Guilford: the real UNCG

What do these people have in common:

Cokie Roberts, Mikhail Gorbachev, Colin Powell, Bill Bradley, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ralph Nader, Madeleine Albright, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Sidney Poitier, Ken Burns, Edward Albee, Sen. George Mitchell, and Thomas Friedman.

Give up?

They've all been brought to Greensboro by Guilford College's Bryan Lecture Series. On February 10th, historian Michael Beschloss will join the list, in a free and open to the public program at Dana Auditorium at 8pm. Beschloss is the last in this year's series, which focused on "Challenges Facing Democracy." After his talk, speakers for next year's series on "Spirit and Spirituality" will be announced. Expect more of the same caliber.

I'm very proud of my alma mater, and not just for the Bryan Series. Guilford, a small, private, Quaker-founded college of around 3,000 students contributes as much to the community as other institutions in town nearly 10 times its size. Witness the Early College, hosting of the Eastern Music Festival, public viewings at the Cline Observatory, Latin American film festivals, amazing art collections, and a very service- and activist-oriented student body.

Outside of Greensboro, Guilford is frequently recognized as a jewel -- by, among others, Colleges That Change Lives, Outstanding Colleges to Help you Make a Better World, Fiske's Best Kept Secrets, and Harvard Schmarvard.

Ask anyone who has dealings there. Guilford is a special place, and has been throughout its 167 year history.

For more information on the Bryan Series, call (336) 316-2308. If you have a suggestion for a future Bryan speaker, email it to Guilford.

Go Quakers.