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GuilCo SoJo: Getting to know the Greenleaf BY JUSTYN MELROSE VIDEO: Trans* Day of Remembrance BY HALI KOHLS SEE BUDGET | PAGE 2 WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM NEWS | WHITE PRIVILEGE FLYERS | PAGE 3 SPORTS | GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS | PAGE 11 INSIDE THIS ISSUE WEB- EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIE KNIGHT W&N | CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT | PAGE 6 FEATURES | MYLÈNE DRESSLER | PAGE 8 the Guilfordian Guilford College | www.guilfordian.com | Greensboro,NC Volume 99, Issue 12 | December 7, 2012 Many students in college may remember a distinct, deep memorable voice announcing the news during their childhood years. That voice was television journalist Tom Brokaw’s. On Nov. 29, Brokaw visited Guilford College and spoke at the Greensboro War Memorial Auditorium as part of the Bryan Series. Brokaw covered many historical moments throughout his lengthy career. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1991, Brokaw was the only American television journalist to cover it. He was also a huge figure in covering the 2000 presidential election with fellow journalist Tim Russert. On Sept. 11, 2001 Brokaw uttered the famous words, “This is war. This is a declaration and execution of an attack on the United States.” Brokaw anchored “Nightly News” from 1982 until 2004 before handing it off to current anchor Brian Williams. He also hosted “Meet The Press” and the “Today Show,” becoming the first person to host all three network news shows on NBC. He wrote bestselling books such as “The Greatest Generation,” along with his newest book “The Time of Our Lives.” Before the official lecture, Brokaw held an informal session with students and answered some of their questions. “I was excited by the chance to meet Tom Brokaw one- on-one and thought his question-and-answer session was SEE BROKAW | PAGE 3 World-renowned broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw speaks at Bryan Series BY JAMES ROWE STAFF WRITER NEWS Online Poll:Will the world end in 2012?

Volume 99 Issue 12

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Page 1: Volume 99 Issue 12

GuilCo SoJo: Getting to know the Greenleaf

BY JUSTYN MELROSE

VIDEO: Trans* Day of Remembrance

BY HALI KOHLS

See BUDGET | Page 2WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COMNEWS | WHITE PRIVILEGE FLYERS | Page 3

SPORTS | GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS | Page 11

INSIDE THIS ISSUEWEB-

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT:

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W&N | CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT | Page 6

FEATURES | MYLÈNE DRESSLER | Page 8

the GuilfordianG u i l f o r d C o l l e g e | w w w . g u i l f o r d i a n . c o m | G r e e n s b o r o , N C

V o l u m e 9 9 , I s s u e 1 2 | D e c e m b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2

Many students in college may remember a distinct, deep memorable voice announcing the news during their childhood years. That voice was television journalist Tom Brokaw’s.

On Nov. 29, Brokaw visited Guilford College and spoke at the Greensboro War Memorial Auditorium as part of the Bryan Series.

Brokaw covered many historical moments throughout his

lengthy career. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1991, Brokaw was the only

American television journalist to cover it. He was also a huge figure in covering the 2000 presidential election with fellow journalist Tim Russert.

On Sept. 11, 2001 Brokaw uttered the famous words, “This is war. This is a declaration and execution of an attack on the United States.”

Brokaw anchored “Nightly News” from 1982 until 2004 before handing it off to current anchor Brian Williams. He also hosted “Meet The Press” and the “Today Show,”

becoming the first person to host all three network news shows on NBC.

He wrote bestselling books such as “The Greatest Generation,” along with his newest book “The Time of Our Lives.”

Before the official lecture, Brokaw held an informal session with students and answered some of their questions.

“I was excited by the chance to meet Tom Brokaw one-on-one and thought his question-and-answer session was

See BROKAW | Page 3

World-renowned broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw speaks at Bryan SeriesBY JAMES ROWEStaff Writer

NEWS

Online Poll:Will the world end in 2012?

Page 2: Volume 99 Issue 12

NEWS2WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

This year, Guilford is trying something new: January term. J-term offers students the opportunity to study away,

study abroad or domestically, take an on-campus seminar, launch an independent project, or intern for a company.

The enrollment deadline for J-term was extended from Nov. 2 to Nov. 19, and some speculated that low enrollment was behind the extension.

Professor of Theater and Director of Study Abroad Jack Zerbe and Assistant to the President for Planning and Management Jeff Favolise debunked this rumor.

“The deadline was extended to avoid the confusion of having two deadlines for the close of registration, one for January and one for spring,” said Zerbe in an email interview.

“We wanted to give students every opportunity possible to consider enrollment, to discuss opportunities with their advisors and to register,” said Favolise in an email interview.

According to Favolise, 174 students are participating in J-term. Forty-eight will study abroad, eight will study away domestically, 79 enrolled in on-campus seminars, 25 chose independent studies and 14 are interning.

These students are participating in 58 different J-term projects, consisting of nine on-campus seminars, 14 study away courses, 10 of which are abroad, 21 independent projects and 14 internships.

“This particular set of numbers far exceeds our original goals,” said Zerbe. “However, it is fair to say we’d hoped overall to do a bit better, especially on campus and with internships.”

The Cold Case Evaluations class, an on-campus seminar led by Assistant Professor of Biology Bryan Brendley, boasts full enrollment.

Students will learn strategies used to crack a cold case; something that Brendley believes speaks to the core Quaker value of justice. Brendley credits the program’s success to several factors.

“I kept it simple,” said Brendley. “Kept the cost down, the time down, the credits down.”

Students also show enthusiasm for the upcoming course.“I saw the J-term Cold Case class and was thrilled at the

opportunity to earn needed credits and work on an exciting topic,” said CCE student Laura Sammon via email. “I’m very excited about the J-term’s fast pace and focused study.”

This course is just one of the successes of this year’s J-term.“It amazes me that the college has managed to develop

this new programmatic dimension in less than a year,” said Zerbe. “That alone is a great success. Perhaps our second greatest success is the range of exciting offerings that have materialized as part of the term. However, access to students has clearly been a problem.”

Many students cannot participate in J-term because they cannot afford it on top of normal tuition. Zerbe sees a possible solution.

“I hope to see us one day embrace the mode used by other schools with successful January terms, embedding the cost in annual tuition,” said Zerbe. “In a sense, it then becomes ‘free’ to students, and gives them the opportunity to learn and grow from the unique experience of an immersive project.”

This leads to another common rumor: Guilford will require J-term in the future.

Zerbe says that is not currently planned for the program but planning for next year’s J-term has already begun, especially in regards to programs abroad.

Faculty have proposed trips studying things including international business in Shanghai, arts and religion

in Bali and Java, a cultural pilgrimage in Spain, a choir tour in Europe, a history project in Italy, and a biology or environmental studies project in the Galapagos Islands.

“No frats or sororities now, no frats or sororities ever as long as I’m president,” said President and Professor of Political Science Kent Chabotar. “I was at Bowdoin College before we ended frats after 150 years. I have no intentions of letting that happen here and having another battle royale.”

On Nov. 30, Campus Activities Board held its second official debate of the semester, titled “Should Guilford Go Greek,” to seek input and address speculation regarding the possibility of Greek life coming to Guilford College.

“I don’t know how these rumors started,” said Chabotar. “There is no truth to the rumor that the college is contemplating, has contemplated or will contemplate Greek life on campus.”

CAB organizes major events such as Serendipity and the Guilford Formal, but few other smaller events have drawn as much attention as this debate.

“I basically think it’s funny that so many people are freaking out about the discussion,” said senior Amy McMinn. “When people get upset about having a discussion that shows they’re being closed-minded.”

Chabotar reinforced the fact that this debate will not extend past the event.

“If CAB had debated germ warfare would people now accuse Guilford of having engaging in germ warfare?” said Chabotar. “It’s a debate.”

Nevertheless, high emotions surfaced during the debate.

Four qualified students in teams of two debated if Guilford should or should not consider Greek life. The anti-Greek debaters included Community Senate President senior Tim Leisman and sophomore Patrick Withrow. The pro-Greek pair included senior Eamon Deely-Wood and sophomore Alex Morales.

“I’m not going to name names,” said Withrow. “At

least one of my opponents was very informal in how he treated the debate, slamming the table. We stuck to our guns, and we didn’t dodge the argument like the other team attempted to.”

The pro-Greek team noted the benefits fraternities can bring to campus.

Costume Designer/Costume Shop Supervisor Mahealani Jones said that she pledged when she was in college to benefit from the positive aspects of Greek life.

“I remember going trick or treating for canned goods with my Alpha Phi Omega brothers,” said Jones about the co-ed service fraternity. “We dropped it off at local food banks to donate. Greek life is not all about getting drunk and partying. It’s about changing the world.”

The anti-Greek duo argued that fraternities and sororities would increase illicit behavior and foster a culture of drugs, drinking and misogyny.

“I don’t think (Greek Life) possible at Guilford,” said Leisman. “The administration and the Board of Trustees are strongly against it. They are the ones who make the decisions from 22,000 feet away for the college. They’re the ones who control millions of dollars of endowment.”

Debaters in favor of Greek life countered that it would be an opportunity to expand Guilford’s club system and to have someone takes responsibility for parties on campus.

They also claimed it would provide an increased opportunity to network.

“You get an automatic circle of like-minded people (and) that expands beyond college,” said Deely. “I know people that received internships because of their connection with a Greek system.”

Chabotar agrees with Leisman, even in light of his positive Greek experience.

“I was a fraternity member in college,” said Chabotar. “I had a great time, but times are different. Fraternities or sororities will not work at Guilford.”

Forum on Greek life disproves campus rumors

J-term predicted to be a success due to enrollment rates

BY L.A. LOGANStaff Writer

BY ALLISON DEBUSKStaff Writer

Pizza party! Good luck on finals!

We need to hear your voice! Got an idea? Concern? Great recipe? It’s important to us.

Questions? Email: [email protected] by Tim Leisman, Community Senate President

Important J-term Dates:

January 3rd – 24th, 2012J-term’s duration

5:00 p.m., January 4th, 2012 Last day to drop a J-term course

without a grade, last day for refunds for class projects

5:00 p.m., January 10th, 2012 Last day to drop a J-term course

with a “W” grade

January 21st, 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

(School closed)

Have a great winter break! If you have an idea for improvements at Guilford please email us, we will still be hard at work over the January term.

Page 3: Volume 99 Issue 12

NEWS 3December 7, 2012

a great way for students to meet him and get to air their concerns about society and hear back from a celebrity and expert on social problems,” said senior Tim Leisman.

Sophomore Ben Strozier was also excited

by the opportunity to meet the news icon.“It was very personable and informative,”

said Strozier. “He is genuine and kind. What I really enjoyed was his ability to approach every question seeking answers. It was clear he was a reporter. He looked at it from all points of view, simply trying to

find what was happening.”In his speech, Brokaw explained his

views about how American journalism is changing and gave advice about how to make our society better, specifically through showing appreciation for our armed forces.

“We need to tell them that we are here,” said Brokaw. “We want to help you. We understand what you’re going through.”

Leisman shared his thoughts on Brokaw’s lecture.

“Mr. Brokaw’s lecture at the Bryan Series was great in terms of giving his perspective of American culture and journalism, as well as his idea of changing the way we view public service and the importance of coming together as a culture to make our society better and support people who sacrifice so much for the greater good,” said Leisman.

“I wish he had focused a bit more on how he got to where he is, and talked about white privilege in his life, as well as the corporate control of the media today. But, he only had a certain amount of time, so it’s understandable.”

Senior Tali Raphael also had mixed feelings about the lecture.

“In essence, his main points about supporting veterans (and) the need for big ideas to reinvigorate American society were very much agreeable,” said Raphael. “However, some of his assertions, specifically about American exceptionalism, jihad, and the role of Ronald Reagan and Gorbachev during the Cold War, did not strike a good tone with me.”

While Brokaw’s lecture elicited mixed reactions from attendees, there is no doubt that he stimulated conversation and interest from the people who piled into the auditorium to hear the journalism icon speak.

Continued from Page 1

BROKAW

“Dear White Student,” read the flyers. Their source: the student organization Students Allied

Against Privilege and Supremacy. SAAPS’ stated mission is “to attempt to dismantle the

systems of privilege and supremacy both internally within all of us and externally on individual (relationships), institutional and systemic levels.”

According to SAAPS members, white people are inherently privileged based on the fact that the social constructed ethnic group they belonged to is the overwhelming majority

This racism expresses itself in a plethora of ways, ranging from the color of Band-Aids (beige, to match Caucasian skin) to the races most commonly represented on TV (Caucasian, as well).

These flyers’ statements are not just the result of living in a nation that, as of 2011, was nearly 80 percent Caucasian, but are inherently racist. This was the “white privilege” the flyers referred to.

In an effort to combat racism at Guilford College, SAAPS organized a forum on Nov. 29 in order to encourage open discussion of issues relating to race and white privilege.

Latino Community Program Coordinator Jorge Zeballos opened the meeting by telling the crowd about the motivation behind the flyers.

“It was intentionally provocative. We knew it was going to generate a lot of reactions, some of them maybe not positive,” said Zeballos. “If you had a negative reaction,

don’t think that this isn’t the place to bring it.”The reality of the meeting was somewhat different. While many participants in the discussion recounted

negative reactions to the flyers by their peers, few were personally brought to the forum.

“Those people aren’t here today, so how do we facilitate bringing those negative reactions to the discussion?” said first-year Gabriel Pollak.

The discussion then moved onto topics like racism on Guilford’s campus, which sophomore and SAAPS member Chelsea Yarborough described as marked by “instances of rampant and unchecked racism.”

Much of the discussion revolved around a more well-intentioned form of racism: white guilt.

“I feel like a lot of black people have to deal with a lot of white guilt,” said Franklin. “If I feel like I’m dealing with white guilt, I just shut down, because I feel like I have no sympathy.”

Outside the debate, the aforementioned negative reactions proved to be more abundant than the range of opinions presented at the SAAPS meeting would have indicated.

“The way some of them were written was confrontational,” said first-year Harrison Houlihan. “I don’t think that’s a message to win people over and have people really think. It’s like, ‘Why is this everywhere?’”

SAAPS member Chelsea Yarborough had a different take. “I talked to a friend of mine who said, ‘Even if people

are outwardly rejecting what you’re saying, they’re still listening to you,’” said Yarborough. “It may not click immediately, but somewhere down the line, they’ll get it.”

BY MCCAFFREY BLAUNER & ANTHONY HARRISONStaff WriterS

Student privilege flyers create awareness, discussion

In the past few weeks, there have been several reports of vehicle break-ins on campus, six in the past week.

Public Safety is urging community members to leave valuables in a secure place instead of in their vehicles. If, however, belongings are left behind in the vehicle, officers advise that they be hidden from view so that any possible perpetrators will not have the incentive to enter the vehicle in the first place.

Public Safety has been posting fliers in many buildings around campus, as well as in the Guilford Buzz, warning the community about these break-ins and reminding everyone that Guilford is not a closed environment and that many non-students have access to much of the campus.

When these break-ins occur, Public Safety is often in contact with the Greensboro Police Department as well. But, to the Public Safety office’s knowledge, there are currently no suspects or leads in any of the reported break-ins.

BY NATALIE SUTTONStaff Writer

Recent vehicle break-ins on campus

Tom Brokaw is a well-known broadcast journalist and author of the book “The Greatest Generation” and “The Time of Our Lives.” At Guilford, he spoke on his views regarding the changing world of journalism and the reinvigorating of American society.Front page (top): Brokaw speaks at the War Memorial Auditorium. (Middle): The audience was sold out for the Bryan Series speech. (Below): Brokaw has a private session at Guilford in the afternoon.

The Bryan SerieS

2013 Schedule

Geoffrey canada

Sunday, feBruary 103:30 p.m.

caroline Kennedy

ThurSday, march 287:30 p.m.

ThomaS friedman

TueSday, april 167:30 p.m.

for TicKeTS and more informaTion Go To

www.BryanSerieS.Guilford.edu/TicKeTS

American TV journalist Tom Brokaw speaks at Bryan Series

If you, or anyone you know, has any information regarding these incidents or

of any suspicious activities, please contact Public Safety at (336) 316-2909 or the

Greensboro Police Department at (336) 373-2222.

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calendar of events

7

Women’s swimming meet 6p, Greensboro College

Greensboro Festival of Lights 6–9p, Elm St.

FRI

COMMUNITY4WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

The Guilfordian is the student-run newspaper of Guilford College. It 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.

General staff meetings for The Guilfordian take place every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall, and are open to the public.

AdvertisingIf you are interested in advertising in The

Guilfordian, send an e-mail to [email protected] for a rate sheet and submission guidelines. We can design a customized ad for you if you need this service. The Guilfordian reserves the right to reject advertisements.

LettersThe Guilfordian actively encourages readers

to respond to issues raised in our pages via letters to the editor. Letters can be submitted to [email protected] by 3 p.m. on the Sunday before publication and should 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.

The Guilfordian

VideographersHenry Bronsen Emily Carter Malikah FrenchTaylor HallettHali Kohls

Zachary KronischJames MadduxTobias OlsenChris RoeMace Smith

Staff Photographers

Alayna Bradley Chelsea BurrisElizabeth DzuganKatie Fullerton

Alex Lindberg Justyn MelroseAlison Steigerwald

Copy Editors

Senior WritersBryan DooleyVictor Lopez

Staff WritersJosh BallardMcCaffrey BlaunerElias BlondeauAlayna BradleyEmily CurrieThomas DeaneAllison DeBuskMalikah FrenchDaniel GaskinBrianna GlennTaylor Hallett

Anthony HarrisonAlex LindbergL.A. LoganJustyn MelroseBrittany MurdockAudrey RothJames RoweJordan SmithHaejin SongNatalie SuttonClarence Turpin

Cecelia Baltich-SchecterBrianna GlennBecca King Kristy LapentaKhenti-Sha N Tyi

Douglas Reyes-CeronQuentin RichardsonPolly RittenbergMegan Stern

Editorial BoardEditor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Layout Editor

Website Editors

News Editor

W&N Editor

Features Editor

Opinion Editor

Sports Editor

Social JusticeEditor

Rebecca [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Kate [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Faculty Advisor Jeff [email protected]

Lindsey [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

ExecutiveCopy EditorVideo Editor

Photo Editor

Business/Ad Manager

Layout Staff

Graphic Designer Cartoonist

Jessica OatesJulian Stewart

Audrey Roth

Joy Damon C.J. Green

8 SAT 9 SUN 10 MON

12 WED11 TUES 13THURS

See your event hereemail: [email protected]

Men’s basketball game 2p, Va. Wesleyan

Women’s basketball game 4p, Va. Wesleyan

24-hour library access begins

Heirloom Chanukah Menorah Lighting, 3-5p, Greensboro Historical Museum

Exams begin

$1 Taco Tuesday 11a-10p, Taqueria El Azteca

College DayFree studio with college ID 11a-8p, The Mad Platter

24-hour library access ends

“The Christmas Shoes” ballet 7p, Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts Center

Reading Day First Night of Chanukah

Give back this holiday seasonThe Interactive Resource Center is holding its annual “Home for the Holidays” party, a celebration for the families that the center has helped to find housing for in the past year. The IRC is looking for donations of household goods, toys, and children’s clothing to distribute and will be accepting donations through Dec. 14. For more information, call (336) 554-5424To arrange for donation pick-up, contact Emily Currie at (336) 457-6211

Pearls & Heels for Careers provides interview outfits and job-seeking assistance to homeless and disadvantaged women. Donations and volunteers always welcome. Contact Emily Currie at (336) 457-6211

For more information on how you can help, scan your smartphone here

or go toguilcosojo.com/get-connected

In Issue 10 on page 6, Joe Fish was misquoted. The quote has been removed online.

In Issue 11 on page 6, the Guilford Bike Shop prices were incorrect. The correct prices are $1 daily rate or $50–$75 per semester.

Correction Create your own love letter

Dear ___________ ,

You are so ________ and smart and _________.

Have you done something different with your

________? It looks ________ today! I just wanted

to write you a note to say you are great at

_________ ___________ and I will miss you over

winter break. You give me __________ and make

people feel so ________ without even knowing it.

I can’t wait to see you in the spring!

__________ yours,

_________________

(adjective) (adjective)

(adjective)(noun)

(verb -ing) (noun - plural)

(noun - plural)

(adjective)

(adverb)

Page 5: Volume 99 Issue 12

NEWS IN BRIEF

EGYPT More than 100,000 protesters rioted around the palace in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, rebelling against President Mohamed Morsi’s declaration of a new, Islam-based constitution. Security forces were unable to control the masses with tear gas or force, causing Morsi to flee the palace seeking safety. He returned on Wednesday.

MANILA, PHILIPPINESOn Wednesday, 274 Philippines residents were reported dead after Typhoon Bopha swept Manila. An additional 339 people were injured in the storm and 279 remain missing, but tallies are expected to increase

after more villages have been surveyed. 100 mile-per-hour winds and torrential down- pours destroyed eastern coastal agricultural lands, costing farmers tens of thousands of coconut trees and acres of banana plantations.

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FRANCEStudies show the sperm count in France has decreased by 32 percent over the past 17 years. Scientists theorize that this decline may lead to a dangerously low sperm count in French males and result in widespread infertility. Because the decrease has already affected an entire country, there is growing concern that low sperm counts may become a global issue. Potential environmental causes are under investigation.

WORLD & NATION 5December 7, 2012

Guilford students use water on a daily basis: to drink, take showers, wash vegetables. But how often do you worry about the quality of the water you use?

The Seville community in California has always faced the problem of contaminated drinking water.

According to The New York Times, California’s water contamination is a consequence of more than a half century of environmental neglect in which chemical fertilizers, animal wastes and pesticides have permeated water resources.

In farm communities such as Seville, where the annual income is $14,000, residents such as Rebecca Quintana pay double the price for water because they have to purchase bottled water in addition to paying for regular tap water. Residents use their tap water to shower and wash clothes, but buy five-gallon bottles to drink, cook and brush their teeth.

“You can’t smell it,” said Quintana to The New York Times. “You can’t see it. It looks like plain beautiful water.”

To many residents, high costs are not the only issue at hand. According to a study by the University of California, about 254,000 people in the Tulare Basin and Salinas Valley risk consumption of nitrate contaminated drinking water.

Exposure to high levels of nitrate can be

extremely dangerous. Nitrate is known to cause

methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” a condition in infants causing them to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Young animals are also affected by nitrates in the same way human babies are, reports Colorado State University.

Eunice Martinez and her 72 year-old mother told The New York Times that they

stopped drinking the water before they knew that there was a health problem.

“Honestly, it was the taste,” said Martinez. “It just wasn’t right.”

Unfortunately, California isn’t the only region facing this problem.

China, one of thirteen countries facing extreme water shortages, is also combating contaminated water. The Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world, has recently turned to a blood red color. New

University newspaper of the University of California notes that the river was first discolored in December 2011 when an illegal factory dumped red dye into the city’s pipeline, a line which was connected to the river.

The dye was used to color firework tubes, and has turned the Yangtze River several different colors including green, according to CNN.

“When I left my home in late 1970s, the water was clean and very natural,” said George Guo, professor of political science and former resident of southwestern Sichuan province.

“But when I came back in 1990, the countryside that was beautiful in the past had many huge factories. … This was when China exported and took 90 percent of the world’s products, and there was huge pollution.”

Guo further notes that local businesses and governments may be a source of this problem.

“In order for local businesses to stay in power, they have to show their central government that they are continuing economic growth and contributing to high GDP,” said Guo. “The Chinese government needs to consider whether their GDP or the quality of the production is important. They need to consider the environment and not just push for a high number.”

While China suffers from water pollution, it also faces a high water demand.

China’s annual water demand is predicted to require 818 billion cubic meters when there are only 616 billion cubic meters available.

Debra Tan, a specialist at China Water Risk, told CNN that China has 25 bathtubs of water per person while the U.S. has 125.

Last year, the Chinese government took notice of the problem, announcing they would invest four trillion renminbi — 600 billion USD — over 10 years to protect its water resources, notes Nature, international weekly journal of science.

Similarly, the Water Stewardship Project and Ecological Farming Association are helping farmers across California practice water conservation practices.

Although solutions have been presented in both regions, implementing policies into practice and seeing actual progress remains challenges for both California and China.

California and China’s water severely polluted, now scarceBY HAEJIN SONG Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner continue to hash out stipulations of the new financial plan. Obama demands low tax rates for Americans earning under $250,000 and an increased rate for the wealthiest two percent. Should Republicans block this proposal, 45 percent of Americans say they will blame Boehner’s Congress for a tax hike on the middle class. Boehner conceded on Wednesday to increased taxes on the wealthy, but a final agreement has yet to be reached.

China, one of thirteen countries facing extreme water shortages, is also combating contaminated water. The Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world, has recently turned to a blood red color.

Page 6: Volume 99 Issue 12

WORLD & NATION6WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

Unsafe working conditions and meager wages seem like a distant U.S. memory of the 1900s, but in other parts of the world, these poor conditions remain a reality.

In the global market, various regions contribute to the products for sale and trade. Among those regions are working environments that hold the potential for injury or even death.

This is the case in several factories in India, particularly in the garment industry. Workers in the region endure low wages, high work pressure, frequent overtime and minimal job security.

“In a place like India, labor conditions are bad, unemployment rates are higher, and people decide they’ll just work for themselves, so they won’t have to deal with things like money, plans and labor conditions,” said Jeremy Rinker, visiting assistant professor of peace and conflict studies.

“When we can’t meet the targets, the abuse starts,” Sakamma, a woman working for Texport, a Gap supplier in India, told The Guardian. “There is too much pressure; it is like torture. We can’t take breaks or drink water or go to the toilet. The supervisors are on our backs all the time,” she said.

“They call us donkey, owl (a creature associated with evil), dog and insult us … make us stand in front of everyone, tell us to go and die,” Sakamma said.

A textile factory in Karachi, Pakistan had a similarly unhealthy work environment when it caught fire on Spet. 12, killing 289 people in the flames. This tragedy was named the worst man-made disaster in Pakistan’s history by the National Disaster Management Authority.

Survivors claim that the factory’s emergency exits were locked, leaving no escape for those working inside. Many workers resorted to jumping from high story windows to avoid death. Dangerous chemicals in the factory were released into the air, making the smoke even more dangerous.

“We as Americans should be concerned about those

kinds of poor labor conditions, but we are so far removed because of the chain of manufactured industry, that it’s oftentimes subcontracting upon subcontracting,” Rinker said.

More recently, on Nov. 24 a fire swallowed a Bangladesh factory just outside the capital, killing 112 employees.

Though more thorough investigations revealed the fire was arson, many of the deaths were the result of flaws in the factory’s structure itself. Much like in Karachi, there were few emergency exits in the building, many fire extinguishers didn’t work as they should have, and supervisors urged the workers to stay put, even while alarms were sounding.

“How the factory caught fire, I don’t know. But when we heard ‘fire,’ we all rushed out and we were trying to get out of the factory,” survivor Parul Begum told CNN.

The factory made textiles for a number of labels that are well known in the U.S., including Wal-Mart, Sears and Disney.

This raises a question: Why are these events ignored while so many Americans buy products made in faulty factories by underpaid workers?

“There are even a lot of people who work under contract on the supply chain,” Rinker said. “Loading stuff, shipping it onto trucks. There’s a whole lot of the supply chain that we don’t ever see. We just see it on a shelf in Wal-Mart, and we purchase it.”

The same issues may have a hold in the U.S. as well.“Some people would argue that that is a form of

forced labor, and these people haven’t been able to find work,” Rinker said. “The economic downturn has caused more unregulated work and the killing of our labor movement, which has been going on for the last twenty years.”

Poor working conditions directly hinder the safety of employees in poorer regions, but the products of these dangerous practices are enjoyed by more prosperous nations every day. To put an end to unsatisfactory conditions and pay, the global consumer market must take control of the problem and become aware of the origin of their products.

For the better part of a century, two sides have been fighting for land in the Middle East: Palestine and Israel. Recently, the violence between the two escalated for eight days, with airstrikes yielding destruction on both sides.

The conflict began in the 1920s when hundreds of thousands of Jews moved to Palestinian land. Tensions grew between the arriving Jews and the native Arab people. In 1948, the U.N. formally recognized Israel as a state. After this establishment, the Arab League (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq) joined in Palestine’s opposition of Israel.

“The U.N. Partition Plan of 1947 recognized both Israel and a Palestinian state,” said senior Tali Raphael. “However, no Palestinian state was created after the war, as the Arab states took the land. Egypt took Gaza (and) Jordan took the West Bank.”

PalestineIsraeli forces built a 25-foot wall around the West Bank

and surrounded major cities with a police force to limit any uprisings against Israeli rule. In some places, the wall crosses Palestinian land, including Jerusalem — a holy city for both the Jewish and Islamic faiths. Locals on either side know this barrier by different names.

“The ‘security fence’ to Israeli Jews is an ‘apartheid (or) annexation wall’ to Palestinians,” said Director of Friends Center and Campus Ministry Coordinator Max Carter.

Palestinian refugees call their state an “apartheid state,” as they are segregated from the rest of the community and surrounded by a militant force. Israeli forces control their water supplies, roads and markets. This oppression

created another anti-Israel force known as Hamas, which currently governs the Gaza Strip.

The most violence occurs on the Gaza Strip, currently under blockade by Israeli troops who allow limited supplies and relief into the Palestinian territory. Because Gaza citizens oppose the regulations issued by Israel, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets across the border since 2006.

IsraelIsraelis believe they have only exercised self-defense

as Palestine and various Arab nations have attacked them throughout the years. Israeli forces claim to occupy Palestinian zones to foster peace, not cultivate war.

Were Israel to provide for the 1.5 million refugees in the Gaza Strip, they would risk becoming a minority within their own state and watching their democracy crumble.

The blockade still allows relief efforts into the territory, but prevents Arab nations from smuggling weapons for terrorist cells in the area. Israel has successfully stopped much of the illegal arms trade into Palestine, though they continue to struggle with this issue. Israel’s primary concerns include defending their homes, nation and culture from invaders and uprisings.

Most Recent ConflictIn November, both sides fired rockets for eight days. More than 90 rockets were cast from Israel and rained

on the Gaza Strip, killing Hamas leader, Ahmed al-Jaabari. In retaliation, Gaza specifically targeted Tel Aviv and

Jerusalem for the first time. “The attack on Jerusalem was especially audacious, both

for its symbolism and its distance from Gaza,” reported Aron Heller for the Huffington Post. “Jerusalem had previously been considered beyond the range of Gaza

rockets and an unlikely target because it is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest shrine.”

Because of these high profile targets, Israeli forces responded with extreme air-strikes on sections of Gaza.

“A large part of the mid-range rockets were destroyed,” President Barack Obama told Reuters. “Hamas managed to hit Israel’s built-up areas with around a metric ton of explosives, and Gaza targets got around 1,000 metric tons.”

Efforts Toward PeaceThe eight-day air-striking dissolved when a multi-party

ceasefire was enacted. In addition to this, the U.N. has recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state after more than 60 years of effort by the West Bank. Palestine’s new status offers more rights and acknowledges the unrest in the borderlands. Many in the Arab world view the U.N.’s decision as a victory for Palestine, but others see it as a temporary solution to an enduring problem.

“The resolution enshrines the 2002 Arab peace initiative, which speaks of a ‘just and agreed upon’ solution for the Palestinian refugees,” Director of Al-Shabaka Nadia Hijab told Al-jazeera. “This effectively reaffirms Israel’s control of any solution.”

Palestine’s new status also works to move the region toward a “two-state” solution, a concept proposed to end the ongoing conflict.

The conflict between Palestine and Israel is complex and ever-evolving. There are a multitude of perspectives in the region, all contributing equally to both the existing violence and peace in the Middle East. Moving forward, compromise and understanding will be critical factors in resolution of grievances. At this time, much of the region is in a state of unrest and looks to quell the violence and destruction that has been present for nearly 90 years.

Otuam is a coastal fishing village situated in Ghana, West Africa. In this village, everyone knows everyone. There is no high school, and teenagers who can’t afford secondary school travel to surrounding towns and become street hustlers to survive. Impoverished teenagers also farm or fish to make a living.

At the end of a dusty, rutted road stands the royal palace. Its paint is peeling, windows are broken, and the thirsty ground surrounding it is unkempt.

As a secretary at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for over 30 years, Peggielene Bartels organized receptions, prepared coffee and answered phones. She followed orders from her male boss, the ambassador. Yet in her work at the Embassy, if people bit her, she would bite back.

But one night, a career-altering phone call awoke Bartels at 4 a.m. Her cousin, Kwame Lumpopo, called from Otuam informing Bartels that her uncle had died and that she had been chosen by the elders and ancestors to be king.

After conferring with the dead ancestors about her new responsibility, she made plans to travel to Otuam and take charge.

In 2008, Bartels took the official title of Amuah-Afenyi VI, and has ruled Otuam as King since 2008.

“This woman here is on a mission, and I’m chosen,” King Peggy told CBS News. “I’m not going to allow any male to run me down. I am going to rule you and rule you right.”

She politely commanded respect in her interview with Erica Hill and Gayle King of CBS News when she asked to be called “Nana” instead of King Peggy.

“It’s (the) name of a woman of stature or a King or a Queen in Ghana,” she said. “It’s a very powerful name.”

King Peggy said that once she sets her mind to do something, she will not let anyone deter her.

“(The elders) chose me as king because they know I have a really strong personality, and I can rule,” said King Peggy. “The King is the one who makes all the educated decisions and (does) all the hard work for the town.”

Dangerous working conditions kill hundreds King Peggy: female leader of Ghana

BY JORDAN SMITHStaff Writer

BY ALEX LINDBERGStaff Writer

BY EMILY CURRIEStaff Writer

Conflict in the Middle East and ceasefire explained

To see the full direct interview with King Peggy, visit our website at

www.guilfordian.com

Page 7: Volume 99 Issue 12

FEATURES 7December 7, 2012

A picture is worth a thousand words. If that is the case, then participants wrote a veritable novel at the first annual Photo-thon held by Photo Club.

The event took place in Hege-Cox Hall on Sat., Dec. 1 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.

“Our initial purpose was to provide a space where photographers could come together and spend time, learn and grow from each other,” said Photo Club treasurer and sophomore D’vorah Nadel.

The event was inspired by the similar Draw-a-thon.

“When I heard there was an event like the Draw-a-thon, but for photography, I grabbed my camera,” said Zach Morgan, a participating photographer and CCE junior.

Photographers were allowed to show up at any time and utilize student models for their photographic needs. The student models that signed up prior to the event could participate in 30-minute to hour-long slots for the photographers. They were paid five dollars for every 30 minutes they spent — as long as they filled out the requisite W-9 forms.

“We chose to pay the models because we had the budget to do so and because it is a common practice,” said Nadel. “They are spending their time and energy doing crazy things for our artistic vision, so why shouldn't we?”

However, some models came for more than monetary gain.

“I don’t want to sound vain,” said sophomore Shelby Smith. “(But) I like people taking pictures of me. It’s fun and I’m photogenic. Why not?”

“I need a headshot for theater stuff, so this was a great opportunity,” said sophomore Noelle Lane.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for models and photographers to get to know each other,” said Morgan. “It really builds community.”

Not only did the event build community between photographers and their models, but also among the photographers themselves.

“I had many conversations with other Guilfordians who I had no idea were photographers,” said Nadel. “Now we have a shared experience.”

Lindsay Vanderhoogt, club secretary and junior, was pleased with the community turnout.

“I think it’s a very Guilford thing to say you’re going to go to an event but then not show up,” she said. “The fact that people actually showed up is wonderful. It really sets a bar for future events. We have dreams, aspirations, goals, big positive words for many future events now.”

“We plan on making the Photo-thon an annual event, which I dream will only get bigger and better with time,” Nadel said.

However, the event had an ulterior motive.

“The Photo-thon was also a way to raise the hype and visibility of the Photography Club,” said Nadel.

“I think there are so many talented photographers on campus, and yet we have an average of four people coming to our meetings,” said Vanderhoogt. “That sucks.”

Additional membership is imperative if the club wishes to continue holding events. Photo Club meets Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in the photo lab in the basement of Hege-Cox Hall.

“In setting up this event, we’ve realized a number of things for the future,” said club president and senior Nicole Lane.

Shutterbugs gather under Photo-thon’s light

Dec. 21, 2012: a date that may change history. According to the Mayan calendar, that date is when humans will cease to exist after a series of apocalyptic events.

But is it true? Throughout history there have been thousands of failed doomsday predictions — from the Joachimites’ two failed predictions in the 13th century to Harold Camping’s failed predictions in 2011.

Is the Mayan calendar any different? What makes the Mayan calendar’s prediction special? According to Assistant Professor of History Alvis Dunn, the calendar was used as early as 400 B.C. by the lowland Maya of Micronesia.

The calendar is unique in that it works in a series of ages. We are currently nearing the end of the fifth age, the last age of the calendar.

“One can imagine several wheels of different sizes turning in conjunction with one another, interlocking, and each measuring a different span of time,” said Dunn in an email interview. “Different wheels turn for various periods ... one for a month (30 days) another for a year (365 days) and others for much, much longer periods. One of the largest wheels measures an age, which is what the interest today is about. The end of the fifth age approaches, evidently.”

The calendar says the world is going to end on Dec. 21, but does that make it true? When The Guilfordian asked students whether or not they thought that their demise was imminent, the answer was a resounding “no.”

“I’m really not too worried about it,” said junior Julia Sheehan. “I mean, just because an ancient calendar says the end is here, why does it have to be true?”

Still, the calendar creates fascination for some people.

“I’ve always been interested in these kinds of things,” said sophomore Ben Rosenthal. “But from everything I’ve ever read, I think the idea is pretty far-fetched.”

However, if you still have your doubts, don’t worry. NASA has tried to alleviate any last reservations about the brewing apocalypse.

“Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, Dec. 21 won’t be the end of the world as we know it,” said NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on their Facebook page. “However, it will be another winter solstice.”

Multiple NASA representatives were on hand to debunk the doomsday theory via a Nov. 28 Google+ Hangout open to the public. During the event, NASA’s David Morrison, an astrobiologist at Ames Research Center, called the doomsday theory “a joke to many people.” Nonetheless, Morrison thought that it was “appropriate for NASA to answer questions” about the 2012 doomsday prophecy.

However, some students are finding a little levity in the possibility that everything we’ve ever known could come to an end.

“I do have some papers coming up that I wouldn’t mind getting out of,” junior Trey Atkinson said.

To combat this problem, Dunn has a very clear message for his students: “All I can say is that according to these ancient measures, a mathematical convergence will occur. My History 103 students will also have the final draft of their research papers due no matter what.”

Mayans predict end of the world December 21, 2012

Who says the more expensive the better?The holidays are fast approaching and you have to get gifts

for everyone in your life. What’s the problem with this? You are broke and in search of a way to make people in your life happy without your bank account hating you. The following are helpful ideas for those in that precarious predicament.

For those who are musically talented, crafting and performing a creative rendition of a song can show your love because you are willing to sound ridiculous for your loved one. A great song for this purpose is “Your Song” by Elton John.

If you are not musical in any way, purchase a book from a used book store and inscribe a heartfelt message

inside that only you and that other person will understand. Gifted books have special meaning because it takes time to pick out one that the other person will enjoy. Anything from the Harry Potter series can be found cheaply nowadays and is easily the most entertaining series I have ever read.

For the movie fan in your life, you can gift a one-month

Netflix subscription for only eight bucks. The myriad of choices on Netflix is something that anyone can enjoy, and once that month is over, that person can decide whether they want to continue the subscription.

Making a home-cooked meal doesn’t cost as much as going out to dinner and shows a great appreciation for your loved one. If a meal is too complicated, then bake a cake — a fun and messy experience for all parties involved.

For people who knit, giving a piece of handmade clothing is a classic way for people to show their love. This craft has been done for hundreds of years, so this gift idea is tried and tested. Yarn can be cheap, and you can make socks, hats, earmuffs and scarves, among many other things. My personal favorite knitted accessory? A nice woolen hat.

A box of chocolates with a handwritten letter inside is a great way to show someone how much you love them by giving them two treats in one. Who doesn’t like chocolate and handwritten letters? Ogres, that’s who.

If none of these ideas work, then give the greatest gift of all: time with you.

Cheap holiday gift ideas for the broke college studentBY DANIEL GASKINStaff Writer

BY BRYAN DOOLEY & THOMAS DEANESenior Writer and Staff Writer

BY JOSH BALLARDStaff Writer

Want to check out photos from the event? Then head to

http://www.flickr.com/groups/guilfordphotoclub. As of right now, a Flickr login is required.

For more information on Photo Club, email

[email protected]

Nate Secrest, junior, and Maddie Holland, senior, pose at the Photo-thon.

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Page 8: Volume 99 Issue 12

FEATURES8WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

As I make my way into Archdale Hall, I am greeted by a tall, dark-haired, ravishing woman. Her arms coil around me as she embraces me. Her bubbly personality and radiating smile brings warmth to the room, and I find myself feeding off of her happiness.

Visiting Assistant Professor of English Mylène Dressler has recently had her novella “The Wedding of Anna F.” published in the magazine “Big Fiction.” She has also been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, which acknowledges the best writing that appears in small presses and literary journals.

I had a chance to sit down with Mylène to discuss her recent achievements.

Murdock: How did you find your way to Guilford?

Dressler: For many years, I was a professional ballet dancer, and it was a wonderful career. It is a short-lived career, and I always knew I wanted to either be a writer or spend a lot of time around books.

Even before I stopped dancing, I started taking college classes. When I retired from dancing, I moved directly into college and found that it wasn’t that big of a leap.

I studied literature and got my Ph.D. I figured out that writing is very much like dancing. It’s all about rhythm, pacing, structure, choreography and holding an audience and carrying them along. Once I realized that, I understood that move from dance to literature. It was not a difficult transition.

M: What is the novella about?D: It’s about an elderly Jewish woman who

believes she is Anna Frank. It’s about a day in her life when she is being interviewed by a young graduate student who is studying delusion, and as the story unfolds, it becomes very much about the relationship between these two. The graduate student is Palestinian, and as their conversation progresses, it goes into some charged places as these two people try to work out a narrative together.

I found it a very challenging book to write, and in some ways an unsettling book to write, because it goes in many unexpected directions. Before coming to Guilford, I was about to give up on the story because I found it so difficult to write and understand the story. I found that being in this vibrant, creative place and being around wonderful people really helped me move forward and understand the story. I owe Guilford and the community a debt of gratitude for creating a place like this in which I could discover and understand this work.

M: What exactly is a novella?D: This is an 80-page novella, but it is

distinct from a novel. It’s shorter than a novel and also tends to be more focused. It doesn’t tend to have subplots and not a lot of minor characters. A novella tends to focus on major characters. A good way to think about a novella is as a long story.

M: What inspired you to write “The Wedding of Anna F.”?

D: I worked on this for a number of years, but this story began like a lot of my others stories, with being haunted by something. It’s a feeling of being followed by a voice inside your head.

In this case, I was haunted by a voice. I woke up one morning and started to hear this voice

in my head and realized quickly it was the voice of an elderly Anna Frank.

I was confused and unsettled by the idea of writing a story from that voice because Anna Frank had died in the Holocaust, and I was not interested in resuscitating her. This voice wouldn’t leave me alone, and over time I realized that it was the voice of an elderly Jewish woman who thinks she is Anna Frank. Once I understood that, I was able to start writing.

M: How does your usual writing process work?

D: My writing process is rather improvisational because I do start out with a haunting of some sort. I don’t outline stories. I just start writing, and then I see where the story takes me. I try to understand the story and characters as I move along. The reason I do that is partly because it’s the only way I know how to write. I long ago decided that if I didn’t know what happened next in the story, the reader wouldn’t either. This helps me create tension, surprise and unpredictability in the narrative.

I write on the computer and tend to write for about four hours a day. I write on the weekends or before class, but most of my writing gets done during the summer or over Christmas break.

M: What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?

D: The hardest thing is the work that you produce never matches the glory and sublimity of the thing that you imagined in your head. There is always a sense that the thing on the paper doesn’t quite measure up to the dream. As a writer, you have to get used to

that distance, the sense that what lives in your head is going to be transformed as it comes down onto the page.

M: How do you feel about this nomination?

D: I’m really excited about this, considering it’s the first time I’ve received a Pushcart nomination. I am very honored by the nomination. I think writers are only human, and we like recognition. We like reward — we don’t write for that reason, but it’s awfully good when it comes.

I didn’t know that the Pushcart nomination was something that I wanted until it finally came, and it was something that I was secretly longing for. It means a lot — it means recognition by the community of writers and editors that work in small presses and the world of literary journals. It means a great deal.

Q&A with Pushcart Prize nominee Mylène DresslerBY BRITTANY MURDOCKStaff Writer

Hey, folks. It’s that magical time of year when grocery stores start to stock what they ought to be carrying year-round: eggnog. Well, this year, why not stick it to the grocery stores and make your own ‘nog?

Here’s an easy-to-make recipe for homemade eggnog. Do it right, and not only will it taste better than the store-bought junk, but you’ll be able to make it whenever you want.

Please drink responsibly.

Dorm-made eggnog: the gentleman’s choiceBY DAVID PFERDEKAMPERGueSt Writer, ‘12

Eggnog Recipe

Step 3:Now go back to your egg whites. Take your beater and

beat them to soft peaks (this is where an electric beater

becomes a lifesaver). Add the remaining tablespoon of sugar

and beat the whites to stiff peaks.Step 4:Whisk the two mixtures together. You’ll have to mix it

well because the liquid and the foam like to separate. Chill

your eggnog before serving.*Do note that the foam likes to separate from the rest

of the mixture. You can stir it all back together, but the

foam also makes a wonderful dip for sugar cookies. Enjoy

your ‘nog however you want — you deserve it.

*A note before we begin: there is always some risk

when consuming raw eggs. However, using pasteurized

eggs significantly reduces your chances of illness, and

introducing alcohol into the mixture will make it safer

still — there are no known pathogens that can survive in

alcohol. Ultimately, your chances of getting sick are slim

to none, but if you’re worried about that, recipes that

involve cooking the eggs are just one Google search away.

Ingredients:1/3 cup of sugar w/ 1 tbs. in reserve, 4 pasteurized

grade-A eggs, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 cups of milk, 1 tsp.

ground nutmeg, 4 ounces of spiced rum (if over 21)

Step 1:Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Put the

yolks into a bigger bowl and the whites into a smaller

bowl. Put the whites aside and be

at the yolks until they

lighten in color. Y

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PhotoS by Kacey MinnicK/Guilfordian

Page 9: Volume 99 Issue 12

OPINION 9December 7, 2012

Worried about how to kill time during your new, lengthy winter break? Are you terrified that boredom will swallow you whole as you yearn for the Spring semester? Dreading the clash between college freedom and parental constraints that hits when you get home?

Don’t fret, Guilford! A winter break that is twice as long as last year’s means twice the fun! Thanks to the newly implemented J-term, rest and relaxation are doubled and holiday activities aren’t overshadowed by the looming second semester. To help beat your boredom blues, The Guilfordian Editorial Board got together and compiled a list of our favorite tips for enjoying time off. Consider trying some of these winter break activities to help you unwind from the stress of finals and fuel up for the spring.

Organize a caroling party with family and friends. Your neighbors will love the musical treat.

Catch up on all of the TV episodes you’ve missed, and maybe start a new on-demand obsession.

Dust off a book you’ve been dying to read and curl up on the couch. When you open it, you’ll surely be happy to find something with a topic other than gender norms, confirmation bias, or sustainability. If the thought of opening a book still makes you cringe post-finals, try a webcomic. Suggestion: questionablecontent.net

Some of us enjoy picking out a Christmas tree and choose to decorate it with lights, ornaments, garland and a hidden pickle. Others forgo the tree and just decorate the house — the brighter the better!

Take advantage of the things you can do at home but not in a dorm, like taking a bath by candlelight or showering without flip flops.

Curl up in pajamas with family or pets and watch the holiday classics that take over every television channel. Some of our favorites are “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964), “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1970), “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965), “A Christmas Story” (1983), “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), or “Love Actually” (2003).

If there’s snow, go sledding. Even if there’s not, go sledding! Or, see if ice skating tickles your fancy.

Take advantage of all the yummy holiday foods you might try to swear off in your 2013 New Year’s resolutions. Bake cookies, make latkes, or try a new recipe. A few of our families’ classics can be found on The Guilfordian’s website.

Don’t forget that people aren’t the only hungry ones. Try your hand at a craft and make bird feeders to share with our feathered friends in this cold season. Simply snag a loose pine cone from outside, slather on some peanut butter, and dip it in some seeds. After hanging the feeder from a tree branch, they’ll love the snack and you’ll enjoy watching them swarm from the comfort of your own home.

Play board games with your family and friends! We recommend Monopoly, Risk, Apples to Apples and Crimes Against Humanity.

Check out the rest of our ideas at www.guilfordian.com!

Whatever you do this winter break, be sure to take some time to breathe. Treat yourself to simple things and quiet moments. Curl up under a blanket with your warm beverage of choice — cider or hot chocolate never fail — and take a deep whiff of holiday air. Spring will be here before you know it.

Reflecting guilfoRd college's coRe QuakeR values, the topics and content of staff editoRials aRe chosen thRough consensus of all 15 editoRs.

Making the most of the holidays

STAFF EDITORIALThis Week'sNew common core standards

compromise student opportunitiesUser manuals, train schedules and

other “informational texts” – what do these reading materials have in common? Now they will all be

prioritized in the classroom over some of our most revered works of fiction.

A new Common Core State Standards mandate will demand that non-fiction constitute 70 percent of reading materials in classrooms. Despite the fact the mandate won’t be put into full

effect until 2014, many public schools are already altering their curriculums to conform to the new standards.

Apparently, learning about fictional literature and the imaginative odysseys they invoke isn’t a priority for our public school system or CCSS. The new standards are being set under the pretense that being able to understand non-fiction is more useful to students for finding jobs in the current economy.

What about encouraging students to engage with what they are interested in, even if it is fictional literature? Isn’t that the role of education?

The new mandate has already shaken up many literature enthusiasts.

“What troubles me, though, is the way, in this new model, non-fiction is increasingly privileged in English curricula, to the point where it is finally 70 percent of an English class in the twelfth grade,” said Mylène Dressler, visiting assistant professor of English in an email interview. “The

message that seems to send is: “ ‘It is time to leave the world of imagination behind… that world belongs to your childhood. The mature mind concerns itself primarily with the factual.’ ”

Obviously, non-fiction comprises a key aspect of education. However, resorting to state mandates to create quotas shows an assumption that teachers are incapable or don’t already understand the relevance and importance of non-fiction to their topics. It only further reveals some of the more systemic problems with public education.

Restricting students’ agency in determining their interests apparently is not going far enough for the system; now even teachers must alter their content and sacrifice their essential right to develop their own curricula in order to comply with the state administrative overlords breathing down their neck.

“As a parent (and reader), I know that my love of literature came from being introduced to good literature early and often, so I worry that my children may not have the same opportunities in school to reinforce their experiences at home,” said Rod Spellman, visiting instructor of English, in an email interview. “My fear about the Common Core reading changes is that they are designed to make students better at regurgitating information and less able to think critically and to challenge ideas.”

During my time with public education, I vividly recall my world literature class as offering an oasis of perspective and imagination, away from the cut-and-dry informational rhetoric I was otherwise battered with.

To look back now and think that even this class would have been burdened with meeting this 70 percent quota is troubling to me.

Another argument being made for the new standards is that non-fiction challenges students at a level that fictional texts are incapable of doing.

“I disagree that non-fiction texts are more rigorous,” said Rachel Warzala, a high school English teacher in Newark, NJ. “I fundamentally believe in the difficulty and power of literature to change lives.”

Working through Teach for America, Warzala finds interesting ways to incorporate both fiction and non-fiction into her English classes in a way testifying to her unique capabilities – with or without a state mandate.

“As a high school English teacher in a low-income community, I’ve found that mixing non-fiction into all of my units allows me to challenge preconceived notions my students have and address social issues in the community surrounding them,” said Warzala in an email interview. “I do a unit on gender roles and norms, and we intersperse fiction with complex non-fiction texts.”

How will public schools interpret these new mandates? Will teachers simply fill classes with irrelevant non-fiction “informational” material just to meet these new quotas, or will they be given the space and encouragement to be innovative like Warzala?

Only time will tell, but until these mandates come into full effect, I recommend that schools and faculty remain cautious of their potentially harmful consequences.

Better ingredients. Better pizza. Better get a better job.Apparently, after President Barack Obama was re-elected,

everyone decided that it was perfectly okay for the heads of extremely large, public companies to act like three-year-olds and throw temper tantrums.

In case you don’t know to whom I’m referring, I’m talking about the heads of food companies that have thrown their arms up in protest over the Affordable Health Care Act no longer in danger of being repealed by good ol’ Mitt Romney.

More specifically, the one who’s been in the news the most is Papa John’s CEO, John Schnatter.

As soon as Obama was re-elected, Schnatter started to criticize Obama’s health care reform even more than he had before. Basically, in response to what he sees as being forced to — oh no — pay real

money to take care of his workers on top of their already meager wages, he said to Naples Daily News that he was going to cut workers’ hours and — get this — raise the price of pizza by 11 to 14 cents per pie.

Excuse me, but what?Seriously. This is a man who was placed at 17 on Forbes’

list of the wealthiest men under 40, who has a 40,000 square-foot mansion, which has a guesthouse worth about $7 million.

Mitt Romney was quoted about Schnatter’s wonderful abode. “Who would’ve imagined pizza could build this?”

Romney asked. “This is really something. Don’t you love this country? What a home this is, what grounds these are, the pool, the golf course … This is a real tribute to America, to entrepreneurship.”

Actually, it’s absolutely disgusting. A delivery driver from Papa John’s makes about $6.41 an hour. That’s plus tips but minus gas money of course.

And it’s not only Schnatter. Multiple other companies have already cut hours in anticipation of the cost of the required health care, like Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

In my honest opinion, this is wrong. So many levels of wrong.

People die of not having health care. Literally, they die because they are hesitant to go the doctor because of how much it costs, because they can’t afford a yearly screening that would catch diseases before they become lethal, or because they can’t afford prescriptions that simply keep them alive.

I’m not sure if some people are aware of this, so I will say it again.

People are dying every day from preventable diseases and other health conditions because they cannot afford health care.

And people like Schnatter are selfish enough in their multi-million dollar castles to protest actually saving people.

If this is a real tribute to America and entrepreneurship, I don’t want any part of it.

BY TAYLOR HALLETTStaff Writer

BY ALAYNA BRADLEYStaff Writer

Page 10: Volume 99 Issue 12

“At midnight, security made an announcement over the P.A. system. ‘The Mall is opening. Happy Black Friday,’ and then it came,” said sophomore Avery Olearcyzk, Build-A-Bear Workshop employee.

“There was a loud boom, and then mobs started running and screaming in the halls. A couple ran into the store saying, ‘We’re going to stay in here for the next ten minutes. Somebody just got knocked down and we’re scared.”Seriously, America?

I get it. With the holidays fast approaching, the idea of saving a buck sounds heaven sent. But, honestly, is it worth it? Look at your life. Look at your choices. You ran over an eight-year-old because you saw Shake Weights were half off. The media likes to paint the holiday season as a time of love, family and togetherness, and then this happens.

“Authorities believe a disagreement over a parking space (on Black Friday) led to two people being shot and wounded outside a Wal-mart in Tallahassee, Fla,” reported Fox News.

‘Tis the season.Want to know what I was doing on Black Friday?

Nothing. Because people are freaking scary.Can we all just cool it for a bit and actually put some

brainpower into this? How about Cyber Monday? While the extent to which people are obsessed with things and toys and gadgets is as impressive as it is horrifying, and while Cyber Monday is still essentially a part of the whole manic consumerist holiday kick-off, it’s a whole lot better.

I haven’t been trampled by the Internet. Well, not literally.

What I propose is that shops quit perpetuating the yearly massacre and let the internet take it on instead. You can’t stop people from being crazed shoppers, but you can make it safer.

As much as I’d like to say, “Increase security! Maintain some order!” I really don’t think it would work. People can channel their savings lust through Amazon and other sites, and maybe — just maybe — people won’t get shot.

No promises.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I had such a pleasant time shopping on Black Friday”? No. That’s like saying “A bear ate my foot the other day. It was fantastic. Got an iPod out of it.”

The Internet, on the other hand? The Internet is a magical land of mindless wanderlust. The closest thing to “violence” I’ve really seen on-line has been preteens arguing who is or is not “gay” for listening to Katy Perry.

I think we can handle it.My challenge to you is to use the Internet as a resource.

The Internet has a nearly endless supply of things that

people don’t actually need. With the exception of clothing, you don’t need to try out most products, and, if you’re buying gifts, you’re probably going to get the wrong size either way. (No offense, Mom.)

So go for it, and remember to give the gift of a receipt.All in all, as scary as the bowels of the Internet are,

the real world is a whole lot scarier. Just use your brain during the rest of the holiday season. With any luck, we’ll all survive for next year.

OPINION10WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

What is the deal with the Mary Hobbs renovations? Varied student opinions voiced around campus

Black Friday: Nothing says the holiday season like getting trampled for not-so-good deals

Mary Hobbs is in desperate need of renovations. It’s getting old. It would be really nice to see it look a lot better than it does now. However, there is a price. This has become a very controversial topic on the Guilford College campus, as residents of Mary Hobbs will now have to move out.

Personally, as much as I agree with making Mary Hobbs look better, I just think it is coming at the wrong time. Oct. 29 is just way too late to notify residents.

Mary Hobbs is one of the original buildings on Guilford’s campus, and just like what Founders went through, this is a necessary renovation. The building is 175 -years-old, so it really is about time. And the earlier you start the renovations, the better it is for the next school year.

It seems logical, right? Not exactly.“All I have to say is that it is definitely

an awful time to be doing these renovations and that if they had done them in the fall, at least no one would sign up for Mary Hobbs and expect to live there like we did,” said junior Casey Costa. “It is going to cause a lot of stress for people and is just an added hassle to how much school work we have.”

The renovations are expected to begin in March and are supposed to be over by early August.

But is it really necessary to do this in the middle of the school year? Probably not and the administration should have warned the students about it before they moved in. It’s pretty ridiculous to have the students move out after moving in three months ago.

“I’m going abroad next semester, but I’m concerned about Mary Hobbs residents and the Greenleaf being relocated,” said junior Molly Day Cooney. “They should have notified people earlier.”

It is a difficult situation to talk about as people are on both sides of the issue. However, why couldn’t they have done the renovations during the summer when people wont be staying there? There should have been some notification before the school year started or before people signed up living arrangements this past spring semester.

Junior Grace Sullivan, however, had a different view on how she felt about

moving out.“I have no problem moving out of

Hobbs,” said Sullivan. “It’s not ideal, and it won’t be a piece of cake to move in the middle of the semester, but it’s so worth it

to me. I can imagine a community of girls using and loving the new space next year, and that’s enough to make the move worth it for me. The changes will only continue to grow the sense of community we pride ourselves in having here at Guilford.”

Still, recognizing the flip side of the issue, Sullivan continued.

“I understand why some Hobbs residents are upset,” said Sullivan. “That makes total sense to me, but I also think that Campus

Life has been made out to be the bad guys when the real issues and frustrations should be pointed towards the fact that institutions and organizations are constantly having to make tough decisions that effect their customers (or in this case, residents).”

BY JAMES ROWEStaff Writer

RENOVATIONS BOTH QUESTIONED AND SUPPORTED BY STUDENTS ACROSS CAMPUS

IT’S NOT WORTH IT TO DIE OR GET INJURED OVER THE BIG DEALS. INSTEAD, TRY USING THE INTERNET FOR YOUR SHOPPING THIS YEAR

BY JUSTYN MELROSEStaff Writer

“I have no problem moving out of Hobbs. It’s not ideal, and it won’t be a piece of cake to move in the middle of the semester, but it’s so worth it to me. I can imagine a community of girls using and loving the new space next year, and that’s enough to make the move worth it for me. The changes will only continue to grow the sense of community we pride ourselves in having here at Guilford.”

Grace Sullivan, junior

What I propose is that shops quit perpetuating the yearly massacre and let the Internet take it on instead. You can’t stop people from being crazed shoppers, but you can make it safer.

Page 11: Volume 99 Issue 12

SPORTS 11December 7, 2012

Doing their part: Guilford athletic alumni help in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy ravages state

“If you say there’s a blizzard coming (in New Jersey), they’re fine with that,” Assistant Athletic Trainer Danielle Duffy said. “But a hurricane in that area is a little different.”

On Oct. 29, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey. The storm destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses and killed 34 people, making it the most devastating hurricane recorded in the area. In a cruel twist of fate, a little more than a week later on Nov. 7 a nor’easter followed in Sandy’s wake and dumped over a foot of snow across the state.

By that time, Duffy and her roommate, Kimberly Keys ‘12, had packed a rental car full of supplies and were on their way to New Jersey to help.

Duffy and Keys decided to support the relief effort after seeing the images of devastation reported on national news.

“I knew I could stay in North Carolina and help,” Keys said in an email interview. “But to see Hurricane Sandy first-hand would mean that I would realize all my selfish ways and petty problems meant nothing compared to those who were affected.”

Duffy, a native of Point Pleasant, N.J., also considered her family a major impetus in her decision.

“I was concerned with the emotions of my family and how they were,” Duffy said.

Both women were struck by the devastation they witnessed once they arrived.

“The things we did see — you can’t really prepare for it,” said Duffy. “(We saw) things like boats on top of boats in

places there aren’t supposed to be boats.“All that kind of stuff was hard to believe, but when you

see where it was and whose boat it was, it becomes much more real.”

The duo helped out in places across the coast, performing a wide array of tasks.

“Kim and I started our relief efforts, per se, by shoveling some driveways,” said Duffy. “We hadn’t planned on that, but we decided we were there to do as much as we could.”

Before their trip, they had collected supplies, which they donated to a church in Brick, N.J.

“After that, we volunteered at an abandoned shopping center that was set up to let victims receive donated supplies like necessities for young children, hygiene products and food,” Keys said. “The last place we volunteered was in Point Pleasant. The houses had a lot of water damage so we knocked some drywall out and moved a lot of molded items out to be thrown away.”

The Guilford Athletics Department supported the pair’s efforts as best they could.

“An email was sent out by (Athletic Department Business Manager) Tracy Furjanic, asking for any additional Guilford gear to contribute to their relief effort,” said Assistant Director of Athletics Dave Walters. “The folks in the department responded well and in short order.”

Those close to Duffy and Keys are proud of their efforts.“Knowing them, I knew they would make a big impact

by donating their time,” said senior Sarah Cutright, one of Keys’s former softball teammates.

Both women consider the experience an eye-opener that put their relatively cozy lives into perspective.

Duffy plans on returning to help later this month.“Packing your car and driving nine hours and seeing what

I would see when I got there didn’t seem like that crazy of an idea, I guess,” said Duffy with a laugh.

Guilford College has a prestigious golf history and has the chance to expand upon that history within the next two years. Guilford is to host the Division III NCAA Golf Championships at the Grandover Resort for the 2014 and 2015 season.

The resort’s website says the course offers “tree lined fairways (which) provide a seasonal blaze of color offering our guests the feeling of being in a nature preserve in America’s heartland of golf.”

“We enjoyed our experience with Grandover and the Sports Commission in 2011 and look forward to again showcasing our college and city,” said Tom Palombo, Guilford Athletic Director, in an interview with the Guilford Beacon. “Guilford’s strong tradition in national golf tournaments and Greensboro’s reputation as a top-notch host make this event a great fit for our community.”

Several members of the golf team see the tremendous benefit that accompanies the championship being hosted on Guilford’s “home course”.

“It will be big for us, we are able to play out there often and know that course well,” said senior All-American Noah Ratner. “It will give most of us a better opportunity for our families to see us. It is much closer to most of us than Florida.”

Sophomore Mitch Robinette echoes the sentiment.

“In golf, being familiar with a course is a serious advantage, almost like having a home football game,” said Robinette. “The crowd is there, cheering for your team, which boosts confidence, and being on a golf course you are comfortable

with (also) boosts your confidence, which normally leads to success.”

For the most part, the team recognizes the chance they have in hosting the national championship, but beyond that they see the potential legacy that they can leave behind.

“I know I can look back right now and say ‘Wow, what a great career it has been.’ I still want more though and so does our team,” said Ratner. “A national championship is the (first) thing we want.”

Junior golfer Jon Montgomery recognizes the potential opportunity that Grandover Resort course offers for him.

“For the next two years, I get the chance to play on a familiar course,” said Montgomery. “This puts me in a great position to create success for myself, and my team and I look forward to it.”

Members of the Guilford student body also see it as an important occurrence that Guilford will host the Division III golf championships.

“It is great. Being a part of the cadre program this past year, there weren’t many events on campus to give the students a chance to see sports teams in action,” said junior Gideon Brown. “With the golf championships here in Greensboro, there will be an opportunity for students and fans to watch the team in action.”

On a more personal side of the matter, one fan has a close connection with the golf team.

“I have a good amount of friends on the team,” said junior Saegan Hilliard. “The fact that they will be playing so close to home gives me the opportunity to see them perform in the biggest events in their careers. Plus, it’s a privilege to see players such as Noah Ratner and Jon Montgomery play.”

Guilford to host 2014-2015 NCAA Golf Championships

BY ANTHONY HARRISONStaff Writer

BY CLARENCE TURPINStaff WriterLocation:

Basement Floor of Shore Hall

The entrance is right under the

sign

Contact Info:

(336) 316 - 2435

Winter Hours:

Monday,

Wednesday, and Friday

1:00 p.m. - 5:00

p.m.

Flat tire, rusty chain, tune-up? Never fear! The Bike Shop

at Guilford College is here to take care of all that and more.

When you need your bike fixed up, take it by the Bike Shop.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy may be unknown to students in the South. But Danielle Duffy, assistant athletic trainer, and Kimberly Keys ‘12 took the initiative to help.

Co

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eSy of K

im Key

S

Page 12: Volume 99 Issue 12

This year was another exciting year in sports. Guilford College athletics produced some memorable moments.

Here are the top sports moments this year at Guilford:

8Number eight is the women’s softball team beating nationally-ranked Emory University back in February.

“The victory over nationally-ranked Emory was a great way to commence our (2012) season,” said senior Katharine Weikel. “The underclassmen stepped up to seal the win in the eighth inning.”

7 Number seven is men’s rugby winning their first game of the season.

Men’s rugby had to cancel their season last spring after not being able to field a team. However, coming into this year, they managed to roster over 30 players. This allowed them to win their first game, 12–10, in a tight, but well played match against University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

6 Number six is Josh Pittman’s game-winning three-pointer against conference rival Eastern Mennonite University Nov. 28.

Pittman led the way for Guilford’s men’s basketball with his late three-pointer, 30 feet away at the buzzer to secure the 67–64 victory for the Quakers. YouTube “Guilford College’s Josh Pittman’s 3-Point Shot at the Buzzer to Beat Eastern Mennonite 11/28/12” to see a video of the shot.

5 Number five is football winning back-to-back games against league rivals Bridgewater College Oct. 11 and Randolph-Macon College Oct. 20.

Guilford football was striving at the time to have a winning season. This year, there seemed to be a new tide as they beat Bridgewater in their first home win under second year Head Football Coach Chris Rusiewicz. The team then had a comeback win against Randolph-Macon leading them to their first winning season since 2007.

“Well, Bridgewater was our first home win under coach

Rusiewicz,” said senior football player Thor Pate. “Randy Mac (Randolph-Macon) was a game in which no one but us thought we could win. We refused to stop fighting and believed in each other to come from behind and hold them at the end.”

4Number four is the women’s lacrosse team winning the ODAC quarterfinals in overtime.

“At a really nerve-racking moment we came together as a team and pulled off our first ever quarterfinal victory,” said junior E’leyna Garcia. “It was a moment I’ll never forget.”

3Number three is men’s soccer beating Greensboro College.

Guilford men’s soccer team took on arch rival Greensboro College Aug. 31 to start off the 2012 season. Late in the second half with a tied score, senior Freddy Gomez notched an exciting go-ahead goal to win the match, 2–1.

2 Number two is the golf team winning the ODAC title.The golf team kept up with their success as they won the

ODAC title for a record 12th time.“Guilford golf just reloads,” said Sports Marketing Coordinator

and Assistant Sports Information Director Bryan Jones. “Noah Ratner did not need to be the top golfer at the ODAC Championships for Guilford to win. Andrew Thompson and Nicholas Shedd both were two strokes away from the individual ODAC crown.”

1 The number one moment is women’s basketball winning their third ODAC title.

It is easily the greatest moment this year for Guilford athletics. The women’s basketball team had one of the best seasons of any sport at Guilford in recent years. They were 22–7 overall, the best record since 2002 and stole the ODAC win from Virginia Wesleyan College to earn their third trip to the NCAA Tournament.

As this wraps up the top sports moments for 2012 at Guilford, we hope to see moments like these happen as we ring in the 2013 season.

SPORTS12WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM

BasketballMen’s BasketballDec. 1 vs. Randolph-Macon [W 65-55]Dec. 5 vs. Greensboro [W 80-61]Women’s BasketballDec. 1 @ Washington and Lee [W 60-45]Dec. 5 vs. William Peace [W 55-45] SwimmingDec. 1 vs. Randolph-Macon [W 65-55]

Track and FieldMen’s team records500m Run: Josh Farrar - 1:09.33 Triple Jump: Yashua Clemons - 12.31mWomen’s team records 4x400 meter relay - 4:55.91 60m Dash - Jennifer Thomas - 8.80

@ Signifies an away game

vs. Signifies a home game

Best 2012 Guilford sports moments

BasketballMen's BasketballDec. 8 @ Va. WesleyanDec. 15 vs. N.C. WesleyanDec. 18 @ Johnson & Wales

Women's BasketballDec. 8 @ Va. WesleyanDec. 15 @ HoodDec. 16 @ Marymount (Va.)

Track and FieldJan. 20 @ JDL Fast Track, Winston-Salem

SwimmingDec. 7 @ Greensboro

BY JAMES ROWEStaff Writer

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(Left) Last spring, the women’s basketball team won their third ODAC title.(Right) On Oct. 20, the football team won against Randolph-Macon College, after beating Bridgewater College on Oct. 11.