I
WWW.GUlLFORDIAN.COM
Evelvn Blount named interim library director
By Mary Bubar
Staff Writer
Previously serving as the head of Information
and Reference Services in Hege Library, Evelyn
Blount is now the interim library director.
"Both the students and faculty have been
wonderful to serve in my capacity as interim
library director and as head of Information/
Reference Services," said Blount, who
succeeded Mary Ellen Chijioke when the latter
retired in December.
Blount graduated from Elizabeth State
University, where she received her B.S. in
elementary education. Though she received
her degree in education, she has always
wanted to work in a library.
"When I was an undergraduate student, I
worked in the library as a student worker, and
I really enjoyed the work," said Blount. "That
is when I realized that I would like to pursue a
career working in libraries."
It was her instructor in media education
who encouraged her to get an M.L.S. degree
in library science, which she pursued at North
Carolina Central University.
Before coming to Guilford, Blount worked in
several university libraries including Elizabeth
State, North Carolina A&T, Fayetteville State,
as well as the library at North Carolina School
of Science and Mathematics in Durham.
Transitioning from state-funded libraries to
Guilford, Blount currently faces the challenges
of budget cuts.
The library had to give back some of the
library book funds in the budget and they will
also not be able to fill the electronic resources
librarian position that had been advertised for
this semester.
Besides budgeting, Blount is responsible
for overall management and administration,
program development, and external
relations.
Her latest project involves an interlibrary
loan service that allows the Guilford
community to make their own requests for
resources online.
Previously, requests were made through
the Hege Library staff; the adjustment allows
the students, faculty, and staff to go directly
to the source. Hoping to have this service
available by spring break, Blount's advice to
the Guilford community is to be patient while
her staff works hard to make this service
available.
Despite the easy access of online research,
Blount feels that the library averages the same
number of students who want to get help in
"When I was an
undergraduate student,
I worked in the library
as a student worker,
and I really enjoyed the
work... That is when
I realized that I would
like to pursue a career
working in libraries."
Evelyn Blount
interim director of the library
person.
"Some students have indicated that they
have much better luck using the library's
teclmology as opposed to their own technology
at home," said Blount.
Blount likes to read; she prefers non-fiction
books, memoirs and historical information.
She recently read and recommends "Mama
Made the Difference: Life Lessons my Mother
Taught Me" by T.D. Jakes. Having recently
read Barack Obama's biography she hopes to
soon delve into his new book, "The Audacity of
Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American
Dream."
However, transitioning from resource
librarian to her new position does not allow
her time to read all that she wants.
"People think because you work in a library
you get to read everything. That's not the case,"
said Blount. "There are so many books in this
library that I want to read but I just don't have
the time."
When she isn't helping students and
staff, Blount likes traveling, sightseeing
and antique shops. Last year she visited the
Smithsonian with her 16-year-old daughter
and her husband, an associate professor of
mass communications at Winston Salem State
University Dr. Brian Blount.
HOUSING
Housing changes favor rising sophomores
Continued from pac;e I
Because the housing plan gives
juniors the latest sign-up time,
some worry about where they
will be able to live. The squatter's
rights were implemented to help
alleviate this issue, but they do
not include Bryan Hall.
"1 really have no desire to live
in the apartments," said rising ju
nior Destiny Carden, "I am wor
ried I will lose ideal housing op
tions because (rising) sophomores
get first choice."
Current first-years are having
problems deciding where to live,
now that the apartments are no
longer an option.
"I don't want to live in an all
girls' dorm, but I'm not particu
larly thrilled with being trapped
behind the prison bars of Bryan
either," said first-year Laura Ko-
pald.
According to some first-years,
being pulled into the apartments
by upperclassmen is not only an
honor, but an appropriate move
as well.
"We should be able to (accept
an invitation to) live in the apart
ments if upperclassmen invite us,"
said first-year Gabriel Lowder.
Student-athletes provide anoth
er viewpoint about sophomores
living in the apartments with up
perclassmen.
"The idea of living with an up
perclassman on my team is great
because I would get to have fun
and learn with them," said first-
year student-athlete Brittany
Speed. "They're more wise than
I am, from experience, and will
provide guidance."
In the past, rising juniors and
seniors have not been able to live
in the apartments and moved off
campus instead because rising
sophomores joined with upper
classmen with good lottery num
bers.
This year, in the case of a hous
ing shortage, the goal is to keep
younger students on campus and
send upperclassmen off campus.
Because of this, off-campus appli
cations are necessary and will be
reviewed thoroughly.
Residence Life encourages
students to complete off-campus
housing applications by March
7. Permission will be granted by
March 14—^just in time for the
on-campus housing application
deadline in case applications for
off-campus residency are denied.
Problems? Let your voice be
heard, for the housing battle for
the 2009-2010 academic year has
not yet been decided.
RAD prepares
women for worst-
case scenarios
By Sallie Chase
Copy Editor
One in six women will be sexually
assaulted during their lifetime, and
college-age women are four times
more likely to be assaulted, according
to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National
Network (RAINN).
Women at Guilford can learn to
fight back. Rhonda Johnson, a public
safety supervisor, is offering a female-
only Rape Aggression Defense (RAD)
class this semester.
Its four meetings will run from
2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the
Community Center on Feb. 15, Feb.
22, March 1, and March 8.
Johnson said the class not only
teaches women defensive techniques,
but it also boosts their self-esteem.
"It is important as it gives a woman
options on what to do if attacked or
harassed by men," said Johnson.
"Women learn self-esteem and they
also learn that they are not helpless
over men."
Each session will last three hours,
and there will be four sessions total
with one each week. The final session
is a simulation of a situation where
students can put their training into
use.
Johnson was certified to teach the
class in December 2007 and has since
taught the class three times: two
were for the staff, and the third was
for students.
"The ones who have taken it feel
empowered and the (student) class
said they would like to see it as part
of EYE or CHAOS," said Johnson.
Johnson would like to offer the
classes at least once per semester,
and is willing to hold more if there is
enough interest.
First-year Meg Holden said she
would be interested in taking the
class.
"I think women should be able to
defend themselves since rape is a lot
more common than people think it
is," said Holden.
According to RAINN, there were
272,350 victims of sexual assault in
2006 and 64,080 of them were rape
victims. About 80 percent of these
victims were white.
First-year Monica Burgin has
already taken a self-defense class and
feels it's important to practice.
"I took a self-defense class in high
school, and while I'm kind of glad
I took it, I feel like I'd be freaking
out too much to remember it in an
actual situation," said Burgin. If you
remember it really well or practice
enough that it becomes instinct, I
think it can help a lot, though."
If you are interested in taking
the class or would like more
information, please contact Public
Safety at publicsafety@guilford.edu
or contact Rhonda Johnson directly
at rjohnso3@guilford.edu.