Page 2
NEWS
Nov. 10, 2006
WWW, guilfordian .com
Greensboro. N.C.
Discussion continued on equality in the cafeteria
Alleged discrimination raises strong community response
By Ben Dedman | staff writer
Charlie Clay | staff writer
On Nov. 1, more than 30 students, faculty,
and staff gathered at the smoker's gazebo be
hind Founders Hall to continue a discussion
on race relations and equality among cafete
ria workers that began a month earlier.
Students voiced their concerns about al
leged acts of discrimination in the cafeteria
kitchen and the measures employees can
take to make their complaints known.
According to Dining Services Manager
Michael Watts, no one has come directly to
him with discrimination allegations, though
he has heard stories "through the grape
vine."
"There's really not a lot of people speak
ing out because of fear for their job," said
a cafeteria employee, who asked to remain
anonymous. "They would if there wasn't the
fear. In these hard economic times, no one
wants to be without a job."
The consequences of speaking out, the
employee says, "Is so much backlash that it
won't even be worth it."
Sophomore John Douglas said at the Nov.
1 forum, "We can't address what's really go
ing on if people are in fear of losing their
jobs."
According to Watts, no retribution of any
kind will be leveled against employees for
voicing their opinions or concerns.
Watts also said that an investigation into
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PHOTO credit/Guilfordian
Members of the Guilford community try to create an
ATMOSPHERE WHERE NO ONE IS AFRAID TO VOICE CONCERNS.
the discrimination charges is underway by
Sodexho's Human Resources offices, and
representatives have come to campus three
times since August. Watts would not com
ment on the content of the investigation or
offer an estimate for when the investigation
would be concluded.
The current methods available from So
dexho for reporting discrimination cases,
says Watts, are to contact him or, if an em
ployee wishes to go elsewhere, they have the
option to contact Human Resources directly
or to call anonymously via a 1-800 number.
Sophomore Nick dayman is skeptical of
Sode>^o's dedication to the investigation,
and made an appointment with Human Re
sources after hearing of the discrimination.
"First, I addressed the new balanced meal
plan. And then I said, 'You know, there's also
racism from (a new employee).'
He looked like he was inter
ested, but I could tell he wasn't
listening," said dayman.
At the forum, the students
and staff discussed ways em
ployees can communicate their
concerns to the Guilford com
munity safely and without a
fear of unemployment. Methods
under consideration include
mediation through the Con
flict Resolution Resource Center
(CRRC) or other on-campus me
diation organizations and utili
ties. Students are also trying to attach the
issue to the college's Strategic Long Range
Plan and the Ethical Purchasing and Pro
curement policy. ^
"I think the approach that students are
taking now, going through the Strategic
Long Range Plan and the Ethical Purchas
ing and Procurement policy is very smart,"
said Leslie Essien, Initiative Outreach Co
ordinator. "That puts the issue before the
board members. If the board members and
our administration keep hearing these same
things over aiTd over, I'm hoping they will
respond."
"If the Guilford community is dedicated
to anti-racism, we need to discuss the treat
ment of the workers," said sophomore Men-
emsha Milnor. "We need to start holding
ourselves responsible for finding out what's
going on. This issue is enormous, and it is
going to take big commitment and big sac
rifice."
According to Watts, the cafeteria and So
dexho are open to input from the commu
nity, including involvement from campus
organizations like the CRRC.
"Tlie CRRC is definitely a positive alter
native on campus, and readily available,"
said Watts.
Watts also commends the students who
organized the forums for bringing the dis
crimination issues to the community's at
tention. "I think it was very good to have
brought up some of those issues and start
that discussion," he said. "Eventually, there
will be some resolution, but not without that
discussion. It's the only way you can get both
sides of the story."
"We should also recognize that this is
about broader issues, and not just race," said
Milnor. "It involves different forms of social
stratification and is very complex."
"I see the Sodexho workers as family and
friends," said Essien. "And I feel that they
are a part of this community, and they need
to be treated as if they're a part of this com
munity."
Junior Kathrin Gilbert said, "Fundamen
tally, I just believe the people who serve the
students and faculty should be as appreci
ated as much as anyone else. We talk about
equality as one of our core values, and these
values should apply to everyone."
McCullough lectures
Continued from page I
This is an unfounded way to think about the past, ar
gued McCullough. Those times were hard and people need
ed to know much more just to survive than we do today.
"I doubt any of the soldiers (in the Revolution) hadn't al
ready seen someone die at home," said McCullough.
Though they were outnumbered and inexperienced, the Ameri
can military fought for our independence. Not just their own
but ours stiU today. McCuUougJr expressed
that, "some wars really do matter for the good."
"While not everyone can agree that a war is right or
just, it is important that we always remember how many
died and how their families suffered," said McCullough.
Even in 1776 not everyone agreed that
America should be at war. A third of the countty believed we
should be, a third didn't think we should be, and the other
third, as McCullough said, "Were waiting to see who won."
While our leaders in the Revolution were young
and inexperienced the common theme
among them was a knowledge and
appreciation of history. This was the case for 33-
year-old Nathaniel Greene. Greene had no mili
tary background and walked with a severe limp,
but it was his historical knowledge, and his interest in his
torical battles that caught the interest of George Washington.
Greene served as one of the only three generals of the Revolution.
McCullough believes Greene was a bril
liant general and better than Washington.
Referring to Greene's character McCullough said,
"you can't be a real leader without a sense of history."
Greene was a tremendous leader, and as
a result of his efforts and leadership during
Revolution, the Quaker and native Rhode Island
er now has a dty named after him: Greensboro, NC.
"Young people don't have the knowledge of Ameri
can history that they should," said McCullough. "A liber
al arts education (such as Guilford offers) is fundamental."
"When the founding fathers talked about life, liberty, and the pur
suit of happiness, they didn't mean longer vacations," McCullough
said. "They meant expanding the life of the mind and the spirit."
QEP tackles ‘Writing in the Majors”
By Ashley Hardiman | staff writer
t
Members of the Southern Association of Col
leges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS/
COC) will be on campus next week as part of the
process of reaffirmation of Guilford's accreditation.
Like other accredited institutions of higher educa
tion, Guilford undergoes a review every 10 years to en
sure that it is in compliance witli a common set of stan
dards and requirements established by SACS/COC.
As part of that process, the college created a Qual
ity Enhancement Plan (QEP), "Writing in the Majors,"
which focuses directly on improving student learning.
"The students are the heart of the whole plan," said
Adrienne Israel, Vice President and Academic Dean.
The plan integrates writing into the academic majors as a
way to develop critical thinking and communication skills tliat
will prepare students for success in their chosen vocations.
"The data on vocational success is clear," said Ken Gilm
ore, diair of the QEP working group and Political Science
Department Chair. "Writing is necessary to one's success
and advancement, no matter what a student chooses to do."
"Writing in the Majors" serves as a foundation for the two
principle academic initiatives in the Strategic Long Range
Plan: tire Guilford Challenge and Principled Problem Solving.
"The QEP involves the Guilford Challenge because a
lot of the challenge is about writing and reflection about
what you learned and how that relates to your extra-cur
ricular activities," said college president Kent Chabotar.
The second initiative. Principled Problem Solv
ing, involves the practical application of a Guil
ford education towards positive social change.
"The QEP engages Principled Problem Solving in
both a student's education and major," said Chabo
tar. "Having learned how to write better in their major,
they win become better Principled Problem Solvers."
"Writing in the Majors" is a five-year plan witli three phas
es. Starting with the adoption of common learning outcomes
for the assessment of writing, the first phase will be a planning
year, the second phase a pilot program involving two majors,
and the third phase a full laimcfdng of the program with at least
four academic programs being added in each successive year.
"It's exciting to imagine the energy and intensity that could
result as students engage diverse, innovative approaches to
adapting and applying their ENG 102/HP-developed writ
ing skills to the disciplinary genres demanded in theh major
courses," said Cynthia Nearman, assistant Professor of Eng
lish and Writing Director for the coUege. "The QEP prom
ises student-centered learning taken to whole new level."
Jerry Boothby, Vice President for Fmance and Admmistra-
tion, noted that funding for the total proposed program m-
cludes a series of writing workshops and faculty development
support, as well as opportunities for students and faculty to
travel to academic conferences. The first year of the program
is estimated to cost approximately $132,000 and is mduded
in the college's budget development process for FY 2007-08.
A new writing studio will be developed in the Learning
Commons with professional and student tutors. Additional
bibliographic support will also be available in the library.
Funding will dso be used for further educational tech
nologies, including the implementation of digital portfolios.
The five-year budget for the program is cur
rently projected at approximately $859,000.
The QEP will not lead to faculty adding more writing to
their course, nor does it mean that they will teach writing
instead of tlie key concepts of their respective disciplines.
The plan will instead focus on the development of the com
mon learning outcomes to transform the way they stmcture and
employ readingandwritingassignments. Tluoughthis, students
will learn and use the centrd theories, methods, and foundation
al content of their majors with power, skill, and professionalism.
"My main hope is that students will see this as a tool
for them to use in every area of life," said Dean Israel.
SACS/COC will visit campus on Nov. 14 and 15. Mem
bers of the on-site committee will meet with students, fac
ulty, and administration to discuss compliance issues.
This includes walking around campus to ask students
about their knowledge and support of Guilford's QEP.