“Taste of Research” Event Showcases Student Scholarship, Research at Meredith
By Kristi Eaves-McLennan

Student research took center stage at Meredith College’s second annual “Taste of Research” event held Thursday, Oct. 2, from 7–9 p.m., in the atrium of the Science and Mathematics building.

The event showcased 25 research projects conducted by student-faculty research teams during the summer of 2003. The projects were funded through Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program.

Summer 2003 stipend recipients studied diverse subjects, such as art exhibition design, exotic and invasive plants on the Meredith campus, water quality in North Carolina, molecular modeling, nutrition, leadership and the effect of a mother’s work status on her children’s use of medical care, among other projects.

During her opening remarks, Dr. Rosalind Reichard, vice president for academic affairs, praised the students and faculty for their work.

“I wonder if you have any idea how much I talk about you,” she told the student-faculty research teams, who lined the perimeter of both floors of the atrium. “I’ve always believed that undergraduate research is the highest form of teaching and learning. Thank you for being such wonderful models of undergraduate research and scholarship.”

As part of the research experience, the Undergraduate Research Program encourages Meredith students to pursue opportunities to present their work at academic conferences and in scholarly publications. In addition, the program sponsors fall and spring campus events that showcase research projects in the humanities, the natural and social sciences, the performing arts, the fine arts, mathematics and other programs of study. Students share their work through presentations, performances or posters.

Dr. Francie Cuffney, assistant professor of biology, has seen first hand the benefits her students experience from conducting their own original research. Cuffney directed three summer undergraduate research projects, all of which studied some aspect of local water quality.

“They [student researchers] don’t see science and research as something in a book that someone else does,” Cuffney said. “One of my students told me that she always thought of science as something she had to take and now she sees it as something she’s involved in.”

“Through these projects, students are realizing their potential – I like that,” Cuffney added.

Bekka Ivey, a senior biology major, said her project inspired her to consider a completely different career path. Ivey was part of a research team that worked on a project titled “Array Profiling for Multiple Cytokine Gene Expression during the Developmental Phase of Murine Schistosoma Mansoni Infections.”

Prior to working on her project, Ivey was interested in forensics. She now plans to attend graduate school and obtain her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology.

For more information about Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program, visit www.meredith.edu/urp.

Meredith Music Performances Named to “Best of” List

Several performances presented by Meredith’s music department are included on the “Best of 2002-2003” list by Classical Voice North Carolina (CVNC).

CVNC is an online classical music journal based in Central North Carolina. Their “Best of” list recaps the highlights of the 2002-03 performance season.

The web site’s critics cited the Steinway Tour’s stop and related performances at Meredith College, adjunct faculty member Carol Chung’s chamber music recital on March 3, and adjunct faculty member Frank Pittman’s performance of Shostakovich's Viola Sonata with NC Symphony member David Marschall (viola) on May 19.

For more information, visit www.cvnc.org/BestOf2002-3.html.

Residents Paint Hall Parlors
By Erin Hege ’04

If you walk through a Meredith residence hall parlor this fall you might think you’re in one of the College’s many art exhibitions. The Office of Residence Life recently sponsored a community-building activity that permitted resident students to paint their floor parlors with the design and color scheme of their choice.

In partnership with Facilities Services, which supplied the paint and materials, Residence Life scheduled the parlor painting between September 12-26. The unveiling of the parlors was held on Friday, Sept. 26 with campus members encouraged to view the parlors between 3 p.m.–5 p.m. As an end to the painting process, students were treated with a big residence life party hosted by DJ Mike “Q” Morse, the morning producer of “Bill and Sheri in the Morning” on WRAL-FM 101.5.

Each parlor is painted around a specific theme. There are a variety of themes, ranging from beach to astronomy and other décors. President Hartford and other members of the Senior Management Team were spotted in the residence halls helping the students paint and prepare for the parlor open house.

Director of Residence Life Heidi LeCount says, “This is a huge event for Residence Life, I have high hopes that it will boost the spirit of campus living.” LeCount encourages everyone to go around and look at the parlors and congratulate the residents, resident assistants, and residence directors on their hard work.

For more information contact LeCount at ext. 8633.

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