NEWS
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
New black alumni advisory board formed, offers unique cultural perspective
BY RENEE DEHART
iTAPF Writ f 8
Diversity. Stewardship. Community.
These three core values are all being
honored with the formation of the new
advisory board; Black Alumni of Guilford
College.
BAGC formed in September with five
main goals aimed at helping African
American students, alumni, faculty and
staff on and off campus.
The College is excited for this new board
and the contributions it will bring to the
community.
"Whether it's mentoring students,
providing advice or helping fundraise for
scholarships, it's all good," said President
Kent Chabotar in an email interview.
Led by its president David Hopkins '91,
BAGC consists of 29 members and works
closely with the Guilford College Alumni
Association Board.
The new advisory board's goals include
providing a professional and social network
for black students, alumni, faculty and
staff, helping with student recruitment
and retention, supporting fundraising that
advances the development of black students
and helping preserve the College's black
history — all while assuring an anti-racist,
multicultural and socially relevant campus
environment.
"It was around 2002 when black alumni
decided to form a group to stay in touch
called 'My Family,"' said Jada Drew, director
for educational initiatives & partnerships.
"It wasn't received or institutionalized,
and they didn't have the time or money to
continue it."
While there are black alumni on GCAAB,
the College felt that there needed to be more
black representation in alumni boards to
better represent the community.
"It became apparent that black alumni
had different experiences here and they have
different emphases," said Karri Manson,
senior director of the alumni relations and
programs. "They have different access to
students. It's a particular cultural passion
they have for doing this work, and they
want to be a little more focused on how they
are doing that."
"I thi^ it's important to juxtapose their
experiences with ours because they're very
similar," said sophomore Leah Brown. "As
a larger group, now we can create change
because they're not always awesome
experiences."
The BAGC goals reflect those of the
GCAAB while offering a unique cultural
perspective.
"They can take what we need to be doing
and dial it in a little more for this group,"
said Manson.
BAGC has opened the door for other
Tanisha Layne ‘03 is the president-elect of the Black Alumni of Guilford College for 2013-2014.
advisory boards to form.
"It is entirely possible that this is the first
for other groups as well," said Katherine
Cummings, president of the alumni
association advisory board. "There could be
a board for LGBTQ or something as broad
as science majors."
BACG may not lead directly to new
boards launching, but it has certainly
sparked conversation about possible groups
forming in the future.
"There may not be more advisory boards,
but more affinity association groups,"
said Miriam Biber, the assistant director of
alumni relations.
Two essential ingredients make up
BAGC: hard work and time.
"They're spending weekends here,
conference calls, making plans, informing
committees and that is a huge gift to the
college, that stewardship," said Manson.
"It's totally voluntary."
Drew encourages students to engage
with alumni.
"Take advantage of the alumni," Drew
said. "They are really ready to work, to
connect students, to give them advice. They
want to build relationships with students."
SENATE Update
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This Week's
Developments
A transfer of $5,000 from the rollover fund to the general
fund was approved to allow for the funding of more student
activities. Students discussed the Board of Trustees proposal
to have a meet-and-greet session in Dana Hall and are
excited about diat development.The lack of trash cans and
recycling bins at the Old Apartments was discussed. Students
were also interested in learning more about how the library
hours work during finals week.
Next Week's
Plans
Senate will discuss the enrollment numbers for fall and spring
and how they affect the Senate Budget Committee’s available
funds. Senate will also look into the process for getting
student art for display in Boren Lounge.
Contact Us
We need to hear your voice. Have an idea? Concern? Great
recipe? It is important to us.
Questions? Email: senate@guilford.edu or visit
http://guilfordsenate.wordpress.com
Compiled by Samir Hazboun, Community Senate President
New Bryan Series: Robert Gates
BY VALERIA SOSA
Staff Writir
Director of the CIA? Check.
Secretary of defense? Check. Served
the country imder eight different
presidents? Check.
With a resume rivaled by few,
Robert Gates is kicking off the Bryan
Series this year with a bang.
On Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in
Greensboro's War Memorial
Auditorium, community members
will gather to hear Gates speak.
Having served as the Erector of
the CIA, president of Texas A&M
University and secretary of defense,
he is sure to entertain.
Ty Buckner, associate vice
president of communications and
marketing, is heavily involved in
organizing the Bryan Series.
"We always try to present one
of our best speakers in the opening
event, whidr is always highly
anticipated," said Buckner. "I expect
it to get us off to a great start for a
season of five programs that we are
really looking forward to."
George Guo, professor of political
science, commented on Gates'
unique careers and experiences.
"Gates is the only one in
American history who has served as
secretary of defense for presidents
from different political parties," said
Guo. "Of course he has significantly
impacted the U.S. militarily."
Gates joined the CIA in 1966 and
served as director fix)m 1991 to 1993,
becoming the only career officer to
rise from an entry-level employee to
a director.
In 2006, President George W.
Bush appointed Gates as secretary of
defense — a position he maintained
during Barack Obama's first
presidency term, when he helped
overturn the "don't ask, don't tell"
policy.
On July 2, 2011, Gates officially
retired as secretary of defense and
received the Presidential Medal
of Freedom — America's highest
civilian honor.
Robert Dimcan, visiting assistant
professor of political science, was
a colleague of Gates' when both
were new recruits to the CIA career
program.
"We were together in a class of
maybe 20-30 people, learning the
business of what the agency did,"
said Duncan. "At the time (Gates
became CIA Deputy Director of
Intelligence), I was working in the
office of training and education at
The Farm (Camp Peary), and for
the classes I was teadiing there,
occasionally, I would ask Bob
Gates to come down and talk to the
students in the class."
Although Gates is now the
chancellor of the College of William
& Mary, Duncan joked about what
Gates could do with his free time
nowadays.
"He recently retired ... I don't
know what he's going to do now, but
we are looking for a president. Why
not hire Bob Gates?" said Duncan.
On Simday Oct. 27, at 3:30 p.m.
on the second floor of Hege Library,
Duncan will lead a seminar on
Gates' career.
Taylor Bradsher, an Early
College junior, plans to attend
Gates' talk at the War Memorial
Auditorium.
"I want to hear Robert Gates
speak because of his role as secretary
of defense and his work with the
CIA," said Bradsher. "I find it really
interesting that he worked his way
up from an entry-level position to
one of great influence. I am really
excited to hear him speak."
BRYAN SERIES
2013-2014
October 29:
Robert Gates
November 19:
Robert Ballard
February 13:
Itzhak Perlman
March 4:
Elizabeth Alexander
April 8:
Lara Logan 8c
Steve Kroft