Page 12
featured
Sept. 23, 2005
Indigo Girls and Winona laDnke come to Gnilford campns
Nasi Eaton
Staff Writer
"The Indigo Girls are activists. Both
of us have that threaded in us."
Amy Ray, half of the award-winning
duo that has
been together
for over two
decades, was
n't kidding.
She and her
counterpart,
Emily Sailers,
will be at
Guilford
tonight along
side former
Green Party
V i c e -
Presidential
candidate Winona LaDuke to raise
awareness about energy conservation.
This is only one of the many concerts
they are putting-on to get people think
ing about the issue of energy conserva
tion.
Friday’s program begins with the
women hosting a short discussion
about energy conservation, followed by
a concert.
"I think the key is to get people who
are really going to affect policy in the
future to be aware of this," said Ray.
Over the course of their time togeth
er, the Indigo Girls have produced eight
studio albums, played concerts world
wide, and developed a devoted fan
base. Even with all of their fame they
continue to be activists, contributing
their efforts to such organizations as
Habitat for Humanity and Honor the
Earth. Honor the Earth is sponsoring
tonight's event.
"We've been
working on
issues sur-
rounding
energy policy
for, really, the
life of [Honor
the Earth], so
about 12
years," said
Ray.
Honor
the Earth is a
Native
American organization that the Indigo
Girls helped start. The organization
pushes for native environmetital issues
and the survival of Native American
communities.
"It's weird, and sort of telling, how
long you can work on energy issues in
this country," said Ray, "I've known of
Guilford's activism for a long time, so
for us, it's an obvious place to speak
about it."
The "it" that they want to promote is
the use of more renewable energy
sources in North Carolina, which is the
nation's 12th-worst air polluter. The
state contributes nearly 72 million tons
- or 144 billion lbs - of carbon dioxide to
the air annually.
Not only does tonight's program tap
into Guilford's abundance of student
activism, but Ray feels that it ties into
the Year of Spirit and Spirituality.
"I'm an activist who has a lot of my
activism rooted in my spirituality and in
my belief that to have a full spiritual life,
you have to do a lot of community work.
I don't think you can have a rich spiritu
al life unless you're engaged in the
community," Ray
said.
Many of their
fans think of the
Indigo Girls as a
spiritual group, a
fact which is some
times represented
in their lyrics. For
that reason, too,
the duo seems a
good pick for the
year's theme.
"We just write
what we write,"
said Ray. "If some
thing about our
spirituality comes
out, that's fine; it doesn't scare us or
anything. But I'm not driven to expose
that part of myself in a big way."
Students within the Guilford commu
nity have mixed emotions, both about
the Indigo Girls coming and about
whether or not they're linked to the
year's theme.
"Environmental awareness is defi
nitely a big part of spirituality and a lot
of religions," says first-year Nathan
Ellis. "I'm very excited to hear what they
have to say about that."
"What they're talking about seems to
tie in more with merchandising and
mercantilism than spirit and spirituality,'*
argues first-year Blair McKinney.
The truth is, whether or not this pro
gram ties into the year's theme or not,
it's a great way to bring a lot of people
together on a Friday
night. According to Ty
Buckner, Director of
College Relations,
that's what the college
was initially aiming for.
"[When we planned
the event,] it was part
ly to try and come up
with an event that
would appeal to a
broad series of peo
ple, and the Indigo
Girls were natural
because of their
activism and so on,"
said Buckner.
The show starts at 8
p.m. tonight in Dana auditorium; tickets
will be sold at the door.
As excited as the students may be to
see this acclaimed group perform, the
Indigo Girls are excited to be here,
too.
"Yeah, the Quakers really have it
going on!" said Ray, "They're pretty
amazing. It’s an amazing faith."
The lexicon of Wondei' provides opportunity for community to come together
Jabari Sellars
Staff Writer
On Sept. 14, Guilford profes
sors and lecturers held the first
poetry and prose reading of
the year, entitled "From the
Lexicon of Wonder."
The reading featured 13 fac
ulty members sharing poetry
and prose of their own, as well
as favorites from writers such
as Ernest Hemingway and T.S.
Eliot.
In a laipe room off the
Gallery illuminated by a single
light, a crowd of more than 100
shared a carpet floor and plas
tic seats to hear the words of
13 professors.
Rather than lecturing, the
professors shared their stan
zas and verses, showing the
audience their lives were
defined by more than neck-ties
and brief-cases.
"You can tell a lot about a
person through their writing,"
explained sophomore David
Logwood. "It lets students see
a side of their professors they
don't see in the classroom."
The single light shone on
each reader, guiding the audi
ence's attention toward the
front of the room. As in the
classroom setting, the audi
ence gave their fall attention to
each speaker, listening to
every word and jotting-down
notes in their minds.
This [the reading] is a way to
bring together people from the
community that share the
same passion," said alumna
Cat Jacques.
Jacques, the editor-in-chief
of Guilford's literary magazine
The Piper, explained how
poetry readings foster diversity
and camaraderie.
"Not only can students see
an interesting side of the facul
ty they don’t see everyday, this
also lets you hear different
kinds of art."
Melissa Daniel, Director of
the Academic Skills Center,
explained the advantages of
beginning the series with per
sonal poetry and prose.
"It is important for students to
know the creative side of all
professors; regardless of what
field of study they are in," she
explained. "It is an opportunity
to share the passion for lan
guage."
"We come together in the joy
of words," said tutor Doug
Smith, who helped co-ordinate
the event. "We want to encour
age writing and reading on
campus."
Smith has already planned a
Halloween-themed reading in
October. His passion for read
ings comes from the rewards
of sharing his work with an
audience.
"Writers always long for the
open ear of good readers,"
said Smith, reflecting on the
experience. "All the writers
there enjoyed having a large
and engaged crowd of listen
ers."
According to participants, the
reading achieved its goal of
connecting students and pro
fessors through something
beyond a grade on a paper.
"We want our students to
know that we live as writers
and readers," said Smith.
Mission Statement
The Guilfordian, a student publication,
seeks to promote fair and accurate cover
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news and opinions. In the spirit of
Quaker traditions. The Guilfordian also
provides an opportunity for free and open
dialogue among members of the Guilford
community.