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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
OPINION
Campus seeks te impreve reseurces fer sexual assault
victims: there are ue easy auswers er quick fixes
Do you ever wonder about the safety of
our campus? How about violence? Or sexual
assault?
I never did. That is, until I read an article
from Amherst University's
student newspaper written
I by a student who was
I . raped on campus.
That in itself is
heartbreaking enough,
but what really upset
me was that the student
received no help from her
school. Instead of receiving
proper counseling, the
campus police took her to
a psychiatric ward because
they believed she was
mentally unstable.
This unjust treatment made me wonder
what Guilford does for victims of sexual
assault. I started searching for information so
I could compare Guilford arid Amherst.
I can happily say our school scores very
well to compared Amherst. We have a
club devoted to the issue. Sexual Assault
Awareness Support and Advocacy, as well as
a Survivors of Sexual Assault group. We have
an on-campus counselor for victims who
need to and are prepared to talk. We also have
an anonymous reporting form for those who
are not ready to come forward personally, but
still want the school to know.
However, we lack community support for
victims and reporting. There are several ways
in which we can improve this.
In fact, many people on campus are seeking
to improve the services we already offer and
to resolve the problems that are occurring. A
big player in this is the Violence Prevention
Advisory Committee.
"Our mission is to educate the campus
assault, but the issue has not been brought up
again in a way that is specific to our school.
Because of this, I had to search for information
on what is offered, instead of the institution
giving it to me.
All students should be told this information,
so that if a student becomes a victim, he/she,
or a friend already knows what resources are
available.
BY ALLISON
DEBUSK
Staff Writer
"Our mission is to educate the campus about the nature of
violence and harassment and provide support."
Julie Winterich, Violence Prevention Advisory Committee member &
associate professor of sociology and anthropology
about the nature of violence and harassment
and provide support," said committee
member Julie Wlnterich, associate professor
of sociology and anthropology.
In that mission statement, VN^nterich
touched on one of the major ways in which
our college can improve: education.
For first-years like myself, we went to
a comedic show during orientation about
sexual activity in college that touched on
Winterich suggested that classes should
be offered on sexual behaviors, or that
information about what our school offers
sexual assault victims should be integrated
into First-Year Experience courses.
I wholeheartedly agree. Education can
replace ignorance and fear.
Students can also help increase our
reporting rate. About one-fourth of female
college students are sexually assaulted. As
much as I would like to believe that Guilford
is an exception to this, we probably aren't.
Sexual assaults are rarely reported on our
campus. According to Sandra Bowles, director
of student judicial affairs, the last judicial case
regarding assault was four or five years ago.
Sexual assault traumatizes victims in an
incomprehensible way, so it is understandable
that coming forward would terrify victims.
It is also understandable if a student knows
a fellow student was assaulted, it might
be uncomfortable to encourage the victim
to report it or to do so themselves, even
anonymously. But until victims or people
who know about assault come forward, our
institution can't improve what it offers.
This is where money comes in.
Both students and staff want improvements
in what our school offers victims. However,
until more people are willing to report cases
of assault, the school can't get more funding
because it appears as if we don't have a need
for it. Because we can't improve, people don't
want to report.
Can you see this cycle?
I'm grateful that our school does offer
services and support for victims of sexual
assault, but there is room for improvement.
There's no easy answer as to what should
be done or what can be done, but Winterich
explained the best place to start: "We need a
community that supports reporting and takes
the burden off the victim."
Better than Jordan, yeah right, I want to be like Mike
N MY OPINION: NO ONE IN THE PAST,
PRESENT OR FUTURE COMPARES
TO MICHAEL JORDAN'S LEGENDARY
STATUS
I'd rather be like Mike. Not Kobe Bryant. Not Lebron
James, but Mike. Although Bryant and James are having
phenomenal careers, you'd need to combine both of their
careers to come close to topping Jordan's legendary status.
In recent years, the sports world has
debated who is the greatest: Michael
Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Lebron James?
Fortunately I've seen all three compete
during the time of their prime ability. In
my mind, there is no question.
However, some critics and fans point
out that Bryant scored 81 points in one
game against the Toronto Raptors.
Kobe has won five rings. Three of
those rings are Shaquille O'Neal rings.
According to Bruce Blitz, Bryant has
393 wins and 271 losses with a winning
percentage of 59.2 percent as the team
leader.
Jordan has 640 wins and 290 losses and 68.8 percent
wins."Michael Jordan shot his team to wins," said Blitz on
his website. "Kobe Bryant shoots his team out of wins."
Winning as the team leader is one significant stat that
no one can deny.
I'm not bashing Bryant by any means. He's just not
Jordan, nor will he ever surpass him."If Kobe wins two
more championships, he will be considered the greatest
player ever," said senior Kenneth Hyman. "He may not
have every record in the record book, but he would have
more rings than Jordan."
Bill Russell won 11 rings with the Boston Celtics during
a short 13-year career. Is Russell greater than Jordan? Not
in my opinion.
Championships do play a strong role in deciding the
greatest, along with individual statistics and how a player
helps his teammates get better.
Unlike Bryant and James, Jordan never played with
another teammate who demanded a double team.
Although Scottie Pippen is one of the top 50 greatest NBA
players of all-time, teams would rather Pippen shoot than
Jordan. Bryant has played with O'Neal, Pau Gasol and
I don't know what types of genes are in James's DNA,
but he has the potential unlike Kobe.
But let's stop the small talk and let's talk about Jordan.
During the 1988 season, Jordan won the league's scoring
title and the Defensive Player of the Year award.
James should have won the Defensive Player of the
Year award last year, along with his Most Valuable Player
award, inching him closer to the prize.
This ultimate statistic puts Jordan in a league of
his own. Throughout the 1988 season, Jordan not only
prevented guards from scoring but he averaged 35 points
per game. The amount of energy he used during this
Michael Jordan shot his team to wins. Kobe Bryant shoots his team out of wins.
Bruce Blitz, Blitz Sports Network writer
II
BY L.A.
LOGAN
Staff Writbc
now Dwight Howard, all who demand double teams.
The Akron Hammer, James's nickname -given by former
SportNation host Michelle Beadle, is now in Miami with
the Great Dwayne Wade. Wade demarids a double team
every game. Before Miami, King James spent seven years
leading the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If somehow James had delivered a championship while
in Cleveland, I certainly would have moved him up on
the list. James may rise higher on my list only if he wins
multiple championships, like Charles Barkley suggests.
He's a walking statistic machine every night. He guards
and plays every position. Plus he has led his team in
points per game every season since he entered the league
and I personally haven't seen a player accomplish this feat
since Jordan.
season is immeasurable.
For all the critics out there, let's not compare apples
and oranges. Bryant's and James's careers are dreamlike,
but Jordan's was like a hallucination. Did I really see that?
Out of 1,109 total games with the Chicago Bulls, Michael
Jordan scored in double digits in all but one game.
Come on, man.
Last season, James won his first championship in three
tries, along with three MVP awards and a finals MVP.
Kobe has won five championships, but only two as team
leader, one MVP and two finals MVPs.
Jordan is a five-time MVP winner as well as winning
championships in six out of six tries. With two three-
peats and sweeping the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
award. I'd rather be like Mike. '