Hall raids are a key part of Meredith’s Cornhuskin’ tradition. Everyone on and off campus is aware of this startling event. Each night, a different class raids a different dorm: banging pots and pans, blowing whistles and chanting. While this can be a rude awakening, it is a fun tradition that makes sure everyone is included in Corn. However, as the animal population in campus dorms grows, it brings into question the preparation and act of hall raids. This year, everyone who has an ESA or service animal on campus was sent an email in advance, warning them of the impending raid. Vann and Stringfield’s residence director, Kayla Quinn, sent out an email informing those who fit the requirements in those dorms and then shared her plans to keep her dog, Jackson, calm during the raid. She stated in the email that she and Jackson “will just set an alarm and will leave the building during the raid."
Is this a justifiable solution, or should new rules be applied to hall raids as a result of growing animal populations? In respect to the tradition, the changes should be small. Thursday night, in Vann, there was an extensive use of whistles. While this is quite effective in waking people up, it caused a lot of stress for those who chose to stay in the dorms with their dogs because of the weather. Dogs’ ears can pick up higher frequencies, which can make these whistles quite distressing.
Therefore, the hall raid itself remains a fun tradition, but the question remains: should it be allowed to affect the members on campus who do not have a voice?
By Ell Shelp-Peck, Staff Writer