Alice, the Queen and the White Rabbit Will Soon Be Hopping Back On Stage…
By Erin Hege, ’04

Once upon a time on March 15, 1924, the first production of Alice In Wonderland took the stage at Meredith College. Gertrude Royster, professor of physical education, began the tradition of all Meredith traditions. Performed once every four years, it is a tradition that students get one chance to experience during their college career. It is one of Meredith’s oldest traditions, only predated by class day activities and crook hunt.

Alice’s first performance contained a cast of approximately 30 faculty members. Prior to that first performance the faculty practiced in secret so the cast list would be a surprise. This tradition remains true today. The cast list, which has grown into almost 130 faculty and staff members, resides behind lock and key in only a select few spaces on campus.

One of the sanctuaries of the cast list for the 2004 performance lives in Vice President for Student Development Jean Jackson’s office where I sat down with her to discuss Alice. Jackson has a long history with Alice that started when she saw the performance for the first time in 1972 as a student. Jackson has been a cast member since 1984 and is now directing her fourth production of Alice.

Alice has experienced Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, the invention and commercialization of the TV and the cell phone, and seen the inauguration of Meredith’s first female president. In 1944 the world canceled the Olympics due to WWII but Alice went on. Alice always goes on. Despite global changes, events and trends, Meredith has been able to hold close the traditions of humor and close relationships between faculty, staff and students.

For the 2004 performance, costumes, props, script and scenery are already in production but the cast will not come together until opening night. The Alice players do have a dress rehearsal that is open to other staff, alumnae and friends of the College on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. so students have seats on the production dates.

The production is well known for the differences each production brings. Cast members will ad lib lines and jokes to make each performance unique. This year’s performances will be held Feb. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. in Jones Auditorium.

Alice began as a gift from the faculty to the students and Jackson takes pride in directing this mysterious tradition. Jackson said, “Alice says a lot about the community of Meredith and the fun we have as colleagues on behalf of our students.”

This year there will be new actors in the roles of the Red Queen, the Mad Hatter and the Mouse. With a grin and a gleam in her eye, Jackson warned that we would see the surprising and unusual talents of our faculty and staff.

After such a personal history with the show, Jackson said that Meredith’s Alice is Alice In Wonderland. She said, “I can’t watch the movie or read the play without seeing Meredith people. After seeing our production, audience members will never see it the same again.”

With an air of excitement, she concluded, “Like Alice, we all find ourselves in situations and like Alice we find resiliency, tenacity and imagination to use in events over the course of our lives. Things are not always as they seem in Wonderland.”

Ninth Annual Latino Forum to Be Held at Meredith College
By Charletta Sims

El Pueblo, Inc, a nonprofit statewide policy and advocacy organization, will hold its ninth annual Latino Forum at Meredith College on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7.

This conference has become one of the most important Latino events in the state with over 550 community leaders and political representatives attending from across North Carolina.

The Latino Forum offers a diverse agenda of workshops, presentations and roundtables, covering topics such as state and federal legislative updates, health, community organizing, driver’s license updates, immigration and farmworker issues.

Several distinguished speakers will be present at the conference. The keynote speaker for the Latino Forum’s opening ceremony will be Salvador Balcorta, the chief executive officer for Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe in El Paso, Texas. Balcorta is a community organizer, national leader and a Chicano poet. This year's closing plenary will be a Leadership Lecture and will include the over 120 young people who will be participating in the corresponding Youth Forum, also to take place at Meredith on the same weekend.

The Latino Issues Forum is North Carolina’s largest gathering of Latino leadership. You can download a registration form and informational brochure from www.elpueblo.org or call 919-835-1525 or email elpueblo@elpueblo.org to have one sent to you.

Spotlight on the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development
By Erin Hege ’04

The amount of student traffic flowing in and out of the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development makes it hard to believe that just four women oversee 93 student clubs and organizations, all leadership education programs, retreats and conferences throughout the year.

Director Cheryl Jenkins is in her 13th year in student activities at Meredith College. She works diligently with the Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, Publications Board, and some class co-chairs as their adviser. Jenkins said, “I really enjoy working with the students. Some of my favorite activities are advising SGA, attending President’s Retreat in the spring and helping out with Class Day.”

Jenkins has seen many changes in the student activities office over the last 13 years. The addition of a staff member three years ago allowed the office to expand the services and programs offered.

One such program that has been added is the LeaderShape Institute, a nationally recognized weeklong intensive leadership program that improves students’ leadership skills individually and within teams.

Jenkins said, “The LeaderShape Institute allows students to accomplish their goals and have an impact in the community.”

The promotion and planning for LeaderShape are done through this office where Assistant Director Kelly Scott, coordinator for leadership education, works with students and graduates of the program on their visions. At LeaderShape, each student creates a vision of how they would like to accomplish, change or make an impact in their community. Students' past LeaderShape visions have raised money for breast cancer research and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Scott, a 1998 graduate of Meredith, is also the adviser to the SGA Elections Board and the Meredith Recreation Association.

Another program offered through student activities is the Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Development Program. This program, named after a member of Meredith’s first graduating class known as the “Immortal Ten,” is designed to independently strengthen students’ leadership, communication and ethical skills.

The Co-curricular Resume Program goes hand-in-hand with the Sophie Lanneau Program because it helps students document their extra-curricular experiences and skills gained at Meredith. “The Sophie Lanneau program is a leadership project that coordinates more reflection around campus. Students produce very meaningful work – who they are and what makes them tick,” Jenkins said.

Nikki Curliss, assistant director and coordinator for student involvement, is active in planning many activities such as orientation crew, leadership conferences and officer training sessions. She also advises the Meredith Entertainment Association, Class Council and the SGA Senate.

Office manager Kathy Owen, '75 works with the student workers in the office and helps club treasurers balance their accounts. Owen feels right at home working at her alma mater.

Jenkins is pleased with her office’s positive reputation on campus.

“I have always enjoyed our office being welcoming and approachable,” she said. “It is the philosophy of who we are and what we do. The students are what we are here for.”

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