February 18, 2000 PRESIDENT'S CORNER By Stephen Karakasidis SENATE TREASURER I'm filling in for Shawan this week. Sorry, I know how you all were eager to read his section. I just want to inform you about all of the upcoming events that will be going on in the next few months. I want to thank ev eryone for helping out with the poster sale. It was a great suc cess. If you didn't pass by, you missed out on some cool posters and bumper stickers. Budget Committee has set the date for the hearings. They will be held on the Ist of April. If you want funding next year, the club leaders MUST sign up for a 15-20 minute time slot. There will be a sign sheet posted at the information desk. Budget pro posal forms will be available at the information desk and in the Senate office. All proposals are due to either the information desk or the Senate office by March 24th. No proposals will be accepted after this date. Make sure that you work with your club advocate, for he/she will know all the policies Budget Committee uses. Clubs will be contacted as to who their advocates are. In cluded in the forms are copies of the model constitution and a sheet to list your club's executives for the 2000-2001 school year. Budget Committee will make sure that these names are given to Special Projects Committee. If your constitution needs to be up dated, please do so. Your club's account will not be activated un til the constitution is approved. Contact Megan Page, SPC Chair, to check on the status of your club. In conjunction with the hear ings, the Student Loan Fund Auc tion is coming up. The auction Senate fails to change open container alcohol policy of North Carolina By Mark Merkel STAZT WRITER It's illegal in North Carolina to have an open container of al cohol when you are outdoors. Senate tried to challenge the law in the interest of student safety. Senate Secretary Jenny Craigie said, "The policy change would attempt to curb binge drinking. When students are forced to drink inside they are more likely to consume large amounts before socializing, in stead of drinking alcohol as a so cial activity." The Judicial Committee met will be held at the Painted Plate, which is located on Church St., on March 31st at 6:30 p.m. So, while you are at home for spring break, clear out your attic and find some vintage stuff to donate to the auction. The money that is raised will provide Guilford students with low-interest loans. Keep in mind that some of your friends are at Guilford because of this auction. Its success depends on your participation. Elections are right around the corner. There will be a de bate between the tickets starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Commons. Union will go first and Senate will follow. All students should at tend and listen to the tickets' platforms. Elections will be held in Founders lobby on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.. I urge all students to vote. This is a right given to us by the college. For those of you that choose to not vote, well (and to put it bluntly) you do not have the right to b*tch. I am sick and tired of lis tening to people whine that there is nothing to do or that their voice is never heard. There is no good reason as to why there is only one Senate ticket running or that there are institutional committees with no student representatives. Now, I admit Senate may share some of this blame, but you are mature enough to make your own decisions and come to the realization that the real world does not run on the rules of mom and dad. You did not come to college to be spoon-fed information; you came for an education. And with this education, you learn that in order to survive in this world, you need to do things for yourself. So, if you want to see a change at this campus, then get off your lazy butt and get involved. on Tuesday, Feb. Bth, to discuss the proposed amendments. Elgina Manuel attended the meeting and later said "there will be no change in the alcohol policy." Policy reform was aimed at changing the rules for over-age drinkers only. It would have al lowed persons over 21 to drink alcoholic beverages outdoors, in dorms, and during dances and other events. The proposed amendments would not allow bottles or cans, only cups. Party permits (required for large parties) as well as the rest The Guilfordian News Crossroads and The People's Institute joined hands and reached out to Guilford. Now we all must reach back and question racism and its role on our campus. By Sarah Herndon & Anna Belle Peevey STAIT WRITERS Three days. Thirty partici pants. A better understanding of the causes of racism in today's so ciety. Beginning on the night of Friday, Jan. 4th and continuing through Jan.6th, Crossroads Min istries and People's Institute for Survival joined together with Guilford College to hold an anti racism workshop. It was the second workshop of the year, including one held last November. "The November session was held primarily for Guilford students," said Bob Wil liams, Clerk of the Faculty and participant in the program. "This one was more focused towards the teachers and staff." The goal was to remake Guilford College into an anti-rac ist institution. "Tolerance simply isn't enough," said Judy Harvey, a community learning specialist at Guilford. Many Guilford students come to the college expecting a different attitude on race, because it has a reputation of being very open. When they don't notice the differ ence, many transfer. The workshop held the idea that defining the word racism is the first step in understanding what it takes to be anti-racist. As Harvey explains, "many people just define racism as 'mean acts,' and ignore the power dy namic." Crossroads Ministries defines racism as "racial preju dice and the misuse of power." Jasmine Fouts, a Guilford of the rules would remain intact. Whoever is in charge of the party as well as the resident advisor would be checking the I.D.'s of stu dents to insure then: age. "This plan could make the R.A.'s job much easier. If some one looks to be overly intoxicated the R.A. would be able to detect them and help them before they got out of control," Craigie stated. Student safety was the main con cern for Senate. However, they were also interested in raising student morale. Residential life was more concerned with breaking the NC Anti-racism student who attended the work shop, said "it's just a different per spective on the power structure of our society that people would not ordinarily get unless they look for it." Through film clips, short lec tures, and interactive discussions, ideas were brought out to help the group gain not only a historical per spective on racism in America, but also insights into what can be done to correct it. "It was a pretty powerful statement on racism, and it showed how it is still present in today's society," explained Will iams. "It is a problem for all of us, not just for people of color; the damages affect everyone." Starting on Friday night, participants built a wall of history in the Gallery of Guilford, as brainstorming took place to think of events and people that either contributed to or fought against racism. Saturday's events in cluded a discussion on lower-in come communities, and what it means to be poor. Not understanding the poli tics of the community often does more harm than good. "I still ask myself if there's any way we can be in the community and not be a harmful influence," said Harvey. Learning about lower-income fami lies is essential, especially when students interact with them on a regular basis, through tutoring and other volunteering work. Harvey saw this workshop as an opportunity to create a "healthy multicultural environment." Guilford has a history of tolerance, yet Harvey and others emphasize the necessity to make this school a completely anti-racist institution. State law. Paula Swonguer, Di rector of Student Employment, voiced her concern on this very complicated subject. "Senate and Elgina have been playing phone tag on the subject. It looked doubtful that there would be a change." Guilford did not want to lose control of the students, and Sen ate was aware of their concerns. The current policy does not in fringe on the rights of the 21- year-old students. Senate's pro posed changes would have put too much responsibility onto residen tial life and the R.A.'s. Page 5