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FORUM
March 25, 2011
Philanthrophy Day throws pies to educate students
By David Pferdemkamper
Staff Writer
If there's anything that
says "philanthropy" bet
ter than a pie to the face, I
haven't heard of it.
Welcome to Philanthropy
Day, a new event that was
held on March 16 which
marked the point at which
tuition and fees would "run
out" without donations.
Tuition and fees cover only
78 percent of Guilford's
costs, and March 16 was 78
percent of the way through
the academic year.
"It's a part of my duties
to work with student fund
raising, especially with the
senior gift," said Assistant
Director of Annual Giving
Jill Hayes '09. "But we had
been missing the educa
tional component. By senior
year it's too late to start
thinking about how much
donors help the school."
In order to help establish
that educational component
by reaching students ear
lier than senior year, Hayes
started looking at how other
colleges do "tuition runs
out" days, and the idea of
Philanthropy Day was con
ceived.
Philanthropy Day includ
ed a wide range of events
to help educate students
on how big a role philan
thropy plays at Guilford.
Numerous signs dotted
the campus, sharing vari
ous facts such as, "Archdale
Hall is the College's first
LEED certified building. An
anonymous gift partially
funded the $800,000 renova
tion project," and "Thanks
to outside support, approxi
mately 92% of Guilford stu
dents receive financial aid.
Thank a donor today!"
Other engaging activi
ties included a table where
community members could
write thank you letters to
donors, group bike rides to
highlight the senior gift of
bikes for the campus bike
shop, music by the Holly
Creek Girls, and a special
reception focused on staff
and faculty appreciation.
However, the most pop
ular event would have to
be the opportunity to pie
staff and faculty members
in return for a $5 donation.
I myself had the pleasure
of nailing Assistant Director
of Student Leadership and
Engagement Steve Moran in
the face with a pan full of
whipped cream.
while some of the events
might seem irrelevant to
the idea of philanthropy, or
unnecessary for communi
cating a serious message.
Philanthropy Day succeed
ed in engaging the com
munity in a way that was
simultaneously both fun
and meaningful. As a fund
raiser, the event raised about
$2,000, according to Hayes.
Important information
about how Guilford relies
on and uses philanthropy
was the highlighted point of
the day, with even the fun
events including a reminder
about how philanthropy
affects Guilford. Moreover,
the events got people
involved, which is always
something we need more
of.
Beyond getting people
involved. Philanthropy
Day also educated stu
dents, and made them
more aware of what it
takes to run this school
every year.
"Donors impact nearly
every aspect of Guilford,"
Hayes said. "1 hope this
got people thinking about
all that, because Guilford
itself is here because peo
ple donate to help the col
lege run day-in and day-
out. We should feel more
connected to donors."
After taking part in the
first ever Philanthropy
Day at Guilford College,
I can say that I feel more
connected to donors. I also
feel more connected to the
community and the col
lege itself.
Educating people about
something they might not
necessarily be aware if
is always a good thing.
Finding a way to engage
them and want to learn
is better. That is what
Philanthropy Day did.
iPad or iFadP
By Laura Devinsky
Staff Writer
You want an iPad 2 when you
already own a smartphone and iPod
touch? That's stupid. It has identical
capabilities to your smartphone and
your iPod touch; however, it doesn't
fit in your pocket.
The iPad 2 came out on March 11
and chaos at Apple stores ensued.
People waited in lines for hours just
to get their snazzy new iGadget start
ing at $499. And if you want the big
gest and baddest iPad, well, that's
$829 out of your wallet.
You are spending more money on a
slight upgrade rather than waiting for
the next version to come out, which
will most likely be in a year or so.
People want the newest, the best,
and the most up-to-date gadget they
can get. It's all about the "cool" factor.
Back when our parents were
young, many could not even dream
of owning something that was $500
— let alone something as small as a
laptop.
The first thing my mother bought
that was $500? "A car," she said. And
she didn't use a computer until she
was at work in 1990.
"Unless, of course, you are talking
about mag card machines which were
electric typewriters with cards that
you made changes on — that was in
1978," she said.
But my mother was not like today's
college students — standing in line
for the best tech gadget for hours
just to sell their spot, which accord
ing to the Wall Street Journal, is what
Amanda Foote, a college student in
New York City, did. Foote decided
to not even bother actually buying
an iPad 2, but she still wanted to be
first in line in order to sell her spot.
And for the lack of sleep and weather
she went through, she was paid $900
by AskLocal application developer
Hazem Sayed.
The iPad 2 is just another way for
Apple to make money. It's almost like
they took an iTouch and iPhone and
morphed them into the iPad. They all
have Wi-Fi capability and 3G. You can
also listen to music and take pictures
on all of them.
Imagine yourself sitting at a desk
with your iPad, iPod, and smart
phone. Your iPad is open to Facebook,
while your iPod is plugged in updat
ing your music collection and in the
meantime you are Tweeting from
your smartphone. In reality, you
could have one device, and be on
Facebook, Twitter, and updating your
music collection all at the same time,
and have it fit in your pocket.
Why have an iPad?
While it has also been shown to
be useful for editing pictures, videos,
and documents, your keyboard and
mouse are going to be on the screen
itself. To change that you will need
to invest another $69 for a wireless
keyboard. And if you want to stand
up your iPad without it falling over,
add another $29 to your bill.
Since 2002, when the first gen
eration of iPods came out, a new,
improved iPod was released on an
almost yearly basis. There have been
six generations of the iPod nano and
classic iPod, and four generations of
the iTouch, iPod shuffle, and iPhone.
Technology is forever moving
forward. And although you could
upgrade each time a new version
comes out, it's probably best to wait
one in between each generation as
you will save money and have a
greater change in technology com
pared to your old gadget.
So you decide: is it worth spending
$499 - $927 (including accessories) on
a piece of technology that will soon
be updated? Or will you wait for a
newer, faster, and probably smaller
one to figure out?
Buy local: Farmers' market
The biggest difference between
expensive cuisine and average
food is fresh, high-quality
ingredients.
One of the best places in
Greensboro for fresh fruits,
vegetables, dairy, home-baked
products, all kinds of meat, and
arts and crafts is the 135-year-old Greensboro Farmers' Curb
Market, located on Yanceyville Street.
The Farmers' Curb Market is open year round on Saturday
from 6 a.m. to noon, and on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
May through December.
A good portion of the fruits and vegetables at the average
grocery -gtore come from industrial farming, and even if these
massive farms are "certified organic," that does not mean the
final product can be as good as a smaller scale farmer who is able
to focus on producing quality.
Even adding a farm fresh tomato slice to a simple sandwich
opens a world of flavor. And it is cheaper than going to a deli.
Currently the building the market is housed in is owned and
operated by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department,
from whom the farmers rent out stalls to sell their wares.
The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department decided
to find an outside group to manage the market due to concerns
that some vendors were not actually selling local produce. A new
management team would ensure greater oversight, according to
an article in the News & Record.
Three proposals for a for-profit model were heard, but a non
profit plan came away as the favorite. The contract winner will
begin managing the Curb Market on July 1.
Of course, being involved with the government, there is
bureaucracy to overcome and arguments to be had over money.
The non-profit. Friends of the Greensboro Farmers' Curb
Market, raised $3,300, through fund-raising breakfasts and other
donations, to improve the Curb market, but the Greensboro
Parks and Recreation Department has asked that the funds be
returned to the city.
If the funds are returned, the money will be earmarked for
the Curb Market. The FGFCM believe the money will not be
properly reserved for market use because the money will go into
the Parks Department’s general fund. The disagreement could
go to court.
Maybe going ahead as a non-profit is the first step towards
becoming a co-op where customers pay for the privilege to shop
there or work there occasionally to ensure they eat the freshest
and tastiest food. If the market becomes a non-profit, then the
farmers will earn more money, and the farms will have the capital
to grow more great produce. Ultimately, a community and
farmer-run market would keep prices low without sacrificing
quality.
It is good to get one more step closer to the farmer for quality.
The farmer is going to ensure that whatever grown is the best it
can be if it means more money in their pocket.
Farming is incredibly difficult. It takes constant vigilance to
produce a bountiful harvest. So over the years, farmers have
moved further behind the scenes as everyone shops at chain
stores.
With all the competition from giant industrial farms, small-
scale farmers need all the financial support they can find. A
farmers' market should not have middlemen and hangers-
on. Meeting tlie person face-to-face who grew that particular
blueberry is a unique experience that leads to confidence in what
you are eating.
Sometimes the farm has to be far away because many of the
best fruits require a specific climate. But if the foodstuff can be
bought locally, why not buy that? Quality food is easily pushed
aside in the fast-paced. Internet-driven time we find ourselves.
Since the Farmers' Curb Market is only open once or twice a
week, there are plenty of friendly regulars to meet, and all kinds
of delicious food to enjoy, including everything from homemade
New Orleans delicacies to Moroccan cuisine.
Even if you cannot prepare much food in your dorm room,
the Farmers' Curb Market is still a fun, different environment to
spend a Saturday morning, eat lunch, or stock up on some hand
fnjit.