March 2, 2022

THE MEREDITH

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March 2, 2022

Meredith Campus Police Partners with Private Security Firm By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor On Feb. 10, the Meredith College community received an email informing them that Meredith has recently partnered with private security firm Guaranteed Monitoring and Security Services, LLC (GMSS), to provide supplemental campus security in addition to Meredith’s Campus Police. The Meredith Herald reached out to both Jean Jackson, Vice President for College Programs, and Al White, Chief of Campus Police, for statements regarding this recent addition to campus security. They responded in a joint statement. According to their statement, the decision to partner with

a private security company was made by members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), including Chief White, President Jo Allen, Dr. Jackson and Tammi Jackson, Vice President for Business and Finance. Dr. Jackson and Chief White said, “The pandemic has put enormous pressures on scheduling—changing workforce numbers, dedicating an officer to check Campus Clear at the gatehouse and occasional needs for isolation [and] quarantine all compound the usual challenges of scheduling an operation that is always on duty.” “Like many other colleges and universities, Meredith

is deploying a hybrid security operation made up of our own employees and specialists contracted to serve as well during this challenging time,” they explained. “As always, the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors are at the forefront of all of our decision-making.” Dr. Jackson stated, “We are very fortunate to have secured, thanks to the research done by Chief White, an agency founded and headed by a graduate of a small college who understands the culture of safety and respect we cultivate here at Meredith.”

The GMSS website states that it has “over 20 years of security experience.” Other clients of GMSS include entertainment companies, nail salons and restaurants. Dr. Jackson and Chief White said GMSS officers “are currently in a period of orientation and training…to learn the duties and expectations we have of all [at Meredith].” To allow members of the Meredith community to identify campus police from GMSS staff, Meredith security staff will continue to wear black pants with burgundy or gray shirts, while the GMSS staff will wear all black.

Meredith Sets Record on Giving Day 2022, Raising Over $1M By Shae-Lynn Henderson, Staff Writer Feb. 22 marked Meredith’s 7th annual “Make It Count for Meredith” day, a day of giving dedicated to donating “in honor of a strong woman.” Meredith’s goal was to raise $750,000, but by the end of Feb. 22 they surpassed that goal by more than $400,000, raising a total of over $1.16 million and setting a record for Giving Day donations. Last year, the college had set a goal to raise $600,000 in 24 hours. By midnight, the 2,698 donors had exceeded the fundraising goal by more than $150,000 dollars. Because of this success,

Meredith set a higher goal for Giving Day 2022. Erin Cleghorn, Director of the Meredith Fund, attributes a large portion of the day’s success to the alumnae class gift agents and to volunteers. Cleghorn explained that these volunteers and agents “send messages to their classes, set challenges and goals and update their classes throughout the day.” Similarly, the Alumnae Association brings “creativity and energy [that] make[s] a big difference,” according to Cleghorn. Cleghorn said that to her, that the annual event is a “great

way to pay it forward to the next generation.” She said she also believes Giving Day is important because it “gets [Meredith’s] alumnae excited about giving back to Meredith College.” “They use it as an opportunity to honor the friendships they’ve made and the teachers who inspired them,” Cleghorn added. After Giving Day, Cleghorn noted that it is a time to give thanks to all those who contributed during the 24 hours.

Photo by Molly Perry

“We want our donors to know how much we appreciate them and are grateful for their support,” she said.

Russia-Ukraine War’s Possible Impact on College Students By Olivia Slack, Co-Editor in Chief

On Feb. 24, Russia launched their invasion of Ukraine after a long period of increased militarization on the Ukrainian border. Russian forces arrived on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Friday, Feb. 25, but as of March 1 they have not yet advanced to the city center. This is the first major war in Europe in decades, and while it is taking place far from U.S. soil, impacts of the Russia-Ukraine War have already been seen in America. The Herald spoke with Dr. Jeffrey Martinson, Associate Professor of Political Science, to discuss how the Russia-Ukraine War may impact Americans, and particularly college students. “I think the main effects will be fear and discomfort, not just emotionally but also financially,” Dr. Martinson said. “On the fear side we've seen the ugly reality of an expansionist regime’s goals revealed. The financial discomfort that I believe students will notice…is because the West's main response to the

Russian invasion has been financial and diplomatic. Basically, Russia is being ‘canceled’ as a country at this moment. In so doing, we incur many costs of our own.” Dr. Martinson explained that because Russia is a “top 20 economy,” the sanctions and other economic punishments nations around the world have imposed on Russia will mean “decreased economic growth and higher prices around the world,” particularly because Russia’s main exports are fossil fuels. Additionally, U.S. support of Ukraine will mean the country spends less on other priorities like student loan forgiveness or climate change. However, while Dr. Martinson acknowledges the emotional and financial effects that those in the U.S. will feel due to the RussiaUkraine War, he also said he believes that things may not be as dire as some predict. “I've heard a lot of baseless hyperbole from students [of all ages] about the end being nigh,” he said. “The rhetorical question as to whether such an outcome is pos-

sible doesn't even merit a reply, if only because many things are possible. The more meaningful question is whether such an outcome is probable, to which the answer is absolutely not.” Dr. Martinson pointed out that even during the Cold War, a period that some have begun comparing the RussiaUkraine War to, most Americans continued to live life as normal. “Over those five decades numerous invasions, including in Europe, and crises brought the U.S. and Russia—then the Soviet Union—to the brink of war,” he explained. “Yet, despite that, life went on—rock ‘n’ roll was invented, the civil rights movement occurred, men landed on the moon, bell bottoms were in style and Madonna made great songs and bad movies.” When asked how students can get involved, Dr. Martinson said, “I think the first thing you can do is educate yourself on the situation and its history—with reliable resources! Contact your representatives at the federal,

state and local levels. Ask them to make a statement, or better yet, enact a policy that helps. I think this last advice is especially poignant because it is this very right— to be heard in government—that Ukrainians are fighting and dying to protect.” Dr. Martinson added that there are many humanitarian organizations that are collecting donations for relief right now. He suggests sticking to “the big names,” including the Red Cross, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders. Finally, Dr. Martinson reminded students that they should not “hate” Russians or Russia. “Let's remember that Ukrainians and Russians lived together peacefully for decades,” Dr. Martinson concluded. “Ask yourself, how did they come to despise each other so much? What were the conditions, what did their leaders do, what did they themselves do, to generate such animosity? And, how is my society the same or different from theirs?” Read the full story on our website.