Old Gold&Black “Covers the campus like the magnolias”
VOL 113 , NO. 1
WA K E F O R E S T ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 6
SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
What's Inside NEWS New study abroad policy Page Three
CITY & STATE Interview with Roy Cooper Page Five
FEATURES President Rodriguez Q&A Page Eight
ENVIRONMENT Freshman's guide to Wake's outdoors Page Eleven
OPINION Letter from Gray Lowder Page Fourteen
SPORTS Men's and Women's Soccer double header Page Sixteen
ARTS & CULTURE Wake Forest campus arts preview Page Nineteen
Old Gold & Black This column represents the views of the editor-in-chief of the Old Gold & Black, Mattie Stillerman
Letter from the Editor: Get comfortable with changing your mind I blinked, and now I am a senior. Suddenly the way-too-short bob I had as a freshman has grown into long hair I can’t keep out of my face. My twin bed in Collins has turned into a queen in a house on Polo Road. The brand new Wake Forest sweatshirt I was gifted at my high school graduation is extremely worn. Instead of my little brother moving me into college, I lugged his stuff into his freshman dorm. I blinked, and now the clueless staff writer is serving her last semester as editor-in-chief. As the oldest daughter and oldest granddaughter, I love giving unsolicited advice to my younger brother and younger cousins. This fall, four of us grandchildren will be in college, with
my brother and two cousins moving into their freshman dorms. As I have now aged into an old and decrepit senior, I thought of what advice I should give them—what advice I would have ZDQWHG WR KHDU DV D QHZ ¿UVW \HDU DW Wake Forest. So here it goes. There is going to be a lot of change in your life going forward. As soon as you get settled into one thing, you will be faced with new challenges and shifts. I don’t say this to scare you. In fact, I say it to excite you. Young adulthood is more complex than your childhood years. It comes with more independence, more opportunities and broader networks. Relationships become more intricate, your worldview
becomes less black and white and you start to discover who you are outside of your hometown bubble. <HV \RX ZLOO KDYH WR PDNH GLI¿FXOW decisions and you will need to decide how you handle obstacles. All of this is worth the growth you will experience to become the person you will be. , GRQ¶W KDYH PXFK PRUH OLIH ¿JXUHG out than I did when I was 18, but I have been exposed to possibilities I could never have imagined. Before college, I had never been outside of the country. Now, I have lived in South Africa and Spain, and have visited over 10 countries. I started as a pre-medical student, dead set on matriculating straight into medical school. After working for nonSUR¿WV DQG ZULWLQJ IRU WKH 2OG *ROG
Old Gold&Black
Black, I have decided to go to law school (a decision I made my junior spring). So dear freshman (or sophomore or junior), it is perfectly all right to change your mind. You should change it at least a couple dozen times as you are exposed to new people, new experiences and new ways of thinking. You did not come to college because you already know it all. College is not just an experience to FRQ¿UP ZKDW \RX DOUHDG\ NQRZ²LW LV meant to challenge what you think you already know. Be open to new opportunities and ideas. Critically engage your new environment and make the most of your time as a Demon Deacon. As you grow into young adulthood, start to get comfortable with changing your mind.
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SINCE 1916
MATTIE STILLERMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF stilmk23@wfu.edu
MARIA SILVEIRA
MIRIAM FABRYCKY
PIPER SAUNDERS
ANNE SHANNON
MANAGING EDITOR
DEPUTY EDITOR
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
silvmt23@wfu.edu
>> NEWS Aric Loiacono, loiaat25@wfu.edu Hadassah Evans, evanha24@wfu.edu >> CITY & STATE Eve Darke, darkev23@wfu.edu >> FEATURES Bianca Reznic, riletc24@wfu.edu Rishi Vanka, vankrk24@wfu.edu >> ENVIRONMENT Ella Jennings, jennem25@wfu.edu >> OPINION Caroline Gottsman, gottca23@wfu.edu Hannah Ordan, ordahg25@wfu.edu
fabrml24@wfu.edu
>> SPORTS Griffin Lamphier, lampgm25@wfu.edu
>> ARTS & CULTURE Lydia Derris, derrlf23@wfu.edu Henry Yates, yatehs24@wfu.edu
saunpg23@wfu.edu
shanae24@wfu.edu
>> POLICIES Our job as a newspaper is to be a platform for all voices, not just the ones we agree with. However, we reserve the right to reject advertisements that are vulgar, inaccurate, obscene or violate Wake Forest’s policies on nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, and inclusion as they pertain to student organizations. We will also reject any advertisements that promote illegal activities according to the state of North Carolina.
>> PHOTO & VIDEO Christopher Wallace, wallca24@wfu.edu
Not only do we hold our newspaper and its contents to a high standard, but we also expect that those who choose to use us as an outlet for their ideas, opinions and skill hold themselves and their content to a high ethical standard.
>> SOCIAL MEDIA Paige Rakowski, rakope25@wfu.edu
The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Web Printing of Durham. The views expressed in all opinion pieces and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Old Gold & Black. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content online unless it is retracted. If an error in either our online or print content is brought to our attention, we will revise the originally published article with an appended correction. In order to facilitate thoughtful and appropriate debate, profane, vulgar, or inflammatory comments on our website are not allowed and will be deleted. Comments which incite violence, target individuals in a form of cyber bullying, or which promote ideas which vilify marginalized communities will be deleted, and proper authorities may be notified and involved.
>> COPY EDITORS Eliana Fountain, founeg25@wfu.edu Gianna Sanchez, sancgc25@wfu.edu >> DESIGN CHIEF Thomas Tilton, tilttd25@wfu.edu
>> SUBMISSIONS The OGB welcomes submissions in the form of story tips, columns and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor should be fewer than 500 words, and columns should be around 500 words. Send yours via e-mail to stilmk23@wfu.edu the Monday before publication. We reserve the right to edit all letters for length and clarity. No anonymous letters will be printed.
>> ADVISER Ivan Weiss, weissij@wfu.edu
Want to write for us? Email wfuogb@gmail.com
>> ONLINE MEDIA Website: wfuogb.com Facebook: facebook.com/ogb1916 X (Twitter): @wfuogb Instagram: @wfuogb TikTok: @wfuogb Sports X (Twitter): @wfuogbsports
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Page 3
Wake Forest announces changes to how students apply to study abroad Study abroad applications for the 2027-2028 academic year will switch to a single application Mattie Stillerman Editor-in-Chief On August 11, Wake Forest announced a new single-form study abroad application process as well as incentives for students who choose to study abroad in the spring. The university said the changes, which will come into effect for the 2027-2028 academic year, will help alleviate campus crowding. “Wake Forest has one of the strongest study abroad programs in the country, recently ranking fourth nationally in study abroad participation rates,” Interim Provost Nell JessupNewton said in a broadcast email. “To continue providing you with extraordinary educational experiences, both throughout the world and on campus, Wake Forest is implementing a single application process for study abroad opportunities.” This year 91% of Wake Forest study abroad students are participating in fall programs, with only 9% choosing spring programs. The university aims to reduce this imbalance to 80 and 20%, respectively, for Fall 2027. In the new streamlined process, students are able to rank up WR ÀYH SURJUDPV 7KH *OREDO 3URJUDPV DQG 6WXGLHV *36 RIÀFH ZLOO ZRUN WR SODFH DSSOLFDQWV LQ WKHLU KLJKHVW UDQNHG RSWLRQ ZKLOH FRQVLGHULQJ SURJUDP DYDLODELOLW\ DQG VWXGHQW TXDOLÀFDtions. All applications for programs in the 2027-2028 academic year are due December 13. This differs from the previous application cycle, when many deadlines were not until mid-March. Domestic study away programs, including in Charlotte, N.C., and Washington, D.C., will maintain separate applications . Single-application process & incentives $VVLVWDQW 'HDQ IRU *OREDO 6WXG\ $ZD\ 3URJUDPV 'DYLG 7D\lor and Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean RI 6WXGHQWV 0DWW &OLIIRUG VDW ZLWK WKH 2OG *ROG %ODFN WR discuss the reasoning behind the decision. Taylor stated that multiple applications were challenging for ERWK DSSO\LQJ VWXGHQWV DQG WKH *36 RIÀFH 7KH IDOO RI saw a record 777 students go abroad, which has increased to around 927 abroad this semester. The volume of interest, espeFLDOO\ IRU WKH PRVW SRSXODU SURJUDPV ZDV GLIÀFXOW WR PDQDJH “It really wasn’t a great process, especially this past spring, and we heard that loud and clear from students, families and SDUWQHU SURJUDPV µ 7D\ORU VDLG ´7KH LGHD LV WR ÀQG D ZD\ WR VWLOO JLYH VWXGHQWV FKRLFH E\ OLVWLQJ WKHLU WRS ÀYH FKRLFHV LQ terms of programs.” 7KH *36 RIÀFH UHFHLYHG IHHGEDFN IURP VWXGHQWV WKDW VWXG\ing abroad with friends is an important factor in the application process. In the new application process, students who study abroad in the fall will be able to apply in groups of up to four people, and those in the spring may apply in groups of up to ten. While Taylor recognized that the popular programs earned their reputation for a reason, he encouraged students to explore all options. The university will also introduce housing incentives for stuGHQWV ZKR FKRRVH VSULQJ SURJUDPV ZLWK GHWDLOV WR EH ÀQDOL]HG later this semester. Dean Clifford said that the administration is exploring options including expanded roommate choices and preferential access to attractive housing. $QRWKHU ZD\ WKH *36 RIÀFH LV HQFRXUDJLQJ VSULQJ VWXG\ DEURDG LV E\ RIIHULQJ VSHFLÀF RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ WKH VSULQJ VHPHVWHU ([DPSOHV LQFOXGH WKH QHXURVFLHQFH SURJUDP LQ 6DODPDQFD 6SDLQ DQG WKH GHYHORSLQJ GRPHVWLF SURJUDP LQ &KDUlotte, N.C.. “We were not trying to add fall options,” Taylor said. “[We wanted to] give some pathways to the spring only.”
DEURDG LQ WKH IDOO :HDWKHU DWKOHWLFV *UHHN OLIH DQG IULHQG groups are all factors that contribute to a student’s decision. “I think when we have talked to students, we might think, it's EHFDXVH RI VSRUWV ³ LW V EHFDXVH RI VRFLDO H[SHULHQFHV *UHHN life, et cetera,” Clifford said. “I think the reality is there are a hundred different reasons. And students will give you a hundred different reasons.” He continued: “There's no one thing that has driven that, othHU WKDQ WKDW RQH WKLQJ EHLQJ FXOWXUH %XW RI FRXUVH WKH FXOWXUH is incredibly complex.” Students react (OLVD 'XII\ LV D MXQLRU FXUUHQWO\ VWXG\LQJ DEURDG LQ %DUFHORna who went through the old application process. Duffy found the previous application process relatively painless to navigate, EXW IRXQG ÀQDOL]LQJ KHU GHFLVLRQ WR EH WKH ELJJHVW REVWDFOH “I did enjoy the fact that I could apply to multiple programs, and I know I had multiple friends who utilized that option, even though I did not,” Duffy said. “I found all the forms and committing to a location the most stressful aspect of the process.” While Duffy does not believe the ability to apply in friend JURXSV XS WR ZRXOG KDYH LQÁXHQFHG KHU GHFLVLRQ WR VWXG\ abroad in the fall, she noted that it could for other students. “If [students] being by themselves abroad is what they’re worried about, I think it might make the abroad process less intimidating if group applications are popularized,” she said. Duffy mentioned the same cultural phenomenon noted by Taylor and Clifford. “I think students want to do what other people are doing, so everyone just started going abroad in the fall,” she said. “For me, I made the decision because I knew most of my friends would be going abroad in the fall, so if I went in the spring semester, I’d miss a whole school year with them.” 0HJKDQ /HHJDQ DQG +LQHV %XQVE\ DUH VRSKRPRUHV ZKR plan to study abroad in the 2027-2028 academic year, meaning they will apply under the new single-application process. As a prospective student, Leegan was amazed by the endless VWXG\ DEURDG RSSRUWXQLWLHV DQG SURJUDPV DW :DNH )RUHVW 6KH was happy to hear about the new study abroad policy. “Change makes me excited and I think the reason for that is because I moved a lot growing up so I always saw change as a way to seek new opportunities,” Leegan said. “I am excited to EH D SDUW RI WKH ÀUVW FODVV WR DSSO\ WKURXJK WKLV QHZ DSSOLFDWLRQ process because then we can be a point of reference for those at Wake Forest younger than us when they are applying for study abroad.” %XQVE\ DGPLWWHG WKDW KH ZDV LQLWLDOO\ VNHSWLFDO WKDW WKH QHZ policy would be an improvement; however, he believes it will make the application process easier for students. “I think the new single application that allows students to rank their options by priority will make the application process easier for me because it eliminates the other outside components like separate applications for different study abroad programs,” he said. While he originally wanted to study abroad in the fall, the QHZ LQFHQWLYHV KDYH OHG %XQVE\ WR PRUH VWURQJO\ FRQVLGHU WKH spring semester. “Due to the bigger group sizes offered in the spring semester, I now have the option to study abroad with more of my friends instead of having to choose only three people to go DEURDG ZLWK µ %XQVE\ VDLG ´7KLV LQFHQWLYH LV WKH PRVW LPSRUtant to me because it would allow me to be in a bigger group
of people without worrying that we’d be leaving someone out.” Due to the stress associated with on-campus housing regisWUDWLRQ %XQVE\ ZDV KDSS\ WR VHH WKDW SUHIHUUHG KRXVLQJ FRXOG be an option for those who choose the spring semester. “With the implementation of preferred housing for students coming back from study abroad programs, the housing process would feel much less stressful for those who haven’t been at :DNH )RUHVW IRU WKH ODVW FRXSOH RI PRQWKV µ %XQVE\ VDLG He continued: “If I were coming back from a study abroad program, housing would be one of the last things I’d want to be worrying about.” A word from Student Government /DVW $SULO 6WXGHQW *RYHUQPHQW SDVVHG D UHVROXWLRQ RSSRVing the university’s decision to increase enrollment without adequate space and facilities to sustain the growth. Within the resolution, the Physical Planning Committee cited the imbalance of study abroad as a reason for overcrowdLQJ LQ WKH VSULQJ VHPHVWHU 7KH XQLYHUVLW\ FRQVXOWHG 6WXGHQW *RYHUQPHQW RYHU WKH VXPPHU UHJDUGLQJ WKH LPEDODQFH DQG 6SHDNHU RI WKH +RXVH +DUSHU /LQGVD\ VDW RQ DQ DGYLVRU\ FRXQcil in the spring to develop plans to address the imbalance. ,Q D VWDWHPHQW WR WKH 2OG *ROG %ODFN 6WXGHQW %RG\ 3UHVLGHQW *UD\ /RZGHU ZHLJKHG LQ RQ WKH FKDQJHV DQG KRZ WKH\ relate to issues outlined in the resolution. ´$V 6WXGHQW %RG\ 3UHVLGHQW , EHOLHYH WKDW SUHIHUUHG KRXVLQJ for students studying abroad in the spring is a healthy measure to incrementally balance our abroad programs,” Lowder said. ´6WXGHQWV ZLOO VHH LPSURYHG FRXUVH UHJLVWUDWLRQ KRXVLQJ SDUNing and dining operations over the next few years. To be clear, Wake Forest has chosen incentives instead of setting limits on fall abroad offerings. That was our primary concern, and it was not taken up by the administration.” Lowder believes the new housing policy changes will encourage more students to study abroad in the spring; however, he is still concerned about the impact of rapid expansion. “This change does not solve the overcrowding issue at Wake Forest which was caused largely by over-enrollment during a time of residence hall construction,” Lowder said. “We understand the university's goal to grow, but have been clear about WKH LPSDFWV RI UDSLG H[SDQVLRQ 7KH *URXQGV ZLOO SURYLGH UHlief next year, but does continue the trend of off-campus housing that is cause for skepticism.” 6WXGHQW *RYHUQPHQW SODQV WR PRQLWRU WKH LPSDFWV RI WKHVH FKDQJHV RYHU WKH QH[W WZR \HDUV %\ WKHQ /RZGHU EHOLHYHV the university will achieve its 80/20 target. “It cannot be guaranteed, but the option to create larger groups in the spring and receive priority housing registration should encourage a larger group of students to study abroad in the spring,” Lowder said. He continued: “These incentives, combined with residence KDOO GHYHORSPHQW RI %DEFRFN DQG &ROOLQV VKRXOG DOORZ XV WR escape these growing pains in the next few years.” The study abroad imbalance is one factor that affects overcrowding on campus. With the implementation of the new policy, the campus is interested to see how this issue may EH À[HG
Contact Mattie Stillerman stilmk23@wfu.edu
A cultural phenomenon Taylor, who has worked at Wake Forest for 21 years, said the strong preference for fall study abroad predates his tenure. However, the drastic imbalance is new. “It's just in the last few years that the balance has continued to grow in ways that we need to make some adjustments there,” Taylor said. “Even before this policy, dating back to probably 10 years ago, we were incentivizing spring study abroad via additional scholarships.” After speaking to students and surveying peer institutions, 7D\ORU DQG WKH *36 RIÀFH LGHQWLÀHG WKDW WKLV LPEDODQFH RI study abroad enrollment is not unique to Wake Forest. “Most universities that we surveyed have a similar problem,” Taylor said. “For the majority of schools, though, they are spring heavy and we are fall heavy. For us really, it's become ϐ just a cultural [thing]. It's just what you do.” There is no single reason why students choose to study
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
ʹͲʹǦʹͲʹͺ
Ǥ
3DJH | 7KXUVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU
Old Gold & Black | 1HZV
Wake Forest soars to the top on LinkedIn Career resources and alumni network contribute to university’s recognition $ULF /RLDFRQR News Editor
WKH\ SHUIRUP RQFH WKH\ JHW WKHUH ´
ously emphasizing responsible usage of technology. &DUHHU SUHSDUDWLRQ VWDUWV HDUO\ Chan expressed that career prepaWake Forest recently rose eight spots ration is an ongoing process of the WR HDUQ D VSRW DW 1R LQ /LQNHG,Q¶V Over the years, Wake Forest has college experience, not something 7RS &ROOHJHV UDQNLQJ DQ HYDOX- gradually introduced students to career students embark on right before graduation based on how effective univer- resources earlier in their college ca- ating. sities set up their graduates for career UHHUV )RU H[DPSOH WKH 2I¿FH RI 3HU³:KDW ZH¶UH WU\LQJ WR GR LV KHOS \RX success. Alongside this, Wake Forest sonal and Career Development now realize a little bit all the way through, KDV EHHQ UDQNHG 1R IRU MRE SODFH- HQFRXUDJHV ¿UVW \HDU VWXGHQWV WR FUHDWH and you will actually be able to have PHQW DQG 1R DPRQJ FROOHJHV IRU SUR¿OHV RQ +DQGVKDNH D ZHEVLWH IRU VXFFHVV ZKHQ \RX JHW WR WKH HQG ´ business majors. both students and employers. Around Chan said. LinkedIn’s rankings are based on RI WKH ¿UVW \HDU FODVV LV H[SHFWHG ZKDW DUH NQRZQ DV WKH ³¿YH LQGLFD- WR KDYH D SUR¿OH E\ 2FWREHU DFFRUGLQJ 6WXGHQW XVH RI FDUHHU UHVRXUFHV WRUV´ RI SURIHVVLRQDO RXWFRPHV 7KHVH to Chan. consist of job placement, recruiter deAdditionally, students have the opFor students at Wake Forest, career mand, career advancement, network tion to meet with OPCD career coach- resources provide support beyond tradistrength and knowledge breadth. es in order to develop resumes and tional job applications. By pairing digiVice President of Innovation and Ca- /LQNHG,Q SUR¿OHV tal recruiting platforms with networking reer Development Andy Chan said the ³6WXGHQWV DFWXDOO\ FRPH WR RXU RI¿FH and personalized coaching, campus prouniversity’s rise is heavily tied to its GXULQJ RI¿FH KRXUV RQ DQ\ DIWHUQRRQ grams aim to demystify the job search career resources. or make an appointment with our ca- for undergraduates across all disciplines. ³7KH /LQNHG,Q UDQNLQJ LVQ¶W EDVHG UHHU FRDFKHV ´ &KDQ VDLG Senior Andrew Croft is studying apMXVW RQ UHSXWDWLRQ RU VHOHFWLYLW\ ´ &KDQ 7KH RI¿FH KDV DOVR HQJDJHG ZLWK DU- plied mathematics with minors in physVDLG ³,W¶V UHDOO\ EDVHG RQ WKH RXWSXWV WL¿FLDO LQWHOOLJHQFH DLPLQJ WR H[SORUH ics and computer science. He has used and it’s based on data in LinkedIn how students can improve their pro- the OPCD and Wake Forest’s alumni about where Deacs go and how well fessional materials while simultane- network alongside Handshake during
his time spent as an undergraduate. 6SHFL¿FDOO\ 23&' FRDFKHV KDYH aided Croft in improving his LinkedIn SUR¿OH UHVXPH DQG &9 ZKLOH SUHSDULQJ for internships and grad school. Furthermore, Croft has connected with Wake Forest alumni working in the aerospace industry via LinkedIn. During his time spent searching for an internship, he took part in over a dozen Zoom calls with alumni working at organizations including NASA, Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. For Croft, these experiences combined with Wake Forest’s academic HQYLURQPHQW KDYH FHPHQWHG KLV FRQ¿dence regarding his future plans. ³, IHHO YHU\ FRQ¿GHQW WKDW ,¶P JRLQJ to be able to get a job post grad, partly because of the Wake Forest name and the academics they provide, but also because of the opportunities that they give XV ´ &URIW VDLG Contact Aric Loiacono at loiaat25@wfu.edu
ǣ ϐ Major announcements new and returning Demon Deacons may have missed laus has won 18 major championships DQG SURIHVVLRQDO YLFWRULHV ZRUOGwide. Nicklaus has also received the As campus comes back to life for this Congressional Gold Medal, one of the academic year, Wake Forest students re- highest honors for American civilians, turn to a university that underwent several as well as the Ford Society’s Lincoln notable changes over the summer. These Medal. Face to Face is also launching a comincluded new campus partnerships to leadership searches and expansion in Charlotte. panion program with a/perture cinema While Hearn Plaza spent three months in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. to seemingly quiet under the North Carolina SDLU HDFK VSHDNHU ZLWK D UHODWHG ¿OP sun, university leaders spent the summer screening. The University welcomes Erivo with a screening of the Academy advancing several major initiatives. $ZDUG QRPLQDWHG ¿OP ³+DUULHW ´ 6LPL)DFH WR )DFH ¿QDO VSHDNHU FRQ¿UPHG larly, Burns’ latest documentary work UHFHLYHG D VSRWOLJKW DQG 1LFNODXV¶ ³&DGIn the spring, Face to Face had revealed G\VKDFN ´ LV VODWHG IRU D 0DUFK IRXU RI LWV ¿YH VSHDNHUV IRU WKH screening ahead of his visit. It is a small academic year: Cynthia Erivo, Ken Burns, but innovative programming strategy to Michael Schur and José Andrés. However, connect the university and the city. RUJDQL]HUV KDG QRW \HW FRQ¿UPHG WKH IR <HDU 3HSVL SDUWQHUVKLS UXP¶V ¿QDO VSHDNHU Now, retired professional golfer Jack :KLOH )DFH WR )DFH ZDV ¿QLVKLQJ LWV Nicklaus will take the stage at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April OLQHXS :DNH )RUHVW DOVR ¿QDOL]HG DQRWKHU DV WKH VHDVRQ¶V FORVLQJ VSHDNHU 1LFN- partnership this summer. The university
+DGDVVDK (YDQV News Editor
A Pepsi-branded machine in signed a ten-year contract
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
the Pit. Wake Forest recently with the beverage company.
VLJQHG D \HDU DJUHHPHQW QDPLQJ 3HSVL Bottling Ventures its exclusive beverage supplier, a partnership that stretches well past the usual stadium concession stands. This new partnership reaches every corner of Reynolda Campus, Wake Downtown and even the Graylyn Estate. Terms of the deal have not been explicitly disFORVHG EXW XQLYHUVLW\ RI¿FLDOV KDYH IUDPHG it as more than a swap of soda brands, pointing to sustainability initiatives and career pathways as part of the package. Students should expect the shelves to look familiar, if slightly rearranged. Alongside the standard Pepsi and Mountain Dew lineup, the agreement folds in Gatorade, Dr Pepper, Starbucks bottled drinks, PopSL $TXD¿QD /LSWRQ 7HD DQG &HOVLXV Wake Forest joins a long line of univerVLWLHV WKDW KDYH OHDQHG RQ ³SRXULQJ ULJKWV´ deals to fund campus initiatives, a pracWLFH WKDW VWUHWFKHV EDFN GHFDGHV DW ÀDJVKLS public schools. The scope of the agreement extends beyond traditional stadium concessions. The agreement gives Wake Forest beverage exclusivity that university RI¿FLDOV VD\ ZLOO VXSSRUW VWXGHQW DQG VXVtainability initiatives.
Law School and a familiar face from her earlier position as interim dean of Wake Forest’s law school, stepped in following Gillespie’s departure. Newton has since agreed to stay on through the presidential transition and the entirety of the academic year. The next provost will oversee major areas of academic life. This consists of the curriculum, faculty hiring and the university’s broader academic strategy. $ SHUPDQHQW DGGUHVV LQ &KDUORWWH
Wake Forest expanded its permanent presence in Charlotte, N.C. this summer. On May 11, the University’s leaders marked the grand opening of a new, permanent Charlotte Campus on the tenth ÀRRU RI 7KH 3HDUO WKH FLW\¶V LQQRYDWLRQ district. The University has had a presence in Charlotte for decades, largely through programs run out of the School of Business, but the new space consolidates that footprint and gives the School of ProfesVLRQDO 6WXGLHV DQG 6FKRRO RI /DZ D ¿[HG home base in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The School of MediFLQH ZKLFK ZHOFRPHG LWV ¿UVW FRKRUW RI )LOOLQJ WKH FRUQHU RI¿FH LQ 5H\QROGD VWXGHQWV LQ WKH VXPPHU RI RFFXSLHV WKH ÀRRU MXVW DERYH LW Wake Forest has begun its search for a The expansion comes as Wake Forpermanent provost following the departure est has spent the last several years buildRI 0LFKHOH *LOOHVSLH LQ 3UHVLGHQW ing programming aimed at Charlotte’s Peter Rodriguez will chair the search com- job market. A new study-away semester mittee alongside Vice President and Chief for sophomores and juniors, built around of Staff Ashleigh Brock. The University business and the liberal arts, is set to send has retained Russell Reynolds Associates, LWV ¿UVW FRKRUW WR WKH VSDFH LQ GUDZWKH VDPH ¿UP WKDW JXLGHG :DNH )RUHVW ing on a Wake Forest alumni network of through its recent presidential search, to QHDUO\ SHRSOH LQ WKH FLW\ lead the effort. Whether navigating new aid structures, The process will begin with a series of attending the Provost search sessions, or listening sessions for which faculty, staff, simply grabbing a cold drink on the way to students and trustees will be invited to par- class, students return to a campus environticipate. ment actively shifting beneath their feet. The position has been held on an interim EDVLV VLQFH $XJXVW ZKHQ 1HOO -HV- Contact Hadassah Evans sup Newton, a professor at Notre Dame at evanha24@wfu.edu
CITY & STATE OLD GOLD & BLACK
PAGE 5 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Eve Darke, darkev23@wfu.edu
Roy Cooper continues “Make Stuff Cost Less” tour Former governor shares his plan to improve affordability for young North Carolinians EVE DARKE City & State Editor
wallets.” Collazo closed by urging attendees to “vote all the way down the ballot,” not just for the Senate race.
Roy Cooper says he wants North Carolina to believe the American Dream is still possible. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the former governor brought his “Make Stuff Cost Less” tour to High Point, N.C. drawing supporters to the local B E The Community (BHUB) event venue. Cooper, a Democrat, is running against Republican candidate Michael :KDWOH\ WR ¿OO 7KRP 7LOOLV¶V VHDW LQ WKH 8 6 6HQDWH To a crowd of about 85 attendees, Cooper discussed his plans to work in the U.S. Senate to make life more affordable for North Carolina families. ,QVLGH WKH YHQXH PXVLF SOD\HG DQG $PHULFDQ ÀDJV waved as supporters chanted “Roy” while waiting for the program to begin. Before Cooper took the stage, three speakers took the stage to explain why they will be voting for Cooper in November.
Ann Robinson: “Running a small business is always hard, but right now it is nearly impossible” The second speaker was Ann Robinson, owner of Scottish Gourmet, a small business and popular specialty grocery store in Greensboro, N.C. which offers imported foods and gifts from Scotland. Robinson said tariffs and the “chaos coming out of :DVKLQJWRQ´ KDYH PDGH DQ DOUHDG\ GLI¿FXOW EXVLQHVV endeavor nearly impossible to run. She said she “spends thousands of dollars in tariffs each month, and more currently because of the high price of fuel.” This burden will be compounded as FedEx is set to raise shipping rates in October. “We need a change,” Robinson concluded. “We need Roy Cooper, who will bring North Carolina common sense to D.C.”
which is “impacting the lives and cost of living for farmers, working families and military families.” Drawing on his own personal experience driving Navy ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Petri said he believes that President Trump is out of touch with the situation. Despite his unaf¿OLDWHG VWDWXV 3HWUL VDLG KH ZLOO YRWH IRU 5R\ &RRSHU LQ November. Cooper takes the stage
Cooper began his remarks by involving Petri and other veterans, saying he is running “for people like Commander Petri” and expressing deep concern about the toll of war and the rising cost of living. He pointed to small-business owners like Robinson as an example of the damage caused by “indiscriminate, chaotic tariffs,” drawing an “amen” and cheers from the crowd when he asked, “Why are we ¿JKWLQJ ZLWK &DQDGD"´ “We need to take back constitutional authority for the legislative branch; rolling back tariffs alone will make Joe Collazo: “Not all growth has been positive” stuff cost less,” Cooper said. He cited the story of a constituent whose utility bill now )LUVW WR VSHDN ZDV -RH &ROOD]R D ¿HOG RUJDQL]HU IRU WKH exceeds her mortgage payment, which he said is a plight Dave Petri: A Veteran and Wake Forest Alumnus’ Democratic Party and High Point native. Collazo said shared by many North Carolinians who experience “too that while High Point has grown and blossomed over the Case for Affordability much month at the end of the money.” years, “not all growth has been positive,” pointing to rising “We have a lot of people in North Carolina who are suf7KH ¿QDO VSHDNHU ZDV UHWLUHG 1DY\ &PGU 'DYH 3HWUL prices across the region. IHULQJ ´ &RRSHU VDLG ³,V WKH $PHULFDQ 'UHDP GHDG"´ The crowd responded loudly and enthusiastically when who earned his MBA from Wake Forest. Petri said his &RRSHU WKHQ UHÀHFWHG RQ KLV GHFLVLRQ WR HQWHU WKH UDFH Collazo brought up gas prices, which he said are “crip- adult children live in Winston-Salem, N.C. and the high DIWHU OHDYLQJ WKH JRYHUQRU¶V RI¿FH pling North Carolina families.” They similarly cheered cost of living is preventing them from “getting started.” “I did not think I would be here,” he said. “I left the govwhen Collazo blamed the price increases in part on what Petri said that his children have incredible experience and HUQRU¶V RI¿FH DQG , WULHG WR ¿QG DQRWKHU FDOOLQJ ´ he called “a war nobody asked for” and “tariffs being opportunities, yet are inhibited by the high cost of living. Cooper was teaching Sunday school when he “saw this pushed onto families.” ³6RPHRQH QHHGV WR ¿JKW IRU WKHP WR JHW VWXII WR FRVW administration take root,” and subsequently witnessed Collazo argued that Cooper has spent over three decades less,” he said. he described as poor handling of affordability issues. working across party lines to improve affordability. He 3HWUL GHVFULEHG KLPVHOI DV DQ XQDI¿OLDWHG YRWHU DQG criti- what promptly decided to run and create change. said that opponent Whatley “will do nothing to help our cized U.S. involvement in Iran, calling it a “war of choice,” Cooper “We have a real plan,” he told the crowd, urging attendees to talk with friends, family and coworkers about the election before early voting begins on Oct. 15. Cooper also took aim at Whatley, describing him as a former oil lobbyist who holds stock in the industry and suggesting he would not change his ways if elected. Cooper contrasted this with his own record of selling his VWRFNV ZKHQ KH ZDV LQ RI¿FH ZKLFK KH SODQV WR GR DJDLQ “regardless of what the law is.” “We need people in Washington who will be public servants,” Cooper said. “This administration was going to GUDLQ WKH VZDPS EXW LW¶V GHHSHU WKDQ HYHU ´ Cooper closed by telling the crowd that his parents left KLP ³D EHWWHU FRXQWU\´ DQG WKDW WKLV \HDU¶V PLGWHUP HOHFtions will help determine what the next generation inherits. After his remarks, Cooper greeted and took a photo with every attendee. Cooper’s American Dream for Young North Carolinians In a remark to the Old Gold & Black following the rally, Cooper elaborated on his question, “is the American GUHDP GHDG"´ GH¿QLQJ WKH $PHULFDQ GUHDP DQG KLV SODQ to make it attainable for young North Carolinians. “You know, it used to be a lot easier,” he said.“People were able to afford a home. They were able to make enough to feed their family and educate their children, and maybe have some left over to take a vacation, and be able to save for retirement. Now, people, most people are in a SRVLWLRQ SDUWLFXODUO\ \RXQJHU SHRSOH ZKHUH WKH\ FDQ¶W DIIRUG D KRPH DQG WKH\¶UH XQVXUH DERXW WKHLU IXWXUH ´ ³, WKLQN WKDW¶V WKH $PHULFDQ GUHDP ´ KH FRQWLQXHG ³%Hing secure in your future, having an affordable roof over your head and being able to have enough money to do what you need to do to support your family, and to enjoy OLIH :H QHHG WR JHW EDFN WR WKDW $QG ,¶P JRQQD ZRUN as hard as I can to make sure that Washington is not an obstacle to that, and that, well, Washington can actually help, particularly in areas like affordable healthcare and education and secure retirement.” Eve Darke/Old Gold & Black
Roy Less”
Cooper takes tour attendees
the in
stage to High Point,
address “Make Stuff N.C. on August 25,
Cost Contact Eve Darke at 2026. darkev23@wfu.edu
Page 6 | Thursday, September 3, 2026
Old Gold & Black | City & State
Old Gold & Black joins statewide reporting network Nine student newspapers collaborate to amplify coverage on the 2026 midterms
MIRIAM FABRYCKY Deputy Editor
This fall, the Old Gold & Black will collaborate with eight other student newspapers across North Carolina to strengthen student media coverage of the 2026 midterm elections. Spearheaded by the Chronicle, Duke University’s independent student newspaper, the North Carolina College Media Elections Network will work to provide readers, including the state’s 1 million college-aged residents, with comprehensive, engaging information about upcoming races. “The time is right to connect newsrooms across the state, because the loss of early voting access on college campuses — alongside consistently low turnout rates among 18-24 year olds — raises the stakes for having trusted, locally-rooted coverage written specifically by and for students,” Claire Cranford, news editor of the Chronicle, stated. The coalition spans newspapers at both private and public institutions from the mountains to the coast. Participant organizations include the Appalachian at Appalachian State University, the Daily Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the East Carolinian at East Carolina University, the Seahawk at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the Technician and the Courtesy of Claire Cranford Nubian Message at North Carolina State UniverNorth Carolina student newspapers are uniting this fall sity and the View Point at High Point University, Nine to strengthen their coverage of the 2026 midterm elections. in addition to the Chronicle and the Old Gold & Black. Together, the publications serve institutions enrolling approximately 176,000 undergraduate added. “By fostering these bonds, we hope to have different communities, and college voters everyand graduate students and reach many more read- deeper and clearer reporting on the upcoming mid- where are asking a lot of the same questions about term elections, specifically focusing on how they registration, deadlines and candidates,” Cranford ers across the state. said. “By sharing templates, training and tools in“N.C. has some of the strongest student news- pertain to college students.” Student leaders at these papers will meet virtually stead of nine newsrooms independently rebuilding rooms in the country,” Cranford said. “Student methroughout the fall for training and discussion of the same infrastructure, hopefully we can spend dia is certainly an active and engaged part of the state’s news ecosystem. But it can feel disparate: best practices. They will share reporting materials, more energy on original local reporting and amplitwo newsrooms might have a close relationship, but including story templates, recordings of campaign fy each other’s best work so it reaches more student there is no statewide collaboration or communica- events and digital tools from the nonpartisan web- voters than any of us could alone.” site Branch Politics to fill coverage gaps and am“What excites me most about collaborating with tion.” other newsrooms are the shared access to resources “Having a relationship with schools across North plify one another’s work. “I don’t think that elections are something any and relationships,” Silveira said. “Across the board, Carolina is very important considering the high caliber of student journalism across the state,” Old single student newsroom can fully cover alone — having an open line of communication through Gold & Black Managing Editor Maria Silveira there are hundreds of down-ballot races across very these shared resources will help inform more college students on midterm election season. Additionally, getting to know fellow student journalists outside of our own newsroom will positively impact our entire staff for years to come.” Notable races approaching this November include a Senate showdown between former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. Cooper leads the race to fill the seat of Thom Tillis, the two-term Republican who announced in 2025 that he would not seek reelection after sparring with President Trump. 14 U.S. House seats, a North Carolina Supreme Court Justice seat and all 170 North Carolina General Assembly seats will also go up for election. College students’ political engagement has emerged as a partisan flashpoint ahead of the election, with counties shuttering early voting sites previously located on university campuses including Western Carolina University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “Now more than ever it is important that college students feel compelled to engage in the democratic process,” Cranford said, referencing the closing of the early voting sites on the three campuses. “We also want the nine partner newsrooms to come out of election season with stronger reporting tools, real cross-newsroom relationships and a model for how student media can collaborate on hard stories going forward.” Will Kunisaki/Old Gold & Black
In a closely watched race this November, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is compet ϐ Ǥ
Contact Miriam Fabrycky at fabrml24@wfu.edu
City & State | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Page 7
Gov. Stein vetoes bill that would shorten early voting Democrats and Republicans clash over election legislation ahead of November EVE DARKE City & State Editor
On Monday, Aug. 17, Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a bill that would cut early voting in some elections and make it easier to challenge a voter’s eligibility and contest their ballot. House Bill 958 would have also granted the state auditor authority to conduct independent post-election audits, required military personnel serving abroad to mail a photocopy of their photo ID and mandated more frequent voter roll maintenance using federal government data. “The General Assembly wants to make it harder for people to vote and easier to throw out votes they don’t like after Election Day,” Stein said in his veto statement. “This damaging bill eliminates a week of early voting in the primary, invites sore losers to try to overturn general elections by throwing out people’s votes after the race is over and sows distrust in our elections.” The North Carolina Senate passed the bill 2813 on July 28, with Republicans toeing the party line in favor and Democrats against. On Aug. 4, The North Carolina House of Representatives approved the bill 62-47. Once again, legislators voted with their parties, with 62 Republicans voting in favor and 46 Democrats and one unaffiliated member voting against. The proposed legislation comes in the midst of an ongoing debate between Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina on the issue of voter security. While there is no evidence of voter fraud in North Carolina, Republican lawmakers distrust the system and see House Bill 958 as an opportunity to enhance election security and cut costs. “House Bill 958 continues practical election reforms so we all can have greater confidence that every lawful vote in North Carolina is counted fairly and accurately,” Chair of the House Election Law Committee Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, stated. “Gov. Stein’s veto of this legislation puts politics ahead of common sense and the peace of mind voters should have when they cast their ballots.”
Democratic officials argue that the North Carolina GOP has clamped down on elections, including by gerrymandering, to gain seats at the state and federal level. “This is a party scared of its own voters,” Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, D-Wake, stated. “Now Republicans face a choice: Side with the voters in North Carolina who have already asked for fair and free elections, or override the governor’s veto in yet another disingenuous effort to maintain political power.” Democrats believe the bill is part of a broader GOP goal to eliminate early voting, which would ultimately benefit Republicans, as Democratic voters historically are more likely to vote during
point
of the
Reuters
Courtesy of Reuters
The number ject to change
of early-voting days in North Carolina if
Courtesy of Reuters
in North
Carolina ahead
ϐ 2026 midterm elections
in non-general elections is Rebublicans override Gov. Stein's
subveto.
early voting, while Republican voters are more likely to vote on Election Day. Professor John Dinan, chair of Wake Forest’s Department of Politics and International Affairs, said the bill “covers a lot of ground.” “This is an omnibus bill that would make about a dozen different changes to elections,” Dinan said. “But compared with some previous North Carolina elections-law changes that made quite significant changes, such as by adding a voter ID requirement and shifting party control of state and local elections boards from the governor's party to the state auditor's party, the changes in this summer's elections bill are relatively modest, and the changes in the bill that eventually passed the legislature are more modest than what was included in some earlier versions of the bill.” “The provision that has attracted the most attention — reducing early-voting days in non-general elections such as party primaries from 17 to 10 days— has been touted by supporters as reducing costs and pressures on elections workers in elections with modest turnout levels but has been criticized by opponents as possibly reducing access to the ballot by limiting the number of voting days in primary elections,” Dinan added. According to the governor’s office, early voting is the most common way North Carolinians have cast ballots in statewide general elections, with roughly 200,000 people voting in the first week of early voting alone during this year’s primary. The bill now heads back to the General Assembly, where lawmakers could attempt to override Stein’s veto. Stein has called on North Carolinians to reach out to their legislators and urge them to uphold it. Even if Republicans override Stein's veto, the legislation would not take effect for November's midterm elections. Furthermore, according to reporting from the Raleigh News & Observer, legislative leaders have said they will not attempt to override any vetoes until after the November midterm elections, leaving the standoff at a standstill until after ballots are cast this fall. Contact Eve Darke at darkev23@wfu.edu
FEATURES PAGE 8 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Bianca Reznic, reznba24@wfu.edu Rishi Vanka, vankrk24@wfu.edu
ϐ The university’s 15th president chats with the Old Gold & Black MATTIE STILLERMAN Editor-in-Chief Peter Rodriguez is the 15th president of Wake Forest University, and started his tenure on July 1, 2026. He previously served as the dean of the Rice University Business School. Rodriguez received his Bachelor of Science in economics from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. President Rodriguez joined Old Gold & Black Editorin-Chief Mattie Stillerman for an interview on Aug. 28, 2026. This interview was edited for clarity and brevity. Mattie Stillerman: What has surprised you or stood out to you most about Wake Forest since you arrived? Peter Rodriguez: I’ve been surprised at how active and engaged everybody seems to be. It can be hard to see yourself when you’re inside a bubble, but Wake Forest is exceptional with that. I’ve been at great universities, but I’ve never seen a more vibrant campus than this one. It really is exciting, engaging and people are happy — the connections are there. When I was along the way to being hired, I think the word that I heard the most that was new to me was relational. I think Wake Forest’s culture is highly relational. And that’s not the most typical description of other universities but it’s really obvious here. The best example was probably Welcome Weekend. All the engagement I saw was a culture in action. So the things that I heard before were suddenly visible. 6WLOOHUPDQ :H KDYH RXU ¿UVW KRPH IRRWEDOO JDPH next Thursday and Coach Jake Dickert recently said WKDW KH ZDV ZRUNLQJ ZLWK \RX WR JHW VWXGHQWV LQWR WKH VWDQGV :KDW¶V \RXU SODQ WR JHW D IXOO VWXGHQW VHFWLRQ WKLV IDOO" Rodriguez: I want to tell [students] “don’t miss out.” You are going to be regretful if you don’t go and take part in the victory that we’ll have together. We talk about that as a goal in part because it shows up well for Wake Forest and we do believe it will be even more fun if there are more students there. 6WLOOHUPDQ :KDW GLG \RX OHDUQ IURP \RXU VWXGHQWV DW 5LFH 8QLYHUVLW\ WKDW \RX¶OO EULQJ WR :DNH )RUHVW" Rodriguez: I think that they had great ideas and thought deeply about the university. Even though they had shortterm interests, like good grades, internships and jobs, they were great resources for thinking about the long-term value of the university and how engagement takes place. Capturing their thinking is really precious. I got a lot of great ideas from them. The students I had in years one through three really helped us build a better university in years six through ten. Their advice was highly impactful — the things they said matter. Stillerman: What student interactions have stood out to you? Rodriguez: I’ve been able to “re-meet” some students — so the campus doesn’t feel so big. I have begun to say, “I’ve met you before. We talked the other day.” The engagements I really enjoyed the most were during WKH :HOFRPH :HHN DQG GXULQJ WKH ¿UVW GD\ RI FODVV , JRW to go around and talk to people at an exciting moment. I JRW WR KHDU WKHLU ¿UVW LPSUHVVLRQV RI WKHLU FODVVHV %XW D ORW of it is literally just walking around the quad or walking to my car. People see me and we introduce ourselves and that’s really great. 6WLOOHUPDQ <RX KDYH D VWURQJ EDFNJURXQG LQ EXVLQHVV ,I \RX KDG VHFRQGV WR FRQYLQFH VRPHRQH ZKR NQRZV QRWKLQJ DERXW :DNH )RUHVW WR FRPH KHUH ZKDW would you tell them? Rodriguez: Wake Forest has absolutely everything the EHVW XQLYHUVLWLHV LQ WKH ZRUOG KDYH %XW ZH KDYH D FXOture on a scale that’s going to make it more personal for you than anywhere else. If you really want the most and the most complete comprehensive college experience — whether that’s great liberal arts education, a great Greek life, a great non-Greek life, Power Four athletics, personal
Photo Courtesy of Peter Rodriguez
3UHVLGHQW 3HWHU 5RGULJXH] )ULGD\ $XJ IRU
VDW ZLWK (GLWRU LQ &KLHI 0DWWLH 6WLOOHUPDQ RQ KLV ¿UVW LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK WKH 2OG *ROG %ODFN
attention, great career access, great networks — no one take time to really build relationships and get to know can give that to you better than we can. people. And the great advice is the age-old, “know yourStillerman: What does it mean to you to take advan- self.” Know what’s really true to you — what you really WDJH RI D OLEHUDO DUWV HGXFDWLRQ" want. Don’t get distracted by all the other noises in the Rodriguez: I think the point of a liberal arts education is environment. Sometimes, for students, that’s often rush, to get people to study and learn so they can make up their rush, rush, making sure [they] do things now. RZQ PLQGV DERXW WKH ZRUOG $QG WKDW¶V GLI¿FXOW WR GR LI There could be so much pressure you feel or put on you have a one-discipline focus or a narrow focus. So that \RXUVHOI %XW FROOHJH LQ SDUWLFXODU WKH ¿UVW \HDU LV WKH WLPH breadth, that open, critical examination of the world is the to take a beat. Really investigate the corners of academia SURSHU IRXQGDWLRQ , WKLQN DOPRVW HYHU\ERG\ EHQH¿WV IURP you haven’t heard of before and really think about who that early and often. you want to be. You don’t get many opportunities as rich It doesn’t mean that you can’t have depth in an area. and as good as this one. So take full advantage of it. $W VRPH SRLQW ZH DOO VHHN GHSWK %XW WKH IRXQGDWLRQ WKH 6WLOOHUPDQ ,Q D 4 $ SRVWHG RQ \RXU ,QVWDJUDP breadth is important because the world is so broad itself. \RX WDONHG DERXW \RXU ORYH IRU SKRWRJUDSK\ :K\ GR History is so rich in itself. Human beings are so rich in you think it’s important to have a creative outlet? themselves. To keep ourselves at the center of understandRodriguez: I think that it’s part of all of us and the way ing our world around us is a thing to embrace a problem we see the world and ourselves. I think it’s time to con— a real liberal arts education. template your values and everything. We need space for Stillerman: What does it mean to you to show or em- ourselves that’s different and open and unbounded by body ‘Pro humanitate?” some discipline. Rodriguez: Part of it is being in service to society at A lot of creative outlets give you that chance to express large and seeing one’s opportunities in their education as yourself. A lot of it is deciding what you see, what you a path to the betterment of humankind. The genesis of all feel, what to write. So it’s not someone else’s words or universities is trying to understand what we could learn collecting someone else’s photographs or posters. That is about the world to advance our well-being. It’s not just ¿QH RI FRXUVH %XW LW LV WDNLQJ D PRPHQW WR VD\ ³:KDW what we do for ourselves but it’s what we do collectively do I see? What do I think?” amongst ourselves and for others. I think it’s understandSo photography is a little bit like writing in that for me, ing our place in this long history of building knowledge I’d love to be able to draw or sketch if I could do that in the world that puts “Pro Humanitate” in [its] center. ZHOO , FDQQRW %XW SKRWRJUDSK\ JLYHV PH D FKDQFH WR DW It’s a lovely motto. It’s distinctive and I can feel it in least put some artistic view on what I see and how I take IRUFH KHUH ,W¶V QRW MXVW D PRWWR DV SHRSOH VD\ LW¶V GH¿- in the world. So it’s fun and accessible that way and it’s QLWHO\ WKH ZD\ WKH DOXPQL IHHO DERXW LW ,W¶V GH¿QLWHO\ D engaging with other people. Often, I take pictures of my position students take. It’s really appealing in that sense. family. I think so much of what we see around the world is very 6WLOOHUPDQ $V \RX EHJLQ \RXU SUHVLGHQF\ ZKDW GR transactional and I think that’s very worrisome about col- \RX KRSH VWXGHQWV FRPH WR NQRZ DERXW \RX DQG ZKDW lege education. I want the education everybody receives do you hope to learn about them? here to be really valuable to set them up for great careers. Rodriguez: I want to know how students are experi%XW LW¶V IDU PRUH WKDQ WR JHW D JUHDW MRE RXW RI WKLV ,W KDV encing their time here, what frictions they have, where to be something more important, more fundamental. And they have them and how we can resolve them. I think the great universities stand for that — certainly we do. what I want them to know about me is that I’m listening, 6WLOOHUPDQ <RX DQG WKH &ODVV RI DUH VWDUWLQJ I care deeply and I will work collaboratively with anyone \RXU :DNH )RUHVW MRXUQH\V WRJHWKHU :KDW DGYLFH GR to give solutions to the things we need. \RX ZDQW WR JLYH WR ¿UVW \HDU VWXGHQWV WKDW \RX PD\ DOUHDG\ EH WDNLQJ \RXUVHOI" Contact Mattie Stillerman at Rodriguez: You can get lost in the rush of things, but stilmk23@wfu.edu
Features | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Page 9
“I never feel fully alone anymore” Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc. builds community on campus BIANCA REZNIC Features Editor
In 1980, seven women at Rutgers University – Maricel Rivera, Sonia Rosa, Catherine Miranda, Mariela Freay, Nancy Collazo, Maria E. Tejera and Evelyn Burgos – founded the Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. (CUS), an organization that promotes education and empowerment for Latina women. In Fall 2024, students brought the organization to Wake Forest University with the goal of creating a space for Latina women on campus to connect and build community. In just their first year, Wake Forest recognized the chapter as the 2024-2025 United Greek Council Chapter of the Year. For recruitment chair and senior Fiorella Diaz, bringing CUS to Wake Forest was about creating the community she wished she had when she first arrived on campus. “I felt really out of place my first few weeks on campus,” Diaz said. “ I felt like I would never find anyone like me or anyone that shared anything in common with me.” While she initially considered joining a Panhellenic sorority, Diaz ultimately found a stronger connection with CUS. At her first interest meeting, she met two of the women who would become her “line sisters” and immediately admired the community they had created for themselves outside of Wake Forest’s traditional Greek life structure. “I wanted freshmen girls after me to be able to walk into a room the way that I did,” Diaz said. “To have these people not only take you in as their own and treat you like genuine family but even for the girls that aren't interested in our sorority, just other Latina freshmen, to see girls wearing their letters [and]doing cool stuff around campus.” CUS is founded on the principles of leadership, sisterhood, service and education. Its motto, “Wisdom through Education,” reflects the organization’s emphasis on academics and personal development. The organization’s strong valuing of education was one of the most appealing factors for junior Ciarra Velazquez, programming chair. “I think it’s very easy to be like, ‘oh, you’re just another sorority on campus,’” Velazquez said. “But in addition to those volunteer service opportunities, we really do focus on community and a community built on educating each other, looking out for each other and constantly striving to be better.” Another important aspect for Velazquez was the inclusive nature of the sorority, which provides her the opportunity to connect with her identity. While CUS is “Latin-based,” it is not exclusive to Latina women and
members are encouraged to meet new people and be part of a welcoming community. “[I was] trying to connect more to my culture and learn more about that,” Velazquez said.“But in a way that made sense for me not to feel pressure either. We have a rule where, for example, if people don’t speak Spanish at all, we don’t speak Spanish around them. And it's not because we’re ashamed, it’s to make sure you feel included.” The organization’s approach to recruitment differs from the traditional rush process associated with Panhellenic Greek life. Rather than expecting prospective members to make a quick decision, CUS gives interested women time to learn about the organization and its values to figure out if joining is the right choice for them. “We’re very open-book,” Velazquez said. “Our motto when we’re interested is: Date us before you marry us.” “A big reason why organizations in our council don't do the traditional rush week is that we want to give interested women the time and space to really learn what our organization is,” Diaz said. “It's really important to us that all women who join CUS really understand what the organization stands for, what being a sister means, and the values of our sorority, which are leadership, sisterhood, service and education.” The sorority’s structure also differs from the traditional “big/little” model that traditional Greek life offers. Members form close relationships with their “line sisters” or the fellow students who joined the same semester that they did, while also connecting with older members who help guide them through the organization and take on mentorship roles. According to Diaz, these relationships extend beyond Wake Forest’s campus and into other chapters across the country, creating a strong network that continues after members graduate. “Once you are a new member, you are a neophyte, or a neo,” Diaz said. “You have your neo season until there is a new line after you. Then you become a pro, or a prophyte, and you have your neos. Every line after that, if you're at pro status, those [women] are still your neos… It's almost like you have a million bigs.” Diaz shared that older sisters in the sorority guide younger members through the process. “Typically, in our sorority, at least for our chapter, bigs tend to be a little bit older, like post-grad,” she explained. “Our chapter doesn't have any undergraduate bigs. That's something that's really different from the way Panhellenic sororities work, but it's not unheard of.” “At other chapters, they have undergraduate bigs,” Diaz continued.“For our chapter, I think the older sisters who have helped us develop our chapter and how we run it have made it really beneficial to have a sister who
Photo Courtesy of Fiorella Diaz
Chi Upsilon Sigma celebrate wearing
National their
Sorority, letters
Inc. on
"line the
sisters" quad.
Photo Courtesy of Fiorella Diaz
Members of the Chi Upsilon Sigma National Sorority, Inc. celebrate on the lower quad.
is older to guide you.” Social media chair and senior Nicole Echevarria said the sense of sisterhood is the most meaningful part of her experience. Echevarria shared that she struggled to find her place at Wake Forest before joining CUS. Now, the organization has given her a network to turn to, both on and off campus. “It was life-changing,” Echevarria said. “I didn’t really have a place at Wake [Forest] and I didn’t join until I was a sophomore. I never feel fully alone anymore. In moments of struggle I will call some random sister and she’ll pick up and we’ll talk, and it’s really sweet. I really love [my] sorority.” The chapter’s relationships have also extended into the broader Latin-Greek community at Wake Forest and nearby universities. Last semester, members celebrated the chartering of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., at Wake Forest, hosting around 50 sisters from chapters across the region on campus. Despite its growing connections, the chapter faces the challenges that come with being a new organization on campus, especially in regards to engagement. Velazquez says visibility and connecting with other campus organizations remains one of the main priorities of the chapter. “We’re definitely struggling with visibility because [there’s] a very small demographic of Hispanic and Latin students,” Velazquez said. “So not only is it getting the attention of these students but also how do we establish a presence and make these partnerships with other organizations. It’s definitely still [more] work because it’s still new. Fall of 2024 was not too long ago.” CUS president and senior Emilia Perez Hemenegildo sees the chapter’s newness as both a challenge and an opportunity. She first encountered CUS when it was still an interest group in her freshman year of Fall 2024. At the time, she struggled to find a place for herself among already-formed groups in places like the traditional Panhellenic sororities and OLAS. CUS stood out to her for its emphasis on academics, inclusion and passion for political change. As president, she hopes to continue offering the same community and positive experience to other students. “We want to make an impact and change,” Perez Hemenegildo said. “And we want to be that space for women in general, not just Latin women, to feel like they belong on campus, because it can be so tricky and so hard.” As CUS enters its third year at Wake Forest, it stands out by offering women a way to find connection, leadership and belonging. “The difference with CUS is that it’s not a club,” Diaz said. “It’s a sisterhood.” Contact Bianca Reznic at reznba24@wfu.edu
Page 10 | Thursday, September 3, 2026
Old Gold & Black | )HDWXUHV
ϐ Ǥ )RUPHU SUHVLGHQW UHÀHFWV RQ KHU ¿YH \HDU WHQXUH
MATTIE STILLERMAN Editor-in-Chief 6XVDQ 5 :HQWH VHUYHG DV WKH ¿UVW IHPDOH 3UHVLGHQW RI :DNH )RUHVW 8QLYHUVLW\ IURP -XO\ WR -XQH 6KH DQQRXQFHG WKH HQG RI KHU SUHVLGHQF\ ODVW 2FWREHU )ROORZLQJ D VDEEDWLFDO 3UHVLGHQW :HQWH SODQV WR UHWXUQ WR KHU IRUPHU SRVLWLRQ DV D IDFXOW\ PHPEHU DQG VFLHQFH HGXFDWRU 3UHVLGHQW :HQWH MRLQHG 2OG *ROG %ODFN (GLWRU LQ &KLHI 0DWWLH 6WLOOHUPDQ IRU DQ LQWHUYLHZ RQ 0D\ WR UHÀHFW RQ KHU OHJDF\ 7KLV LQWHUYLHZ KDV EHHQ HGLWHG IRU FODULW\ DQG EUHYLW\ Mattie Stillerman: When you entered academia, was it ever in your plans to be the president of a university? Susan R. Wente: It was not, in a simple threeword answer. I do know that when I was an undergraduate, as well as when I went on to graduate school, that I loved mentoring and teaching others. And I loved learning and discovering. And so what better career path than to be a faculty member where you get to mentor and teach others and you also get to make discoveries? As I progressed through my time and my career in all different steps, there were so many opportunities where people asked me to lead in different ways. And I also enjoyed doing that because I could see the impact not just in my own classroom or in my own laboratory but having an impact more broadly in terms of, “How do you create environments where others can succeed and discover their passions?” I probably didn’t even ever think about leading in the university or being a president until I became a provost. 6WLOOHUPDQ &RPLQJ IURP D VFLHQWL¿F EDFNground, what perspectives did you bring into university leadership? :HQWH 6FLHQWL¿F WUDLQLQJ KHOSV RQH LQ WHUPV RI analytical thinking and dissecting problems and comfort with uncertainty. You never know what the outcome of the experiment is going to be but you still do the experiment. The willingness to really revise decisions and to adapt based upon new information—to change your model because of something that you discovered. So I actually think WKH VFLHQWL¿F PHWKRG LV D OHDGHUVKLS IUDPHZRUN LQ so many different ways. And of course, I brought that with me along with so many other experiences when I came here to lead Wake Forest. Stillerman: What are some of your favorite memories with students? Wente: Of course, convocation and move-in and the excitement all the way to commencement —
Catherine Neely/Old Gold & Black
Ǥ ϐ Ǥ
WKLQNLQJ DERXW WKH WZR ÀDQNLQJ FRUQHUVWRQHV RI DQ academic experience. Those are incredibly special and bring so many favorite memories. But then I can go back to interactions in smaller settings that aren’t linked to traditions, whether that was being invited to speak to a class about my VFLHQWL¿F MRXUQH\ DV D PHQWRULQJ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR D chemistry class. Or, I go back to when I surprised the dance students with [the news] that they were going to get to have breakfast with Misty Copeland. Those are moments where you’re getting to interact and see students learning and also having something that they care deeply about come to life for them. I just felt so grateful to be in such an amazing community of dedicated, brilliant young people. Stillerman: Do you have a favorite tradition at :DNH )RUHVW" Wente: They are all so special. The traditions that , UHÀHFW RQ DUH RQHV WKDW KDYH EHHQ UHDOO\ VWXGHQW motivated and organized, and based on a particular need that students saw. Hit the Bricks, Wake n’ Shake, Jam For Janey. We saw Jam For Janey really evolve during my presidency — following on that rich tradition of how students have taken ownership to be creative, innovative and impactful. Stillerman: Higher education is under enorPRXV SUHVVXUH ULJKW QRZ )RU H[DPSOH $, SROLtics, athletics, costs, demographics, and free VSHHFK :KDW GR \RX WKLQN XQLYHUVLWLHV DUH IRU in 2026 that they were not for twenty years ago? Wente: I do think that universities today need to focus on how our graduates are going to contribute to the society of the future. We need to prepare people to think critically, engage ethically and contribute meaningfully. […] How are we proving our substance of public good? Wake Forest has a way to be truly distinctive in regards to this in terms of focusing on being a model student-centered research university that’s grabbed into the local arts. We are teaching our scholarship, focus on character, leadership and focus on “Pro Humanitate.” This creates the kind of graduates that the world truly needs right now. Education should not just expand knowledge, it needs to deepen a shared responsibility for our shared humanity. Stillerman: During your presidency, in 2025, along with many other universities, you signed WKH $PHULFDQ $VVRFLDWLRQ RI &ROOHJHV DQG 8QLversities’ letter, “a call for constructive engagement.” What went behind this decision and why GLG \RX WKLQN LW ZDV LPSRUWDQW WR VLJQ WKH OHWWHU" Wente: Anytime we would make a decision to do something like that, which is unusual, the statement has to align with our values and with our position. That was a particular opportunity where we felt compelled to join. And I think the more that universities can be aligned and can be focused on the core purpose and the common good, the greater opportunity we’ll have to build trust in the work that we’re doing. Questions that were raised at the time were threatening the underlying foundation of what we do as a university. And that is to have the freedom to think, learn and explore in ways that are critical for our students and for our faculty to do their best work. 6WLOOHUPDQ $PRQJVW FKDQJHV LQ 1DPH ,PDJH DQG /LNHQHVV SROLFLHV FDQ D XQLYHUVLW\ VWLOO JHQXLQHO\ SXW DFDGHPLFV ¿UVW LQ WKH FXUUHQW HUD of college athletics? Wente: I think universities have to put academics ¿UVW 2XU PLVVLRQ LV HGXFDWLRQ , ZURWH LQ D EORJ piece about this where I said, “Is it student athletes or is it athletic students?” I think it is a critical nexus point right now to continue to claim that for these really exceptional students. Stillerman: Over the past three years, there KDYH EHHQ VHYHUDO FKDQJHV WR WKH UDQNLQJV RI FROOHJHV DQG XQLYHUVLWLHV VHW E\ 8 6 1HZV 'R \RX WKLQN WKHVH UDQNLQJV VKRXOG LQÀXHQFH WKH
university’s culture and academic mission? Wente: I think that there are so many different ways to evaluate the impact of educational programs. The U.S. News and World Report has taken one approach. They have selected a set of criteria that they believe universities can be measured by. But many of my colleagues, including myself, feel that we are not doing a service to families by just that single set of criteria. Part of that evidence is there’s increased compression with six-way ties between the institutions that are not similar at all, either through their approach or their size or their scale. We are committed to what we think is critical for a meaningful educational experience. That is in our teacher-scholar model in terms of our ability for our faculty to have terminal degrees [with the role] to mentor and engage with students across an entire educational journey. We believe in small class sizes that allow relationships to be built and immersive experiences and experiential experiences to come to life. We believe it in how we balance that overall—learning and research, teaching and discovery. I believe Wake Forest should remain dedicated to that versus chasing the rankings because those rankings can change at any time. Stillerman: What decision during your presiGHQF\ GR \RX WKLQN FDUULHG WKH PRVW ULVN LQ terms of potential negative student reactions? Wente: Really, it’s in terms of how you give all the information behind the decisions so that students understand the “Why.” ,Q P\ ¿UVW ZHHN RI FODVVHV WKHUH ZDV D VWXGHQW demonstration regarding sexual misconduct. Quite frankly, I had not done my homework before that KDSSHQHG WR ¿QG RXW :DNH )RUHVW¶V DSSURDFK WR that. But I made a commitment that I was going to and I shared the approach I was going to use to UHDOO\ ¿QG RXW KRZ ZH VXSSRUW DQG HGXFDWH VWXdents. We launched initiatives in that area along ZLWK WKH XQLYHUVLW\¶V ¿UVW &DPSXV &OLPDWH 6XUvey. And now we’ve done a second one. This was a long-term commitment to ensuring that our environment was as supportive as possible for all of our students. Stillerman: What policies and innovations are you most proud of? Wente: If I had to pick one, it would be the focus on increasing access and opportunity. Since my inauguration, we will have raised close to $200 million for the For Humanities Scholarships. And then WKH SROLFLHV IRU HDUO\ DFWLRQ IRU ¿UVW JHQHUDWLRQ students and the North Carolina Gateway. Those taken together, I’m very heartened that we’ve been able to make an impact in terms of providing more access and opportunity. It lays a pathway for the future in terms of how to continue doing that hard work of welcoming students and making the Wake Forest education possible for them. Stillerman: What part of the job will you miss most? Wente: The people. I think the aspects of the job that I would likely miss is the opportunity to work with really brilliant people — solving complex problems, the brainstorming and the intellectual curiosity that goes with the intensity of the pace and scale of the university. There’s nothing like it. 6WLOOHUPDQ :KDW GR \RX WKLQN :DNH )RUHVW teaches its students that other universities may not emphasize? Wente: This will take us right back home to the “Pro humanitate” motto. It isn’t just classroom teaching. It isn’t just the full campus as a classroom experience. It’s the integration of the two together with the motto as this beautiful umbrella or rainbow over it. And I think Wake Forest positions students so strongly because of that focus on relationships and how students as individuals can have an impact on society. &RQWDFW 0DWWLH 6WLOOHUPDQ DW VWLOPN #ZIX HGX
ENVIRONMENT OLD GOLD & BLACK
Ella Jennings, jennem25@wfu.edu
PAGE 11 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
A freshman’s (or anybody’s) guide to getting outdoors this semester Accessible ways to get out in nature ELLA JENNINGS & JASMINE STANDEZ Environment Editor & Contributing Writer Welcome (or welcome back) to Wake Forest! Research shows that going outside can improve our physical health, brain function and overall mental well-being. Lucky for us, there are a multitude of ways to connect with nature near and on campus. Explore the Reynolda Trails Sunlight dapples the leaves along the path, as birds and insects announce their presence in the woods. Vibrant greens of trees and clear blue sky catch the eye, and a waterfall quietly hushes. These scenes of relaxation and beauty can all be found along the Reynolda Trails. Reynolda Trails connect Wake Forest’s main campus to the Reynolda Gardens and Graylyn Estate. The paths lead through lush forests and along expansive wetlands, a winding creek and a wide meadow. Search the ponds and wetlands for sunning snapping turtles, take a peek at bee boxes in the meadow or keep an ear out for the many different bird species that call Reynolda home. Some interesting places to explore along the way are the Reynolda House, the former Reynolds family estate which features rotating historical and artistic exhibitions, and the Reynolda Gardens, which includes a manicured rose garden and exotic greenhouse. Keep our greenways clean with dEaCOfriendly dEaCOfriendly is a student-run organization that promotes sustainable culture and action at Wake Forest. “I love dEaCOfriendly because of the way it tackles three things that I am passionate about: the environment, the arts and service,” junior Temi Ogunyomade, president of dEaCOfriendly, said. “Through their events, dEaCO takes a creative yet practical spin on sustainability to inform the greater Wake Forest student body or have them directly engage in sustainable habits.” Activities include trash clean ups on Sundays throughout the Winston-Salem area and clothing swaps. Volunteering to clean up trash with dEaCOfriendly is a
meaningful way to get off campus, experience nature and make a difference. “It’s a great way to start your Sunday mornings on a productive note while socializing and keeping our community green,” Ogunyomade said. Volunteer with Campus Garden A vibrant half-acre garden just across Polo Road provides an opportunity for students to get their hands dirty. Volunteers at the Campus Garden grow and harvest produce used by the Campus Kitchen, explore sustainable gardening practices and even raise chickens. Studies demonstrate that gardening can lead to improved mood and self-esteem, reduced stress and anxiety and improved overall wellbeing. “I think people should get involved with the campus garden because it serves as a great entry point for people who want to get involved with sustainability within and outside of Wake Forest but don’t know quite where to start,” said Campus Garden intern Don Tulloch, a junior. Through their Connect and Cultivate program, students can volunteer at Campus Garden on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 3 to 4 p.m. No experience is required. Take a trip with Outdoor Pursuits For students interested in off-campus nature experiences, Outdoor Pursuits is a great organization to check out. OP provides a variety of student-led outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking and rock climbing, for a small cost. Some adventures even feature overnight stays, including those that take place during school breaks. “[Outdoor Pursuits] gives you opportunities to try activities that you’ve never done before and learn from people your age, people who are younger than you and older than you who are way more knowledgeable than you about different types of outdoor recreation,” sophomore Shepard Adamson, an OP trip leader, explained. “Outdoor Pursuits provides a community of people at Wake Forest who love being outside and want to encourage other people to be outside. It is super awesome and inspiring.”
Contact Ella Jennings at jennem25@wfu.edu & Jasmine Standez at stantj23@wfu.edu
Column: Happy Environment News The news is full of doom and gloom, so let’s hear about some environment wins this week! ELLA JENNINGS Environment Editor
It can be discouraging to constantly hear about pollution, extinctions and natural disasters. While it’s vital to stay informed on environmental problems, there’s a lot of good news we don’t often hear about! Read along to learn how we are making progress and feel hope for the future. Depave the Way! Depave, an environmental advocacy network, inspired Portland, Oregon residents to remove 8.4 acres of pavement from their city and plant JDUGHQV LQ LWV SODFH 7KLV LQLWLDWLYH SURYLGHV ÀRRG control, dilutes air and water pollution, supports pollinators, sequesters carbon, recharges groundwater and reduces the heat island effect. The Depave movement represents how small actions can create a big difference. Preserving the one and only Marsican brown bear The organization Rewilding Apennines has connected 100,000 hectares of preserved land across the Apennine mountain range in Italy to protect an endangered subspecies called the Marsican brown bear. To develop a hospitable environment for the bear, Rewilding Apennines worked to replenish IRRG VRXUFHV OLNH IUXLW DQG ¿VK DQG UHPRYH GDQJHUous obstacles including barbed wire. After creatLQJ ¿YH RI WKHVH ZLOGOLIH FRUULGRUV DFURVV WKH SDUNV that comprise the bear’s only habitat on earth, the EHDU¶V SRSXODWLRQ LV RI¿FLDOO\ LQFUHDVLQJ The forecast is bright!
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
The sun shines through the forest on the Reynolda Trail, the connector between Wake Forest’s campus and Reynolda Village, Trails, Gardens, and Wetlands.
7KH DSS $OSHQ *ORZ VHQGV XVHUV D QRWL¿FDWLRQ when the sunset or sunrise in their area is forecast to be particularly beautiful. Users can view what time the sun rises and sets, along with when “golden hour” and “blue hour” will occur. Apps like Alpen Glow are a great way to inspire people to get outdoors and instill a sense of awe for our natural world. Hopefully, these moments lead people to protect our lovely planet. Contact Ella Jennings at jennem25@wfu.edu
OPINION
PAGE 12 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Caroline Gottsman, gottca23@wfu.edu Hannah Ordan, ordahg25@wfu.edu
The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board
The return of analog media Yes, it is more than just nostalgia (or being performative)
Winston Fugate Staff Writer
ber 2023 to claim tax write-offs, and it took Ketchup (QWHUWDLQPHQW SD\LQJ DERXW PLOOLRQ WR SU\ LW back out. “Coyote vs. Acme” opened in theaters on $XJ WKUHH \HDUV ODWHU :KHQ D VWXGLR ZLOO destroy itV RZQ ¿QLVKHG ZRUN IRU D WD[ EHQH¿W WKH message to the audience is clear enough: none of this is being kept for you. So when people ask why anyone would choose the heavier, scratchier, less convenient option, the answer is not complicated. It feels good to own something. A record is worse than streaming in every measurable way and better in the only one that has started to matter: no licensing agreement expires on my shelf. There is no reality where 550 albums vanish from my shelf because two companies failed to renew a contract. Plenty of people have reached the same concluVLRQ 8 6 YLQ\O UHYHQXH FURVVHG ELOOLRQ LQ up 9.3% and marking the format’s 19th consecutive year of growth. Film is doing the same thing at a smaller scale: Fortune reported this summer that URXJKO\ RI WKH ZRUOG¶V PLOOLRQ DFWLYH ¿OP FDPHUD XVHUV DUH EHWZHHQ DQG ZLWK VHDUFKes for analog photography up 41% year over year. Nearly 60% of Gen Z has bought vinyl. None of this is replacing streaming. Everyone I know with a record collection also has Spotify or whatever other version of music streaming they prefer. The two run side by side, which is the actual story. We’re not rejecting digital media for analog; we just want the permanence of one with the convenience of the other.
There is a social side to this, too. Record stores are one of the few places left where people my age can spend an afternoon without a cover charge or a WZR GULQN PLQLPXP DQG WKH ¿UVW $QDORJ&RQ LQ /RV $QJHOHV WKLV $SULO ¿OOHG D URRP ZLWK SKRWRJUDSKHUV who found the hobby through an algorithm and then wanted to leave that algorithm behind. Rotem Rozental, a lecturer at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design, frames the trend as young people rejecting algorithms and looking for authentic community rather than indulging in nostalgia. Now, I would be remiss not to concede the obvious. Some of this is performance, and I was walking evidence for a while. There is something absurd about buying records you can’t play and shooting ¿OP \RX XSORDG WR ,QVWDJUDP DQ\ZD\ %XW FDOOLQJ LW performative assumes there is nothing underneath, and there is. Underneath it is a clear-eyed rejection of the deal we were offered: pay forever, hold nothing, trust that the companies collecting the money will keep deciding in our favor. 7KH WXUQWDEOH ¿QDOO\ DUULYHG RYHU WKH VXPPHU ,W lives in my common room now, and on Friday nights somebody puts a record on it and eventually we all KDYH WR VWRS ZKDW ZH¶UH GRLQJ DQG ÀLS LW ZKLFK LV inconvenient in a way we seem to like. Nobody in that room is confused about who the record belongs to. That is a small thing to be sure of, and lately a rare one.
I had a record collection well before I ever had anything to play them on. They sat on a shelf, spines out, arranged with a lot more care than my laundry ever got. Some of my friends would rightly give me a hard time about it. Funnily enough, I’m actually closer to the rule than the exception. A 2023 Luminate report found that half of American vinyl buyers don’t own a record player. Half of us are buying objects we cannot use. If you want proof that my generation’s turn to analog is a costume, feel free to start there, but I ask that you humor me for just a bit. First, let’s take an inventory of what someone my age physically owns. My photos are in a cloud for which I rent monthly storage, my schoolwork and other documents live in an account the university controls, my games on PlayStation require a monthly subscription, my games on Steam say I’m only buying a license and my movies and shows keep leaving the streaming platforms I pay for. Last but not least, a home looks like something I may only ever rent. In a 2025 Clever Offers survey of 1,000 Gen Z adults, 90% said they hope to own a home someday but 79% said they don’t believe they ever will. That is a generation being told, in the most expensive terms available, to get comfortable paying monthly for things it will never truly own. That is a strange way to grow up. Previous generations had shoeboxes of photos, closets of tapes and stacks of albums, which meant something partly Contact Winston Fugate at because these items were physically theirs. We have fugamw25@wfu.edu storage tiers and account settings. I could lose my whole recorded life to a forgotten password or a policy change, but nothing physical would disapSHDU IURP P\ VKHOYHV +ROGLQJ WKH ¿UVW UHFRUG , HYHU bought felt like something that scrolling past hundreds of songs never had. This feeling turns out to be well founded because the digital library is just as fragile as you might think. On Sept. 1, Sony will permanently delete more than 550 movies from European Playstation accounts, including “Terminator 2” and “Total Recall,” because its licensing agreement with StudioCanal expired. These were not rentals. People paid full price, and there are no refunds and no recourse. Sony, Apple and other companies have done similar things throughout the years, and it will keep happening, because the arrangement was never ownership LQ WKH ¿UVW SODFH This deletion is common enough that California had to legislate against it. AB 2426, in effect since January 2025, prohibits companies from advertising digital goods as a “purchase” unless they clearly disclose that the transaction is only a revocable license. Read that back slowly: a state government had to force companies to admit that buying isn’t buying. Meanwhile, the subscriptions that replaced ownership keep asking for more and delivering less. 1HWÀL[¶V DG IUHH WLHUV QRZ UXQ DQG D PRQWK DQG +%2 0D[¶V DG IUHH LV ,I \RX stack the three or four carrying the shows you actually follow, you are paying a cable-sized bill for a catalog that changes without warning. We were sold convenience, and we got a rental agreement with a Christopher Wallace / Old Gold & Black rising rent. The greed is not subtle, either. Warner Bros. Many types of analog media, especially record players, are coming back in a big way, VKHOYHG D ¿QLVKHG /RRQH\ 7XQHV PRYLH LQ 1RYHP- and this phenomenon represents an innate, human need for certainty and ownership.
Opinion | 2OG *ROG %ODFN
7KXUVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU | Page 13
̵ ϐ Meta's settlement can't put the social media genie back in its bottle, but it helps us realize that we should CAROLINE GOTTSMAN Opinion Editor
,¶OO EH WKH ¿UVW WR DGPLW LW :LWK WKH SDVW IHZ ZHHNV RI PRYLQJ LQ FODVVHV VWDUWLQJ DQG URXWLQHV VHWWOLQJ P\ ,QVWDJUDP DQG 7LN7RN DSSV KDYH VHHQ D ORW PRUH RI PH $IWHU VHHPLQJO\ HQGOHVV URRP UHDUUDQJLQJ DQG V\OODEXV UHDGLQJ QRWKLQJ VRXQGV HDVLHU WKDQ RSHQLQJ XS P\ SKRQH DQG WDNLQJ P\ WKXPE RQ D VFUROOLQJ ZDON 0RUH WLPHV WKDQ ,¶G FDUH WR DGPLW ,¶YH KDG WKDW OLWWOH QRWL¿FDWLRQ SRS XS WHOOLQJ PH ,¶YH UHDFKHG P\ VFUHHQ WLPH OLPLW DQG JHQHURXVO\ JLYLQJ PH WKH RSWLRQ WR LJQRUH LW DQG QLQH WLPHV RXW RI ,¶YH GRQH H[DFWO\ WKDW %XW DIWHU UHDGLQJ RQH UHFHQW KHDGOLQH , IRXQG P\VHOI ZRQGHULQJ LI D FKDQJH WR P\ VRFLDO PHGLD KDELWV LV PRUH QHFHVVDU\ WKDQ , PLJKW KDYH UHDOL]HG 2Q $XJ 0HWD DJUHHG WR SD\ ELOOLRQ WR VHWWOH FODLPV IURP VWDWHV WKDW LWV SODWIRUPV ZHUH DGGLFWLYH DQG QHJDWLYHO\ LPSDFWLQJ FKLOGUHQ¶V DQG WHHQV¶ PHQWDO KHDOWK 7KLV H[SHQVLYH DSRORJ\ FDPH ZLWK WKH DGGHG ERQXV RI SURPLVHV WR FKDQJH 0HWD YRZHG WR PDNH FRQVLGHUDEOH FKDQJHV WR )DFHERRN DQG ,QVWDJUDP¶V IHDWXUHV DQG VHFXULW\
“
Meta is admitting to the public that its applications actively capitalize on and fuel our insecurities. 7KHVH WZHDNV LQFOXGH D GDLO\ WLPH OLPLW RI WZR KRXUV EORFNHG FRQWHQW DQG QRWL¿FDWLRQV EHWZHHQ
PLGQLJKW DQG D P DV ZHOO DV GXULQJ WKH VFKRRO GD\ LQFUHDVHG DJH YHUL¿FDWLRQ HIIRUWV DQG WKH GLVDEOLQJ RI IHDWXUHV WKDW VWRNH QHJDWLYH VRFLDO FRPSDULVRQ VXFK DV SXEOLF OLNHV DQG EHDXW\ ¿OWHUV :KLOH WKH VHWWOHPHQW IXQGV DUH VXEVWDQWLDO DQG WKH DSS FKDQJHV VRXQG EHQH¿FLDO RQ SDSHU WKH F\QLFDO VLGH RI PH FDQ¶W KHOS EXW ZRQGHU KRZ PXFK JRRG WKHVH GHFLVLRQV ZLOO UHDOO\ GR 7KRXJK ELOOLRQ LV QRW DQ\WKLQJ WR VQHH]H DW WKH DPRXQW LV QRW D VLJQL¿FDQW SRUWLRQ RI 0HWD¶V LQFRPH DQG OLNHO\ GRHV QRW KLQGHU WKH FRPSDQ\¶V DXWKRULW\ RU LQÀXHQFH 7KLV VHWWOHPHQW LV LQ IDFW PXFK VPDOOHU WKDQ WKH RULJLQDO HVWLPDWHG GDPDJH RI DURXQG ELOOLRQ D QXPEHU HTXDO WR WKH FRPSDQ\¶V HQWLUH UHYHQXH LQ 7KRXJK WKLV PRQH\ PD\ IXQG PHQWDO KHDOWK VHUYLFHV DQG \RXWK RXWUHDFK SURJUDPV LWV UHODWLYH LQVLJQL¿FDQFH WR 0HWD VKRZV WKDW WKLV VHWWOHPHQW PD\ MXVW EH ³WKH FRVW RI GRLQJ EXVLQHVV ´ UDWKHU WKDQ D VHULRXV FRPPLWPHQW WR PDNLQJ FKDQJH ,Q WKH HQG WKH IXQGV IHHO PRUH OLNH DSSHDVHPHQW WKDQ D JHQXLQH VKLIW LQ 0HWD¶V SRZHU ZHDOWK RU PLQGVHW :LWK UHJDUG WR WKH SURPLVHG UHVWULFWLRQV , DP DOVR QRW YHU\ KRSHIXO WKDW WKHVH VKLIWV ZLOO FKDQJH PXFK RI RXU DGGLFWLYH KDELWV 3HRSOH ZKR KDYH JURZQ XS ZLWK WKH LQWHUQHW±HVSHFLDOO\ FKLOGUHQ WHHQDJHUV DQG \RXQJ DGXOWV±FDQ ZRUN WKHLU ZD\ DURXQG MXVW DERXW DQ\ ¿UHZDOO RU VFUHHQ WLPH OLPLW DQG RQFH ZH¶YH VWDUWHG WR XVH VRFLDO PHGLD WR WKH H[WHQW WKDW ZH GR LW¶V XQOLNHO\ WKDW ZH ZLOO EH VWRSSHG E\ VXFK VLPSOH ¿[HV $GGLWLRQDOO\ LI 0HWD EHFRPHV WRR GLI¿FXOW RU WLPH FRQVXPLQJ WR XVH ZH ZLOO OLNHO\ MXVW PLJUDWH WR RWKHU VRFLDO PHGLD DSSV WKDW GRQ¶W LQWHUIHUH ZLWK RXU VFUROOLQJ 0HWD¶V VHWWOHPHQW LV VWLOO D ODQGPDUN WKRXJK 1RW EHFDXVH LW¶V JRLQJ WR FXUE RXU VRFLDO PHGLD DGGLF-
WLRQ EXW EHFDXVH LW WHOOV XV WKDW ZH VKRXOG :LWK WKLV VWLOO H[SHQVLYH SD\RXW 0HWD LV DGPLWWLQJ WR WKH SXEOLF WKDW LWV DSSOLFDWLRQV DFWLYHO\ FDSLWDOL]H RQ DQG IXHO RXU LQVHFXULWLHV KDUP RXU PHQWDO KHDOWK DQG FUHDWH F\FOHV RI DGGLFWLRQ (QRXJK HYLGHQFH KDV EHHQ EURXJKW DJDLQVW 0HWD LQ FRXUWV RI ODZ WKDW LW KDV ZULWWHQ D YHU\ ODUJH FKHFN DV FRPSHQVDWLRQ DQG DGPLWWHG WKDW UHVWULFWLRQV PXVW EH SXW LQ SODFH
“
At the end of the day, we are the only ones who can decide to ignore the screen limit or exit out of the app. 6R \HV PD\EH WKHVH UHVWULFWLRQV FRXOG EH RYHUULGGHQ E\ DQ\ \HDU ROG ZLWK DFFHVV WR *RRJOH DQG 6HWWLQJV DQG PD\EH 0HWD YLHZV WKH ELOOLRQ GROODUV DV OLWWOH PRUH WKDQ SRFNHW FKDQJH EXW WKLV UHVXOW VKRZV XV WKDW WKHVH DSSOLFDWLRQV DUH QRW KDUPOHVV :H QHHG WR VHH 0HWD¶V VHWWOHPHQW IRU ZKDW LW LV 1RW D WHFK FRPSDQ\ VXGGHQO\ WXUQLQJ DOWUXLVWLF RU VROYLQJ VRFLHW\¶V VRFLDO PHGLD DGGLFWLRQ EXW D ÀDVKLQJ ZDUQLQJ VLJQ SURYLQJ WKDW WKHVH DSSV DUH LQGHHG GHVLJQHG WR WUDS XV LI ZH XVH WKHP DV LQWHQGHG %HFDXVH DW WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ ZH DUH WKH RQO\ RQHV ZKR FDQ GHFLGH WR LJQRUH WKH VFUHHQ OLPLW RU H[LW RXW RI WKH DSS Contact Caroline Gottsman at gottca23@wfu.edu
Couresty of Reuters
Meta’s may not
recent change
settlement much by
came itself, but
after maybe
it
a
can
lengthy change
our
legal battle, attitudes toward
and these
it apps.
Page 14 | Thursday, September 3, 2026
Old Gold & Black | Opinion
Letter to the Editor: From the Student Body President Gray Lowder promises to advocate for new and returning students in the Forest GRAY LOWDER Student Body President
Dear Wake Forest, This is Gray Lowder. 7R GR OLVWV DUH ÀOOLQJ XS $V HYHU\RQH ORFNV LQ IRU FODVVHV PHHWV QHZ IULHQGV KXJV ROG RQHV DQG ORRNV IRU WLPH WR VOHHS , ZDQW WR XSGDWH \RX RQ 6WXGHQW *RYHUQPHQW·V OLVW RI WKLQJV WR do: :H DUH FRQWLQXLQJ WR VHHN LPSURYHPHQWV WR GLQLQJ SDUNLQJ DQG KRXVLQJ ODXQFKLQJ RXU ÀUVW D FDSHOOD VKRZFDVH RQ 2FW DQG DFWLQJ RQ VWXGHQW LQSXW LQ SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK DGPLQLVWUDWRUV 7KH VWXGHQW H[SHULHQFH DW :DNH )RUHVW KDV EHHQ 6WXGHQW *RYHUQPHQW·V SULRULW\ IRU \HDUV :H KDYH RYHU VWXGHQWV VHUYLQJ HLWKHU RQ WKH 6HQDWH IDFXOW\ DQG VWDII FRPPLWWHHV WKH 6WXGHQW %XGJHW $GYLVRU\ &RPPLWWHH WKH 6WXGHQW 2UJDQL]DWLRQV &RXQFLO RU WKH 6WXGHQW 2UJDQL]DWLRQ -XGLFLDO $VVHPEO\ $V RXU VFKRRO JURZV DQG HYROYHV ZH DUH ZRUNLQJ WR PDLQWDLQ WKH VPDOO GHWDLOV WKDW PDNH :DNH )RUHVW XQOLNH DQ\ RWKHU 7R RXU SOXV VWXGHQW RUJDQL]DWLRQV NHHS LW XS *UHHN FKDSWHUV FOXE VSRUWV DQG SUH SURIHVVLRQDO UHOLJLRXV DIÀQLW\ DQG SKLODQWKURSLF RUJDQL]DWLRQV SURYLGH D FRPPXQLW\ IRU :DNH )RUHVW VWXGHQWV DQG WKH\ KDYH GRQH VR IRU \HDUV 2XU VWXGHQW JURXSV
PDNH RXU FDPSXV VSHFLDO DQG P\ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ ZLOO FRQWLQXH WHOOLQJ \RXU VWRULHV WR XQLYHUVLW\ OHDGHUVKLS $PRQJ WKH QHZ UHVRXUFHV DYDLODEOH WR FOXEV DQG VWXGHQWV WKH )ODUH DSS DQG RXU QHZ VWDII LQ WKH 2IÀFH RI 6WXGHQW (QJDJHPHQW VWDQG RXW 6WXGHQWV DQG FOXEV SOHDVH FRQWLQXH MRLQLQJ )ODUH LQ RUGHU WR DGYHUWLVH HYHQWV LQLWLDWLYHV DQG UHFUXLW QHZ PHPEHUV 6D\ KHOOR WR 'DQD 3XUVOH\ 0DULDK )LXPDUD (YH 3KLQD]HH DQG .DWLH .LUN DV \RX VHH WKHP LQ %HQVRQ DQG DURXQG FDPSXV 26( VWDII DUH LQFUHGLEOH DGYRFDWHV IRU VWXGHQWV DQG D ZHOFRPH DGGLWLRQ WR FDPSXV WKLV \HDU 3OHDVH FRQWLQXH UHDFKLQJ RXW ZLWK TXHVWLRQV FRQFHUQV DQG LGHDV )URP 9LOODJH -XLFH KRXUV DQG SDUNLQJ SHUPLWV WR *UXE+XE RSWLRQV DQG /DERU 'D\ ZH·YH VHHQ LPSURYHPHQWV LQ WKH SDVW PRQWKV DQG DUH DOZD\V ORRNLQJ IRU SDLQ SRLQWV WR UHFWLI\ DFURVV FDPSXV 7R RXU ÀUVW \HDUV DQG WUDQVIHU VWXGHQWV WKDQNV IRU \RXU NLQG LQWURGXFWLRQV 7R UHWXUQLQJ VWXGHQWV FRQWLQXH PHHWLQJ QHZ SHRSOH DQG SDVVLQJ GRZQ \RXU NQRZOHGJH DQG H[SHULHQFHV WR RXU QHZ VWXGHQWV )RU DOO VWXGHQWV UHPHPEHU WR OLVWHQ ÀUVW VPLOH DW HYHU\RQH DQG FDOO \RXU ORYHG RQHV %HVW Gray Lowder
Download the OGB's new app today! The Old Gold & Black LV DYDLODEOH DW \RXU ÀQJHUWLSV IRU FREE: 'RZQORDG WKH College News Source DSS $YDLODEOH LQ WKH App Store or QR Code: 6FDQ WR GRZQORDG &ROOHJH 1HZV 6RXUFH DSS 2SHQ DQG VHDUFK IRU “Wake Forest” 6HOHFW “Old Gold & Black"
Courtesy of Gabe Herrera
632576 Follow us on X @wfuogbsports
*ULIÀQ /DPSKLHU ODPSJP #ZIX HGX
2/' *2/' %/$&.
PAGE 15 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Men’s Basketball rebuilds roster amidst major budget challenges 'HDFRQV JHW FUHDWLYH ZLWK DGGLWLRQV DV ODUJH SRFNHWERRNV GUDZ WRS WDOHQW HOVHZKHUH *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU Sports Editor $ERXW ¿YH PRQWKV DJR +HDG &RDFK 6WHYH )RUEHV¶ VL[WK VHDVRQ LQ :LQVWRQ 6DOHP FDPH WR D FORVH ZLWK DQ 1,7 6HFRQG 5RXQG ORVV DW WKH /DZUHQFH -RHO 9HWHUDQV 0HPRULDO &ROLVHXP WR WKH ,OOLQRLV 6WDWH 5HGELUGV 7KH ¿QDO FRQWHVW ZDV D PLFURFRVP RI WKH VHDVRQ ZLWK VWUXJ JOHV WR ¿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¿OO DQG VXFK D UHVWULF WLYH EXGJHW )RUEHV DQG KLV VWDII ZHUH ODUJHO\ SULFHG RXW RI WKH UHFUXLWPHQW RI PDQ\ RI WKH PRVW HQWLFLQJ WUDQV IHU SRUWDO SOD\HUV 7KH\ VLPSO\ GLGQ¶W KDYH WKH PRQH\ DYDLODEOH WR JR RXW DQG JHW DQ DOUHDG\ SURYHQ VWDU 7KH PRVW UHFRJQL]DEOH QDPH WKH\ ZHUH DEOH WR DFTXLUH
FDPH LQ WKH IRUP RI -DPDUL 0F'RZHOO ZKR FRPHV WR :LQVWRQ 6DOHP IURP WKH EOXH EORRG .DQVDV -D\KDZNV 7KH ULVLQJ VHQLRU PDGH WKH 1&$$ 7RXUQDPHQW DOO WKUHH VHDVRQV RI KLV FDUHHU D VROLG UROH SOD\HU IRU OHJHQGDU\ KHDG FRDFK %LOO 6HOI¶V VTXDGV 7KRXJK KH ZDV QHYHU RQH RI WKH PDLQ VFRUHUV DW .DQVDV KH¶V VKRZQ VLJQL¿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¶OO QHHG WR EH DEOH WR EDWWOH ZLWK $&& IRHV RQ WKH LQWHULRU DQG WKDW¶V D WDOO RUGHU 3LQWHORQ LVQ¶W TXLWH D FHQWHU EXW KH¶OO VORW LQ DV D SRZHU IRUZDUG ZLWK VRPH VL]H DQG D GHFHQW VKRRWLQJ VWURNH +LV UHERXQGLQJ VNLOOV ZLOO QHHG VRPH ZRUN WR FRPSHWH LQ FRQIHUHQFH SOD\ ,I \RX¶UH ORRNLQJ IRU H[FLWLQJ RXWVLGH VKRRWLQJ 0RQ PRXWK WUDQVIHU JXDUG -XVWLQ 5D\ LV \RXU JX\ $ EUHDNRXW VRSKRPRUH VHDVRQ ODVW \HDU VDZ KLP VKRRW IURP WKUHH SRLQW UDQJH DQG KH SURYHG KH FDQ GR LW DJDLQVW $&& FRPSHWLWLRQ ZLWK D SRLQW SHUIRUPDQFH DJDLQVW
Christopher Wallace/Old Gold & Black
6\UDFXVH ZKHUH KH FRQQHFWHG IRXU WLPHV IURP EH\RQG WKH DUF +H¶OO EH VROLGO\ LQ WKH URWDWLRQ IRU )RUEHV¶ VTXDG LI KH GRHVQ¶W HQG XS LQ WKH VWDUWLQJ OLQHXS 1RUWKHUQ &RORUDGR WUDQVIHU 5LQJ 1\HUL KDV ORRNHG YHU\ VWURQJ LQ WKH SUHVHDVRQ VKRZFDVLQJ D WKUHH SRLQW VKRW WKDW VHHPV WR KDYH LPSURYHG VLQFH ODVW VHDVRQ $W IRRW KLV PDVVLYH IUDPH KHOSV KLP GHIHQG ZHOO DQG EORFN VKRWV DW D GHFHQW FOLS +H DOVR UHERXQGHG ZHOO IRU WKH %HDUV EXW LW¶V D ELJ MXPS WR WKH $&& 7KH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV ZLOO QHHG KLP WR WDNH WKH VWHS XS ZHOO ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH WUDQVIHU SRUWDO FODVV WKH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV DGGHG WKUHH LQFRPLQJ IUHVKPHQ WR WKH URV WHU ,QFOXGHG DUH D SDLU RI WZLQV *DYLQ DQG *DOODJKHU 3ODFLGH %RWK ELJ PHQ WKH WZR 'DOODV QDWLYHV ZLOO KDYH LPPHGLDWH FKDQFHV DW VLJQL¿FDQW SOD\LQJ WLPH DW D SRVL WLRQ RI QHHG 7KH ODUJHU RI WKH WZLQV *DYLQ KDV VHUL RXVO\ WXUQHG KHDGV LQ WKH SUHVHDVRQ ³+H¶V SUREDEO\ WKH PRVW WDOHQWHG IUHVKPDQ ,¶YH FRDFKHG VLQFH 7RELDV +DUULV ´ )RUEHV VDLG LQ -XO\ ³+H FDQ GR VR PDQ\ WKLQJV ZLWK WKH EDOO LQ KLV KDQGV RII WKH GULEEOH +H FDQ VKRRW LW UHERXQG LW SDVV LW KH¶V D JRRG GHIHQGHU 5HDOO\ UHDOO\ UHDOO\ OLNH KLP ´ *DYLQ FRXOG EH D GD\ RQH VWDUWHU ZKHQ WKH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV JHW JRLQJ RQ 1RY DJDLQVW 0DU\ODQG (DVWHUQ 6KRUH (DUO\ UHWXUQV LQGLFDWH WKDW KH PD\ EH WKH QH[W 1%$ 'UDIW SURVSHFW IRU )RUEHV DQG :DNH )RUHVW *DOODJKHU 3ODFLGH LV D ELW VPDOOHU DQG ZLOO OLNHO\ ¿OO LQ DW WKH VPDOO IRUZDUG RU SRZHU IRUZDUG 1RQHWKHOHVV KH¶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¿UVW HYHU ),%$ (XUR%DVNHW &KDPSLRQVKLS ZLWK SRLQWV WR EHDW ,WDO\ LQ WKH ¿QDO )RUEHV¶ VTXDG UHWXUQV JXDUG ,VDDF &DUU DV WKH RQO\ SOD\HU WKDW ZDV RQ VFKRODUVKLS IRU WKLV WHDP ODVW \HDU DQG IRUPHU ZDON RQ JXDUG 9LQFHQW 5LFFKLXWL KDV EHHQ JUDQWHG D VFKRODUVKLS IRU KLV VHQLRU \HDU &DUU KDG D JRRG VXPPHU GHYHORSPHQW ZLVH DQG KH¶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³,¶P MXVW H[FLWHG DERXW WKHP DQG , NQRZ RXU IDQV DUH JRLQJ WR EH MXVW DV H[FLWHG DERXW WKHP ZKHQ WKH\ JHW D FKDQFH WR VHH WKHP SOD\ ´ )RUEHV VDLG LQ -XO\ ³([SHFWDWLRQV DUH EXLOW RQ ZKDW ZH VHH HYHU\ GD\ RQ DQG RII WKH FRXUW DQG WKH\¶UH KLJK« , EHOLHYH LQ WKLV WHDP , UHDOO\ OLNH WKHP DQG , WKLQN WKDW ZH KDYH D FKDQFH WR EH UHDOO\ JRRG ´
Head Coach Steve Forbes coaching the 2025-26 Demon Deacons, who &RQWDFW *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU DW notched an 18-17 overall record, in a home game at the LJVM Coliseum. ODPSJP #ZIX HGX
3DJH | 7KXUVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Women’s Soccer bests Portland 2-0 to start ϐ Sythe and Flanagan score en route to another commanding Demon Deacon victory
*ULI¿Q /Dmphier Sports Editor
tacking half almost immediately—the Demon Deacons unable to clear it for WKH ILUVW PLQXWHV RI WKH PDWFK 7KH Looking to continue a sweltering Wake Forest defense stood strong VWDUW 1R :RPHQ¶V 6RFFHU KRVWHG amidst multiple dangerous chances, WKH 3RUWODQG 3LORWV RQ $XJ 7KH and they finally tilted the field back 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV KDGQ¶W DOORZHG D LQ WKHLU IDYRU DURXQG WKH WK PLQXWH goal all season, and that trend contin,Q WKH WK PLQXWH PLGILHOGHU 5LOH\ ued with another shutout victory. Cross picked the pocket of a Pilots Portland came out on the front foot defender and made a great move to as the Pilots got the ball in their at- get free in the box, but her left-footed
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
Forward Henley Tippins (9) makes a move past a Port ϐ ǯ Ǥ
drive leaked left of the goal. Then, forward Kylie Maxwell took a steal RI KHU RZQ LQ WKH WK PLQXWH EXW VKH rocketed it off of the right post. Maxwell was a dangerous presence all night long, as she repeatedly found ways to get a shooting lane, hitting the frame of the goal more than once. 7KLV LVQ¶W D QHZ WUHQG IRU WKH VWDU striker, who has just one goal thus far despite putting a barrage of shots on net in the last few contests. ,Q WKH WK PLQXWH MXQLRU IRUZDUG Chloe Burst got great positioning in the box, and she was taken down by Pilots defender Taylor Norman, being rewarded a penalty kick after video review. Redshirt junior defender Sierra Sythe took the penalty kick and rifled a shot right of Pilots goalkeeper Sophia Hills to give the Demon DeaFRQV D OHDG WKDW WKH\ WRRN LQWR WKH half. Wake Forest was on the attack quickly out of the break, leading to a golden chance in the 54th minute as freshman forward Eva Forster got a perfect lane to shoot in front. However, Hills made her best save of the night, leaping for a full-extension VDYH 7KHQ DERXW PLQXWHV ODWHU graduate forward Henley Tippins had
an open net after a perfect cross, but her deflection rang the frame to keep it a one-goal game. Fortunately, the Demon Deacons soon fortified their lead, as sophomore forward Allie Flanagan beat her defender down the left side and made a move towards the middle. She fired a shot from just outside the box and Hills got a piece, but not enough to keep it out. As a result, the Demon 'HDFRQV WRRN D OHDG DQG WKH 3LORWV¶ VSLULWV ZHUH PRVWO\ TXDVKHG ³,¶P VXSHU KDSS\ IRU >)ODQDJDQ@ ´ Head Coach Tony da Luz said after the game. “I thought last game she made some big progress and today with the goal, she deserves that.” Maxwell had another dangerous chance late, this one trickling all the way down the goal line before curling out, but neither team mustered anything else and Wake Forest earned its fifth straight shutout. “Our center backs did a really good job with the ball. They controlled the game,” da Luz said. “Once we get in RXU UK\WKP ZH¶UH SUHWW\ JRRG ´ &RQWDFW *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU DW lampgm25@wfu.edu
Men’s Soccer dominates second half to defeat San Francisco in season opener 6HQLRUV OHDG 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV DIWHU ¿UVW KDOI PLVFXHV *ULI¿Q /DPSKLer Sports Editor Days after dominating the third-ranked Furman Paladins in an exhibition match, the Demon Deacons came out sloppily in the regular-season opener. The visiting San Francisco Dons were much more aggressive out of the gate, and the physicality was palpable both ways. Within the ¿UVW WKUHH PLQXWHV ERWK 6DQ )UDQFLVFR¶V -DPHVRQ 5DE\ DQG :DNH )RUHVW¶V 7DWH Lorentz earned yellow cards. The Dons fouled a fair bit, but they also forced plenty of defensive miscues from the Demon Deacons. Then in the 14th minute, Wake Forest freshman defenseman William Kusiel misplayed an attack LQ WKH GHIHQVLYH KDOI DOORZLQJ PLG¿HOGHU .DOHE $VIDUL WR ¿QG IRUZDUG 'DYLG 5Dfael, who deposited the opening goal past Deacon goalkeeper Jonah Mednard. Then came the big momentum-shifting moment of the game — a second yellow FDUG WR 86)¶V 5DE\ LQ WKH WK PLQXWH getting him sent off and putting the Dons a man down for the remainder of the match. The Demon Deacons capitalized almost immediately. Senior Tate Lorentz set up fellow senior Jeffrey White beautifully, as KH ZDV OHIW DOO DORQH LQ IURQW DQG ¿UHG WKH equalizer past goalkeeper Lucas Jones. With the energy of a raucous home
crowd behind them, the Deacs continued to push, and just two minutes later, they were rewarded with a handball in the box that set up a penalty kick for senior Jose 3HUH] +H ¿UHG LW SDVW WKH 'RQV¶ JRDONHHSHU JLYLQJ :DNH )RUHVW WKH OHDG IRU WKH ¿UVW time. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived, as San Francisco answered back just moments later off of another defensive miscue. Forward Brayden Beason got free on a sprint, and Mednard could not get enough of the shot to turn him away. The QH[W PLQXWHV ZHUH EDFN DQG IRUWK EXW WKH VFRUH VWD\HG JRLQJ LQWR WKH KDOI Wake Forest made the adjustments they needed in the second half. The defensive miscues were much fewer and further between, and the fatigue from playing a man down was starting to show for San Francisco. In the 57th minute, Deacon sophomore defender and Campbell transfer Ronnie Garcia placed a beautiful through ball for IUHVKPDQ PLG¿HOGHU 3KLOLS %LVNXSVNL who rocketed a shot right of the goalkeepHU WR UHWDNH WKH OHDG²KLV ¿UVW FROOHJLDWH goal. After some more stout defense and some highlight saves from Mednard, the Deacs were back on the attack in the 76th PLQXWH 6RSKRPRUH PLG¿HOGHU 'DYLG Nguema put a perfect cross into the box
for White, who simply tapped it in for his VHFRQG JRDO RI WKH JDPH PDNLQJ LW 7KH ¿QDO PLQXWHV WLFNHG RII WKH FORFN and Wake Forest earned a season-opening victory. “Not pretty,” said Head Coach Bobby Muuss after the game. “The goal at the EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH VHDVRQ LV WR EH WKDW¶V all I can say… We made a couple of adjustments with our shape and the way
we wanted to attack against them, and I thought the guys executed.” ³7KH\¶YH EHHQ GRLQJ D UHDOO\ JRRG MRE of leading,” Muuss said about his seniors. ³7KH\¶UH JRLQJ WR EH KDSS\ ZH ZRQ EXW WKH\ ZRQ¶W EH KDSS\ ZLWK WKH SHUIRUmance.”
&RQWDFW *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU DW lampgm25@wfu.edu
Photo Courtesy of Wake forest Athletics
ȋͳ͵Ȍ Ǥ
6SRUWV | 2OG *ROG %ODFN
7KXUVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU | 3DJH
Field Hockey drops season-opener to 11th-ranked Iowa in overtime 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV IDOO LQ ¿UVW JDPH RI $&& %LJ &KDOOHQJH LQ KHDUWEUHDNLQJ IDVKLRQ
(WKDQ 7UH[OHU &RQWULEXWLQJ :ULWHU On Friday, Aug. 28, the Wake ForHVW ¿HOG KRFNH\ WHDP KRVWHG ,RZD DW .HQWQHU 6WDGLXP WR NLFN RII WKH VHDVRQ 7KH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV DUH FRPLQJ RII RI D VHDVRQ FKDUDFWHUL]HG E\ KLJK UHJXODU VHDVRQ VXFFHVV WKH\ KHOG D UHFRUG LQFOXGLQJ D JDPH ZLQQLQJ VWUHDN WKDW ODVWHG QHDUO\ WZR PRQWKV +RZHYHU WZR RI WKHLU ORVVHV FDPH IURP WKH DQQXDO $&& %LJ &KDOOHQJH DJDLQVW ,RZD DQG 0LFKLJDQ UHVSHFWLYHO\ *RLQJ LQWR WKH VHDVRQ KRSHV ZHUH KLJK IRU WKH WHDP WR UHZULWH WKH QDUUDWLYH DJDLQVW %LJ RSSRQHQWV 7KLV \HDU :DNH )RUHVW ZDV WKH KRVW VLWH IRU WKH $&& %LJ &KDOOHQJH JLYLQJ WKH WHDP KRPH ¿HOG DGYDQWDJH 'HVSLWH D WZR KRXU UDLQ GHOD\ WKH FURZG ZDV HQHUJL]HG ZLWK KLJK DWWHQGDQFH IURP :DNH )RUHVW VWXGHQWV RQ WKH ¿UVW )ULGD\ QLJKW RI WKH VHPHVWHU 7KH FRPSOHWH VWDUWLQJ URVWHU RI UHWXUQLQJ 'HDFV GLG QRW ZDVWH DQ\ WLPH RQ RIIHQVH WR VWDUW WKH JDPH /HVV WKDQ ¿YH PLQXWHV LQ VHQLRU PLG¿HOGHU $YD 0RRUH WRRN DGYDQWDJH RI D SHQDOW\ VWULNH DQG VFRUHG WR HVWDEOLVK DQ HDUO\ OHDG
6KRUWO\ DIWHU IUHVKPDQ %LDQFD 5HHV *LEEV WRRN PDWWHUV LQWR KHU RZQ KDQGV E\ GULEEOLQJ WKURXJK D KRVW RI ,RZD GHIHQGHUV WR QHW DQ XQDVVLVWHG JRDO DQG DGYDQFH :DNH )RUHVW¶V OHDG 7KH VFRULQJ IUHQ]\ FRQWLQXHG LQWR WKH VHFRQG TXDUWHU DV IUHVKPDQ IRUZDUG 6HOD 3URYHQ]DQR IRUFHG D WXUQRYHU LQ ,RZD¶V GHIHQVLYH KDOI DQG XOWLPDWHO\ DVVLVWHG VHQLRU IRUZDUG 5RU\ +HVOLQ¶V JRDO 7KH 'HDFV ZHQW LQWR KDOIWLPH ZLWK D FRPPDQGLQJ OHDG ODUJHO\ GXH WR D GRPLQDQW GHIHQVLYH SHUIRUPDQFH OHG E\ :DNH )RUHVW JRDOWHQGHU &DUROLQH *UHEH 7KH UHGVKLUW MXQLRU KDG ¿YH VDYHV LQ WKH ¿UVW KDOI ZKLFK DOORZHG WKH RIIHQVH WR PDLQWDLQ PRPHQWXP 6SLULWV ZHUH KLJK IRU :DNH )RUHVW JRLQJ LQWR WKH VHFRQG KDOI EXW ,RZD¶V SHUVLVWHQW RIIHQVLYH SUHVVXUH FUHDWHG WZR JRDOV ODWH LQ WKH WKLUG TXDUWHU 0RPHQWXP RVFLOODWHG EHWZHHQ :DNH )RUHVW DQG ,RZD WR VWDUW WKH IRXUWK TXDUWHU DV WKH 'HDFV WULHG WR GHIHQG D RQH JRDO OHDG (YHQWXDOO\ ,RZD¶V 0HJ 7HEEHQ FDSLWDOL]HG RQ D SHQDOW\ FRUQHU DQG HYHQHG WKH VFRUH DW 'HVSLWH DQ DGGLWLRQDO VDYHV IURP *UHEH LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI D ODFN RI RIIHQVLYH SURGXFWLRQ DQG GHIHQVLYH SUHVVXUH IURP :DNH )RUHVW DOORZHG
,RZD WR VHQG WKH JDPH WR RYHUWLPH :DNH )RUHVW FDPH RXW ZLWK HQHUJ\ LQ RYHUWLPH DV WKH\ SURGXFHG PXOWLSOH VFRULQJ RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ ,RZD¶V GHIHQVLYH KDOI +RZHYHU DQ ,RZD EUHDNDZD\ HYHQWXDOO\ OHG WR D JDPH ZLQQHU E\ ,RZD¶V 5HLQH YDQ +RRI IRU D ,RZD ZLQ 'HVSLWH D GLVDSSRLQWLQJ KRPH RSHQHU
H[SHFWDWLRQV IRU WKH ¿HOG KRFNH\ WHDP UHPDLQ UHDOLVWLFDOO\ RSWLPLVWLF 7KH\ ZLOO IDFH D ULJRURXV VFKHGXOH RI FKDOOHQJLQJ RSSRQHQWV ZKLFK SURYLGHV RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR SURYH WKHLU ZRUWK DJDLQVW WKH QDWLRQ¶V WRS WHDPV
&RQWDFW (WKDQ 7UH[OHU DW WUH[HZ #ZIX HGX
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
ǡ Ǥ ʹͺǡ ϐ Ǥ
Field Hockey controls the whole way to down No. 14 Michigan 0RQWDJ DQG %ORRG HDFK VFRUH LQ $&& %LJ &KDOOHQJH YLFWRU\ *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU 6SRUWV (GLWRU
10 Challenge, the Demon Deacons faced D VLPLODU FKDOOHQJH RQ $XJ DV WKH\ KRVWHG WKH WK UDQNHG 0LFKLJDQ :ROYHULQHV DW .HQWQHU 6WDGLXP :DNH )RUHVW ERXQFHG EDFN FRQWUROOLQJ WKH ZKROH ZD\
HQ URXWH WR D YLFWRU\ +HDG &RDFK -HQ $YHULOO·V VTXDG SXW 0LFKLJDQ RQ WKH EDFN IRRW DOPRVW LPPHGLDWHO\ DV WKH :ROYHULQHV ZHUH PRVWO\ Coming off of a season-opening loss XQDEOH WR VHW DQ\WKLQJ XS RQ WKH DWWDFN WR ,RZD LQ WKH ÀUVW JDPH RI WKH $&& %LJ 7KH 'HDFV GLG FRQVWDQWO\ KRZHYHU HDUQLQJ D SHQDOW\ FRUQHU LQ WKH ÀUVW ÀYH PLQXWHV -XQLRU 0LD 0RQWDJ LQVHUWHG RQ WKH FRUQHU DQG VKH JRW D SDVV EDFN LQ IURQW WKDW :ROYHULQH JRDONHHSHU +DOD 6LOYHUVWHLQ ZDV DEOH WR VWRS /DWHU LQ WKH SHULRG IUHVKPDQ 6HOD 3URYHQ]DQR FDPH XS ZLWK D VWHDO LQ WKH RIIHQVLYH KDOI 6KH HDUQHG JRRG SRVLWLRQ EXW KHU VKRW VDLOHG KLJK RI WKH QHW WR NHHS WKH JDPH VFRUHOHVV 7KH\ JRW DQRWKHU JROGHQ RSSRUWXQLW\ LQ WKH ÀQDO WKUHH PLQXWHV RI WKH TXDUWHU DV IUHVKPDQ %LDQFD 5HHV *LEEV IRXQG KHUVHOI DOO DORQH RQ D EUHDNDZD\ EXW 6LOYHUVWHLQ WXUQHG KHU DZD\ 7KH VHFRQG SHULRG ZDV PRUH RI WKH VDPH IURP WKH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV DV WKH\ NHSW 0LFKLJDQ ZLWKRXW D VKRW IRU WKH HQWLUH ÀUVW KDOI 0LGZD\ WKURXJK WKH SHULRG :DNH )RUHVW JRW DQRWKHU SHQDOW\ FRUQHU DQG 0RQWDJ LQVHUWHG DQG JRW WKH UHWXUQ 7KLV WLPH KHU VKRW ZDV WUXH 6KH IRXQG SD\GLUW XQGHU WKH SDGV RI 6LOYHUVWHLQ WR PDNH LW D OHDG ZKLFK WKH\ KHOG LQWR WKH KDOI 7KH :ROYHULQHV FDPH RXW PXFK TXLFNPiper Saunders/Old Gold & Black HU LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI DQG WKH\ JRW VRPH ǡ Ǥ ʹͺǡ ϐ GDQJHURXV FKDQFHV DIWHU HVWDEOLVKLQJ Ǥ SRVVHVVLRQ LQ WKHLU RIIHQVLYH KDOI 7KH\
VFRUHG WKHLU ÀUVW SHQDOW\ FRUQHU RI WKH JDPH DERXW VL[ PLQXWHV LQ DQG MXQLRU 'UX 0RIIHWW VHHPHG WR KDYH JRDONHHSHU 5XE\ %XWWHUÀHOG ZKR FDPH LQ IRU VWDUWHU &DUROLQH *UHEH DW KDOIWLPH EHDW RQ WKH IDU VLGH EXW KHU VKRW ZHQW MXVW ZLGH $QRWKHU SHQDOW\ FRUQHU ODWHU LQ WKH SHULRG OHIW 0LFKLJDQ ZLWK D JUHDW RSSRUWXQLW\ DQG WKLV WLPH LW ZDV MXQLRU .HOVH\ Reviello who seemed to have a goal on KHU VWLFN IRU WKH :ROYHULQHV EXW KHU RQH WRXFK UHGLUHFWLRQ ZHQW OHIW RI WKH JRDOSRVW 'HVSLWH 0LFKLJDQ EHLQJ LQ FRQWURO IRU PRVW RI WKH SHULRG WKH 'HPRQ 'HDFRQV SUHVHUYHG D OHDG JRLQJ LQWR WKH ÀQDO TXDUWHU 7KH IRXUWK ZDV EDFN DQG IRUWK ZLWK QHLWKHU VLGH KDYLQJ PXFK OXFN ÀQGLQJ VSDFH EXW ZLWK DERXW QLQH PLQXWHV WR JR :DNH )RUHVW HDUQHG DQRWKHU SHQDOW\ FRUQHU 0RQWDJ LQVHUWHG ÀQGLQJ IUHVKPDQ 2OLYH %RGHO DQG %RGHO VHW XS IHOORZ IUHVKPDQ $PHOLD %ORRG ZKR ÀUHG D VKRW SDVW 6LOYHUVWHLQ IRU KHU ÀUVW JRDO DV D 'HPRQ 'HDFRQ The Wolverines got one final great scoring opportunity in the final two minutes, as junior Cami Wiseman got free on a breakaway, but Butterfield made a fantastic one-on-one save to keep the shutout intact, and Wake Forest came away with a strong 2-0 victory.
&RQWDFW *ULI¿Q /DPSKLHU DW ODPSJP #ZIX HGX
ARTS & CULTURE OLD GOLD & BLACK
PAGE 18 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Lydia Derris, derrlf23@wfu.edu@wfu.edu Henry Yates, yatehs24@wfu.edu
ϐ Indie horror, Christopher Nolan, and Spider-Man show what’s old and new at the movies HENRY YATES Arts & Culture Editor Almost instantly after school got out for the summer of 2026, Hollywood did what it always ought to do: gave us a reason to leave our couches and go out to the multiplex. The season opened with Curry Barker, a Gen Z YouTube comedian, making his theatrical directorial debut with “Obsession.” Bolstered by an Oscar-worthy performance from the equally young Inde Navarrette as the lead, the film dives into the complexity and anxieties of modern love through the lens of a possession trope. Refusing to give easy answers and keeping you on the edge of your seat, “Obsession” greatly impressed me and, evidently, tons of other people. Made for less than $1 million, it has currently grossed over $500 million, making it one of the most profitable films ever made. Original ideas and filmmaking continued to dominate the box office with “Backrooms,” made by the independent studio A24. Based on an internet “copypasta” and directed by Kane Parsons—a director younger than some of the undergrads reading this—“Backrooms” made around $400 million. It accomplished this despite its competition being the first Star Wars theatrical film since 2019’s dreadful “The Rise of Skywalker.” I personally did not catch “Backrooms” due to my studying abroad, but couldn’t escape the buzz. It drew praise from its internet fandom and casual watchers alike. Though A24’s film did not reach the critical or financial highs of “Obsession,” both films show audiences’ new preference for authentic, director-driven filmmaking, rather than the “sequel slop” of the last decade or so. The summer’s true event films arrived in July. Three years ago, Christopher Nolan released his masterpiece “Oppenheimer,” which rode tense science, a magical performance
by Cillian Murphy and Nolan’s virtuosic directing to seven Oscars and nearly $1 billion. Rather than rest on his laurels, Nolan decided to prove he owns the director’s chair by adapting the original Western myth, Homer’s “The Odyssey,” into a three-hour blockbuster. Choosing to shoot as much on location and in-camera as possible, as well as entirely in IMAX, Nolan intentionally stacked the cards against himself, his cast and his crew as they sought to make a great film. They succeeded. Nolan adopts the role of the bard for his “Odyssey,” reinterpreting the tale as immediately relevant for his current audience, rather than as a museum piece for preservation. In Nolan’s hands, Matt Damon’s Odysseus becomes not only a meditation on cleverness, guile and loyalty, but also on grief, guilt and humility. While imperfect, there is no denying the film is truly great and an achievement in every sense of the word. Of the all-star cast, Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel and Anne Hathaway stand out, but no bad performance draws the eye. The production design, score and special effects immerse one fully in Nolan’s Ancient Greece, and his take on the myths, far from dumbing down the supernatural, makes the poem’s fantastical pieces immediate and real. Audiences agree: Nolan crafted in “The Odyssey” a fantastic cinematic experience that deserves your attention, in IMAX film if possible. Barely a month after release, it is the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made. Even my hard-ofhearing grandfather got his friends to go see this loud adaptation of a poem older than democracy. (For the record, he liked it, even though he “doesn’t like Matt Damon.”) The film’s impact on the next generation will be profound, and I would keep an eye on it for awards season. However, Nolan would not win the overall box office. That honor would go to two of his stars, Zendaya and her husband Tom Holland. Their new film, “Spider-Man: Brand
New Day,” starring Holland as the web-slinger, has grossed over $2.2 billion in its first month in theaters. Grounding Holland’s Peter Parker and introducing Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, “Brand New Day” marks the return of MCU SpiderMan after five years, only a few months before the new “Avengers” installment in December. I’ve considered Holland my favorite Spider-Man for years, but I don’t really like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” very much. Others and I have our critiques of that and Holland’s other films; Holland and director Destin Daniel Cretton clearly heard them. “Brand New Day” looks as good as any MCU film, and features kinetic action, solid character moments and a clear thematic throughline. It depicts SpiderMan as a Gen-Z hero, complete with loneliness, yearning and uncertainty about how to use his power for good. While the script muddles its villain and some ideas don’t completely land, the combination of MCU joy with authentic, timely filmmaking clearly resonated with audiences. After the muck of the great franchises of the 2010s, the streaming slop of the early 2020s and the constant remakes, sequels and reboots of these last two decades, Hollywood has a chance to learn a lesson here. Three of the summer’s biggest films came from directors and writers exerting their vision and giving audiences the best thing a filmmaker can—something they didn’t know they wanted in the best possible way. The fourth, and biggest film, was a sequel to an established franchise, but wasn’t afraid to say something, mix up its hero and push the artistry of said franchise forward. Hollywood rarely learns the right lessons. But if it can learn the right ones from 2026, we should be in for some great movies soon.
Contact Henry Yates at yatehs24@wfu.edu
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
Dz ǡdz highs this
Dz ǡdz Dz ǡdz summer and gave us a
Dz Ǧ ǣ dz reason to leave our couches
and
go
out
ϐ to the multiplex.
Arts & Culture | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Page 19
Arts & Culture Preview: Fall 2026 A summary of events and performances going on around town this semester NOLA ADEPOJU Staff Writer
Art “New Works” 6HSW 2FW StArt Gallery, Reynolda Village
Winston-Salem is the “City of Arts and Innovation,” and this fall semester brings with it a variety of artistic and cultural events, courtesy of both Wake Forest students and the wider FRPPXQLW\
Around Winston-Salem Classic Gold Music Jam 6HSW DW S P Reynolda Manor Branch Library
Theatre & Dance “The Firebugs” Directed by Brook Davis 6HSW DQG 2FW DW S P 6HSW DQG 2FW DW S P Tedford Stage, Scales Fine Arts Center Actors From the London Stage: ´0XFK $GR $ERXW 1RWKLQJµ 2FW DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center “Dance Nation” Directed by Stephen Wrentmore 1RY DW S P 1RY DW S P Tedford Stage, Scales Fine Arts Center Fall Faculty & Guest Artist Concert 'LUHFWHG E\ 1LQD /XFDV 5LFH 1RY DW S P 1RY DW S P Tedford Stage, Scales Fine Arts Center
Art Exhibit of Work by James Gemma and Lea Lackey-Zachmann 6HSW Artworks Gallery Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
Wake Forest and Winston-Salem will host a variety of artistic events this fall showcasing the region’s creativity. Music WFU Wind Ensemble Concert 2FW DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center WFU Symphony Orchestra Concert 2FW DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center Student Showcase Recital 2FW DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
WFU Choirs Concert 2FW DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center WFU Jazz Ensemble Concert 1RY DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra and WFU Wind Ensemble’s Sounds of Joy: A Holiday Gala at Wake 1RY DW S P Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
“Dracula: Comedy of Terrors” 6HSW The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem “Ragtime” 6HSW Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance Fall Vintage Market presented by OutWest Steakhouse 6HSW DW D P 401 South Main Street 7KLV LV QRW D FRPSUHKHQVLYH OLVW For additional events throughout the semester, visit the Department of Theatre and Dance, Department of Art, Department of Music and Winston6DOHP·V XSFRPLQJ HYHQWV FDOHQGDUV Contact Hope Nola Adepoju at adepaa23@wfu.edu
The Crossword THOMAS TILTON Staff Cruciverbalist Across 1 Popular bot developed by OpenAI 8 “How to Get Away with Murder” star Viola 13 Flowering ___ (State tree of Virginia) 14 Red drinking vessel used for party games 16 Highly-revealing swimwear for men 17 “The Hunger Games” author Suzanne 18 “At the ___ of the day…” 19 Capital of Peru 20 Syllable often interjected while singing “Happy Birthday” 21 &UHDP FRORUHG ÁRZHU XVHG LQ IUDJUDQFHV 25 /LNH VRGDV WKDW ORVW WKHLU À]] 26 Alien spaceships, in brief 27 Tree creature in “The Lord of the Rings” 28 Says hello, say 30 Sexiest ___ Alive (Title currently held by Jonathan Bailey) 31 Capital of Lebanon 33 8-, 13-, 17-, 21-, 42-, 47-, 56- or 65-Across at Wake Forest University 39 $OSKDEHWLFDOO\ ÀUVW 8 6 1DWLRQDO 3DUN 40 Type of non-dairy milk 42 The M of MLK 45 ABC program co-hosted by Michael 6WUDKDQ DEEU 47 Shirt with a collar 48 Many pub orders 49 Guy found beside an evil boss 51 1DVKYLOOH EDVHG DZDUGV JURXS 52 &DVWOH FLUFOHU RIWHQ ÀOOHG ZLWK ZDWHU 55 Sludge 56 Johns ___ University 58 Staying in a portable shelter 62 Like certain binders 63 1RRNV 64 “God’s Plan” singer
65 Non-Orlando-based Magic of professional basketball? Down 1 Donut-shaped music holders, in brief 2 Make like a bunny 3 It’s just a number according to some 4 Children between 8 and 12 years old 5 “Oh Lord, not a chance!” 6 Dog breed with standard, miniature and toy varieties 7 &DWFKHV LQ WKH HQG ]RQH IRU VKRUW 8 Fate that might be “impending” 9 Penne ___ vodka 10 Abbreviation on a book spine 11 Hanging piece of ice 12 Shade-producing beachwear 14 BBB À *HQUH ZLWK $FURVV 15 &HUWDLQ + 6 OHYHO H[DPV 19 Way to describe the hours after 11:00 pm 21 It’s “the word” in an idiom promoting secrecy 22 From ___ (not up close) 23 ___ with the wind 24 1RW XS IRU WKH GD\ PRVW OLNHO\ 25 Cheese used in tradition Greek Salads 28 Exam for college students hoping to continue their education, in brief 29 “___-roh!” (Scooby-Doo catchphrase) 32 What “Veni” means in “Veni, vidi, vici” 34 &HUWDLQ + 6 OHYHO H[DPV 35 “Here” in French 36 Dapper ___ (well-dressed guy) 37 Fruit of the ___ (Underwear brand) 38 Phrase repeated when plugging one’s ears 41 2,000 pounds 42 6WXGPXIÀQ\ 43 1XW IRXQG LQ PDU]LSDQ
44 Grim ___ (symbol of death) 46 Antagonist of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” 47 Light particle 50 Shell featured in “Lord of the Flies” 52 Weasel relative used to make lavish coats 53 Less than twice 54 Fire residue
57 Maker of Souls from Seoul 58 ___ Mahal (Iconic Indian structure) 59 Fluids found near hospital beds, for short 60 3UHÀ[ PHDQLQJ ´QHZµ 61 &KDQQHO ZLWK ´$PHULFD 6D\Vµ EULHÁ\
Contact Thomas Tilton at tilttd25@wfu.edu
Page 20 | Thursday, September 3, 2026
Old Gold & Black | Arts & Culture
Meet the Old Gold & Black Staff
MATTIE STILLERMAN Editor-in-Chief
MIRIAM FABRYCKY Deputy Editor
MARIA SILVEIRA Managing Editor
Class: Senior Major: Health & Exercise Science Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Class: Junior Major: Politics & International Affairs Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Class: Senior Major: Business and Enterprise Management Hometown: Highland Beach, Fla.
ARIC LOIACONO News Editor
HADASSAH EVANS News Editor
EVE DARKE City & State Editor
BIANCA REZNIC Features Editor
Class: Sophomore Major: Business and Enterprise Management & Communication Hometown: Rumson, N.J.
Class: Junior Major: Sociology & African American Studies Hometown: High Point, N.C.
Class: Senior Major: Politics & International Affairs Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Class: Junior Major: Politics & International Affairs & Economics Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
ELLA JENNINGS Environment Editor
CAROLINE GOTTSMAN Opinion Editor
HANNAH ORDAN Opinion Editor
GRIFFIN LAMPHIER Sports Editor
Class: Sophomore Major: Environmental Studies Hometown: Boone, N.C.
Class: Senior Major: English & Psychology Hometown: Gainesville, Ga.
Class: Sophomore Major: English Hometown: Bethesda, Md.
Class: Sophomore Major: Decision Analytics Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.
CHRIS WALLACE Photo & Video Editor
PAIGE RAKOWSKI Social Manager Editor
THOMAS TILTON Chief of Design
GIANNA SANCHEZ Copy Editor
ELIANA FOUNTAIN Copy Editor
Class: Junior Major: Chemistry Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Class: Sophomore Major: Finance Hometown: Sudbury, Mass.
Class: Sophomore Major: Health & Exercise Science Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Class: Sophomore Major: Health & Exercise Science Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Not Pictured: Lydia Derris, Arts & Culture Editor
Class: Sophomore Major: Communication Hometown: Monmouth Beach, N.J.
PIPER SAUNDERS Multimedia Director
ANNE SHANNON Business Manager
Class: Senior Major: Religious Studies Hometown: Boone, N.C.
Class: Junior Major: Accountancy Hometown: Argyle, Texas
RISHI VANKA Features Editor Class: Junior Major: History & Music Hometown: Tysons, Va.
HENRY YATES Arts & Culture Editor Class: Junior Major: History Hometown: Clifton, Va.