Executive secretary of FCNL speaks about Iran experience
By Jake Blumgart
Senior Wr iter
In February 2007, amongst
mounting international tensions
between the United States and the
Islamic Republic of Iran, a group
of American religious leaders
flew to the theocratic Persian Gulf
nation on a mission of peace.
Prominent amongst the unof
ficial American delegation was Joe
Volk, the executive secretary of the
Friends Committee on National
Legislation (FCNL). On Jan. 31, he
spoke at the New Garden Meeting
House about his experience.
While in Iran, Volk and his com
patriots spoke to influential figures
such as former president Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani and his suc
cessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Although they spoke in-depth
with these powerful figures, Volk
specifically tried to talk with aver
age Iranian citizens as well.
"People were so excited to
see us (on the street level)," Volk
said. "They were very excited that
Americans had come and that we
had come to listen. I never once
felt ill-at-ease."
Volk's delegation went to
Iran with the intention of touch
ing on every hot button issue:
the republic's nuclear program,
Ahmadinejad's alleged Holocaust
denial conference, the situation
with minority religions, women in
Islam, and Israel. But Volk kept the
chief reason for the delegation's
visit at the center of his attention.
"Everyone we talked to said
whether they were pro-govern
ment or anti-govemment that if
America attacked they would
have to defend their country,"
Volk said. "They seemed stoic and
resigned to the idea."
See "Joe Volk" on page 4
S'!.'.- > 'J-! '••• C '•
--■SM
In connection with a national cdilpaign fay f ocus the ffiion,
Guilford hosted a global warming feach-in on icm. 31. ^
Cloud Gamble/Guilfordian
Coach Herman Boone helps Guilford
rememher the Titans and Dr. King
By Patrick Childs
Staff Writer
"Tonight we got Hayfield, like
all the other schools in our confer
ence they're all white. They don't
have to worry about race; we do.
Let me tell you something: you
don't let anyone come between us.
Nothing tears us apart."
These are the words of Coach
Herman Boone, played by Denzel
Washington, in the film "Remem
ber the Titans."
On Jan. 28, the real Boone came
to Guilford to help the community
remember the Titans and Dr. Mar
tin Luther King, Jr.
Boone is an African American
coach who led T.C. Williams high
school in Alexandria, Va. to a state
championship in 1971.
What made this team differ
ent from the teams they competed
See "Herman Boone" on page 4