y Becca i- Toward^ the ^end. of If semester, rumors began togpreac asbout the constructiorf o|a new* fitness ceriter. No one dared believe it Intirely, bu]t students.: did return from the summer with high hope^ for their dew work- ofhaaJly opened the new fitness room to - Dubbed „ the “Mary Ragsdale fitnesS;,J?pn|^r4' facility is an undeniable upgrade from Guilford's previous fitness center, and ifs nearly three times its size. At 9,100 square feet, the See "Fitness** on page 11 Jobs with Justice launches new branch in Triad ORGANIZATION WORKS TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE PRIMARILY IN DEFENSE OF WORKERS' RIGHTS By Eric Ginsburg Staff Writer On Labor Day, a coalition of labor leaders, college students, and other com munity members gathered at the Corn- munication Workers of America (CWA) office in south Greensboro to kick off a new organization in the Triad to fight for workers' rights. Jobs with Justice 0wj), a national orga nization founded in 1987, will now have a branch in the Greensboro area, and for some people the move couldn't come sooner. "Some of us believe we have to or ganize a more concerted fightrback net work," said Ron Bauer, the president of CWA Local #3607. At the kick-off event, chaired by San dra Koritz from North Carolina Labor Against the War, attendees watched a short video about past efforts JwJ has been involved in. The video began with a slideshow of photographs from labor struggles around the country while Billy Bragg's "There is Power" played in the background. There are no other JwJ chapters in North Carolina, a right-to-work state which is widely considered unfriendly to labor organizing. Under current right-to- work laws, workers can choose to form unions but employers are not required to recognize the organization and often opt to fire any workers who organize. Workers across the state have managed to win a number of remarkable victories. Employees at Smithfield Meatpacking Plant in Smithfield, N.C., voted to union ize last year after a long struggle with management over the right to organize. See "workers" on page 4 Admissions rise, demographics fluctuate By Alex Thibadeau Staff Writer "Diversity is a big word," said Vice President for Enrollment Services Randy Doss, "and people will only define it in the way they want to define it." In 2005, Guilford took on a Strategic Plan with a goal of not only increasing the number of students, but the number of international students. The goal of the strategic plan for traditional students was to have 3 percent international students by 2010, and at this point in time, Guilford only has 1 percent. "We're more diverse than we've ever been. International students are a problem and the problem is cost. Many international students get great amounts of financial aid," said Doss. According to Doss, the admissions office has traveled less due to cost and Guilford lacks funds to hire an international admissions counselor. For the first time since the fall of 1970, the first-year class is 50 percent in-state, 50 percent out- of-state. The increase in in-state See "demographics" on page 4 IN-STATE VS. OUT-OF-STATE ENROLLMENT FALL 2007 FALL 2008 i FALL 2009 (Left to right) Soph omore Heather Von Bodungen, sophomore Sarah Bentley, and senior Brittany Varner lower their heads in silent remembrance of Sept 11,2001 at the vigil held outside Founders hall. Students share memories of tragedy at Sept* 11 Vigil By Eric Campbell Staff Writer "Turn on the TV. New York is on fire." These are the words that greeted sophomore Zach Lynn eight years ago as he received a call from a friend at breakfast. Last Friday, Guilford students came together to remember Sept. 11, 2001. The atmosphere in front of Founders before the meeting was calm, yet tinged with expectancy. People gathered in twos and threes as the last traces of sunlight faded from the sky. Campus Ministry Coordinator Max Carter spoke of how a former student of his barely escaped from one of the towers. While racing down the stairwell minutes before the building's collapse, the man found himself singing the hymn, "Flow Can I Keep From Singing?" replacing "singing" with "dying," unconsciously calming his fear with faith. Junior Caitlyn Hogan related how her great-uncle was on his way to work in the towers and then, on an unexplainable impulse, turned around and went home. Sophomore Heather Von Bodungen, a member of the Guilford Council of Religious See "Vigil" on page 2 Wilson-Hartgrove explores the path to New Monasticism By Simon Kelly Staff Writer Early in the afternoon of Sept. 11, stu dents from Guilford and UNC-Greensboro gathered in the Hut to listen to the words and wisdom of Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, author of the recently published book "New Monasticism" and founder of the Rutba Community in Durham. As part of campus ministry's brown- bag discussion series, Wilson-Hartgrove's appearance came for some students as a long-awaited opportunity to engage with a different variety of Christian thinking and activism. "For a lot of students, this book serves as a first-time introduction to a type of Chris tianity other than its right-wing support group," said Director of Friends Center and Campus Ministry coordinator Max Carter in the brief minutes before Wilson-Hart grove's appearance. Carter, who plays a central role in orga nizing the brown bag talks, uses Wilson- Hartgrove's book in his own classes fc^r its See "Monasticism" on page 7

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