The main topics discussed at the Broad of Trustees meeting on Feb. 23 included students’ use of drugs and alcohol as well as the college’s budget. Aaron Fetrow, dean of students, led a presentation on Guilford’s alcohol and drug issues in response to a request from the board. A student and staff panel offered unscripted information about their experiences with the party scene.

“The trustees were supportive and thankful to get a realistic view of drinking based on our experiences,” said senior Brianna Robinson. “We shared personal stories that didn’t necessarily put ourselves in the best light.”

Dry colleges like Earlham and Emory and Henry were mentioned as a point of comparison in numbers of reported alcohol and drug violations.

“I don’t think the trustees want to make campus dry,” said senior Chris Lampkin. “You can get drunk for the first time in your dorm room and have your friends look out for you. If they push drinking off campus, you can go to a bar and have the cops look out for you.”

Consensus from the panel said first-years generally accounted for more alcohol violations than upperclassmen.

“Personally I don’t drink, but I think for people who do, part of the college process is to learn how to drink,” said first-year Rebecca Sullivan. “Freshman year might be an out of control year but, by the end, you should learn how to control it.”

Robinson introduced the idea of finding upperclassmen to act as mentors to first-years who might need guidance. Chair Joseph Bryan Jr. agreed that it is a good idea.

“Because they live in all freshman dorms they don’t have as much interaction with older students,” Robinson said. “We could have juniors and seniors who wouldn’t tell them what to do and not to do but show them how they party. They’ll listen more to peers if they’re not RAs or hall directors.”

According to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program 2007 reports, about 55 percent of Guilford students admitted drinking beer in the past year and 62 percent for wine and liquor.

175 students received alcohol violations that year and 68 for drugs.

“You can talk to the president of any college and ask them ‘what is your biggest problem?’ and they’ll say drugs and alcohol,” said Ty Buckner, senior director of communications and marketing.

“When we do see kids with a pattern we try to find out if it’s just bad choices they’re making or if it’s a pattern they can’t control because they’re choices have become an addiction that’s begun to take hold,” said Gaither Terrell, director of counseling.

Guilford no longer requires online alcohol education courses when students receive violations. Students now have an option to participate in the Insight Program, which provides group sessions and counseling.

“As humans, we often don’t want to see that there are consequences for our actions, but there are,” said Sandy Bowles, director of student judicial affairs. “We try not to approach violations in an adversarial or punitive way. We’re moving in the direction of restorative justice.”

Aside from the presence of alcohol and drugs on campus, the meeting also touched on the issue of budget and tuition at a small liberal arts college.

“What we strive for at Guilford is to be in the middle range of our competitive group,” Buckner said. “We are trying not to be more expensive than absolutely necessary.”

The Board of Trustees approved the budget for next year, which raises tuition for traditional students living on campus to about $33,000.

Tuition increased by almost six percent this year. It already jumped five percent last year.

CCE students will see a four percent increase in tuition resulting in paying an extra ten dollars per credit hour at $270.

“I think tuition is fine where it’s at now,” Bryan said. “I wonder (if) you’ll run people away if it’s raised any more.”

When asked about debt, Buckner said, “Every college carries debt. We don’t want an excessive amount and we had been moving towards so we don’t want to push the limit.”

Guilford pays off $800,000 a year on their line of credit.

“Most of our debt is in bonds for building projects,” Bryan said. “Our basic problem is that we need to find outside sources of income.”

After receiving gift solicitation training, the Board of Trustees will work on a capital campaign to raise $75 million.