NEWS
Chabotar s report sheds
light on important
college departments
By Amber Reese
Staff Writer
President Kent Chabotar issued a report to The
Beacon on Jan. 22 that gave a detailed update re
garding important news from each department.
Advancement
Institutional Advancement handles fundrais
ing and alumni communications for the college.
Working closely with Chabotar, they help raise
millions of dollars to keep the lawns mowed and
the electricity on, and much more.
According to Chabotar's report, more people
are giving this year, but in smaller amounts.
"In January 2009, there were 16 active propos
als pending with major gift prospects and a face
dollar value of $16.9 million, compared to 38 now
pending with an $18.7 million face value," states
the report. "The numbers indicate that we are pre
senting more proposals in the lower range of our
major gift scale."
The explanation is straightforward, according
to Vice President for Advancement and Executive
Director of Development Mike Poston.
"It is not that people are saying no, necessarily,
they're just not saying yes," he said. "So I thirik
what we have are a lot of good, solid donors to
different colleges and universities nationally and
at Guilford and they're saying, 'Yes, we believe
in what you're doing, yes, it's a good investment
in young people's lives, but our resources are at a
danger point and we're not comfortable commit
ting those right now.'"
Advancement works with two sides of fund
raising. The first is the major gift side, which deals
with donations of $25,000 or more. The second
side is the annual fund, which encompasses small
er donations that add up to over a million dollars.
Advancement's goal for the annual fund this
year is $1.05 million and about 70 percent of that
goal has been met.
"We feel that the annual fund is a point of opti
mism and still a ray of light, and I believe they're
See "Report" on page 2
"We do the reports
because a transparent
decision-making process
Kent Chabotar with understandable
president information is essential
to a college with Quaker traditions of
equality, consensus, and inclusion."
Bishop Robinson visits Gniiford
LIGHT OF THE BIAS
INCIDENT, ROBINSON
DISCUSSES TOLERANCE,
HOMOSEXUALITY AND
THE CHURCH
By Victor Lopez
Staff Writer
Episcopalian Bishop Gene Rob
inson of New Hampshire visited
Guilford on Jan. 28 as part of Reli
gious Emphasis Week. Robinson is
the nation's first openly gay Chris
tian bishop.
After last semester's bias inci
dent in which a student of the LG-
BTQA community was threatened
by anonymous notes attacking ho
mosexuality, junior Thomas Eaves
suggested that Robinson be invited
to visit Guilford. Eaves "took great
pleasure" in introducing the Bishop.
Students, faculty, and members
of the community filled the benches
at the New Garden Friends Meeting
to hear Robinson.
Robinson began by saying, "if
you're here somewhat hesitatingly,
suspiciously, or just downright con-
trarily, you are especially welcome."
"The only way we are going to
get through some of the issues that
face us is by facing each other in an
air of respect and commitment to
our broader community," he said.
After his election on June 7, 2003,
Robinson received death threats,
had to wear a bulletproof vest and
required around the clock security.
The bishop shared the story
about when he first realized he was
homosexual.
Robinson said that when
individuals come out, "it's up to the
parents to accept their children or
See "Tolerance" on page 3
Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson speaks in New
Garden Friends Meeting.The Jan. 28. discussion focused
largely on Robinson's experience as the nation's first
openly gay Christian bishop.
WORLD &NATKHI
Brown stuns in senatorial election
By Jordan West
Staff Writer
On Jan. 20, Democrats
in Washington were see
ing red as one of the blu
est of states, Massachu
setts, voted Republican
Scott Brown into the
Senate. Brown will take
the seat Ted Kennedy
held for 47 years.
The victory, in which
Brown beat his Demo
cratic opponent, Martha
Anne Coakley, by a 5
percent margin (52-47), came as a
surprise both inside and outside of
Washington, even for Brown him
self. Viewed by some as a sign of
a Republican resurgence. Brown's
win could cause more delays in
Obama's legislative goals before
the mid-term elections in Novem
ber.
"This seat does not belong to
one person, or one political party,"
said Brown in his victory speech,
"this is the people's seat."
Brown continued to describe
his win as "defying the odds and
the pundits," and then said he will
be a "worthy successor" of the
Massachusett's newly elected Senator
Scott Brown celebrates his surprise win.
late Kennedy who died last Au
gust.
With only 11 percent of voters
in Massachusetts registered as
Republicans, Senate candidates
from the Republican Party have
always struggled in the tradition
ally blue state. Brown becomes
the first Republican senator from
Massachusetts since 1972.
"This is a lot different than my
victory," former Massachusetts
Republican Gov. Mitt Romney told
Fox News; "To have a Republican
senator, that's unheard of ...This
See "Brown" on page 6
International Gvil Rights
Center and Museum
opens as many
celebrate civil rights
history downtown
Insider Look on page 2