Republicans win House and Senate in midterm elections
BY CLARE FORRISTER
Staff Writer
In the midterm election on Nov. 4,
local Senate candidate and Republican
Thom Tillis ousted Democratic incumbent
Kay Hagan and surpassed Libertarian
candidate Sean Haugh.
The Senate and House races were not the
sole issues of the midterm election. Voters
voted for Supreme Court justices, local
sheriffs and referendums.
One referendum allowed criminal
defendants to waive their right to trial by
jury in non - death penalty trials. Voters
passed this proposal while rejecting one
that would have increased the sales tax by
25 cents per $100 to fund public education.
"(Education) is so important to American
society," said junior Victoria Saraldi. - To
cut funding from schools in order to not
have to pay an extra 25 cents is ridiculous
and pretty irresponsible."
Many, however, were content with the
election results.
"I thought it was a big statement,
basically, on the country's satisfaction with
what has been going on for the past several
years," said sophomore and President; of
the Guilford College Republicans Harrison
Houlihan. "I think it's aii opportunity."
Others, like Assistant Professor of
Political Science Robert Duncan, do not see
a bright future after this election.
"I think we're headed for two more
years of gridlock and finger-pointing,"
said Duncan. "We're going to see more tax
breaks for the wealthy and oppression of
the poor and the middle class — more and
more regression of the advances made in
this country."
Despite the definitive nature of
the election results, several
factors, excluding the
voters' decisions,
affected election
results.
According to
ThinkProgress,
thanks to a new
law that bans
voting in a different precinct, many voters
tried to vote in the wrong place. In addition,
a shorter early voting period prevented
some people from showing up to the polls.
Numerous previous polling places closed
this year, and problems were reported with
the voting machines themselves, though
they were later resolved.
The main hindrance, however, was a
lack of voter turnout.
"(In politics), nobody really changes
anything," said senior Michael Carlini.
"They just talk about change. That's
partially why (I decided not to vote). I was
waiting to see if one person would have a
commercial without cutting down another
person. It all needs to change."
The Koch brothers, billionaires who
backed Republican candidates around the
Percentage AO/ Percentage Mtm
of votes: /O of votes: ^ f /O
Percentage
of votes:
3.7%
North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Race
Information courtesy of ncsbe.gov
country with generous
donations, funded Tillis'
campaign heavily. They even aired
an ad that supported Haugh in an
effort to stray voters away from voting for
Hagan.
"Try as we might, we just can't keep
corporate special interests from buying
our politicians," said candidate Haugh in
a political ad.
Hagan's campaign was another story,
according to Hagan's Campaign Press
Intern and senior Josh Weil.
"We ran a near-perfect campaign in my
eyes," said Weil. "It was definitely a shock
(when she did not win). We accomplished
a lot, and we got a lot of issues out onto
the table."
Weil offered an explanation for the
results.
"I think people are angry," he said.
"People are fed up with party politics.
Guilford
County
"However,
people are also ...
very reactionary. The
president's approval is
not super high, and therefore
they voted against his entire
party."
Whether citizens feel satisfied or
frustrated by the results of the midterm
elections, CCE student Jennifer Phillips
offered her advice for anyone who cares
about the way the government is run.
"Get out and vote," Phillips said. "And
not just vote, but learn what the politicians
are saying, and what they believe in. ...
Look at what they plan to do once they're
in office, and then vote."
Percent of vote for
winning candidate
(by county)
~40%~
'50%'
'60%'
'-70%-
Tillis Hagan
2014 Guilford Shares campaign reaches b^ond campus
BY JULIET MAGOON
Staff Writer
like to donate to. Then, within each organization, you can "It's an opportunity for Guilford students and the
designate a specific funded agency. You may also choose to community to participate and celebrate what makes
donate to an organization across the board." Greensboro, and by extension Guilford College, a vibrant
Access to opportunities for a better quality of life. One substantial reward of supporting ArtsGreensboro is place to live," he added. "The National Folk Festival, the
Connecting people with effective ways to support critical the National Folk Festival. Chosen from among 32 American new Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts plus the
environmental causes. A Greensboro-hosted National Folk cities, Greensboro will host this free festival for a three- wonderful gift of the park downtown that will break ground
Festival free of charge. These and more are benefits of the year stay beginning in 2015. This will be the first time the in a couple of weeks provide huge momentum, moving this
2014 Guilford Shares annual giving
campaign.
The campaign features three
pioneering organizations —
ArtsGreensboro, EarthShare North
Carolina and United Way of Greater
Greensboro. It allows Guilford to reach
outside of our campus community and
support local nonprofit organizations in
the Greater Greensboro area.
"Earth Shares supports sustainability,
ArtsGreensboro and the United Arts
Council support the arts and theatre
and United Way supports a variety of local organizations,"
said Assistant Director of Facilities Brian Wenger, one of the
campaign's tri-chairpersons. "(Guilford Shares) associates
the name of Guilford College with charitable giving and
supports those individuals who are less fortunate."
Donations and pledges can be made online at
GiveAtTheOffice.org.
"If a person goes online to donate, they have some
choices," said Director of Human Resources and Payroll
Rick W5kIU^^^,*"^J^;jfj,^oose which organization they would
"Our goal is not a monetary one. We decided this year that we wanted
to mainly have a participation goal. If we can get participation at 50
percent of its potential community, that would be great."
Rick Williams, director of human resources and payroll
community in an exdting direction.
Despite its benefits, the campaign's
achievements have dwindled over the
last few years.
"Our goal is not a monetary one," said
Williams. "We decided this year that we
wanted to mainly have a participation
goal. If we can get participation at 50
percent of its potential community, that
would be great."
Although students want to get
involved, many are uninformed when it
comes to Guilford Shares.
National Folk Festival has been presented in North Carolina "I had never heard about the campaign before," said
since its foimding in 1934. senior Harmah Schewel. "It's interesting. I work for
"It's an 80-year-old institution and is the first and largest phonathon, and we are usually in the know about current
of its kind," said ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom campaigns. ITs something we could mention to our donors
Philion. "(The National Folk Festival) brings together to get the word out."
different communities, highlights all of the wonderful The Guilford Shares campaign makes it possible for
talents we have from the vast immigrant population in Guilford to translate its values into public action.
Greensboro and honors our heritage from a standpoint of "The diversity of opportunities for getting involved with
the quest for equality and freedom that is recognized by the campaign, either personally or finand^ly, mirrors the
Guilford sjtudentsi, . \> , diversity of our campus," said Williams.