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FEATURES
What the hellP! It's What the Hell Gen
GUILFORD'S ODDEST TRADITION
BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER
CELEBRATION OF GEEKERY
By Alex Lindberg
Staff Writer
From board games to video games, from the Iron
Chef: College Edition competition to the Geek Auction,
from bad movies to bad anime, it is no wonder that
Guilford College's annual What the Hell?! Con is such
a large event. Sponsored by the Yachting Club, this self-
advertised geek convention offers something for anyone
with an interest in science fiction, fantasy or gaming.
The convention this year hosted events and shows
including the fire-dancing group Flaming Faeries, a
debate on "the relative awesomeness of things (con-
goers) love" in the realm of geekdom and two wizard
rock concerts, featuring music based on the Harry
Potter series performed by the bands The Blibbering
Humdingers and Hawthorne & Holly.
WTHCon also reprised its classic events such as
the Crapathon, or "the worst clips of crap your con
organizers can find," and the Geek Auction, where
bidders buy dances with "young geeks" to benefit
charity. These events traditionally bring a good-sized
crowd to Guilford.
See "WTHCon" on Page 7
Knights from the European Medieval Arts of Arms school demonstrate their skills on
the lawn in front of Duke.The EMAA Knights have been a regular feature ofWTHCon
for several years.
FEATURES
Quest for purpose: a personal profile of Matt “Essa” White
By Maxwell Taylor
Guest Writer
Matt “Essa” White (left), the Islamic Center's official
coordinator for new Muslims, discusses the Qu'ran, Muslims in
Greensboro, and the history, customs and practices of Islam.
It is Friday afternoon at the Islamic
Center of Greensboro and the parking
lot is bustling as designated men
moderate traffic. Footwear is discarded
at the entrance. The Khutbah sermon
is moments from beginning.
Located on 16th Street, the Islamic
Center is a cultural medley of devout
Muslims hailing from the far reaches
of the globe, with an estimated 30
nationalities represented. Many
of its members immigrated from
northern Africa, as well as Malaysia
and Bangladesh. One man was not
familiar with the teachings of Islam in
his native Venezuela.
Matt "Essa" White finds himself
going through the preparative
motions on this overcast Friday. White
is a slender man with fair complexion
and an alluring presence. White's
precise knowledge of Muslim culture,
complemented by an ability to relate
to others, combine in his role as the
Islamic Center's official coordinator
See "White" on Page 8
NEWS
Cloud IX?
Athletics
department
begins Title
IX seltstudy
By Victor Lopez
Staff Writer
The Guilford College Athletics
Department is in the process of completing
a Title IX self-study that will evaluate
gender equity, among other criteria that
Title IX sets forth. Tom Palombo, head
men's basketball coach and athletic
director, told The Guilfordian that he
expects the report to be completed by the
close of the spring 2012 semester.
The 1972 Title IX Educational Act
prohibits gender discrimination in colleges
and universities. A 1974 amendment
extended the law to include discrimination
in athletic programs.
Sports Information Director and
Assistant Director of Athletics David
Walters told The Guilfordian that the self-
study will address how compliant the
athletics department is in operating under
Title IX.
"The self-study should address
both gender equity and Title IX," said
Walters. "I find it hard to believe that
colleges and universities would blatantly
show favoritism based on gender, but it
happens."
The National College Athletics
Association requires division-three
schools — like Guilford — to conduct self-
studies every five years in order to remain
NCAA-certified.
Robert Malekoff, assistant professor of
sports studies and department chair, will
be compiling the self-study. Malekoff told
The Guilfordian that gender inequity is
defined by how individual athletes are
received by their peers.
See "Title IX" on Page 2
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