Feb. 3, 2006
www.guilfordian .cotti
FORUM
Page 9
Greensboro. N.C.
Changes at Guilford receive mixed feelings
Dylan Grayson
Contributing Writer
"Students, by and large, see
the Guilford administration as a
churning monster, uncontrol
lably chewing up what this
school has worked so hard to
become and barfing out fancy
schmancy new buildings," said
sophomore Leah Begin.
I've talked with many peers
who feel that way.
I don't think Kent Chabotar
and Randy Doss are monsters,
but after my first year. I've been
concerned tiiat Guilford may be
intentionally changing its image
as its enrollment and physical
size grow.
"To generate wide appeal, we
need to create an image that will
not be offensive or exclusionary,"
said Jeff Jeske, Professor of
English. "Not that Guilford
advertises itself inaccurately, but
as we broaden our intended
audience, that affects messages
we send."
I couldn't interview everyone
I hoped. I don't claim to have
data. But I will present the views
I gathered on the "image change"
issue.
"All members of the Guilford
community should be familiar
with the Strategic Long-Range
Plan," said Randy Doss, Vice-
president for Enrollment and
Campus Life, "because that is our
blueprint onwhat will happen
here at Guilford for the next sev-
"How can Guilford
claim to know its
students at all if
there are even ideas
of building in the
meadows and by
the lake?"
-Leah Begin
eral years."
The SLRP can be seen on
Guilford's website.
"People who see the changes
negatively have to stay and be
active," said Begin. "Only time
will tell whether the changes are
positive or negative, but it's safe
to say going with the flow won't
bring positive changes."
"If you believe in a place, you
connect yourself to the challenge
of keeping that place alive and
vital," said Doss. "Guilford has a
place in America's higher educa
tional system, but most small col
leges are low-endowed and so
have financial problems."
A few years ago, Guilford had
low enrollment, no money for
faculty raises, and deferred
maintenance.
"There were problems with
heating and cooling, peeling
paint and broken sidewalks,"
said Kent Chaobtar, President.
"Posing issues of image and life-
safety, Students were not likely
to be attracted to a school that
didn't look as good as its aca
demic program."
Doss said that since 77 percent
of Guilford's revenue comes
from student tuition fees, the
strategy of growth will allow
Guilford to hire more full-time
faculty and pay faculty more,
keeping the student-to-faculty
ratio at 16:1.
Maybe growth is financially
necessary, but what does it mean
for Guilford?
"Part of Guilford's charm is it
feels like a bubble," said prospec
tive student Peter Gott.
"Increasing enrollment detracts
from the strengths of a small col
lege."
By the end of my first year, I
recognized nearly everyone I
passed. Not so last year or this
year.
"We call our teachers by their
first names, and students and
faculty can grow close bonds,"
said senior Jai Dave. "I liked that
about Guilford."
"People choose to go to
Guilford so they can be names,
not numbers," said Kathy Oliver
'05. "That's being taken away,
though you wouldn't know it
from the brochures."
Already we've added three
student apartment buildings,
and Guilford will continue to
add residence halls to compen
sate for the growing student
body.
"The new apartments' quad is
a parking lot, which doesn't seem
to facilitate community," said
sophomore Natan Harel.
"Renovations and expansions
may be necessary with increas
ing enrollment, but they should
be examined with Quaker values
more in mind. Quaker values are
not about outward image."
"Simplicity has always forced
deemphasizing societal stan
dards of beauty and truth," said
Max Carter, Director of the
Friends Center and Campus
Ministry Coordinator. "There's
some truth that people have been
turned off by Guilford's deferred
maintenance, but there has been
a bit of overreaction in that we've
poured a lot of money into curb
appeal issues."
Begin's biggest concern is
"irrecoverable change."
"How can Guilford claim to
know its students at all if there
are even ideas of building in the
meadows and by the lake?" she
said.
Dave said, "This natural envi
ronment drew me to Guilford.
Traditionally our buildings'
beauty has been enhanced by,
instead of detracted from,
nature's beauty."
Enrollment growth, necessary
as it may be, has already affected
Guilford in ways that are some
times hard to verbalize. These
articles are my start to a conver
sation that I hope continues.
Chain letters are a waste of time: pass it on
Becco Spence
Forum Editor
I'll admit it. I have a MySpace account. I
check it every day, and I get really excited
when people leave comments on my page.
However pitiful this may be, though, I am
still worthy of a little respect. I don't buy
into chain messages.
Whether posted as a MySpace bulletin,
written on a Facebcxjk wall, or sent as an e-
mail message, chain messages are a sign of
stupidity and a waste of time. They range
widely in content but vary little in absurdi
ty-
Let's examine a few of the-different
types:
1. The general threat letter. We've all
seen them. "Send this to everyone in your
address book or something horrible will
happen to your family," they claim. "Repost
this in 5 minutes or else your house will
explode."
Get over it. Your family will be fine. Your
house will not explode. Realize that
not everyone is gullible enough to pass
these letters on. And, have you ever heard,
"If only he had passed on the chain
letter," on the news after a tragedy? You
never will.
2. The "I am this girl/guy" letter. These
list thoughts like, "A sweet guy will hold
your hand in the rain," and urge you to pass
the message on if you would do those
things for someone. This is to show every
one you know how lovable you are and
entice one of them into dating you.
Passing these messages on will not get
you dates. People will rfUnk you're a whole
lot sweeter if you don't fill their mailboxes
with crap.
3. The "Pass this on and something
fonny will pop up" message. OK, you have
an excuse for trying it once. Nothing hap
pened, did it? It won't.
These messages often come with testi
monies at the end. "Oh my god, this is the
fonniest thing I've ever seen!
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!" they proclaim.
Think about it. The hilarious pop-up
isn't supposed to pop up until after you've
sent the letter. Even if something did pop
up for these people, they would have
already passed the message on. How could
they have put a testimony on it?
"Ihere are several more types of chain
messages. None of the "make a wish" let
ters, the "send this on and your sex life will
be great" promises or numerous others are
any more redeeming foan the ones I have
discussed.
Don't send or post any more chain mes
sages. If you do, you will have a miserable,
lonely life. Not because this article is
cursed, but because you are obviously stu-
pid.§€
Date: Jan 22,2006 7:23 PM
Subject: m}' momiealJy does haw a myspace..ass
Body: Since you opened dus... Your whole myspace site is going to be deleted within 16 minutes
orless
Letters Policy
The GuUfordian actively encourages all readers to respond to issues
raised in our pages via Letters to the Editor.
Letters can be submitted via our website (www.guilfordian.com) or by e-
mail (guilfordian@^ilford.edu), but must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. the
Sunday before publication and not exceed 300 words.
Letters that do not meet the deadline or the word limit will be considered
on a space-available basis. All letters must be signed with the author’s
name and contact information.
Sudcs because diis is not a jdke
•diends
-layout
-pictures
-codes
quizzes
Be mly w’ay u can keep ur myspace is to repost this within 2 minutes with diis title.,
mmn has a m}’^ce
i lost HQT job