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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM NEWS SERIES Blair brings optimism to Bryan Series Continued from page I with Blair. "I still appreciate the fact that he was courteous and open with Guilford students." Blair addressed a plethora of issues, including the economic crisis in the U.S. His suggestion to the U.S. government was to "get the economy moving" and "create jobs." These notions are not new ones, and Blair gave no concrete methods to do this, but his words positively received by the audience, nonetheless. "We need to have confidence, regulate the system, and Tm a big believer of free trade," said Blair. "We need to return to innovation and optimism." Though Blair's speech may not have offered many practical methods or concrete statistics, his encouragements seemed to be uttered with the intent of motivation. In many instances, Blair's speech caused people's chests to puff up with American pride. "Optimism is what makes America get up and go in the morning," Blair said. The speech was filled with messages of hope and a call; for unity. He brought this sentiment to a discussion of religion. "One problem is global ideology "Optimism is what makes America get up and go in the morning." Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that's based on a perversion of religion," said Blair. "If people of different faiths don't learn to live, work, and learn with each other, then it will result in a lack of respect for each other." Throughout, Blair shared stories that sparked great laughter. He included an anecdote about his attempt to speak French at a press conference with the prime minister of France. When attempting to say that he agreed with the French prime minister, Blair accidentally said the suggestive, "I desire the prime minister in many different positions." But in the end, his overall message was forward-thinking. 'The twenty-first century is not going anywhere without us," Blair said. "There will be new partners, new challenges, but the direction is up to us. The destination will be one to celebrate." Having Blair speak at the Bryan Series was a rare opportunity for many students, faculty, staff, and members of the greater Greensboro community. While he politely declined to comment on President Obama, he did tailor his speech to his American audience and correctly identified a lot of the current political problems we face today. Next in the Bryan Series will be choreographer Twyla Tharp on Oct. 27. Tickets will be available to students on Oct. 10 in Founders Hall Lobby. Guilford works to counter strain of struggling economy By Natalie Sutton & Damian Morden- Snipper Staff Writers Times are tough for higher education. Federal and state aid is being cut, the value of endowments is shrinking, and many students are bearing a heavy financial burden. "It is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s, both in terms of its depth of challenges and likely length that these difficulties will be with us," said Professor of Economics Robert Williams in an email interview. Amidst the economic struggles, Guilford College is faring better than might be expected. President and Professor of Political Science Kent Chabotar is confident about the college's financial standing based on its steady enrollment. "We attract between 375 to 4(X) traditional first-years at an admission rate between 50 to 60 percent," said Chabotar. "80 percent of our budget is supported by student fees, which makes us very dependent on keeping a healthy enrollment." The declining economy reduced the value of schools' investments. The budgets of bigger colleges rely more on their endowments than does Guilford. "As Guilford is more tuition dependent than endowment dependent, we were less severely beaten by this than the Dukes, Harvards, Yales, etc.," said Williams. Although Guilford maintains financial stability, the federal government is cutting funding for the Pell Grant program, which is problematic because Pell Grants are the primary source of financial aid for many students. Along with federal aid cutbacks, next year Guilford's in state aid will decrease as well. "It's been announced that the money we receive from the state for our North Carolinian students is going to be reduced by 12.3 percent," said Greg Bursavich, chief financial officer and vice president for finance. "We haven't seen the actual dollar impact yet because they're going to do it in the spring semester ... To this college, that means about $555,000." Many CCE students in particular have already felt the effects of both the decreasing federal and in-state aid. According to Rita Serotkin, associate vice president and dean for Continuing Education, a few years ago, CCE students could get aid that would cover the cost of three classes and the required books. "Now the North Carolina Legislative Tuition Grant is smaller and they may not be eligible in the future," said Serotkin. "Our tuition has gone up to the point where the full Pell (Grant) doesn't even cover the cost of two courses." Tuition affordability is proving to be even more difficult for adult students because of the current high unemployment rate. . "More CCE students are unemployed or working part- time than in previous years... There are more adult students now taking classes during the day and that's because a lot of them aren't working," said Serotkin. Those who do have jobs can no longer rely as much on receiving tuition benefits from their employers. "Many employers that used to reimburse their employees for going bade to school no longer do, and many of them have started spedfic requirements," said Serotkin. "For example, (employers) will only count the (courses) that spedfically apply to their jobs or that they get a C-grade or better in." Some traditional students are also frustrated with the effects of a lagging economy. Junior Leia Gaskin-Sadiku has incurred significant debt since coming to Guilford. "I have multiple loans that I had to take out and the interest on these loans keeps increasing with time," said Gaskin-Sadiku. "It's a huge weight on my shoulders to think about how much money I owe." Guilford is doing everything possible to manage its budget so that students like Gaskin-Sadiku have fewer loans to take out. "We are planning, if it's necessary, to provide that finandal aid to the students out of our own budget since it's going away from the external sources," said Bursavich. "We're prepared to do what we have to in order to maintain our enrollment, and if we need to spend extra dollars helping students with their tuition, then that's why it's in the budget — to provide for that." Just like Guilford, educators are forced to respond with innovations to the tough financial times. "I always tell my students, 'when you're in the classroom, you figure out a way,"' said David Hildreth, associate professor of education studies. "It's challenged people to be more mindful of what they do and more creative in how they get it done." EXPLORING SEXUAL Assault Reporting sexual assault: part two of a three part series By Victor Lopez Staff Writer Three semesters ago, a male Guilford College student riding back home from a local club was held down by the two other men in the car and sexually assaulted. His story would never reach the police department, and would not reach school officials imtil well ^er the life-altering event took place. The mental, physical, and spiritual scars both seen and unseen will remain with him for the rest of his life. For reasons only known to that student, he did not report the crime. Sexual assaults going unreported are very common in colleges across the country, including Guilford. Director of Counseling Gaither Terrell told The Guilfordian that there are many reasons students might not report a sexual assault: - The person who was assaulted might know the assailant and be hesitant to report, for fear of what will happen to that p^son. - In some cases, the person who was assaulted is too confused and traumatized to want or be able to report it right away. - Sometimes the assaulted person feels some uncertainty about their own role in the situation, especially_if there was alcohol involved. - Sometimes there may be a wish to put this behind them and move on in an effort to avoid painful emotions. Director of Judicial Affairs Sandy Bowles told The Guilfordian that anytime a sexual assault takes place, it is an excruciating process for all involved. 'The person offended has feelings of shame, guilt, and, in some cases, does not want to deal with the emotional aching," said Bowles. "It's easier for some to avoid 'bad' things and just move on with their lives." Bowles also told The Guilfordian that there is, at times, the authoritarian divide, which keeps some students from reporting when something wrong has happened. "The 'us' and 'them' attitude does not serve anyone," said Bowles. "When certain behaviore go imchecked, then we don't have a true community." A 2005 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice reported that some colleges do a lot of unintentional victim blaming by overemphasizing the victim's responsibility to avoid sexual assault without balancing messages stressing the perpetrator's role for committing a crime. According to New York University's Student Health Center, 81 percent of assaults on college campuses are not reported to the police, between 80 and 90 percent of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, and 35 percent of men say that there is some likelihood that they would rape if they knew they would not be caught or punished. Susan Danielson, a Greensboro Police Department spokeswoman, told The Guilfordian that not reporting a crime is harmful to everyone. "For the victim there is no closure," said Danielson. "For the perpetrator, they are not getting the justice and help they need to stop committing these acts." Terrell told The Guilfordian that allowing the victim to make their own decision with reporting is very important, even as a concerned friend. These situations are complex and a person's response is individual to them," said Terrell. Terrell said that, at the end of the day, reporting is only one part of the entire process. Even if ihe student has no interest in reporting, that doesn't mean they can't get help in dealing with the ways it has affected thern, said Terrell. "You can ask for help even years after the fact. Deciding whether to report the assault or not is only one part of dealing with this complicated event."
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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