In This Issue...
Page 3
John Jenkins says
farewell to Guilford...
Page 8
Lucas Wolf reflects on
study abroad in
Mexico...
SHI' 1
Page 15
Josh Neas discusses why
he thinks Howard Coble,
above, should not speak
at graduation...
Coble Won't Speak if Seniors
Oppose; Petition in Progress
Casey Creel
Senior Correspondent
Guilford alumnus and U.S.
Rep. Howard Coble, R-Greens
boro, whose comments about
Japanese American internment
in World War II have sparked criti
cism nationally and from Guilford
students, told The Guilfordian
Wednesday that "if there's one
senior who does not want me to
give the graduation speech, I
would happily withdraw."
Coble, scheduled to speak at
commencement in May, said no
Guilford administrator has con
tacted him yet about dropping or
keeping him as a speaker.
"I think that would be up to
the college," Coble said. "But
graduation belongs to the se
niors, and if they're not happy
with the speaker giving them the
address, that would mar the day.
"So if one senior suggests
that I should not be on the po
dium, I will not be on the podium,
with no hard feelings."
President Kent Chabotar said
he had been waiting for a more
pronounced student reaction
before he told Coble about any
protest on campus, and said that
he has so far received only three
comments from students - two
of them seniors - requesting that
the college revoke its invitation
to Coble to deliver a commence
ment address.
"I'd be disappointed if he
withdrew at the objection of one
senior, and so would the senior
UtUMUM
class," Chabotar said.
It appears, however, that
many students, including a
number of seniors, believe
Coble should step down after
saying on a radio show last
week it had been appropriate
to intern Japanese Americans
during WWII, which he said had
been done to protect them
from an unfriendly public.
Coble made the comments
in response to a caller who sug
gested the internment of Arab
Americans, an idea Coble re
jected.
Senior Josh Neas was among
the first students to protest the
internment comments, starting
a petition declaring that Coble's
comments "are not in line with
the teachings and values of
Guilford College, and as such we
feel he does not represent the
graduating class, or the college,
in a fit manner."
According to Neas, 250
people, including undergradu
ates, seniors, and a few faculty
and alumni, have signed. Neas
said he planned to present the
petition by the coming Wednes
day to Chabotar and Dean of
Campus Life Anne Lundquist.
He estimates that between
40 and 50 seniors have signed.
Some seniors, like CCE se
nior Scott Smith, support keep
ing Cobie on. "Although I'm not a
Republican, I did vote for Howard
Coble last year," Smith said. "I
think it's unfair to rescind his invi-
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Senior Josh Neas reports having gathered 250
signatures from students, faculty, and alumni on his
petition to have Howard Coble replaced as graduation
speaker.
Sarah Austin
tation based on comments he
made on a crisis that happened
over 50 years ago." [Smith is Busi
February 14, 2003
Volume 89, Issue 15
ness Manager for The GuiHbrdian]
See Coble, page 2...
o