September 23, 2011
NEWS
Community remembers and honors Laurin Flynn
By Colleen Gonzalez
Staff Writer
On Sept. 8, Guilford received
news that one of its own had
passed away. Assistant Professor
of Justice and Policy Studies Laurin
Flynn had worked at Guilford for
six years before leaving early in
the semester. Flynn was diagnosed
last year with breast cancer and
decided it was time to focus on
her health. The Department of
Justice and Policy Studies held a
reception when she left to celebrate
her contribution to the Guilford
community.
"The reception was to say thank
you," said Associate Professor of
Justice and Policy Studies Jerry
Joplin. "When we said goodbye,
we didn't think it was going to be
forever."
Flynn had been ill for quite some
time, but it never stopped her from
taking care of her top priority: her
students.
"She really cared about her
students," said Assistant Professor
of Justice and Policy Studies
Barbara Lawrence. "Laurin was
here for the students."
"She brought in a lot of stories
to her teaching," said Associate
Professor of Justice and Policy
Studies Sherry Giles.
Flynn was also a student
advocate on the Guilford Judiciary
Board. In addition to her activity
at Guilford, Flynn worked with
a national community-organizing
group called Industrial Areas
Foundation (lAF). lAF builds
organizations that help create social
changes. Flynn helped lAF in Los
Angeles to get rid of liquor stores
in a neighborhood.
As for her department, Flynn
focused mostly on touchy subjects
that many would find difficult to
talk about.
"Pier passion was victimology,
the study of victims and victims'
rights," said Assistant Professor
of Justice and Policy Studies Will
Pizio.
Such themes came into focus in
her family violence class — a class
with a tough subject that Flynn still
managed to make enjoyable for
students.
"She turned ... dark subject
matter, painful subject matter ...
and made it fun," said Lawrence.
"She would blend humor
and challenge with expressing
information," said Pizio. "So she
would tell you information and
then challenge your intellect, views.
HERITAGE
and your ethics."
Flynn had a strong personality in
the classroom as well as when she
was among her colleagues.
"If she came in and she was
pissed at you, she would tell you,"
said Pizio. "Then she would tell
you why and you would talk it
out ... and I respected that over
everything else."
"She was very honest and real
and up front ... she said all of the
things that we were thinking that
needed to be said," Lawrence said.
Flynn was a well-respected
professor among her department
and her loss was truly a bitter pill
to swallow.
"She brought something you
really can't describe," Laurence
said.
First-year Nora Cooke had Flynn
for her First Year Experience class.
"She was amazing," said Cooke.
"You can just tell that she had done
so much after spending a few hours
with her."
Although her colleagues could
see her illness slowly taking
over, they were inspired by her
determination and perseverance.
"She knew it was the disease
that was going to take its course
with her," said Joplin. "But she was
not going to let it prevent her from
doing her job."
However, when Flynn realized
how serious the illness had become,
she headed home to California
to be with her family, where she
passed away.
"Outside of class, she would
come up and talk to us," said
Cooke. "I wish I had been able to
get to know her better."
Lawrence especially felt that
Flynn had left a mark on her life.
"She taught me a lot of
good lessons as a woman, as a
professional in an environment that
breeds and fosters adversity," said
Lawrence.
A memorial service was held on
Sept. 21 in the Moon Room in Dana
Auditorium. Students and faculty
members who were still mourning
Flynn's passing were able to say a
final goodbye to the woman who
meant so much to everyone she
encountered.
"We just miss her," said Giles.
"It's still very sad."
(above) Max Carter leads Guilford students
on an Underground Railroad tour across campus,
(left) International relations scholar Stephen
Zunes discusses non-violence in the Greenleaf
Cafe during Quaker Festival Week.
Mariachi performance and community
forum begin Hispanic Heritage Month
Continued from page I
Heritage Month.
Those at the discussion talked about using
the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino," what
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates, and some
history of Hispanic heritage. The introduction
was followed by a lively Latino band.
At the following
celebration on
Friday, Sept. 16,
there was a Mexican
Mariachi band and
Hispanic dinner in
the cafeteria. The
interactive Mariachi
band caught the
attention of those
who were in the
dining hall.
"This was a fun
event for the whole
school to participate
in," said sophomore
and CAB Music
and Live Co-Chair
Antonio Rocha.
"That's exactly what
you'd see in Mexico
during this time."
is very diverse within itself because it consists
of many cultures. Zeballos said that Hispanic
cultures should not be generalized because
there are many different Latino cultures, not
just one. This month of recognition celebrates
all Latino cultures. However, Zeballos did not
want the month to detract from the importance
of recognizing Hispanic culture at other times.
"Although it is
nice that the time of
Hispanic Heritage
Month causes people
to acknowledge
Latino diversity
and contributions,
this is something
that should really
^ be going on year-
I round," said
z Zeballos
s "This is just the
g) beginning of our
g collaboration with
5 groups on campus,"
z said sophomore
Juniors Hannah Filligam and Peach McCarty andCAB Music
enjoy a musical meal in the cafeteria.The visiting ma- and Live Co-Chair
riachi band surprised and entertained hungry students. Mindy Souvannalay.
There will be
further celebrations
of Hispanic Heritage Month, and Souvannalay
hopes that when people see the CAB logo, they
will be excited to attend events in the future.
celebrations that followed on Friday, Sept. 16, , ‘’I"® u**"
provided an introduction to Hispanic Heritage P“P'!,
Month that generated support and energy.
Hispanic Heritage Month promotes the each
recognition of Hispanic cultures and, according experience it differently and w.il
to Zibalios, the reLgnition that Latino culturl S®" iiomething unrqueirom the.«penence. •
Rocha was pleased with the event and the
joyous energy of the celebration.
The comfortable and informative discussion
Sept. 15, along with the energetic
on