Greensboro, N.C.
Volume 92, Issue 24
www.guilfordian.com
April 21, 2006
Fans of pink pyramid defend its existence
Structure evolves from symbol to gathering spot
Pete McGuire
Staff Writer
Like the pyramids of
ancient Egypt, the pink ply
wood pyramid standing in
front of Binford hall has deep
connections to the community
that constructed it. It has unit
ed Binford residents behind a
common cause: the pyramid's
preservation.
In the April 12 Senate meet
ing, Binford residents shat
tered normal attendance with
over 100 participants. They
were there to support the
pyramid.
"Basically, me and a btmch
of students constructed a large
pink pyramid, and now it is to
be taken down by the school,"
said first-year Evan Faulkner-
Hayes in the Community
Senate meeting.
"It was built for a few rea
sons," said Becky Pittman, a
first-year Environmental
Studies major. "We wanted to
do something for 'Spring into
Guilford' week that involved
community, diversity and gay
pride."
The pyramid
has since
become a gath
ering place for
Binford resi
dents, provid
ing an icon that
students have
embraced as
their own.
"What it sym
bolizes now is
much more
important than
what it meant
when it was
built," Pittman
said.
The pyramid has united
Binford residents behind a
common cause of preserving
what they see as a positive cat
alyst for community building.
Hayes and others are pushing
for the pyramid's acceptance
as a permanent addition to the
campus.
Despite the pyramid's
The creators of the pyramid plan to repair it soon.
apparent qualities as a unify
ing symbol. Campus Life has
informed students that it is to
be removed from its current
location.
Fires endanger Meadows
Ben Dedman
Staff Writer
Acts of arson across campus
have been causing headaches
for Public Safety and Campus
Life, especially after three
recent fires caused extensive
damage to the Meadows.
"Since March 1, 2006, there
were a total of 13 arsons on
campus- three in the Meadows
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and 10 tmauthorized burnings
throughout campus," said
Keifer Bradshaw, Security
Coordinator.
The arson, which is now the
subject of a Public Safety
investigation, had the poten
tial to be disastrous and could
have left a great deal of
Guilford's woods in ruins.
"We suspect that the fires (in
the Meadows) were caused by
firecrackers," said Aaron
Fetrow, Dean for Campus Life.
"Fireworks are illegal on cam
pus for this very reason. We
certainly don't want to torch
the Meadows."
Fetrow added that
Greensboro has been in the
midst of a drought, so students
Fires in the Meadows have resulted in burnt plant life. Continued on page 3
"This pyramid was original
ly built in the spirit of classic
college rebellion" said Senate
Treasurer-elect Chris
Lampkin. "The students did
not go through
the proper chan
nels required by
the school for
additions to the
campus."
"The pyramid
has pulled
Binford together,
and away from
the stoop,"
Faulkner-Hayes
said. "You used
to not be able to
walk in the front
door because so
many people
were on the stoop,
but now they hang out by the
pyramid."
Several acts of vandalism
have pushed the pyramid's
connection to the gay commu- Continued on page 3
Excellence rewarded
nity into the forefront of dis
cussions about the pyramid.
One act in particular, which
took place on the national Day
of Silence, has been subjected
to significant speculation on
the possibility of it being an
anti-gay hate crime.
Pittman, who has been very
involved in all things pertain
ing to the pyramid, says that
the acts of vandalism were not
hate crimes. "The first one, on
the Day of Silence, wasn't a
hate crime," Pittman said. "The
person who did it came for
ward and felt really bad about
it. He just didn't know about
the symbolism."
The administration has
responded to the pyramid sit
uation by pursuing judicial
charges against those students
responsible for the acts of van
dalism. They have also offered
Binford residents an option: to
Colin Hamish
Staff Writer
"The annual awards ban
quet is a time to recognize aca
demic excellence and achieve
ment by our students," said
Aaron Fetrow, Dean for
Campus Life. "It is also a time
for the community to gather
and recognize alumni and staff
who have made outstanding
contributions to the college."
Spring blossoms, warm air
and merit characterized the
ambiance experienced at
Guilford's annual awards con
vocation. Students, faculty and
staff gathered on the lawn in
front of Founders hall to com
memorate those who flourish
among prudent academic
rigor and curriculum.
The Algernon Sydney
Sullivan Award headlined the
ceremony, given to a student
and community member for
distinguished service. Senior
Hatice Dogan, who has served
three years as a project coordi
nator with Greensboro's
Urban Ministry and African
Services Coalition, was the stu
dent recipient of this
renowned award.
"Hatice is an amazing stu
dent leader and role model,"
said Desiree Wilkinson,
Volunteer Training
Coordinator "She has led her
sites with grace, integrity and
great vision, and has taken on
some great challenges."
The Bruce B. Stewart
Continued on page 3