Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Sept. 17, 1990, edition 1 / Page 5
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Union plans more, more, more, fun, fun, fun Bruce James Layout Editor "This is going to be an amazing year," said Union president Charlie Beery, as the Col lege Union gears up for a fun-filled year. All of the officers have a very positive outlook on the whole year, he said. The main goal of this year's Union staff is to have activities scheduled for each week end of the year, said Beery. Although details have yet to be worked out, some events have already been planned. Films, dances, and recreational events are being booked, for example, last year's box office blockbusters "The Hunt for Red October" and "Dick Tracy". Another upcoming event is a social with Greensboro College on Sept. 29, in cluding a band scheduled for Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. D'Andrea relfects on 4 weeks spent in India Lisa Pope Editorials Editor The Taj Mahal, Women in Saris, Hindu Temples, The Streets of Bombay, The Jewel in the Crown ... India. It became more than jumbled images and words to Guilford soci ology professor Vaneeta D'Andrea this past summer, as she went on a four-week study tour funded by the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. She traveled with 10 professors from Bennett, High Point, Greensboro, Elon and Salem Colleges and Guilford professor Anne Deagon, in order to study "Traditional Cul ture and the Impact of Technology in Mod ern India." The tour resulted from a grant written by D'Andrea and two other participants. This grant was originally submitted by the Pied mont Independent College Association in 1986. It was approved at the time but can celed when funding ran out. Re-submitted in 1987, it was rejected, but finally received approval in 1989. Once the grant was ap proved, they screened applicants from all six colleges and then assembled a diverse group. The disciplines represented ranged from religion and philosophy to public health and dance. The professors shared a common goal, though: to bring India back to their respective campuses. The journey began with briefings in Delhi, hosted by the United States Educational Foundation in India, and then continued on to Pune. There, participants took two weeks of courses at the University of Pune, concen trating on religion and the status of women. Bombay was the next destination, which D'Andrea described as being "the most European of the cities . . . very cosmopoli tan." Its diversity was reflected by the styles of dress seen on the streets: the latest Euro pean fashions mingled with traditional Afri- This social is an example of one Union goal, to keep people here on weekends. "The lack of student involvement has been a big problem," Beery said. Guilford is often called a "suitcase college" because so many people go home on the weekends. Conse quently, Union has expanded its publicity staff this year to be sure more students know what is happening. They're also making an increased effort to reach off-campus stu dents. Beery stressed that students need to stay involved. If they don't work in one of the planning committees they should at least attend events. He spoke of the reciprocating effect of student involvement. As more students enjoy events and contribute fresh ideas, more events are planned. Beery mentioned many ways of sharing ideas. Students can attend the weekly gen can and Middle Eastern costumes. D'Andrea's final stop before returning to Delhi was Madras, on the West Coast. It was a city overflowing with architectural ruins and Hindu temples, as well as traditional cloth factories. At the factories, men, women and children work in pits using hand looms. Throughout the trip, D'Andrea concen trated her energies on exploring the role of wom6n. She found that women in India are very much in a transition period. Upper caste, older women have made significant changes in their traditional roles, and have moved into professions such as university teaching. Yet, paradoxically, these women still firmly believe in arranged marriages, subordination to men, and wearing restric tive sari dress. Younger women arc more modern in terms of dress, and yet still tradi tional in behavior. For example, they defer to MM IF WQFS 90.9 ushered in the new school year with the installation of its new sound board. The board, which cost the station almost $4,000, delivers "significantly improved sound quality" according to general manager Tom Bates photo by Charles Almy eral meeting on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the Passion Pit. They can join one of the com mittees, all of which will be holding individ ual meetings starting in a few weeks. Or they can just approach one of the officers. "Grab us," he said, "we're students, 100, and We're always open for input, good or bad." Beery stressed the need for input from students. "It's their money", he said, "all students have already paid their dues with their tuition." One avenue for activities is co sponsorship by residence halls or organiza tions in effect, pooling their money to increase the quality of the event. "We're willing to work with any group," he said. Beery described the history of his own involvement as an example for new students. He started as one of the members on the Serendipity Committee in his first year with their husbands in group and social situations. D' Andrea commented that "there are changes, but not as major as they've been the West- - If you arc not a married woman, you do not have a life." Culture shock was not a major problem for D'Andrea, though she said others on the trip felt it strongly. She felt prepared, due to previous travel experiences in Cuba, the Caribbean and Europe. Still, conditions in India made a strong impact on her, particu larly the widespread poverty. Out of a total population of 12 million, Bombay has six million people living in the streets. She saw people lined up along roadways, living in plastic lean-tos and brushing their teeth in the gutter. She was equally impacted, though in a different way, by the deep spirituality of the people: "I felt the religious component of the society everywhere I went." THE GUILFORD IAN September 17, 1990 the Union, then moved into the position of chairperson of that committee last year, and ran for president of the Union last year. He said that each member of a committee has a critical job, however small, and that commit tee membership is a good way to become slowly involved and more comfortable in the positions. Anther bonus to being involved is the opportunity to meet many musicians or comedians. Based on the success of Welcome Week end, where about 300 students participated in midnight bowling, Union is working on a possible "Wintcrfest," a weekend of events like Serendipity. Beery believes the social life is the responsibility of Union, and that with continued success. Union may even play a part in attracting prospective students to Guilford. D'Andrca hopes to transfer to Guilford all that she saw and felt in India. "My goal is to create a course on cross-cultural perspec tives of women," she said. The course would concentrate on women of Asia, India, Africa, and Latin America. In addition, a consor tium honors class on India is beign planned for next year, with all twelve professors teaching one session. Also under considera tion is a five week summer course for consor tium students in India, possibly at a site near the University of Punc. The project participants also want to ex tend their knowledge beyond the college campuses, and so will hold seminars for primary/secondary school teachers in the Triad this summer. After speaking enthusi astically of all these projects, D'Andrca said simply: "I want to give back what I gained." 5
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