Disclaimer: This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition, the Goofordian. This story was created by Guilfordian Staff and is not based in fact.

In the many years of Guilford College athletics, Guilford’s teams have been known as the Quakers, and now the school is making moves to become the Fighting Quakers.

The current mascot also represents the peacefulness of the Quakers traditions, but recently it has been brought to the attention of students and alumni that regular Quakers do not resemble tranquility every time an athlete steps on the field.

This is not necessarily a bad thing considering sports are supposed to be competitive and physical.

Therefore, the step to change both mascot and teams to Guilford College Fighting Quakers has begun.

“If we changed our mascot to a Fighting Quaker, I strongly believe our motivation would increase as we would have a much stronger desire to win,” said junior lacrosse player Andy Hickson.

As the College continues to find a suitable name for its athletic prowess, both students and faculty especially desire the College to change the mascot to a Fighting Quaker.

“If our mascot resembled something more intimidating our success of bringing more national championships to Guilford College would be higher,” said junior Jeremy Morris.

The Friends General Conference is supporting Guilford College’s decision in changing their mascot to a more violent representative of the College.

“Guilford College changing its mascot  to the Fighting Quakers is a positive change for their athletics,” said FGC member Matthew Duncan. “It goes hand-in-hand with our values as Quakers, and it upholds Guilford’s commitment to peacefulness and equality throughout the wide diaspora of Quaker beliefs and traditions.”

“As a Quaker school, we have to lead by example carrying the Quaker traditions everywhere we go,” said sports enthusiast and President Jane Fernandes. “Our goal is to share a powerful, deceptively simple tool that challenges each and everyone to believe in peacefulness and nonviolent activity.”

The Quakers have won five national championships in the last 42 years. This includes the 1973 NAIA men’s basketball title, the 1981 NAIA women’s tennis title and the 1989 (NAIA) 2002 and 2005 (NCAA Division III) men’s golf titles.

Currently Guilford competes as an NCAA Division III and Old Dominion Athletic Conference member.

This new Nathaniel Green-themed mascot, in honor of the original “Fighting Quaker,” will soon make appearances at Armfield Athletic Center and Ragan-Brown Field House when the Quakers are at war with their opponents.

“Even though Quakers aren’t violent, being called the Fighting Quakers is a form of significance and entitlement,” said sophomore basketball player Gregory Vose. “When each and every athlete takes the field we believe (Nate the Fighting Quaker) helps signify our physicality.”

The normative testimonies of Quakerism directly oppose violence, but Nate the Fighting Quaker is a sign of equality and peace.

The normative testimonies of Quakerism should be incorporated into the school’s curriculum and athletic departments because a part of Guilford College’s core values allows students to shape their perspective and promote positive change in the world.

Athletic spirit is highly respected at Guilford as teams continue to dominate the ODAC. The Fighting Quakers have embraced the name since the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Lindsey R. Davis Jr. and Guilford’s board of trustees have granted the change to the Fighting Quakers next athletic season.

The men’s volleyball head coach Ivan Rich stated that the suggested sketches for the mascots have been very eerie in comparison to the current mascot, Nate the Quaker.

“The new design for the mascot, now know as Fighting Quaker Nathanael Greene, named after Major General Nathanael Greene of the Continental Army, portrays significance that Quakers can fight for what they believe in, yet still be pacifistic,” said Rich.

“It’s an honor that, within the time I’ve been at Guilford College, Guilford is now calling themselves the Fighting Quakers,” said sophomore football player Jeffrey Uresti. “Allowing this school to bear a new trademark and improving the school’s icon is a wonderful thing.

“This trademark will send a clear message to our opponents that we’re in for the long run.”