r
10
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
FORUM
Serendipity’s
success
depends on
your actions
The lead-up to this year's Serendipity has been
filled with controversy and criticism, falling main
ly on the shoulders of the Campus Activities Board
(CAB). The group hopefully learned a valuable
lesson in budgeting to avoid a repeat next year.
While its easy to blame CAB for its transgres
sion, we ignore our own faults on the matter. We,
as a community, have a responsibility to ensure
that Serendipity is what we want it to be.
Some people, including the members of CAB,
took great strides to make Serendipity an enjoyable
and memorable event. One student, in response to
the CAB budget debacle, took it upon himself to
get a hip-hop group to play Serendipity. This is the
kind of interest and participation that Guilford is
sorely lacking.
While hopes for Serendipity are a mixed bag,
it's difficult to take grievances seriously when so
few people take initiative. It's seemingly easier
to complain and do nothing than to try and make
Guilford what you want it to be.
The time is rapidly approaching when every
student will have the opportunity to help make
next year's Serendipity, and next year in general,
as good as possible. Instead of complaining about
lackluster activities and services, take the initiative
and do something about it. Join CAB and other
student organizations next semester.
Student-run organizations are a vital part of any
college, but especially so at Guilford. Obviously,
they only work when students join them. If you're
disappointed or have ideas on how to improve
aspects of Guilford, join the appropriate club.
And while we have an obligation to improve
our school, we also have a responsibility to be
responsible this weekend.
Serendipity has certainly changed over the
years, but it remains something uniquely Guilford
and should be a source of pride for the entire com
munity. We should keep in mind that despite the
relatively loose leash we're given) we have to be
accountable for ourselves. After some of the unde
sirable actions of certain students last year, like
bottles thrown at staff and security, it's even more
important to be reasonable and responsible.
Serendipity is a time to celebrate with our com
munity and we should consider ourselves lucky
that we're able to do so. In the spirit of Serendipity,
it's important to appreciate the contributions that
have been made by students to make it possible,
including members of CAB and others.
The editorial board of the Guilfordian
CONSISTS OF five SECHON'EDITORS, TWO PHOTO
EDITORS, A UYOUT EDITOR, ARTOIREOTR, CON-
TpiBUTING EDITOR, MAHAGINS EDITOR, AND THE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. . ..
Reflecting Guilford College's core Quaker
VALUES, THE TOPICS AND CONTENT OF STAFF EDI
TORIALS ARE CHOSEN THROUGH CONSENSUS OF
m 12 EDITORS.
TODAY'S LESSON: POTHOLES OF PARKING
If you like the excitement of an off-road experience or a
stampede of cars bolting for the last space five minutes be
fore class begins, then drive over to the Hendricks parking
lot for the time of your life.
Sophomore Arlene King climbs out of her car with a sigh.
She doesn't look like she's enjoyed the ride too much. But,
she's lucky; it's 9:50 a.m. and she found a space. "I'm happy
that I found a space, but this parking situation has caused me
to get dings all over my car," says King. "The spaces are too
close together."
The spaces in the Hendricks lot are compact, but still con
tain all sizes of vehicles. My car fits nicely into the spaces, but
it is scary when two oversized vehicles stand inches away
from my Mazda 5.
Since the Hendricks lot is the closest to
most classrooms, it's the most popular
commuter lot.
Once I had to enter my car through the back sliding door
and climb into the driver's seat. A truck was parked too close
on one side and an SUV had sandwiched me in on the other.
Sometimes the greatest feat is finding a space.
"I don't park over there anymore," said senior Dana Kil-
goe. "It seems like there are more visitor and staff spaces, so
you have to park further away."
Senior Laura Milot thinks the lot should only be for com
muter parking.
Since the Hendricks lot is the closest to most classrooms,
it's the most popular commuter lot.
I've been late to class because I had to tromp from the far
recesses of campus to King 127. While the exercise is great, I
don't always have 30 minutes before class to find a space.
But, even when I do arrive early and park in Hendricks, I
have to worry about getting my car out of alignment due to
the potholes.
Sophomore Erika Carson simply said, "They need to fix
the potholes."
Most students reiterated this need and only said, "The lot
is terrible!"
Senior Angela Newsom said, "You pay too much tuition
to tear up your car when you get here."
I asked students how much they thought it would cost to
resurface. Some said $2,000, others thought between $10,000
and $20,000.
According to Associate Vice President of Operations and
Facilities Jonathan Varnell, the cost would run between
$200,000 and $250,000.
A quarter of a million dollars for parking - now I wasn't so
excited about resurfacing Hendricks.
When I told Milot how much it costs, she said, "I think
that they should just turn it into a gravel lot. That would be
better than the way it is now."
Varnell said, "At one point we were tempted to turn Hen
dricks into a gravel lot, but there still needs to be paved park
ing for the handicapped spaces, and the buses that use the lot
would still tear it up."
"The lot has been there for at least 20 years," said Varnell.
"When it was originally created buses weren't using the lot,
so this is one reason the lot is in such bad condition."
Varnell explained that there are only about two inches of
asphalt and two inches of stone when there should be an
eight-inch base to accommodate the weight of the buses. Ev
ery inch adds to the cost.
Asphalt prices are directly tied to the price of oil and even
though oil prices have fallen, the price for asphalt has not
seen the same drop.
"Another reason it will cost so much to fix the lot is be
cause the city is going to require islands," said Varnell.
"I realize it is the recession and the budget is tight, but we
need better parking and more spaces," said first-year Har
rison Spencer. "More people are going back to school, so the
situation needs to improve."
Unfortunately, when the Hendricks lot is resurfaced about
40 spaces will be lost due to the islands.
Varnell said, "We also have considered adding on to the
Frank lot to compensate for the lost spaces, but that also adds
onto the price."
There isn't any hope of lot improvements for this academ
ic year and Varnell doesn't believe that anything will be done
until 2010.
"It really depends on the enrollment," said Varnell. "But
we also have a lot of needs in a lot of places."
Since I'm never excited about spending money, the thought
of spending a quarter of a million dollars on asphalt seems
like a waste.
I admit that when I started this parking lot quest I was
ready to make demands for improvements because I thought
maybe Guilford didn't see commuter parking as that impor
tant.
I almost wish I didn't know why it is so bad, but now that
I do, when I turn the corner into the Hendricks lot I try to
enjoy the off-road experience. Sometimes that's the most ex
citement I see in a day - sad, but true, so I'll just try to be
thankful.
€et Ready! ©iiliiie FALL 2®®9 Registratieii is Ceiniiig Sooiif
ftpril 6-ftpril 2g.
Student Status
CCE Student
Traditional Senior (earned credits 88 or greater)
Traditional Junior (earned credits 56-87)
Traditional Sophomore (earned credits 24-55)
Online Registration Dates
Monday, April 6-Tuesday, April 28
Monday, April 6-Tuesday, April 28
Tuesday, April 7-Tuesday, April 28
Wednesday, April 8-Tuesday, April 28
Traditional First Year (earned credits less than 24) Thursday, April 9-Tuesday, April 28