Full Print Edition 10/10

The Meredith Herald Staff
Oct 10
11 min read

Choir Concert for Climate Action

On Oct. 5, Meredith Choirs performed A Concert for Climate Action in Jones Chapel. Choir director Dr. Lindsay Bruner was the mind behind the performance, and she strived to make the concert a joint effort between the Angels for the Environment (A4E) and the choirs, consisting of Chorus, Chorale and Encore! “I had this idea in the back of my mind for about a year… of something with the environment. We had only done this kind of collaboration, I guess, once before, so this was a newer concept,” Dr. Bruner shared. This performance exemplified the need for attention to the climate crisis, utilizing spoken word and song.

This concert took a great deal of preparation, and to truly get into the mindset of the message, as well as for the two organizations to get to know each other, a field trip to Umsted Park was in order. The chorus sang in the woods, and A4E vice president Lola Mestas, ‘27, described it as a truly “magical” moment. Dr. Bruner carefully chose songs that represented the struggles that the environment is facing today, including “Lay Earth's Burden Down,” “Bumblebee,” and “Our House is on Fire.” “Our House is on Fire” is a setting of the eponymous speech delivered by Greta Thunberg, composed by Giselle Wyers. Thunberg’s moving words combined with the power of Meredith Chorale created a moving effect before Dr. Bruner’s closing remarks.

A4E president Amanda Cordell, ‘26, spoke about the risks of generative AI usage, and cited a statistic that a one hundred word email can use seventeen ounces of water. Mestas and social media manager Caitlin Waters, ‘27, also presented various excerpts and poems about the climate crisis, including “How I go into the Woods” by Mary Oliver and Fireflies from “Xibalba: Extinction” by Felicia Zamora.

At the end of the concert, audience members were encouraged to pick up a leaf with a small action item written on it, and commit to it, including ideas like refusing to AI for a week or trying meatless mondays. This event was a chill-inducing call to action for the environment and awareness on how we can impact the climate crisis. Follow Meredith Choirs for information about upcoming events and concerts @meredithchoirs, and check out @merecoa4e to get involved with A4E.

By Abigail Barlett, Copy Editor

TEDxMeredith College

On Saturday Sept. 27, organizer Shukria Alavi ‘27 introduced the TEDxMeredith event as a “celebration of ideas, courage and women in STEM.” Meredith College welcomed inspiring women from varying STEM fields to share their knowledge and experiences in overcoming the barriers that failed to keep them from succeeding in their specialized areas. The topics discussed ranged from belonging to stars, and each speaker showcased their experiences in an accessible way to the audience.

The speakers featured two Meredith College Alumnae: Briana Landis, scientist, advocate and founder of Brianna’s team and Melyssa Minto, computational biologist bridging data, genetics and accessibility. Other speakers included Tamara Terry, a strategic engagement leader and DEI advocate, Amy Glazier, an assistant professor of Physics at Meredith College, Lydia Denton, award-winning young inventor and STEM advocate, and Lisa Marshall, nuclear engineering educator and advocate.

Along with a brief education about various topics in STEM, these women brought heart to each of their talks. The audience was inspired by remarks such as Tamar Terry’s: “We all play a role in making a difference.”

Later during the event, Students had the opportunity to take part in group conversation with speakers during breakout sessions where they could ask questions and engage further with the speakers. The speakers were more than happy to converse with the students, creating an exciting and personal environment conducive to further learning and understanding.

TEDxMeredith was a wonderful opportunity to learn and engage with female leaders in the STEM field. Without Shukria Alavi ‘27, Audrey Kramer ‘25 and Dr. Andre this event wouldn’t have been possible. Don’t miss out the next time TEDxMeredith comes around!

By Grayson Morris, EIC

Strategic Planning Student Town Hall

On Wednesday Sept. 24, the Strategic Planning Committee hosted a student town hall to launch Meredith College’s new strategic plan: “Imagine. Innovate. Ascend.” The event was facilitated by Jeremy Dela Par, licensed counselor at the Counseling Center, with assistance from Daphne Davis and short introductions by Liliana Madrid and SGA President Georgia Fulghum.

During their introductions, Madrid and Fulghum explained the commonality and purpose of strategic plans as a way for colleges and universities to prepare for the future, and emphasized that making a plan does not imply any specific problems. According to Dela Par, Meredith College’s plan will incorporate six pillars: 1.) educational excellence, 2.) financial strength, 3.) optimal enrollment, 4.) facilities and technology, 5.) marketing and visibility, and 6.) quality of life. Dela Par pointed out the importance of “transparency” and a “student centered approach” that incorporates feedback from as many community members as possible, including faculty and staff. The plan is to have three phases: 1.) Discovery and Input, 2). Development of Programs and Plans, and 3.) Implementation. Currently, the team is in the first phase.

After the explanation, an online poll was conducted in which students were asked the following question: “Using one word, identify a topic/concern/idea that you would like to see addressed in the next 5 years?” Responses included racism, financial aid, understaffing, updated facilities, political climate, and transparency. When asked for verbal responses, funding was a major concern among students. Several individuals pointed out that recent layoffs have negatively impacted the quality of campus life, the office of Student Leadership and Service’s effectiveness, and led to the cancellation of important classes. Student athletes called attention to a seeming lack of funding and accessible seating at their fields. Rats and fleas in the dorms were also brought up as examples of issues with campus facilities. Other responses included supplying more facilities for commuters to sit and prepare food between classes, opening the Ellen Brewer House to students with children, and ensuring that “all students have equitable access” to campus.

Dela Par then transitioned to asking for vision statements: sentences that begin with “By 2030, I want Meredith College to…” Here, students expressed their desire for increased awareness about programs for nontraditional, transfer, and first generation students and better communication about events. Other desires mentioned included recognition for arts programs, the social work department, and safer, more accessible infrastructure.

Davis emphasized that the Strategic Planning Committee takes student input seriously, but it will take some time before any changes are ready to be implemented. Dela Par explained that over this semester, the committee will be hosting listening sessions and determining 4-5 areas of focus based on input they receive, as well as creating “focus groups.”

By Haidyn Scott, Contributing Writer

Wicked: For Good Marketing

Wicked: For Good, the film adaptation of the second act of the hit Broadway musical Wicked is set to be released in less than 2 months; and its marketing team has been hard at work finding creative ways to promote the new film. Two trailers have been released on the Wicked social media accounts, as well as many posters and stills from the production. Being much longer than the second act of the stage show, the film is expected to add quite a bit of material. The trailers suggest that the film will add more information about what the lead characters, Glinda and Elphaba, have found themselves doing in the time skip that occurs between acts and extend key scenes.

The track list for the movie’s soundtrack has also been revealed;, however, there are some notable changes from the Original Broadway Cast Recording. “Wicked Witch of the East,” a song that is performed when Elphaba reunites with her sister Nessarose which was cut from the original Broadway Cast Recording, will appear on the soundtrack. The “Finale,” a short reprise of “No One Mourns the Wicked” (the opening number) and “For Good” (a reconciliatory duet between Elphaba and Glinda), will not be in the soundtrack . Perhaps most notable is the addition of new solo songs for both Elphaba and Glinda, titled “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” respectively.

Quite a lot of merchandise has been released, as well. Like they did for the first film, Mattel has made a series of 12-inch fashion dolls of the film’s characters, including singing dolls of Elphaba and Glinda, which both sing “For Good.” Mattel’s American Girl brand has also released 18-inch dolls of Glinda and Elphaba, as well as the pajamas each of them wore during “Popular” from the first film as part of their Collector Series. Care Bears and Lego have also released licensed toys for the film. An illustrated book of the lyrics of “For Good” is also avilable. Other products include clothing, Halloween costumes, cosmetics from Ariana Grande’s line R.E.M. Beauty, and even deodorant from Secret, among others.

Both Wicked: For Good and its soundtrack will be released on Nov. 22, 2025.

Haidyn Scott, Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift via Instagram @taylorswift

It’s Beautiful, It’s Frightening, It’s Rapturous: Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl

That’s show business for you! At midnight on Oct. 3 Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl was released on streaming services. The burlesque themed album was announced in August and has been highly anticipated by fans and critics alike.

Swift had a record breaking sales day. On Oct. 3, she sold over 2.7 million copies of the album; these included over 1.2 million vinyl copies which broke the record for the most copies of a vinyl album sold in one day, a record set by Swift last year with her album The Tortured Poet’s Department, according to Billboard. On the afternoon of the release, Spotify announced that The Life of a Showgirl became the most streamed album on their platform this year; a milestone that was reached in only 11 hours. Its opening track, “The Fate of Ophelia," has also become the most streamed song in one day that the platform has ever seen, per Business Insider.

Swift not only broke streaming records with this release, she also did number in the box office. Released alongside the album was a film titled: Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, which aired at AMC theaters Oct. 3 through Oct. 5. The film grossed $16 million dollars within one day of its release and was estimated to garner around $30 million in domestic sales by the end of the weekend, per Business Insider.

The album was produced by Max Martin, Shellback and Swift herself; it consists of 12 tracks: “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Opalite,” “Father Figure,” “Eldest Daughter,” “Ruin The Friendship,” “Actually Romantic,” Wi$h Li$t,” “Wood,” “CANCELLED!,” “Honey” and “The Life of a Showgirl (Ft. Sabrina Carpenter),” per Genius.

The Life of a Showgirl has been well-received, but some reviews of the album are mixed; some love that Swift had fun and reverted back to her up-beat pop roots, while others are questioning the lyricism and themes of tracks like “Wood,” per The Washington Post.

The Meredith Herald encourages its readers to listen for themselves and create their very own "showgirl" experiences. Happy listening!

See you next era.

By Noelle Lowery A&E and Features Editor.

OPINION: Division in the Meredith Community

On Friday, Sep. 19, I was suddenly flooded by a slew of concerned messages in my class group chat about concerning statements being made by other Meredith students. Since its introduction to Meredith College, Fizz has seemingly been a center of controversy, and for that reason, I have chosen to stay off of it; however, like most, I find out about things through my classmates. While I am highly upset about the racist comments made by my peers on the platform, I can’t help but be disappointed in the response to these comments.

To write this article, I revisited several campus resources, including the Honor System outlined in the Undergraduate Handbook. All Meredith students are expected to pledge to the Honor Code and are obligated to adhere to the Honor Code as long as they are Meredith students. Within this code, there is a comprehensive list of Honor Code violations (p. 4), and the second section of this list details various “[h]ostile acts towards another” which should not be tolerated. The first three of these hostile acts include discrimination, harassment and intolerance/bias; all sharing a common theme of misconduct using negative stereotyping, slurs and treating other maliciously because of their “religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation or any other category protected by applicable law” (p. 5). In the instance that this Honor Code violation occurs, the Honor Council is expected to act on it.

I bring this up because, like most students, I remember the emphasis put on adhering to the Honor Code throughout Orientation Week and the Honor Code Ceremony. I remember the ominous threat of the Honor Council regarding the chance that we commit a violation against the Honor Code. However, when this code was so blatantly violated on a social platform exclusively for Meredith students, I am once again reminded of the Honor System, but feel unsupported by the response to the situation.

There have been real efforts to address racism on campus in the past by creating campus conversations about significant figures in Meredith’s history and their engagement with slavery and racism. The De-Lux Brunch series is a prime example of this, where Meredith's Universities Studying Slavery team worked with the Arts and Humanities Common Experience Committee and the Black Student Union to discuss the general history of Meredith College, along with the history of Meredith traditions, and about Thomas Meredith’s history as a “proslavery clergyman.”

Given the current state of uncertainty surrounding Meredith’s future and the political climate, I wish there had been more to address what was said. As a Black student, seeing my peers express that they are unhappy with being around people who look like me, and going as far as stereotyping Black students as loud and dirty and demeaning our skin color, hair and features, I can’t help but feel unwelcome in the Meredith community.

Part of what makes Meredith, Meredith is the emphasis on community through shared traditions and connections with one another. While I understand the limitations of addressing comments made on an anonymous social media platform, I would love more opportunities for students to express their concerns and have more concrete efforts to address these concerns moving forward. I also expect my peers to uphold the value of community when making such statements and reflect on the way that they may be impacting others when they say such things. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; however, maliciously grouping people based on their race, appearance, or any other aspect of their identity is not only unfair but also creates an environment where the community can not flourish, and individuals do not feel safe.

I will not be combing out my locs, nor will I be ashamed of my Afrocentric features, and I will never stop using my voice.

By Elaina Irving, Opinion Editor

OPINION: Real Fans Don’t Gatekeep

Gatekeeping is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “trying to control who gets particular resources, power, or opportunities, and who does not,” but this term has evolved to also apply to social media and pop culture. In slang, gatekeeping can mean to keep information or something just for yourself, according to DIY.org’s “Gen-Z Slang Dictionary.”

We tend to commit to, and be very passionate about, the things that we love, but sometimes we shelter those loved things for ourselves. However, a true fan of something should want to share their love for that. Some may feel protective of something they love and try to own it for themselves. Being enthusiastic about the things you love can help others also find things that they will love.

In an online thread about gatekeeping one Reddit user posted “Why would anyone be pro-gatekeeping? It's always a net negative in any community it happens in. When you gatekeep, you alienate potential new people entering the community, and you antagonize others that already are part of the community but whose views don't align with yours,” another user said “Oh you mean excluding people from your hobby to make yourself feel powerful? Nah, maybe don't.”

We need to let new people into our fandoms, hobbies and things we love to grow the community and increase the success of that thing. In the sense of being anti-gatekeeping, I’ve got a few recommendations to suggest so that these fandoms grow stronger.

I was following Kevin Langue when he was just a small content creator who was friends with popular creators Kian and JC, but I am incredibly happy for the success he has achieved solo as he is closing in on 4 million Youtube subscribers. Langue is also evaluating his “co-stars” and fellow comedians, Denny Love, Aaron Branch, Herman Wrice and Zane Helberg, all of whom are gaining popularity in the comedy scene through Langue’s Youtube show.

I hopped on the Josh Johnson train by subscribing to his Youtube channel when he has less than 500,000 subscribers, compared to his now 2 million subscribers. Johnson has also recently increased his success by making his late-night show debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live and becoming a face in front of the camera instead of just a writer on The Daily Show. Johnson attended the Emmy Award Show, had a seat dedicated to him in a theater after his highly successful debut there, got his first billboard and had a record-breaking sold-out tour.