On Dec. 4 and 7, two community forums, entitled “Mixed Messages: Are We Living Our Core Values?” took place in the Community Center. Here are some of the best, most interesting, and most illuminating quotes from the forums.

“We want to focus on what we’re not doing so right, but at the same time we need to look at how we can do things better.”

– Director of Multi-Cultural Education Holly Wilson, explaining the purpose of the forums.

“It’s unclear whether there’s enough communication about issues of handicapped students . There’s also the issue that the diversity plan excludes students with disabilities. You can be admitted to this school as a music major, but if you’re handicapped, you can’t get to the music department.”

-Director for the Center for Principal Problem Solving Mark Justad, speaking about handicapped students’ occasional difficulty in making their way around school buildings.

“I have classes which combine CCE and traditional students, and the traditional students often have no patience with the CCE students.”

-Assistant Professor of History Zhihong Chen, discussing the divide between CCE and traditional students.

“After the first year required courses, how well do we cover issues of diversity in our classes?”

-Assistant Professor of Biology Michele Malotky, on the subject of diversity studies in the classroom.

“I have students who come to class with all kinds of assumptions about East Asian history.”

-Chen, on the topic of students coming to Guilford with preconceived notions.

“I have encountered no animosity towards foreign-born students.”

-Justad, speaking about non-native students.

“We must bridge the gap between what we know and what we practice.”

– Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Sociology Edwins Gwako, discussing the difference between knowledge and practice among students.