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WWW.GUlLFORDIAN.COM
staff Editorial
In the Guilford
classroom, first
names are first rate
Consider the following: At colleges and
universities across the country, professors are
a name that appear on the top of a class syl
labus. Attendance is taken by the downward
swipe of a student I.D. and a bustle of dutiful
graduate students, not professors, hold office
hours and grade your assignments.
At Guilford, students are on a first-name
basis with professors from day one.
Here, we students are not a number
among thousands or another subdued face
in a crowd, but rather a hive of curious, in
dependent minds who actively seek to share
insights and listen (most of the time) to those
of others.
We require attention but more importantly
seek approval from our professors; we want
to flex our intellectual muscles and be patted
on the heads, seeking positive reinforcement
whether it is deserved or not.
Yet, what is most often taken for granted is
that we have professors who care to see us or
speak with us at all, much less take walks or
listen as we bombard them with query after
query.
At most other institutes of higher learning,
professors reside in the world of academia,
but can choose to disengage themselves from
their roles as educators. Instead, professors
travel the world, seek to complete their own
research, and publish their findings for the
betterment of themselves and the institution
where they are employed.
For many professors, students and teach
ing are secondary to these primary goals.
While a number of Guilford professors,
both past and current, have published books,
presented papers at conferences, and satis
fied curiosities within their specific field, this
is not their main objective.
First and foremost, they are educators,
who value and seek to uphold the impor
tance placed upon student-teacher relation
ships. If not, they wouldn't be here.
On Feb. 9, in light of the recent string of
revolutions across Tunisia, Egypt, and now
Iran, a panel titled "Revolutions in North Af
rica and the Arab World" was held. Initiated
by Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Eric Mortensen, the goal was to create a fo
rum in which a variety of perspectives, in
sights, questions, and answers could simul
taneously be presented.
This desire to engage in open dialogue
is an intrinsic aspect of education; here, the
professors take this a step further and seek to
not only engage the student body but also the
greater Guilford and Greensboro community.
At the heart of a Guilford education must
be a willingness — from both professors and
students — to expose one's questions and
uncertainties as well as provide answers.
Community forums and panels initiated by
professors or students and attended by both
provide a setting in which Guilford allows all
of its working parts to flourish.
-FORUM
Open doors and full mugs at the Greenleaf
By Amanda Dahill-Moore
Staff Writer
The Greenleaf Coffee Co-op might not
be what you think it is. Many people
around campus have the idea that this
student-run organization in the basement
of Mary Hobbs is an exclusive hang-out
spot for a specific clique of friends. I am
here to tell you this just isn't true.
When I transferred to Guilford last fall,
I was excited to find a place to drink
good coffee and do my homework on
comfy couches. Oblivious to any negative
rumors, I walked into the Greenleaf and
found it to be exactly what I had hoped
for: a place to study as well as socialize, or
just grab a convenient cup of coffee on my
way to class.
Although I knew hardly anyone at
Guilford, I found that the Greenleaf had
an inviting atmosphere, and it quickly
became my favorite spot to do homework
on campus. I didn't have to know anyone
to feel welcome there.
As I have become more immersed in
Guilford, old stigmas that underlie the
social dynamics here have become appar
ent. At this Quaker school, we are some
times more divided than our ideals would
suggest. One of the tensions I have picked
up on is this idea that the Greenleaf is
exclusive.
The members of the co-op are the first
to admit that not all of these rumors are
unfounded.
"The Greenleaf used to be painted dark
green," said senior and co-op member Zak
Wear. "It felt like a dungeon."
Apparently another syndrome of the
"This is a community space.
This is not the Greenleaf's
personal hang-out spot.
It belongs to everyone on
campus."
Austin Shriner, senior
old Greenleaf was that when someone
walked in, everyone stared at them.
It seems that the co-op was a clique in
the not-so-distant past, but that isn't the
case now.
"This is a community space," said
Austin Shriner, a senior and co-op mem
ber. "This is not the Greenleaf's personal
hang-out spot. It belongs to everyone on
campus."
Shriner attested to the fact that the
co-op spends a significant percentage of
its meeting times discussing ways that the
Greenleaf can become more approachable
to the community.
Recently, the Greenleaf space has accom
modated several events which aim to
involve the community. The Greenleaf has
hosted a PostSecret discussion, the annu
al Bad Feminist Poetry contest, monthly
cooking club dirmers, and more recently,
the first ever Dubious Poetry competition.
Plans are in the works for the Greenleaf
to start accepting credit cards, which
members hope will make the Greenleaf
much more accessible.
But change is a two-way street. The
Greenleaf has made significant strides in
becoming an inviting space — and hope
fully will continue to do so — but it is up
to the rest of the community to meet it
halfway. In this case, the solution might be
as simple as getting your next cup of coffee
on campus instead of some nearby chain.
The idea that only a certain group of
people frequent the Greenleaf is self-per
petuating: if no new people try it, then the
space runs the risk of becoming a clique
by default. Just go. Bring your friends. See
what happens.
Bryan speaker writes memoir from colorful past
By Emily Cooper
Staff Writer
Jeannette Walls is a woman with a colorful story. During
her childhood alone, she went through more than most
people face during their entire lives.
Most of the audience at her Bryan lecture and student ses
sion had read her books "The Glass Castle" and "Half Broke
Horses." But for those who have not, her unusual story is a
complete mystery.
Walls grew up with nomadic family: a free-spirited mother,
an ambitious father with a drinking problem, and three sib
lings.
Her parents — however loving and supportive — were
not nurturing. From a young age. Walls learned to fend for
herself.
Walls eventually created a life for herself in New York City
as a writer. She cut ties with her parents once they, too, moved
to New York and became squatters in an abandoned building.
On her way to a fancy event. Walls looked out the taxi
window and saw a homeless woman — who happened to be
her mother.
The rest of her story unfolds in her memoir, "The Glass
Castle."
As Walls started to speak, one of the first things that came
out of her mouth was "I'm just a woman with a weird story."
She is completely modest and was quick to encourage the
audience to not be afraid to be who they are.
"Shame is an isolating emotion," said Walls as she told
everyone how afraid she was to write "The Glass Castle."
After the book was published, she was pleasantly sur
prised by people's reactions.
"I learned how good and kind people are," said Walls.
"The reason we tell our stories is to explain why we are the
way we are," Walls said. By learning other people's stories,
we learn of the obstacles they have faced.
Walls refers to the past as scars. Everyone has a past, and
everyone has scars. Walls explained that all of our scars give
us texture, and while some may be smoother than others,
everyone has them.
Walls furthers that idea that what does not kill you makes
you stronger. From every unfortunate event in life you sur
vive, you gain experience and build character.
This may be something you have heard from your grand
mother. Everyone wise and knowledgeable seems to say it,
because it's true.
Learning from past mistakes makes you wiser. The same
concept goes for things you did not put upon yourself. If you
survive obstacles, you gain new skills, be it just a new way
of thinking. In some way or another, you will grow from it.
As a child. Walls was ridiculed and ostracized by her peers.
She turned to journalism as an outlet.
Walls felt like she had a purpose when she had her notepad
and camera at hand. Journalism gave her the confidence to
go out to events, because she had a reason to be there — to
observe and report.
If Walls was accepted and popular as a child, she may have
never gone on to become a successful writer.
Walls' message — it is okay to be yourself — is relatable to
students. When you first meet friends, you share happy and
fun stories. What people don't realize is that it's okay to share
your embarrassing moments and hardships, too.
No one is flawless, and by sharing our flaws, we become
closer.