NEW
October 28, 2011
Issues in the 2011 Greensboro elections
By Chassidy Crump & Tim Leisman
Staff Writer and Guest Writer
The 2011 Greensboro municipal
elections are in full swing. The primary
votes have been tallied, leaving
a narrower playing field for both
mayoral and city council candidates.
Early voting begins Oct. 20 and lasts
until Nov. 4, with Election Day on Nov.
11. This election has seen Greensboro
voters making their voices heard on a
myriad of controversial issues.
Recently, the possible reopening of
White Street Landfill has been causing
controversy in Greensboro. Candidates
on the ballot for this year are largely in
favor of a regional landfill as a long
term solution.
"A regional approach is the most
responsible solution in the long
term for Greensboro," said at-large
candidate Chns Lawyer, according to
Yes! Weekly. "We have to reduce waste
with a more robust recycling effort as a
part of the long-range plan."
Other candidates agree that
recycling and waste-reduction is
pivotal in managing our solid waste,
according to Yes! Weekly. The solutions
range from green technology to making
sustainability a higher priority than a
landfill.
"White Street Landfill was a very
polarizing issue, and it showed the
true colors of the council at large," said
Wesley Morris, staff member of the
Beloved Community Center. "Response
by people on the council either affirmed
the dignity of the citizens or denied it,
and in most cases the response by the
council did not affirm the digniiy of
citizens: they either ignored them or
responded offensively."
In a recent article analyzing the
primary results, the News & Record
noted that the mobilization against the
re-opening of the landfill was a key
factor in increasing voter turnout.
"There were some connections
between (at-large candidates) Yvonne
Johnson, Marikay Abuzuaiter, Wayne
Abraham and (mayoral candidate)
Robbie Perkins," said Rebecca
Klase, political science professor at
Greensboro College, according to the
News & Record. "They were all out
front during the landfill issue."
The possibility of reopening the
White Street Landfill brought to
light the potential racial division in
Greensboro and how candidates will
deal with the division.
"Yes, Greensboro is racially
divided," said Assistant Professor
of Political Science Maria Rosales. "I
couldn't think of a city in the U.S. that
is not racially divided."
Some residents believe that the racial
division in Greensboro causes a lower
retention rate of students and fewer
economic and job opportunities.
"I think that it's very difficult for
young professionals to stay and work
in this city for a couple of reasons,"
said Morris. "One has to deal with
... lingering issues around race and
economic disparities."
Economic opportunity in Greensboro
is at least partially dependent on our
elected officials, even in the current
economic climate.
"The city council has a lot of
influence concerning what jobs
come to Greensboro," said Mitchell
Brown, the chair of the Greensboro
Collegiate Coalition. "They have a list
of companies to offer business to. This
directly affects what opportunities our
city has."
Part of the dty administration's
role is to make the city a welcoming
environment for both young
professionals just out of college
and businesses ready to hire tliose
graduates. Some feel the council has
failed to create such an environment
due to economic restraints and the
dynamics of the council itself.
"There is a lot of discord on the city
council," said Brown. "When you're
divided you can't govern people."
Students have the power to make a
difference in this election. According to
the Greensboro Board of Elections, only
35,152 citizens voted in 2009. There are
nearly 50,000 students in Greensboro,
according to Brown, which is more
than enough to win the 2011 municipal
election if they all voted.
For more information about the
upcoming elections, see our candidate
profiles online at www.guilfordian.
com.
OCCUPY
Greensboro becomes part of national protests
Continued from page I
to what he calls "the underprivileged 99 percent"
"Most Americans are overprivileged when compared
to most of the rest of the world," Clark wrote for News &
Record. "And we don't even realize it. How can someone
with two college degrees consider himself underprivileged
when it's a privilege just to go to college? It shows how
spoiled we've become when we can't appreciate the
opportunities we've been given."
The Greensboro demonstrators, however, see it as an
opportunity to generate positive change.
"There are a lot of unsuccessful movements based only
around one issue," said Kat Siladi '09. "And this seems to
be a gathering space for people to creatively solve issues
that are all impacting each other."
The demonstrators discussed various subjects at the
protest. Topics ranged from the polarization of the media
to the notion of a participatory budget.
"For several months now, there has been a group of us
that have been calling for Greensboro to participate in a
participatory budgeting process," said Greensboro resident
Alexandria Jones. "And essentially that means setting
aside a small percentage of the (city's) budget for direct
democracy."
Participatory budgeting would allow Greensboro
residents to decide how to spend one percent of the city's
estimated $450 million budget, allocating $4.5 million for
community projects.
"We want to go toward a more democratic nation and
construct the new world that we want," said Ed Whitfield,
a member of the drum group Cakalak Thunder.
OG also attempted to reach out to President Barack
Obama with letters of grievances and an open letter to the
president. Part of the open letter reads as follows:
"As you might surmise, one of the most frequent
discussions we are having... involves the First Amendment
and how it states, rather categorically, that we the people,
collectively and individually, may speak freely and
peaceably assemble to petition our Government for redress
of grievances ... So here we are, peaceably assembled,
seeking to petition our Government for redress of
grievances. Desiring to expedite this process, we thought
it best to start at the top and invite you to visit with our
Assembly and hear why the people gathered here are
upset with our Government."
The protesters sent a delegate with the individual letters.
Obama did not receive the letters, although he lodged at
the Proximity Hotel that evening, according to Yes! Weekly.
Some people see occurrences like these as evidence that
the movement is largely ignored, and therefore doubt the
movement's efficacy.
"It's not like I completely disagree with the protest,"
saM junior Matt Willis. "I just don't know how effective h
will be. People just aren't listening."
Others believe the demonstrations will develop
productive agendas geared toward democratic processes
in local governments.
So I thi]^ it's just going to keep on going on, and then
at some point, we'll start to push an agenda of some sort
to help America get on the right track," said Greensboro
resident Mark Sevigny. "To help take corporations out of
politics, the money out of politics, and put the government
u3CK in th6 n3ncls of ^wg the pGoplc/^^
Such an agenda encompasses the many complexities of
the financial system that has fueled the demonstrations
that enveloped the country. OG will continue with the
goal of maintaining a sustainable, democratic, and just
Greensboro.
Our challenge is to harness the energy from the fifteenth,
from Wall Street, from this movement to make positive and
sustainable change," said Alyzza-May Callahan '10.
Exploring
Sexual
Assault
Mermatl) of sexual assault
part three of a three-part series
By Victor Lopez
Staff Writer
The aftermath of date rape, rape and sexual assault is a
long journey for the victim. There is often internal mental
scarring which remains for a lifetime.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at least 70
percent of sexual assault victims know their attackers —
compared to about half of all violent crime victims — which
can lead to confusion as to what to do following a sexual
assault.
Director of Student Counseling Services Gaither
Terrell told The Guilfordian that early reactions typically
include shock, fear, anger, anxiety, confusion, loss of trust
m others, decreased self-esteem, detachment, disbelief,
embarrassment, guilt, shame, grief, difficulty concentrating,
loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, panic attacks
and somatic symptoms.
Later responses might also include depression, anxiety,
difficulty with sexual relationships, intense feelings of
powerlessness, even suicidal thoughts or feelings, all while
trying to appear normal to the outside world and often
succeeding," said Terrell.
Terrell added that those reactions can last weeks or even
months and that one third of sexual assault victims go on to
develop rape-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
Associate Dean for Campus Life Tammy Alt told The
Guilfordian that the college does not turn a blind eye to
sexual assaults or victim services, the college wants to help.
We want students to be educated not only about sexual
assault but also about sexual health in general," said Alt. "We
strive to make resources available to students so they know
how to report and have a safe reporting system."
Guilford College relies on many community resources
for those who are victims of sexual assault and rape, though
according to Alt, the actual number of reported assaults at
Guilford is extremely low.
The Counseling Center offers counseling for students
who have experienced sexual assault. Also, most counties
in North Carolina have a North Carolina Rape Crisis Center.
Guilford County offers two centers: Family Services of
The Piedmont in Greensboro and Family Services of the
Piedmont in High Point. These offer a 24-hour hotline (336-
273-7273) for help immediately following an assault and
later counseling, referral and victim advocacy.
Guilford County also has a Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiner (SANE) Program through the emergency
department at Cone Health System, which provides nurse
practitioners specially trained in physical exams following
sexual assault. °
Besides counseling, reporting options extend outside
of the Guilford community. The Greensboro Police
Department has officers who are trained in how to handle
cases of sexual assault and rape and can be contacted at 336-
373-2222.
Moreover, according to the National Center for Victims
rape and sexual assault survivors who had the
assistance of an advocate are significantly more likely to
have police reports taken and are less likely to be treated
negatively by police officers.
Terrell told The Guilfordian that it is important that
sexual assault victims receive immediate physical and
psychological help and support, whether or not they are
planning to press charges related to the assault.
Rape crisis workers, SANE nurses, and counselors
are trained to allow victims the right to make their own
decisions about whether or not they take legal action," said
Terrell.