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The Quilford woods: trash or treasureP
By Amanda Dahill-Moore
Staff Writer
The Guilford woods comprise
approximately one-third of the college's
campus. This 90-acre parcel of land represen ts
a rare resource of undeveloped wilderness
amidst the concrete sprawl of greater
Greensboro. The prevalence of litter in the
woods is a long-standing issue among some
faculty, students, and staff who wonder why
trash accumulates and what should be done
about it.
"It drives me crazy," said Vice President for
Student Affairs and Dean of Students Aaron
Fetrow. "Trash in our woods sends a message
that is very opposite from who we are. We are
in the midst of a year of sustainability, but then
we have all this crap in our woods."
Community members relate to the woods
in many different ways. A half-acre garden
is being developed in the meadows, and
beehives are in use. Many people run and
walk along the trails and hold bonfires during
the weekends.
"1 go out there two to three times a week,"
said sophomore Russell Connelly. "I like to
walk, and it's really peaceful in the woods."
Junior Sarah Foster has never been to the
woods.
"I have absolutely never been out there,"
Foster said. "But it's rumored that people go
out there to smoke pot."
Sam Kelly, sophomore and member of the
Outdoors Club, believes that such rumored
activities are responsible for a great deal of the
refuse.
"Most of the trash comes from people
partying in the woods," said Kelly. "Most
people are high or drunk, and it's dark out
there, so it's out-of-sight, out-of-mind."
The Outdoors Club takes on clean-up
initiatives one to two times per semester.
Other clubs, including the Guilford College
Republicans and Photo Club, have been part
of organizing clean-ups.
"We can take out ten or more big plastic
trash bags," said sophomore Lizzie Ross, a
member of the Outdoors Club. "It's pretty
ridiculous."
Students concerned about the trash have
suggested placing waste receptacles along the
trails and working to emphasize more clean
up initiatives.
"Then again, that just addresses the
symptom and not the cause," said Kelly.
Fetrow believes that part of the cause is
first-years who party in the woods and have
not yet learned to love and respect the woods.
"This will probably be an unpopular
opinion, but let's be real," said Fetrow. "Which
of the residence halls are the ones that get
trashed? Binford and Milner."
Eric Mortensen, assistant professor of
religious studies, recognizes partying as one
of the causes but also identifies the ideological
roots that allow trash to accumulate.
"The idea that someone will clean up my
mess is entitlement," said Mortensen. "It's
possible that as intoxication levels go up, so
Although generally appreciated as a resource for outdoor enjoyment, the Guilford woods is consis
tently clogged with trash left behind by those less respectful.
does a sense of entitlement. This is also part
of a larger cultural phenomenon. We have an
anthropocentric idea that the woods are here
to be used by us."
Stewardship is one of the college's core
values, and leaving trash behind is in
contention with this ideal.
"My idea of environmental sustainability
is stewardship of the land that we are
blessed with," said Jim Dees, environmental
sustainability coordinator. "I don't think
smoking dope and drinking beer and leaving
all your crap represents a very meaningful
relationship with a place, and it's certainly not
good stewardship."
David Petree, landscaping and grounds
manager, sees litter as a larger issue on campus.
"If you were to walk in my shoes or my
staff's shoes, you would have a hard time not
getting depressed by the amount of litter we
pick up on this campus," said Petree. "If we
were to stop picking up trash for a month, the
health department would shut us down/'
Tammy Alt, associate dean for campus life,
believes that picking up trash after students
just enables the behavior.
"My question to the community is how
do we take care of this beautiful natural
resource?" said Alt. "And as much as people
are going to get tired of hearing me say it, peer
accountability is one of those ways."
At this point, no consensus has been
reached as to the best course of action to
deal with litter in the - woods. With trash
continuing to accumulate, greater awareness
of the implications for the community and the
land at stake may help to spark dialogue and
change.
Congress may cut Pell Grant funding
By Victor Lopez
Staff Writer
A U.S. House bill currently waiting to pass through
Congress threatens to cut Federal Pell Grant funding
by 15 percent, which could affect 1,418 students who
rely on Pell Grant funds at Guilford College.
Vice President for Finance Greg Bursavich told
The Guilfordian that the college is 80 percent tuition-
driven, and anything that could potentially threaten
enrollment is a cause for concern.
"Any institution where students are relying on
Pell Grants to attend will be affected by the changes,"
said Bursavich. 'The college's tuition will remain the
same, but it's the potential student that is affected."
Congress has already approved Federal Pell Grant
cuts, which will come into effect during the 2011-12
academic school year. These cuts will decrease the
maximum amount of aid for the neediest students
from $5,550 to $4,705, a difference of $845.
Guilford College receives about $5 to $5.5 million
from the Federal Pell Grant program.
Bursavich says that every college in the country
relies oh Federal Pell Grants.
"Those colleges that have students with a greater
financial need will have more students affected by
the decision," said Bursavich.
According to the News and Record, the plan to
cut Pell Grant funding*.mix'ecl with state budgetary'
issues in the UNC system will greatly affect students'
access. to classes., UNC-system leaders recently
asked campuses to prepare plans for the 15 percent
reductions.
According to the News and Record, that means
a loss of more than $15 million for A&T; UNCG
will prospectively lose $25.9 million, which will
effectively eliminate funding for 2,000 positions.
Over 6,400 course sections on UNC campuses would
be eliminated, according to the News and Record.
President and Professor of Political Science Kent
Chabotar says he hopes Guilford will be spared the
plight that the UNC system is facing.
"Most at risk in Congress is the ability to use
grants in the summer, which provides $250,000-
$280,000," said Chabotar. "Even at this late date, we
do not know how this affects summer 2011 because
we do not have a federal budget approved."
Director of Student Financial Services Paul Cosda
told The Guilfordian that at this juncture, the college
is sending financial aid packages out to students
with the reward amount that will hopefully come.
"At this point, the major cuts are only prospective,
so we are advising potential students that the reward
could change," said Cosda.
Sophomore Tim Leisman believes that educational
budget cuts are part of a backwards trend within the
U.S. government.
"We are cutting the wrong things in our
government," said Leisman. "We are not looking
at how these cuts will affect our future, but looking
at how we can achieve short-term resolution to our
crisis. Cutting education is going to cripple our
country and cause its collapse; we cannot continue
these polides and hope to achieve a sustainable
future." 7
As Congress continues to deliberate on balandng
the nationd budget, colleges around the nation are
still unsure how ^s will affect them.
"We are waiting on Congress to come to a dedsion
before we know how to prepare for the affect the bill
will have on students and, ultimately, the college,"
said Cosda.
IITY SENATE UPDATE
April 13
I. Student organizations budget
allocation
I II. Experiential learning
proposal
Social Honor Code
Contact:
senate@guilford.edu
Senate President
Dana Hamdan
hamdands@guilford.edu
Community Senate meets every
Wednesday from 7-8 p.m.,
Boren Lounge,
Founders Hall
Dick Dyer Awards
Ceremony
April 18,5:30 pm
Carnegie room -
Hege Library