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F E ATU RE S
during Coining Out Week
By Meg Holden & Charlotte Hudson
Features Editor & Staff Writer
Coming Out Week, a week dedicated to discussion and
awareness of LGBTQA issues, occurred Oct. 24 through
29. A collaboration betu^een CAB and Guilford Pride, the
week culminated with the Coming Out Ball, held annually
on Halloween weekend. The theme of coming out unified
the many events throughout the week.
"It's important to highlight (coming out), both to
celebrate and reflect on our own journeys and to show
others who haven't come out yet that coming out is very
rewarding," said junior and Pride member Taylor Seitz in
an email interview.
The week began with the Vigil for Equality held on
Tuesday evening. The vigil focused on the legislation to
be voted on in May that will make same-sex marriage
illegal under the North Carolina state constitution. The
legislation will also nullify existing same-sex partnerships
and benefits to unmarried couples.
"The vigil was very encouraging," said senior Grant
Gross. "There were a lot of people who were very
enthusiastic about supporting the cause."
According to senior political science major and Pride
Vice President Nicole Guilfoyle, opposing the proposed
amendment is important because it will be voted on
during the primary, when more Republicans will be
voting to determine the GOP's candidate for the 2012
presidential election. Democrats are less likely to be
voting, so the amendment has a higher chance of passing
due to the higher percentage of conservative voters.
Also on Tuesday evening, a talk was given by
transgender activist, singer and songwriter Angelica Ross.
Ross, who also met with students the next afternoon,
spoke of her trials and tribulations as a trans individual.
During the talk Tuesday night, she spoke of a woman in
the audience whose son is going through a transition, and
also of her own experience when coming out.
Members of the Guilford community were invited to
the Greenleaf Wednesday evening to share their coming
out stories and for allied members to speak of when they
became aware of the issues and decided to stand up for
LGBTQA people.
"This week has become a lot about activism," said Pride
President Kim Parmenter, senior. "It's been a lot about the
struggles (in) the (LGBTQA) community that have been
going on. (W'e want) to urge people to pay attention."
During lunch on Thursday, Pride hosted Table Talks
in the cafeteria. Signs at each table showed a question,
statement or word, meant to encourage discussion among
those sitting at the table.
"People don't realize what an impact a conversation
could have," Parmenter said. "1 want for us to take
advantage of that."
On Friday, the first Fabulous Film Friday was held, with
the showing of the documentary "The Celluloid Closet."
The film is about the treatment of LGBTQA characters in
Hollywood films. A discussion was held after the film,
with questions ranging from "what makes a man or a
woman?" to "is a negative representation of LGBTQA
characters is better than none?"
The Week ended with the Coming Out Ball, the annual
fall dance at which people could "come out" as their ideal
selves.
"There was lots of cross-dressing," said first-year
Alexandria Smith.
Senior Bennett Christian expressed dissatisfaction with
the costume restrictions and the presence of Public Safety
officers at the dance.
"They should move (the dance) to the Community
Center," Christian said. "It's a more intimate space."
Nevertheless, the Coming Out Ball and other Coming
Out Week events were a massive effort by Pride and other
community members to not only recognize but embrace
^ differences in our community.
'(The Coming Out Ball) is important because it allows
pple to be who they want to be, at least for a night,"
said. "Guilford |s^:y' open and welcoming to the
Qy^ggpimunity.'’
wople
IHPfc
GULLAH/GEECHEE
Gullah/Geechee Nation visits Guilford
Continued from page I
which she put to use when she made
the Gullah/Geechee Nation Facebook
page.
The fact that the ancestors of the
Gullah/ Geechee were victims of slavery
is a part of the history of this people,
but it is not the entire story. Queen Quet
refers to the stigma attached to this
part of their history as "Post Traumatic
Slave Disorder."
To help spread their culture and
history. Queen Quet founded De Gullah
Cunneckshun, a traveling group of
presenters. Guilford College hosted the
travelers Oct. 25-28. The events offered
an opportunity to learn about a culture.
"We wanted to bring (Queen Quet)
here so she, a Gullah person, can impart
that knowledge for us and have it be
an experience," explained Jada Drew,
Africana Community coordinator.
"(This was) a chance for the community
to really be involved and enriched."
"This is a way to expose students to
a different culture," said James Shields,
director of community learning. "It
is something outside of the comfort
zone."
The opening ceremony in Bryan
Auditorium on Oct. 25 began with
a student film titled "Uprooted,"
which tells the general history of the
Gullah/Geechee culture as well as the
challenges they face.
This was followed by a question-
and-answer period with Queen Quet.
Wednesday night, Oct. 26, Queen
Quet shared the Gullah/Geechee
history through song, dance and
speech.
She corrected misconceptions about
the Gullah people, Africans and slaves.
One misconception is that these people
are always depicted as not wearing
shoes in documentaries.
"Why would we make shoes for
other people without keeping some for
ourselves?" Quet asked.
The Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts
Center on Orchard Street hosted De
Gullah Cunneckshun on Thursday, Oct.
27.
The troupe was back in Bryan
Auditorium for the closing celebration
on Oct. 28.
Those who attended the event
were blessed once again with songs
from the Gullah/ Geechee. Through
conversational skits, De Gullah
Cunneckshun gave a historical glimpse
of life in the Sea Islands.
De Gullah Cunneckshun brought a
unique cultural experience to Guilford.
Audience members were able to learn
of a people many knew nothing about,
a people that are fundamental to both
America's past and present.
Going beyond "Green and Beyond" with Piedmont Biofuels
By Natalie Sutton
Staff Writer
Lawnmowers. Buses. Emergency generators. What do
these have in common? They can all be powered by biodiesel.
Piedmont Biofuels, a small renewable energy company in
Pittsboro, produces biodiesel that can be used to power all of
these devices and more.
The co-op does everything from researching sustainable
ways to produce fuel to leading green workshops in order to
reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
"Given rising energy needs, as well as the impact energy
production has on global warming and other environmental
problems, our communities need new sources of less harmful
energy, such as the energy produced by Piedmont Biofuels,"
said Kyle Dell, associate professor of political science, in an
email interview.
Piedmont Biofuels collects waste fats, oils and greases from
food service establishments and turns them into biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel
that can be blended with or used in place of petroleum diesel
to power transportation vehicles.
Lyle Estill, president of Piedmont Biofuels, values how
easy it is for people to use biodiesel as an energy source.
"We make a product, biodiesel, that can be dropped
directly into any diesel engine," said Estill. "You don't have
to convert your car, you don't have to call your mechanic,
you don't have to go under your hood; you just fill up and
drive."
Truck drivers from Piedmont Biofuels do more than just drive.
They collect waste products, such as used cooking oil, that can
be converted into earth-friendly biofuel.
The nuts and bolts of producing biodiesel are complex,
but Piedmont Biofuels is enthusiastic in educating as many
people as possible about how the fuel works and how other
people can get involved.
Tami Schwerin is the executive director of the Abundance
Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with
Piedmont Biofuels on sustainability education. Her job
consists of hosting tours of the biodiesel plant and sustainable
agriculture farm, putting on biodiesel workshops with
Piedmont Biofuels and organizing community events to
celebrate sustainability.
"We have all sorts of community events, including a
Pepper Festival to highlight local food and sustainable
agriculture; Pecha Kucha, a presentation format for folks
to get ideas out to the public; and many gatherings and
celebrations around sustainability successes," Schwerin said
in an email interview.
Guilford collaborates with Piedmont Biofuels as well. Our
cafeteria donates excess cooking oil to Piedmont Biofuels,
who process it into biodiesel and distribute it all over the
state for automobile use.
Snehal Deshmukh, director of dining services, appreciates
Guilford's connection with the co-op.
"There are many benefits from our relationship with
Piedmont Biofuels," said Deshmukh in an email interview.
"Not only does it keep our cooking oil out of the waste
stream, but it also helps create a renewable, clean-burning.
North Carolina-grown fuel. Having a fuel source that is
locally produced is a major step in creating a more locally-
based economy."
Piedmont Biofuels is vehement about getting others,
including the Guilford community, involved with the co-op
and with sustainability in general.
Joseph Ezzel, a former member of the plant engineering
and design-build teams for Piedmont Biofuels, hopes that
people will seek out sustainable organizations and get
involved.
"Most green groups welcome anyone who is interested in
learning about or becoming involved with efforts to preserve
our resources and protect our environment," said Ezzell,
who has now formed a separate company that builds biofuel
production equipment. "Make contact and show interest.
That will get the ball rolling."
Schwerin agrees that a major step in becoming involved is
to take initiative.
"All of the events and activities are to educate the public
about the importance of local food and renewable energy,"
Schwerin said. "The objective is to give folks skills that they
can use to help in their path to sustainability and make things
fun. The message is: go do something."