Meredith College - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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(D 00 24 Student Life Have you ever wondered how and when Cornhuskin ' originated? If so, then you need to go Back to the Future in order to understand how you were able to Fly High in the Danger Zone. We ' ll get in our time machine now, and go back a few years to the first Cornhuskin ' . On Tuesday, October 30, 1 945, the Meredith College Athletic Association, headed by Doris Peterson, held the oil-student Husking-Bee party in honor of the new students. On this occasion the faculty and students divided into couples dressed in overalls, print dresses, straw hats and pigtails — one dressed as a lad and the other as a fair lassie went to the dining hall, already decorated for Halloween, for dinner. Immediately after dinner the party moved out into the courtyard where square-doncing proceeded. Following the dancing a few contests including chicken-calling, corn shucking and hog-calling took place. Each class then entered a number in a Sing-Song Contest, which was judged on its exhibition of pure corn and hillbillyishness rather than upon the musical talent of the performers. Best costume also won a prize. Other prizes given were on egg basket filled with candy coated almonds for being the best chicken-caller, a corn cob pipe for being the first to finish husking a bushel of corn and piggy bank for winning hog-calling. Although today many people work together to moke Cornhuskin ' possible, in 1945, only one social chairman was in charge of the Husking-Bee. Now, after a glimpse of the first Husking-Bee let ' s get carried away with Flying High in the Danger Zone! Although the final competition of Cornhuskin ' was not until Thursday night, a great amount of Cornhuskin ' fun began on the previous Sunday. During the week there were late-night water fights, toilet paper rolling in the courtyard and early morning banging and clanging through the dorms. Special events were the Duke Pitchforks and Big

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919 829-DORM Ordering pizza . . . Playing music . . . Gathering in the parlor to watch TV . . . Shouting to a friend down the hall . . . Borrowing clothes from a neighbor . . . Smelling the aroma of fresh-baked cookies drifting from the kitchenette . . . Yelling, Man on the hall! . . . And, most definitely, popping popcorn. These were just a few of the many sights, sounds and experiences that accompanied living in a dorm. As most resident students would agree, dorm life was an integral part of the entire college experience. Not only was it an easy way to meet new and various people, but it also provided an exciting aspect of campus life. It was not often that one has the experience of hearing stampeding feet running to the breezeways in order to watch a naked guy being untied from the courtyard fountain. Although dorm life was not always exciting, it did provide students with the I JII opportunity to learn how to cooperate and coexist peaceably together. Sometimes a neighbor would have to be asked to turn her music down just a little lower or a suitemate would need to be reminded to clean the bathroom, but with work, a peaceable way of life was possible. During the year, individual hall or dorm activities were planned to promote unity and team spirit. Hall intramurals took place throughout the year, and hall meetings were required every Monday. Very often though, students on a h all would gather in the parlor to watch a movie, do homework and eat. One hall, second Vann, often gathered to exercise in the parlor. Though it had its ups and downs, as a whole, dorm life was enjoyable. It provided an open opportunity for making new friends, generating good conversation, and of course, funtimes! k mmmilM mamtiiiltlfmk Student Life 23

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For Left: It ' s About Time the seniors porode into the courtyard to their little sisters. Left: White Rabbit, olios Mary Ellen McKown, tells a timely story. Bottom Center: Meredith faculty and administration ploy some jammin ' true grit music. Below: The Cornhuskin ' co-choirs, Beth Cunningham and Kim Eberle, give students o taste of a coneheod ' s donee routine. Bottom Right: Welcomed by the freshmen, the juniors ' small world marches into the courtyard. Student Life 25