STAFFEditors: Julia Dent, Editor in Chief. Marlena Brown, Managing Editor. Cody Jeffrey, Assistant Editor. Emily Chilton, Copy Editor. Monique Kre-isman, News Editor. Fantasia Evans, Editorials Editor. Rachel Pratl, Online Editor. Layout Editors: Stephanie Livesay, Olivia McElvaney, Laura

Douglass, Samantha-Kate Shuford

Staff Writers: Sarah Cullen, Ellen Cleary, Kristen Lawhorne, Shantel Jordan

The Meredith Herald is produced by the College throughout the academic year. The paper is funded by the College and through independent adver-tising. The opinions expressed in the editorial columns do not necessarily reflect those of the college administration, faculty, or student body. The

policy of this paper requires that submissions be made by 5:00 p.m. the Thursday before publication and that contributors sign all submissions and provide necessary contact information. The editors and staff welcome submissions meeting the above guidelines.

February 18, 2015

Students Prepare for CSA Day PresentationsJulia Dent, Editor in Chief

RHA Plays a Big Role on CampusEmily Chilton, Staff Writer

The abstracts for Celebrating Student Achievement Day have been turned in, and stu-dents are busy working on a variety of theses and research projects. Although CSA Day isn’t until Apr. 14, here’s a glimpse of the fascinating presentations that are to come. Senior Stephanie Livesay is a Graphic Design major, and she is designing an addition-al project to go with her paper. “I am designing the identity, stationery suite, website, way find-ing and various print materials for a boutique hotel of my own creation,” she said. “The hotel, Chroma, is a modern yet eclectic boutique hotel located in downtown Raleigh that reflects the vibrant and unique culture home to Raleigh. Complementing the design, I am researching the relationship between hotel success and ef-fective advertising and branding… Through my presentation I hope to demonstrate to the Mer-edith community that design reaches across multiple disciplines and that great design em-ploys various skills and knowledge beyond cre-ative talent.” Junior Kim Hinton is working on her Chemistry thesis, which is based off of two semesters of research. “The idea came from a conversation Dr. Powell and Dr. Agorham had about connecting organic synthesis to biochem-istry,” she said. She will “examine the effects of two inhibitors, difluorosuccinic acid and 2,4-di-

nitrophenol, on the succinate dehydrogenase complex. The question posed is to what extent the two synthesized inhibitors will obstruct the succinate dehydrogenate’s ability to catalyze the removal of two hydrogens from its sub-strate succinate… The samples were examined using ultraviolet spectrophotometer in order to numerically measure the enzyme kinematics of our inhibited succinate dehydrogenase.” After graduating, Hinton wants to pursue a doctorate of pharmacology, and she hopes her project will “communicate how research can lead to cross departmental connections, specifically Chemis-try and Biology.” Senior Connor Dixon hated reading when she was a child, but that changed when she read the Harry Potter series. She became interested in how the series and the films were so wildly successful and focused her English thesis on that. “I focused my argument around the successful adaptation from novel to film and exactly how that happened through pro-duction, narrative scope and staying relatively true to the novels,” she said. “I learned a lot about film production and the massive amount of work that goes into making a film adaptation of a novel… I discuss some of the changes made in the translation process and yet how the film series still stays true to J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels.”

Dixon hopes to continue her research and “one day become an encyclopedia of Harry Potter knowledge,” she said. “I feel as though I’m getting there right now, but I don’t think one can ever know too much about Harry Pot-ter. Hopefully I can continue to develop and expand more on this subject and one day get it published as an article or book. I believe Harry Potter is important for many reasons, and one of those reasons is how it reaches out, across industries, across genres, across readers’ ages and reading levels, and inspires people to wait patiently for their acceptance letters to Hog-warts. “

Honors Thesis presenters:

Christa AllenKara BarrettMarline BrownMarinda CarrawayJulia DentTaylor HainesHaley HarrisAlex HerelKimberly HintonKeila JaenCody JefferyJennifer Jervey

Sarah K. JohnsonCatie JonesTia JoyceNeda KazemiStephanie LivesayElizabeth MarshallCheyenne ParrishSamantha SherlinMindie StanfordAlexis TrellJessica WillifordAlyssa Zsido

Resident Housing Association obviously plays a big part on the campus of Meredith, but do you know exactly how big? Actually, RHA hosts several events in the fall and spring, and they’ve been busy this year. This fall, RHA hosted two Meredith and a Movie events, a BRA Day Drive, a breast cancer awareness panel, the Penny Barrels fundraiser and Pancakes @ 11. The BRA drive, done in partnership with Sisters United, was very successful, spreading awareness for breast cancer and receiving 50 do-nated, gently used bras. This was RHA’s second year hosting the breast cancer awareness panel, and RHA Chair Ashley Byrnes says it won’t be the last. There were five panelists, including three survivors who shared their stories. “I think this issue is especially important at an all women’s college, since we are all women students and we need to be aware of this disease and how early it can affect people,” said Byrnes. Penny Barrels during Cornhuskin’ week was a huge fundraising success; $1,500 were raised and donated to Sisters United’s mentorship program. “I heard from seniors that every bank within a mile radius was out of pennies one day,” said Byrnes jokingly.

Pancakes @ 11 has become a tradition for the last day of classes, and this year RHA partnered with two organizations to help with the event. FCA and Delta Upsilon both came to help, and are both planning to come for the spring Pancakes @ 11 event as well. The event is usually $2 per person, which gets you in and purchases a cup commemorating the event. The guys from NC State that help actually make the pancakes, and other fun things like dancing also take place. This spring, RHA got the ball rolling early. Two Meredith and a Movie events have already taken place this semester, and more are scheduled.The weekend of Feb. 6-8, the members of Meredith’s RHA attended the NCARH conference and plan to bring some ideas back with them to campus. “The conference reminded me of Cornhuskin’ to be honest,” said Byrnes. “We actually won awards for Best Banner, Best Display, and Most Spirited. We’re really excited to take from that conference ideas for campus; expect new and improved socials coming up!” Be on the lookout for more RHA events this spring, including a possible fundraiser and Pancakes @ 11 just before finals.

NewsSuicide and PreventionEllen Cleary, Staff Writer & Laura Douglass, Layout Editor

Ukrainian Crisis Reaches New Ceasefire AgreementMonique Kreisman, News Editor

Angels Moving ForwardKristen Lawhorne, Staff Writer

With all the dangers in today’s society, suicide still makes up a major portion of the death rate in America. According to The Cen-ter of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 41,149 people committed suicide in 2013, mak-ing it the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. There are many resources avail-able for people who feel that suicide is their only option. Veterans commit suicide at a higher rate than the civilian population in America. According to Time magazine, 22 veterans com-mit suicide each day. That’s more than double the rate of the typical population. Sen. Johnny Isakson R-GA told Stars and Stripes, “When you have 8,000 veterans a year committing suicide—which is more than have died in all of Iraq and all of Afghanistan

The conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists has lasted sev-eral years and has cost many lives. The ceasefire agreement signed last week comes after a long strug-gle for peace. Since 2013, Ukrainians have protested then-President Yanukovych’s attempts to ally the country closer to Russia. In Febru-ary of 2014, the protests became very violent, and more than 80 people were killed in Kiev. A few days later, the Ukrainian Parlia-ment voted to remove President Yanukovych and hold new elec-tions. In March of 2014, Crimea was absorbed into the Russian Federation, and President Obama asked Russia to move back its troops. In May, Petro Poroshenko was elected President of Ukraine, and President Obama support-

ed him. The next month, the EU signed an association agreement with Ukraine, also showing its sup-port. On July 30, a Malaysia Air-lines flight from Amsterdam was shot down over land controlled by pro-Russian rebels. The incident was widely covered in the me-dia internationally, and the U.S. soon announced sanctions against Russia. In September, a truce be-tween Ukraine and the separatists was signed, and over the next two months, Russian troops were with-drawn. However, in Novem-ber, Russian troops re-entered Ukraine. Fighting particularly centered around Donetsk’s air-port and the port city of Mariupol, which is strategically important geographically. In Jan. 2015, peace talks were scheduled, but fighting continued. The U.S. loaned money

Every year, one out of three students experience some sort of loss in their life. Many students suffering from grief feel alone, help-less, and overall unsupported. It is for that rea-son campuses nationwide have created a club called AMF, otherwise known as Actively Mov-ing Forward. These clubs were created by stu-dents to help support students. At Meredith College, there is a club called Angels Moving Forward. The overall goal of the club is to help comfort students by offering love, support, understanding, and ac-ceptance. I myself am a member of the club. My dad has congestive heart failure. Without support, students cannot successfully get over grief.

Ms. Beth Meier, director of the counsel-ing center, is the club advisor. For Ms. Meier, the purpose of the club is to “bring everyone together and give support to those that need it.” Club President Tociana Watley says that the club will meet every other week beginning on February 25. Club members manage their grief by serving others. Last year the club volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house and made break-fast for families living with terminally ill chil-dren. This activity helped bring the group to-gether emotionally. The club itself is not meant to always be a solemn occasion. The group par-ticipates in fun and light-hearted conversations to help the healing process.

The club president is willing to have one-on-one sessions with anyone who needs support. As a member of the group I have learned that grieving is a natural process. You are not alone. There are many that have or are currently experiencing the same pain. The club does not require commitment so feel free to come when you just want to talk. Email Ms. Beth Meier at this address: meierb@meredith.eduThe counseling center in Carroll has a 10am walk in time and 1pm crisis hours. For more in-formation got to this address: http://www.studentsofamf.org/about/

since we’ve been fighting—then you have a seri-ous problem and this is emergency legislation that we need to pass to help our veterans.” And pass they did. This month, the Unit-ed States Senate passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. This law will create a network for veterans to reach out to one another. It also contains initiatives for psychiatric doctors to work with veterans and more over watch of the VA to help improve quality of care. While veteran suicide has gained atten-tion recently, suicide on college campuses hits even closer to home. There has been a rising number of suicides on North Carolina’s own Appalachian State University campus. Since the beginning of this school year, four out of nine student deaths are or (based on certain police statements) appear to be suicides. While the deaths have all occurred close together time wise, they do not appear to be connected, according to the ASU Police Chief. According to High County Press, Dr. Dan Jones, ASU’s counseling center director, has stated that “a number of universities have lost students in a short span of time” and “we are no exception.” Dr. Allen O’Barr, director of counseling and psychology at UNC Chapel Hill, has commented that their campus went

through a similar issue a decade ago, and NYU experienced it in 2003. He also said that UNC went through a policy review and didn’t find anything wrong with their policies themselves, referencing the fact that ASU is probably going through a similar thing. Blaming the problem on Appalachian and its policies is not truly jus-tified. Following the recent events, Erin Griffith, an App State student, commented: “As a student, I feel like I am a part of a tight-knit family at App. I feel safe on this campus and firmly believe that Appalachian has suffi-cient resources for myself and other students.” When asked how she feels that the campus has handled the tragedies, Griffith responded, “Stu-dents have come together across campus to cre-ate and attend events regarding positivity and suicide awareness. A lot of emails have been sent out by our chancellor and extra hours are being offered at the counseling center.” Suicide remains a problem, and it’s im-portant to know that you are not alone and that someone cares about you. The national suicide prevention lifeline is 1 (800) 273-8255. Mer-edith offers counseling services on campus. The counseling center can be found at 208 Carroll Hall or reached at (919) 760-8427.

to Ukraine, and several countries considered supplying Ukraine with weapons. On Feb. 12, 2015, a new ceasefire agreement was signed in Minsk, Belarus, by Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France. The agree-ment includes, among other provi-sions, amnesty and release of hos-tages, international humanitarian aid, and a deadline for Ukrainian

constitutional reform. Also on Feb. 12, the International Monetary Fund offered a $40 billion bailout package for Ukraine, with the con-tingencies that the country reduce government spending and corrup-tion. Although previous ceasefire agreements have failed, there is hope that this one will succeed in reinstating peace in Ukraine.

via Getty Images

via appstate.edu

The North Carolina State Men’s Basket-ball team has had one of the toughest sched-ules this season. After completing the first half of their ACC schedule, they were ninth in the nation for conference strength. The Wolfpack claimed their biggest victory back in January, when they beat Duke with an impressive 87-75 win over the No. 2 Blue Devils. However, N.C. State has had some trouble on the road. One of their weaknesses has been maintaining the lead while going up against stronger defensive teams. Trevor Lacey has been a staple to the team’s success show-ing great leadership and dedication. He is the leading point scorer and has been playing with what some have termed “ice in his veins.” His tenacity was certainly highlighted after a buzz-er beating three-pointer in the game against Georgia Tech on Jan. 31. The team had a full week off before taking on the Virginia Cavaliers on Feb. 11, who are currently a ranked team.

Another big game for the Pack was against Louisville. This is the first season we have seen the Cardinals in the ACC and they are maintaining a winning record. These tougher match-ups have been an eye opener for the younger guys, as well as, great motivation for the team as a whole. N.C State only has five games remaining in the regular season, three of which are against ranked teams. With only a handful of contests left, the Pack has two re-maining home games and they hit the road for a three game stretch in between. Their upcom-ing match-up will be against Virginia Tech on Feb. 21 at home. Let’s support our neighbors down the road and head out to PNC Arena to cheer on the Wolfpack. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. For more updates on the Wolfpack fol-low @_ShantelJordan on Twitter.

For those who do not know, or have been ignoring every form of media lately, it is awards season. From the Golden Globes, to the Grammys, to the upcoming Acad-emy Awards, our televisions and timelines are flooded with dresses, divas, and drama surrounding the stars of every red carpet. In case you have missed the last two, here is a little recap to put some perspective on the up-coming Academy Awards.

Golden Globes:Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Score – The Theory of Everything

Best Animated Feature Film – How to Train Your Dragon 2

Grammys:Album of the Year – “Morning Phase” by Beck

Best New Artist – Sam Smith

Song of the Year – “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith

So what does the antici-pated Academy Awards bring to us this Feb. 22? Here is a little pre-view of the nominees and what is to come…

Best Picture – American Sniper; The Imitation Game; Birdman; Selma; Boyhood; The Theory of Everything; The Grand Budapest Hotel; Whiplash

Actor in a Leading Role – Steve Carell (Foxcatcher); Bradley Coo-per (American Sniper); Bene-dict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game); Michael Keaton (Bird-man); Eddie Redmayne (The The-ory of Everything)

Actress in a Leading Role – Mar-ion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night); Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything); Julianne Moore (Still Alice); Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl); Reese Witherspoon (Wild)

What movies have you seen? Did any of them blow you away? If so, who would you place your bets on? While the Academy Awards might not have the drama of the Grammys (enter Kanye, “Imma let you finish…”) but the classy Acad-emy Awards are sure to bring so-phisticated glamour and elegance in both speech and fashion. So grab your friends, room-mates, and a bag of popcorn to settle down into a night of award show excitement.

And the Academy Award Goes to...Sarah Cullen, Staff Writer

Strong Victories for NC State basketballShantel Jordan, Staff Writer

Arts & Entertainment

via Getty Images

vis Getty Images

This week: Finding your perfect Netflix matchEllen Cleary, Staff Writer

As the winter blues are settling in, what better time to start watching a new show on Netflix? You may choose to watch one episode a week, the old fashioned way, or you watch the first three seasons in one sitting. Finding a new show is a great way to temporarily forget about Mr. Groundhog’s prediction of six more weeks of winter. First, you must pick the show that will possibly become an obsession. Think of it like a mystery novel; each chapter leaves you hanging on what will happen next, and you can’t help but read the next installment. Netflix leaves you with only 15 seconds to decide to forgo another hour of sleep or to find out what happens next in that new show. When choosing a show, also consider the genre. Will this show leave you feeling confident and ready to take on the world? After watch-ing a billion episodes of Grey’s Anatomy you have to realize you can’t perform open-heart surgery, and a marathon of Scandal isn’t the only prerequisite for running for President, but shows such as these might just give you the confidence you need to go out and create tangible goals to pursue those dreams. Finally, choose a show with characters you can care about. Better yet, choose characters you can relate to. If you don’t care about what happens to the characters, you will have no incentive to see what happens to them.

Get your snacks ready and tell everyone you know not bother you for the next three days.

Meredith Hacks: Life Hacks for Avenging Angels!

Check out our new website!

meredithherald.wordpress.com

EditorialsExploring the Archives:The Scrapbook CollectionJessica Feltner, Contributing Writer

Spring Break 2k15:Stay-cation IdeasMandy Astor, Staff Writer

From class rings to Cornhuskin’ sweat-shirts, the Meredith College Archives has col-lections of many different items. There are over 170 scrapbooks from 1906 to 2014, containing a variety of materials that showcase the experi-ences of the Meredith College community. The Archives divides the scrapbook collection into three separate categories: individual, class and organization. Donated by alumnae, faculty or their relatives, these books reveal over a hun-dred years of Meredith’s history. Looking through the scrapbooks, you will be acquainted with the voices of important Meredith women, such as Sophie Lanneau, the inspiration of Student Leadership and Services Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Devel-

opment Program. Her letters pepper the scrap-books of early Meredith students. The presence of the Astrotekton and Phileration Literary societies saturate many of the students’ scrap-books. You never know what you might find, as students from the early twentieth century were fairly open-minded in their scrapbooking mate-rials. For instance, one student collected weeds from a nearby lake and the remains of a hun-dred year old cheese dinner. From 1910’s paper hats to 1930’s cigarettes, oddities abound. Moreover, the scrapbook collection has more to offer than a rare glimpse inside the per-sonal musings of early Meredith students. You might peruse the scrapbooks of later eras, tak-ing a glimpse at the Meredith community of the

1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It’s even possible to spy photos of current Vice President of College Programs, Dr. Jean Jackson during her time as a student in the early 1970s. The scrapbook collection speaks to the importance of preserving class history and even your own personal history for future genera-tions. Collectively, the experiences of students, staff, and faculty make up Meredith’s history. In their pages, the scrapbooks have collected the spirit of the Meredith community. For more on the scrapbook collection or other archival materials, please email ar-chives@meredith.edu or visit http://infotogo.meredith.edu/archives_scrapbooks.

Spring break is rapidly approaching (t-minus 30 days, but who’s really counting?!). While this is traditionally a time to get your friends together to hit the slopes or relax in the sun on a tropical island for a week, not every-one- college students in particular- can afford to take an extravagant trip this year. Although it might seem like a bummer to skip out on a fun-filled spring break, you’d be surprised how many cool, rather inexpensive things there are to do right here in Raleigh! Here are just a few ideas for a great spring break stay-cation:

1. Go to museums- Going to museums is fun way to spend a day! Not only are the local mu-seums free to explore- you might even learn something while you are there! Depending on your interests, you can check out the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North

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Carolina Museum of History, or the North Car-olina Museum of Art, all located in Raleigh, NC.

2. Take a day trip- The beauty of Raleigh is that it is located between the scenic mountains and the “Crystal Coast” of North Carolina. If the weather is nice, you can gather a friend or two and have yourself a mini-road-trip. Spend the day exploring a new city and making memories!

3. Pamper yourself- If the above sugges-tions don’t thrill you, consider spoiling yourself another way. Everyone can use a pick-me-up! Whether you head to the spa for a well earned massage or get a fresh mani/pedi for spring, you will be sure to leave feeling pampered and refreshed. Living Social and Groupon frequent-ly offer affordable deals for beauty services, so you might as well treat yourself!

Since spring break is a week to relax and enjoy some down time before the madness of finals begins, be sure to find a way to spoil your-self, no matter what your budget may be!

Remarkable Meredith Women Literary Essay contest

Now is your chance to recognize some-one whom you think of as a remarkable Meredith woman.

The Friends of the Library organization is asking students to submit an essay about a remarkable Meredith woman. The es-say should describe her connection to Meredith College and how she has posi-tively impacted your life and/or the lives of others.

Cash prizes will be awarded!

See http://infotogo.meredith.edu/library- essaycontest for further details.