Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / March 25, 2011, edition 1 / Page 3
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NEWS MARCH 25. 2011 RUSTIN Social iustice activist Mandy Carter dedicates center Continued from page I reception and a keynote address led by social justice activist Mandy Carter. "I was brought up as a ward of the state in Schenectady N.Y., which made my sense of alienation growing up very acute/' said Carter. "The fact that I was a lesbian and black didn't help matters much at a time when racism and homophobia were still very prevalent." Carter also discussed her entrance into the dvil rights move ment and her decision to lead a life committed to social justice. "Perhaps the biggest single influence in my life came when my high school social studies teacher invited a speaker from the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) to speak to our class," said Carter. "The speaker invited our class to a workshop for the study of non-violence, which I later attended that had a major influence on me." As her career progressed. Carter worked for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign as well as for the AFSC and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. More recently, she received the America Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina's Frank Porter Graham Award and was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Currently, Carter is the head of Southerners on New Ground, an organization based in Durham whose goal is to build progressive movements in the South to combat homophobia. "I wish I had only known about Bayard Rustin growing up; his bravery to live as an openly gay black man during the 1940s and 1950s, when being so was especially dangerous. stands as a model of courageousness for following genera tions," said Carter. Members of the Guilford community echoed Carter's admi ration for Rustin and commented on tihe center's value to the college. "The opening of this center is a milestone in the history of our college and carries with it a sense of purpose that tran scends our individual identities," said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean Adrienne Israel. "In addition to the opening of the center, the college is also in the process of commemorating Bayard's work for justice through the creation of a Bayard Rustin Scholarship," said Martha Lang, visiting assistant professor of sociology and anthropology and Pride faculty advisor. A new logo, designed by senior Naomi Lewis, was also unveiled to ti\e crowd. The logo features a portrait of Bayard Rustin standing under a rainbow. Various members of Pride expressed both hope and con cerns about the purpose and goals of the new center. "A major issue for Pride has been how we can make our organization more diverse — whether or not the opening of the center will help us in that regard is a big question which remains to be answered," said junior Geoff Merwin. "I can definitely see the center helping us network and be more inclusive," said Presideny of PRIDE Kylie Gilliams. "Using Bayard as the inspiration for our meeting space chang es the somewhat exclusive image of the QuARC. Now, essen tially the rest of the work is our own — to talk to our LGBT friends and straight allies about how to get more involved in our organization." Hannah Early, junior, proudly presents the Bayard Rustin Center banner at the opening in Founders Hail on March 16. Quaker artist holds workshops, talks spirituality and creativity By Sage Donpineo Staff Writer "Sometimes, we think we don't have the courage to take that next step in our lives," said Melanie Weidner, Quaker artist and teacher. "Whatever you have, you can give it to God and the universe, and it will grow." From March 18-21, Weidner came to Guilford as a part of Guilford's Initiative on Faith and Practice, which was one of the many events scheduled for Guilford's 2010- 2011 theme year. Green and Beyond. Weidner first realized that her calling was helping people find their spiritual direction when she was studying at Earlham School of Religion. Originally planning to become a pastor, she realized that was not the path for her. "When I first walked into that class, I had an 'I'm not supposed to be here' feeling. I dropped the class the next day," said Weidner. Weidner realized that becoming a spiritual advisor was her true path. Since 1998, her workshops have charmeled this desire to help people find their spiritual direction through art and creativity. "I love art and realized after a short time of doing this that they [art and creativity] work together and you can't take them apart," said Weidner. "Overall, creative and spiritual connection is an essential part of human beings." ■ During Friday's workshop, Weidner had a sheet of paper with a list of words such as trust, reflection, justice, compassion and generosity. She cut them up, and then each student selected a strip at random and made a collage in response to that word. Friday's workshop was an opportunity to explore the possibilities," said Weidner. "Learning to practice spiritual qualities is a foundation for finding out who you are and what you're passionate about, and pursuing that passion to discover a way to serve in the world that has meaning for you and your community." During Weidner's five-day stay at Guilford, she hosted a number of workshops and lectures, including a lecture during the College Meeting for Worship, entitled "Blooming is Risky, but Seeds are Too Small." During this event, Weidner talked about how she picked a word for the year—seed — as a metaphor for her "blooming" experience while displaying a slideshow filled with her paintings of seeds and blooming flowers. "Melanie is a gifted spiritual director who speaks to people ... through her art and her skill in enabling others to map their interior spiritual landscape," said Director of the Friends Center and Campus Ministry Coordinator Max Carter in an email interview. "She also represents a wonderful combination of 'identities' that helps us understand that we can't pigeonhole folks." "My hope [for Weidner coming to Guilford] was that she would enliven the conversation around spiritual issues on campus — and she certainly has done that in many settings," said Carter. Visit the online Guilfordian for video COVERAGE OF MELANIE WEIDNER AND HER VISIT TO Guilford. The video, by Ashley Lynch, CAN BE found AT WWW.GU1LF0RD1AN.COM. . IITY SENATE UPDATE March 30 Alternatives for transportation: HEAT bus, public transportation, shuttle Debate for senate executive candidates Social honor code Contact: senate(gguilford.edu or Senate President Dana Hamdan hamdands(§guilford.edu Community Senate meets every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m., Boren lounge, Founders Hall (arch 28: Deadline to submit a proposal for Student Budget Committee April 4: Executive election for community senate April 6-8: budget hearing for student organizations April 18: Dick Dyer Awards
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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March 25, 2011, edition 1
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