NEWS
Things get heated at Hodgins Retreat: safety issues arise
October 5, 2012
BY NATALIE SUTTON
Staff Writer
Fights, sexual assaults, and
weapons, oh my! What exactly has
been going on at the Hodgins Retreat
Apartments lately?
One student witnessed a heated
fight at Hodgins on the night of
Sept. 29.
"Basically someone's boyfriend
from off-campus came to pregame
and went into an apartment and
started talking s— about the
Marines," said a sophomore who
wished to remain anonymous. "He
ended up getting punched in the
face by a football player ... and his
girlfriend was sobbing. The cops
came and left and then came back
again because the guy kept leaving
my friend's place and tdking s—
and getting hit."
Incidents like this seem to be more
common lately at Hodgins, as tales
of fights and weapons have become
the talk of the community.
"I heard a couple weeks ago there
was a fight in which multiple people
ganged up and beat up a Guilford
student over stealing some alcohol,"
said a junior who also wished to
remain anonymous. "I also heard
that there was a fight last weekend
where someone threatened to get a
gun."
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students Aaron Fetrow
has heard such complaints, and
is aware of two incidents where
students reported fights and
significant disruptions at Hodgins.
"I find it a bit ironic that there are
students in our community who are
very upset when RAs and Public
Safety enforce the rules, and some of
those same students are now upset
that we do not have a presence in
of fights, sexual misconduct and
consumption of alcohol and other
drugs.
'This is the fourth year Hodgiris
has housed students," said Bowles.
"During the first year, a major
Westborough," said Fetrow.
Junior Malikah French thinks that
the safety issues at Hodgins results
from a combination of factors.
that fighting is simply not tolerated
at Guilford," said Fetrow. "If our
students are involved in the fights at
Hodgins, they will no longer be our
students."
Some feel tliat, without the
Hodgins to 'keep them safe,"' said
Fetrow in an email interview.
After Guilford College chose to
discontinue its partnership with
Hodgins last year, the apartments
are now considered an off-campus
living space.
StUl, it houses a lot of Guilford
students, many of whom enjoy
socializing there on the weekends.
Sandy Bowles, director of student
judicial affairs, has heard reports
"I think that the fights that
occurred have made some students
fight happened resulting in judicial feel less safe, but fights can happen presence of Public Safety or RAs,
charges. During the second and third anywhere," said French. "It's all been things may get out of control,
years, when the property was staffed a mix of the wrong people at the "It's just as safe as anywhere on
and run by Guilford, we had some wrong time mixed with alcohol and a campus, but its proximity to campus
substance use issues, but nothing else hostile environment. There have been without the same structure of school
rules allows people to get wild
—— without worry of consequence," said
senior Taylor Sutton.
The question now is what
is the next step that the Guilford
community should take to make
students feel safe.
"Interestingly, Hodgins is almost
exclusively Guilford students,"
said Fetrow. "If there is behavior
happening 'that makes others feel
unsafe, then what should the folks
living in Hodgins and hosting
gatherings do to make it feel more
safe?
We will enforce our Student
"Students need to think about their accountability and responsibility for 'safety'
at Hodgins, just as they do in Legacy, Madison Woods or Westborough."
Aaron Fetrow, vice president for student affairs and dean of students
was reported. During the first month
of this, the fourth year, when the
property is not staffed by Guilford,
we've had two significant fights."
Many feel that although there
have been some serious incidents at
Hodgins lately, incidents can happen
anywhere.
"Students need to think about their
accountability and responsibility
for 'safety' at Hodgins, just as they
do in Legacy, Madison Woods or
fights on campus, downtown and
I'm sure in everyone's hometowns.
Those incidents shouldn't speak on Code of Conduct, but that is pretty
the safety level of Hodgins." meaningless to the person with a
As far as fighting goes, Fetrow broken nose or a hospital bill,
sticks firmly to a no-tolerance policy. Students have the power to not allow
"It is important to remember the gatherings to get out of control."
For a video regarding Hodgins, visit
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
Associate director of alumni relations gives advice to students
KATHERINE CUMMINGS
'83 OFFERS CAREER,
LIFE LESSONS
BY DANIEL GASKIN
Staff Writer
Will your major define your
career path? According to Associate
Director of Alumni Relations
Katherine Cummings, that may not
always be the case.
Cummings met with students on
Sept. 27 to talk about how she used
her Guilford College degree. She
stressed that students need to know
the importance of having a top-notch
resume.
"Get someone to look at
your resume, and start to think
about getting connections," said
Cummings. "You have a broad skill
set at Guilford; don't think when you
leave here it'll be your set course."
Cummings also talked about the
resources Guilford students can use
once they graduate.
"There's a thing called 'My
Guilford'," said Cummings. My
Guilford is a portion of the Guilford
home site where alumni can connect.
"We are all over the place; there are
chapters nationwide."
Cummings spoke about her
experiences and told students that
their post-graduate stories may likely
be similar to hers.
"I've had a lot of different jobs,"
said Cummings.
These included teaching courses
at a woman's prison, becoming a
community activist against a coal
company, and volunteering at a
Katherine Cummings '83 counsels on how
to use Guilford degrees effectively at the Alumni
House on Thursday, Sept. 27.
battered women's shelter before
going to graduate school. Her
experience at the battered women's
shelter was particularly taxing.
"When I would go home at night,
I would only have two emotions:
extreme anger or extreme sadness,"
said Cummings. "There was no in
between."
Cummings has had a plethora of
careers, reinforcing her notion that
your major does not necessarily
define the rest of your life.
"It was reassuring to hear her say
that you don't have stay on a set
path," said sophomore Faith Krech.
"As an English major, her talk made
me see how many other opportunities
there are out there in the workforce."
Her current job involves fighting
a coal corporation trying to set up
shop near Cummings' home. When
she heard this news, she started a
communal organization to stop the
coal company from coming to town.
"If you want to win, get women on
your side," said Cummings. "We will
play any angle we have to. We can be
mothers, businesses people, anyone.
Whatever it takes to win."
Cummings also wanted students
to know that being a Guilford
graduate can help them get jobs.
"Take advantage of being a
Guilford alum," said Cummings. "We
will help you make connections."
Cummings left an impression
on the students who came to hear
about her experiences, such as junior
Christopher Haswell-Henion.
"I think she said to never be
afraid," said Haswell-Henion.
"Never set yourself up to be a failure.
You can do anything you put your
mind too."
In the end, Cummings brought it
back to Guilford.
"Remember to say to people that
you went to Guilford. You'll never
know who you might meet."
Senate Update
This Week's ♦
Developments*
We met and talked about sustainability.We approved re-
insteting a "free stuff room" on campus (a room where
people can drop off unwanted items and get things they
need). We are now looking for a room.
Next Week's ♦
Plans *
We are having a pizza party next week. Bring a friend,
roommate, study buddy and come grab a slice. We'd love
to see you.
Go to the Senate Facebook poll and take a poll about
whether or not we should fix the falling down stick
sculpture on the quad.
We need to hear your voice!
Got an idea? Concern? Great recipe? It's important to us.
Join Community Senate on Wednesday night at 7:00 in
upstairs Founders.
For items on the agenda email: senate@guilford.edu