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Alvin Poussaint spoke last Tuesday to a large group on the problem of
racial violence. He was one of many guest speakers in the programs
planned for Journey Into Blackness month.
A fine Interlink
My best day in the United
States was last December 6th
because that was the day
strangers showed many kind
nesses to me.
I had never gone overseas
alone. Naturally, I had worries
about my trip. A friend of mine
said, "You shouldn't bother with
trifles. There are certainly some
Japanese in big cities. If you
have any problems, they will help
you." I believed her words; yet I
had worries.
My mother, my sister and some
of my friends saw me off at
Norita Airport. I was very happy
that my sister treated me to
Sushi. She told me smilingly that
4 4 Diary" continued
just worked out that way,"
laughed Faran. "I was looking
for chemistry rather than ap
pearance during auditions. We
have had to pay particular care
and do special research for our
dramatization of the Jewish
celebrational rituals. And we will
really have to be on our toes
during the Sunday matinee for
the synagogue."
How does the director feel
about the show? Besides being
"As nervous as a cat, that's all",
Faran is very pleased about the
outcome. She is especially
I could not eat Sushi in America,
so I had better eat Japanese food
then. But I didn't taste it.
My worries came true; un
fortunately, our 7 o'clock flight
was delayed for three hours. I
was tired of waiting. When it
finally took off, I thought ex
citedly that I was going to
America; on the other hand, I
would not see Japan for a long
time. Our plane went directly to
Seattle from Norita. I didn't
know how long it took. I could not
sleep at all, because it was
brightly lighted and the
stewardesses often walked
through the aisles.
We arrived in Seattle the same
day at 1:00 p.m. After going
satisfied with the set. "I have
been to the "Annex" in Am
sterdam, and they have done a
great job designing the illogical,
cramped room groupings
characteristic of the real place.
Sally Reuther (the technical
director) has made it big enough
for it to be dramatically
workable, yet has an appearance
of it being even smaller than it
really is. You would think that
she had been there herself. All in
all, the show has turned out
splendidly - everything I en
visioned it to be."
New series
Gay life on campus
By Mark Gurley
According to the now widely-quoted Kinsey Study,
at least 10% of the U. S. population is primarily or
exclusively homosexual (some recent opinion con
siders this statistic to be rather low). If we apply
this figure even approximately to the Guilford Col
lege community, it indicates that gay students com
prise a sizeable minority on campus. After Spring
Break, The Guilfordian plans to feature a series of
articles on topics which concern the college's gay
minority.
The articles will explore such issues as 1)
Gays and Health, which will examine some of the
potential emotional and physical health problems of
gay college students; 2) Gays and Religion, which
will include several local churches' comments
about issues involving homosexuality, and a discus
sion of those comments 3) Gays and Guilford Col
lege, which will look into whether Guilford has, or
should have, an official policy toward its gay
minority; and 4) Gays and Entertainment, which
will scrutinize the city's social scene for gay college
students. The series will also include some lengthy
reflections on these topics by at least two gay
Guilford students.
Before beginning the series, a few remarks about
the special problems surrounding it would be ap
propriate. Getting gay students to even identify
themselves has been difficult. Some of them fear
social ostracism and even physical violence if
knowledge of their sexual orientation spreads
beyond a small circle of friends. The two students
through immigration and
customs, I had to pick up my
baggage, because my next flight
was a night one. An office clerk
told me something, but I didn't
understand. Seattle Airport was
huge and like a subway. I didn't
know where it was and stayed
there. Finally, a man who looked
like an Oriental pilot called me
and guided me to the baggage
room. He led me to the airline
counter where I would get my
next flight. I thanked him with
my poor English. I checked the
ticket and my baggage. I was
relieved after doing this.
I thought whether I should stay
there at the airport or rest at a
hotel. I decided to go to the hotel.
I asked a woman at the in
formation desk to call one for me,
because I didn't know how. She
was very kind to me and called
and reserved a room. In ad
dition, she asked them to pick me
up at the airport. I thanked her
again and again. The hotel man
came soon. After checking in
at the hotel, I asked them to call
me at 9:00 p.m., but worried
about the tip. Since Japanese
don't have this custom of tipping,
I wondered how much I should
give. I didn't know. A waiter
politely led me to my room. Then
I tipped him one dollar. This
hotel was similar to a Japanese
one for businessmen.
Yoshiko Fujimagari
who were interviewed, for instance, wished to re
main anonymous. One of them mentioned the pro
posed Family Protection Act-a legislative bill that
would deny federal funds to anyone who pro
mulgates the idea that a gay lifestyle can be
acceptable~as a reason for his discretion (the stu
dent receives federal educational aid). In addition,
"Getting gay students to
even identify themselves
has been difficult
the fact that gays can be legally evicted from apart
ments and fired from their jobs in most places sole
ly because they are homosexual requires that stu
dent he says, "to protect my own future."
The atmosphere created by this kind of
discrimination is obviously not conducive to free
and uninhibited discussion. It is the purpose of the
coming series of articles to help dispel the pattern of
silence and misinformation connected the subject of
homosexuality by investigating some issues which
affect the campus gay minority. In the process, we
hope to stimulate response and debate within the
greater college community as well.
The
Young
Fogies
By Janice Lynch
The realization was so appalling and sudden that I was driven to call
my mother and babble incoherently for several minutes about my
growing old.
I am too old to rock and roll.
Horrors! Check my ears!
All week I'd semi-anticipated the upcoming Z.Z. Top concert at the
Greensboro Coliseum. Forgetting the ringing ears which had accom
panied recent Springsteen and Nighthawks concerts, I joined a few
thousand others for an evening of nervewracking, body-pounding, ear
slamming noise.
When Grand Funk Railroad's guitarist began shouing at the crowd
for loud responses to his repeated, "Is everybody having fun?" I
should have had the good sense to hibernate in the bathroom. When the
drummer's gray afro bobbed in a frenzy and the repeated pounding of
the bass drum reverberated in my stomach, I should have stuffed my
ears with toilet paper.
Oh, but when Z.Z. Top took the stage, I should truly have interpreted
the throbbing in my head as a danger signal. Instead, I calmly folded
my hands and pushed hard against my seat, praying for a sudden
power failure.
Cacaphony, bellowing, and green laser lights which burned the eyes
were the results of Z.Z. Top's artistic endeavors. No amount of
pleading could persuade my companions to leave; they were cap
tivated by the lights, mesmerized by noise. I considered falling to the
floor and feigning death but knew that would only be futile; an action
that would be mistaken for ecstacy and dance.
Instead, I waited. Suddenly I was full of sympathy for my grand
mother's frequent requests to turn off the "caterwauling stereo." I
could understand my mother's preference for Don McClean and could
appreciate the delicacy of an orchestra.
Finally, the band left the stage. Never have I wished and hoped so
fervently for a group to simply forget to return for an encore. Black
they came, louder than ever.
I suppose this makes me eligible for the Young Fogies Club. Yes, it
is time indeed. I would much prefer to sit in Hobbs, sip hot chocolate,
and crochet. My grandmother is delighted.
Guilfordian, February 26
Bp