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Senate sends alcohol policy proposal to administration for approval

MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT REZONING INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA

See "Trader Joe'S" on Page 3

By Bryan Dooley & Kim KleimeierStaff WriterS

Fresh, organic produce, international products, friendly customer service and grocery shopping that doesn’t cost a fortune. All of this can be found in one store: Trader Joe’s, which might be coming to Greensboro, though nothing is past the rumor stage yet.

Although many citizens would welcome a Trader Joe's, the rumor of a Greensboro location has ignited a heated debate because the possible commercial development site is in a residential location.

“People in the surrounding neighborhoods are mobilizing in opposition to the rezoning,” said Janet Wright, faculty secretary/ombudsperson and former member of the Greensboro Zoning Board. “That does not mean they oppose bringing Trader Joe’s to Greensboro. They are opposed to that location.”

The tentative location is the corner of Hobbs and Friendly, right near The Friendly Center.

In 1958, Joe Coulombe opened a chain of convenient stores in California called Pronto Markets. In 1967, Coulombe changed the concept of his stores to small neighborhood grocery stores called Trader Joe’s. The company rapidly expanded to over 350 stores across the U.S.

While many people are excited to finally have a Trader Joe’s in Greensboro — the

NEWS

Possible Trader Joe's in Greensboro ignites debate

"Many Faces of Blackness" celebrated at Guilford

By Aaron HallStaff Writer

See "Black HiSTory MonTH" on Page 7

“Many Faces of Blackness,” Guilford College’s observance of Black History Month, offers a variety of activities for students in celebration of the African American experience and its contribution to our nation.

This year’s events include, among others, teach-ins, jazz, poetry slams, philosophical discussions, a movie, a black history tour of Greensboro, a hip hop dance session and a voter registration drive.

The schedule for this year’s celebration, including many of the events that have been popular in previous years, incorporates various groups on campus.

One new activity this year is the “Get on the BUS” tour. The tour will commence by stopping at N.C. A&T and Bennett College, giving students the opportunity to visit historic colleges that played important roles in African American and civil rights history.

This celebration of historic black academic institutions is one of the components of the “Get on the BUS” tour, according to junior Kiyhana Williams, president of Blacks Unifying Society.

See "" on PageThis week online: WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

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See "Policy" on Page 2

By Thomas DeaneStaff Writer

Last semester, Guilford students hoped to put on an event in which local beer would be served, but at the last minute were told they couldn’t offer the beer. At a different on-campus event, alumni were served alcohol.

The issue of equality and consistency regarding Guilford’s alcohol policies has recently caused a stir amongst students. This was evident at the two aforementioned events last semester: Meadow Fed Harvest Dinner and the

President’s Gala.Meadow Fed was an event put

together by students who were hoping to share local food as well as local beer. The event initially had consent from administration to serve the beer, but that approval was rescinded on the day of the event.

“I was very interested in seeing all the different local beers, not just the commercial beers we’re accustomed to seeing,” said junior Chase Clausen. “It would have been awesome to have

Poetic portraits of a revolution

By Linda Catoe

Performers in "Generations," a performance featuring spoken word poetry, music and song, are caught in poses of passion under the lights in Dana Auditorium. "Generations" has been a part of Black History Month at Guilford for the last eight years.

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Check out our new website!COMMENT, TWEET, INTERACT:

Scan here with your smartphone!

To drink or not to drink? is the question Community Senate President/Clerk Yahya Alazrak guides Senate through during a discussion about the proposed alcohol policy.

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GUILFORD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH ANNUAL SERIES OF ON-CAMPUS EVENTS

Find us on:

GuilCo SoJo is a blog dedicated to exploring issues of social justice in Greensboro, Guilford County, and the Guilford College community. Check us out at http://guilcosojo.wordpress.com

of-age students and staff share the cool local beers.”

Conversely, the President’s Gala offered champagne and wine to alumni and prospective donors during a dinner in the cafeteria. Student representatives who attended were told not to engage in drinking, even if they were over 21.

“It shows a lack of trust,” said senior and Community Senate Clerk/President Yahya Alazrak. “It might be appropriate to allow us to drink at events we’re invited to.”

Both events were catered by Meriwether Godsey, which is in charge of all food services at the school.

“We see inconsistencies and we are querying those inconsistencies,” said Alazrak.

Alazrak is working to put in to place a new policy that he sees as a “response to students feeling like the current policy is not consistent.”

The proposed policy, introduced to Community Senate on Feb. 1 and passed on Feb. 8, would clearly define whether Meriwether Godsey has the ability to serve alcohol at on-campus events. This would apply to both events for alumni as well as students who are over 21.

Senior Bennett Christian, one of the lead

organizers of Meadow Fed sees a different inequality arising should alcohol be served at student events.

“Because alcohol as we know it is legally limited to 21-year-olds (and over), this would

clearly reinforce the inequalities enforced by the law, in which everyone under 21 can’t (drink), and anyone over can,” said Christian in an email. “That’s just a dynamic that could stand to be avoided at events, such as Meadow

Fed, as that’s not really the focus of the event.”The proposed change does not outline

whether drinking will be allowed at certain events or not. The proposal is designed to allow the administration to choose, either

allowing Meriwether Godsey to serve alcohol to all or to none, so long as the policy is consistent.

Students are split on whether they would rather see drinking to be allowed for everyone

or for no one. However, most are in favor of a consistent policy, one way or the other.

“In all reality, it does not matter to me,” said first-year Casey Murdock. “If the new policy allows drinking amongst of-age students at school-sponsored events, or if it does not, that’s fine. There just needs to be a consistent rule for everyone.”

If the proposal is approved by the administration, allowing 21-year-old students to drink at certain campus events, some see potential problems that could arise.

Director of Student Judicial Affairs Sandy Bowles acknowledges that the student handbook does not allow for openly consuming alcohol on campus. Bowles, who is in favor of the new proposal, notes one main problem would arise should drinking be allowed.

“Drinking at these events would be (in direct violation of) public display,” said Bowles. “If we permit drinking in that setting, how would that be any different than a party?”

Since the student handbook does not allow for openly consuming alcohol, Bowles stresses there would also need to be a proposal to change the handbook. To her, consistency in the community is the main goal for this proposal.

With the proposal passed by Senate, it now awaits approval from the administration.

NEWS2WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

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Senate looks to add consistency with proposed alcohol policy

In less than a week, the Board of Trustees will meet at Guilford College, where it is expected that President and Professor of Political Science Kent Chabotar will unveil the college’s worse-case — a phrase used because "worst-case" implies that no scenario could be worse — contingency plan for the coming fiscal year.

Chabotar told The Guilfordian that the need for a “worse-case” plan was motivated by an estimated $2.9 million budget deficit.

“The ‘worse-case’ scenario is driven largely but not entirely by the anticipated loss in state-funded financial aid for North Carolina residents,” said Chabotar. “We don’t have the enrollment data for the next fiscal year until around March, so we cannot yet say whether we’ll need to rely on the worse-case scenarios yet.”

Should enrollment drop, the college would have to reduce its expenditures by $1–$2 million, which could affect student fees, endowment use, use of unrestricted funds, employee positions and compensation and operating budgets.

It is expected that the BOT will approve Chabotar’s plan, though details will not be made public until it has been discussed by the college’s administration and the BOT panel members.

Attorney Carole Bruce, chair of the BOT Budget Committee, said that she has faith in the budget process’s integrity.

“The decisions will be very difficult, but the good thing about an established, disciplined process is that the structure is well-defined and understood so that the most rational decisions can be made in the most difficult circumstances,” Bruce said.

Chabotar told The Guilfordian that there were many variables that he and other administrators such as Vice President of Finance Greg Bursavich were examining before presenting their findings to the BOT.

“I believe that if the worse case comes true, we will probably need two years to adjust,” said Chabotar. “Even I do not know the details in terms of priorities, positions and expenses. Greg (Bursavich) is now collecting ideas from vice presidents and

others of where they would cut or add revenue if the ‘worse case’ occurs.”

Ben Heide, a senior peace and conflict studies major, told The Guilfordian that the implications of the potential worse-case scenario were disconcerting.

“I think a lot of my anger is directed towards the state legislature, mainly because it hurts the people who need the money the most,” said Heide. “As a student, I really hope that the Guilford community is able to step up and help make up some of the lost cash. Otherwise, Guilford may be seriously hurt in the loss of talent caused by cuts.”

Elijah DaCosta, a senior biology major, told The Guilfordian that even though the college is facing potential financial hardships, he trusts the college’s strategic plan.

“We have a strong long-range plan, and its successful implementation will increase our enrollment and help us to recover from this loss,” said DaCosta.

Tim Leisman, a junior peace and conflict studies major, told The Guilfordian that the potential cuts made him realize that Guilford College would have to make sacrifices.

“Cuts should be made in as effective a way as possible, while preserving our core values and staying true to what we are,” said Leisman.

However, some, like an adjunct professor who wished to remain anonymous, are not as optimistic as Leisman and DaCosta. The professor told The Guilfordian that losing even a part-time job would be a hardship.

“Right now, my discipline is experiencing a glut of people with Ph.Ds and a growing scarcity of jobs,” said the professor. “I would go from being over-educated and under-employed to being over-educated and unemployed.”

Until quantitative data is received by the college, there is no way to tell which departments, staff members and/or programs will be affected, if any at all.

Chabotar told The Guilfordian that it is important that the community know that examining worse-case possibilities is not new for the college, and there is a chance the college could do better than projected in the coming fiscal year.

“We have done better than the ‘worse-case’ scenario for almost every semester we have used it, including Spring 2012,” said Chabotar.

Board of Trustees will meet to discuss new budget plan

(L to R) Junior Lia Rosalsky, senior Bennett Christian, and juniors Ali Krantzler and Giovanna Selvaggio, all ponder the weighty alcohol policy discussion in Senate on Feb. 1.

POLICY

Continued from page 1

By Victor LopezSTaff WriTerPASSED: Consistent

Alcohol Policy Proposal

Kid-tested, big brother-approved, send your

double-good idea to Senate! senate@guilford.edu. Senate meets in Boren Lounge every

Wednesday @ 7 p.m.

By Yahya AlazrakCommunity Senate PreSident/Clerk

Community Senate Update

Bringing back Amendment One

conversation, and the increase in Student

Activities Fees conversation.

Taking the Consistent Alcohol Policy Proposal to the administration. Looking

at the renovations to Founders next week.

Stuff we did

Stuff we're doing

Stuff we're gonna do

Stuff you wanna

see done

“A lot of times, you have no idea what’s happened to your loved ones — where they’ve been taken, for how long (or) what they’re accused of,” said senior Sarah Barnett, a Baha’i student at Guilford.

For Baha’is in Iran who have been charged with the crime of education, the scene Barnett describes is the current reality.

Since the political revolution of 1979, the Iranian government — a theocracy in which the Shia Islamic clergy rule — has been systematically oppressing Baha’is by imprisoning, torturing and even executing any who seek a higher education.

These actions directly violate Article 26 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Amnesty International believes that international pressure can help bring an end to these injustices.

To raise awareness of this issue, Barnett and first-year and fellow Baha’i Heather Nelson organized a screening of Amnesty International’s documentary “Education Under Fire” on Feb. 2.

The documentary focuses on the history of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, founded in 1987 in response to the government oppression of Baha’is. At its inception, the institute served fewer than 100 students, who would secretly gather in professors’ apartments where makeshift classrooms awaited them.

Eventually, students and faculty acquired a building in Tehran in which to conduct their education. Despite efforts

to avoid unwanted attention, the BIHE endured government raids in 1998 and again in May 2011.

“(The government) confiscated books, materials and computers,” said a man in the documentary. “(They) arrested the person who was in charge and put a lock on the building so no one could go back.”

Government officials raided the homes of professors and students, imprisoning those with a connection to the institution.

Some received sentences as high as 20 years under the charge of education. Some were executed, including a 16-year-old girl.

“We should respect other religions and everybody must be allowed to express themselves however they want to as long as it doesn’t affect or harm anyone,” said first-year Lesley Manuh after the film.

A conversation panel followed the film, featuring Roya Tooloian, a Baha’i who

grew up in Iran and sought educational freedom in the United States; Jeremy Rinker, visiting assistant professor of peace and conflict studies; and John Michael Justice, a Baha’i member of the Greensboro community.

Tooloian spoke of escaping Iran to attend college in America, where she worked hard to afford the tuition of an international student, which can be triple or quadruple the amount that a country

resident pays.Rinker explained how the Baha’i faith,

once considered to be a splinter group of Islam but now formally considered its own world religion, may have become a target for government oppression.

“This kind of sectarianism is seen as dissent from the official state religion,” said Rinker. “The mere fact of practicing this faith becomes seen by the Iranian officials as dissent against the state.”

Justice invited event attendees to join the “Drive to 25,” a petition of sorts which can be accessed on the official campaign website, educationunderfire.com.

“You can send an automated letter to seven officials within the Iranian government … calling on them to desist from the active and systematic persecution of the Baha’i community,” said Justice.

The Drive to 25 campaign hopes to garner 25,000 signatures. The only information required to sign is an email address — adding a name is optional.

Nelson also hopes “that Guilford will open their doors to BIHE credit, that (Baha’i) students can transfer and have the option of going to this school as well.”

“(BIHE students) really love to learn,” said Tooloian. “They really, really want to do something for mankind, not to become successful. … They just want to become better human beings and be knowledgeable and help someone.”

nearest one is in Chapel Hill — others are less than thrilled with the possibility of more development of that area in Greensboro.

“I am not in favor of rezoning residential to commercial,” said Susan Wilson, a member of the board of Hamilton Lakes and Parks Inc., to the News & Record. “There is plenty of commercial property in this town”

“The issue of zoning and where any retail place should be located is different than whether someone supports the particular store” said Wright.“ In considering rezoning you have to consider any business that fits within the particular zoning classification. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Trader Joe’s, CVS or Big Lots.”

Some are excited about the economic boost that Trader Joe’s could bring to the area. Many have longed for a Trader Joe’s to come to the area for many years.

“We definitely think we should have Trader Joe’s in Greensboro,” said Mayor Robbie Perkins to The Guilfordian. “We have found it to be a great opportunity, great products at reasonable prices.”

In contrast, residents near the proposed location are strongly opposed to Trader Joe’s encroaching upon a residential area.

“There is a neighborhood group opposed to the rezoning,” said Ed Cone, local blogger and editor of Ziff Davis Enterprise, via email. “It drew a lot of people to its first meeting. There’s discussion, pro and con, on local blogs.”

“A lot of people would want it, but someplace else,” said Clyde Marr, a member of the board of the Hamilton Lakes and Parks Inc., to the News and Record. “Unfortunately, it is one of those things (where people say), ‘Not in my neighborhood.’”

One possible solution is to allow Trader Joe’s to use one of the many existing and vacant buildings somewhere else.

“I’d be happy to see a Trader Joe’s in Greensboro, but I’d

prefer that we not pave over more green space and extend commercial development further down Friendly Avenue to get it,” said Cone. “There is a lot of vacant commercial space in this town. We should stop treating buildings and land as disposable assets.”

“Something that concerns me is that we have a lot of vacant retail space,” said Wright. “Could some of that be utilized?”

“My personal preference would be to put the store at Golden Gate shopping center,” said Cone. “I understand that location may not meet some site-location criteria and that another grocery store tenant would have to be appeased,

but maybe those obstacles could be negotiated.” At this point, a Trader Joe’s coming to Greensboro is still a

rumor, though many seem to think it likely that the grocery store chain will be seeking a location in the city.

“There are a number of steps a person has to go through to get a piece of property rezoned,” said Wright. “It is ultimately up to the (City) Council to decide whether a piece of property should be designated for another use.”

“Trader Joe’s has yet to officially file a zoning application,” said Perkins. “We won’t know more until the application has been filed, March 12. It’s a long process and we are right at the very beginning of it now.”

NEWS 3February 10, 2012

Possible Trader Joe's in Greensboro ... not in my back yard?

By Kate GibsonStaff Writer

TRADER JOE'S

(T)he Iranian government ... has been systematically oppressing Baha’is by imprisoning, torturing and even executing any who seek a higher education.

Amnesty International's documentary "Education Under Fire" and Baha'i campaign spread to Guilford campus

Continued from page 1

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FILM FOCUSES ON OPPRESSION OF EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN IRAN

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COMMUNITY4WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

FRIDAY

Calendar of Events

"An Encounter with Simone Weil" Premier NC Screening & Talk with

Director7 p.m.

Bryan Jr.Auditorium

Mondre Moffett & The A&T Jazz AllStars

8 – 10 p.m.Triad Stage – Upstage Cabaret,

Greensboro, N.C.

African American Film Series Presents: "A Raisin in the Sun"

6 – 8 p.m.Oakview Recreation Center

Grad 101 Fair11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Founders Lobby

VOSCA For the Love of Chocolate and Wine Event

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.Raffaldini Vineyards

SAASA Meeting8 p.m.

The Hut

The Guilfordian is the independent student newspaper of Guilford College. The Guilfordian exists to provide a high-quality, reliable, informative and entertaining forum for the exchange of ideas, information and creativity within Guilford College and the surrounding community.

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respond to issues raised in our pages via letters to the editor. Letters can be submitted via our website (www.guilfordian.com), and should be submitted by 3 p.m. on the Sunday before publication and not exceed 300 words. Letters that do not meet the deadline or word limit will be considered on a space-available basis. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. By submitting a letter to The Guilfordian, you give The Guilfordian permission to reproduce your letter in any format. The Guilfordian reserves the right to editorial review of all submissions.

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Editorial Board

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Aaron HallKim KleimeierAli KrantzlerAlex LindbergVictor LopezEllen NicholasMichael MacVaneJustyn MelroseJacob RosenbergHaejin SongNatalie SuttonZachary Thomas

Eric FreemanChris RoeAshley Lynch

Yezmin VillarrealCasey Horgan

Benefit Concert for The Children's Center

6 p.m.Ardmore Moravian

Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.

10th Annual Greensboro Fringe Festival: showcasing local artisians

8 p.m.City Arts Studio Theatre

Live Spanish/Flamenco Guitarist7 – 10 p.m.

Graffiti's Bistro, Greensboro, N.C.

Poetic Portraits of a Revolutionmultimedia and spoken word

performance7:30 – 9 p.m.

Art Gallery, Hege Library

Homecooking for Seniors5 – 7 p.m.

New Garden Friends Meeting

The National Theatre of London presents Live in HD: "Travelling Light"

7:30 p.m.Hanesbrands Theatre at the Milton

Rhodes Center for the Arts

E-mail gibianrh@guilford.edu

SEE YOUR CALENDAR

EVENT HERE

CAB Speciality Events: Spontaneous Weddings

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.Founders Lobby

Greenleaf Review is seeking submission of poetry, prose, and art in any style, media, or genre. Email your submissions to litmag@guilford.edu and check out their blog at www.greenleafreview.wordpress.com for

submission guidelines and more information.

Senior DesignersDaniel Vasiles

'The Last Time I Saw Paris' from Movie stars, Moguls and Memories

1 p.m.Carousel Luxory Cinemas

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TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

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WTH?! Con 2012 will run 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday; these hours include deal, game, and artist rooms. Highlights: Flaming Faeries (Sat. at 7 p.m.), the Geek Auction, and the Dance (directly following the Geek Auction). We will also have two wizard rock bands – Blibbering Humdingers and Hawthorn & Holly – playing Fri. at 7 p.m. and Sat. at 3 p.m.

"Comes a Time" by Charlotte Lippincott

5February 10, 2012WORLD & NATION

Graphic by Daniel Vasiles

stories by becca heller

Kansas' Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services' new policy: cutting food aid for children of illegal immigrants

Born in the USA, the land of the free … On Oct. 1, the Kansas Department of Social and

Rehabilitation Services made a controversial policy change, cutting food aid for many children of parents who are illegal immigrants, reported the Kansas City Star.

Although illegal immigrants are not allowed to obtain food stamps, the children of illegal immigrants born in the USA had previously been eligible. Because of the children’s status as U.S. citizens, the families had been able to receive food aid and some relief for the tight family budget. However, the implementation of the new policy discontinues this aid to many families living in Kansas.

According to MSNBC News, SRS has changed the way it counts household income for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Through this program, SRS considers the entire income of all members of a household, but does not account for illegal family members when considering the eligibility of a family for aid.

“Now, all household incomes are treated equally,” said Angela de Rocha, SRS director of communications, to the Kansas City Star. “Prior to the policy change … U.S. citizens were being discriminated against.”

Rocha believes that without the recent change, the policy would have given illegal immigrants in Kansas

more benefits than some U.S. citizens. Some supporting the policy change argue that the

children of illegal immigrants would not have become U.S. citizens in the first place if their parents had not unlawfully immigrated.

However, many are taken aback by the new policy, and a heated debate has emerged regarding whether the state’s action is ethical.

“This is not a time, with this economy, when we should be withdrawing help from struggling families with children,” said Stacy Dean, vice president of food assistance policy. “We have a demonstrated problem of food insecurity in this country, and, in Kansas, this policy takes you further away from being able to solve the problem.”

“The bottom line here is we have children who are going to bed hungry at night,” said President and CEO of Kansas Action for Children Shannon Cotsoradis to the Kansas City State.

Even though Kansas Governor Sam Brownback continually tries to defend the new policy, the controversial issue does not rest within the Kansas state government.

“Their bill is a legal impossibility and a political fantasy,” said Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, to the Associated Press.

As the controversial issue gains more attention in Kansas and throughout the nation, many illegal immigrants continue to worry about the future of their families, including their children, who remain legal citizens of the United States of America.

By Haejin Songstaff Writer

EGYPT

SYRIA

It has recently emerged that In 2010, canada dIrected Its IntellIgence agency to use InformatIon extracted by means of torture In order to mInImIze rIsks to publIc safety. According to the public safety ministry, this directive only applies in rare cases and does not in any way condone or encourage torture, BBC reports. However, the statement does contradict previous orders and human rights promises, and many fear that it will encourage other countries to continue torture practices. "Information obtained by torture is always discounted, but the problem is, can one safely ignore it if Canadian lives and property are at stake?" Public Safety Minister Vic Toews asked in Parliament.

on dec. 29, egypt announced Its decIsIon to prosecute 16 amerIcans and 27 others Involved In non-governmental organIzatIons for allegedly acceptIng Illegal foreIgn funds to push democratIc agendas In egypt. According to USAToday, military-backed Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri has suggested that “foreign hands” are behind a plot to destabilize the country and oppose his rule, and this crackdown on foreign-funded NGO’s is a strategic step to undermine such plots. Despite U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s threat to freeze $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt, on Feb. 8 el-Ganzouri refused to halt the prosecution.

CANADA

on feb. 7, syrIans and JordanIans JoIned together outsIde the russIan embassy to protest russIa’s polItIcal decIsIon to block u.n. condemnatIon of the current syrIan regIme. In a move that some stipulate was strategically aimed to undercut the U.S., Russia vetoed the U.N. Security Council resolution to formally condemn Syrian President Assad’s crackdown on protesters. The response to the veto was not limited, however, to the U.S. and Syria, as Jordanians all along the border gathered to express solidarity with their neighbors, the Jordan Times reports. “A group of my friends are collecting money and

clothing for refugees,” said Raeda Atoum, a Jordanian demonstrator, to the Jordan Times. “The massacres are a tragedy for both Jordanians and Syrians.”

for the fIrst tIme ever, u.s. scIentIsts have successfully created human braIn cells that replIcate genetIcally caused parkInson’s dIsease. With these new brain cells, scientists will be able to study Parkinson’s mutations in live neurons and test treatments on an accurate model, BBC reports. In a technique which had already been proven successful, the scientists used donated skin cells to create these new brain cells. "Before this, we didn't even think about being able to study the disease in human neurons,” said Dr. Jian Feng, who led the investigations.

UNITED STATES

NEW POLICY DISPUTED WITHIN KANSAS STATE GOVERNMENT

"This is not a time, with this economy, when we should be withdrawing help from struggling families with children."

Stacy Dean, vice president of food assistance policy

NEWS IN BRIEF

In the past decade, war and civil unrest in the Middle East have raged on. However, just this week, officials from the United States, Afghanistan and the Taliban have started to hold meetings that they hope will put an end to the violence in Afghanistan.

These initial talks focus on building confidence and trust between the officials and laying the framework for peace talks to come.

“We have not yet reached to the stage of holding peace talks with the international community,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid to BBC News. “The focus is on initiation of CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) before the talks for peace; consensus in this connection is in the developing process, but so far even implementation of the measures have not been started.”

Both sides are hesitant to work with each other after so many years of bloodshed. However, they believe a common goal can be formed with the help of the Afghan government.

One of the biggest issues being discussed is the freedom of Taliban members being held in Guantanamo Bay. To resolve this issue, the U.S. government has agreed to move five of the Taliban captives from the detention facility, reported BBC.

“They said it on the record, yes, that is part of the talks,” said Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers to Fox News. “This is a really bad idea. And we have told them that. There is no way they could walk out of any of those meetings thinking they had some support coming out of the U.S. Congress.”

After 10 years of fighting, it is easy to see why many would be hesitant to assist the Taliban, especially if it means the release of potentially dangerous individuals, as Rogers points out. While it has the potential to be

disastrous, it could secure the Taliban’s trust in the U.S. peace efforts and create an alliance between the two.

Many voice similar concerns about the risks of releasing these five prisoners. As a senior congressional official commented, “the IC (intelligence community) has determined that all five were too dangerous to be released.”

However, there are many who remain positive that this is the right way to go about bringing peace to Afghanistan.

“There’s a risk that the Taliban sit there and think there’s some kind of divide-and-rule going on from the international side ... and that actually no negotiated deal is possible, and that they are far better off maintaining the coherence of their leadership,” said former EU envoy to Kabul Michael Semple to BBC.

However, the U.S. government has refused to release these five men until the Taliban agrees to release three U.S. captives as well, as a show of good faith. With such controversy around the exchange, many wonder why the U.S. is negotiating with the militant group.

“While Al Qaeda just wants to kill people, the Taliban have definite governing ambitions,” said one of the U.S. officials in charge of the negotiations to CNN. “They want Afghanistan back — but to accomplish that, they only need to do the minimum. They don’t need to control every inch of land, just be present enough to exert influence.”

It is expected that working and creating a lasting peace with the Taliban will strengthen the Afghan government’s hold on the people as well as end many of the violent acts that have been occurring in the country.

“Their leadership ... looks rather more coherent and united than anything on either the Afghan government or international side,” said Semple.

The Taliban would be a powerful ally to the Afghan and U.S. governments in the continuing Middle Eastern conflict, and such an alliance could help to end the decade-long war.

The Occupy movement, an issue which dominated headlines in 2011, resurfaced in national news last week with confrontations between police and protestors in Oakland, Calif., and police raids of the protestor encampment in Washington, D.C.

Associated with the greater Occupy movement against income inequality in the country, the protests in the two cities contrast in their response to challenges from authority.

With tear gas canisters flying as protesters approached police behind makeshift barricades, over 400 people were arrested on Jan. 29 by Oakland police officers when the group tried to enter a vacant convention center to reestablish headquarters.

Caught in the middle were activists like Alyssa Eisenberg, detained as part of the Saturday mass arrest. Eisenberg, who has multiple sclerosis, said that the police denied her need for medication while detained.

“At least two other people who asked for medication weren’t given it,” Eisenberg said in an interview with the Huffington Post. “One woman had her cuffs on so tight that her hands were turning blue and she was crying. The way they treated us is exactly why I am involved in Occupy Oakland.”

The Oakland protestors are no strangers to strained police relations. In October, controversy erupted when Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen suffered a brain injury after allegedly being hit by a police projectile.

Elsewhere during the Jan. 30 weekend, some of the protestors vandalized Oakland City Hall, removing an American flag from the building and burning it.

One protestor shouted, “Why did you shoot at us? We were in the open!” as police came in to restore order.

“The Bay Area Occupy movement has got to stop using Oakland as their playground,” said Oakland mayor Jean Quan in an official statement. “The residents of Oakland are wearying of the constant focus and cost to our city.”

Sanjay Marwah, assistant professor of justice and policy studies, places a large amount of the blame on municipal leadership for the tenuous relations, but warns against singling out police.

“The mayor’s done a horrible job,” said Marwah. “She is giving conflicting signals to the police. The police are well-trained, but all of their actions are being observed under a microscope. We need to moderate views on both sides of the conflict.”

Across the country in our nation’s capital exists a calmer but similarly themed image of the Occupy protests.

Compared to what has been happening in Oakland, there have been far fewer confrontations between police and Occupy D.C. protestors. The relationship between the two groups has been described as “thus far, cordial,” by Occupy D.C. protestors. However, developments in the last week are quickly changing that dynamic.

“Actually, as we speak, I am staring at a line of barricades and a line of park police, possibly in the neighborhood of a hundred of them,” said Justin, a press contact and member of

Occupy D.C. during a phone interview with the Guilfordian. “They came in with a half-dozen horses and a helicopter overhead, just for funsies.”

Starting on Jan. 30, the police began to enforce a U.S. National Park Service camping ban at McPherson Park, where the protestors are located. While this is not technically an eviction, protestors are not allowed to sleep on the property.

One protestor has kept up a five-day sleeping strike in protest of the new policy.

“My question is, why is it no longer tolerable now?” said Professor of Justice and Policy Studies Jerry Joplin.

He notes the political nature of the conflict and disagrees with police use in these kinds of situations.

“Should we use police to limit the voice people have?” asked Joplin.

Back in Washington, D.C., Justin and the rest of Occupy D.C. face the rapid removal of their presence in McPherson Park.

“They said they would remove tents not in compliance, but that now appears to be a lie, as they are taking down tents systematically, whether in compliance or not,” said Justin. “They’re trying to take us down tent-by-tent.”

In spite of these developing hardships, the groups insist on continuing with their efforts as a community.

“There are people staying in churches who have volunteered spaces to protestors; there are a number of local supporters who have offered space,” said Justin to The Guilfordian. “The real tragedy here is that people with nowhere else to go will, instead, be back on the streets, not part of a community they are active and vital members of.”

WORLD & NATION6WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

Occupy movement continues despite ongoing pressure

U.S., Afghans, Taliban begin peace talksBy Alex Lindberg

Staff Writer

By Zachary ThomasStaff Writer

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Williams says it is important for everyone to acknowledge and celebrate the important figures of black history and she sees celebrations like “Get on the BUS” as ways to reiterate the achievements that black leaders made towards racial equality in the past.

“People get disconnected,” Williams said. “These observances should be ongoing, but that’s why we have Black History Month, so people can reconnect with these historic figures.”

“Our history is very important,” said Vice President of BUS Jazmune Monroe, also a junior, in an email interview. “One needs to know about their history in order to work towards a brighter future.”

Following the campus stops, the tour will continue with a visit to the International Civil Rights Museum downtown, the site of the 1960 sit-ins at Woolworth’s.

According to Jada Drew, Africana Community coordinator, this year is unique because Guilford has partnered with Winston-Salem State University in

an effort to expose Guilford students to the culture of historically black colleges and universities and to open Guilford’s campus and events to students at WSSU.

In one example of shared celebration, WSSU will join Guilford in hosting a series of poetry slams later on in the month.

Drew pointed out that Black History Month should be for everyone at Guilford and for all Americans.

“It is important to commemorate Black History Month at Guilford because it speaks to our core values of diversity and justice,” Drew said. “We should look at black history as American history and celebrate the contributions of people of the (African) diaspora throughout the years.”

Monroe also emphasized the value of Black History Month.

“It is important for the Guilford community to commemorate Black History Month because it is important to United States history and our black historic figures have done a lot for our country and we should thank them by celebrating,” said Monroe.

FEATURES 7February 10, 2012

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Guilford observes the "Many Faces of Blackness" during Black History Month

2012

Continued from Page 1

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Feb. 15 Africana Brown Bag Discussion

with Associate Professor of Philosophy Vance Ricks,

2-3 p.m., Dining Hall Atrium.

Feb. 15 Get on the BUS movie showing,

Time TBA, King Hall 128E (BUS).

Feb. 16 “Financial Empowerment II:

How I Met My Purpose,” by Odell Bizell,

6-7:30 p.m., King Hall 128E.

Feb. 16 Def Jam Poetry at Guilford,

Poetry workshop and open mic night with Bruce George, co-

founder of Def Jam Poetry,Time TBA (CAB).

On the night of Feb. 4, the lives of three men were chronicled in the play "Generations."

The three performers filled Dana Auditorium with their passionate words and questions

regarding their lives, place in society and faith. The trio were backed by a group of

singers who added a dynamic and thematic link to the night's

proceedings.

"many faCes of BlaCkness" uPComing events:

Feb. 22 Get On the BUS, African American Tour of Greensboro and the International Civil Rights Museum, 1-5 p.m., RSVP to bus@guilford.edu (BUS).

Feb. 22 Hip Hop Dance Session with Chelii Broussard, 8-9:30 p.m., Ragan Brown Dance Studio (BUS).

Feb. 23 Voter Registration Day, 1-4 p.m., Founders Hall Lobby.

Feb. 29 “Celebrations & Misconceptions of Blackness Interactive,” by Jada Drew, Africana Community coordinator, 5-7 p.m., King Hall 128E.

8 FEATURESWWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

Life After Guilford: Let the commencement preparations commence

Seniors: you are about to graduate and become a part of the real world. Are you ready?

Even though the semester seems like it has barely started, it is already time to prepare for graduation. Commencement is just around the corner, and events this month will get the ball rolling.

“This is the first series of events leading up to graduation,” said Associate Dean for Campus Life Tammy Alt. “It’s the kickoff for all senior celebrations.”

On Monday, Feb. 13, seniors can enjoy a meal prepared by faculty and staff at the annual Homecookin’ for Seniors event at New Garden Friends Meeting.

“Homecookin’ for Seniors is just fun, it’s nice, it’s casual,” said Alt. “It’s our way of saying, ‘hey, come eat dinner, we want to celebrate with you.’”

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 16, Founders will hold the annual Grad 101 Fair, with tables of information for graduating seniors. At the graduation fair, you can pre-order your graduation regalia, announcements and class ring, talk to the registrar, find information on the alumni association and more.

Already having your regalia and invitations ordered will lead to a stress-free graduation experience in May.

The class rings and personalized invitations are sold through Josten’s, though the bookstore will have generic invitations available in packs of five after the fair.

The caps and gowns will also be available for pre-order and will be delivered to the bookstore for pickup. And, as sales associate Christina Summers said, “any slackers can also buy their caps and gowns (in the bookstore) after the grad fair.”

A new development for graduating seniors and alumni is the myGuilford site. MyGuilford allows alumni to set up a personal profile, connect with classmates, share pictures and class notes, and look up events and job openings. According to Jamie Barnett, administrative assistant in Alumni Relations, the site went live for everyone in January and seniors are encouraged to join as soon as possible.

“We like for graduating seniors to begin thinking in terms of being alumni,” said Barnett. “You are a student for four years, but an alum your whole life.”

After months of waiting, it will be time to graduate in early May. Graduates are not required to attend the Baccalaureate Ceremony on May 4, but must attend rehearsal on May 4 and Commencement on May 5 if they intend to walk.

“The big thing for seniors to remember is to know the schedule,” Alt said. “You need to know where to be on

(May) fourth and fifth.”Commencement is usually held on the quad in front

of King Hall, but if there is rain, the commencement activities will be moved into Ragan-Brown Field House. According to Alt, a rain call will be made by rehearsal and graduates will be given tickets for their family and friends. Tickets are not necessary if Commencement is held outside.

This year’s Commencement speaker, chosen by a committee of faculty, staff and students, will be Patti Digh ‘82. The author of “Life is a Verb,” Digh embodies Guilford’s core values through her encouraging work.

“I’m interested to hear what (Digh) has to say,” said senior Elijah DaCosta, who served as a student representative on the committee last spring. “We think she will have a great message for the Guilford community and the student body.”

With classes, work and extracurriculars taking up your time, Commencement may be the last thing on your mind. It seems like there is a lot to keep track of, but all you need to do is “make sure you are cleared to graduate, get your cap and gown and be (at Commencement) on time,” as Alt said.

So, seniors, as you prepare for your life after Guilford, don’t forget to prepare for those last golden minutes of life at Guilford.

To protect anonymity, some students quoted in this article are referred to by initials only.

“College is a time for you to have fun and express yourself,” said junior K.E. “So trying some ‘things’ like drinking or others should be okay. I mean, it’s college.”

For many students, “it’s college” is one of the biggest misconceptions they hold when trying to figure out who they are on the college scene. Many see college as a time to experiment with ideas, substances and sexuality — some good, some bad and, maybe, some illegal.

For some students, the party scene is not appealing, not because of the social gatherings but because of the questionable decisions made at these events.

“I usually don’t try to go to many events due to what people do when they are drunk and high,” said senior J.F. “(Substance use) makes the whole party experience not all that it’s cracked up to be.”

Drug and alcohol consumption has been a problem on college campuses for years. The pressure to use substances is very high in college communities, which can make students who do not use substances feel out of place.

“People are getting high, sometimes over three times a day, and it leaves them being high more often then they are not,” said first-year Chris Jones.

If you feel like you are the only person who is looking for a good time without all of the vomiting, marijuana smoke and drunken mistakes — then there is a place for you.

The Sane and Sober Group and Personal Growth Group are two sobriety organizations on campus that try to help students get over or lessen their substance usage. These groups are headed by Part-time Counselor Ernest McCoy and Director of Counseling Gaither Terrell. Each group meets in the Hut on a weekly basis.

In the Personal Growth Group, students who wish to refrain from or have suffered

due to substance usage come together on a weekly basis to seek comfort in their sobriety. In the Sane and Sober group, students who do not use substances meet up to discuss how they feel about living sober lifestyles on the college scene.

“Ernest’s support group helped me get over some mistakes I made with substances,” said sophomore T.W. about the Personal Growth Group. “After I got in trouble last year, I realized my mistakes I made with alcohol and have been trying to stay clean since.”

Another sobriety group that is better known on campus is the group Am I the Only One? This group is headed by Director of the Friends Center and Campus Ministry Coordinator Max Carter and meets on Fridays in the Hut at 4 p.m. The group is directed toward students trying to live substance-free lives.

“What’s one of the main reasons why people say that they drink around here?” asked Carter. “(Alcohol) removes (your) inhibitions, makes (you) feel better, you don’t feel as introverted and you can get out of yourself. In large part, they wish to be someone else.”

AITOO? co-sponsored the Cheerwine and root beer kegger as part of Religious Emphasis Week and coordinates other activities that emphasize that you can have fun without substances while in college.

“I lived through the sixties and seventies without the use of any substance,” said Carter. “And the best part is I still remember them.”

Although college is regarded as the greatest time in our lives, many would like to remember it when they grow older. Groups such as AITOO?, Sane and Sober, and Personal Growth are open to all students who are sober or working to reach that title.

“Many students find that their relationship with substances changes over their time (at Guilford) as they grow and mature,” said Terrell. “We are always here to talk with students about substance-related issues on an individual basis as well as in groups.”

By C.J. GreenStaff Writer

By Meg Holden & Meredith BrownfeatureS editor & executive Print coPy editor

Sobriety on campus: you are not the only one Check out our website, new and

improved!

Take a look at… www.guilfordian.com

“There are as many different ways to be a girl as there are girls–differences related to race, class, religion, national origin, language, disability and so on,” says Cole Thaler, Lambda Legal’s former Transgender Rights Attorney. “Having a transgender history or not is just another example of this wonderful variation and diversity.”

The recent choice of a Colorado Girl Scouts troop to allow seven-year-old Bobby Montoya, a transgender girl, into the troop was a major step towards transgender equality. Historically, transgender people have been treated as dangerous and deceptive.

In the words of John St. Louis, Guilford student and self-identifying gender-queer femme, the trans community has been looked upon as “a scourge that has been lurking in the dark.” Because of this stereotype, there are people who continue to antagonize this newly trans-friendly Girl

Scout troop by boycotting the famous Girl Scout cookies.

“(This plays into) the same narrative that seeks to leave trans-people isolated,” says St. Louis.

Those who have been boycotting Girl Scout cookies include a teen Girl Scout known publicly only as “Taylor,” who is involved with a group known as HonestGirlScouts. She recently posted a transphobic video on YouTube illustrating the reasons why she believes the transgender community should be unwelcome in the Girl Scouts, an “all-girls” organization.

Taylor believes that it is deceitful not to notify parents and other scouts of a transgender individual in the troop.

“(Girl Scouts) don’t notify parents about what each child’s genitals look like,” Thaler notes.

The idea that it should be necessary to have the appearance of a seven-year-old’s genitals be known to her peers and the parents of her peers is both unreasonable and incredibly invasive. All individuals, including Miss Montoya, deserve the right to privacy.

Taylor also defends her desire for a cisgender-only Girl Scouts organization — meaning exclusive to those whose gender and birth sex match — by claiming that a cisgender girl would be unable to identify with a transgender girl.

“There’s totally going to be real differences, but there are also real differences

between cisgender girls, there are real differences between different kinds of trans-girls,” explains St. Louis. “The notion (of) the (model) cis-woman identity and the (model) trans-woman identity and that they’re opposing and unrelatable is a joke.”

In my experience, just because someone else has the same sexual organs as me does not mean that I will be able to relate to them. I have had more close female-bodied friends than male-bodied.

Relating to people is certainly not dependent upon what is in one’s pants.

One cannot attend a Girl Scout meeting and expect each individual in the room to be able to perfectly relate to one another.

It is unfortunate that seven-year-old Montoya has already met opposition in the form of transphobia and gender normative exclusion. However, this Colorado Girl Scout troop’s decision and Bobby’s story gives us confidence that we are moving in the right direction, promoting equality among both transgender and cisgender individuals.

I encourage other Girl Scout troops —and even Boy Scout troops — to engage in the global conversation on transgender inclusion and rights, so that young people nationwide may find acceptance among individuals of the same gender, regardless of sex. I have faith that this event will encourage more change and allow people like Bobby across the nation and the world to be themselves.

OPINION 9February 10, 2012

Transgendered Girl Scout met with opposition Staff Editorial

Reflecting guilfoRd college's coRe QuakeR values, the topics and content of staff editoRials aRe chosen thRough consensus of all 16 editoRs.

Take a look at the front page of The Guilfordian, and you might see an article about student activists joining the Occupy movement in Greensboro. You might read about the proposed amendment to North Carolina’s constitution that would ban same-sex marriage and benefits to unmarried couples. You might find a summary of changes to on-campus facilities or policies. Or you might find an article about a local bar.

The Guilfordian has worked, for the last 98 years, to report on news, events and issues that are relevant and important to our student population. We pride ourselves on varied and detailed coverage of the entire college experience, starting with Guilford Orientation and ending with graduation weekend.

Twice in the past two months, articles about local bars have been featured at the bottom of the front page of the paper. While some may think that it is irresponsible of The Guilfordian to publish articles such as these, it should not be seen as The Guilfordian promoting certain behaviors, such as drinking. Rather, we are giving an accurate account of what Guilford students experience.

Guilford students are activists. Guilford was ranked by Newsweek as one of the top schools for social activism in the country in 2008.

Guilford students are accepting. Inside College lists Guilford as one of the top schools for “tolerant of differing opinions” as well as one of the top for “students needing a second chance.”

Guilford students are involved. With over 40 student organizations as well as intramural and intercollegiate athletics, Guilford makes it easy for students to participate in any activity they are called to.

Guilford students are world travelers. Recent expansions to the Study Abroad program increased study abroad offerings to over 300 locations around the globe.

Guilford students are partiers. The Princeton Review ranked Guilford 16th in the nation for potheads.

Guilford students are multi-faceted. As you can tell, Guilford students do not fit in any mold--and why should we? Our core values call us to embrace our similarities as well as our differences in creating a community of unique individuals. The Guilfordian celebrates the many aspects of Guilford life, which includes drinking on the weekends as much as on-campus events.

The Guilfordian works to represent all Guilford students

Letter to the Editor

I was pretty disappointed by the opinion piece titled “SOPA and PIPA not popular, but needed.” The piece misses the crux of the debate. The problems with SOPA and PIPA are not that they censor free speech (they do); the issue is that they give the government the power to shut down any website that violates copyright, including (here’s the important part) any website that links to copyrighted content. There’s a reason Google, Wikipedia, Reddit, and Twitter opposed SOPA/PIPA, and it's not about free speech: if they aren't free to link to content, they don't function. Wikipedia and Reddit blacked out their websites in protest of SOPA/PIPA, but also to demonstrate what the Internet will be like if the bills pass. Think about it. What does Google do? It provides links to websites! I'm frustrated that the piece condemns as "not normal" for Wikipedia to blackout its website to educate people about the problems with SOPA/PIPA, yet does not bat an eyelash at the huge sums the entertainment industry is spending to protect its profits by lobbying for these bills.

My other issue with the piece is the cursory description of the group called "Anonymous." The piece makes no effort to inform the reader about the group beyond their hacking activities, but two minutes of research is all you need to find out that the group is the pseudonym for users of a website called 4chan.org, which is by no means a legitimate organization. Instead, the piece lumps 4chan.

org in with Wikipedia, Google, and other legitimate organizations — and then blames all the opponents of SOPA/PIPA for 4chan’s hacking! This is the equivalent of anger at all Muslims for the actions of al Qaeda; it’s insulting and wrong to consider al Qaeda as existing on a spectrum with all Muslims, as if Islam is a religion under which people might legitimately arrive at the beliefs of al Qaeda. I understand the weight of the comparison, and I do not make it lightly. I simply take issue with the carelessness with which the piece treats those opposed to the bills.

The piece suggests that we are allowing “expedience and convenience (to) outweigh the morality of our actions,” but by that logic, anyone who has used Google or Wikipedia is a criminal. The crucial lesson from this debate is that “piracy” is not so easily definable, nor is every person who views copyrighted content without paying for it an inherently immoral person. Moreover, do the entertainment moguls think that if they shut down every bit of copyright infringement on the Internet, people will suddenly go buy DVDs and CDs of everything they’ve been downloading? Piracy will never disappear completely, and people are not unwilling to pay for content — they often simply need better and cheaper access. Yet, the entertainment industry is willing to shoot their nose to spite their face, and take much of the Internet with them, in a misguided attempt to protect “intellectual property.” Who loses? We do.

Damian Morden-Snipper

SOPA article misses crux of the debateARTICLE MISREPRESENTED WHAT THE INTERNET WOULD BECOME IF SOPA AND PIPA WERE PASSED

By Justyn MelroseStaff Writer

I have been harboring deep thoughts concerning the recent legislation that will affect our college and other colleges across the state. I’m not sure if your experience with Guilford has garnered the same types of feelings, so without further ado, here goes.

Surely you’ve heard by now that the program, which once offered residents of N.C. enrolled three-quarters time a $1,388 Legislative Tuition Grant and those enrolled full-time a $1,850 Legislative Tuition Grant, has been eliminated.

While there will be need-based financial aid offered in 2013, the funding will be less, which could very well translate into staff positions being cut and North Carolinians being unable to afford to take classes at Guilford College if the financial situation continues to worsen.

I don’t know how many people are like me. Guilford won me over as a school whose curriculum, professors and values promoted proactivity geared towards changing the community for the better, mixed with strong academic programs.

Granted, Guilford has worked for me. I’ve been intellectually evolving. I am interning at a fantastic organization and I write for an award-winning newspaper. Yet, none of this means a tinker's damn if I don’t affect some kind of change in the face of these budget woes.

Whether it’s personnel cuts, increasing class

size or students not being able to afford to come to Guilford, change is inevitably coming. I thought to myself, “Surely there is something we as students could do.”

In fairness to the college, there is very little the administration can do to directly change what legislation has abolished, except to be responsible stewards of people’s livelihood while also protecting the college from financial self-sabotage.

Contrary to some beliefs, the college has proven that it has students in mind by subsidizing financial aid for N.C. residents in the current semester and embarking on a fundraising campaign to provide more financial aid in the years to come.

Guilford College hopes to raise $1 million in the next two years to help offset the college’s losses in state-funded financial aid for NC resident students.

They need your help. Associate Vice President for Philanthropy Leigh

McIlwain said the advancement office welcomes student involvement, though it is still ironing out the exact details.

“We have discussed the idea of asking for student testimonials to include in the materials we will share with potential donors,” said McIlwain. “Perhaps that is one way we can ask you and your fellow students to be more engaged in this process.”

Contact McIlwain at lmcilwain@guilford.edu and find out how you, too, can help counter these budgetary issues with your voice and story.

I want to be a part of change and advancement and not just by reading about it in books or discussing it in class. I want what I’m learning to manifest itself into meaningful action.

Though we can’t undo what the N.C. legislature has done to the education system, we can show them, through testimonials, that we won’t let their policies hinder others from receiving the education everyone deserves.

OPINION10WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

Don't let budget cuts hinder education

“America is back,” said President Obama last Tuesday in his State of the Union address, ironically echoing Republican Ronald Reagan’s “Morning in America” campaign for re-election in 1984. “We’ve come too far to turn back now.”

The president pointed to three months of solid job growth and a recovering auto industry. This theme of optimism in America’s recovery dovetailed with a combative call for restoring fairness to the American economy, specifically in regards to tax policy.

This populist focus on economic justice promises to recapture many voters who have soured on Obama’s stewardship of the economy, and perhaps help him keep the White House.

The problem is we’ve seen this before. The president walks up to the podium and lays out the agenda that a solid majority of the voting public elected him on three and a half years ago —and according to most polls still support— and then proceeds to water it down to get the support of a die-hard Republican opposition that never materializes.

In reality, this opposition’s goal, according to its leader in the Senate, is to make Obama a one-term president, not to join a bipartisan effort to confront the economic crisis that plagues the working and middle classes of this country.

Aside from remarks that bookended the speech, reminding voters that it was his administration that took out Osama Bin Laden, the dominant theme of the night was how to restore fairness in the American economic system. The president’s tone was refreshingly scrappy as he vowed to fight obstruction and oppose efforts to return to Bush-era polices that he blamed for the crisis.

Obama’s calls for higher taxes on the wealthy have ignited claims of class warfare from the Republicans. They argue that the deficit is the biggest problem facing our nation —after ignoring how it exploded under George W. Bush.

Republicans have done a superb job of concealing from voters that a primary source of the deficit was the loss of revenue resulting from tax cuts on the upper–income brackets passed in the early 2000s.

Obama preemptively responded to Republican criticisms.“Now, you can call this class warfare all you want,” he said.

“But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.”

One can hope that the president’s combative tone in the speech marks a permanent shift in his political strategy. According to a recent poll conducted by the Washington Post, independent voters have started trickling back to the president in recent weeks. This is perhaps in part a response to a nasty Republican primary season, but also a result of the game of political chicken played last month surrounding the payroll tax-cut extension. Democrats won the debate by portraying Republicans as indifferent to the needs of the middle class.

The lesson is that when Democrats play the “class warfare” game, they win. With unemployment still depressingly high, the election promises to be a tight one. Portraying Republicans as defenders of tax breaks for individuals who resemble Mr. Monopoly while Grandma’s Social Security check continues to be cut and Pell grants continue to be slashed might be the only recipe for warding off a President Romney.

Incidentally, the president made his call for tax fairness the day Governor Romney finally, begrudgingly, released the amount of taxes he paid last year after a barrage of criticism for his defensive stalling—some from his own party. The percentage he paid on $ 45.2 million? 13.9 percent.

The president played the populist card in his speech and tried to convince the “99%” that he, and not the Republicans, was on their side. It will be interesting to see if he keeps this rhetoric up in the coming weeks and months. If he can indeed convince them, he may just win a second term.

Obama takes combative tone

By Aaron HallStaff Writer

By Victor LopezStaff Writer

Commending Public Safety for a job well done

I am a senior majoring in economics and transferred to Guilford College from Duluth, Minn. For the past eight years, I have been employed as an N.C. private protective officer in Greensboro. I have had the opportunity to train with some of the finest men and women, including those who have had extensive backgrounds in military, corrections and police work.

As a student here at Guilford, I have had the pleasure of interacting with most of the Guilford College Public Safety officers. In noting the various public safety departments that I have been familiar with throughout my protection career, Guilford has one of the best public safety teams I have ever seen.

Some of them have had police, military or other service-related experiences which is a valuable asset in protecting people and property. Their interpersonal

and professional etiquette, while admirable, is superfluous compared to their true work. They present themselves as assertive and effective. I applaud

their image, work ethic and campus coverage. They have a knack for popping up when you don’t really expect their presence.

Walking to class or leaving a building, a public safety officer is almost always near. It keeps us alert and encourages policy attention.

I think we take for granted the possible ramifications of our unpredictable environment. Sometimes we may walk to classes, dorms and vehicles, while preoccupied with thoughts of school or other things without being aware of our surroundings.

While it's a healthy habit to look out for ourselves and others, it's also important to acknowledge those who look out for us on a daily basis. The Guilford College Public Safety officers deserve a "thank you", at the very least.

College can be challenging, along with having to work and fulfill other obligations. However, it›s nice to know that we are all in this together, striving for the same goal. Suffice it to say, personal safety is vital while in pursuit of vocational aspirations.

So, thank you to the Guilford College Public Safety officers and management team.

By Randy SmithGueSt Writer

"While it's a healthy habit to look out for ourselves and others, it's also important to acknowledge those who look out for us on a daily basis."

Randy Smith, senior

As Coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” However, this mainly applies to those athletes that are driven towards success in their sport no matter what. For others, especially college students, it is not quite that simple.

Being an athlete requires reconciling studies with practice and finding the time for each. College is a place to expand your mind intellectually, but it also offers the opportunities to those who choose to continue playing a game or running in a meet.

“I did sports in high school and I thought I might as well do it in college because that is what I’m passionate about,” said sophomore Hilary Schultz.

Schultz ran on the Guilford cross country team last year but decided not to participate in the track-and-field season.

“I decided to quit because … there were not very many people and it was hard to motivate yourself to go to practice,” said Schultz.

The transition from high school to collegiate sports is difficult. The competition is more intense and the practices take up more time than one would think.

“For me, participating in collegiate athletics was simply taking too much time,” said sophomore University of Illinois student Manu Kumar. “I wanted to have the chance to take advantage of all the opportunities offered on campus and I

simply couldn’t while I was spending around four hours a day at practice.”

Kumar was a star cross country and track-and-field athlete in high school, acquiring many accolades, and decided to continue once he graduated.

“I wanted to attend a school with a competitive team,” said Kumar. “I wanted to be around other talented

individuals who would help push me to become a better athlete.”

Of course, not only is it time management that comes into play, but other factors as well. Teammates become close comrades and the team can feel like a second family. Unfortunately, sometimes this sense of family is not felt.

“I liked running, but I didn’t have something I was used to,” said Schultz. “In high school, our cross country team

was a family and when I came to college, it was five girls on a team and it was hard to make it seem like before.”

“I think that collegiate athletics is just so much more involved and intense than high school athletics that passion alone isn’t enough to keep you motivated,” said Kumar.

However, many others decide to continue running or playing a certain sport. What is the reason for their continued commitment?

“Most of the people who are on the team are there because they love their sport and want to keep doing it hopefully,” said Kumar. “It was definitely difficult making the decision to quit. But the entire situation helped me figure out that, as much as I loved running, it wasn’t what I wanted to spend my time doing.”

There are a number of reasons why athletes leave teams, such as recurrent injuries or the need to focus on schoolwork, and why others decide to stay.

In the end it is a personal choice.However, this does not mean that the athletes who leave

are less passionate about what they do, it was just not the right fit for them.

“I miss (running) for the competition,” said Schultz.“Since leaving, I’ve had the opportunity to join other

organizations on campus and really start exploring other interests,” said Kumar.

Experiences leave imprints on everyone, no matter how brief the meeting. They aid in helping people move one step closer to finding what exactly it is they are looking for.

Blood, sweat, tears and testosterone. Add them all up and what do you get? The men’s rugby team.

Rugby is a sport full of lots of running, tackling, mud and — most importantly — teamwork.

Sophomore Zachary Kronisch values the teamwork aspect of the sport.

“We are very much a team family and no matter how good or bad we play, we all support each other and have a blast, which is what everyone really looks for in a team,” said Kronisch.

David Watters ‘11 played rugby all four years at Guilford and was president of the team his junior and senior seasons.

Watters enjoyed the combination of the hard work and team camaraderie.

“Everybody has to come together to get anything done,” said Watters in a phone

interview. “There are individual plays in rugby, but you really don’t get anything done unless everyone is doing their job at the same time. We always play hard, but we all genuinely love each other.”

Rugby is a very physically exerting sport. With the eighty-minute long games of non-stop running and tackling, rugby requires a lot of endurance and physical strength from its players.

“I enjoy the combination of physicality and endurance,” said sophomore William Dobbins in an email interview.

“The biggest challenge is the combination of football-like physicality and demands of soccer-like endurance. Rugby only allows three player substitutions a game, we play for 80 minutes and the ball is live all the time.”

Whether the team is at the gym lifting weights or on the field performing running drills, there is rarely a dull moment at practice.

“It takes a different kind of athlete to motivate themselves to come out and play such a high-contact sport with no pads on for a non-varsity team,” said Kronisch.

"We definitely have a lot of heart and motivation for working towards success. Nobody wants to lose, especially after 80 minutes of putting your hearts out on the field.”

Erin Fox, director of student leadership and engagement, enjoys supervising all club sports, including the rugby team. She helps manage their budget and provides overall organization and support to the team.

Fox, who appreciates the fun atmosphere of the rugby games, uses the word “charismatic” to describe the team.

“I’ve worked with a bunch of different treasurers and leaders, and they always come in and have big personalities,” said Fox. “They definitely have the ‘woo’ factor ... ‘woo’ means winning others over. I like that about them.

“I like that they’re enjoying their

experience and that they’re happy about what they’re doing, and that they, tongue-in-cheek — as with their calendar project from a couple of years ago — aren’t afraid to let it all hang out there.”

The rugby team is enthusiastic about encouraging people to learn more about the sport and come out and enjoy the competition.

“The people that are willing to come out and support us are the best fans ever and are loud and fun ... but there is definitely a lack of attendance,” Kronisch said. “The only thing that frustrates me is that people don’t come out and give it a chance because they are unfamiliar with it. If only people knew how amazing rugby is.”

Watters finds that even those who don’t know much about the sport can still have a great time watching.

“If more people heard about the sport,

then more people would come,” Watters said. “It’s cool to watch. Nobody really knows what’s going on, but it’s really cool to see a bunch of dudes run at each other and get all dirty and disgusting and beat the crap out of each other.”

While the dirt and physical brutality of the sport certainly make it appealing, Watters finds rugby to be an important part of personal growth.

“Playing rugby is a cool way of testing yourself, of seeing what you have inside,” Watters said.

“If you want to know how tough you are and if you want to know how to work together with people and function as part of a unit ... It’s a good way of seeing what you’ve got.”

Come check out the next rugby match on Feb. 18 at home to see what all the hype is about.

SPORTS 11February 10, 2012

Student athletes make the decision to quit or carry onBy Colleen Gonzalez

Staff Writer

Men's rugby team gets down and dirty as season begins

By Natalie SuttonStaff Writer

"Since leaving, I've had the opportunity to join other organizations on campus and really start exploring other interests."

Manu Kumar, University of Illinois sophomore

(Above) Senior Max MacClennen waits to ruck over and secure the ball as Duke defense knocks down a running attempt; this is why we hate Duke.(Top Left) Junior Aaron Craig boldly stiff-arms a Duke opponent while ignoring the feeble attempts of number four around his waist. The Quakers fought hard to the end, with a final score of 0-11, Duke.

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The scoreboard read 18-7 after a grueling loss against Virginia Wesleyan College in the first round of the 2011 women’s lacrosse Old Dominion Athletic Conference playoffs. For the team last season it was a hard loss, and one that will remain in their minds as they prepare for their spring 2011 season.

The women’s lacrosse team was 6-4 in the ODAC and 6-11 overall last season, and is hoping to improve that record with the leadership of their senior class.

“We have a very strong senior class, most are three or four-year starters,” said Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Matthew Grosso. Returning six senior starters and adding one junior transfer and five first-year players, the team is loaded with talent.

One of the key parts of the team this year is going to be senior Summer Frazier. Frazier was the second-leading scorer on the team last year, tied for seventh in the ODAC. She was also the leader in draw controls, and after the first game this year will break Guilford’s draw control record with 161.

Frazier ended last season being the team leader in draw controls with 55. She was also a huge contributor on the offensive end with 40 goals and 11 assists, placing her second on the team with 51 points.

“This year, I want the team to really work together all over the field,” said Frazier when asked about the team goals. “We

have a lot of talent and can do really great things when we work together.”

Frazier also has a list of personal achievements in her sights.First on her short list are, “beating the draw control record this

year, having more assists and picking up more ground balls,” said Frazier. Also, her pre-game ritual is to eat wheat pasta and salad for game-day meals. The morning of the game, she makes sure to eat a good balance of protein and carbohydrates.

Another player to keep your eyes on this season is senior Kat Carella, one of the emotional leaders on the team.

Carella, a Mass. native, has been a force for the team on defense and in the midfield.

With her sister Liz coming back as a sophomore this season, the tandem will be another bright mark for the Quakers.

“(In Kat’s) first few years we had her on defense, but due to many injuries last year we moved her up to midfield and it turns out that she was an incredible offensive threat as well,” said Grosso.

Kat was a very flexible player for the team. Last season, she was fourth on the team with 18 goals and two assists, finishing with 20 team points on the season.

One of the most versatile players on the team this season is Sarah Bradburd. A three-year starter, Bradburd has played almost every position for the team.

She has been a helpful asset on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field. In 2009, her first season with Guilford, she was named the Quaker rookie of the year.

Last season, Bradburd received ODAC honorable mention honors to top off a very productive season. She started every game for the Quakers in the 2010 season and racked up 20 goals, scooped up 24 ground balls and caused 16 turnovers. She will be one of the keys to Guilford’s success this year.

E’leyna Garcia was a force on offense as a first-year. She led the team in points with 64, scored 45 goals and dished out 19 assists.

Garcia also earned the honor of 2011 Guilford Rookie of the Year and ODAC honorable mention honors to cap off a first season that has her in contention to break a myriad of Quaker records.

“She is an incredible athlete,” said Grosso. “She has great size and strength; she is the whole package.”

“Team goals this year are to make it past the first round of ODAC playoffs and to maximize all of our potential this season,” Garcia said.

The season opener will begin with the Quaker Lacrosse Challenge against Pfeiffer University and Belmont Abbey College on Feb. 11 at 11:30 a.m.

“We have the talent to compete with anyone in our conference this year,” said Grosso. “The dynamics of the team are right and, if we stay healthy, we will be in good shape.”

“We want to be competitive this year like always,” said sophomore midfielder Rebecca Colley. “We are trying to build the program; it has been seven years of stagnant win/loss records and it’s time to get the program rolling. We are going to work hard this year to prove ourselves.”

With the season just around the corner, the anticipation and excitement for the 2012 season is building.

SPORTS12WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

Chad NortonTop Ten Finish – 8th –

3000 meter run (8:52.67)

Dylan SkinnerTop Ten Finish – 8th – 1 mile fun (8:52.67)

Jazlyn Gibbs31 points – 9 rebounds – 4 assists – 1 steal

Morgan King34 points – 20 rebounds

– 1 steal – 4 blocks

Gabby Oglesby31 points – 23 rebounds

– 3 assists – 1 steal – 9 blocks

Jaclyn Nucci12 points – 14 rebounds – 3 assists – 1 steal – 3 blocks

Gabriel Lowder36 points – 4 rebounds – 1 assist – 2 steals

Brittany Drew27 points – 8 rebounds

Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Individuals' statistics are from the past week's games.

Photos courtesy of Guilfordquakers.com

Carson Sullivan10 points – 5 rebounds – 3 assists – 1 steal

Johnathan SmithTop Ten Finish – 2nd – 60

meter dash (6:95)

Top: Senior midfielder Kat Carella defends the Lynchburg pass. Carella, one of the most versatile

players on the team, will fill as many positions as possible this season.

Bottom: Senior attacker Katie Oliver uses her superior speed to break free and head down the field.

Senior leadership: the backbone of the women's lacrosse team

By Michael McVanestaff Writer

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