Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Sept. 12, 1997, edition 1 / Page 7
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The Guilfordian September 12, 1997 Faculty Profile: Nigel Austin BY MAGGIE BLAIR Staff Writer Nigel Austin is the newest ad dition to the justice and policy studies department. Born in Jamaica, Austin moved to the U.S. in his early 20s, and attended Prairie View A&M University, a historically black col lege in Texas. There he received his bachelor's degree. He then enrolled in the Uni versity of Florida to obtain his master's degree in political science. His concentration is in public ad ministration and public policy. Last weekend Austin de fended his dissertation at UF and was successful. Barton Parks, the JPS department head, said, "I told him before he left, 'Give 'em hell, Nigel,' which is the last thing you should do in a disseration." Aus tin left a message on Barton's voice mail Monday, saying, "I gave them hell, and I passed." In April, of this year he came to Guilford College to interview for a postion in the justice and policy studies department. Between 100 and 150 people applied for the job. Austin received the appointment. According to Martha Cooley, academic dean of Guilford College, "In this case I think there was sup port at all levels for Nigel. He is engaging, young. He has strong credentials.... He is articulate, and he fulfilled the criteria for the po sition." Austin has settled in to Guil ford and Greensboro fairly easily. He lives in a house beyond the lake on campus and enjoys the trees and wildlife around his new home. He admits only one disadvan tage of living in the woods: "I love gardening. That's one thing I can't do over here; its too shady. "I love the outdoors —to walk in the woods. I love camping. ... I love mountains. "I like a place in the hills of western Maryland and western Pennsylvania. I really love that area," said Austin of his travels. "It is special," he continued. "It is beauty. It is peaceful, tran quil. It put me really close to na ture. When I am there, I am able to think clearly. Its relaxing." Through his traveling to the Features mountains and other sites in the U.S., the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Canada, his Jamaican upbringing and his education, Austin brings to this campus knowledge and di versity. "I am an interdisciplinary person. ...I am a political person. I think of ways policy can be bet ter—the implementation. "We are facing a complex world. We have to think globally. ...You must examine an issue from all different perspectives—draw from different disciplines to help solve problems," said Austin. Xs*- 'USs * r it us®** ■ K J ■■ wSmm £ "I bring international per spective," he added. Barton Parks said the new pro fessor adds diversity to the JPS department, too. "The department used to be more interdisciplinary. Dr. Kania and I both have sociol ogy degrees. But Nigel, with his political science degree, adds more interdiscipline." Realizing the strong need for diversity in views, Austin wants his students to see different angles and perspectives on issues. "My goals are to get the stu dents to speak, to voice opinions, to share ideas," stated Austin. "To get them to be creative—innova tive—in whatever they do. ...I want them to think critically. That, to me, is a learning experience." Austin hopes to not only work with students outside class but to work with his community. "I want to know how I can reach out to dis advantaged people—to the larger community. Not necessarily just Greensboro. I want to reach out to communities throughout the United States and the world." So What's Up BY PAIGE MCRAE Staff Writer Josh White and Joe Rodden of So What embarked on the fourth year of their musical partnership with a Welcome Weekend concert by the lake. The set started off strong and smooth, with older material such as "No Trust" and "Spanky". Newer songs like "Glad It So What raises the roof. Get up boyee! Didn't" stood up well. "Big Sky Country," written while Josh was abroad in London, hinted that So What songs are moving in a more autobiographical direction. When asked if this was true , guitarist and singer Josh ex plained, "As I get older and have more experience writing, I'm be coming able to express myself more freely. I've been paying at FREE POSTAGE STAMPS THAT'S RIGHT! FREE! You Buy a Regularly Priced Greeting Card, We GIVE You a Stamp. FREE. You BUY a Regularly Priced Post Card, We GIVE You a Stamp. FREE. Bienfang Note Sketch Book reg. $7.25 SALE $5.00 Paper Address Book reg. $5.75 SALE $3.00 Guilford Plaid Legal Pad Cover reg. $12.95 SALE $7.00 Liquid Paper... Buy One Get One Free DISCONTINUED POSTCARDS 4 for SI.OO DISCONTINUED GREETING CARDS 1/2 price WRITE YOUR MAMA! £% The Guilford College Bookstore Founders Hall, X 2156 welcomes VISA & MASTERCARD ml open Mon.- Thurs. 10- 6, Fri. 10-5 Sale Ends Friday, Sept. 12 tention to the full range of emo tions; joy, hope and reconcilia tion." So it was true! What are other ways in which So What feels they have changed in the past four years? Bassist Joe Rodden notes that things have become, "more smooth and re laxed" and falling into place for them. Although the same attentiveness remains, So What have plans to flesh out their sound, which means they are turning their eye to incorporating more musi cians. They are also in the process of mixing a demo tape and have plenty of new songs. It's been an interesting four years for one of Guilford's longest surviving bands, rich in growth and persistance. They fully in tended to make their fourth year an exciting one. 7
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Sept. 12, 1997, edition 1
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