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Volume 79 Issue 9
Making it
through the
first year
♦♦♦Freshmen cope with
the challenges of college
while the ramifications
of the low retention rate
reverberate throughout
Guilford.
Cory Birdwhistell
News Editor
"College wasn't what I ex
pected," explains Sophomore
Amanda Phillips. This surprise led
her through a first year at Guilford
which she expected to be the last.
Like many other first-year stu
dents, she wanted to transfer from
Guilford. Unlike 30 percent of her
class, she stayed.
THE CURRENT EFFECTS The
aftershocks from the earthquake of
last year, when a significant por
tion of the first-year class did not
return for a second semester, still
shake the school still today. In
terim Academic Dean Cyril
Harvey informed the faculty in
early November that changes will
have to be made in the schedule
for the fall 1995 semester. Because
of the very small expected junior
class, the college will be forced to
accept more first-year students to
keep the revenue stable. There
fore, more professors will be
needed to teach introductory
courses and advanced classes may
have to be cut.
THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS
In order to increase the freshman
retention rate, Director of Student
Life Mona Olds and the Student
Life Advisory Committee struggle
to determine ways to enhance the
quality of the first-year experience.
Their discussions focus on two
basic elements: school spirit and
necessity for direction. They are
analyzing students' perceptions of
the school and the FYS program's
role in student adjustment to col
lege life. The Community Senate
will soon sponsor an Issues Table
in Founders for students to com
ment on their FYS experience.
Efforts to study the freshmen
retention problem include looking
at not only why students leave
Guilford (difficult because each
person's circumstances are
unique), but why they stay.
A CASE STORY Phillips tells
of her decision not to transfer. "I
decided after the first month I
hated it and would never be happy
here," she begins. She realizes
now that she was going through a
normal adjustment, but at the time
she faulted Guilford for her unhap
piness and was determined to
46
The first semester
is unlike any other.
-DICK DYER
5?
leave. B y her second semester she
had been accepted to a school
closer to home and claims, "I
stopped being so negative.. .1 got
involved in clubs and made good
friends. As the year came to a
close, I was sad to leave."
Near the end of the year, Phillips
says, "I was blabbing on and on
about Guilford [to prospective stu
dents] and—oh my God!—l was
saying what I really thought." That
day she went to Dick Dyer to offi
cially withdraw. He told her that
he did not understand why she was
leaving and so he held her with
drawal papers for several weeks.
This was crucial, because during
this time she had to admit to her
self, "I* d been closed-minded from
the beginning." She exclaims,
"All this time I'd been complain
ing and I was wrong! I decided to
stay and I've had a wonderful
[sophomore] year."
ADVISING Dyer'sjobistohelp
students survive the challenges of
college. "I'm lucky the college has
given me the opportunity to get in
the middle of this," he expresses.
With freshmen, his job is espe
cially vital because so many have
trouble adjusting. He says, 'The
Please see FRESHMEN page 4
Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C.
A 144-24 Russian
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' - • .
Rashida McKenzie outruns Natalia Chunts of the Russian National Team. The
final score was 144-24, the Russian team as the victor. See sports pages for details.
Recycling all recyclables
still challenges college
Cara Skeat
Staff Writer
Most Guilford students are fa
miliar with the outside recycling
dumpsters, the green recycling
bags, and even the new recycling
cans in Founders hall. However,
there are several recycling issues
with which students may not be so
familiar.
Recycling aluminum cans is
mandatory in North Carolina. Di
rector of Landscaping and
Grounds David Petree asks that
members of the Guilford commu
nity comply with this new law.
The Grounds Department has
begun helping Marriott Food Ser
Jennings approved as Senate Secretary
Luisa Constanza
Senate/Club Coordinator
The Community Senate ap
proved Stephanie Jennings as
Secretary on Wednesday, Nov.
15, filling the position left vacant
after Terrence Laster's recent res
ignation. Jennings is a junior
double-majoring in political sci
ence and international studies.
vice recycle cardboard food con
tainers. Marriott's tin food cans,
though, are not being recycled.
Food Service Manager Tim Tyree
says that he is in favor of doing
this, although he has no immedi
ate plans to implement tin can re
cycling.
Marriott's cafeteria office also
does not recycle waste paper, but
most other campus offices do. The
Admission, Business, and Finan
cial Aid Offices, as well as the
Print Shop and Main Campus
Mailroom, recycle waste paper.
Another issue is the lack of in
termediate recycling sites, or recy
cling bins. Enough of these exist
inside buildings but more are
"Senate seems to be accomplish
ing much more this year than in
past years, but there is still room
for improvement." Jennings com
ments. She is working on creat
ing a Communications Committee
to address communications issues
on campus. The goals will be to
improve the communication be
tween faculty and students, and
between Senate and the different
November 18,1994
needed outside along Guilford's
sidewalks, says Petree.
Reaction to such a plan is mixed.
Petree notes that there are finan
cial and aesthetic considerations to
be addressed before any more bins
or dumpsters can be installed.
Forevergreen President Carolyn
Howes believes that student par
ticipation in recycling efforts can
be increased by encouraging them
to use existing containers.
Founders Hall Coordinator Jen
Harrison says that outside contain
ers "probably would be all right."
Whatever the outcome, Petree
says to Guilford's population,
"Hey, it [recycling] is out there,
let's do it."
student organizations on campus.
Senate President Rich Ewell
says Jennings was chosen be
cause, "She is someone who will
be good for decision making be
cause she's thoughtful and has
good communications skills. She
has already been active and re
sponsible in Senate."
I UMHHH I
Heather Glissen