Editorials
Strong in Different Ways - GPAs and Student Leaders
Emily Chilton, Editor-in-Chief
On Feb. 12, Meredith
StudentGovernment Association
(SGA) sent out a survey concerning
student GPA and ieadership,
asking for input from the coilege.
The email accompanying this
survey said that SGA is planning
to “revis[e] the GPA requirements
for Meredith Coliege student
leaders.” All survey questions
directiy reiated to GPA included
options to raise, keep, or lower
the GPA requirement. On Feb.
28, the resuits of the survey came
out, the resuits indicated that most
students were in favor of raising
GPA requirements or instituting
them across the board. I personaiiy
voted ali the way through to leave
the requirements the same. Flere’s
why.
While there are people
in the world who have high
GPAs and are good ieaders,
the two achievements aren’t
mutualiy inciusive. Flowever, it’s
understandabie that students fail
into the trap of thinking that they
are. American society, especiaiiy
surrounding coiiege, pushes
students to be good at everything,
often with reasoning that gears a
student’s entire iife toward buiiding
a resume and getting a job. “The
best resumes have high GPAs
and ieadership experience.” “You
have to have a great resume.”
“Miiiennials are entering a terribie
job market.” “Everyone has a
bacheior’s degree nowadays.”
These are the arguments that we
hear ail the time. With this cuiture
surrounding us, it’s not surprising
that we have come to think that
being a good coiiege student
inciudes exceliing academicaiiy
and experientiaiiy.
The problem with that iine
of reasoning is the basic fact that
peopie are good at different things;
peopie have different taients
and gifts that apply in various
situations. To put it simpiy, good
students are not necessarily good
leaders, and vice versa. There is
an immediate iogicai faiiacy in
believing that the quaiities that
contribute to academic exceilence
wiil aiso contribute to ieadership
exceilence. It’s perfectly possible
that a Meredith woman couid be a
soiid-C student and a charismatic
ieader. It’s aiso possible that she
could be a solid-A student and be
far too shy to lead a large group.
Nuances and combinations of
these two areas are ali possible;
none of them should exclude
someone from being invoived.
if the GPA requirement
for student ieaders is raised, the
coiiege would still continue to
operate as normai. Organizations
wouid keep going fonward year
after year with events and
service projects. The system
wouid not break down. But one
of those organizations, whether
it be the Meredith Fieraid, the
Communication Ciub, or the Anime
Angels, may lose out on someone
with great ideas and reiatabie
ieadership because of a GPA just
shy of the minimum. This isn’t the
worst consequence, but Meredith
is better than it.
Don't Spring Break the Bonk
Teressa Berton, Staff Writer
As spring break rolis around
yet again, many students are
choosing to treat themselves by
spending the week touring the big
city or relaxing on the beach. But
for those of us who wiii be beach
baliin’ on a budget, finding ways to
make spring break affordable can
be a challenging. Luckily there are
many ways to make the most of our
time off without spring breaking the
bank. Here are a few ideas:
• Pian Ahead
We here at Meredith know the
value of a good plan. Whether it be
a four year pian or a plan for a day,
knowing what you are planning
to do when you get somewhere
is the best way to make the most
of your time and money. Move
from WebAdvisor to TripAdvisor
and start pianning your vacation.
Not oniy can you learn what the
best things to see and do are, but
you can also learn where student
discounts are offered and find
hotspots that are budget friendiy
or, better yet, free.
• Ail’Four’One and One For Ail
If you are planning a trip, there is
strength in numbers — but no more
than the number four. Not oniy
wiii everyone stay safe, but there
wiii be someone to share a meal
with. Four is the perfect number
for sharing and spiitting the cost of
a hotei room. Four peopie aiso fit
niceiy into most cars if you choose
to spiit up the cost of gas and take
a good oid-fashioned road trip.
• Alternative Tracks
After determining where you wiii be
staying, you have to figure out how
you wifi be getting to your iocation.
Whiie fiying is the quickest way
from Point A to Point B, it’s rareiy
the most inexpensive. If you are
heading to a major city, consider
taking a train. Whiie it may not be
much faster than a road trip, you
can save money by using your
student status when purchasing
tickets from Amtrak.
• Treat Yo Seif (Responsibiy)
Once you get to your chosen
iocation, be sure to spend your
money in a way that makes you
happy. Don’t waste your time or
money on things that aren’t worth
much to you. Be aware of how
much you vaiue experiences over
items, and make wise financiai
decisions so you get the most
bang out of your buck.
Whiie cash fiow may seem iike
the key factor in your trip, having
a good time with your friends and
getting some weli-deserved rest
and reiaxation is the reason you
are going somewhere in the first
place. Even if your funds are iow,
you can stiii have an amazing
trip. The most important thing to
remember is to enjoy your friends
and the fun to the fuilest — even if
your bank account isn’t.
Uncontested Runs
Yessy Anorve-Basoria, Staff Writer
As you waik onto the first
fioor of Cate, you wiii notice that
very few Meredith Coiiege women
ran for Student Government
Association (SGA) or ciass
positions for the 2017-18 academic
year. The iack of participation for
these positions is not a refiection
of the strong ieaders that Meredith
Coiiege possess. Meredith women
continue to be active and strong
participants in this community,
but many have decided to focus
their attention towards smalier
organizations that reiate to their
hobbies, majors, and/or passions.
As Meredith students, we shouid
not leave our classes unsupported
with empty positions because
sisterhood is about being there for
one another.
We are ali meant to be ieaders, so
if you have a passion for serving as
a ieader at Meredith, think about
applying for the foilowing open
positions. Keep an eye out for an
application and interview process
from the organization or ciass.
SGA Executive Committee
needs; Secretary, Treasurer,
Residence Housing Association
Chair, Senate Chair, Student
Activities Fee Committee Chair,
and Student Life Committee Chair
Meredith Activities Board needs:
President
Ciass of 2018 needs; Big/Lii’ Sis
Co-Chairs, Ciass Day Co-Chairs,
Ciass Doli Co-Chairs, Ciass Event
Co-Planners, Class Gift Tri-Chairs,
Crook Hunt Co-Chairs, Elections
Board Representative, Fundraising
Tri-Chairs, Senator, Senior Picnic
Co-Chairs, Senior Parent Night
Co-Chairs, Service Chair, Spring
Formal Co-Chairs, Student Life
Representatives, Stunt Co-Chairs,
Tunnei Painting Co-Chairs, 18th
Night Co-Chairs
Class of 2019 needs: Big/Lil’ Sis
Co-Chairs, Crook Hunt Co-Chairs,
Eiections Board Representatives,
Fundraising Co-Chairs, Honor
Councii Representative, Ring
Dinner Co-Chairs, Ring Week Co-
Chairs, Senator, Service Tri-Chair,
Spring Formal Co-Chairs,
Student Life Representatives
Class of 2020 needs: Vice
President, Big/Lil’ Sis Co-Chairs,
Charming Evening Co-Chairs,
Ciass Day Co-Chairs, Cornhuskin’
Co-Chair, Elections Board
Representatives, Fundraising Tri-
Chair, Guardian Angel Dance Co-
Chair, Service Chair
STAFF
Emily Chilton, Editor in Chief. Sarah Kiser, Associate Editor. Sarah Smerko, Features Editor. Caroline Garrett, A&E Editor. Morgan Whithaus, Op-Ed Editor. Rachel Crawford, News Editor. Mal
lory Dean, Layout Designer. Olivia McElvaney, Online Editor.
Staff Writers: Katrina Thomas, Yessy Anorve-Basoria, Carolina Brust, Teressa Berton, Seung Pang, Shelby-Anne Sanders, Emma Gomes. Cristy Villalobos.