Old Gold&Black
“Covers the campus like the magnolia s ”
Report: male student allegedly assaulted three individuals on campus
Within the last two months, a male student allegedly assaulted three individuals in on-campus residence halls
ELLA KLEIN Editor-in-Chief
The Wake Forest community received a Community Safety Advisory informing of reports of sexual assault on campus, allegedly perpetrated by a male student, on Nov. 18. The report details that three different individuals were assaulted in their residence halls between Sept. 27 and Nov. 15.
“This report is currently under investigation, and University Police is seeking additional information.” The Wake Alert wrote.
“University Police received an anonymous report in the afternoon of Monday, Nov.17 and began a preliminary investigation,” said Cheryl Walker, the Executive Director of Strategic Communications for Wake Forest University, in an email to the Old Gold & Black.
Nationally, these reports fall into the “Red Zone,” — the time between the beginning of the fall semester and Thanksgiving break, where sexual assault on campus is statistically at its highest.
According to the 2023 Campus Climate Survey, 29.3% of undergraduate women and 10.4% of undergraduate men included in the sample experienced at
least one form of nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact since arriving at Wake Forest.
Nearly half of the sample (49%) has experienced at least one form of sexual harassment by a student or individual associated with Wake Forest. This can be compared to the AAU Campus Climate survey from the same year, where 42% of the sample experienced one type of “sexually harassing behavior since beginning their studies.”
The survey was sent in spring 2022, following a string of controversial campus protests, to all Wake Forest University students and had a response rate of around 38%.
If you have any information about the alleged assault, contact University Police at (336) 758-5911 (emergency) or (336)758-5591 (non-emergency), submit a tip through the Wake Safe App, file a report online or email police@wfu.edu.
“The University Police's Victim Support Program was established to provide these services to anyone who may become a victim of crime while on the campus,” Walker said.
Reports of alleged assaults may also be submitted to the University’s Title IX Office.
Further resources for victims of interpersonal vio -
lence can be found 24/7 at the Safe Office, a confidential resource for counseling, advocacy and consultation services.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story.
Contact Ella Klein at kleiek22@wfu.edu
Trump immigration crackdown targets Charlotte and Raleigh
Federal agents moved to capital Tuesday after arresting over 200 in Charlotte
ANDREW BRAUN Managing Editor
Federal immigration enforcement operations are detaining people in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina’s two largest cities.
In Raleigh, Mayor Janet Cowell confirmed on Monday evening initial reports that immigration authorities would launch operations in the Triangle the next day. Agents began arresting people at retail and construction sites, including Raleigh’s downtown city hall project site, on Tuesday.
In Charlotte, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection have arrested over 200 people at churches, apartment complexes and stores in “Operation Charlotte’s Web.”
ICE movements in North Carolina follow immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration i n
Los Angeles and Chicago, both cities with a majority Democratic voting population. In targeting North Carolina, a politically divided battleground state, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it is targeting North Carolina due to so-called sanctuary policies. These policies detail limited interaction between local authorities and immigration agents.
NC Governor Josh Stein said his office was made aware of federal officials’ planned law enforcement operations on the eve of agents making arrests in Raleigh. He asked residents to remain peaceful and encouraged federal officials to treat people fairly.
“Once again, I call on federal agents to target violent criminals, not neighbors walking down the street, going to church or putting up Christmas decorations,” Stein said. “Stop targeting people simply going about their lives because of the color of their skin, as you are doing in Charlotte.”
The recent arrests have drawn partisan reactions
from North Carolina officeholders. NC Republicans like Senate leader Phil Berger are standing by the Trump administration’s decision, saying they have “made it a top priority to crack down on illegal immigration in our state.”
In June, the General Assembly passed a law strengthening state and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Democrats, meanwhile, have condemned federal agencies’ law enforcement tactics.
On Monday, Cowell said she did not know what the scope of the operations in her city would be or how long they would last. In a statement, Cowell asked Raleigh residents to “remember our values and maintain peace and respect through any upcoming challenges.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles expressed her concern over the ongoing operations in her city.
See Trump Immigration crackdown, Page 6
Old Gold & Black
This column represents the views of the Ella Klein, editor-in-chief of the Old Gold & Black
Letter from the Editor
This was a tough issue. It's my second-to-last edition as Editor-in-Chief at the paper, and this was the hardest edition I have had to contribute to and write. The world stage and purveying the news grow more complicated, minute by minute. I’ve witnessed this drastically change from when I first started at the paper in 2022 to now.
In my tenure at the newspaper, I’ve covered a fertilizer plant fire, campus encampments and school shootings.
However, I’ve also made sure to cover joyful events, as well.
This is the duality of the paper. Our two front-page articles today encompass so much pain. But within the paper, there is so much good news overflowing from each section. How do you handle this? How do you cover everything, all at once?
The answer is that we do our best. We work incredibly hard, every single day, bleeding into every single night. Even though in our writing, we stay
as objective as possible and are firmly committed to our values as student journalists, it's impossible not to feel. We employ our school’s motto, Pro Humanitate, in every aspect possible. I feel it is imperative that we remain as human as possible in our writing, even if that means sacrificing some harsher aspects of the old definition of journalistic objectivity. We report only on facts, yes. More importantly, we take into consideration ethics and reduce harm in every
Old Gold&Black
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possible area of our reporting. In one of my last letters to you, I implore you to keep your humanity at the center of yourself. Today, I want you to send a caring message of support to someone close to you. Give your friend a ride, walk them home and make sure you all get home safe. If you see something wrong happening in your community, report on it, like we do. Sometimes, the best form of activism is holding your government and governing figures accountable.
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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.
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Mitt Romney challenges younger generations to principled leadership
Former presidential candidate, senator and governor speaks in Face to Face Forum
MIRIAM
FABRYCKY & SYDNEY GLENN
Features Editor & Staff Writer
Wake Forest welcomed statesman, politician and businessman Mitt Romney to Wait Chapel on Nov. 6 for the second Face to Face Speaker Forum of the 2025-2026 season.
“Events like this add so much to campus life as they bring new perspectives and spark important conversations,” said student government member and sophomore Kadyn Peery. “Hearing directly from leaders with real-world experience helps students think about leadership, integrity and service in new ways, allowing us to connect what we’re learning in the classroom to broader ideas about community and leadership.”
Romney served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and ran as the Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential election. He also represented Utah in the Senate from 2019 to 2025, during which time he broke rank with his party as the only Republican senator voting to convict Donald Trump during the president’s first impeachment trial.
Prior to his political career, Romney worked in business. He co-founded Bain Capital, an investment-focused consulting firm, and first gained prominence as the CEO of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Student-led event
The first event of the evening was a student-led forum moderated by Leadership & Character Scholars Amaya Williams and Alfredo Diaz.
“I was very excited to talk to Senator Romney,” said Williams, moderator and Student Body President. “College is one of the few spaces where we are encouraged to think deeply and question things. If we cannot hold open conversation here, it becomes even harder outside of campus. I think this discussion with Romney allowed us to create a space where people feel safe asking hard questions.”
During the student-led conversation, Romney discussed how his family and faith led him through decisions and helped him change career paths multiple times.
“When I consider my life’s purpose, I see the guiding star that led me, and that was the North Star, leading me through the teachings of Jesus Christ,” Romne
Romney also addressed questions related to his vote to convict President Donald Trump during his 2020 Impeachment Trial, as well as increasing national political polarization.
“I knew I would not want to vote guilty,” Romney said. “I understood the consequences of voting against my own party, causing possible physical harm, arguments among the Senate, and less invitations to the White House for events, but I could live with these knowing I was following my conscience.”
Romney believes that thoughtful and collaborative leaders, especially in younger generations, will play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future.
“Freedom is a powerful elixir, and free people pursuing their dreams is an extraordinarily powerful source that will help enact policies and create leaders that move our country forward,” Romney said.
Main forum
A second forum was open to the broader community the same evening. The event was moderated by Frank Bruni, a New York Times columnist and Duke University professor.
In this event, Romney focused more on political topics.
“We need someone… to stand up and lead at a time of great challenge,” Romney said in his address to a packed Wait Chapel, naming the rise of AI, rivalry with China, global warming and the national debt as pressing crises.
Romney denounced both Republican and Democratic politicians during the event, denouncing “identity politics,” selfish motivations of his former colleagues in the Senate and division within and between political parties. Additionally, he criticized Republicans for platforming protectionist trade policies and Democrats for advocating for transgender rights and defunding police.
“I’m a Republican, I’m a Democrat, or whatever I have to be,” Romney said. “I consider myself a classic Republican, a classic conservative. I believe in the principles that were espoused in the early days of my party.”
In reflecting on his political career, Romney argued that politicians must examine their motivations for pursuing public service and stay true to their moral convictions.
“By and large, our representatives are a reflection of us, and so what it means is that we need to be people of character and integrity,” Romney said. “We need to insist on people who have those qualities that we think America needs.”
He continued: “I wasn’t running in the [2012 presidential] election because, you know, that’s how I got my jollies. I was running to try and help people, and if people wanted someone else, that’s fine. I got beat by Barack Obama. He’s a good man. I think I could have done a better job than him– that’s why I ran.
Though admitting with a laugh that he enjoyed running for president, Romney, 78, said he was “too old” to continue holding public office, instead resting his hopes on younger leaders.
“My generation of baby boomers… I’m afraid we may go out in history as the worst generation,” Romney said. “We were given everything, and what have we done with it? In the time I got left, I want to encourage the rising generation… There’s huge expectations for them to preserve democracy, to create opportunities that will propel them and the coming generations, and they need to step up.”
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke about his career in politics at the second Face to Face event of the 2025-2026 season.
Contact Sydney Glenn & Miriam Fabrycky at glennsd24@wfu.edu & fabrml24@wfu. edu
Will Kunisaki/Old Gold & Black
Romney took the stage at the Face to Face Speaker Forum in Wait Chapel with moderator Frank Bruni.
Will Kunisaki/Old Gold & Black
Hundreds gather to celebrate South Asian culture at annual Holiday Fest
South Asian Student Association collaborated with other student groups to create a successful event
BENJAMIN PAPPAS
Contributing Writer
On the evening of Nov. 16, Wake Forest’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) transformed Reynolds Gymnasium into a vibrant gathering space with food, music and cultural exchange. SASA has a track record of creating successful cultural events, and this year continued that trend of meaningful gatherings.
“Holiday Fest was created as a way to commemorate the holidays of Eid, Holi and Diwali,” said Owais Kamran, FirstYear Experience Member in SASA. “But now, Holiday Fest functions as a celebration of South Asian culture in general.”
SASA was founded over 10 years ago and has since become one of the most prominent cultural groups on Wake Forest’s campus. It seeks to provide a space to celebrate South Asian culture and educate the broader Wake Forest community about South Asian traditions and customs. SASA organizes multiple events throughout the year, which is the organization’s main focus.
As SASA’s largest annual event, Holiday Fest provides diverse offerings to student attendees including dance performances by Deacon Dhamaal, Wake For-
est’s Bollywood fusion dance team; free Henna tattooing and a desi-style buffet dinner with dishes such as palak paneer and chicken tikka masala. Over 1600 pounds of food were catered from Nawab Indian Cuisine for the event.
This year, SASA collaborated with the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the Hindu Student Association (HSA) and the World Tea Association for Holiday Fest.
“Working with those organizations gives us a lot of opportunities to change things up from previous years,” Kamran said. “They each bring their own unique contributions to the event.”
The World Tea Association provided free chai to student attendees, while the Muslim Student Union provided Rooh Afza, a traditional South Asian drink made of rose water and screw pine essence. Some non-cultural student groups on campus also pitched in to deliver Holiday Fest, such as Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, which assisted in setting up and taking down the event.
“At the beginning of the semester, [SASA] planned out the events we were going to do this year,” Kamran explained. “For Holiday Fest, we knew we could draw upon resources from previous years, like the lights, decorations, and
table cloths, which meant that most of the preparation process consists of reserving the space, catering the food and doing the marketing.”
Familiarizing the Wake Forest community with South Asian culture and expression is one of the aims of Holiday Fest, especially for students who feel those forms of expression are not encouraged on campus.
“It’s about spreading awareness that there are important holidays within South Asian communities,” Kamran said. “We are trying to encourage South Asian members of Wake Forest to be more comfortable with their identity, because there are some students who aren’t as expressive about that side of themselves. When I dress up for Holiday Fest, I get stares. It looks very different. Wearing a suit on this campus is one thing; wearing traditional South Asian attire is something else. We create [Holiday Fest] to be a comfortable space to show other members of Wake that we exist.”
This emphasis on comfort is what draws many South Asian Wake Forest students to Holiday Fest in the first place.
“For me, Holiday Fest helps me feel more connected to home, especially whenever I’m feeling lonely or out of
place,” senior Janani Krishnakumari said.
The event also attracts a diverse attendee base that expands far beyond Wake’s South Asian student population.
“It was nice running into friends and learning about the groups at [Holiday Fest],” said Asa Fleischer, who does not identify as South Asian. “The outfits had lots of personality and you could tell the event meant a lot to everyone involved. The food was also amazing and I had a great time.”
Looking to the future, SASA hopes to get even more students involved in their events. The 2024 Holiday Fest attracted around 300 students, and while this year’s numbers have not been released, the SASA leadership team hopes their increased marketing efforts, such as tabling in Benson and advertising in front of the Pit, paid off.
“If more people show up to our events, we get more funding,” Kamran said. “It’s nice that Wake trusts its students enough to provide them with the resources to put on events like this. These events are important, not just for South Asian students, but for every student at Wake.”
Contact Benjamin Pappas at pappbw24@wfu.edu
Student Government enacts committee to assist with sexual misconduct campus climate survey
The committee partners with the Office of Wellbeing and student government to push out this survey
CAROLINE KHALAF News Editor
Wake Forest Student Government passed legislation S.R. X – Campus Climate Evaluation Executive Advisory Committee (EAC), which established a group to assist with the rollout of the sexual misconduct campus climate survey on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The resolution was unanimously passed in the senate.
“While we’re creating this task force for implementation of the survey, we’re also creating a culture of care, where we care about harms that have been done,”
said Inaugural Interpersonal Violence Prevention Assistant Eli Leadham.
In the spring of 2022, Wake Forest conducted its first campus climate survey on sexual misconduct. This survey provided critical insights into the prevalence of sexual misconduct at Wake Forest and the effectiveness of current prevention education and training, student outreach and awareness-raising efforts. It also detailed Title IX policies and procedures and survivor support services. The survey is repeated every 4 years. Due to the legislation passed by student government, the survey will be distributed to students in January 2026.
According to the legislation, “the student government recognizes that acts of sexual misconduct and sexual violence on our campus and in the broader society are prevalent and acknowledges the need for the University to support survivors of sexual misconduct and sexual violence.”
The Sexual Misconduct Student Task Force is directly under the Office of Wellbeing and in collaboration with the student government. Eli Leadham and Sienna Sferrazza are the co-chairs of this committee.
Leadham and Sferrazza, alongside
POLICE BEAT
Hannah Dean, assistant director of wellbeing in the Office of Wellbeing, planned this legislation for a year, but it was formally introduced to the student government in Tuesday’s senate.
“The fact that we had that community safety advisory email this morning was a reminder of the importance of doing this work,” Leadham said. “I think this is a pretty good step in the right direction toward creating a culture where students feel comfortable raising concerns.”
Contact Caroline Khalaf at khalca23@wfu.edu
• Unknown person removed lock and damaged field lights control box at Water Tower Field. The report was filed at 4:22 p.m. on Nov. 10.
• Unknown subject took 4 pairs of pants from the laundry room in Magnolia Hall. The report was filed at 5:11 p.m. on Nov. 11.
• Offender’s wallet was found containing a fake ID. The report was filed at 4:14 p.m. on Nov. 13.
• WSPD stopped offenders for running a stop sign. They were found to be in possession of alcohol underage. The report was filed at 8:25 p.m. on Nov. 13.
• Underage HPU student consumed alcohol and required medical attention in Hopkins Hall. The report was filed at 12:21 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• Underage student consumed alcohol and required medical attention. The report was filed at 12:40 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• Resident advisor reported a party in an Angelou Hall dorm room. All occupants admitted to drinking alcohol. The report was filed at 2:41 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• Unknown subject(s) entered an unlocked vehicle at Deacon Place Apartments. Nothing was taken. The report was filed at 10:04 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• Suspect switched the license plate from his car to a student’s car at Alumni Hall, then left his plate on her car. The report was filed at 10:25 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• Unknown subject(s) entered an unlocked vehicle at Deacon Place Apartments and took a bag. The report was filed at 11:50 a.m. on Nov. 15.
• A fire alarm was activated and marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia and alcohol were located in a Taylor Hall dorm room. The resident of the room was not on campus. The report was filed at 11:20 p.m. on Nov. 15.
• Offender was found to have consumed alcohol underage and became sick in North Campus Apartments. They were transported to the hospital. The report was filed at 12:18 a.m. on Nov. 16.
CITY & STATE
Nick Costantino, costnp24@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
James Watson, watsjc22@wfu.edu PAGE 5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
Loss of SNAP benefits ripples through Forsyth County
Increased costs and the colder months ahead suggest demand will persist
NICK COSTANTINO City & State Editor
57,000 people in Forsyth County partially lost their SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, causing fear and anxiety and pushing food banks and pantries to their limits.
Margaret Elliott, executive director of Crisis Control Ministry, emphasized the impacts the loss of benefits had on people across the country and in WinstonSalem.
“We have seen federal employees who lost their jobs or they're not getting paid who are coming here for rental assistance and utility assistance,” Elliott said. “So, we're just seeing it from all different angles of people that are needing extra help. I think it's the not knowing that is hard on all of us.”
Elliott continued that people should put themselves in the shoes of those who are struggling through this crisis.
“[Imagine] you wake up and you find out that you don't have food stamps to go buy your family groceries for the month. That's very stressful. So I just feel like that's kind of where we are now.”
The government shutdown ended on Nov. 12 after 43 days and SNAP benefits were restored 24 hours later, but the impacts of the crisis were far-reaching and potentially permanent.
Nikki McCormick, vice president of partnerships and impacts at Second
Harvest Food Bank, emphasized the increase in demand they saw, especially from people who have never sought food assistance before from their network programs.
“For Forsyth County, this past week was 8% new. That is a gigantic number. Now, almost one in ten, right? People that you walk around with, do business with, go to church with or go to school with. That blows my mind.”
She said that the demand in Forsyth County is likely to persist.
“There are some other potential, very big crises coming with increased healthcare costs, and that will be just as widespread and continue to create some issues for folks, for our neighbors,” McCormick said.
McCormick also said that during the government shutdown, the Department of Social Services, Health Department, county-level officials and nonprofit leaders, including Second Harvest, met regularly to coordinate what they were seeing on the ground and what they could do to help each other. They intend to keep these meetings running because of the issues yet to come.
David Holston, executive director of Sunnyside Ministry, said that they are seeing a similar demand in their food pantry.
“What we’re seeing is about a 30% increase in people coming in,” Holston said.
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
Second Harvest works with grocery and meal assistance partners across 18 counties in Northwest North Carolina, including with Forsyth County.
Holston then gave a broader picture of the food insecurity in Winston-Salem and the troubles people were having even before the government shutdown.
“Food insecurity affects people in so many different ways,” Holston said. “It’s a chronic problem in our community. For example, in the last 12 months, we’ve provided food to 23%, or 5,131, of children in Southern Forsyth and Northern Davidson County. And we serve 25% of the total population in that area with food and other
support.”
Holston, McCormick and Elliott all emphasized that nonprofit organizations like theirs can never make up the difference when SNAP benefits are lost, and that any help from the community is appreciated.
“It's a community problem that really needs a community,” Holston said. “And that means really all of us doing our part.”
Contact Nick Costantino at costnp24@wfu.edu
Innovation Quarter announces Phase II expansion plan
Winston-Salem’s downtown facility is adding 28 acres of new space
ANDREW BRAUN Managing Editor
On Nov. 13, Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter revealed updated plans for the site's latest expansion.
Documents released on the Innovation Quarter’s website outline updated details for Phase II, a new 28-acre site between downtown Winston-Salem and U.S. 52, south of the current property.
While the expansion was initially announced in 2021, the Phase II “master plan” has been updated to accommodate eight new buildings with over 2.5 million total square feet of retail, scientific, healthcare and residential space. The plan also includes 12 acres for communal and green spaces, plus parks and pavilions to host outdoor events and public art.
“This catalytic step marks a major
milestone in the continued evolution of Innovation Quarter, setting the stage for accelerated industry growth in the development and manufacturing of patient therapies,” Jason Kaplan, associate vice president of Innovation Quarter Operations, said.
The Innovation Quarter is a regional economic hub at the edge of downtown Winston-Salem. The 330-acre mixeduse development includes office, laboratory, classroom and residential space used by 100 organizations, including Wake Forest University and its School of Medicine.
According to Innovation Quarter tenant Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, the current facility supports over 4,000 jobs and generates an estimated $2 billion in annual economic impact plus $60 million in tax revenue.
“The establishment and growth of the Innovation Quarter over the last 20-
plus years has been exciting to watch. This new master plan continues that momentum,” Annette Scippio, Winston-Salem city councilor, said. “I am encouraged about what this new phase means for the continued vitality of our great city and the jobs and resources it will bring to our community.”
New infrastructure will also join the Innovation Quarter to nearby neighborhoods and downtown districts. The plan amends surrounding city streets for better pedestrian and bike access, including a segment of 3rd Street near the current site and perpendicular to Patterson Avenue. It also calls for a multi-purpose trail connecting the Innovation Quarter across U.S. 52 to neighborhoods in eastern Winston-Salem.
The Innovation Quarter’s current facility is operated by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Their parent
group, Advocate Health, says they have already contributed $25 million to the site’s groundwork, including a half-mile of new streets, lighting and landscaping that have already been installed on the property.
“This updated plan was inspired by the extraordinary momentum and investment the Innovation Quarter has experienced in recent years – driven by Advocate Health’s commitment to both the enterprise and the Winston-Salem community,” Executive Vice Chief Academic Officer of Administration for Advocate Health Terry Hales said.
The Innovation Quarter says it is partnering with Wexford Science & Technology and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for Phase II’s latest infrastructure projects.
Contact Andrew Braun at brauar23@wfu.edu
WS/FCS Board of Education members recount intimidation, bullying amidst district’s financial crisis
The “Demand Answers town hall” was hosted in Greene Hall
JAMES WATSON City & State Editor
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education member, Sabrina Coone, revealed that two sitting Board members pressured her to stop asking questions of then-CFO Thomas Kranz over his handling of the district’s budget.
“I was kind of grilling Tommy in a committee meeting, and I said to him, ‘how much is our fund balance?’ and he could not give me an answer,” Coone said. “I was told I needed to stop grilling the CFO and stay in my lane because that was his job and my job was to trust him.”
The moderator of the event, Karen Cuthrell of The Feeling Friends Company and the Superintendent’s Council, pressed Coone for details.
“I’m gonna keep probing …I’m asking what the people want to know,” Cuthrell said.
“It was Leah and Dianna,” Coone said. Deanna Kaplan and Leah Crowley are
still sitting board members. Kranz resigned in April as the extent of the financial mismanagement began to come into view. The district is now grappling with a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
The admission came as part of a moderated discussion at the “Demand Answers” town hall, which was hosted by local community activist group, Hate Out of Winston, and the Wake Forest Department of Communication’s Wake Speaks program.
Organizers said they wanted to provide a space for discourse outside highly-regulated school board meetings.
“The real intention of the town halls has been to make sure that the public has as much genuine information as possible,” said Olivia Doyle, one of the event’s organizers. “What that looks like in practice is making sure that people who don’t have the time to come to a board meeting on a Tuesday night…have that access.”
In August, the Board of Education authorized a sweeping reduction in force
Board member, Sabrina Coone, revealed that sitting Board members pressured her to stop asking questions of the CFO.
The board members were asked about their vote for August’s RIF. Coone voted against the measure while Watts supported it.
(RIF) across the district to patch the then $46 million budget hole. The deficit now sits at $13 million, but that’s largely in part to a series of private and public donations to the county.
The organizers of the event, Hate Out of Winston, placed signs on the wall of the room, listing every WS/FCS employee who had been “riffed.”
Richard Watts, another board member, joined Coone for the town hall.
Watts concluded that the one lesson he’s learned from the last year was, “do not trust everybody.”
“We’ve had closed sessions where tempers have really flared in closed sessions on many occasions, and even one occasion where they flared so much, I walked out,” Watts said. “What was said to me, I said, ‘I can’t take it anymore, and I walked out.’”
A member of the public later asked Watts if the “bullying” Coone described was affecting board operations.
“The work is being done. Does that
mean that during our closed sessions that sometimes voices are raised, or we get a little…yes. But at the end of the day, all 8 board members, I respect,” Watts said.
“This board is not dysfunctional.”
“I might feel very different,” Coone said. “We had work that could have been done better if all members had been informed and engaged.”
The board members were asked about their vote for August’s RIF. Coone voted against the measure while Watts supported it. Over 200 WS/FCS staff members have been laid off in the months since.
“It has kept me up at night because I think about that. I do think about our staff, and it was probably one of the top reasons I could not raise my hand to vote for the RIF,” Coone said.
“I felt that at that time, and still do, that we had to cut the bleeding,” Watts said.
Contact James Watson at watsjc22@wfu.edu
Trump Immigration crackdown targets Raleigh and Charlotte
Continued from Page 1
In a post to the city government’s social media accounts, Lyles said, “I am deeply concerned with many of the videos I’ve seen, and I urge all agencies operating here to conduct their work with respect for those values.
In Charlotte, leaders say fear is already deterring people from attending their workplaces, stores and schools. Commercial centers for immigrant communities in the city’s South Boulevard are seeing empty parking lots and dropping customers. Workers at Raleigh’s downtown city hall project site also stayed away from work planned for this week. Local leaders are also taking steps to support their communities. On Monday, the Charlotte City Coun-
cil unanimously sent more money to nonprofit organizations working with immigrants.
The University of North Carolina Charlotte’s chancellor Sharon L. Gaber also advised students on navigating encounters with those claiming to be federal law enforcement, telling students to contact campus police to confirm identities and the validity of any subpoenas or warrants presented.
Meanwhile, officials from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say nearly 21,000 students were absent from classes this past Monday.
Residents are pushing back against immigration enforcement activities. This weekend, hundreds crowded Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville protesting the first wave of federal arrests. Protestors are urging agents to
leave residential areas, capturing their encounters on social media. At the UNC Charlotte, professors have offered exemptions for students who may be concerned about the ongoing immigration enforcement activities. While no arrests have been made on campus, a driver was detained across from the school on University City Boulevard on Sunday.
Federal agents are reportedly moving into other cities around the state as of Tuesday evening. The Buncombe County Democratic Party reported a “potential ICE presence in Asheville,” and posted information to its X account advising how to navigate encounters with officials.
Agents are expected to remain in the Charlotte area until this Friday.
Contact Andrew Braun at brauar23@wfu.edu
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
ICE agents have arrested over 200 people since arriving.
Courtesy of Reuters
FEATURES
Alexandra Meier, meieam22@wfu.edu
Miriam Fabrycky, fabrml24@wfu.edu
Deacon Profile: Ana Smith Iltis
Philosophy Professor Bridges Academic Disciplines in the Classroom
BIANCA REZNIC Staff Writer
Working from two laptops at once, Ana Smith Iltis moves gracefully between zoom calls, research notes and class materials, balancing her roles as teacher, mentor and university leader. Iltis is a philosophy professor and director of the bioethics, humanities and medicine interdisciplinary minor. From her office on the second floor of Tribble Hall to the school of Medicine, Divinity and Law, Iltis’ work stretches across campus.
“I always think of [bioethics] as not as a specific discipline, but [something that] relies on the humanities and the social sciences and the health professions and the biological sciences–all–to kind of address the issues,” Itlis said. “And so we’re very interdisciplinary on purpose.”
The interdisciplinary nature of the minor has led to interaction among Wake Forest faculty.
“For both the undergraduate, minor and for this center, a lot of the work we do brings faculty together who normally wouldn’t be in the same room at the same time because they’re from either different departments in the college or from different schools,” Itlis said.
Her path began, like many STEM students, on the track to medical school. Iltis started off as a biology major, and a philosophy minor. After an internship in the pediatrics department of a hospital, she found herself more interested in the ethical issues, rather than the technical aspects of the job. This realization led her to switch to a philosophy major and pursue graduate school in the second semester of her junior year.
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school on research involving genetic testing and organ transplantation. She is also deeply interested in emerging biotechnologies and partners with experts in science and health policy. She continues to work with collaborators at Rice University on projects related to science policy, health policy, and new biotechnologies. Currently, Iltis is focusing on a project in synthetic biology.
I think my teaching benefits from the fact that I have a lot of real world expereince and real world applications. “
“Not ideal timing,” Iltis noted with a chuckle. Iltis began her first job at St. Louis University after earning a Ph.D. at Rice University in philosophy. Part of her studies at Rice required a bioethics and health policy training at Baylor College of Medicine, right across the street. Then, in 2010, Wake Forest offered her a new opportunity. 15 years later, she’s continuing her work and collaborating with others.
“I love the fact that they were building a center across the university that would intentionally bring in faculty from different schools, and people with lots of different disciplinary backgrounds,” Itlis said.
Iltis’ personal interests lie in the realm of research ethics, specifically the intersection between ethics, genetics and genomics. She’s spent several years collaborating with colleagues at the medical
“I like to play in lots of sandboxes,” Itlis said. Her work, largely composed of writing, is connected to the medical literature and medical world. As a coordinator for the work of the community advisory board for her project on genetic testing and organ transplantation, Iltis also engages in hands-on community work. Her work has also had a positive impact on her teaching, bringing both real world examples and contextualizing them in a theoretical framework.
I really have enjoyed working with students on all kinds of different research projects and mentoring students in reasearch as well.
“I think my teaching benefits from the fact that I have a lot of real world experience and real world applications,” Iltis said. “The examples that I use in class are real examples, protecting people’s identity and privacy, etcetera. […] I think it’s very
good for students to have their exposure to bioethics be not just theoretical. ”
In regards to teaching and collaboration, Iltis discusses the importance of working with students and promoting undergraduate research. She has mentored many research projects, some of which have turned into publications.
“I’ve had a class where I taught students how to write a specific kind of paper. And one of those student author groups worked kind of long after the semester was over and went on to publish their paper. So I really have enjoyed working with students on all kinds of different research projects and mentoring students in research as well,” Itlis said.
She also notes that her students come from a variety of backgrounds and prospective career paths.
“It’s much more interesting in the classroom when you have people who are anthropology majors and sociology majors and biology majors and religion majors and philosophy majors because everybody’s bringing a different perspective to these challenging questions,” Itlis said. “It makes class discussion much more interesting and much richer. [...] So people can go in a lot of different directions, but I think [the bioethics, humanities and medicine interdisciplinary minor] is great preparation for anybody who’s interested in health or healthcare in a very broad way.”
Overall, through her research, teaching, and collaboration, Iltis blends theory with real-world applications, connecting students and faculty from every corner of campus.
Contact Bianca Reznic at reznba24@wfu.edu
Ana Smith Itlis is the Director of the Center for Bioethics, Health and Society at Wake Forest University.
Gabe Herrera/Old Gold & Black
How two Wake Forest students built a multimillion dollar storage company
Storage Scholars expands services with new StarRez partnership
ALEXANDRA MEIER Features Editor
It’s finals week at Wake Forest in 2017. Freshman Sam Chason (‘20) just made another lap across campus, picking up cardboard boxes at residence halls and piling them into a rented box truck. His Resident Advisor had to sign the rental agreement for the truck, since he was too young at the time.
While most students crammed for final exams in ZSR, Chason and a few friends shuttled back-andforth between South Residence Hall and an offcampus storage unit chosen for the convenience of its first-month free deal. As a budding entrepreneur, Chason knew the opportunity was too good to pass up. He would repeat the process in the fall, bringing people’s boxes of belongings back from the storage unit to their new dorm rooms to start the year.
This was Storage Scholars, a Wake Forest studentfounded moving and storage company, before it became a nationally recognized brand. CEO Sam Chason, who later brought on Matthew Gronberg (‘21) as a co-founder, spent their college careers building their storage service from the ground up, delivering a simpler move-in and move-out process for students across the country.
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We view the services offered by Storage Scholars as an opporunity to enhance the move-in/move-out experience for students by alleviating the stress associated with moving.
What began as a way to help pay for his four years at Wake Forest quickly grew into Chason’s full-time side hustle. He went knocking door-to-door with flyers in hand, pitching what was then called “Wake Storage” to prospective clients. By the end of the spring semester, he was running a full-fledged operation that brought in $18,000 in its first year.
Today, Storage Scholars is projected to do over $10 million in revenue this year, according to Chason, and operates at 200+ colleges and universities in the US. The company is still based in Winston-Salem but Chason and Gronberg live in Austin, Texas.
Students who want to use the service can create an account on the Storage Scholars website and register with their university. The user then creates an order, which involves choosing a storage plan, requesting a packing kit with cardboard boxes, packing tape and sticker labels and inputting a pick-up date/location as well as a delivery location for the following year.
Storage Scholars employs college students to take care of the rest as an initiative to create job opportunities on campus. These student movers bring clients’ belongings to a temperature-controlled storage facility for the summer and deliver everything to their new dorm rooms so the items are waiting for them in the fall.
The company has hit several milestones since its beginnings, operating out of a Hopkins Residence Hall (formerly South) dorm room. In fall 2022, Storage Scholars appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank: a reality TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their
business ideas to a panel of investors – and secured a $250,000 investment from billionaire Mark Cuban for 10% equity in the company. For Cuban, who paid his way through college with different side hustles, the founding story of Storage Scholars struck a familiar chord.
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The bigger you get, the more complex and harder the problems become. You just become more resilient and better at solving them.
Chason says the experience reinforced one of the earliest lessons of his entrepreneurial journey: every big break often rests on a foundation of unseen work.
“I remember we were so excited after filming wrapped, ready to go out to dinner and celebrate and one of the producers hands us a drill and says, ‘Okay, now you have to go take down your set,’” Chason said, laughing. “So instead we ended up drilling, screwing and putting everything back into boxes. The moment was such a microcosm of the idea that no one’s going to do the work for you.”
Another milestone is the company's evolution in its partnership with StarRez Student Housing Software, a platform that hosts housing portals for more than a thousand universities, including Wake Forest.
After piloting an early test phase at Wake Forest, StarRez announced a full rollout of Storage Scholars across its university network at the Global Connect conference this summer. Beginning in Spring 2026, Storage Scholars will be embedded into the
Residence Life and Housing onboarding process at its partner universities. Students can register for the service during the process of making housing selections, choosing a meal plan or filling out occupancy forms. Chason expects this shift to be particularly helpful in reaching incoming freshmen.
Storage Scholars has technically had a partnership with StarRez for 3 years now, but the companies’ integration is entering a more visible phase.
“We view the services offered by Storage Scholars as an opportunity to enhance the move-in/moveout experience for students by alleviating the stress associated with moving,” Director of Operations at Residence Life and Housing Zach Blackmon said.
Storage Scholars has expanded its services in recent years, allowing students to ship items in advance through the Ship-To-School program or opt for a Direct-To-Room delivery with their belongings waiting upon arrival. The company has also evolved beyond its early identity as a student storage startup, operating year-round with commercial installation projects at K-12 schools, higher education institutions, offices and military bases
“We did a move on the Alaskan Air Force base for a week over the summer,” Chason said. “If we can do that and also move out of middle and elementary schools, and then move furniture at Middlebury College in Vermont, then there is pretty unlimited opportunity for the business.”
As the company approaches its tenth year in business, Chason reflects on how scaling Storage Scholars cultivated his resilience as an entrepreneur.
“A lot of people imagine that running a business gets easier as you grow,” Chason said. “But in reality, the bigger you get, the more complex and harder the problems become. You just become more resilient and better at solving them.”
Contact Alexandra Meier at meieam22@wfu.edu
Photo Couresty of Wake Forest University
The Wake Forest Alumni and Co-founders of Storage Scholars, Sam Chason (left) and Matthew Gronberg (right), graduated in 2020 and 2021.
“Like
putting a face with a name”
When
both Winston-Salem and Wake Forest are home
MIRIAM FABRYCKY Features Editor
Senior Anthony Jimenez always knew he wanted to stay close to home for college.
A Walkertown High School graduate born and raised in Winston-Salem, Jimenez has fond childhood memories of visiting Wake Forest when his older brother was a student. He remembers the construction of Magnolia and Dogwood Residence Halls, the annual return of autumnal foliage and the pleasant campus ambience.
However, Jimenez was most excited to attend Wake Forest because of its convenient location.
“If not Wake Forest, I was going to choose another school here in North Carolina,” Jimenez said. “My main goal was staying near my family [because] that’s a key part of my identity and culture.”
With his home neighborhood just a short drive away, Jimenez could maintain his deep roots in the local Mexican community and prioritize spending time with his parents, three brothers and infant niece.
“We were able to see [my brother] every weekend, and that’s what I wanted to do with my family… be able to be present for those events, birthdays [and] holidays,” Jimenez said.
As a nationally-ranked private university, Wake Forest draws its student body from all 50 states and almost 40 countries. Yet Wake Forest can seem wholly disconnected from its immediate surroundings, with students regularly describing campus as a “bubble.”
However, a plurality of students – 860 in Fall 2024, or almost 16% of the total undergraduate population – hail from North Carolina. They include many from Winston-Salem, the fourth-largest city in the state and the Reynolda campus’ home of 69 years. Having lived and worked on both sides of the campus gates, local students hold a unique perspective on the university and its relationship to the city.
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I’m
not sure I had a very accurate view of what life was like at Wake Forest, even as a Winston-Salem resident.
Senior Lenore Williams graduated from Parkland High School and lives with her parents around fifteen minutes away from campus near Hanes Mall. As a rare commuter student on a highly residential campus, Williams said she has had to “do more work” to build relationships at college than her peers. However, she said spending time off-campus with out-of-town friends has only increased her appreciation of her hometown.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of people who come from very small towns… and they’re like, wow, [Winston-Salem] is great,” Williams laughed. “I’ve taken a lot of that for granted because I never would have considered Winston-Salem to be a big, exciting city at all.
With a population of over 250,000, the fourth-largest city in North Carolina is much more than a college town.
It’s been great to see it from other people’s perspectives.”
Sophomore Effie Glazekos Sabean has heard the exact opposite from many of her classmates.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that Winston-Salem is a cute college town and I just never thought of it as that,” Glazekos Sabean said. “Wake Forest was just part of WinstonSalem, not the opposite. Now, when I go downtown or to other parts of Winston-Salem, I’m noticing the Demon Deacon stuff, and it definitely seems a lot more interconnected than I thought.”
Glazekos Sabean has lived in the West End and Ardmore neighborhoods of WinstonSalem and graduated from R. J. Reynolds High School. She held a favorable view of Wake Forest growing up, especially because her mother is a philosophy professor at the school, but said students at her high school felt “pretty divided” about the university.
“The people that are more middle- to upper-class, I would say, had a positive impression,” Glazekos Sabean said. “I think a lot of people do think it’s like the ‘rich kid’ school, so there’s a little bit of a negative connotation with it.”
Sophomore Hannah Laxton, who grew up about 20 minutes from campus on a soybean and corn farm in Yadkinville, N.C., agreed that many local residents have a “bad taste” of the university as a “snobby, rich kid school.”
“I think it’s really tough for people to choose Wake Forest, being from North Carolina,” Laxton said, adding that many of her classmates at the private Calvary Day School were turned off by Wake Forest’s high cost of attendance. “Obviously, middle-class [and] upper-class people were at my school, but they couldn’t even afford to come here.”
Laxton was cautiously optimistic when she heard Wake Forest’s recent announcement of its “Gateway to Wake Forest” program, which promises free tuition for admitted North Carolinians whose families make under $200,000 a year.
“I feel like a lot more people will really consider coming to Wake Forest,” Laxton said. “But [some] people I’ve heard are a little skeptical… is it now going to be harder for those [students] to get in?”
Laxton also referenced “the Grounds” construction project as another initiative with potential to either improve or deteriorate the university’s relationship with the city. The 100-acre mixed-use development near the football stadium is partially funded with a $35 million grant from North Carolina and Winston-Salem.
“People don’t like to support [the university] because Wake Forest has never really made an effort with the community,” Laxton said. “I feel like the Grounds is a good step to make that effort.”
“
I’ve
take a lot of that for granted because I never would have considered Winston-Salem to be a big, exciting city at all.
Sophomore Jack Sweeney, a graduate of Reagan High School who grew up 10 minutes from campus, also said he approves of the university’s investments in the city.
“I think that Wake Forest really appeals to young people to try to get them to start their lives in Winston-Salem,” Sweeney said, specifically naming the Innovation Quarter surrounding the School of Medicine downtown. “Wake Forest does a lot for the community in terms of employment opportunities. There’s obviously a lot of pros and cons to [revitalization] but it was certainly a big change that Wake Forest brought to the area during my childhood and teenage years.”
Sweeney said he originally wanted to move away for college, but is glad to attend an institution he heard so much about as a child.
“It’s like… putting a face with a name,” Sweeney said. “I’m not sure I had a very accurate view of what life was like at Wake Forest, even as a Winston-Salem resident.”
A Presidential Scholar in Music, Sweeney is also grateful for the opportunity to stay involved with local ensembles and musical events and said he wished that more students took advantage of off-campus activities.
“I would definitely encourage students that aren’t from Winston-Salem to get out in the city more,” Sweeney said. “It’s a really wonderful place, and it’s a really wonderful place to have a life, have a family. Definitely make the most of your time here.”
Despite initial worries that she wouldn’t “fit in,” sophomore Effie Glazekos Sabean said she’s enjoying her time at Wake Forest and doesn’t regret staying in her hometown.
“For anybody who is from Winston-Salem and is nervous about going to Wake Forest… because they think it’s too close to home or like they won’t have a real college experience, I would just say that’s not true,” Glazekos Sabean said. “You can make it what you want.”
Contact Miriam Fabrycky at fabrml24@wfu.edu
Andrew Braun/Old Gold & Black
ENVIRONMENT
10 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
Q&A with National Geographic CEO Dr. Jill Tienfenthaler
CEO Dr. Jill Tienfenthaler speaks on the importance of curiosity and passion in youth interested in sustainability
REESE LILE Environment Editor
This past week, the Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability hosted the “Sustainable, Just & Abundantly Wild: Effective Action at Every Scale” conference. Jill Tienfenthaler, the CEO of the National Geographic Society, attended the conference as the keynote speaker, giving a talk titled “From Exploration to Action: Accelerating Impact to Meet this Moment.”
Teinfenthaler has served as the CEO of National Geographic since 2020, and previously worked as the Provost of Wake Forest University from 20072011. The Old Gold & Black had the opportunity to sit down and speak face-to-face with Teinfenthaler for insight on her thoughts about the crucial role of the collegiate world, college students and young people in sustainability.
This interview transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Reese Lile: What do you see as the biggest points of collaboration between National Geographic and Universities like Wake Forest?
Jill Tienfenthaler: At Nat Geo, we have our Explorers program, and we’re always looking for talent on campuses. We have a very large young Explorers program, as well as a big Explorers program. Several of the faculty here at Wake Forest are also explorers.
We also have an externship program at Nat Geo for young people who want to get involved. They do a 10-week externship virtually with students from all around the world who learn about a particular topic, like ocean conservation or freshwater. We have an internship program, as well. I think these kinds of events, like we’re partnering on with the Sabin Center, are another great example of how we can get people motivated and share the science broadly.
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I’m a true believer that one of the most important things we can do is educate this next generation.
As a longtime educator, I’m a true believer that one of the most important things we can do is educate this next generation and equip them with the tools and opportunities that will allow them to make a difference.
Lile: What kinds of skills do you look for when you’re looking for people to bring to the table at National Geographic?
Tienfenthaler: Passion may not be a skill, but I think passion and commitment are really important.
I think that shows you’re willing to do what it takes to build the skills and knowledge that you need to actually carry out the work. I’m amazed every day by our explorers and the dedication that they have to a place or a topic. That kind of dedication and passion is not something that everybody can have, but it’s essential to being able to be in there for the long haul to get the work done. People give up a lot to do the work, whether it be money, fame, fortune, family or time. I’m always amazed by the dedication people have and how much they care about the natural world.
Lile: Do you have any advice for female undergraduates who might be interested in going into traditionally male-dominated fields, such as environmental science?
Tienfenthaler: Finding good role models is absolutely critical, and often they are women. Sometimes they’re not. Some of my most important people who helped me in my career are men. Nathan Hatch was one of them, who is the president at Wake Forest. He hired me and took a big gamble on a very young, somewhat inexperienced woman from Colgate University and brought me in here to be Provost. He gave me a lot of mentorship, but also room to grow.
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Finding a community that can help you get to where you want to be is really important.
Finding a community that can help you get to where you want to be is really important. The other thing is to embrace some of the hard parts. A lot of women have imposter syndrome. I still struggle with that somewhat today, and being comfortable talking about it and recognizing it can be really hard sometimes.
One of the difficult things for women leaders is criticism. Sometimes you don’t have quite the armor, right, that others might have. So again, being surrounded by friends and family. I have a husband who has sustained me through many difficult leadership roles, and who helped me raise a family at the same time I was doing all of those jobs. It is extremely important to have a good support system, a good mentor, and role models. And then, when you get to be in those roles, surround yourself with those people who work with you, who are even better than you are. That’s what makes really great leadership.
Lile: How do you stay positive in the face of detrimental environmental news hitting our desks seemingly every day?
Tienfenthaler: For me, it’s enjoying the beauty
of the natural world, whether it’s a hike when I’m back in my mountains in Colorado, or in outside in Virginia, outside of DC, or it’s getting to travel to some amazing place I haven’t been before. So one point is just continuing to appreciate the beauty of our world.
The other thing is the people. I am inspired by the people I am around every day. And having spent 30 years on college campuses as an educator, sometimes it’s a bummer when people are not uplifted. Because nothing uplifted me more than being around 18 to 22-year-olds—the amount of energy, the ideas, poking holes in things and challenging everything. I think it’s one of the most dynamic places anyone can be.
I stay positive because of young people and because of the people out there who are doing the work that matters. And it’s also important to remember that we live in a great time. I know this is hard for us, and sometimes people are cynical about this, but in many ways, if you go back and think about when you’d rather live, I can’t imagine another time I would rather be. There is so much technology at our fingertips that can do really good things, and we can travel, we can see each other and we can connect with each other globally. If we can turn all that to be good, the potential is incredible.
Contact Reese Lile at lilerl24@wfu.edu
Photo courtesy of National Geographic Dr. Jill Tienfenthaler has served as Chief Executive Officer of National Geographic since 2020.
Stormwater management protects Wake Forest from washing away
Utilities Systems Manager Seth Looney leads maintenance team
MIRIAM FABRYCKY Features Editor
When the vast network of pipes, cisterns, permeable pavers, concrete retaining walls and even tree roots beneath Wake Forest’s campus experiences a failure, rainfall can inconvenience or even endanger the University. When that stormwater management system succeeds, almost nobody notices.
Except Utilities Systems Manager Seth Looney. So does the rest of the Utilities team, who maintain the technologies that en sure rainfall can dissipate within 48 hours and enter the watershed in a controlled manner.
“It’s literally everywhere around you,” Looney said. “There are curb inlets on the street, there are catch basins… and there’s a huge, complex maze of pipes that connects all that stuff together.”
The need for resilient stormwater management systems is increasing as climate change leaves communities around the world more vulnerable to flooding. Sea level rise and warming temperatures contributed to Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica in late October, according to The New York Times, and future storms will continue to gain intensity and frequency.
Compared to other communities, Wake Forest is able to invest significant resources into protecting its land from damage. Crystal Dixon, an associate professor of the practice in Wake Forest’s Environme nt & Sustainability Studies Program, pointed out that less privileged individu als, cities and even countries often bear the brunt of extreme weather.
“This is a systemic issue,” Dixon said, citing the respective impacts of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica in 2025, Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina in 2024 and Hurricane Maria
in Puerto Rico in 2017. “Delays in response… are creating and exacerbating the inequities and the health disparities that result from these natural disasters.”
Despite Wake Forest’s assets and the fact that the Reynolda campus has rarely experienced catastrophic weather, even seemingly minor precipitation can cause disruption. When distributed across the 345 acres of Wake Forest’s Reynolda campus, for example, just one inch of rainfall adds up to nine million gallons of water.
Some of that water evaporates and some soaks into the soil. But once the air and ground are saturated, the water that remains retains the power to erode enormous amounts of earth, damaging infrastructure in the process.
“Just imagine if that all hit Silas Creek at one time,” Looney said. “It would be destruction like crazy.”
Wake Forest’s stormwater management begins with the forest itself: the Utilities team works closely with University Arborist Jim Mussetter to preserve trees when renovating drainage systems.
“Without trees, the earth just washes away,” Mussetter said. “They’re pumping water out of the earth and transpiring into the atmosphere and over the course of 10 to 15 years, it's thousands of gallons of water.”
After the trees have absorbed what they can, rocks and sand both slow the remaining flow and filter out sediment and pollutants. One surprising location for this operation is the walkway outside of Farrell Hall, which is made of permeable bricks.
“That was a really good way of utilizing something that [we] needed anyway, and now it works twofold, doing water quality and quantity,” Looney said.
After passing through a filter or drain, excess water enters underground cisterns, then gradually exits into concrete pipes measuring up to four feet in
diameter. These lines direct rainfall to one of two places: the West Creek between the North Campus Apartments and the Scales Fine Arts Center or the Tohi Garden behind Maya Angelou Residence Hall.
Looney is just now turning to proactive improvements after two years of repairing or replacing these deteriorated, decades-old structures.
“Stormwater has a way of telling you what you're going to do,” Looney said. “The first part of my tenure has been to catch up on where there’s erosion.”
One particularly challenging project this past summer: a separated pipe that threatened to compromise Parking Lot S southwest of Davis Field. Instead of flowing into its prescribed 16-foot-deep reservoir at the edge of the lot, the stormwater began to erode the land beneath the pavement.
“It just got bigger and bigger,” Looney said. “Every time that we would get close to being able to get in there and start working, we’d have another rain.”
By the time the Utilities team remedied the problem, Looney said, running water had carved out a hole the size of a “big excavator.”
Apart from such uphill battles, Looney is also accustomed to the fact that the more that the Utilities team accomplishes, the less students notice the need for their presence.
Senior Caroline Song was surprised to learn about the extent of the stormwater infrastructure on campus.
“It’s easy to look at a puddle and be like, they’re not doing anything,” Song said. “But there’s obviously a lot of water that falls on this campus and it has to have somewhere to go. It makes me feel better to see that something’s being done.”
Contact Miriam Fabrycky at fabrml24@wfu.edu
Happy climate news
Column REESE LILE Environment Editor
The headlines are filled with stories of polar ice caps melting, pollution choking our cities and the billions of microplastics in everything we own and eat. While it is important to stay informed about the problems in the environment, it is just as important to acknowledge what IS going well.
To flip the script for a minute, let’s look at some happy news in the world of the environment.
Hold onto your horses… there’s a new dinosaur
A skeleton previously thought to be a teenage Tyrannosaurus Rex has now been conf irmed to be an entirely different species. It was discovered that the bones belong to an adult Nanotyrannus lancensis. The Nanotyrannus species has larger forelimbs, more teeth and structural differe nces in the teeth and skull. This incredible finding is helping fill gaps in evolutionary knowledge and may help clarify what we know about prehistoric predators.
If only animals could talk… oh wait!
A nonprofit organization known as the Earth Species Project is using artificial intelligence to decode animal language patterns. As of now, this technology can separate individual animal “voices” from large groups and can identify specific repeated sounds. For example, in zebra finches, audio recordings reveal that they use grammatical rules similar to those of humans.
This technology could be powerful in helping us understand the needs and behavior s of endangered animals. Whales, for example, could be studied to identify how nautical shipping noises disrupt their communication, which could equip us to fight their extinction.
Clean fuel is now comparable to fossil fuels
A Califor nia-based company called Prometheus Fuels has discovered a way to produce clean fuels that cost less than the production of fossil fuels. Most current fossil fuel productions, such as carbon capture, cost between $200-600 per ton of carbon dioxide; Prometheus Fuel’s new system has reduced that cost to under $50 a ton. Instead of the traditional process carbon capture, which includes gas purification and compression before storage, the company’s technology captures carbon dioxide directly into the water and immediately converts it to fuel. This eliminates several expensive steps and utilizes solar electricity technology along the way.
A pipe failure at the edge of Parking Lot S necessitated a major excavation project in summer 2025 after stormwater eroded the land beneath the pavement.
Photo courtesy of Seth Looney
OPINION
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Towne Moores, moortv22@wfu.edu
Sara Catherine Bradshaw, bradsc24@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
Louvre: a heist of necessary absurdity
Why we need to embrace the humor in life’s imperfections
COMMERCE FISK
Contributing Writer
Seven minutes. One to climb the ladder to the firstfloor window. One to cut through the windows and threaten the guards. Four to peruse the Gallery of Apollo and snatch the crown jewels and diamonds of generations of French royalty from its glass containers, a collection with the modest price tag of $102 million. One to walk innocently out of the Louvre and to ride away on motorcycles into the dewy Paris morning.
It took seven minutes to pull off nearly the most expensive heist of the 21st century, and seven minutes for the unknown culprits to ascend to fame.
We come to obsess over these characters because they invoke a frivolous and absurd perception of our world that is often shrouded by its more consequential shades. Oftentimes, the perpetrators embody something of “the little guy”; they miraculously defy their apparent insignificance, such as figures like Robin Hood, a criminal to the elite but a sign of justice to the poor, or Bonnie and Clyde, a loving criminal pair getting by in economic hardship.
More recently, Edward Snowden, the government whistleblower who exposed mass government surveillance, has played this role. The antics by which these anti-heroes pursue their cause are what most capture our attention.
The Louvre larceny included some notable quips that rendered it absurdly unique. The robbers were clad in bright yellow construction vests, somehow so apparent yet invisible, with one even wearing a motorcycle helmet. Conveniently, the closed-circuit TV (CCTV)
camera responsible for the Gallery of Apollo was facing the wrong way. The theft occurred in broad daylight, a sign of incompetence from the culprits. It is thought, too, that the robbers forgot to take the crown of Empress Eugenie on the way out. And now, thousands of tourists have flocked to see the broken window and empty exhibits that remain from the heist.
Immediately, the internet was taken by storm. German freight company Böcker Maschinenwerke GmbH, whose lift hoisted the men into the Louvre, responded on social media with a stinging slogan best translated as, “when something needs to be done quickly.” With Halloween right around the corner, hundreds have flaunted their newest costumes on TikTok: bright-yellow vests and shining jewelry. The movie comparisons and spoofs have been endless, pinning the crime on Danny Ocean and his gang, or suggesting the ease of the theft was a mere stunt for the upcoming “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.”
There is an unmistakable need, now more than ever, to embrace such absurdity. While we should always remain sympathetic to the museum and those who appreciated the jewelry as harborers of French history, it’s also within our humanity to respond with curious awe.
Andrew Carnegie noted, “There is little success where there is little laughter.” In order to move on and progress from any event, we must recognize it first, and laughter is the most humble recognition. From it, we are drawn to our most vulnerable state, being able to account for mistakes and articulate the things that must improve, from the direction of CCTV cameras to the urgency of police response.
In the meantime, we can enjoy our bread and circuses and remain entertained, reminding ourselves that we live in an imperfect world that, through our collective understanding of each other’s humanity, we can slowly perfect.
Photo Courtesy of Reuters
Pierre Moscovici, France’s First President of the French Cou presents a report on the Louvre Museum, weeks after thieves stole treasures from the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon.
People walk near the glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum as French police have arrested more suspects linked to the theft of treasures in Paris, France, October 30, 2025.
Photo Courtesy of Reuters
Sydeny Sweeney GQ interview
How a jeans ad became a cultural misfire
GRACE WILLIAMS Contributing Writer
Sydney Sweeney has quickly become one of the standout actresses of her generation, starring in HBO’s hit series Euphoria, The White Lotus, Anyone But You and even venturing into film production.
While often typecast as a sex symbol and the “blonde” archetype, Sweeney has expressed that she is more complex — she restores vintage cars and is a trained mixed-martial artist. Yet in her recent American Eagle Outfitters jeans campaign, she seemed to lean into the very stereotype she has tried to resist, resulting in criticism for a tone-deaf message that left me questioning whether her earlier claims of complexity were authentic or simply part of a crafted persona.
The Summer 2025 campaign resembled the infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad featuring a then-minor Brooke Shields, whose sexually suggestive script about her “Calvins” sparked public criticism. To me, the echo of the Brooke Shields campaign underscored how little the industry has evolved in navigating the line between marketing and exploitation.
Similarly, Sweeney’s ad relied on a pun between “genes” and “jeans,” ending with her line: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
As a result of the lack of irony, the genetic wordplay fell flat and was widely perceived as racially insensitive, particularly given Sweeney’s embodiment of the historical ideal of white, blonde beauty, a standard long intertwined with eugenicist notions of “desirable traits.” These ideas shaped discriminatory practices during the Holocaust and resurfaced in mid-20th-century America, especially during the Civil Rights Era. For me, it was not just a clumsy pun; it was a reminder of how easily the media can unintentionally mobilize harmful ideas about race and beauty.
The ad evoked this troubling past, linking beauty, race and hierarchy in a way that felt careless and out of touch.
In the following months of the ad debut, Sydney made no public comments about the campaign, appearing at events but avoiding acknowledgement. That changed only recently when she sat down for an interview with GQ.
The discussion covered her personal life, upcoming projects and the ad campaign. Her new film, Christy, which centers on domestic abuse, was brought up in connection with her involvement with the American Eagle jeans initiative, which she said was designed to raise awareness for the domestic abuse crisis-prevention hotline.
When asked about her approach, she responded, “I always speak out about something that is important to me. And for me to speak out, I use art.” I found this interesting because, despite the controversy surrounding her campaign, she has yet to speak up and provide reflection or clarification. Her silence was particularly disappointing, especially given her claims that she speaks through her art.
The interview itself felt odd. The interviewer tried to inconspicuously edge Sydney to open up, offering her opportunities to explain the commercial and provide additional context. But Sweeney consistently avoided engaging with the deeper critique. When asked if surprised by the reaction of the ad, she responded with a blank statement, “I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans.”
Later, when questioned about the President and Vice President’s public support, she simply said, “It was surreal.” This response did little to distance herself from the commercial’s insensitivity, especially considering Trump’s history of sexual assault allegations and discriminatory behavior.
The conversation continued, and the interviewer suggested that, given our current political climate, people may be inferring that “white people shouldn't
joke about genetic superiority.” Sweeney responded, “I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.” Thus, cementing the idea that the controversy and concern are an afterthought and altogether irrelevant.
“To me, the echo of the Brooke Shields campaign underscored how little the industry has evolved in navigating the line between marketing and exploitation.
Reports on the campaign’s impact were mixed: some expressed that American Eagle’s stock went up 38%, while others noted that in-store visits declined. Sydney remained unfazed, saying, “I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other.” To put it plainly, I think that statement encapsulates the whole interview.
In a moment where celebrities wield enormous influence and are often held accountable for the messages attached to their image, Sweeney’s silence stands out. She was given the chance to disavow or at least address a campaign that invoked sensitive historical associations, yet she chose neutrality. From my perspective, this neutrality is not harmless; it’s part of a broader cultural pattern where celebrity detachment shields public figures from responsibility. Ideally, this moment should serve as a reminder to celebs and brands of what not to do when confronted with valid public criticism.
Contact Grace Williams at willge24@wfu.edu
Photo Courtesy of New York Times
We need room for interpretation
The assasination of Charlie Kirk prompts a reanalysis of the Second Amendment
MCKENZIE BERGFELD Contributing Writer
On September 10th, Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, traveled to Utah to debate students at Utah Valley University. While Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about gun violence, he was shot in the neck and killed.
Kirk was known for traveling to schools in the U.S. to debate students about his conservative viewpoints. He was critical of abortion, gay and transgender rights, the Civil Rights Act and the restriction of gun rights.
I believe Kirk’s death is a tragedy. Kirk's death illustrates a broader issue of gun violence that has affected people all over America.
Every day in the United States, 125 people are killed by guns. According to the CDC, in 2023, nearly 47,000 people died from gun-related injuries. 58% of these deaths resulted from suicide, while 38% of these deaths resulted from homicide.
Furthermore, in 2023, there were 349 recorded school shootings, resulting in the deaths of children across America.
No matter how these deaths occurred, there is one thing they have in common: access to guns. Today, federal laws set minimum standards, such as prohibiting firearm sales to felons and requiring background checks to purchase a gun. However, many important restrictions are determined at both state and local levels. For instance, some states ban certain types of firearms, while other states have no bans on firearms. Similarly, some states require permits to purchase or carry firearms, while most states do not.
Furthermore, the types of guns that are available to citizens vary from state to state. Most states permit the purchase of ordinary firearms like pistols,
revolvers, rifles, and shotguns. In addition, most states allow citizens to purchase assault rifles, but some states, such as California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and
New York, prohibit them. This disparity in gun laws among states has allowed for the widespread gun violence in the U.S. that is prevalent today. With stricter federal laws over gun availability, the purchase of guns can be decreased, and with it, the number of deaths resulting from gun violence.
The further restriction of gun availability in the United States has been highly contested because of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, stating, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This amendment is why lawmakers are reluctant to place further restrictions on gun availability.
However, throughout United States history, we have seen lawmakers interpret the Constitution loosely. For instance, Alexander Hamilton espoused a loose interpretation of the Constitution when advocating for the creation of the National Bank. During the civil rights movement, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education interpreted the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment loosely, determining that "separate" is inherently equal.
Occasional loose interpretations of the Constitution can be beneficial for the betterment of America. Without the National Bank, there would be no reliable currency and the U.S. economy would be much less stable. Similarly, the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark decision in the Civil Rights Movement.
In the same way that these past loose interpretations of the Constitution improved the U.S., the loose interpretation of the Second Amendment can also improve America. With this loose interpretation, guns can be restricted on the federal level and the deaths resulting from gun violence can be curbed. Future school shootings can be prevented, political assassinations can be stopped and fewer parents, partners and siblings will have to mourn the deaths of their loved ones. The loose interpretation of the Second Amendment is the solution to America’s gun violence epidemic.
Contact McKenzie Bergfeld at bergma24@wfu.edu
Photo Courtesy of the New York Times
Charlie Kirk was the founder of the non-profit activist group Turning Point which aimed at bringing young conservatives together across college campuses.
At one of Trump's presidential campaign rallies, he was shot in the ear, sparking further debates about political violence in America.
Photo Courtesy of the New York Times
SPORTS
James Lombardo, lombjp23@wfu.edu
Scottie Kimmelman, kimmsd22@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Wake Forest dominates North Carolina 28-12
SCOTTIE KIMMELMAN Sports Editor
The long-awaited matchup between Wake Forest (7-3, 4-3 ACC) and North Carolina (4-6, 2-4 ACC) on Saturday ended in resounding success for the Demon Deacons. Coming into this game, all eyes were on Bill Belichick and his struggling Tar Heel squad, but the attention quickly diverted to the surging Deacons.
Following an upset victory on the road against No. 19 Virginia last week, Wake Forest took care of business back home. Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez broke the ice when he picked up a loose ball and ran it 51 yards to the house. The unorthodox touchdown swung all the momentum towards the Demon Deacons as they held this lead for the remainder of the contest.
“Sometimes in this game you see the ball bounce your way, and Carlos was there to pick that one up,” Coach Jake Dickert said following the win.
“We had a couple of trick plays in the bag, just in case we needed to go out there and make an explosive play. I’m just really proud of this whole team in terms of effort plays.”
With Chris Barnes and Micah Mays Jr., both key offensive weapons for Wake Forest, injured and unavailable against the Tar Heels, Hernandez was called on to step up. After shocking the crowd with his first score, Hernandez went on to tally 100 additional yards with six catches. More than half of those yards, though, came on a designed flea-flicker that left Hernandez wide open. Senior Sawyer Racanelli was there on the scene to block several Carolina defenders and open the gates for Hernandez to score the 70yard touchdown.
“I feel like the confidence was there from last week,” Hernandez said. “My team never drifted on me. They trusted me. I just need to go out there and be me.”
Beyond Hernandez’s explosive performance, quarterback Robby
Ashford made huge strides against the Tar Heels, going 15-25 with 243 total yards and two touchdowns. Considering the stakes and circumstances, it was arguably Ashford’s best performance with the Demon Deacons.
Demond Claiborne made his presence felt in front of the sold-out Allegacy Stadium crowd as well. The senior running back rushed for 98 yards while scoring his first touchdown in three weeks. Claiborne also made a crucial block to allow Hernandez to score the touchdown off the fumble recovery.
“It is a lot of those types of efforts that make us our team,” Dickert said. “That’s our identity. Just doing the extra things so that your buddy can make the play. I think it says a lot about this football team.”
The offense, while impressive in its own right, should not overshadow the defense’s performance against North Carolina. Linebacker Aidan Hall had his best game of the
season with the team, leading nine total tackles on Saturday. The defensive back duo of Davaughn Patterson and Nick Anderson dominated the backfield, while Dylan Hazen and Langston Hardy suffocated the line.
“I think we’re a really well-rounded team,” Anderson said. “One thing no one talks about is sustaining drives. That’s almost as good as putting up points. That’s something that coach Dickert emphasizes on the defensive side.”
For Wake Forest, this particular victory against North Carolina means more than just a highlighted ‘W’ on the schedule. It proves that they are here to compete against the best this country has to offer. Next week, the Demon Deacons will face Delaware in the final home match of the season as they look to keep things rolling before bowl season.
Contact Scottie Kimmelman at kimmsd22@wfu.edu
Demond Claiborne trots in the endzone for his ninth touchdown of the season. The senior running back finished with 98 yards as he led the offense to 28 points. Behind him, Carlos Hernandez (8) looks on. Hernandez had a career game on Sunday with two touchdowns and 181 total yards.
Catherine Neely/Old Gold & Black
Basketball picks up third win against UMass Lowell
Harris, Spillers each score 21 en route to a convincing victory
ALEX GENDRON Staff Writer
After a disappointing close loss against No. 6 Michigan earlier this week, it was clear from the jump that the Demon Deacons were determined to get back on track this Sunday at home against UMass Lowell.
The first half ended with Wake leading 48-38, with Tre’Von Spillers leading the Demon Deacons. To close out the half, Purdue transfer Myles Colvin nailed a shot from beyond half court as time expired, giving the team extra momentum going into the half. However, UMass Lowell was able to hold their own against the heavily favored Wake Forest.
After the start of the second half, the Demon Deacons extended their lead up to 13 before going on an 18-0 run, blowing the game open. The run was led by Washington State transfer Nate Calmese, who scored 10 during the outbreak. With just under 13 minutes left in the game, the Demon Deacons now had a commanding 7645 lead.
“A lot of guys had good games,” Coach Steve Forbes said. “I thought Nate played a really good floor game. He had 15 points, seven assists, and no turnovers.”
Wake Forest eventually finished the job and won by a final score of 109-75, which included a whopping 61 points in
the second half. Returning players Juke Harris and Tre’Von Spillers led the team in scoring with 21 points each on very efficient shooting. Double-digit scoring games from Colvin, Calmese and Omaha Biliew helped the cause. UMass Lowell was led by JJ Massaquoi, a freshman guard who scored 26 points off the bench for the River Hawks.
“We played the right way offensively,” coach Steve Forbes said. “We shot the three well. We shot free throws well. When we do that, we’re going to be a pretty good team.”
The stat that stood out for the Demon Deacons was the four fast break points allowed, a great improvement from their last game in which they gave up 23. They outscored the River Hawks in this category by 13 points. In addition, Wake Forest was significantly better at rebounding the ball, limiting UMass Lowell to 30 rebounds as opposed to the 50 surrendered to Michigan. Limiting the second-chance points and fastbreak points was the key to success for the Deacons.
Wake Forest will look to carry their momentum to Thursday in the Bahamas, where they will play No. 11 Texas Tech. They will seek to stop National Player of the Year candidate JT Toppin and star sophomore Christian Anderson.
Tre’von Spillers points towards the bench in celebration. The senior forward dominated in the game, going eight for nine with five rebounds.
Wake Forest falls to Michigan in overtime
Wake Forest basketball could not win this year’s Wolverine-Deacon challenge, as No. 6 Michigan narrowly escaped with the 85-84 overtime victory. The Demon Deacons took their first loss of the season, but they showed legit tournament potential against a true national title contender.
The first half went back and forth between these two teams. Balanced
scoring and strong three point defense helped the Demon Deacons keep the score close in the beginning.
Early on in the game however, several starters found themselves in foul trouble. The small ball Demon Deacons struggled to contain Aday Mara, Michigan’s 7’3” Spanish center.
“We did a pretty good job guarding them in the half court, and then we started to foul,” said Head Coach Steve Forbes. “They went to line a ton in the first half.”
When Coach Forbes subbed in the bench after his starters racked up fouls, Michigan went on a big scoring run. Backup guard Sebastian Akins nailed two jump shots to end the half with a score of 47-34 in favor of Michigan.
In the second half, Juke Harris took over. The sophomore from Salisbury, NC led a big Wake Forest run, tipping in a putback, draining a three pointer, and converting an and-one to bring Michigan’s lead down to just five.
With under seven minutes to go in the game, the uber-athletic forward Myles Colvin delivered the dunk of the season. Colvin caught the pass in transition from Nate Calmese, and then he caught a body as he left former North Carolina Tar Heel Elliot Cadeau embarrassed on the hardwood.
Posterized.
Colvin’s incredible and-one slam gave Wake Forest the lead at 69-68. Soon after with one minute left, Colvin drilled a three pointer to give the Demon Deacons the 80-78 lead.
It would be Cadeau who got the last laugh though.
Cadeau drove baseline after fooling Mekhi Mason with a pumpfake to send the game to overtime at 80-80.
In overtime, Mekhi Mason missed two free throws in a row that would
have given the Demon Deacons the lead with just a minute remaining.
Immediately after, the clutch Cadeau drilled a free throw with 13 seconds left to put the Wolverines up by one. Cadeau had an impressive performance with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
On the final play of the game, Calmese drove to the basket and missed the game winning scoop floater over Mara. Mara had his fingerprints all over this game, posting an efficient 18 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocked shots.
“He changed the game,” said Forbes. “Not only did he block a lot of shots, but he changed a lot of them too.”
Although a close loss to a top program stings for a team like Wake Forest, who hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2017, fans can be encouraged by the Demon Deacons’ 17 forced turnovers while holding Michigan to 4-25 shooting from the three point line.
“Hopefully we can learn from this,” said Forbes. “We have a game Sunday, and then we go play in the Bahamas.”
Wake Forest will look to rebound this weekend at the Joel as they will face UMass Lowell.
Senior point guard Nate Calmese (1) pushes the ball in transition as Michigan guard Nimari Burnett (4) chases after him.
JAMES LOMBARDO Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
YouTube TV–Disney disagreement leaves millions without a way to watch their favorite teams
Loss of Disney-owned channels sparks frustration during peak sports season
ELLA MAYNARD Staff Writer
Beginning on Oct. 30, over 10 million YouTube TV subscribers were outraged when they discovered that they were no longer able to access any Walt Disney-owned channels, such as ABC and ESPN, which also include ESPN+ services, ACC and SEC networks.
Disney and Google failed to come to an agreement regarding broadcast rights after their existing contract expired,
causing a blackout of those channels on YouTube TV.
The companies’ dispute centers on the per-subscriber fee that Disney seeks to charge YouTube TV to access Disney content. Until they reach an agreement, ESPN content, including Monday Night Football, will remain inaccessible for YouTube TV subscribers.
In the meantime, some watchers have switched to a new TV service or have added a direct-to-consumer streaming account, such as a solo subscription to Disney+.
Fans were already finding it difficult to watch without paying, with Prime Video being the lone service to stream Thursday Night Football.
Students who use their family’s subscriptions are feeling the sting without access to cable while at school.
“It’s so unfortunate because I get almost all NFL games through Sunday Ticket on YouTube,” said sophomore Sam Weisberg.
Google, YouTube TV’s parent company, said on its website and social media that it would grant subscribers $20 in credit if Disney content remained “unavailable for an extended period of time.” The parent company of YouTube TV is doing its best to make light of the blackout.
“It’s our goal to restore Disney content to YouTube TV, but if we can’t reach an agreement and their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a $20 credit,” Google wrote in a message in its help center.
Their posts sparked further backlash from aggravated fans.
“Making people claim instead of auto-refunding when a significant piece of the product is now missing is sooo slimy,” one fan commented on X.
“I feel like we are way past a 20-dollar credit at this point,” another said.
To ensure that viewers would not miss “GameDay,” ESPN made the show available for free Saturday morning on the ESPN app with no subscription or
authentication required as well as on the “The Pat McAfee Show” account on X, according to Devon Henderson of the New York Times. However, key college football matchups were left in the dark of the blackout.
The dispute demonstrates how the move to streaming has upended the experiences of media companies and consumers alike. It’s unclear how the blackout will affect YouTube TV’s long-term engagement. Despite challenges, however, many viewers still value the convenience of streaming.
“The move from cable sports to streaming services makes it a little more manageable to find and watch what you like,” Weisberg said. “It will hopefully help people save money in the long run by switching to those services.”
As of Friday, Disney and Youtube TV officially reached a new deal to bring ABC and ESPN back to the platform, ending the two week blackout.
"As part of the new deal, Disney's full suite of networks and stations—including ESPN and ABC—have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers," The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement.
The gradual move to streaming has been revolutionary for platforms trying to increase profits, but it remains to be seen how this will affect YouTube TV’s long-term engagement.
Contact Ella Maynard at maynir24@wfu.edu
Field Hockey shutout by UConn in first round of NCAA tournament
Absences characterized the disappointing loss to end a historic season
ELLA
MAYNARD Staff Writer
Wake Forest fell 2-0 to UConn on Friday as they saw their record-breaking season come to a close. The team was without Mia Montag, Lena Keller and Lauren Storey, all of whom were instrumental in the regular season campaign.
The Demon Deacons made uncharacteristic mistakes, turning the ball over multiple times throughout each quarter, and were held to just seven shots in the contest, firing only two on goal. During the regular season, the team averaged 19 shots a game, with 11.37 on goal.
The Huskies struck for a 1-0 advantage with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Wake generated an attack throughout the third and fourth quarter, but were unable to capitalize. Aggressive play from the Deacs resulted in a penalty stroke for the Huskies, who then lifted the lead to 2-0 with less than seven minutes to go in the match.
In her final match, senior goalie Ellie Todd had five saves, pushing her over the 250 save mark for her career.
The disappointment was evident from the team, but with only three seniors graduating and an impressive recruiting class coming in, the Deacs will no doubt be a force next year.
Wake Forest took four of the five ACC Yearly Awards, earning Coach of the Year (Averill), Offensive Player of the Year (Shoenbeck), Defensive Player of the Year (Montag) and Freshman of the Year (Phume), all of whom will be returning next season.
Head Coach Jen Averill expressed the pride she has in her squad despite the result.
"Extremely disappointed for the squad,” Averill said. “To have the strength and the success that we showed throughout the season kind of lose its wind in the last couple of games was disappointing for all and we didn't play great hockey tonight. It's just growth that a program has to go through in order to see the other side of it.”
Contact Ella Maynard at maynir24@wfu.edu
Courtesy of Reuters/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images NFL Sunday Ticket page on YoutubeTV that football fans have seen throughout the season. Most are unhappy with the longstanding dispute.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
The Wake Forest Field Hockey team huddles together before their final game of the season against UConn on Berylson Field.
ARTS & CULTURE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
Baby’s First Banshees
A freshman’s first time at a Banshees show
Lydia Derris, derrlf23@wfu.edu
Grace Schuringa, schugh24@wfu.edu PAGE 18
HANNAH ORDAN Contributing
Writer
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, I saw the Banshees perform for the first time. With seemingly hundreds of bright yellow flyers appearing all over campus, it would be pretty difficult to miss the news of the student-run comedy troupe's back-to-back shows.
As I entered the Brendle Recital Hall, it became clear that the sold-out 8:00 show was the place to be. Packed like sardines, students of all ages seemed to be buzzing as they waited for the lights to dim and the show to start.
Starting off with a skit titled "Draft Queens" followed by an R-rated version of "Little Red Riding Hood," I quickly realized that no topic is off limits.
Fellow first-year Liv Diamond commented, "I was shocked to see how much freedom [the Banshees] had with their jokes. Really, nothing was off the table. It was definitely not what I expected, especially having
limited knowledge about the material prior to the show."
As the show progressed, it became
clear that some jokes required more time as a Wake student to fully grasp.
The skit centering on the Pi Kappa Phi
fraternity particularly left me wondering, do I just not get it yet?
Diamond also noted, "I didn’t fully understand most of the jokes since a lot of them were about Greek life and other campus-related experiences that freshmen aren't yet involved in.”
Despite some gaps in knowledge of campus culture, skits like “Lemonade Stand” and “Mario” left my friends and I tearing up with laughter. The energetic dance breaks in between scenes only added to the lively atmosphere.
First year Jamie Schefrin shared, "I thought the show was really funny. Even though I didn't understand all of the jokes, I still found myself laughing during each scene."
All in all, the Banshees proved to be a hilarious, playful experience with the troupe's enthusiasm spreading to all Wake Forest students, old and new.
Contact Hannah Ordan at ordahg25@wfu.edu
Review: Anthony Aston Players presents: ‘Orion’
AAP’s latest production brought space and time to the Ring Theater
WHITNEY DONAHUE
Contributing Writer
Matthew McLachlan’s play “Orion” requires a special touch to execute — and the Anthony Aston Players have that touch.
With its four-person cast and simple, character-driven plot, the show risks losing its strong emotional resonance if not in the right hands. Luckily, Wake Forest’s theater organization, Anthony Aston Players, under the direction of junior Maya Roth, brought this beautiful play to life with authenticity and heart.
“Orion” ran from Oct. 3-5 in the Ring Theater. The intimate atmosphere of the Ring lent itself perfectly to the emotional vulnerability of the story, allowing for the immersion of the audience into the characters’ stories. Orion follows four friends: Sam, Scott, Abby and Gwen as they come of age, facing love, heartbreak and recovering from the past.
The cast embodied each of these characters with individual style, embracing both their emotional journeys and unique personalities. Andrew Wilson (‘29) softened Sam’s endearing awkwardness, while Abby’s internal conflict revealed itself through a powerful performance by Emily Crehan (‘29). Vanessa Brandt (‘29) and Patrick Eaton (‘27) nurtured Gwen and Scott’s candid confessions to the audience with genuineness and care.
The cast’s combination of authentic emotion, comedic timing and heartfelt connection with the audience gave this story a fresh life and resonance. The work of the scenic, sound, light and wardrobe teams allowed the Ring to be
and
and intelligently.
of
a beautiful story of love lost and love given to the Wake Forest commu-
nity. It showcases the importance of student-led art and the power of theater to unite diverse communities.
OLD GOLD & BLACK
transformed into apartments, bars
a courtyard over the course of years seamlessly
Maya Roth’s rendition
“Orion” shared
Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black
The Anthony Aston Players brought “Orion” into the Ring Theater in Scales Fine Arts Center.
cohort
Chris Wallace/Old Gold & Black
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“It Was Just an Accident” is a real treat
This year’s Cannes winner serves up laughs and moral dilemmas for those who have enough patience for it.
HENRY
YATES
Contributing Writer
Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s “It was Just an Accident,” a slowburning, character-driven film that ultimately rewards those who stick around. It has garnered acclaim among critics, netting the prestigious Palme D’or, the top prize from the annual Cannes Film Festival.
The film follows a group of former political prisoners of the Iranian regime, who, having returned to their normal lives, are thrust back into their nightmare when one of them kidnaps a man he believes is their tormentor. Based on Panahi’s own experiences as a political prisoner in Iran, the film uses this simple mechanism to develop different responses to the trauma and paranoia such an experience would wreak on normal people, as well as to debate the morality of revenge.
Panahi chooses to shoot the film almost entirely in long takes — there are probably fewer than 150 cuts in the film (though I wasn’t counting); the average summer blockbuster has that number in a single scene. Cutting in a scene relaxes the brain and keeps the pacing up.
By choosing not to cut very often, Panahi at first slows the pace to a snail’s crawl, but as the film progresses, the choice becomes more and more brilliant. The strength of long takes, beyond the tension, is that they allow filmmaking to mimic theater — actors perform for long stretches of time without the safety mechanism of editing to supplement their performance. This means each actor has to live as their character
Reuters/Jaimi Joy Vahid Mobasseri as Vahid in the film, “It was Just an Accident,” directed by Jafar Panhi.
for an extended period of time, allowing them to inhabit the space around them and requiring much more of them for the scene to work.
All of Panahi’s actors are up to the challenge, and as tension runs higher, the stakes climb, and the climax of the film approaches , the acting on display becomes more and more riveting
The climax of the film — without giving too much away — is about fifteen minutes of an unbroken shot, consisting of three people
talking. All of the film had built to this moment and the length of the take allowed each actor to react and play off one another beautifully. It’s a riveting experience for the audience, as the fundamental questions of the film permeate the whole sequence.
Given Panahi’s background, the film has a lot to say. Its strongest messa, however, is the affirmation of taking the high road — refusing to become like those who wronged you in the face of oppression. It
also serves to raise awareness for the plight of the average Iranian. Though tensions often flare between America and Iran, it’s easy to forget that the Iranian regime’s primary victims are their own people. “It was Just an Accident” understands that, providing a thoughtful and harrowing picture of what life under a corrupt, morally bankrupt government looks like for ordinary citizens.
Contact Henry Yates at yatehs24@wfu.edu
“The
Running Man” review
Glen Powell gives himself an edge as an unrecognizable Edgar Wright serves up a fun dystopia you’ve seen
HENRY YATES Contributing Writer
In 1982, Stephen King (under the pen name Richard Bauchman) published “The Running Man,” a dystopian novel about Ben Richards. A young husband and father joins the titular game show, where a regular citizen is hunted by professionals and society at large, to win the massive prize of $1 billion for surviving past a thirty day time span. Memorably, the film was adapted into a rather unfaithful 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but this November, renowned filmmaker Edgar Wright (“Baby Driver,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) has decided to give audiences a much more faithful adaptation of the original novel.
Edgar Wright is known for his distinct style, filled with kinetic editing, excellent needle drops, as well as fun dialogue, characters and situations. Stephen King also has his own distinct style, but he is not known for the same — actually, quite the opposite. The unfortunate “middle-ground” of these two styles is something rather… familiar.
This is not just due to Wright’s familiar direction. The film touches on themes of wealth inequality, corporate surveillance, the masses’ desire for violent entertainment and the like. While King’s novel predates the 2010s YA dystopia trend (a trend best represented by the excellent early “Hunger Games” films), this film does not. In many ways, it feels like a film that might have been better suited to come out a few years before COVID, rather than five years after.
I’ll admit, on a subjective level, I enjoyed the fact that this film reminded me of those dystopian films from my childhood. I enjoyed that. However, since this is the same reason that people went out in droves to see the
2019 version of “The Lion King,” (a film whose original I adore and whose remake I hate), I wouldn’t say this is an indication of “The Running Man” as a new genre-definer.
King’s source material, though condensed and simplified heavily, is good enough — along with Glen Powell’s performance — to make this a worthy watch. Tension builds throughout the film, and the action is kinetic and exciting. Powell forgoes his usual winning smile (seen memorably in “Twisters” and “Top Gun: Maverick”) for a scowl, but his charisma still shines through; undoubtedly, you will find yourself rooting for him despite the thin sketch his character is given and
Riddles
1. It is unconquerable, let that not deceive you This thing all consumes Young, old, birds, fleas You may beg for more, down on your knees Rusting iron, battering seas It topples vast kingdoms to the ground And knows no bounds
2. I fill the sky and the whole of the Earth And shake all foundations, dislodging scree But cannot be seen by eyes or touched by any Truly no one has lived fully without me I plague many and fancy none Those who go without me face coronary disunion.
3. Tell me, what is soft as snow, life’s first breath. It begins in darkness where it returns to rest. It stands lower than heaven and higher than death.
Down:
1. Genesis
2. Pretentious purple? Or a hue of blue?
3. Pencils go down when this is up!
Across:
1. You break it, you __ _!
4. Did the reading; or, an online forum with a toxic reputation.
5. The secret ingredient in any great recipe
the amount of times he repeats his motivation verbally. I want to stress that, despite my various grievances, I enjoyed the film. The nostalgic feel of it all, the competent direction (even if he’s out of his element, Wright is still good at his job), the great cast (Lee Pace and Colman Domingo being special highlights), and exciting action keep you entertained and invested in what’s happening on screen. The worst thing a film like this could be is probably boring, and this film is certainly not that. The twists and turns come at an appropriate pace, the humor is funny, and the social commentary serviceable, which lends for an enjoyable theater experi-
ence.
Overall, Wright delivers a betterthan-average dystopian film, but, given the excellent source material, fantastic cast, and massive budget, he certainly could have delivered something with more bite, more style, and more to chew on than he did. While the film is enjoyable, I found myself thinking numerous times, “I can totally see how the book is better.” It feels like a Cliff Notes version of a great story told competently, rather than an excellent version of a great story told with skill. Make of that what you will.
Contact Henry Yates at yatehs24@wfu.edu
Riddle Answers:
Photo Courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter
Amain Berhane, who goes by the stage name Berhana, is an R&B and Jazz artist who grew up in an Ethiopian household in Atlanta, Georgia.