Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Oct. 15, 1990, edition 1 / Page 3
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PerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPerspectivesPersp No Religion on Sports Pages To the Editor: Butch Maier is The Guilfordian sports editor, not the campus minister. Maier is a competent sports writer, and I appreciate his past efforts covering Guilford athletics. However, I am concerned that he is allowing his religious beliefs to take priority over his sports coverage. Though I respect his beliefs, their pertinence to sports commentary eludes me (perhaps Maier's commentaries would be more appropriate in the editorial section rather than the sports page). Maier's October 8 column, "It'sTimetoMake aChange," was not a sports article but a religious sermon. I am aware of the FCA's philosophy which links athletics and Christi anity, but the Guilford sports pages are not the proper channel for expressing these views. Thus, it is the responsibility of The Guilfordian editors and writers to ensure that Guilfordian articles do not stray from their intended topic (in this case sports). I encourage the editors, especially Maier, to "stay the course" with future issues. Trevor Smith Keep Paper Non-Religious To the Editor: With all due respect for Butch Maier's beliefs in the Christian faith, I must air my grievances about his column. Although I was baptized Roman Catholic, I must admit that I do not feel God's presence as intensely as Butch Maier— most certainly not when I think of sports. In fact, I see absolutely no rapport between God and sports or, to stretch this a little further, The Guilfordian. I understand Butch's right to freedom of speech, but his last column was more like a mini-sermon about how "J.C." died for our sins, tempus fugit and carpe diem. Out of naivete, I had never made the connection between the number of bases stolen in a baseball game and Jesus Christ's death for our sins, but I should have been listening to Sunday masses more attentively, I suppose. Perhaps it is my cynicism of the Catholic Church that led to my failure in all sports-related activities. In any case, my perception of The Guilfordian was that it was a non-religious paper, but then again, I have been wrong before. Stephanie Klingenberg Time to Change Your Hearts To the Editor: I would like to thank Butch Maier for writing his heart about his beliefs and for writing the thought-provoking article "It's Time to Make a Change" and for addressing the questionable destiny (for some it is questionable) of many people. Just like Butch asked if the "pitchers and catchers" would report again or if there would be another season to enjoy, we must ask ourselves, as Butch did, would there be another sunrise to enjoy? I'm happy to see that Butch credited Jesus Christ for the saving grace that He holds for "all" people—not just for Butch or Alex. People look to philosophy, "religion" and intelligence for salvation not realizing the life that only Christ holds in His saving, gracious, outstretched hands. People may argue and have argued about Christianity and the ideas thereof; however, no one can dispute how my heart has been changed and cannot disprove who changed it—that being Jesus Christ. Butch is right: "you don't need fancy credentials to earn your way into this game"—Christ's love is so great, how could anyone possibly earn that love? It's only by freely receiving with an honest heart His grace that Jesus holds in His extended hand and that can indeed change your life and your heart or, in other words, make you a "new creatioa" If this letter ever gets into The Guilfordian, I want to tell LETTERS TO THE EDITOR its readers that I can only witness to you that love from Jesus that has changed Butch, myself, and millions of others. It is time to make that change because soon, how soon I don't know, each one of us will stand naked in front of Jesus—stripped of everything. What will you say to Him? Will you be able to say you lived for .Him? Will you be able to say you truly loved Him? And, will He be able to recognize you as one who completely trusted in Him? Alexander Maier Administration Ignoring Issues To the Editor: I am writing this letter because I am frustrated with certain parts of our administration. Again and again I hear how lucky Guilford students are to have a voice in community politics. I agree that we as students are fortunate to learn about the way our college operates and have an actual voice in controlling its destiny. I do not think, however, we should have full responsi bility for conquering all of Guilford's social problems. I think it is time for the administration of this school to take some initiative and responsibility for Guilford's social code. 1 spent last year trying to work against racism at Guilford College. I met Martha Lang, a sociologist, who compiled a startling survey revealing that our campus has a major problem with racist attitudes. I thought Guilford, a Quaker school, would be quick to fight against racism. Unfortunately, Martha, a main student activist, has left and our administration seems to think the problem of racism has no importance. I have not seen any programs dealing with racism. Does our administration expect students, who jue in the process of learning, to solve or teach others about problems many students don't even know exist? I think not. I also saw no programs for first year students dealing with the dangers of sexual violence against women. Does our admini stration think this is not a problem? Then why was a women molested less than a month ago on campus? Other schools take direct action against male students accused of sexually violating women. Somebody should at least teach the new students that 70 percent of campus rapes happen to first-year students within the first six weeks of school. IT HAS BEEN SIX WEEKS— Guilford's administration has done nothing. I am telling the administration to do something about Guilford' s social problems, from alcohol abuse to sexual harassment and rape. Students can do a lot, but it is the administration that can set up lecture series, forums, and small discussions addressing different problems, especially during the first weeks of school. If our administrators think they do not have that responsibility, then I ask them to leave. Go somewhere else. You don't belong on this campus if you are unwilling to deal with obstacles facing the community. Let someone take your place who can and will deal with the social dilemmas facing Guilford. Timothy Snyder Editor's note: There have been no charges filed with the college this year regarding sexual molestation. Additionally, adminis trators report that they are not aware of any such incident. Respect for Persons? To the Editor: I wonder if someone at Guilford College does not owe an apology to the administration and student body of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In a recent issue of The Guilfordian, one Melinda Vadas, a recent addition to the teaching faculty of the philosophy depart ment, stated that "the last time I was there it seemed as though the students were all clones." She then warms to her subject and opines: "They're obnoxious, misogynist, racist and every *ist.'" It reminds me of that infamous charge "Pink Hill" often hurled at Chapel Hill by critics who could barely spell their names, let alone earn a Ph.D. in philosophy. Melinda Vadas has the same rights of freedom of speech that we all enjoy, whatever her present status on the faculty might be. But even Guilford, in these latter days, retains some standards of decency, fair play, honesty, objectivity and professional restraint when speaking for the public record. But Vadas' statements about a sister institution border on blanket slander of many good people whom she could not possibly know personally or professionally. And, the statements were not made in private; they were made for publication. Vadas has received lavish praise from Thomas Powell, chairman of the philosophy department. Nevertheless, it seems to me that a conversation about Guilford's current emphasis on "Respect for Persons" might be useful. And such a conversation should certainly touch on Guilford's expectations when professors are teaching students of dif ferent races, sex, culture and points of view. I assume that these expectations apply generally across the faculty regard less of our status and the subjects we teach. William C. Burris Addition to Course Listings? To the Editor: I read with interest your recent report about Melinda Vadas that in her philosophy course being offered this se mester, men and women meet separately. Perhaps the faculty ought to instruct the registrar to list all courses in the class schedule with the suffix W (for women only), M (for men only) or, for the more liberal members of the faculty, W&M (for women and men). William A. Carroll Overseas Coverage Good To the Editor: I would like to applaud The Guilfordian staff for its coverage of overseas programs during the past few years. Your interest in reporting this aspect of a Guilford student's experience has helped enormously in informing the commu nity about our educational opportunities overseas. Raising questions about the selection process and cover ing developments in our off campus programs have been helpful, making this office and the Off Campus Studies Committee sensitive to student interests and concerns as well as in keeping the campus informed. In regard to the article on the Brunneburg Semester, I would like to make a couple of corrections. The Off Campus Studies Committee, after nearly three years of discussions which at times involved other faculty who either favored or had concerns with the program, sent its recommendation for approval to the Administrative Council and to the faculty. The faculty approved the semester in Brunneburg at its September 1990 meeting. Anyone wishing to see the com mittee's proposal is welcome to do so, and faculty minutes covering the discussion are available in the library. I also wish to note that students will live in a 17th century con verted farmhouse in the castle complex, not in the castle itself, but that classrooms, the dining area and the library are in the castle. Guilford has a one-year exchange program in Japan in addition to' semesters in China and Guadalajara. As far as Africa is concerned, I encourage you to consider an article on the committee's planning to date. We ask all students to please read carefully and respond to a memo you will receive regarding a semester in Africa. Finally, the Off Campus Studies Committee in its delib erations deals regularly with two issues: 1) the very clear interest of the majority of students and faculty in a European experience and 2) the college's and the committee's interest in encouraging and making available non-European and/or developing nation experiences. I am now working with a fourth Off Campus Studies Committee and in all four years THE GUILFORDIAN October 15, 1990 see LETTERS on page 5 >■ 3
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Oct. 15, 1990, edition 1
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