We at The Guilfordian welcome you to another school year here at Guilford! With such an eventful summer, the editorial board wanted to give you a quick recap of some news you should know, as well as our thoughts on two recently-released films and the current debate over working from home. Read on!

News:

Students returning to Guilford this semester will notice one large change impacting all aspects of campus life: COVID-related restrictions were vastly reduced over the course of summer 2022. From clubs to classes to the dining hall, campus life is far closer to what it was before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it is yet to be seen if this was the best call. While there are no outward signs of a wave of infection on campus, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. When inevitable flare-ups occur, the College’s response will need to be swift and efficient, particularly if Guilford intends to continue to loosen restrictions.

World and Nation:

On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court’s ruling almost 50 years ago gave women complete autonomy over their pregnancies in the first trimester. However, with Roe v. Wade overturned, many states have made it illegal to get an abortion. As of Sept. 28, 17 states have either banned or restricted abortion, Arizona being the most recent state to do so. In Arizona, healthcare providers who help a woman get an abortion could face a two-to-five year prison sentence. 

The Supreme Court’s decision has led to many women traveling to other states for their needs. Those who were against the abortion ban held many protests in retaliation.

Opinion:

As COVID-related restrictions have loosened more and more, online work seems to be sticking around. What was once a sci-fi fantasy has become a reality, as millions of people have reduced their commutes to just getting out of bed and to their in-home desks. Those working online can live wherever they want and still maintain their jobs. It hasn’t been all roses and sunshine, though, as many older managers decried working from home as productivity sacrilege and fatal to workplace culture. With a heated debate on both sides, the fight over working from home is far from over.

Features:

Two Marvel misses or, well, marvels? Over the summer, two of Marvel’s most anticipated movies were released: “Doctor Strange’s Multiverse of Madness” and “Thor’s Love and Thunder.” Both of these movies diverted from Marvel’s classic style and instead pushed the superhero genre, turning “Thor” into a film resembling a romantic comedy and making “Doctor Strange” a borderline horror movie.

As Marvel continues to add more shows and films to its roster, it’s interesting to see how the company is pushing boundaries and storytelling platforms. But are these risks working? It’s a different answer with every new release and it’s definitely something to keep an eye on. 

Sports:

After a second straight five-win season, the Carolina Panthers have brought in a new quarterback, former first overall pick Baker Mayfield. The four-year NFL veteran is expected to take the starting quarterback job from Sam Darnold who, despite a few good moments, had an abysmal season in 2021. Mayfield had an up-and-down tenure in Cleveland. In 2020, he gave the Browns their first playoff win in over a decade, but last season he was plagued by injuries. Panthers fans can only hope that this shuffling can translate to the on-field success that has been lacking in the past half-decade.