Faculty Distinguished Lecture Focuses on Millennials
By Melyssa Allen

Many of the more than 400 attendees of the 2008-09 Faculty Distinguished Lecture on November 17, 2008, could recognize themselves in the topic, “How the Millennials Are Changing Our World.”

Deborah Tippett, professor and head of the human environmental sciences department, presented this year’s lecture. Her focus was the Millennials – those born between 1982 and 2002 – which includes the current generation of college students.

The lecture was preceded by two music videos, “The World Should Revolve Around Me” by Little Jackie, and “What About Now” by Chris Daughtry, which Tippett said illustrated the two extremes of the Millennial generation. Researchers have said Millennials are both narcissistic and also more aware of the world and interested in volunteering than previous generations.

Tippett reviewed generation theory, which she said offered “a broad brush stroke that doesn’t apply to individuals.”

In the lecture, Tippett showed a video she produced of Meredith students talking about their generation’s positive and negative characteristics.

Tippett also shared research about the Millennials. On the negative side, Millennials can be impatient, and “are the most scheduled and protected generation in history.”

While they are very tech-savvy, the “lack of face-to-face contact may stunt their interpersonal skills.”

This generation has many positive characteristics. Multi-tasking is a way of life for these students. Millennials are likely to be more optimistic and caring than previous generations; more tolerant of diversity, more concerned about justice and societal problems.

Tippett said the Millennials are “the first global citizens” because they are more aware of the world and are also more likely to volunteer.

“In my travels, I’m seeing young people around the world who want to make a difference,” Tippett said.

Among her examples were Meredith students who worked to convince the College to hire its first sustainability coordinator and inspired Meredith’s first Habitat for Humanity house.

“[These] are the Millennials for us to be proud of …,” Tippett said. “I admire the Millennials and believe that you will make the change we need in this world.”

Core 404 Hosts Hunger Banquet
By Stefanie Gregory, ’09

Members of Human Environmental Sciences Professor Deborah Tippett’s Core 404 course Global Questions: Needs of Families hosted a Hunger Banquet October 30 in the Dogwood room of Belk Dining Hall. Students in the course spend the semester analyzing the needs of families from global perspectives. The banquet was a group project hosted by seniors Amber Howell, Diamond McClendon, Jessica Capps, Emma Orum, Anna Buryk and Lauren Corbett.

The goal of the event was to bring awareness to the Meredith community about hunger and poverty issues across the globe. This specific group’s focus was on the UN Millennium Development Goal of Eradicating Extreme Hunger and Poverty.

The script and major statistics shared were provided by OXFam International, a group of non-governmental organizations from three continents working worldwide to fight poverty and injustice. Upon their arrival, participants drew a number that placed them in a socio-economic group. Then they experienced a typical meal that people of that socio-economic status would have received.

Only 15% were of the high income group and they received a salad, roast beef, broccoli, potatoes, cakes, tea and water. The 25% that represented the middle income group received pasta, a salad and water. The remaining 60% of participants were classified as the low income group. These diners received only rice, beans and water.

Through this project, the group hoped that participants would come to understand the severity of the hunger and poverty issues affecting many populations across the world. They also hoped to encourage people to realize that those who have sufficient food supply and safe, clean water to drink are lucky.

“We wanted students to reflect on what it means to be a global citizen,” Howell said, “and how we can help our global neighbors just by a small donation through OxFam. We also wanted any extra money from ticket sales to be donated to OxFam International to help provide food, drinking water and medical supplies to our fellow global citizens across the world.”

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