Guilford College

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Guilford College
Motto: I strive for wisdom and virtue
Established: 1837
Type: Liberal Arts
Endowment: $69 million
President: Kent John Chabotar
Faculty: 126
Students: 2,682
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Campus: Suburban, 340 acres (1.37 km²)
Sports: NCAA Division III
Colors: Crimson and Grey            
Mascot: Quaker
Website: guilford.edu

Guilford College is a small, private, four-year liberal arts college in Greensboro, North Carolina founded by the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers). Founded in 1837 as the New Garden Boarding School, its name was changed to Guilford College in 1888 when the academic program expanded considerably. Guilford is the third-oldest coeducational institution in the country and the oldest such institution in the south.

Guilford College is listed in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives.

Contents

[edit] Student body

Brick walkway through Guilford College
Brick walkway through Guilford College

Only about ten percent of the student body are Quakers; however, the institution is governed by Quaker principles. It is the oldest co-educational institution of higher learning in the Southeast, and the fourth-oldest institution of higher learning in North Carolina. Its academic atmosphere, like that of many Quaker colleges, is open and informal; for example, many professors encourage students to call them by their first names.

The college strives to uphold its core values of equality, diversity, community, integrity, stewardship, justice, integrity and excellence. The student body is diverse as Guilford intentionally draws students from a wide geographic, political, religious, ethnic and socioeconomic background. The college seeks to maintain an environment where all perspectives are valued and respected. Its current president is Kent John Chabotar, the first non-Quaker to hold the position.

The school does not allow fraternities or sororities to be formed on campus.

[edit] Athletics

Guilford competes as an NCAA Division III and Old Dominion Athletic Conference member. The school has won five national championships, including 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.

Appenzeller Field at Armfield Athletic Center at Guilford College.
Appenzeller Field at Armfield Athletic Center at Guilford College.

[edit] Campus events

In the past decade, Guilford's Bryan Series has brought many notable speakers to the campus and city for an annual public lecture series. Past speakers have included Desmond Tutu, Mikhail Gorbachev, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Ken Burns. Bryan series speakers for the 2006-2007 year will include former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and Pulitzer Prize winning authors David McCullough and Toni Morrison.

Every summer, the college hosts the five-week-long Eastern Music Festival, where both professional and student musicians come together for seminars and public performances. In 2005, EMF featured more than 70 concerts and music-related events on- and off-campus.

[edit] The Quaker Mascot

"Nathan" is the mascot of Guilford College. He is often depicted with a tall hat and buckled shoes reminiscent of the Quaker Oats man. You will see him at athletic contests wearing the uniform of the appropriate sport at the time.

[edit] The Fighting Quaker

One of the more notable nicknames for "Nathan" is the "Fighting Quaker." This name is more well known and popular than the official name; "Nathan." "Nathan" is named after Nathaniel Greene, who led colonist troops in the Revolutionary War Battle of Guilford Courthouse just miles from the campus. Greene was describe as "The Fighting Quaker" in David McCullough's book "1776." This name is oxymoronic as Quakers, by nature, are pacifists. "Nathan" is also representative of Nathan Hunt, the founder of Guilford College.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Notable students

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[edit] Gallery

Duke Memorial Hall is on the right. Hege Library is up further to the left.

Lake on campus at Guilford College.

Archdale Hall

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Bridgewater • Catholic† • Eastern Mennonite‡ • Emory & Henry • Guilford • Hampden–Sydney • Hollins‡ • Lynchburg‡ • Randolph‡ • Randolph–Macon • Roanoke‡ • Sweet Briar‡ • Virginia Wesleyan‡ • Washington & Lee
† football-only member  ‡ no-football member