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Feb. 25, 2005 www.guilfordian.com Colege announces Bivan speakers Continued from Page 1 "In a lot of ways, people think of Tutu as the center piece of the good news for next year," Mortensen said. "He's such a remarkable individual." "Bill Moyers, now he's all-American," said Ty Buckner, director of college relations. Moyers is an award winning author, filmmaker and journalist. Moyers was senior news analyst for the CBS Evening News, as well as publisher for Newsday and host on PBS for NOW with Bill Moyers. "He has received every major journalism award and more than 30 Emmy Awards," said the winter 'O5 Guilford College Magazine. However, Moyers is not just an accomplished media figure, he is also an ordained Baptist minister. Much of his film work has focused on religion in America, including Amazing Grace and Genesis. Students heavily requested Moyers in the Bryan Series surveys, Buckner explained, "but he very rarely makes public talks." Karen Armstrong is also an unlikely person to speak at the college because she seldom travels to the Unites States. Armstrong, a professor at Leo Baeck College in London, has expertise in several major reli gions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She wrote the New York Times best seller A History of God: the 4000-Year Quest for Judaism, Christianity and Islam in 1993. Armstrong was a Catholic nun from 1962-69. Although less known in the U.S., Armstrong has aroused controversy in Europe through her criticisms IsflieEarfyColege Hannah Whalev Staff Writer Ten faculty and staff responded to an open invi tation to hear Professor of Psychology and Early College Liaison Kathy Adams speak in the Founders Gallery on Feb. 18. The subject: the current status of The Early College at Guilford (ECG), its strengths and weaknesses, and the plans for the pro gram's future. Adams began by describing how there have been several other Early Colleges started across the coun try, including two in Texas. Unlike Guilford, most of these new programs are residential. "Most of these schools do not look like The Early College at Guilford," Adams stated. "We're like French fries. There are all different kinds. We're not McDonald's, we're Cookout." The mission statement for The Early College at Guilford looks a lot like that for Guilford College," Adams said. They both include the importance of con fident, ethically responsible graduates prepared to suc ceed in the changing world beyond. "Looking back, responsibility is something that should have been written in caps," Adams said. "In my 25 years here I've never had a science professor e mail me in hopes of barring a student from lab for set ting something on fire." This and similar behavior problems stem from a big ger problem of achieving a "seamless transition" from the High School environment to the College one. Adams said the administration hopes to address this NEWS of world religions. A self-proclaimed "freelance monotheist," Armstrong studies the similarities between religions and offers commentary on the place of religion in the modern world. When asked why only the three Abrahamic religions would be represented, Buckner said, 'The YSS is not the Year of Religion ... ifs broader than that." Mortensen, however, shared this concern: "Some of the language, although it was toned carefully, still to me was reminiscent of monotheistic, prayer-type reflection." A Tibetan scholar, Mortensen responded by inviting Robert Thurman to speak at Convocation. Thurman is a professor at the University of Columbia and the first westerner to ever be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk (and father of Uma Thurman). "He pushes you to use your curiosity and he does so in a way that is accessible," Mortensen said, "despite the fact that he's talking in a paradigm that is foreign to most Americans." Faced with the disappointing overall attendance numbers at the Bryan Series this year, Chabotar believes the YSS will be better: "I think ifs going to be an easier sell next year because spirit and spirituality is one of the reasons why a lot of students come here." There are still funds available for speakers on spirit and spirituality, and students are encouraged to sub mit proposals to the Initiative on Faith and Practice by March 18.88 honeymoon over? concern through seminars and training. The behavior problems may also be linked to the number of students in each classroom. "We have not had any fights, but the majority of the problems we see are those in which the number of ECG students in a college classroom reaches 'critical mass'," said Adams. When looking to admit new students to the school, an applicant must meet three out of four of the admis sions criteria. A 3.0 GPA minimum, 95 percentile EOC/EOG test scores, academic and community ref erences, and personal reflective essays are the deter mining factors. "Last years we were able to accept about 50 percent of our qualified applicants," said Adams. Diversity is another thing on which the school would like to work. ECG is currently composed of 29 percent minority students. The administration would like to see that reach at least 35 percent by next year. Faculty, former students, and family of alumni are ail involved in the selection process for the new classes coming into the school. While diverse in background, most students stated that they enjoy the school for similar reasons. In a recent poll, students indicated the top five reasons they enjoy the ECG atmosphere. The results were: 5) long lunches and goca food, 4) freedom, 3) teacher attention and trust, 2) small school, and 1) intelligent peers who "get your jokes." Attending faculty raised questions about rules by which students are asked to abide, being a part of the school. "Student have to sign in every single day?" Robert Thurman W4Hjgk Dana Auditorium Karen Armstrong Dana Auditorium Desmond Tutu ♦| War Memorial In Auditorium | Nov. 3 EMH Bill Moyers War Memorial I Auditorium WmMarch 14 asked Charlie White, who has worked with ECG stu dents through IT&S. In order to document the time spent in classes, ECG students must walk across campus to the George White house to sign that they were present each school day. White also wanted to know how the new community center would affect ECG students, due to the rule that they are not to enter dorms, student houses or apart ments. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," responded Adams, adding that exceptions to the rules are dealt with at ECG each day at a time. "The purpose of these presentations is for faculty to share their work with the community," said Adrienne Craig, Vice President and Academic Dean. The faculty expressed appreciation to Kathy Adams for holding the presentation * Senate Update Continued from Page 2 invest in them by ensuring that the most qualified and most competent among them are selected. We can due this by participating in these selections processes. Guilford has a long history of speaking out and speaking up for the greater good of communities home and abroad. Here, in our community, we have the opportunity to take direct action in determining our future representatives, our future leaders, and this time your vote actually counts, don't waste it. Be a part of an election system that works, on March 22 use your ballot as your voice, and dont leave your future to chance. 36 "Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting" - Christopher Moreley Page 3 Greensboro. N C
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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