Nov 20, 2019

Gobble gobble.

THE MEREDITH

HERALD

Inside This Issue Victories for MCBB and its Angels NEWS Impeachment Inquiry NCMA College Night American History Month A&E N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival Senior Art Exhibition OPINION Black Friday Climate Crisis Christmas Joys Come Early

Finally, No Means No

By Mimi Mays, Editor in Chief

On Nov. 16, the Avenging to a 79-77 victory against the Bears.

Angels basketball team faced up

Many Avenging Angels against the dauntexhibited stellar pering Shaw University formances on SaturBears, a Division II day at Shaw: senior team. They battled Madison Gladwell neck-and-neck all sunk a three-pointer game; each period within seconds of ended with a differthe start of the secent team in a narond frame, followed row lead. With just by freshman Kate seconds remaining, Perko evening the Shaw had brought score with a jumper. the score to a tie at However, the most 77 points. Freshman significant indiLindsay Bell scored vidual achievement Junior forward Kimberly Schuh the winning basket of the evening was Photo courtesy of MC Athletics and brought MCBB from junior forward

By Mimi Mays, Editor in Chief, and Sarah Powell, Contributing Writer

On Nov. 7, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law Senate Bill 199, marking a historic moment for North Carolina. Until now, a loophole in North Carolina sexual assault laws didn’t allow women to revoke consent once intimate contact had started.

This former loophole, a result of the 1979 N.C. Supreme Court ruling in State v. Way, made North Carolina the only state in the nation in which women could not retract consent.

The new bill, passed unanimously by both the N.C. House and Senate last month, modernizes sexual assault laws and protects children from sexual abuse. It is not only legal to revoke consent but also illegal to have sex with someone who is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol. It also extends the statute of limitations for abuse, allowing sexual abuse surviors more time to come forward about previous traumas. Governor Cooper stated, “It sends a strong message that if you know about sexual abuse of a child, you have to report it, or it’s a crime if you don’t.”

SB 199 would not have been passed if not for the hard work of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA), an advocacy organization for the rights of survivors of sexual violence and for those individuals and organizations that assist survivors.

Meredith College has also been involved in bringing about this legislation since this time last year.

Sarah Powell, a Meredith junior, started by writing an op-ed for The Herald after researching the loophole for a school project, and she then became an advocate for what would ultimately become SB 199. Skye David, a NCCASA lobbyist, helped Powell organize a bipartisan discussion panel with four N.C. state legislators in Kresge Auditorium. Shortly after the panel, Representative James Boles (Republican, District 52) became a sponsor of the bill.

“This is a huge step for sexual assault survivors, who often feel that the system does not support them.

We can do better for each other and with each other,” says Sarah Powell.

It was remarks like these that Powell gave to the crowd in Greensboro at the bill signing. Powell also spoke with Gov. Cooper after the signing, and he mentioned that his mother

had graduated from Meredith. “My mother asked him what his mom would think today,” remembers Powell. “She would be proud,” the governor replied. Powell explains, “I think it’s really amazing that an alumna’s son is governor now, and he’s signed a bill revolutionizing North Carolina women’s rights.”

Also in attendance were Mary Williams-Stover, Executive Director of the Council for Women and Youth Involvement; Tom Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Family Service of the Piedmont; and Monika Johnson Hostler, Executive Director of the NCCASA.

Governor Cooper was the last to take the podium, and he began his remarks to the eager crowd with a sentiment advocates have long been waiting for. “Finally!" he exclaimed; "in North Carolina, no means no.”

November 20, 2019 Kimberly Schuh, who reached 1000 career points with the first bucket of the game.

“My teammates and coaches believed in my playing style and led me towards obtaining this milestone,” says Schuh. “It’s crazy to think that I’ve accomplished reaching 1000 career points at the start of my junior year; I cannot wait to see what these next two seasons bring to MCBB!” Monday afternoon, Schuh was announced USA South Women's Basketball Player of the Week.

Up next for Avenging Angels basketball are two home games, against Christopher Newport on Nov. 23 and Piedmont International on Nov. 25. We’ll see what this makes of their current overall 2-2 season record!

A POP OF CULTURE

Pop-culture column by Staff Writer Hannah Davis Johns

More than Sideline Players

For almost five decades, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been stealing the show from the sidelines. Using elaborate dance numbers and iconic uniforms, these cheerleaders have made themselves a symbol of Americana. With a Halloween costume, a Barbie Doll, an annual swimsuit calendar, two made-for-TV movies, two books, a documentary and 14 seasons of a hit reality TV show, this team has remained in the forefront of American minds since the 70s, but their rise to the top hasn’t been without controversy.

Since the DCC debuted in 1972, their skimpy uniforms have caused both fanfare and outrage.

Many believed that the costumes and provocative dancing were objectifying the women. At the height of the feminist movement, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders found themselves the target of many protests.

The Cheerleaders fought back and held their ground. Every member of the team stayed resolute that

Read more on page 3...

A Call to Action

By Ell Shelp-Peck, Staff Writer Governor Roy Cooper after signing SB 199 on Nov. 7, photo courtesy of Gov. Cooper's press office

Ways to Avoid Talking About Politics on Thanksgiving

By Hannah Davis Johns, Staff Writer 1.

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@meredithherald @meredith_herald #harktheherald meredithherald.com

Talk about religion instead – Maybe you want to take this opportunity to convert your family to Scientology!

Tell your parents you are dropping out of college – Who cares if it’s true or not; lying is fun sometimes.

Come out to your parents – It's as good a time as any to make that confession.

Enlighten your young family members on the birds and the bees – Seems like a great opportunity to have that confusing and traumatic conversation.

5. Fake your own death – If you have that one family member persistent on talking about politics, this is your ultimate contingency plan.

In the last issue of The Herald, an article was published about the effect of hall raids on animals in the residence halls. Following that article, some Meredith students have shown interest in working towards a rule change in order to protect the animals on campus. If you or someone you know is interested in working to create a proposed rule change for the Meredith Activities Board to review, please contact Ell Shelp-Peck at ecshelppeck@email.meredith.edu.

News

Meredith Students Witness History: The Impeachment Inquiry Broadcasts

By Savi Swiggard, Associate Editor, and Karli Keller, Contributing Writer

On Nov. 13, formal hearings in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump began, and Meredith College hosted viewings of the historic event in the recently renovated Kresge Auditorium. The House Intelligence Committee brought out their first set of witnesses: William Taylor, former ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

As a part of the event held by the Department of History, Political Science and International Studies, Dr. David McLennan opened the auditorium 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the hearing. By inviting students before the proceedings began, the event was designed to discuss the process of impeachment and allow for necessary context to this historic event. Dr. Daniel Fountain discussed the impeachment process for President Andrew Johnson, following which Dr. Angela Robbins discussed the more recent impeachment of President Bill Clinton. The auditorium then fell silent as the opening remarks began.

Adam Schiff, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, started the proceedings. He introduced the misconduct that was being investigated. President Trump has been accused of trying to force the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, into a quid-pro-quo. Specifically, Zelensky would be allowed an Oval office meeting and the U.S. would provide security assistance, both of which Ukraine desperately needed.

In exchange, Ukraine was allegedly required to publicly launch an investigation. They were to look into Burisma, a corporation known for corruption. Of more interest to President Trump was the fact that Hunter Biden, son of presidential candidate Joe Biden, was on the board of Burisma.

Chairman Schiff quoted Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. When confronted by the fact that the president was forcing Ukraine to investigate his political adversary, Mr. Mulvaney said the American people must “get over it.” Mr. Schiff questioned whether the American people should accept this conduct from their president.

Representative Devin Nunes, ranking minority member of the Intelligence Committee, also made an opening statement. Offering the Republican view, he asserted that Democrats were trotting out ridiculous allegations.

The floor was then opened to the witnesses. Mr. Kent gave his opening testimony, stating that Rudy Guiliani, the president’s lawyer, lead the efforts to coerce President Zalensky into the quid-pro-quo.

Guiliani was also the lead on a smear campaign on the U.S ambassador to the Ukraine, Marie Yavanovitch. In his testimony, Ambassador Taylor claimed that President Trump cared more about the investigation than the Ukraine itself, also corroborating Kent’s statements on Guiliani.

Presidential Proclamation Sparks Debate

By Yajaira Ramos-Ramirez, Staff Writer

On Oct. 31, 2019, President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation declaring November to be National American History Month and Founders Month.

Trump’s reasoning for this decision is that to continue ensuring the success and growth of the United States, it is important that the next generation be educated and aware of our country’s “proud history.” According to the text of the official proclamation on the White House website, “to continue safeguarding our freedom, we must develop a deeper understanding of our American story. Studying our country’s founding documents and exploring our unique history – both the achievements and challenges – is indispensable to the future success of our great Nation.”

There was initially a false claim that the White House had replaced Native American Heritage Month with this inaugural celebration. On the contrary, there was actually an additional proclamation

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issued on the same day discussing the importance of Native history.

However, that statement cannot be found anywhere on the official White House website, unlike the controversial proclamation in question.

This fact has remained unaddressed, which has created even more criticism. The main issue critics find with this decision is the ambiguous nature of it; it is unclear in its language who this new celebration is for.

The language within both proclamations has also created controversy. The proclamation of the National American History Month and Founders Month announcements made no mention of Native Americans and their genocide as an integral part of the founding the United States. According to a tribe member of the Oglala tribe, Simon MoyaSmith, the centering of the Founders (who were white men who referred to Native Americans as “merciless Indian savages” in the Declaration of Independence) completely subverts

The testimony of Marie Yavanovitch was given the following day, also broadcast in Kresge auditorium.

As reported on by ABC-11 and CBS-17, the historical importance of the event was a major reason why Meredith

students attended these broadcasted proceedings. As testimonies continue to be given and recorded, students will no doubt continue to engage with the impeachment inquiry, participating in history as it is made.

Dr. David McLennan in Kresge Auditorium, photo by Savi Swiggard

College Night, Worth the Hype?

By Lilly R. Wood, A&E Editor

The North Carolina Museum of Art held its Frida Kahlo-themed College Night party last Friday night.

A party in a museum doesn’t have the ‘college party’ vibe to it, but college students from all across the state (from Appalachian State to ECU) came into Raleigh for the event—not to mention all the colleges and universities that helped NCMA by creating and managing activities.

There were tables for stamping little ‘passports’ (simple booklets that had five stamps, entirely Frida themed, located at various places

throughout the Museum) for getting temporary tattoos, for making paper flowers and for drawing.

There was free food and drink, along with a main stage for salsa lessons, a live band and a poetry showcase. The night ended with the band playing and a dance party in full swing.

NCMA’s College Night is an annual event that is free for all college/university students. Keep an eye out for next year’s event (as well as other events throughout the year) at https://ncartmuseum.org.

the goal and importance of Native American Heritage Month. Many important indigenous leaders refuse to consider Trump’s intentions as anything but harmful due to the administration’s history of undermining indigenous people. His past actions in question are the approval of the Dakota access pipeline days into his presidency, his slashing of funding towards services that benefit Natives, his reference to Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas” in an ignorant manner and his past joking tone when discussing the Wounded Knee massacre of Native Americans.

On the other hand, supporters of Trump and this proclamation argue that there is too much meaning being read into this decision. Their interpretation of Trump’s decision is solely on what was said and done, which is the creation of a new awareness campaign for American History without the erasure of Native American Heritage Month. President Trump did not neglect to declare November National Native American Heritage Month, continuing the

tradition since 1990, which many have taken as a clear sign that Trump is not trying to replace or subvert the acknowledgement of Native history and its importance.

President Trump and his administration’s intention with this inaugural awareness campaign is ultimately unknown. Fortunately, neither critics nor supporters have been dissuaded from speaking out about the effects of such a decision.

Both sides can agree that National American History Month and Founders Month have not been established with a clear acknowledgement of the effect they will have on the discussion of Native history. The administration has refused to comment on the issue, which has only further proved to Native leaders that Native issues really are being silenced. As November draws to a close, no more information has come to light about the administration’s alleged prioritization of America’s Founding Fathers over the country’s native populations. Therefore it’s simply up to each American to educate themselves on the history they find important.

Arts & Entertainment

Koka Booth Gets Lit

By Katelyn Wiszowaty, Staff Writer

The annual N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival is back this year at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre!

The Lantern Festival is a tradition that shares Chinese culture with visitors from the Raleigh area and includes intricate light displays, performances and food. Past years have transported guests into what feels like a beautiful new world of lights, sounds and smells. The most popular and amazing light display is the colorful Chinese dragon that sits on Symphony Lake and contributes a large portion of the thousands of LED lights that make up the festival.

While viewing the light displays, visitors can enjoy snacks from Crescent Cafe, food trucks and concession stands. Crescent Cafe will be offering warm winter drinks like coffee and spiked hot chocolate and Chinese dishes like crispy spring rolls and sweet-and-sour chicken bites. In addition to the light displays, visitors

can enjoy cultural performances on the amphitheatre stage. Past shows have included dancing, acrobatics and martial arts. Spending enough time at the festival to enjoy the performances is a great way to get the full experience.

The event will be held from Nov. 22, 2019 to Jan. 12, 2020 on Tuesdays through Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (the only Mondays it is open are Dec. 23 and 30). Tickets can be pur-

chased online at boothamphitheatre. com or at the box office, and visitors have a choice of “any-night” tickets, which they can use to attend any single night of their choice, or “datespecific” tickets. Tickets for children 2 years old and under are free, and all other tickets cost $20. Patrons are advised to allow themselves at least an hour to see all the displays.

Attending the N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival with friends and family during the holiday season is a great way to experience and appreciate Chinese culture in the local area.

N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival 2018, photo by Mariel Swiggard

Senior Art Exhibition: The Phenomenal Female

By Hannah Flood, Staff Writer

Vibrant colors and textures everywhere you look. The sound of water running through a fountain in the shape of a woman’s torso in the corner of the room. A collection of pieces that beg your attention with the stories they have to share.

Gaddy-Hamrick’s Weems Gallery is now featuring the "Get It Girl" Senior Art Exhibition, a collection of pieces by senior Studio Art majors Taylor Harris, Alexis Haynes and Victoria Mulcahy.

By using a variety of media, including ceramics, paint, woven fibers and sculptures, each student expresses a different story through her work. For Taylor Harris, varying fiber textures allowed her to “develop a theme focusing on the way women are treated in a male dominant world” by using “soft yarn to show the gentleness of women and branches to show the vigorousness of men.”

Harris’ pieces immediately draw attention with their colorful and unique patterns, but she cautions the audience not to be fooled by this alone; “There is a deeper meaning behind each piece of art.”

In her pieces for the exhibition, Alexis Haynes predominantly uses paintings and drawings to express “the effects of childhood obesity on adulthood mental health,” as well as “the struggles that have come with” obesity. Haynes states that after “a long winding road of trying to find self-acceptance and personal

discovery,” the works she contributed to the "Get It Girl" exhibition “were created as a means to break down walls [she has] built up through [her] life, and express new emotions,” by being “both physically and emotionally vulnerable to the audience.”

Her large scale works and use of color, both vibrant and contrasting, pull the audience’s eye towards them magnetically, captivating them with the movement in each piece. “Art has always been important to me,” Haynes stated; “It is a means for me to express myself and invoke meaningful conversations,” building upon her talent both as a studio artist and as a tattoo artist.

Photo by Hannah Flood, artwork by Alexis Haynes

Victoria Mulcahy uses ceramic and sculptural media to further understand her emotions and express them through physical forms. Being a double major in both Studio Art and Graphic Design, Mulcahy uses the skills from both concentrations to de-

Photo by Hannah Flood, artwork by Victoria Mulcahy

velop her awareness and exploration of space in her sculptures. The theme of a female form in combination with plants, flowers and greenery unites her body of work, and the use of text allows her to communicate specific messages to the audience. Contrast and physical textures captivate, moving the eye smoothly between focal points to make sure nothing is left unnoticed.

The "Get It Girl" exhibition is a wonderful accumulation of visually and emotionally impactful artworks. Combined with their unique perspective on the "Get It Girl" theme, each student has used various forms of media to create works that allow an honest and compelling interaction with the audience, individually leaving a distinct resonance and impact with the viewer.

The exhibition opened in Weems Gallery on Nov. 19 and will continue through Dec. 9, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please direct any questions or sale inquiries to gallery@meredith.edu.

A POP OF CULTURE

Pop-culture column by Staff Writer Hannah Davis Johns

Continued from p. 1... they were on the team by choice, in addition to the day-one requirement that the women either be full-time mothers, be students or hold down a full time job. While the cheerleaders had revealing costumes and sexy dance moves (for the time), they were representing the idea that a woman could be more than one thing. They weren’t shying away from the fact that they could be sexual beings but were simultaneously mothers, wives, students and career women.

It's no surprise that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were at odds with the feminists of the 70s.

The Cowboys organization is still a hot topic for social and ethical controversy; the Cheerleaders’ paychecks didn’t hold a candle to the players’, for example, or the zero-tolerance policy set for kneeling during the national anthem. In the 1970s however, the Cheerleaders were far ahead of the sociopolitical ideas of their time.

In many ways, the DCC represented so much of what the feminist movement stood for: sexual liberation and the ability to make your own choices and support yourself. It’s no coincidence that as the conservative city of Dallas, Texas, became comfortable with the scantily clad cheerleaders, Dallas was the ignition site for the landmark Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade in 1973. DCC original director Suzanne Mitchelle was, at that point, the only female executive in the Cowboys organization. In a day and age when women are pushing for representation, it is important to note that a lack of diversity is a problem that hasn't touched the DCC. Looking at historic rosters, it’s clear that the DCC has always pushed to have a racially diverse group of girls to represent the brand. At a point in time when nothing in Dallas was integrated, Mitchelle made sure that every young woman in the stands could see herself as a Cheerleader.

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have truly withstood the test of time. While the group is not past the need to evolve in many ways (specifically how much the women are paid), it is important to note the significance they hold in the history of the sexual revolution. Despite the push-back the uniform fielded, in the beginning it stood the test of time and in 2018 was memorialized into the Smithsonian. Through all the controversies they have faced in their 47 years, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have done some ground-breaking things for women, while cementing themselves as both pop culture icons and America’s sweethearts. Think about them on the sidelines while you are watching football this Thanksgiving.

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Opinion

Why Stay Home on Black Friday

By Gabby Axner, Staff Writer

Black Friday is perhaps one of the most anticipated days of the year for many. Right before the holidays, people can pick out gifts for others or themselves, all at reduced prices. This day, however, is not something we ought to anticipate, as many of the brands and stores participating in the sales are not ethical.

Merriam-Webster defines fast fashion as “an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available

to consumers”. Fast fashion brands are popular for keeping up with trends and making them affordable to many; however, that affordability comes at a heavy price for others.

Whether we like to admit it or not, most of the clothing the average person has in their closet is considered fast fashion and is not ethical for the environment or the people who create it. Fast fashion brands tend to have their clothing made in developing countries, as they can ensure that wages will be low, which al-

lows them to sell their clothes at such low prices. Because these clothes are made to be affordable, the quality of the piece suffers. In the long run, it is best to invest in a garment that will last years instead of in something that begins to fall apart after only a couple of wears or washes.

Some popular fast fashion stores are Fashion Nova, Forever 21, ZARA, H&M and ASOS. Although these brands are cheap, it is important to remember that it is not only them that are unethical. Many more expensive brands are not great either, such as Nike, J. Crew, Free People, Anthropologie and more. Just be-

cause a store is more expensive does not mean that it is doing more for their factory workers.

It is difficult to find items that are made ethically nowadays, which is why it is important to be conscious of what you are buying and not support the fast fashion system. Before purchasing an item, check to see where it is made and check the material and construction. Ask yourself if the piece is worth it and if you will wear it more than just a few times.

And ultimately, to help reduce fashion waste, try to purchase secondhand items or vintage clothing.

For information on specific fashion brands, check out the website https://goodonyou.eco.

the U.S. emissions in 2017 came from these three sectors, so what can we do about it?

Because transportation is the largest contributor to emissions, switching to greener ways to travel is critical in the future of our world.

On a small scale, taking the bus or carpooling to work may sound uncomfortable, but it is a small sacrifice in the face of much bigger problems down the road. For cities that are not as connected or do not have these transportation systems, routing money towards the establishment and upkeep of these systems would be useful.

Electricity production can be altered at a personal level by buying energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Other energy-saving products are out there, so you might as well invest. Opting to pay for electricity from companies that use solar power or other renewable resources as their main power sources is another great way to help. This is not practical for everyone, but expressing concerns to companies, especially when it comes

from a paying customer, will always have at least a small effect.

When considering industry, it is crucial to express concerns to companies that are proven to burn excessive fossil fuels. Considering that the regular citizen doesn’t have much power over these giant companies, the customers of those companies will have more control over what they do. If the company is proven to know the consequences of their actions and still do nothing about it, customers may begin to question their loyalty.

Legislation will always be the best way to concretely and forcefully change our ways, even if it requires immense sacrifice. If the people of Earth could see how our world might look in one hundred years at this rate, people might begin to accept those sacrifices a little faster.

A single human who loves their natural surroundings can do little alone. To achieve the greater goal of saving the Earth, it takes millions, so spread the word and scream it into existence. The louder the better; it just might save us.

and coping with that pre-final exam stress. Agreeing with her statement, I believe that decorating for the holidays brings our already small campus even closer together. Since decorating our door on Nov. 3, my roommate and I have noticed an increase in people walking by our door, all with an opinion one way or the other about our choice to decorate early. While we believe that Thanksgiving is a holiday that can’t be overlooked, you can't decorate for Thanksgiving to the same scale as you can Christmas, which is why I believe more people are decorating for Christmas earlier and earlier. The turnaround from Halloween to Christmas is becoming

faster and faster every year. While you can catch me listening to Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” as early as Nov. 1, I understand that some people do not share the sentiment. When asked her opinion on the topic, freshman Bridget Gable stated, “We can’t throw away the spookiness that fast; it’s got to linger till Thanksgiving.” Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of decorating early to preferring to wait till the last minute, I hope this holiday season is full of love, laughter and hot cocoa.

What Can You Do About The Climate Crisis?

By Liz Sharpe, Contributing Writer

On Oct. 26, Dr. Sarah Parsons’ Environmental Science class took a few hours out of their busy Saturday to help create a new hiking trail. The trail, named Mountains To Sea, will cover miles of land beginning in the Appalachian Mountains and going all the way to the Outer Banks. Much of the trail already exists, but there is still a long way to go in completing the entire route. The class’ participation is in honor of Dr. Erin Lindquist, a Meredith biology professor who passed away in the summer of 2019.

Her love for the outdoors and the environment prompted this day of trailblazing, giving Dr. Parsons’ class along with others the perfect opportunity to simply go out and appreciate the outdoors.

Breathing in the fresh air and simply taking in the overwhelming joy that nature brings to humans is an aspect I see as crucial in the current fight against the climate crisis.

As far as I can tell, the only thing someone needs to make a difference

is an appreciation for any small thing in nature. David Gessner, an environmental scientist, wrote a book called My Green Manifesto. An important point he discusses in the book, which can practically summarize his idea on how every person should go about protecting the environment, is the emotion that comes with the human experience of nature. He implores his audience to fall in love with something in nature, anything at all, and fight for it. I think that this approach can turn anyone into an environmentalist. This being said, there is an importance to expressing that love and making a change, so what exactly can the regular person do to be an everyday environmentalist?

The United States is a significant contributor to the climate crisis because of our excessive use of fossil fuels that creates greenhouse gases. The top three activities that cause the greatest amount of emissions are transportation, electricity production and industry use. 79% of

Christmas Joys Come Early

By Rachel Van Horne, Staff Writer

Christmas is right around the corner; bells are ringing, children are singing and tinsel and Christmas lights are glittering in the residence halls. The joys of this splendid holiday are meant to be celebrated early, and there is research indicating that those who decorate early for Christmas are happier people in the long run. Researchers say that a part of why people have such strong feelings about Christmas is the feeling of nostalgia that comes with the holiday.

It reminds them of their childhood or people close to them with whom they used to spend the holiday. "In a world full of stress and anxiety, people like to associate to things that make them

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happy, and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood," psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told Unilad.

Dragging out the holidays also can help people interact more with their neighbors, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. According to the study, “Residents who decorate for Christmas but who have few friends on the block may be using the decorations and other cues as a way of communicating their accessibility to neighbors.” Freshman class president Addy LaBanca states that she decorated early this year as a way of connecting with her suitemates

STAFF

Mimi Mays, Editor in Chief. Savi Swiggard, Associate Editor.

Lilly R. Wood, A&E Editor. Emma Fry, News Editor. Olivia Slack, Online Editor.

Copy Editors: Amelia Bryant, Sofia Mazzola.

Staff Writers: Gabby Axner, Angela Cowo, Hannah Davis Johns, Hannah Flood, Huma Hashmi, Yajaira Ramos-Ramirez, Ell Shelp-Peck, Rachel Van Horne, Katelyn Wiszowaty.

Contributing Writers: Hannah Brittain-Du Bois, Karli Keller, Liz Sharpe, Sarah Powell.