GThe
UILFORDIAN
Officials consider proposal for co-ed Milner
Brennan Keene
Staff Writer
Following the allocation of
$l.B million from bonds for resi
dence hall renovations by the
Board of Trustees, Richard Ford,
director of residential life, has
proposed that Milner Hall be
completely renovated and
changed from an all-male to a
Library hours extended for six-week trial
Joyce Atkinson
Production Coordinator
The existing library hours, decreased due
to budget cuts, will be extended to the old
hours for a six-week trial period from Febru
ary 10 to March 25.
Currently, the library is open from 8 to 12
a.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday,
the doors open at 8 a.m. and now close at 6
p.m., rather than the traditional 10 p.m. Sat
urday hours, currently from 12 to 6p.m., will
extend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday hours
will run from 10 to 12 a.m.
The eight hour reduction, if the trial period
TAKING SHAPE
|g
photo by Charles Almy
The second floor of the new telecommunications building, installation of
computer equipment Is scheduled for April of this year.
Vol. 74 No. 16 Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C. Feb. 5,1990
co-ed hall.
Because of the type of shower
facilities in Milner, extensive
changes must be made on the
second floor, the designated floor
for women. According to Mau
reen Keefe, assistant director of
residential life, these renovations,
as well as those of all residence
hall rooms must begin "no later
than mid-February."
"It's definitely going to bring
down the damage and provide a
proves ineffective, will save a proposed
$18,040 for this semester alone. Circula
tion Librarian Karen Behm said, "The hour
library cut was the first most obvious place;
of the budget cut." Behm said, "We felt the
library was not being used enough during
those hours. Friday night was a graveyard
and it was difficult to find student workers
during that time."
The library was requested to cut $20,000
out of their budget this year as part of
Guilford's campus-wide budget cut. Di
rector of the Library Heibert Poole and his
staff devised a budget cut that would effect
five areas of the library.
The staff elected to cut back on supplies,
travel expenses, the departmental book
more effective learning environ
ment for men and women,"
commented Keefe. She went on
to say that making Milner co-ed
will increase awareness and tol
erance between men and women.
Richard Ford's reasoning for
making Milner co-ed involves
several statistics. Of 622 hous
ing contracts reviewed, 50.6
percent of Guilford students in
dicated that they would prefer
co-ed housing; however, with
budget, and two areas of student labor, one
being in the Quaker historical section and the
other at the circulation desk.
Many students feel that the library should
be available on Friday and Saturday nights
because it is difficult to woik then in the resi
dence halls. Some students expressed their
concern to student workers. Gregg Kearney,
a circulation desk worker, said of the general
student attitude, "Students were irate which is
funny to me because when it was open until 10
p.m. [Fridays] no one was in here. I think
we're doing the right thing."
Poole said, "Clearly the administration rec
ognizes students concern. If students want
more hours, then we'll do it because we're
here primarily for students."
Guilford's present housing situ
ation, only 30percentof on-cam
pus students can be housed in co
ed housing. Furthermore, with
Bryan Hall, being composed of
20 suites of women and only
eight suites of men, Milner's
becoming co-ed would make
Bryan come closer to a 50-50
male/female ratio.
In a memo written on Jan. 26
to Nancy Cable-Wells and to
Stuart Vaughn and Chrissy
Behm feels it will be necessary
to count the number of people in
the library during the hours in ques
tion to decide on whether the ex
tended hours are being used.
Behm said, "If there are only
one or two people, it doesn't war
rant keeping it open and in our ex
perience, this has been the case.
However, if it is highly used, we
will certainly keep the library
open."
Generally, there has been an in
crease in the number of students
using the new library. Behm at
tributes the increase to the new
space. "Students have more of an
option now," she said. The plac
ing of computers along the count
ers that run parallel with the stacks
is expected to further increase li
brary use.
Lawrence, SRC co-chairs, Ford
said, "For all of these reasons,
Milner will be co-ed for next
year, with the second floor des
ignated as female space. There
may be some students who well
feel as if more opportunities are
being denied, however, given the
request for co-ed housing, it
seems clear that the needs of the
greater community will be
served."
Despite the strong favor shown
by the Residential Life Office,
some people are skeptical of the
decision. Stephen Goins, resi
dent advisor in Milner Hall feels
strongly about continuing
Milner's present situation. "I
feel a bond between the guys
here, a sense of 'hanging out
with the guys.'" Goins went on
to voice his concerns about the
"lack of consultation" with the
students. Ford hopes to address
the matter on Sunday, Feb. 4 in
Milner Lounge.
A co-ed Milner will require a
lot of adjustment for women and
men. Shannon Craigo, a resident
of Mary Hobbs Hall, summed up
the feelings of most of the women
asked.
"I think that women would be
willing to live in a co-ed, reno
vated Milner, however, it will be
difficult for women and men to
release Milner's past and go on
to a new and very different fu
ture."
UNSIDE
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