Community: “An unified body of individuals,” according to Merriam Webster online.

Greensboro: the city where Guilford College is located.

The Greensboro community: something from which the student body of Guilford College is disconnected.

As Guilford students, many of us are wrapped up in course work, projects, sports, and other on-campus activities. But does anyone really leave this small bubble of Guilford College to go out into the community?

Harris Teeter, Starbucks, and Carolina’s Diner do not count, if that’s what you would consider “leaving.”

Classes as a whole, which at their largest will be 40 students and the professor, will perhaps adventure to go camping or Elsewhere (a nonprofit organization on Elm St. that has a residency program for artists). Students alone will venture to a tattoo parlor or to one of the few clubs on Thursday nights.

With the closing of a few stores over the summer — Simple Kneads Bakery, City Grille, and Jazz House — it is clear that students have little to no desire to venture beyond the woods and meadows of the campus.

“I hate that Simple Kneads bakery is closing,” said senior Kelly de Silva. “It’s a great little bakery, a sweet little place to go in the middle of the city. It’s a shame to see it go and leave another empty space downtown.”

Sophomore Catherine Cheatham echoed de Silva’s dislike of Simple Kneads Bakery closing.

“I really liked (Simple Kneads Bakery) because they had vegan and gluten-free stuff,” said Cheatham..”And they weren’t as sugary as the stuff in The Grill.”

The Greenleaf has also been affected by the closing of Simple Kneads Bakery. The Greenleaf’s baked goods used to come from Simple Kneads, and they have since been in search of a new bakery.

It is a subtle note that Guilford students do not adventure to places downtown; however, the closing of these stores is taking its toll on not only student access to music and delicious baked goods, but on what students even have the possibility of doing downtown.

“We still have some great businesses downtown,” said de Silva. “Like Cheesecakes by Alex, the Green Bean, (and) Lyndon Street Artworks, so I hope people will still venture downtown.”

Although these stores exist, students who do not have access to cars have a difficult time to reaching the core Greensboro community, as the HEAT bus system was the easiest and cheapest way for students to get where they wanted to go.

As transportation has diminished, so has most Guilford students’ want to stay a part of the Greensboro community. It’s a rolling effect. Transportation leads to the heart of Greensboro; no easy transportation, no Greensboro community participation, less business for stores, and stores end.