THE
UILFORDIAN
Greensboro, N.C.
Volume 92, Issue ^ 5
www.guilfordian.com ■
*Septembe?^^o^
iuilford responds to Hurricane Katrina
Jabari Sellars
Staff Writer
During the weeks following
the tragedy of Hurricane
Katrina, millions of dollars have
been given, gallons of blood
have been donated, and hours
of effort have been volunteered
to help victims in New Orleans.
Colleges around the country
have organized fundraisers
and enrolled students from hur
ricane-affected areas. Guilford
is no exception, and the com
munity hopes to extend its sup
port for as long as possible.
"In our democracy, it is only
when we see the problems
before us that we want to get
involved," said Kyle Dell,
Assistant Professor of Political
Science. "This is how we
should behave all the time."
Deposit boxes in every major
building and faculty and staff
payroll deductions are just two
of the ways that Guilford will be
proposing for its effort to help
the victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
"Within our efforts, the mes
sage has been to think about
your role in responding to the
disaster in the long term," Dell
said.
Others shared Dell's sense of
obligation. "I think if you are
going to be a conscientious cit
izen, you have to step up and
give back to the community,"
said Molly Lauck, senior. "In
order to be really helpful, you
have to donate money and
goods as well as your time to
impact the relief effort." Lauck
helped produce over $3,000 in
food and supplies as part of
Project Community's relief
effort. According to project
leaders, the efforts have only
just begun.
"That could have been us,"
said Desiree Wilkinson,
Volunteer Training Coordinator.
"You could hope that New
Orleans would help us; you
never know."
WIkinson, '03, explained that
the project's efforts will contin
ue as long as help is needed.
With relief efforts coming
from both faculty and commu
nity clubs, students have a
large number of opportunities
to help the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. Many clubs on cam
pus have established projects
to help New Orleans victims.
Greenleaf, Guilford's new
coffee shop, has donated all its
revenues from Sept. 9.
Guilford clubs and organiza
tions, with the help of the
administration, have formed a
"College Match" project.
For this project, Guilford will
match 50 cents for every dollar
donated by students, faculty,
and staff for the hurricane relief
effort up to $20,000 (and thus
$10,000 from the administra
tion).
The Campus Ministry Office
has helped create a Clearness
Committee to coordinate
Guilford's efforts with organiza
tions such as the American
Red Cross to create volunteer
opportunities for those who are
willing to help.
"It is truly a matter of individ
ual initiative," said Dell. "It is up
to the individual not to let the
issue drop off the radar, and
become just a thing of the
past."§§
Campus divided on alcohoi poiicy
Beth Bass
Staff Writer
Students attending the Gym
Jam on Sept. 2 consumed less
than one keg out of the three
that were provided by an
anonymous donor. But contro
versy has surrounded that keg
and the others that are sched
uled to follow at upcoming
Senior Pub Nights.
The next Senior Pub Night
is scheduled for Sept. 29 in
The Underground.
The decision to serve alco
hoi was made this summer,
when many of the students
and faculty were on summer
break. The administration
hopes the events will help
build community.
"I think there are better,
more constructive ways to
build community than to tempt
folks with free beer," sopho-
Thurman speaks
Charlie McAlpin
more Katie Yow said.
Eight students attended the
Sept. 12 open forum with
Aaron Fetrow, Dean for
Campus Life, to discuss the
alcohol policy. Half of them
were or had been RA's. Many
expressed concerns about
Guilford's social scene moving
off-campus as well as
Kate Talbot / Guilfordian
Guilford's role in teaching
responsible drinking.
Fetrow said that the college
wants to provide a comfortable
space for students of age to !
drink in moderation. '
"One issue is retention and :
one issue is moderation," said
Fetrow. "I feel like teaching of ^
Continued on page 2
News Editor
When Robert Thurman fin
ished his speech, the sardine-
packed auditorium splashed to
its feet. The crowd did not hes
itate. This was not the reluctant
quiverof a polite gathering, but
a den of uproarious applause.
"I thought he was amazing
and set the perfect tone for this
year," said English assistant
professor Heather Hayton.
Thurman, chair of Religious
Studies at Columbia
University, headlined Guilford's
169th convocation to kick off
the Year of Spirit and
Spirituality.
Thurman's reputation begins
with his ordination as a Tibetan
Buddhist monk - the first
Westerner to become so.
Thurman was named one of
Time's "25 Most Influential
Americans" in 1997.
Thurman founded the Tibet
House U.S. in New York City at
the Dalai Lama's request in
order to preserve Tibet's histo
ry and culture.
"It's great how he was the
first American Buddhist monk
and how he was so under
standing," said first-year
Matthew Conrad.
Continued on page 2