News-Record.com

Excellent letter, Dan.

Please read the article in today's paper.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/NEWSREC0101/70203006

I still think it strange that these students went to the magistrate instead of the police.

I think the last sentence it the article says a lot.

Colleges aren't alone in not always involving law enforcement. The same thing happens at businesses and public schools and other places as well, Neumann said.

In fact, if everyone reported everything, "we'd be swamped," he said.

Let's all wait until some facts are known before we judge anyone.

" If students involved in the recent fight at Guilford College had not gone to the magistrate's office to file charges, chances are good that word of the event might never have left campus."

Could it be possible all they wanted was the publicity? This is the first line of the article. If I was attacked, I don't think I would be thinking about the magistrate's office. I would immediately call the police to get those guys behind bars. You have to wonder about their motivations here.

I agree with most of the points expressed here. One of the problems is that it seems to take so much time for the appropriate officials to finish their respective investigations and then inform the public as to their respective findings.

The Duke situation is beyond belief and individual, family, and community lives have been put on hold; the "hang time" allows for all sorts of "theatrics" from every sector of society, much of which is non productive.

While I'm not suggesting haste, there seems to have been sufficient time to do the appropriate
fact finding and present some initial brief to the community at large.

I have not connection with the college, but I have faith in the Guilford College administration that it will do "right by all involved." Please though, tell us something substantive.

Joe, I think in cases like this we are all anxious to be told everything. This is not necessarily in the best interest of those directly involved. I, too, have faith in the people at Guilford to handle this the best way that they can.

I can relate, in some ways, to what this LTTE writer states. Yet, I know from PERSONAL experience, that it takes time. However, in my own experience, things on campus were handled within 3 days. It was the legal aspect that took longer.

It took four months for warrants to be transferred and served, without my knowledge for I had not pressed charges. It then took another 3 months for the charges to be dropped. It is difficult to prosecute a case when the victim is hostile witness for the prosecution. (That is an entirely different story.)

What I feel has not been adequately expressed in this entire fiasco is FORGIVENESS! This is all encompassing. Each party in this event needs to work on forgiving one another. With Guilford College being a religious institution affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), a Christian group; I feel that forgiveness is essential for anything productive to happen.

I have enough faith to believe that productivity will happen in this event. I only hope that forgiveness transpires as well.

Shalom

well assuming that both sides DID start off in a shouting match that DID turn into a brawl of which there were injuries on both sides...the football players got the worst part of it. How do you forgive people who use their race to stick it to you in the court of law and public opinion?

Ain't easy, 6. But if we plan to live in a civilized society, forgiveness has to occur.

Darryl,

You are batting a thousand on your comments on this issue. These type of comments (and Carol's as well) truly glorify the God you serve.

I think the hoopla involved in this case has been over the top. I don't think the public is really owed an initial brief, (other than perhaps stating what has already been stated..that arrests have been made based on a magistrates order regarding a possible assault on a local college campus). All this stuff about a hate crime, ethic intimidation, proclaiming guilt before trial, the attacks on Guilford College and the college's over the top reaction have tainted any juror to be found.

I would have a hard time looking at this situation with an unbiased attitude if I were selected for jury duty.

Let the police, the courts, and the jurors do their jobs.

"How do you forgive people who use their race to stick it to you..."

It's my belief that God will forgive us for all of our sins. If he can forgive us, we should be able to forgive others even when it isn't easy.

nit, I have just read your posts of 2/5 late on 2/6. My only comments on my previous posts is that I fail more than I succeed. Thank you for the kind words.

Regarding forgiveness, I recall a great person once noting; With the measure you give, you will receive (paraphrased). So, I must strive to forgive, regardless of the events. That does not mean that I am a doormat, nor does it mean that I am seeking "personal" justice for every event either. What it means is that I am striving to work for complete justice; whether that means working through our human judicial system, seeking justice through God's mercy alone, or a combination of each of those.

One must remember that forgiveness is not just an "immediate" response. Rather, it is both an immediate and long-term. Forgiveness is immediate in that anger, etc. are not the responsive emotions. Forgiveness is long-term in that the more time that one goes from an event, the more that no revenge is thought of or enacted.

Sadly though I have only just completed reading a blog of a former Guilford student who was assaulted by some of the people involved in the current situation. In the previous situation, at least one of these people has some form of suspension.

It would seem to me that if that same person is found guilty by the College's judicial system for the second time in one academic year that more harsh measures of discipline should be strongly considered.

Forgiveness is one thing, however, stupidity is another. To allow people who continually cause problems/trouble to remain in a community only asks for more of the same. At the very least, the guilty party should be barred from living in the community. Allow said party to attend class, however, participation in other activities should be denied.

Shalom