6
Memories of Dick Dver
♦Campus comes to grips with loss of important administrator
BY BETSY BLAKE
Staff Writer
Grief continues to permeate
many Guilford College circles as
the passing of Dick Dyer, our as
sistant dean of student life, be
gins to settle in. A tear-filled me
morial service was held last Fri
day morning in Dana audito
rium. GCRO later held a brown
bag lunch in which stories about
Dyer were shared. Similar offi
cial and unofficial gatherings
have taken place around the
community.
Whether he was a close
friend or only known as that slen
der, dark-haired man who liked
to give speeches, it is important
that we take something away
from Dick's life and painstaking
work here on campus.
James Norton, a junior, re
members a time last year he al
most gave up on the college. He
Guilford Professors Visit Beijing
BY LAURAH NORTON
Staff Writer
Guilford professors say that
their preconceived notions of
Communist China were quite chal
lenged on their recent trip to
Beijing. "Things really aren't so
different than they are here," said
Bob Williams, a professor of eco
nomics and director of the Hon
ors Program. "My conceptions of
communism were challenged
daily."
Williams and five other Guil
ford faculty members—Dottie
Borei, Kay Doost, Ron Byrnes, Ken
Cameron and Laura O' Toole—
traveled to China over the sum
mer. They were accompanied by
Ashley Morrison, who teaches at
Grimsley High School.
The group made the trip,
funded by the Freeman founda
tion, to learn more about Beijing
University, where many of our
year-abroad students study and
live. They also examined the over
seas internship possibilities avail
able to education majors.
The professors visited several
schools in the Beijing area, and
Features
pulled Dick aside at
the end of the after
noon. "In thirty min
utes," Norton said,
"Dick changed my
life." Norton recalls
Dyer telling him to
convert his negative
energy into positive
energy. He encour
aged Norton to com
bat his disillusion
ment by being pro-ac
tive, not simply giving
up.
It was at last fall's
convocation that CCE
student Katherine
Wood first heard Dyer
speak. "He said the
usual things you say
at convocations,"
Wood said. "How it's
going to be a good
year, to believe in
yourself...but this was
spoke to primary and middle
school teachers. The also had the
opportunity to live on campus at
Beijing University, which gave
them a glimpse of the lives of both
our studies-abroad students and
the urban residents of Beijing.
When asked about education
differences between China and the
United States, all the professors
interviewed had similar thoughts.
"It's much more lecture-based,"
said Williams. A college education
is taken very seriously in China,
and the standards for acceptance
are much higher than here in
America.
"The schools are becoming
more and more selective," said
Laura O' Toole, a professor of so
ciology and anthropology. "Stu
dents get into college based on ex
aminations."
As well as gaining insight into
the Chinese educational system.
During the trip, the professors also
had a chance to learn more about
all of the social and political
changes that are reshaping China.
The Communist party is now loos
ening some of its control over the
business lives of the Chinese, and
allowing entrepreneurs to work on
a for-profit basis. Williams ob
served that "It is becoming a very
capitalist society, where the old
socialist values are being elimi
nated."
Many of the people the pro
fessors encountered in Beijing
were excited about the rapidly
changing city, but others were con
cerned over the influx of Western
influence. The differences between
the old and the new were becom
ing more and more apparent.
Also, an amazing amount of
construction was taking place in
Beijing during the trip: Williams
remembered a car drive in which
he counted a hundred cranes
within five minutes . . . and then
lost count. It has been estimated
that between one third and one
half of the world's construction
equipment is now being used in
China.
The people of Beijing spoke
fairly freely with the visitors from
Guilford, and seemed generally
comfortable sharing their political
opinions, which covered a wide
spectrum.
Some of the strongest emo
tions and opinions the Chinese
people have are centered around
The Guilfordian
September 5, 1997
the first time I really listened to
a speech like that. He seemed
real, like he genuinely meant
what he was saying. That im
pressed me."
Sophomore David Curry
marvels at the pleasure he had
in getting to know Dyer this sum
mer. "He was a wonderful friend
and individual," Curry said. "He
was truly concerned with the
welfare of all students."
Many others have memories
of a man often described as hu
morous, genuine, and admired.
We all know the mourning pro
cess can last weeks, months, or
even years. It is important for
us to lift up Dick's friends, fam
ily, and other members of the
College as they move through
this valley in their lives.
The Guilfordian will have more
coverage of the Dyer tragedy in
our September 13 issue. Those
with memories or stories they
wish to contribute should
contact Adam Lucas.
Hong Kong. "There was ah-mcred
ible excitement about the political
changeover in Hong Kong. People
were counting down the days, min
utes and hours," observed Ron
Byrnes, a professor of secondary
education.
Williams was also surprised
at the lack of military presence is
Beijing. Just before the trip, he'd
started reading Wild Swans, a book
that is banned in China. Fearing
customs problems, Williams left
the text at home. When the group
finally reached the Beijing Airport,
Williams was shocked at the lack
of military security. "I'm sure I
could have taken it with me," he
now says.
Despite some concerns over
the wave of western influence, in
teractions between foreigners and
citizens seemed to be quite posi
tive. Williams observed that "The
Chinese people were wonderful. I
felt well-treated. As Westerners, we
were at times a curiosity, but I felt
that everyone was very generous
with us. People seemed to be fairly
open to answering all the questions
we asked."