2 1 March 6, 2015
The Guilfordian
J^EWS
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM/NEWS
BUDGET
Inevitable cuts caused by low enrollment
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
as our students?
“What is a community service based
school without a community service based
center? I urge you, the board, to look
towards the management of the financial
budget and change it, and ask, how did we
reach this point?”
Reacting to the rumor that the Bonner
programs were going to be cut, students
came in droves to the Carnegie room to
demonstrate how the program had allowed
them to attend college and how the Bonner
program has been instrumental to the
Guilford community.
“We strive to alleviate (the) burdens
of the less fortunate and pave a way for
them to access education and basic human
rights,” said Noelle Lane, senior and Bonner
Scholar. “We are all here because Bonner
helped us financially. Are the dreams of our
children not priceless?”
Responses from the board seem to
contradict the rumor.
“I’ve been on the board since 2001,
but I don’t know of any group that the
trustees have always respected, or felt are
more important to this campus, than the
Bonner Scholars,” said Vic Cochran ‘71.
“The board has always been supportive of
the Bonner program, and if you’ve heard
that we were planning to cut the program.
I’m afraid that’s erroneous.”
Amongst the other issues discussed were
sexual assault and lack of diversity relating
to professors, students and staff, ..
“We need to start getting comfortable
with having uncomfortable conversations
about the intersection of marginalized
populations and interpersonal violence and
working to end it,” said sophomore Molly
Anne Marcotte, who spoke on behalf of the
wellness education department.
Another significant issue brought up was
the lack of inclusion of CCE students in
the Guilford community.
“We’re all Guilford students, but our
struggles to the end of the road will be very
different,” said Monica Jones, president of
CCE SGA.
“We’re asking that you include us and
help us include ourselves in the community,
which is one of the strongest values that
Guilford supposedly stands for. In terms
of diversity, we talk the talk, but we don’t
walk the walk.”
Strickler, as an officer of enrollment and
retention, took the blame for the budgetary
issues of the College.
“Our budgetary challenges here at the
College are driven by enrollment,” said
Strickler, addressing the students and
Board of Trustees present at the forum. “If
you’re angry at anyone, be angry at me for
the enrollment problems at Guilford. That
is my job.
“If we want to increase enrollment, we
need to continue with this kind of energy
and passion because the most powerful
tool for me as a recruiter is a student body
that demonstrates this type of love for the
Guilford experience.”
The meeting ended with a speech from
Fernandes that reaffirmed her commitment
to Guilford but pulled no punches about
the College’s financial straits.
“I want to suggest that Guilford’s
financial challenges are extremely grave,”
said Fernandes. “The most important thing
for all of us to have in mind is that we
want Guilford College to be strong for the
future.
“I need everybody’s help for us to get
through this difficult time. It’s not going
to be one program, it’s not going to be one
small group of people (and) it’s not going
to be one person. All of us have to make
some sacrifices.”
ATF
tA! L.
MEETINGS ARE ON
MONDAYS @ 7 P.M.
BOREN LOUNGE
(FOUNDERS)
This week's developments
Senate Treasurer Mara Stern led Community Senate this week in discussing the idea
of removing the 50-club cap limit that is currently in place. After Senate’s approval of
Guilford College’s 48th club. Friends Club, discussion was opened on what should be
done regarding this limit, considering there are three clubs now up for approval in the near
future. A heated debate was had in favor and disapproval of this, citing the need to include
more diverse clubs on campus, but also to recognize that more clubs mean less budget
money for other clubs on campus.
•' -'v^i
Have an idea? Concern?
Great recipe? It’s important to us.
Email:
senate@guilford.edu
or visit guilfordsenate.wordpress.com
Compiled hy Robert Van Pelt, business manager