A few weeks ago when the student body was invited to come and “plea” their clubs, organizations, causes, and interests, to the board of trustees, I received an invite from many different groups I have been and am a part of to come and speak on their behalf. I chose not to come and speak on any of their behalfs because I could not choose just one to represent. I regret not coming to speak to the board of trustees that night because I think I could have had something valuable to contribute, even if it were not on behalf of any one group. So, I’m going to address the board here.
Dear Board and Jane Fernandes,
My name is Gia Henry and I am a senior getting my degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. I am a CCE student, and I love my school. In my almost three years at Guilford College I have been a PPS scholar, a Bonner, a facilitator and coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Resource Center, a Friend to Friend mentor with the CCE population, a member on the DAC accessibility subcommittee, a student and an advocate fighting for the heart and soul of Guilford College putting my time, my life and my energy on the line. I use the phrase “I have been” only because I do not know where all of those organizations, or my future, stand as of right now as you said they are all on the chopping block. We have been told that everything is being examined and all staff, faculty and students must put our school ahead of our interests, projects and organizations. Let me tell you because I have nothing but my beloved Guilford on my mind that I fight for all of these organizations and then some, as they are all the heart and soul of a school I love. These organizations are the lifeline, the soul, the essence of what Guilford is. So to tell me to put the interest of the school ahead of individual groups, projects and my own personal interests is to tell me to give up on what I love about Guilford. Guilford is a remarkable school that stands out from the rest because of its core values: community, diversity, equality, excellence, integrity, justice and stewardship. We sell these values to future students and the community, but are these enduring values really the basis of the College’s mission? With the definitive changes that have already been decided for the fall 2015 semester, and the rumors that abound because we have little to no information to go on, my answer to that question is a resounding “no.”
Let me tell you who I am. I am Guilford strong. I love my fellow students no matter if they are tackling on the football field, singing on a stage, studying in the library, stressing over grades or in conflict with each other. I love my fellow students because they too are Guilford strong. We are Guilford College. Without us this place is merely a compound of buildings without a soul and without a heart. When you make decisions with the consideration of the compound of buildings as your top priority, and not the heart and soul of its content, you take away the essence of what Guilford has been, what Guilford is and what it can be. Without us, there are no organizations or groups or interests to chop.
With utmost respect, I ask that you please not view the pieces of our school as separate, non-interdependent parts that any one piece can be chopped off without affecting the other. Any one element is dependent on the other to make the whole. When one part is chopped off, it affects another. I am not a business major. I do not and cannot pretend I know anything about how to run a business. Being millions of dollars in debt is something that cannot be ignored. However, when you take care of business at the expense of interests (i.e., the students), you are not taking care of business, you are instead nullifying our community. Picking apart each piece in an attempt to see what and who is worthy and who isn’t shreds and destroys any chance of a unified community, thereby losing its integrity and excellence. The compound of buildings you are trying to protect is worthless without the community of its inhabitants.
Sincerely,
