, women are paid 85 cents
for every dollar that men make.
This gap may take a few decades
to narrow, but the fight for gender
equality has strengthened over the
years.
In celebration of
International Women’s Day on
Wednesday, March 8, 2017,
the International Women’s
Day campaign asks us to
#BeBoidForChange. We can
take action in our everyday
lives by celebrating women’s
achievements, challenging bias
conversations, speaking out
against violence, and supporting
local businesses in Raleigh started
by women. As Meredith Angels,
we are continuing to prove the
idea that women are a force
to be reckoned with. We must
continue this legacy by using that
power to Be Bold For Change.
Visit internationalwomensday.
com for more details. Sources;
washingtonpost.com, history.com,
and un.org.
Ethics Bowl
Emily Chilton, Editor in Chief
On Feb. 17 and 18, the five
members of the Meredith College
Ethics Bowl Team came in second
place at the sixth annual NCICU
Ethics Bowl.
Interestingly, women’s
colleges took first and second
place, with Salem College coming
out on top. Rachel Crawford,
Caroline Garrett, Anna Mangum,
Flannah Mangum, and Fareena
Qamar comprised the Ethics
Bowl Team this year, and the
competition’s theme was “Ethics
in Law.” Cheryl Jenkins, director
of SLS, and Dr. Steven Benko,
professor of Religious and
Ethical Studies, are the faculty
coordinators for the team.
Team member Rachel
Crawford had this to say about
the competition: “In general, I love
competitive activities, especially
ones that allow me to work hard
at something and gain a new skill.
Ethics Bowl was perfect for that
because it required a lot of hard
work and late-night practices,
especially in the couple weeks
leading up to the bowl, but I really
feel like we all grew together as
a team and gained these unique
skills that allowed us to get so far
in the competition.
I think it is relevant that
the finalists were two women’s
colleges (us and Salem College).
After one of the rounds, I
remember one of the judges
saying that he was impressed
by our confidence as women.
We had been warned leading
up to the bowl that we have an
inherent disadvantage as women
because male students on the
other teams would naturally have
more confidence; as women, we
are just socialized to be less sure
of ourselves. So we kept that in
mind while preparing for the bowl.
and I’m sure Salem had the same
thing in mind. I think it resulted in
us being a lot more aware of our
voice level and body language,
making sure we were professional
and exuded confidence.
It was really a team effort
- we had an amazing team and
we all really bonded. No one was
ever slacking off, either; we all
worked together and always lifted
each other up whenever we could.
I think ultimately that is why we
did so well - we just all love each
other so much, and that positive
and supportive attitude kept us
energized.”
Her teammate Anna
Mangum added: “The thing I
enjoyed the most about ethics
bowl in general were the
friendships I made within the
Meredith team. The five of us
were pulled together and instantly
thrown into an atmosphere where
small talk didn’t have a place-
we jumped straight to the big
questions. There weren’t many,
“How was your class?”s but
there were plenty, “I just had an
existential crisis, listen to how I
think the universe is organized”s.
The women on the team are
unique and irreplaceable minds
and I’m beyond grateful I had the
chance to get to know them.
It was certainly exciting to
have the finals round be between
two women’s colleges. So often,
you hear about how women will
be talked over in the workplace
or in situations where men are
involved, but here were two teams
with women so strong in their
convictions and giving their all to
get their points across. They would
not be ignored. To see the product
of women’s empowerment [that]
women’s colleges provide come to
life, it was moving.”
Elaine Marshall Receives Woman of Achievement Award
Cristy villolobos. Staff Writer
This year’s Meredith College
Woman of Achievement award
is granted to the North Carolina
Secretary of State, Elaine
Marshall. Recipients of the
Woman of Achievement award
are recognized as inspirational
figures to the Meredith College
community. Previous recipients
of this award include former N.C.
Supreme Court Chief Justice
Sarah Parker, journalist Judy
Woodruff, and Tony Award-winning
choreographer Twyla Tharp. Elaine
Marshall’s hard work in public
service has reflected historical
strides for women.
Elaine Marshall was the first
woman to be elected to statewide
executive office in North Carolina
in 1996. She has served as the
Secretary of State for over 20
years. As our Secretary of State,
she has focused on cyber threats
to business data, and business
identity fraud and hacking. Before
taking office, Marshall received
a Bachelor of Science in Home
Economics from the University
of Maryland, and a law degree
from Campbell University. She
has received honorary doctorate
degrees from Campbell University,
Lees-McRae College, Meredith
College and the Republic of
Moldova Testemitanu State
University of Medicine.
Initially, her career in public
service included teaching home
economics in public schools
and community college systems.
However, after becoming a lawyer
she worked in private practice.
She was as an advocate for clients
who were victims of domestic
violence. Marshall served in the
North Carolina Senate for one
year, before becoming Secretary of
State in 1996. She is responsible
for managing and promoting the
economic and business-related
operations of state government.
The State Department is tasked
with overseeing corporations,
charitable solicitations, notaries,
securities and lobbying.
Outside of her career. Secretary
Marshall enjoys ACC football
and basketball, cooking, and
gardening.
Photo Credit: Meredith College