NEWS
December 6, 2013
Recent hate crime sparks outrage, discussion of change
BY NICOLE BARNARD
Staff Writer
Most of us like to think our
campus is a safe zone where people
of different backgrounds are
accepted and supported. Although
hateful acts are committed across
the globe, it can sometimes feel
like our Guilford College bubble is
immune.
Guilford got a reality check
on Nov. 23, however, when
sophomore Walid Musarsaa found
a note on his door calling him a
"damn terrorist."
Musarsaa, who is from Palestine,
has not found this to be the first
incident at Guilford.
"There's been repetitive hate
crimes against Arabs on campus for
quite some time," said Musarsaa.
"(That) Saturday night, someone
knocked on my window and I went
to open the door. I found (the) note
on the ground."
On Nov. 25, Senate held a forum
to discuss the incident.
"The forum was a great step
toward a healthier community,
but if only part of the community
is involved in the healing process,
we are not fulfilling our end of the
BRYAN SERIES
bargain," said senior Ruth deButts.
"This is a community issue that
needs community action."
Meanwhile, the administration
has also been responding.
"The Bias Response Team at
Guilford will meet to discuss this
incident," said Hall Director and
Student Success Mentor Brian
Daniel. "The team will provide
support to those
affected. If the
Response Team, do some kind of stronger stance on condemning
programming in the residence halls racism against certain groups on
about why someone would do this, campus and ... do more in regards
how do we respond, etc.
Many are outraged at this blatant
display of hate on campus.
"As a Jewish student, Tm pro-
Israel, but ... no matter what my
political orientation is and how I
feel about the situation in Israel, I
suspect(s)
identified,
case will
brought to
Department
Judicial Affairs."
The Bias
Response Team
is a group of staff
members that
address incidents
of hate that
to the Arab community.'
Director of Diversity Training
and Development Jorge Zeballos
agrees.
"I believe we should have
educational events ... to minimize
these incidents," said Zeballos. "As
far as this event,
we should try
"...if only part of the community is involved in did it and try to
the the healing process, we are not fulfilling our end aZ
of iL_ L ?„ // attitude."
% Many agree
that the College's
involvement is
critical.
"It is
important for our
administration.
of the bargain."
Ruth deButts, senior
are
serious and threatening.
"Clearly, it's serious," said Vice
President for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students Aaron Fetrow
would never support or condone faculty and staff to be trained how
writing such terrible things about to handle (and) prevent violent
someone," said junior Josh Weil. and traumatic events such as this,"
Musarsaa hopes this individual said deButts. "Students should feel
"But was it threatening? There was incident will foster a larger change, supported through appropriate
no serious threat, but it was serious "I would like to see Guilford actions taken by the administration,
language and certainly offensive invest more in Middle Eastern "There needs to be a more
speech. studies," said Mursarsaa. "I would noticeable stance against such
We will, (regardless of) the Bias also like to see Guilford take a instances and a stronger search to
find the perpetrator. Prevention
through education and experience
should be the first step to rid the
school of this violence."
Some want more transparency
on the handling of these incidents.
"It's really unclear as to what
happens to students when they
do violate a policy," said senior
Paris El-Ali. "We don't really know
how these students are taken care
of, whether the constitutions and
sanctions are upheld or whether
or not they're asked to go through
some rehabilitation."
One heavy question lingers: why
would someone do this in the first
place?
"Someone might do this because
(of) lack of understanding," said
Daniel. "Guilford, as with most
institutions of higher education,
is a microcosm of today's society.
Sometimes students at Guilford
get so used to the accepting
atmosphere that they forget that
bias still exists.
"Is Guilford more progressive
than most institutions of higher
education in America? Yes. I think
this incident is a reminder that bias
and hate still exist even in places
we may deem safe and accepting."
Titanic’s discoverer
inspires students
Continued From Page I
once," said sophomore attendee Lucas Perez-
Leahy.
Despite the easygoing atmosphere Ballard
created in the auditorium, his presentation
sparked some questions.
"He sees the ocean as some great resource,"
said first-year attendee Jade Glore. "That
surprised me, because he had this great respect
for nature and he talked about underwater
like it was this wonderful place but he kind of
wants to destroy it."
According to the Guilford College Bryan
Series Facebook page, a poll of over 400
subscribers named the event as the second
most popular since they began surveying in
2009.
Ballard's talk inspired young people to
challenge themselves in whatever field they
choose.
"Life knocks you down, and passion gets
you back up," said Ballard.
In 1989, Ballard founded the JASON Project, a
program designed to excite and engage middle
school students in science and technology.
Ballard began the JASON Project in response
to the thousands of letters he received from
students following his discovery of Titanic,
and he is still involved in the project today.
"It was impressive that someone his age
is still so focused on the education of young
people," said Perez-Leahy.
The best explanation for Ballard's consistent
vigor is his passion for exploration.
"I like to say that my greatest discovery is
the one I'm about to make," said Ballard.
New APSA report draft released
COMMIHEE COMPLETES
REVISIONS IN RESPONSE
TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
BY BRYAN DOOLEY
Senior Writer
Since the community forum on Sept. 27,
the Administrative Program and Services
Assessment committee has been quietly
revising its report, a report that began
two and a half years ago when the APSA
process was commissioned by President
and Professor of Political Science Kent
Chabotar to examine the College's
services.
According to a statement from the
APSA committee, it has received over 80
pieces of feedback and revised the second
draft to address these concerns.
"We followed up with the committee
by making our voice known through their
means of communication, the response
email," said senior Daniel Raeder.
"We also issued an open letter to the
community, including the committee, that
was published in The Guilfordian.
"We have not gotten any direct response
from the committee or anyone involved
in the process, but (sophomore) John
Madden did meet with members of the
committee personally."
One such committee member was
Assistant Academic Dean Erin Dell.
"I've talked with (Dell), very casually,
a few times about what their process is
and what the progress of the report is as of
now," said Madden in an email interview.
"I believe that they do want to hold up the
concerns of the community, and hopefully
they will try and do that while still making
the necessary budget cuts."
Chabotar addressed the necessity of
these budget cuts in an email interview.
"No college or university can afford
not to look at its current operations
and programs to make them as
efficient and relevant as possible," said
Chabotar. "Average student debt for
independent school graduates is now
$29,000 at graduation. The economy
suffers from about the highest structural
unemployment in decades. Financial aid
is rising, a huge price for our traditional
enrollment and diversity. Our excellent
CCE program is struggling.
"The College did the Academic Program
Prioritization Study (which examined
academic departments and programs) to
focus scarce resources on tihe academic
programs with the highest enrollment
potential and quality. I commissioned
APSA to do the same on the administrative
side. Without even more than the $88
million we've raised since 2002, we cannot
keep doing all we are doing and survive
long term."
Junior Ines Sanchez de Lozada, among
others, felt excluded from the process.
"There was a lack of communication
with the overall community about this
committee existing in the first place," said
Lozada.
"Another issue is how little diversity
there is in the committee ... I would like
to see more transparency, communication
and an intentional conversation with the
community about our economic situation,
our values and priorities."
Sophomore Alexandra Barbour
explained in an email interview why it felt
necessary to write the open letter.
"The school lost $2.5 million in state
funding and that's not something that
can be ignored, so we tried our best not to
make the committee or the proposal itself
an enemy," said Barbour. "We really just
wanted our concerns to be heard and to
show the committee how passionate we
are about certain programs facing big cuts
or position eliminations."
The second draft, released on Nov. 22,
reflected changes made in response to
feedback. Chabotar invited feedback on
this second draft until Dec. 6.
According to Chabotar, the final draft
should be issued before spring semester.
"Guilford is constantly changing,"
said Chabotar. "It is different in 2013
than it was in 2003 or 1993 or 1843. Many
excellent suggestions and concerns were
expressed about the report. The (draft
released on Nov. 22 was) different in
scope and content, with revisions that
will satisfy many, but not everyone, in our
community. You made a difference. You
were heard."