NEWS
Zakaria details story bekind America's economic woes
April 20, 2012
By Zachary Thomas
Staff Writer
What role does the United States play in
a globalized economy that affects everything
from jobs to Internet access? Just ask journalist
Fareed Zakaria, and you might get an idea
of his April 10 speech at War Memorial
Auditorium, the last in the 2011-12 Bryan
Series.
"People in America are very gloomy,"
Zakaria said of the national mood. "We've lost
our mojo."
Zakaria, as introduced by President and
Professor of Political Science Kent Chabotar,
is the host of CNN's flagship program on
international relations, "Fareed Zakaria GPS,"
and an editor-at-large for TIME Magazine.
Bom in India before immigrating to the U.S.
for college, Zakaria has also written books
such as "The Post-American World" and "The
Future of Freedom."
"(Zakaria) is one of the smartest political
analysts I have ever read," said Visiting
Assistant Professor of Political Science Robert
Duncan. 'He has an ability to articulate very
complex issues clearly, and that is genius."
With a creased but clean-shaven face, his
left hand in his pocket and his right gesturing
emphatically to his oration, Zakaria used a
blend of examples, personal anecdotes and
wit to illustrate just how much the global
economic system — and life itself — has
changed in the last thirty or so years.
"People forget how restricted information
was until very recently," Zakaria said,
referring back to the "dark age of 1990 ...
without email, without Blackberries, without
iPhones."
He explained that at one point the
government of Saudi Arabia was able to keep
Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait a
state secret for a whole week, something that
would never happen today with the existence
of the Internet and Twitter.
Later in the night, Zakaria reined in his
focus to the obstacles facing our country's
economic recovery and political process.
Listing various ailments, he put what he
called America's "great disease" into plain
desperately?" Zakaria asked. "No. So we kick
the can down the road."
Zakaria's overall style won a positive
appraisal from junior Simon Warhaft.
"He was opinionated, for sure," said
Warhaft. "Usually that comes off as arrogant
and egotistical, but I felt that it was funny and
reflects on his success."
Junior Christiana Baiden, who is from
In
Student Kaoru Kofukada, senior Alexis Goldman and sophomore Keyla Beebe speak with
Fareed Zakaria in his changing room after Zakaria's speech in the War Memorial Auditorium on April
10. Fareed used examples, personal stories, and hard facts to weave his story.
light.
"Our problem is that we simply haven't
found a way to get stuff done that needs to
be done," Zakaria said, commenting on our
political system and its tendency to avoid
challenges.
"Do we have a solution to our immigration
problems, which are real and need fixing
Ghana, conversed with Zakaria following his
speech.
I was amazed by how much he knew
about my home country," Baiden said, noting
that Zakana knew about recent petroleum
discoveries in Ghana. "He knew almost more
than me about my own country's politics."
. While respected by most, Duncan noted
that Zakaria's statements and writings have
drawn the ire of some.
"Simply because he says that the world
is catching up very rapidly, some people
interpret that as 'the U.S. is not number one,"'
Duncan said.
Nonetheless, campus consensus appears
positive for Zakaria's speech.
"I thought he was interesting and
pretty accurately summed up what we are
going through in our current economy,"
senior Anne Rappe said in an email
interview. "I had no knowledge of who he
was before I went, but I was glad I did."
Earlier in the day, Zakaria stopped by
Guilford for a small group meeting with
faculty and students from journalism and
global perspectives classes.
At one point, a Guilford employee asked
Zakaria if he had any advice for outgoing
Guilford graduates.
"Do something you really love," Zakaria
replied.
; He noted the positive influence that
energetic, motivated interns had on the rest
of the workplace on the set of his television
program.
Make yourself needed ... do everything
you can," Zakaria said.
The line-up for the 2012-13 Bryan Series
was also announced on April 10.
Speakers for next year include Tina Brown,
Tom Brokaw, Geoffrey Canada, Caroline
Kennedy and Thomas Friedman.
"That's a great line-up," said Warhaft,
reacting to the news. "Besides Bums and
Zakaria, I thought this year's line-up was
lacking."
For more information on the 2012-13 Bryan
Series and the upcoming speakers, please visit
bryanseries.guilford.edu.
Students stand together to face their fears, fight the silence and take hack the night
By C.J. Green & Daphne Hawkins
Staff Writers
Silence illuminates the night sky and amplifies the
crackling flames in the bonfire pit. A circle of people forms
around the fire, as wind and fear will not stop them from
their goal: at this moment, they will take back the night.
This was the scene last Wednesday night, April 11, as
Guilford students stood together and faced their fears and
dark secrets.
The motto, "Stop the violence, break the silence," has
become the rallying call of sexual assault survivors across
the country. Men, women and children alike have decided to
rise up against stigmas surrounding sexual violence.
"Taking back the night is this phrase that means I am
taking back the night from violence, from sexual assault, or
just walking home alone at night," said senior Hannah Early,
who helped organize the event this year. "This event is to
help people not feel fear, and to take back what is theirs."
Every April, students all over the country unify around
fire pits, in gyms or around memorials, as they remember
and speak out against sexual predators. People of all ages
share experiences that will always linger.
According to statistics provided by the Rape, Abuse and
Incest National Network, every two minutes someone in the
U.S. becomes a victim of sexual assault.
207,754 people endure sexual violence a vear. More than
half will never report the crime.
This is a problem that the Organization for Sexual Assault
Awareness, Support and Advocacy has been trying solve
around campus.
The tradition of Take Back the Night continues at Guilford
College.
"It's necessary because sexual violence happens here at
Guilford," said senior and SAASA President Taylor Starns.
"There's a culture of denial here. People think that because
they rarely hear about it, that it doesn't happen. But it does."
Take Back the Night fights back again sexual assault and sexual
violence across the country. Held at Guilford on April 11, students
listened to speakers and banned together to fight the stigmas that
surround sexual assault.
It was SAASA's goal this year to provide a safe place for
people to express themselves and be supported. As students,
alumni, and visitors gathered on the steps of Founders Halk
there was certainly the feeling of joyful camaraderie among
the students that participated.
The tone became more somber as senior Justin Kirchner
stood to address the crowd, and silence followed.
Kirchner spoke about the traumatic and painful assault an
11-year-old girl endured, only to be blamed for allowing the
attack to happen; according to event organizers, this type of
victim blaming is not unusual.
"We have foisted the responsibility of preventing rape
solely on the shoulders of women," said Kirchner. "However,
It is not only women who suffer. There's this societal idea
that men cannot be victims."
Kirchner urged that those in the crowd look at how they
perpetuate the ideas of victim-blaming and shaming, and
choose to change.
In the falling twilight, students and guests were each
given a lit candle. The procession of two dozen people
quieted as they made the slow walk to the bonfire by the
lake, already lit and offering comfort.
The Speak Out is a Take Back the Night tradition in
which anyone can break the silence in a safe and accepting
community. For many, it was both a freeing and painful
experience.
As the Speak Out concluded, there was a sense of
celebration and unity as new friends settled close to the fire
to make s mores and celebrate their strength, shattering the
silence.
"I was really impressed by how the Speak Out went even
though I had never been a part of one before, but it felt just
right," said sophomore Cappa Cheatham.
While Take Back the Night was a success, there is still
more to be done.
"One night a year is not enough time to deal with this,"
said Starns. "We are people: your friends, your family, your
peers, and our experiences matter."