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Fernandes addresses financial crisis at open forum
"It's just a good practice to share so the community understonds the importance of the decisions the Board's involved in. It's
importont to talk through the perspectives ond the range of options."
Jane Fernandes, president of Guilford College
BY BANNING WATSON
Staff Writer
On Oct. 22, Jane Fernandes,
president of Guilford College,
held an open budget forum to
address the College's current
financial crisis.
Fernandes announced that
Guilford is currently suffering a
deficit of around $2 million, due
mostly to decreasing enrollment
of both traditional and CCE
students since 2008. She also
announced that the Board of
Trustees has decided against
cutting programs and instead has
decided to borrow against its line
of credit.
"I thought the result of the
Board of Trustees' meeting was
positive," said Fernandes. "I
think it was a very forward
thinking action. I'm glad they
took that action to help me and
the community. I think it was the
best thing we could have done."
Jimmy Wilson, interim vice
president for finance, shared a
similar opinion.
"I do think it was forward
thinking of the board to incur
short-term debt to give the
president an opportunity to step
into her new situation, and give it
a full assessment and be strategic
about how she starts out her plan
for the College," said Wilson.
"It's better for the College. In the
end you'll have a much stronger
program, the College will do
much better and the educational
experience would be much better.
It says a lot that the board is
willing to take that step to do
what's best for the College."
Fernandes also announced in
the forum that the College would
be allocating more resources
toward financial aid to boost
enrollment as well as toward
faculty and staff compensation.
"Yes, there is money in there
for faculty and staff raises,"
said Elwood Parker, professor
of mathematics and faculty
representative on the Board of
Trustees. "As Jane said during the
Board of Trustees meeting and the
forum, it's not enough, and it's a
small amount, but at least there's
something there.
"One thing they could have
obviously done to reduce the
deficit was not give any. That
is a message to the faculty and
staff that we know you deserve
it."
Rachel Riskind, associate
professor of psychology and
forum attendee, summed up the
situation.
"There a lot of other colleges
in much worse financial
situations," said Riskind. "Some
are contending with a $10 million
deficit or 100 million, so it's not
something that makes me want to
go home and cry myself to sleep
at night, but it is a problem."
Fernandes emphasized that
in order to compete as a college,
Guilford needs to figure out what
the specialties of the College are
and admit that it cannot be all
things to all people.
While Fernandes is not yet sure
what those strengths are, for the
next month she will be holding
consultations with students,
faculty and staff to get a better
grasp on what it means to be
Guilford.
During the forum, it was
announced that Adrienne Israel,
vice president for academic
affairs and academic dean, would
be leaving the College at the
end of this year after 13 years in
office. Fernandes noted that such
a lengthy tenure in the post could
only be achieved by a person with
very special skills and thanked
Israel for her service.
Fernandes also announced
that forums following Board of
Trustees meeting would become
a regular staple of the Guilford
community.
"I thought that it would be
important for the community
to understand more about the
board meeting and what happens
there," said Fernandes. "It's just
a good practice to share so the
community understands the
importance of the decisions the
Board's involved in. It's important
to talk through the perspectives
and the range of options."
Author Bill Bryson to talk
about Walk in the Woods^
BY HENRY SMITH
Staff Writer
Once again, the Bryan Series has hit the ball
out of the park. On Nov. 11, famous author Bill
Bryson will be visiting campus and addressing
the community at the Greensboro Coliseum
Complex.
Bryson is a bestselling American writer who
has experimented with several genres of non
fiction. He has written books on travel, science
and the English language.
As a realist and a humorist, the accomplished
author has developed a cult-like following of
devout fans.
Many enjoy the funny, witty, entertaining
and knowledgeable nature of his writing.
"Of all the things I am not very good at,
living in the real world is perhaps the most
outstanding," said Bryson in his book "I'm a
Stranger Here Myself."
This next chapter of the Bryan Series kicks
off at 4:00 p.m. with an on-campus session
where select students will be able to meet with
Bryson and ask him questions. This group will
consist of mostly, but not exclusively, students
involved with environmental studies and
writing.
The session will focus on analyzing his
successful book, "A Walk in the Woods," a
book that is currently being made into a major
motion picture starring Robert Redford. This
comical story is about two friends hiking the
Appalachian Trail. It has ties to environmental
conservation and the importance of nature.
"When I read 'A W^k in the Woods' for
the first time, I could not stop laughing for 75
pages — and I mean belly-aching laughter,"
said Professor of English Jim Hood.
Students, as well as faculty, have expressed
excitement for Bryson's presentation.
"As a fan of his work, I cannot wait to put a
face and a voice to his writing," said senior and
Bryson enthusiast Mitch Robinette.
Instructor of Art Maia Dery expressed that
this presentation could be very influential and
inspiring for the student body.
"Bryson has one of those passionately
engaged dream jobs many traditional
Guilford students think they might want to
have someday," said Dery. "He spent years
developing his chops, growing accustomed to
rejection and the hard work of writing before
he became what he is today."
The Bryan Series has been a successful
program and has been growing annually. Past
spe^ers include former British Prime Minister
Tony Blair, author Toni Morrison and television
journalist Tom Brokaw.
According to Associate Vice President of
Communications and Marketing Ty Buckner,
one of the most difficult and important
processes for the Bryan Series is selecting
speakers.
"The Bryan Series is a year-round effort,"
said Buckner. "We are always looking for future
speakers."
This process includes cotmtless hours of
research, consultation with lecture centers
across the country and communication with
other universities with similar programs.
Speakers are selected by a combination of
affordability, availability, popularity and the
consistency with Guilford's core values.
"Bryson will be an appropriate speaker
for the community (and) will certainly be
entertaining," said Buckner.
SENATE
MEETINGS ARE ON
MONDAYS @7 P.M.
BOREN LOUNGE
(FOUNDERS)
this week^s developments
This week. Serendipity
founderrand Chalr of
Student:^ffair$ Commlttee
Esthefe'Hall and Interim
.Vicd/Prdsident and Dean of
Students Jen Agor spoke
afiout Serendipity, what
th^.concerns and what
Campus Life is doing.
Students shared ideas about
how to save the annual
event. To find out how you
can help, contact bay1esjd@
gui1ford.edu.
W-'o'
contact us
Have an idea?
Concern? Great
recipe? It's
important to us.
- . ........I
Compiled by Nicole Zelniker. senior writer