In the Classroom: Women's Studies Major to be Introduced in Fall 2004
By Leesha Austin, '02

Meredith College is introducing a new major in women's studies beginning in the Fall 2004 semester, according to Dr. Sherry Shapiro, director of women's studies and professor of dance.

A minor in women's studies has been offered to students for about 10 years, explained Shapiro. In the past, students have minored in women's studies because "it supported their professional interests such as social work, counseling and business," she said.

She added that students also take women's studies courses because "they find them to be intellectually challenging and personally meaningful" and because they offer them a "rare opportunity to look more closely at their lives, concerns, struggles and hopes as women."

Shapiro cited a degree in women's studies as applicable to advanced degrees in every discipline emphasizing feminine scholarship. In addition, these professionals may pursue careers in corporate America; law; medicine; community agencies such as substance abuse programs and battered women's shelters; the arts and in local, state and national government.

While some critics might ask why a major in women's studies is necessary at a women's college, Shapiro suggested that "attending a women's college does not automatically make you an expert in the issues and concerns, history and future of women."

Shapiro stated, "Women's studies explores how gender is socially constructed through complex interactions with sexuality, class, race, ethnicity, as well as national and regional identity."

"Students who take classes in women's studies acquire the knowledge and the skill to think through these intersections both in their own lives and the lives of other diverse women," she added.

Shapiro's vision for the women's studies major is that it will "encourage students to think in new ways about their perspective, professions and careers."

She also hopes that students will be encouraged to act on behalf of women's concerns locally, nationally and globally and that Meredith will be enriched by the speakers invited to Meredith and the research supported by the women's studies program.

Shapiro concluded, "Overall, my hope is that the Women's studies program will be an important part of the Meredith education that seeks to prepare women to think critically about personal, political and social issues; that sensitizes them to the questions of social justice; and that empowers them to act as ethically minded professional leaders and responsible citizens."

Meredith College Summer Programs Support Youth Interest in Mathematics and Science
By Kristen Scott, '05

Math Week, Girls on Track and Science Camp are three June events at Meredith that are designed to encourage and enhance young women's interest in mathematics and science.

Science Camp was held at Meredith College from June 8-11 for girls ages 11 and 12. Each day, students were able to enjoy hands-on science sessions and explore the wonders of science by focusing on astronomy, biology and chemistry. Students were exposed to a college environment, and beginning this year, they participated in activities designed to increase leadership skills.

Math Week at Meredith 2004 is a residential camp for young women who will be entering the tenth grade in the fall of 2004. The camp is from June 20-26, and is a weeklong experience in mathematics and technology.

Girls On Track (GOT), a camp for middle school girls who will be enrolling in an Algebra I class in the fall, will be held from June 21-July 2. This program is administered by the NCSU Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education.

These camps illustrate Meredith's continuing mission to educate women to excel in mathematics and the sciences. Faculty members involved with these camps include Walda Powell, Larry Grimes, Jennifer Hontz and Virginia Knight.

New Office of Advancement Services Created
By Melyssa Allen

A new Office of Advancement Services has been created within the Division of Institutional Advancement.

The new office is designed to support and enhance Meredith's alumnae and development processes, says Vice President for Institutional Advancement Connie Harris.

"I came from a college that also created an advancement services office during the time I was there," Harris explains. "I saw that cohesiveness that this office brought to the alumnae and development operations: the good work devoted to the 'back office' procedures can make it or break it."

Doug Camp has been named director of advancement services/director of development systems. Reporting to him will be Marilyn Jones, who has been promoted to the position of director of research and prospect management, and Gift Records Coordinator Pamela Mullins.

"Doug, Marilyn and Pamela bring their collective strengths together in this new area," Harris says. "With their support, and by creating new processes with technology, we all can become better stewards of the many resources entrusted to the College. IA will also be better connected to our donors by correct reporting, acknowledging, research and gift receipting, just a few of the duties so assigned to them."

In addition to forming this new office, Harris has appointed Jane Mitchell and Hilary Allen as the respective interim directors of the Meredith Fund and the Office of Alumnae and Parent Relations. Both Mitchell and Allen have been serving as assistant directors to these areas since 2002.

Emily Gupton, '04, is working temporarily as interim assistant director of the Meredith Fund. Meredith student Laura McNeill is working this summer to assist Hilary Allen.

Program Spotlight: Media Services
By Kristen Scott, '05

"If you see a data projector in your area, it is because Media Services advocated for that and got it there," says John Kincheloe, media specialist at Meredith College. "If you have played a video or DVD in a classroom, you could do it because Media Services provided the equipment and the software. If you ever have seen a 'Fire and Water,' Father-Daughter' dance, or convocation video, you know Media Services made that happen, too."

Media Services is an office that allows students, faculty, alumnae and many others to easily access audiovisual equipment. Kincheloe explains more about media services in this month's program spotlight.

Q. What is the full name of the department/program?

A. Media Services. We are a part of Carlyle Campbell Library.

Q. How many people work in the department/program?

A. Media Services consists of three full-time staff who serve the entire campus. I am the media specialist/supervisor, Rick McBane is the media services assistant and Melanie Fitzgerald is the cable administrator. Eleven student workers help in providing audiovisual services for the campus.

Q. In general, what does everyone in the department/program do?

A. Rick McBane and I help staff the media services desk in the library. From this desk, we circulate more than 2,000 pieces of audiovisual equipment per year - camcorders, data projectors, laptops for presentations, overhead and slide projectors, video editing systems and more. We also provide classroom technology support for faculty and students - connecting laptops to projectors, training users in the operation of equipment, making emergency "house calls", doing emergency repairs. The media specialist also buys the audiovisual equipment for the college and the audiovisual software for the library collection - DVDs, videotapes, music CDs.

Melanie Fitzgerald supervises two important media services areas located on the ground floor of the library: video production and Meredith's cable TV system. Fitzgerald trains and supports Meredith's video camera users and video editors. This area also produces many videotapes for college organizations and programs. Meredith's MCTV, also a part of media services, produces videotapes for many college organizations and programs. MCTV has three on-campus TV channels (5,10 and 11) that broadcast a campus notice board, arts and educational programming and international news (SCOLA).

Q. Whom does the program serve - students, faculty/staff, both?

A. Media Services serves the entire campus- students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumnae and many other on-campus users.

Q. When was this program established at Meredith College?

A. The media specialist position and Media Services were created in 1985.

Q. What do people think your program does?

A. People think that Media Services can do everything and that we can do it 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Because we do so much, people sometimes think we can do it all.

Q. How would you describe your program's actual responsibilities?

A. In addition to ongoing user training and support, media services purchases all of the audiovisual equipment for the college - from VCRs, DVD players, and data projectors to overhead projectors and extension cords.

Media Services plays a prominent role in supporting the major presentation events on campus (convocations, special lectures, Celebrating Student Achievement Day). Throughout the year we also record for the college archives the major events in the life of the college—commencements, convocations, major lectures, dance and theatre performances.

Q. How has this program changed in the last few years?

A. Over the past 10 years Media Services has been increasingly involved with public event development and support (convocations, PowerPoint presentations, special video/DVD creation, 35mm slide production).

Over the past five years, Media Services has also been increasingly involved with training and supporting laptop presentation users.

Q. Are there any additional comments that you would like to make?

A. We are in the education business. The very best way to have your presentation go well is to have us train you in advance. We are always, always glad to do that.

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