During the performance of work as a CO at Guilford, I was harassed by the head of the maintenance department when I was on an approved week’s vacation. I received calls at my parent’s home threatening that I would be reported to my draft board as being AWOL. You might wonder how they knew where to reach me. Since, the vacation was approved, I included telephone numbers where I could be contacted in case of emergency. So I called your father, a Quaker and president of the college and all. He refused to talk to me, and had his secretary tell me he couldn’t get involved. So much for an articulate statement of personal pacifism, personal justice, or simply an open-minded approach that was the hallmark of a disciplined scholar! My letters to the national director citing the circumstances surrounding Guilford’s role, or more accurately, its lack of oversight in its alternative service program caused the government to consider rescinding Guilford’s participation in such a program. In addition to the action I had taken several CO’s who were members of the Church of God filed complaints with the national director of the Selective Service as well, particularly those who were African American, and felt that they were being subjected to religious and racial discrimination.

I might also add that you were around during that time and you should honestly check your own recollections of work in the maintenance department and paint crews. There are many perspectives on the past and I am afraid very few of them are objective. As to my grade, I received an “A”.

Grimsley Hobbs Jr.