THE GUILFORDIAN
Greensboro, NC
Restructuring causes conflict
♦Some faculty express their worries about the weaknesses of the decision-making process
'
H
Joe Groves is one of many professors who find fault with the current process.
Board of Trustees chair resigns
♦Amid all the other changes on campus, Guilford must now replace its chairman of the board
BY ELLEN YUTZY
Staff Writer
After serving as chairman of
the Board of Trustees for seven
years, Charles F. "Monty" Milner
has stepped down.
Milner's resignation follow
ing the September 19 and 20
meeting of the Board of Trustees
ended his total of 15 years on the
Board. "I look back with great sat
isfaction on the many accomplish
ments of Guilford College during
the past 15 years," Milner said.
"Now that Guilford is in the good
hands of Don McNemar and our
dedicated Board of Trustees, it is
time for me to step aside and let
our new leaders meet the oppor
tunities and challenges of this out
standing institution as it heads to
ward the new century."
Some have wondered how the
resignation of the chairman of the
Board of Trustees will affect the
prospects of the sweeping changes
proposed recently by Guilford
President Don McNemar. Trustee
David Edgerton said, "I don't see
this as having any impact."
Edgerton believes that Milner
has done an excellent job as chair
man, and that interim chair
Stanley Frank of Greensboro will
also do a good job. Frank will
f) committee, is an animal i&ith four back feqs. — John Le Carre
Since 1914, but never quite like this
BY MARJORIE HALL
News Editor
Barton Parks, JPS professor,
feels like the restructuring at
Guilford is moving too quickly.
Kathy Tritschler, head of
the sport's studies department,
is afraid that the people mak
ing curriculum decisions do not
understand her program.
They are not alone. As the
task forces publish the reports
outlining what they plan to look
at in their meetings, some fac
ulty members at Guilford are
voicing a variety of concerns
about the recent turmoil on
campus.
The concerns cover several
issues. One major one involves
all of the decisions having to be
made in such a short time
frame; President Don McNemar
wants all plans to be finalized
by the end of the semester. "My
personal view is that the process
could be slowed down. A lot of
people want to see it slowed
down," said Parks.
Some people are also un
happy about the nature of the
decision-making process. The
President put together the focus
group that discussed this issue
serve as chair until the board
names a new chairman. Edgerton
describes Frank as a "longtime
supporter of Guilford College."
During his career as Board
chair, Milner presided over the
dedication of Hege Library,
Bauman Telecommunications, and
six student apartment buildings.
He also chaired the process to find
a replacement for retired Presi
dent William Rogers. During his
career on the Guilford Board,
Guilford's endowment has risen
from $7.5 million in 1982 to more
than $57 million.
"Monty has given enormously
of himself for the benefit of Guil-
all summer without input from
the Clerk's Committee or the
Nominating Committee. Some
feel that the faculty handbook
gives the responsibility of as
sembling such groups to these
committees.
Some also feel that the task
forces themselves bypass the
structures the faculty and ad
ministration have set up as the
school's governing bodies.
"They undercut the consensus
procedure that the school
claims to follow," said Joe
Groves, religion professor. "In
a consensus procedure, you
have to be open to a different
outcome. And these task forces
are not."
Some faculty are also upset
that such a large percentage of
the cuts are going to be in the
faculty. They feel that cutting
administrative positions, or re
ducing administrative salaries
(which are much larger than
professor's salaries) would be a
better way to save.
In addition, the faculty was
told a few months ago that the
school had a balanced budget.
Many want to understand why
a large deficit exists now.
please see FACULTY on pg. 2
ford College," McNemar said. "His
understanding of higher educa
tion and his vision for Guilford
have enhanced the Board and the
college, making Guilford a leading
liberal arts institution."
As the name of Milner hall
suggests, Milner's family has
strong ties to Guilford. Both his
father and sister were graduates.
His uncle, Clyde A. Milner, served
as president of the college from
1934 to 1965. Several other fam
ily members have graduated or
worked at Guilford College.
Serving as chairman was only
the most recent position in which
Monty Milner had been a part of
please see MILNER
October 3, 1997