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Inside the Issue LETTER FROM THE EDITOR WHAT THE BROCHURES DON’T TELL YOU TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE “FRESHMAN 15” HANDLING HOMESICKNESS GETTING INVOLVED ON CAMPUS HOW TO USE OLD GOLD SWIPES IS GREEK LIFE FOR YOU? GETTING ALONG WITH YOUR ROOMMATE CURING YOUR HANGOVER COLLEGE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW ON CAMPUS FIND YOUR STUDY SPOT HOW TO DECORATE YOUR DORM ROOM TIPS FROM A SENIOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROFESSORS PICKING A MAJOR SURVIVING “WORK FOREST” EXPLORING WINSTON-SALEM FALL CALENDAR SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF SKIPPING CLASS STUDY ABROAD HIDDEN GEMS ON CAMPUS CAMPUS TRADITIONS WAKE FOREST BUCKET LIST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DEMON DEACON DICTIONARY W E D N E S D AY AU G U S T 2 3 , 2 0 1 7
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Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 3
Madison Zehmer/Old Gold & Black
D
ear Class of 2021,
First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you for choosing the best possible place to spend the next four years of your undergraduate career. As a senior, I can wholeheartedly say that Mother So Dear is a special place filled with brilliant academia, countless unique traditions and an overflowing amount of opportunities. The southern hospitality and intimate learning experience that are embedded into the campus culture set Wake Forest apart from any other university. Yet from my years of experience, I can also tell you that the success you glean from your academic career here is contingent on the effort you devote to your personal growth. And here at Wake Forest, effort takes a lot of different forms. The first, and probably most obvious, is the effort you dedicate towards the classroom. Being present in class involves more than actually sitting in the chair. It includes keeping up-to-date on your readings, speaking up in class to share your insight and taking moments to reflect on what you have learned rather than just cramming for a test or pulling all-nighters to finish a paper. Your GPA is going to reflect the effort you put into your classes. And as someone who is now looking to venture into the job market, I can personally confirm that you will thank yourself later for the effort you put in, especially your freshman year. Yet effort is also crucial in terms of becoming involved on campus. The first couple weeks are going to feel like everyone is throwing flyers at you and asking you to put down your email in order to get more information about joining their club or organization. The easiest response to feeling overwhelmed is to shut down. But from my experience, I have found that being involved in an organization has nothing but a positive effect on helping Wake Forest feel more like home. Having an escape from the stress of homework and feeling a part of something bigger will help you quickly integrate into
the Wake Forest community. However, it’s important to find that club or organization that aligns with your values, meets the hours of time you can commit and matches your interests. Finding your niche (not your best friend’s niche or what your parents want your niche to be) is what will make your four years here feel personalized, purposeful and memorable. But again, joining a club or organization takes effort. And you will find that what you put into it is exactly what you will get out of it. Lastly, and in my opinion most importantly, effort is required in building relationships on campus. Wake Forest is busting at the seams with highly qualified individuals who can serve as lifelong connections, mentors and friends. College is a four-year growing experience, which is why it is essential that you build relationships with your professors and fellow classmates in a way that challenges you to become a better version of yourself. Although this campus is pretty, the people are the ones who truly make it beautiful. As a treat to help you all get acclimated, our staff has compiled a comprehensive guide to assist you on your journey through freshman year and beyond. While our staff includes students from different interests and majors, — Greek, non-Greek, club sport athletes, business school students, humanities majors and more — we realize that there are so many niches on campus that our staff does not even begin to reach. So we hope that this guide simply serves as a springboard into your personal adventure at Wake Forest as you explore campus and find the majors, organizations, clubs and activities that help you feel most at home during your four years here. On behalf of the Editorial Staff of the Old Gold & Black, we welcome you into the campus community with open arms and are looking forward to seeing each and every one of you around campus. Go Deacs, McKenzie Maddox Editor-in-chief Class of 2018
O ld G old & B lack The Freshman Issue
McKenzie Maddox Editor-in-chief
Brandon Palmer Business Manager
Ryan Johnston Becky Swig Print Managing Editor Online Managing Editor Production: Nicholas DeMayo, Ren Schmitt, Erin Stephens, Amanda Wilcox, Natalie Wilson Special thanks to: David Ajamy, Henry Bonilla, Kyle Ferrer, Julia Haines, Heather Hartel, Lizzie Snyder, Daniel Pachino, Kyle Tatich and the Business Office of the Old Gold & Black Online: wfuogb.com Twitter: @wfu_ogb Snapchat: @wfu_ogb Facebook: facebook.com/OGB1916 Instagram: @wfu_ogb
The Freshman Issue is a special publication of the Old Gold & Black, published by Triangle Web Printing in Durham, N.C. If you have any questions or comments, email maddml14@ wfu.edu. To subscribe, please send $75 to P.O. Box 7569, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. © 2014 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved.
Page 4 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
What you can really expect your Freshman year The untold truths of Wake Forest may not be what you expect BY REN SCHMITT Sports Editor schmwm16@wfu.edu
Congratulations, you have officially made it to campus! Yet, I am sure you feel like you’ve been a part of the Wake Forest community for several months now based on all of the research you’ve collected from campus websites, pamphlets and places you’ve been shown on tours. From this, I am sure you’re thinking freshman year is going to be just about perfect ... right? Well, not exactly. Of course, I’m not telling you that your first year is going to be bad — it will probably be excellent — but there will certainly be some surprises and details that were deliberately hidden from you when you toured and researched Wake Forest. For starters, although you were shown these buildings on your tours, at least 5/7 of you are not living in South or Angelou.
To those of you who are, you are going to catch a lot of flak for it since your living situation rivals or exceeds that of any student at Wake Forest (including upperclassmen). I lived in Johnson during my freshman year. When I first swung open the door of my room, I was instantly taken aback by the size of my living quarters. Those of you in Johnson, Bostwick, Luter, Babcock and Collins will quickly become used to life in the not-so-friendly confines of your hall, but I imagine that you did not realize how small some of the rooms are. Couple this with the fact that the AC and general cleanliness of these older buildings is lacking, and you are bound to encounter some hardships. Personally, I lived with a chronic cough and pinkeye for my first semester — The Freshman Plague. Yet, I suppose that my immune system was eventually forced to adapt or die, so your health, too, will likely reach a sort of equilibrium by second semester. These dorms are essentially petri dishes surrounded by brick, as no one really takes especially good care of his or her hygiene, and the cattle farm-like size of your new living arrangement only amplifies the spread of contagions. Of course, the dorm is only your first wake-up call. Those of you who brought your car to campus will soon realize that the freshman lot may as well be on Mars. Even though shuttles run relatively frequently to the lot, the logistical inconvenience of moving your car for football games and back into the lot after a weekend will prove to be more frustrating than expected. For this reason, freshmen are basically land-locked on campus
for a majority of their first year. This is not as bad as it sounds and there are aspects of this that are actually quite nice. This forces you to socialize on campus more than you would if an escape were simpler. By the way, parking tickets are also a common occurrence for those of you who think you are sneaky (I learned this lesson the hard way). The parking and transportation ticketers will find you and you will get a ticket even if you think you are using extreme discernment when selecting a good location for an attempt at an overnight parking violation. Additionally, your roommate situation also may not go as smoothly as you hoped it would. Wake Forest claims to hold a roommate matching success rate somewhere in the 90 percent range. While it is true that most people do not go through the process of switching roommates, there are a number of individuals who will not mesh as well with their roommates as they had hoped. It is important to remember that your roommate does not need to be your best friend, although if it works out that way, more power to both of you. If you establish a relationship with your roommate that can at least be described as functional, then everything will work out; however, passive aggression, excessive messiness and frequent late-night visitations of both sexual and platonic natures are all catalysts for a negative relationship with your roommate. Lastly, Wake Forest tends to stress the importance of creating diversity. They might say something like, “We want to create a student body that brings all types of experience
to the table in order to cultivate a varied learning environment.” However, when you consider the annual $70,000 price tag, it should not be surprising that the reality is not always as simple as a tour guide would have you believe. In fact, according to a recent study in the New York Times, Wake Forest has more students in the top one percent of financial brackets than the bottom 60 percent. Do with this information what you will, but just know that Wake is not quite the perfect cross-section that it hopes to be, despite its best efforts. All complaints aside, you will shortly realize that these hidden realities are quite trivial and they should cause no more than passing frustration for you. You picked the right school and I hope you will come to love this place like I did, warts and all. Graphic by McKenzie Maddox/Old Gold & Black
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 5
Avoid the dreaded “Freshman 15” While the “Freshman 15” may seem daunting, these tips will help you stay healthy and avoid the unwanted weight
BY DANIEL PACHINO Staff Writer pachdb15@wfu.edu
One of the biggest worries of every incoming college student is the infamous “Freshman 15.” The Freshman 15 has earned quite a reputation on college campuses over the years, and for good reason. As we get older, our metabolisms are not nearly as fast as they once were in our early teens, making it very easy to fall victim to weight gain during your first semester away from your parent’s cooking, especially if you aren’t careful and don’t take care of yourself. But have no fear, because here are some valuable tips to help you stay healthy and fit during your first semester. Stay Active The first semester of college can be a very hectic transition that can cause you to often lose sight of the need to take care of yourself and your body. To do so, I recommend building an hour or two dedicated to exercise into your schedule each day. Yet, exercise can take many different forms. Especially with the newly renovated Reynolds Gym, there are so many ways to exercise and be healthy as a Wake Forest student. If lifting weights is your thing, take advantage of the brand new fitness center. It is worlds better than the Miller Center the rest of us started our Wake Forest careers with. If you are more into cardio, there are endless opportunities for running on campus. You can keep it simple by just running on the treadmill in the gym, or you can make things more interesting by running on campus or exploring the beautiful trails around the perimeter of campus.
Also, Campus Recreation offers many fitness classes and personal training options, such as yoga, spin and Zumba. Additionally, if it is hard for you to get inspired to go to the gym a few days a week, there are many great ways to get out your competitive edge here as a Demon Deacon. Any day of the week, you can go to the Sutton Center and find a pick-up basketball game. Also, Campus Rec puts on intramural sports throughout the year, and I highly recommend finding some friends from your freshman hall and making an intramural team. It is both a great way to stay active and make new friends during your freshman year.
Eat Well Diet and exercise go hand in hand, so it’s important to also be conscientious of the foods you are choosing. Instead of eating Chick-fil-a and hamburgers at the Pit for lunch, opt for a salad and fruit. Over the past year or so, the Pit has added many dietary and health-conscious options including the Vegan station, the Chobani bar and glutenfree alternatives, so look out for those. Additionally, instead of putting your sandwich on white or ciabatta bread, consider having whole wheat. The Pit offers a great variety of fresh local fruits and vegetables that serve as a healthy and delicious side to your meal instead of those fries or chips. Simple choices in your diet can go a long way in preventing weight gain. Finally, let’s address one of the quickest ways students put on pounds: not monitoring what they are drinking. Drinking empty calories can sneak up on you quickly and can oftentimes be the source of those unwanted pounds. The easiest way to fix this is to stop drinking. But as experimentation is a part of many freshmen students’ experience, we can’t ignore these calories. Yet, there are a couple tricks to be mindful of when consuming alcohol. The first is to look for the lighter options. If you are a beer drinker, there are many “light” beers that do not have as many calories as some heavier beers. If you are drinking hard alcohol, stay away from some of the darker and flavored alcohols. They tend to have more sugars and
calories. Another thing students often neglect is the calories from the other drinks they consume while drinking alcohol. Drinking the calories from a can of Coca Cola along with the calories from hard liquor can quickly add up, especially when you add a Gatorade in the morning to help cure your hangover. Be conscientious of these calories and don’t forget to factor them into your diet and exercise plans. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for underage drinking, but if we ignore it as a factor we are missing a huge source of the “Freshman 15.” So my advice is to be safe about it, and also try to stay “healthy” while doing so. By building a fitness routine into your schedule, maintaining a healthy diet and monitoring the calories you are drinking, you are sure to reduce your risk of the dreaded Freshman 15. Yet if you gain a couple pounds, or even lose a couple pounds, don’t beat yourself up about it either way. Remember that college is a transition and it takes students a while to figure it out. Each person’s body is different and what works for some people doesn’t work for others. Ultimately, you have to figure out what works best for you, make a plan and stick to it.
Linda Gassenheimer/TNS
Don’t let homesickness define your year
Homesickness is a challenge when adjusting to college, but there are ways to minimize the side effects BY AMANDA WILCOX News Editor wilcaf@wfu.edu
College is often described as the best four years of your life, but that does not mean the beginning of your Wake Forest experience won’t be a little rocky. And that is okay. It’s almost inevitable that even the most independent and welladjusted freshmen will find themselves hit by homesickness at least once during their first semester, if not more often. Living on an unfamiliar campus, adjusting to the demanding
Mark Hoffer/Fort Worth Star/TNS
college workload and establishing a brand-new daily life can sometimes cause a new college student to want nothing more than to hug their mom and curl up in their much warmer and cozier bed at home. The first few months of my own college experience were filled with the delight of diving into rigorous academic pursuits, meeting wonderful friends and finding my place on campus with the Old Gold & Black and the swim team. Yet, the separation from my family was emotionally jarring, particularly in regards to my beloved identical twin sister, who attends college several states north. However, I found that with time, those tough days were fewer and farther between, and you will surely find the same. It’s important to recognize that homesickness is a normal reaction to periods of rapid change and adjustment. You’ve left behind much of what you’ve ever known, so it’s no surprise that you’d feel displaced and unsettled for a little while. It’s more complex than just missing your home, your parents, your pets and your bed — very often, it’s about missing what’s normal and comfortable and not yet being quite happy with your new life. Homesickness is a longing for the familiar. As a result, because homesickness is ultimately about a lack of security, coping with it can be as easy as establishing a sense of security and familiarity in your new environment. A big step in this process can be finding a club or team to get involved with early on. You need to do something more than going to class to have a fulfilling and rewarding college experience. Having at least one or two organized extracurricular activities occupies your time and helps alleviate the feelings of loneliness. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the number of clubs and activities available at Wake Forest, try to find an activity similar to one that you loved in high school. For example, I practically lived in my high school campus newspaper’s computer lab, so I immediately found a home on the Old Gold & Black staff. There is a place for everyone at Wake Forest and if you don’t find it right away, don’t give up. It’s never too late to try something new. You may be tempted to call home frequently. There’s nothing wrong with that if it makes you feel better, but some
students may find that hearing their loved one’s voices is more upsetting than reassuring. Calling your parents too often can remind you of what you’re missing at home and distract you from building your confidence and independence at school. Try to encourage your parents to let you be the leader when it comes to when and how often you talk. That way, conversations can happen at times when they’re likely to help you and not make your homesickness worse. In between, use text and email for quick check-ins that aren’t as emotionally fraught as a longer conversation. Send snail mail to your family, friends and loved ones back home too — writing a letter or postcard is a good break from the stress of college life and you never know, you might get a letter or care package in return. Any problems you might have with missing home will only be compounded if you don’t take care of yourself at a basic level. Don’t forget to eat a balanced and consistent diet, take time to exercise, avoid germs as much as you can, and above all, get an adequate amount of sleep. A tired, hungry and homesick college student is not one that can do their best work. Finally, while homesickness is natural and nothing to be ashamed of, don’t ignore your problems if you aren’t okay. Separation from the comfort and familiarity of home can be triggering for major depressive episodes, so if your sadness impairs your ability to succeed in your classes and thrive at Wake Forest, you should look for help. Your resident adviser, a trusted friend, the Counseling Center or even Student Health are all good places to start. Especially if you don’t try to tough it out alone, your homesickness will soon fade and you will feel completely at home at Wake Forest. Finally, remember that your parents are going through a tough adjustment too. Most likely, your mom is thinking about holding your hand as you took your first steps and your dad is thinking about taking the training wheels off your first bicycle, so the realization that they just left you at college is hard to swallow for them as well. Give them one last hug, but don’t dwell on missing them. Treat this goodbye as a hello to your new Wake Forest adventure.
Page 6 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
Explore the opportunites to get involved Push yourself outside of your comfort zone to make friends while finding a niche on campus BY HENRY BONILLA Opinion Editor bonihj15@wfu.edu
Graphic by McKenzie Maddox
Getting involved at Wake Forest has possibly the most profound effect on your experience as a student. It can help you meet new people, find new activities and spend your free time doing things that push you to grow as an individual. At Wake Forest, there are a wide range of clubs and organizations that you can choose from, plus you always have the option to create a new one. This can be overwhelming at first, but once you find the groups that you enjoy, you’ll find your niche and a great way to escape the stress of homework and classes. This article is not intended to be a full list of all the different ways to get involved; rather, think of it like a springboard into your exploration of the different options you have available to you. If you love watching sports, Wake Forest has plenty of opportunities for you to get involved. The first way doesn’t even require you to sign up. Grab some friends from your hall and go to a football, soccer or field hockey game to cheer on your classmates. If you want to take your spirit to the next level, consider joining the Screamin’ Deacons, Wake Forest’s very own spirit squad. Another way to channel your passion for sports is to write for the Old Gold & Black Sports section. Reporting on
the games you attend is a great way to get something out of what you enjoy doing. However, if you enjoy playing sports more than sitting in the bleachers, consider joining a club sports teams. Wake Forest has a range of club sports from baseball and soccer to taekwondo and squash. Yet if club teams are still too much of a commitment, you can join intramural teams. Campus Recreation hosts intramural competitions every season, so make sure to assemble a team of friends and try to take home the gold. Wake Forest is also a great place for volunteering. Project Pumpkin, Hit the Bricks and Wake ‘N Shake are all studentrun philanthropy events that occur annually each year on campus. These days almost feel like a celebration as the whole staff, student and faculty bodies come together in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. Another on-campus volunteer opportunity can be found at Campus Kitchen. Campus Kitchen is located in Kitchin Residence Hall and is a studentled group that provides freshly made meals to families in the Winston-Salem community. In addition to these, there are tons of organizations and groups on campus like Habitat For Humanity, Helping to Overcome
Physical Expectations (HOPE) and Best Buddies that are all dedicated to providing volunteer services to the Winston-Salem area. Yet as I mentioned in the beginning, this is by no means a comprehensive list, so explore different options until you find the best fit. If these options aren’t necessarily your thing, don’t worry. There are plenty of other options. Wake Forest has a great selection of clubs to join and an excellent way to find the one(s) that interest you is at the Student Involvement Fair. Every fall and spring semester Wake Forest holds a fair where all officially chartered organizations host a table. Explore the tables for Wake Radio, Wake TV, Outdoor Pursuits, Student Union and Student Government. If you prefer fashion, look into joining WFU Style, which is a student-run fashion blog. There’s a photography club, the Lilting Banshees Comedy Troupe and a variety of groups that meet to practice different religions. The most important thing is you discover where you feel comfortable and find an organization that helps you grow throughout your four years at Mother So Dear. Because even though you have a limited time here, the options are endless.
Discover the secrets of the Old Gold Swipe Learn how to get the best value out of your meal plan by considering the approximate costs of each option BY KYLE FERRER AND KYLE TATICH Staff Writer fereka16@wfu; tatika14@wfu.edu
With fast food options around every corner and a seemingly never-ending stock of meal swipes, temptation can be a demon to handle. However, if you keep swiping that card with eternity in mind, there will be a day that the Pit worker will look you dead in the eyes and say ‘sorry sweetheart you’re out of swipes.’ Trust us, it’s a feeling you want to avoid. The first key is to understand the basic components of your meal plan. Your standard meal plan is comprised of pit swipes (used at the Pit and North Pit), Old Gold Swipes (combo meals at most of the fast food dining sites) and food dollars (used anywhere). Old Golds can be confusing at first, so take a minute to learn how to effectively use these. While this is not a completely comprehensive list, this will at least get you started with the basics. Trust me, your stomach (and wallet) will thank you. Chick-fil-A: If you’re from the south, you understand. If you come from anywhere else … you’ll quickly learn. Combo #1: Original Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Fries and a Fountain Drink Cost: $6.64 Bang for buck: ««« Healthiness: «« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««« Combo #2: Chargrilled Chicken Salad and a Fountain Drink Cost: $8.25 Bang for buck: «««« Healthiness: «««« Popularity: «« Overall: ««
Combo #3: 8-Count Chicken Nuggets, medium Waffle Fries and a Fountain Drink Cost: $6.19 Bang for buck: ««« Healthiness: «« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««« Combo #4: 4-Count Chick-n-Minis, Hash Browns and a Fountain Drink Cost: $5.50 Bang for buck: «« Healthiness: «« Popularity: ««««« Overall: ««« Zick’s: Open until 2:00 a.m., Zick’s can be a popular choice after a long night out. Combos: Two slices of One Topping Pizza or one of the Signature Flatbreads with a Fountain Drink Cost: $8.08 Bang for buck: ««««« Healthiness: «« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««« Forest Greens: Easily the healthiest option of all the Old Gold Swipes. Combo: Custom Four-Topping Salad and a Fountain Drink Cost: $9.20 Bang for buck: ««««« Healthiness: ««««« Popularity: ««««« Overall: ««««« Moe’s Southwest Grill: An alternative for those facing withdraw from Chipotle. Combo #1: The “Jr. Homewrecker” Burrito, Tortilla Chips and a Fountain Drink Cost: $8.88 Bang for buck: ««««« Healthiness: ««« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««««
Combo #2: The “Rupert” Vegetarian Nachos and a Fountain Drink Cost: $9.09 Bang for buck: «««« Healthiness: ««« Popularity: ««« Overall: «««
Combo #2: A Single Angus Burger, Fries and a Fountain Drink Cost: $7.77 Bang for buck: ««« Healthiness: «« Popularity: «««« Overall: «««
Subway: Open 24 hours, Subway is the late night venue of energy restitution.
Starbucks: Although it’s not the best option for those with limited Old Gold Swipes, food dollars are a popular currency for coffee. Combo: A Pastry and a Tall Coffee Cost: $4.30 - $4.80 Bang for buck: «« Healthiness: «« Popularity: «« Overall: ««
Combo: Any 6’’ sub, Chips and a Fountain Drink Cost: $6.44 Bang for buck: ««« Healthiness: «««« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««« Einstein Bros’ Bagels: A great option for those looking to spend their mornings studying in Farrell Hall. Combo #1: Bagel with a medium Coffee Cost: $4.30 Bang for buck: «« Healthiness: ««« Popularity: «««« Overall: ««« Combo #2: Deli Sandwich and a Fountain Drink Cost: $9.05 Bang for buck: ««««« Healthiness: «««« Popularity: «««« Overall: ««««« Take Two (Boar’s Head): If you can spare a few extra minutes to wait in line, Boar’s Head sandwiches/burgers are the best. Combo #1: Any Sandwich, Chips and a Fountain Drink Cost: $8.63 Bang for buck: ««««« Healthiness: «««« Popularity: ««««« Overall: «««««
Shorty’s: Known better for its food than its speed, Shorty’s is a great option for those wanting a sit-down restaurant atmosphere. Daily Old Gold Deals — Monday, triple cheese and tomato basil; Tuesday, BLT and guacamole sandwich; Wednesday, Shorty’s dog with fries; Thursday, house, cobb or apple walnut salad; Friday, grilled ham and pimento; Every day, tenders and fries.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Residence Life & Housing
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 7
To Rush or Not to Rush Pro-Greek
Pro-GDI
BY MCKENZIE MADDOX Editor-in-chief maddml14@wfu.edu
visit my new sorority lounge. I now had more people to get lunch with and a greater network of people with cars who could take me to Target. And most importantly, I now had a whole new group of friendly faces that I could sit with in classes, smile at on the quad and ask questions about my potential major. Yet, this expanded campus horizon didn’t end with my freshman year. As I moved into my upperclassman years, my web of friends of different ages just continued to grow. Although some fraternities and sororities have different systems, when you join most organizations, they will will assign you a “big.” For those of you unfamiliar with Greek Life, a “big” is an older member in your fraternity or sorority who is supposed to help acclimate you to your organization. Yet your “big” also has a “big” who also has a “big” and when you get older you will most likely take a “little.” So the chain of “bigs” and “littles” extend on forever in both directions in what is commonly referred to as your “lineage.” Although lineages are not always a perfect match, for me my lineage has ended up becoming the first people I ask for guidance. This includes everything from recommendations for study abroad to boy advice. Having a network of people who have already been through the same situations and could give me pointers helped improve my overall college experience. Yet, this doesn’t mean that your only friends have to be in your sorority or fraternity. Some of my best friends to this day are from my freshman year hall. Several of them are in different sororities and some of them aren’t affiliated with Greek organizations at all. Just because we wear different letters or none at all, doesn’t mean we are different people than who we were freshman year. If anything we are even closer now. So overall, the decision to undergo recruitment is completely personal. So don’t rush into your choice about whether or not to rush. Take your time and make sure it works for you.
While many students at Wake Forest enjoy the benefits of their respective Greek organizations, almost half choose to remain independent during their college years. I am one of those people. What I have found is that many “independents” or “GDIs” as they are often called, have a reputation of being “other” or “different” on campus. However, through debunking some myths surrounding non-Greek students, I want to emphasize that this individuality of not being affiliated can be a really positive thing. “‘Independents’ make friends”
cannot
You might hear this myth tossed around a good bit as your peers begin to consider rushing a sorority or fraternity. As ridiculous as it might seem to read this now, some actually do believe that they will not make any friends at Wake Forest if they do not rush. A large part of this sentiment arises from the tremendous pressure to rush, which tends to engulf freshmen around Winter Break each year. The ironic part is that I definitely remember making friends before Rush came around. And rest assured that you will continue to make friends at Wake Forest even if you decide that Greek Life isn’t for you. Once you establish a few things that you like to do on campus — be it volunteering or just getting a cup of coffee at Campus Grounds — you will soon find that others share common interests with you even though you aren’t bound to a similar organization. Graphics by McKenzie Maddox/Old Gold & Black
“Don’t rush into a fight.” “Don’t rush into a relationship.” “Don’t rush into picking your major.” Everyone has been advising you “don’t rush into things.” So why is it now okay to rush into a Greek organization? Deciding whether or not to undergo the Greek Life recruitment process can be a difficult decision for many freshmen. Despite watching Animal House on repeat, scrolling through nine billion Bid Day Instagram posts with cheesy puns using the Greek letters and maybe hearing the stories from one of your parents’ or sibling’s experience, overall Greek Life is an unfamiliar territory. Luckily, Wake Forest tries to alleviate some of these overwhelming feelings by having students rush during their second semester. What this does is allows Potential New Members (PNMs) a chance to see the fraternities and sororities in action before they decide if they want to go through recruitment. However, even after a semester of tailgates, parties and rush dates, the decision of whether or not to go through the rush process can still seem confusing. The most important thing to realize about Greek Life is that it’s not for everyone. So the final decision as to whether or not you want to join an organization ultimately boils down to personal choice. That being said, my experience in Greek Life has had nothing but a positive impact on my Wake Forest experience and now as a senior, I couldn’t imagine my time here without it. For me, the biggest benefit of rushing was the new friendships. Joining a sorority allowed me to expand my friend circles and make new connections with people that spread into new realms of campus. Before rushing, I found myself only hanging out with other freshmen and mostly sticking to the confines of south campus. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, after rushing I felt like I had a broadened appreciation of campus. I now had a reason to venture up to the quad and
BY NICHOLAS DEMAYO News Editor demanj14@wfu.edu
“Independents do not get the ‘full college experience’” First off, is there any such thing as a “full college experience?” Honestly, Wake Forest is only as good as the community you forge out of it. For some, their sorority or fraternity provide such a community. But for others, you may feel kind of limited by the kinds of experiences Greek Life offers. Perhaps
you want a more eclectic and diverse experience as an undergraduate? Then you might see yourself involved in Wake Radio or Outdoor Pursuits where you try out new music and pursue new adventures with others. Wake Forest offers so many clubs and activities that there are plenty of opportunities for a community outside of Greek Life. Senior Sara Coronel does not regret her decision to stay independent over her past four years. Instead, she has undergone a different experience than most of her peers, electing to travel instead of staying at school for recruitment. “Although I have a lot of friends who rushed and eventually joined Greek Life, I decided not to rush because I am visiting family in Paraguay or Costa Rica during the winter holidays,” Coronel said. It is a family tradition we have upheld since I was a year old.” So, while some may argue that not rushing will not give you a full college experience, others would say that it allows you to have a different and more eclectic experience. “Independents do not build a good network” The last myth I have heard about independents is that they do not have a network comparable to that of a brother or sister in a fraternity or a sorority. Senior Robin Larsen disagrees. He elected to spend an entire year abroad in France instead of rushing a fraternity. “I feel that I have made not just a good network in comparison to a fraternity brother, but also a global one that allows me to connect to many different people with multiple experiences,” Larsen said. If you worry that your time at Wake Forest might be dampered by staying independent, do not fear too much. As long as you put yourself out there, you will find that you will have a great experience and an extensive network of peers throughout your time in college.
Page 8 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
Adjusting to life with a roommate With honest communication and a little flexibility, your experience with your roommate can be enjoyable BY LIZZIE SNYDER Staff Writer snydem15@wfu.edu
Today is the day! You filled out that extremely long application that you thought would never end, made endless laps around Target and awkwardly emailed your roommate hoping they shared a few of your pre move-in jitters. Now, you’re ready to start the best four years of your life, but it is no secret that sleeping four feet away (probably three if you’re in Bostwick) from a stranger for the next 10 months can be a little nerve wracking. Although you’ve probably conducted the most elaborate Facebook stalking extravaganza on this person, here are a few tips that can ease your worries: Make an effort. On move in day, nerves can run high. You and your roommate are nervous. Your parents are nervous. Your roommate’s parents are nervous. If everyone understands that and makes an effort to make the day as smooth as possible, it will be great! Have extra command strips? Offer them to your roommate. Haven’t eaten in seven hours? Ask them to grab a bite with you at Chick-fil-a. As the week goes on, talk to your roommate about their hometown and family. Even though this sounds corny, making an effort to learn something about your roommate will go along way. The first few times navigating the Pit can be tricky, so bring your roommate along so you can sit down and learn a bit about them. Don’t be quick to judge. You have probably spent hours raking through your roommates Facebook page, but don’t be quick to judge if your roommate doesn’t seem to be exactly like you on social media. Part of what makes Wake Forest amazing is you will make friends from all over the country and the world. There is nothing like being in New York for a weekend and having people to grab dinner or catch a baseball game with. Who knows? You
two could be best friends by the end of it. Going into move in day with no expectations sets you up to be in the mindset to make a new friend. Be considerate. Even though your Freshman RA will make you sign a roommate contract, actually talk about how you live with your roommate. If you like to stay up late to study but your roommate starts winding down early, talk about compromises you can make so both of you can be successful. There are hundreds of great study spots around campus, including the residence hall lounges and study rooms just steps from your door. Chances are, you’ve never shared this small of a space with someone you’ve never met, so go the extra mile to pick up your trash or put headphones in when you’re watching Netflix. You never know how much your new roommate might appreciate it.
Is your roommate constantly inviting people over when you need to study or sleep? Do they leave trash everywhere? If your roommate’s side is looking a little dirty or they play Netflix out loud as you’re trying to sleep, kindly make them aware of your concern. Sure, you can ignore it and handle it passive-aggressively, but the frustration will build up before you know it. Sooner or later, every word that comes out of your roommate’s mouth will annoy you. Avoid this predicament before it happens. Your roommate probably does not even know their habits are getting under your skin. You don’t have to be best friends.
No one ever said you had to be best friends with your freshman roommate. If it turns out you are not the best of friends, no worries. You (or your mom) filled out a random roommate questionnaire anyways, so don’t take Don’t touch their stuff. it personally. However, just because I play my music too loudyou and your roommate are not best This probably goes without sayfriends doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ing, but don’t touch or move your I’ve never had to share a roo be friendly or inconsiderate. Get m. roommate’s stuff without asking. to know your freshman hall, too. This is essentially the first thing you Everybody needs friends when night! learn in Kindergarten, but it will make You wake me up at they’re first starting out, so put ! everyone’s life easier if you don’t do this. where yourself out there and make some! is every Compare schedules.
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A great way to be considerate is to be mindful of your roommate›s time. For example, if every Tuesday and Thursday you have class at 8:00 a.m. and your roommate doesn’t have class until 11:00 a.m., be sensitive to your roommate who may need the couple extra hours to snooze. Most likely, it will be a mutual understanding. A great way to keep track of what may be going on in your roommate’s day is to hang both of your schedules up in the room.
Treat it as a learning experience.
Throughout your college career and life, you will be put in unexpected situations with strangers. If you’ve never experienced anything like living with a random roommate before, this probably won’t be the last time where you will be forced to cohabitate with Communicate. someone else. Freshman year can be best summed up in 14 words by the wise Charles There will be bumps in the road when sharing a shoebox of a space Dickens, “It was the best of times. It was the with your roommate. Knowing how to handles these bumps is the worst of times.” So, keep this in mind when key to successfully living with another person. Graphic by Natalie Wilson/Old Gold & Black you’re navigating the waters of freshman life.
“Work hard, play hard” without the hangover If you go out to take a break from school stress, plan ahead to avoid losing today to last night’s decisions BY HEATHER HARTEL Staff Writer harthf15@wfu.edu
Going to college requires mastering the art of balance — balancing late night pizza with a run on Reynolda trail, balancing five hours in the library with a Netflix binge or balancing meeting peers in your freshman hall with getting to know your professors during office hours. Managing all these things at once can already make you feel like you’re spreading yourself too thin. However, I haven’t even mentioned the biggest aspect that causes most people to tip off balance: going out. Most students that go to Wake Forest are likely to go out at least once (or multiple times) during their freshman year. Learning to navigate this new culture is exciting and somewhat nerve wracking at the same time. But, trust me, you can manage it if you keep in mind the key to freshman year: balance. The first and probably most important step is understanding the importance of prioritizing school work above social events. If you have a big paper due on Thursday, going out on a Wake Wednesday is probably not the best route for your academic success. Even though you may have the perfect luau skirt to wear to the super cool Hawaiian party on Thursday night, you should probably opt for a quality night of sleep if you know you will not be productive during your 8 a.m. on Friday
morning. There will be more parties, I promise. Plus, it is impossible that you’ll be the only one choosing not to go out. If you do have a big test the next day and feel like everyone in the world is going to the ‘Angels and Demons’ party, find friends in your class and study together. I’ve always found it’s better to sulk in company while you study rather than be alone. Make sure you are smart about going out. There’s nothing like waking up in the morning feeling unwell and unable to proceed with your day. If you know you’re planning on going out, be proactive. Put a large glass of water by your bed and a gatorade in the fridge. Keep the Advil within arms reach from your pillow. Unfortunately, sometimes even when you’ve taken all of these steps, hangovers are still inevitable. One important thing to keep in mind if you happen to find yourself with a killer hangover is to just go ahead and get your day started. It’s important not to just stay in bed all day. Going for a walk, even if it’s only to the Pit for some morning bacon, will help. The quicker you get your feet on the floor and some caffeine and food in your system, the quicker you will be able to finish up an assignment, get some studying in for your test the upcoming week or get to the Miller Center for an afternoon workout. Also, don’t forget to utilize your on-campus resources, especially at night. Remember, Subway is open 24/7. Whether beating a hangover means eating a sandwich late night at Subway or drinking a lot of water before bed, dealing with a hangover is important to think about at night. Revel in the beauty of 24 hour subway and enjoy that 3 a.m. meatball sub in hopes of conquering your hangover the next day.
Back to the idea of balance, skipping classes because of a hangover is not a good decision as a first semester freshman. You may think that you’re pulling a fast one on your professor by emailing them two minutes before the lecture starts with a story about how you’ve developed a rare strain of the plague. Just a forewarning: they have been college professors longer than you’ve had a career as a college student. They have heard excuses that you probably couldn’t even imagine. They know why you really aren’t in class. Professors can tell which students are committed to their education — and it will be reflected in attendance and class participation grades. While making new friends and having
new experiences is crucial to personal growth in your first semester, so is prioritizing your education and making the most of the bounty of resources available on campus. College is supposed to be fun — some even deem it as “the best four years of your life.” Whether this is true or not, you will soon find that some of your most fun and memorable days are ones where you are awake, happy and not hungover. At the same time though, great memories can also be made dancing the night away with your friends at Last Resort. Life at Wake Forest is all about balance. And by taking simple steps, you can achieve and live up to the stigma of “work hard, play hard” culture that permeates this special campus.
Graphic by Natalie Wilson/Old Gold & Black
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 9
Living a complete college life on a budget Having a fulfilling college experience does not have to require emptying your wallet or abandoning your social life BY HEATHER HARTEL Staff Writer harth15@wfu.edu
Your parents have been berating you about spending all of your (and even some of their) money for as long as you can remember. It’s frustrating when you want a new pair of shoes, to go out to dinner with your friends or go to an overpriced concert and you don’t quite have the funds. Now a new wave of independence is upon you — you no longer have anyone breathing down your neck about how much money you’re spending on what they deem as useless things. Freedom is exhilarating; the world is an exciting place and you are
now open to exploring it all on your own. However, it will quickly become clear that Wake Forest is not wallet-friendly and that you most likely need to start saving and budgeting. Spending money is tempting, especially when it seems like everyone around you is endlessly buying things. But college is also the time to learn frugality and to save up for the future. Saving doesn’t directly correlate with missing out on times with friends—there are plenty of ways to do everything your peers are doing while spending a little less on the side. The first is considering every purchase with scrutiny. I won’t lie, the first trip to Target is exciting. Everyone crams into a tiny car to go pick up things they forgot. However, in hindsight, I realized that people mostly buy things they don’t need, but think they do. Here’s an ideal place to save. Go on the Target run but actually consider what you’re buying and why. If there is food that looks tempting, think about if you can buy it on campus at the POD. If you think you need that new bulletin
Graphic by Heather Hartel/Old Gold & Black
board, costume for a themed party or decorative mirror, you probably don’t or you would have bought it before you came to campus. Chances are you won’t end up cooking, so there is no real need to stock up on groceries. The best way to justify your purchases is to consider making a shopping list before you get to the store to prevent silly impulse buys. Another tip is to only bring cash and limit yourself to spending what you bring — if you don’t have more than $30 on you, you won’t buy what is unnecessary.Also, remember that the POD takes food dollars and has most things you’ll find yourself needing, including basic toiletries and trinkets you may find yourself needing in a hurry. Also, take advantage of your meal plan. Consider going to Bistro 34 for a dinner with friends than going to a nicer off-campus restaurant. Along the same lines, eating out is not necessarily a bad thing in moderation. Exploring Winston-Salem and getting off campus is important for your freshman experience, and there are plenty of fantastic restaurants worth trying. However, eating out more than one or two nights a week is excessive, given you are already paying for a meal plan. There are also simple steps you can take on campus to save a little money. The first is pretty obvious, which is to try to get a job. Unfortunately most on-campus jobs require a work study. If you don’t qualify for this, Campus Recreation hires non-work study students. There are also plenty of off-campus stores and restaurants within walking distance that often hire students. Even if you work limited hours, the extra income will help pay for some of your meals off campus and spontaneous purchases you will inevitably make. Another simple way to save money on campus is with books. Although the fresh, new calculus book may look tempting, it is probably double the price of the used one. Buy books used, and rent them when possible — just be sure to return at the end of the semester. Freedom from your parents is exciting. Being able to spend your money seems just as fun, until it no longer is. It is fully possible to
enjoy the same experiences as your peers while also saving some money on the side. Before you find yourself in a situation where you are suddenly uncomfortably low on money, consider these simple tips and don’t get carried away with your new independence.
Connect with Wake Forest’s online community Discover Wake Forest through our various social media accounts, including some student-run gems BY HENRY BONILLA Opinion Editor bonihj15@wfu.edu
If you go on a brief hike around campus, you can hear the Twitter handles tweeting in the magnolias, the Instagram pages blooming with pictures from Reynolda Gardens and the Snapchats chattering back and forth in front of Wait Chapel. Wake Forest is undoubtedly a social media savvy campus and it’s an understatement to say there are a lot of social media accounts to follow. Wake Forest is pretty well-connected on every platform, so there are tons of accounts to stay up-to-date with so you know what’s going on around campus.These range from sports to humor — LinkedIn too, if you’re into that. Any event or occasion that is somehow tied to Wake Forest is bound to be on multiple platforms, so completely missing out is highly unlikely. So let’s take a tour of the accounts you should follow. Official University Accounts If you’ve read this far and don’t follow any official Wake Forest accounts already, I would recommend putting down the paper and hitting those follow, like or add buttons. Official university accounts can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. These include Wake Forest Sports (@DemonDeacons), Wake Downtown (@WakeDowntown), Wake Forest Magazine (Instagram: @wakeforestmagazine;
Twitter: @wfumagazine) and the undergraduate college (Instagram: @wfunversity; Twitter: @ WakeForest). The undergraduate college also has a Snapchat (wfuniversity) managed by a fellow student, which gives quick updates about things you should know about on campus. These accounts are great ways to stay caught up with big events, Wake Forest-related news and seeing beautiful pictures of the university.
Pumpkin (Instagram: @wfuprojectpumpkin; Twitter: @wfupumpkin) and Wake N’ Shake (Instagram: @wfuwakenshake; Twitter: @ wfuWakeNShake) are just a few to get you started. However, ultimately you will have to find the accounts that curtail to your interests. Wake Forest Food Accounts
President Hatch’s Twitter Account If you’re looking to get your daily fix of Natty O, better known as President Nathan O. Hatch, make sure to follow his Twitter account (@ PresidentHatch). His tweets are sure to make you a prouder Wake Forest student every time you read one. Wake Alert Twitter Account A serious account that you should follow is Wake Alert (@WakeAlert) on Twitter. If you choose to follow any of the accounts from this list, make sure it is this one. It will keep you up to date with safety and security concerns on campus. They’ll also be the first to tell you if class is cancelled due to weather conditions. Did someone say an extra couple hours of sleep? Student Organizations’ Accounts Following some student-run groups on social media is also an excellent way for you to get involved in the Wake Forest community and potentially find some groups you may be interested in joining. Start with the basics by following Student Government (Instagram: wake_sg; Twitter: @WFUSG), Student Union (Instagram:
Ren Schmitt/Old Gold & Black
@wfusu; Twitter: @wfuSU), and the Old Gold & Black and Old Gold & Black Sports accounts (@wfu_ogb and @sports_ogb). In addition, most student organizations and events have fun accounts that will help inspire your passions, style and humorous side. Wake Forest Photo Club’s Instagram (@wakeforest_photoclub), the Lilting Banshees (@liltingbanshees), WFU Style (@ wfustyle), Outdoor Pursuits (Instagram: @wfu_ outdoorpursuits; Twitter: @Wake_OP), Project
There are also some accounts that are studentrun but not necessarily official organizations. One of the most helpful — and mouth-watering — accounts to follow on Instagram is Pitstagram (@pitstagram_wfu). Pitstagram is an Instagram account that showcases the endless and creative food possibilities that one can whip together at either the Fresh Food Company — “The Pit” — or at the North Campus Dining Hall, known as the “New Pit”. It combines food and toppings from different stations that you might not originally think about. If you are into food accounts with a slice of humor, WFU Bananas (@wfubananas) is right up your alley. WFU Bananas is a submissionbased Instragram page “ripe” with innuendo and sly humor and bound to give “bunches” of laughs. Catch your friends in the scandalous act of eating a banana and submit it to the Instagram account for a chance to be featured. In addition, follow Spoon WFU (@spoon_ wfu) on Instagram for Wake Forest’s specific Spoon University page. You’ll find photos of food from local restaurants both on campus and in Winston-Salem. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the many amazing accounts to follow. Keep your eyes peeled for other awesome accounts that will truly make you feel like a Demon Deacon and fit your personal Wake Forest experience.
Page 10| Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
The hot-shot study spots on campus Finding a good place to work shouldn’t be the hard part of studying, so check out these options to see which is best for you BY DAVID AJAMY Opinion Editor ajamdg15@wfu.edu
For being small in size, Wake Forest has a seemingly endless number of amazing study spots. Not only are there a multitude of places on campus, there are also some really relaxed and casual places in Winston-Salem to study and get away from the stresses on campus. Here are a list of some of my personal favorite study spots; however, the one that works best for you is for you to find. ZSR Library First and foremost, the most iconic study place of all is the ZSR library. Like most students, I have spent my fair share of sleepless nights in ZSR, and there is a high chance you all will as well. Sometimes you will spend hours on hours in the ZSR doing the loads of work you have to complete. Other times you will spend hours on hours in the ZSR distracting your friends who have hours on hours of work to do when you have a relatively “light week” of studying. The library offers all kinds of study locations that offer different perks.
Academic Buildings
The Pit
Beyond the library, the academic buildings throughout campus also offer great study spots that feature a more private environment. Most students don’t think to go there during the year, so check it out for a change of pace, especially if you want to go with a group of people. These are great places to explore during the day in order to finish up that reading in between classes. However, most of the academic buildings lock at night, so keep that in mind when choosing a place to start your ten-hour long project.
One of my favorite places to study is easily The Pit. The Pit is our main cafeteria in Reynolda, and you will hear the phrase “Pit Sitting” many times during your years at Wake Forest. Not only can you hang out in The Pit as long as you want once you swipe in, but you can also eat the whole time.
Dorms If you’re looking for something a little more social, but not as distracting as your room, your dorm lounge is a great middle-ground. These lounges are the social headquarters in many ways, but they are also very useful to study and work with groups and are great when you don’t want to venture far from your room. Emma Skeels /Old Gold & Black
And with the newly added electrical outlets, The Pit is the perfect place to sit for hours studying and snacking endlessly. If you are a early morning person, a great strategy is to go to The Pit early for breakfast and just study the calories from the pancakes away. Beyond Campus Outside of Wake Forest, the city of Winston-Salem also has many popular study spots. Downtown, there are many coffee shops like Krankies and Camino where it seems like every student goes to study. While they are Ren Schmitt /Old Gold & Black packed often, if you can find a seat, it is worth it. At Camino, you are right in the center of Winston-Salem While your room is always there for you to study in, surrounded by amazing food and places to explore during many find it impossible to study with either an immense your study breaks. amount of sound from their roommate or hallmates or with the comfiness of your bed and the urge to watch Netflix. Benson Inside Benson are many places to study. If you like a little bit of background noise and action, right outside the food court there are high top tables that are great for doing some work. If you need more space of seek comfort, on the third floor there are bigger tables and even some couches and chairs available. If the weather permits, the Benson courtyard has many tables that are spacious enough for homework and
Ren Schmitt /Old Gold & Black
My personal favorite is the atrium. The atrium is right in the center of the library and while it›s not the most quiet, it is incredibly comfy and lively to keep your spirits up. While it is can be very easy to get distracted by peoplewatching or seeing your friends, to me it is not as sad as the boxed-in the small, dark study corrals. But the benefits of those are that you will get an absurd amount of work done because you will not get distracted. Another group of study locations in the library are the study rooms, which are reservable. These are great for group projects or studying with your friends in a closed setting. The library has many secret nooks and crannies, so be sure to explore around and find what works for you. Keep in mind that the higher you go, the quieter it gets. Be sure to not disrupt the silence that is the eighth floor. The Starbucks in ZSR is also a great place to study if you want somewhere with a little bit of action, but still an environment where students are working. The Starbucks is open until 1 a.m. and has a good amount of seating available.
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Ren Schmitt /Old Gold & Black
studying. While many students hide in Farrell or ZSR, Benson is another location for students to study, and even has food right there for your study breaks.
In addition, check out the university’s expansion downtown to find cool places to study outside of the Reynolda Campus. The Innovation Quarter (IQ) or Wake Downtown is the new hip place to study for many students. You will be able to escape campus for a while while still have the privacy of the Wake Forest student body to study. To make it easy on freshmen and those that don’t have cars, Wake Forest has shuttles that go the IQ. No matter your preferences of study spot(s), you will find one you love at Wake Forest or in Winston-Salem. And once you find yours, you will fight for it during finals week when every spot on campus is somehow occupied with students you have never seen before. Nonetheless, studying will be a huge part of your four years at Wake Forest so it’s important to find a location that works best for your study style, whether it be quiet, social, closed-off or open. Wake Forest and Winston-Salem have it all and you just have to discover it.
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 11
Dorm Decorating Natalie Valdes/Old Gold & Black
Decorating your first dorm room will be exciting but might take a little more creative thinking and planning than BY NATALIE WILSON News Editor wilsnh15@wfu.edu
Every popular blog site has droves of articles and lists with ideas on how to organize and decorate your dorm room, but these generic articles are often expensive and impractical. Trunks? Futons? Moon chairs? Have these writers even seen Bostwick and Johnson dorms? You’re not squeezing any extra furniture in there. Internet closet hacks don’t work in the long, shallow storage spaces in Collins’ rooms, command hooks often fall off the painted walls and un-bunking beds often leaves enough floor space for a runner, not a huge area rug. And where’s the advice on how to spruce up a Luter suite’s built-in shelving? Even if you’re lucky enough to be given a big open room in South or Angelou, without a little craftiness and finesse, your abode can feel clinical and closed-off rather than cosy. Right from the start, you’re going to want to make your small space your home with memories and keepsakes. These can come in a lot of different forms, including photos, a blanket from home or even just your own personal style. This is where you’ll complete schoolwork, snack, socialize and sleep for the next year, so you want to make your room likeable and familiar. And when things aren’t going right, whether you’re just not clicking with your hall or you’re realizing that high school study habits don’t cut it, it’s nice to have a place that’s “yours” to clear your thoughts, even if you share it with a roommate. Additionally, when decorating, you’re going to need to think creatively about how to reuse and repurpose items to make them both aesthetically-
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pleasing and practical. Don’t worry, you have a head start: white and minimal is in! Next, remember that little organization tricks matter — clutter kills a small room. Keep your laptop and charging cords organized on your desk with binder clips, and try to find ways to store small objects where they aren’t visible. Try under-bed storage bins and small containers with lids or small plastic drawers on your desk and dresser. Get a hamper that sits upright, not a
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bag that lies in a pile on the floor. It will be easier to carry and you can even fit it under your bed. A little wall art is a great way to personalize your space without taking up any extra room. Poster putty will stick to any surface and is easily removable, so it’s your best bet for hanging decorations; however, it might stick to fabric and paper, so if you’re worried about damaging something you’d want to save for next year, try Velcro command strips, which are often the ones that work the best. If you don’t find a tapestry that you like, try hanging a sheet or making your own with tie-dye or fabric paint. Student Union also sponsors an annual poster sale you might want to check out. Craft stores like Michael’s, which is near campus, also often have sales on cheap canvases and brushes that are perfect for making custom decor. Avoid the dreary fluorescent lights in your room by taking advantage of natural lighting or trying some fairy lights, which double as a string for hanging photos if you use clothespins. If you’re a
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candle person, try battery powered tealights and a plug in air freshener to make yourself feel at home. It’s very tempting to constantly use red SOLO cups, since they work well for all kinds of beverages, don’t have to be washed and can be shared with guests, but invest in a few cups so you feel less like you’re at a picnic and more like you’re in your bedroom. Reusable cups and mugs are sustainable and more homey. There are many easy and affordable ways to decorate your dorm room with max efficiency while making the space feel more at home and less like dirty linoleum, plastic mattresses and white walls with nonstick paint. And don’t worry about doing everything all at once, which will be expensive and can lead you to buy things you won’t end up using. You can continue to add to your abode as the year continues. By the time you’re a sophomore, you’ll be an interior design pro.
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Page 12 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
Learn to say “no” to college stress While new students have more unorganized time than ever before, they struggle to enjoy it because of pressure outside of the classroom BY NICHOLAS DEMAYO Life Editor demanj14@wfu.edu Typically, I am one who is slow to give advice — and even slower to take it. But if there is one thing that I wish I knew when I was a freshman, it is this: you cannot be afraid to say “no.” To say “no” to pressure, to say “no” to not getting the appropriate amount of sleep and to say “no” to advice (when unwarranted) is to trust yourself in all your abilities. You might struggle to say “no” because shutting out others, literally and figuratively, is a hard thing to do, especially when for the first time in your life you will be constantly surrounded by people the same age as you during all hours of the day . I still struggle to do this as a senior. However, entrusting yourself with your precious time and energy, rather than constantly outsourcing it to others, may ultimately help you work and live better at college. Without dismissing the stress and rigor that high school level-courses and preparing for college brought, many of us would say that the collegiate-level schoolwork and atmosphere blows previous sources of pressure and anxiety out of the water. But I’m not talking about pressure inside the classroom. In my experience, I would leave a day of high school classes far more tired than I do from a day of college lectures. It is what you do in your unorganized time in college that tires you most. Personally, what wears me down the most is feeling like I never do anything for myself and that I only do things in order to be productive in class or in my on-campus job and clubs. The balance of laundry, homework, eating, sleeping and hanging out with friends is one of the most difficult changes to get used to and can leave you feeling like you have no “me time.” Extending this further, there is a contradiction that plays
out on this campus. It’s that we have so many great facilities and programs for unorganized time, such as Campus Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits, but a student body with no “time” to use them. Most Wake Forest students are involved in at least one extracurricular and spends the rest of their “free time” studying for their challenging courses. This leaves little time to engage in other activities. When students cannot say “no” to the pressure of always being productive, in their work and in their play, then their time becomes truly less productive. I am emphasizing the dangers of college, like substance abuse and cutting classes, which can be tempting when you are feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of productivity. Yet don’t let this advice scare you. It’s taken me four years to learn this and I’m still figuring it out.
This is not to disregard the fact that your time at Wake Forest will also be the most freeing experience of your life. It will be one where you spend time refining your skills and cultivating a different way of seeing the world. But these things take time and trust. Time to pursue them and trust in yourself that, by saying “no,” others will only gain more respect for the person you will become. In the past four years as a Wake Forest student, I have seen many people walk around robotically in the pursuit of being productive or in an attempt to escape from the pressure of productivity. I hope that when you become a senior you may see a different kind of student, one who is not robotic, but rather more fully human, pursuing their interests and potential.
Amy Ning/Orange County Register/Grand Forks HeraldTNS
How to build relationships with faculty Getting to know professors can be some of the best experiences at Wake Forest, so long as you are respectful and engaged in class BY BECKY SWIG Print Managing Editor swigrr15@wfu.edu The academic rigor at Wake Forest can be daunting. As a student who was probably used to making all A’s and B’s in high school, it can be eye-opening when you receive that first test or paper grade with a note reading “come to office hours.” And after you do a quick google search of your professor and find that they have written 14 books, worked for 12 years at the US State Department and speak four languages, that one-on-one meeting can become even more dreadful. But trust me, we’ve all been there and you will be glad you went to office hours after you go. That’s because if there’s one thing that Wake Forest does right, it’s that it selects professors who actually care about their students and want to help them succeed. Bad grades are going to be a part of your college career, but what you do about them is what the professors really care about. If you sit, sulk and never ask for help, your final grade will probably be close to the one you received with the note “come to office hours.” But if you engage with your professors and utilize them, the personal growth and development you will gain from learning from your mistakes will ultimately help you succeed. That being said, you don’t have to only go to office hours after a bad test grade. Getting to know your professors and visiting their office hours allows you to get to know them on a more personal level. Professors are required to
hold office hours, so they want you to come. If you can’t make the designated time, email them and set up an appointment. You aren’t inconveniencing them and you have the opportunity to ask that extra question you didn’t get to in class or dig more into a reading or lecture. Take advantage of the fact that you have the opportunity to engage with some of the most intelligent academics in the given field in a one-on-one setting. It can be fun to learn about their research and career path while also getting some help on a problem set from class. Especially when you begin to narrow down your major, it can be inspiring to hear about the benefits and detriments of a certain major from someone in the department. In addition to office hours, engaging with your professors in the classroom is equally as important. One of the best things about Wake Forest is that your professors actually know who you are. Since the class sizes are small, almost all of your professors will know your name and get to know a bit about you. It helps make the learning experience more personalized and allows the professor to help push you as a student. On the flip side, however, this also means that professors notice when you’re late or miss class on a regular basis, so arrive on time and don’t skip. Otherwise, you’ll most likely get an email asking where you were. One of the best and easiest ways to show your professors that you are committed and serious about the class is to show up and be on time. The next thing is to be engaged in class and participate. Participating shows the professor you are paying attention and are attempting to learn the material both inside and outside of class. Show your professors that you care about what you are learning and want to be there. It may not be what you want to study down the road, but those classes
can still be interesting and the grade still counts towards your GPA. Speaking of grades, participation grades are real. So speak up and stay off of your phone. However don’t let grades be your only reason for engaging with your professor. Participating in class is also helpful for internalizing the information. When test day rolls around, if you’ve been keeping up with your reading and engaging in class, then it will prevent you from having to cram the night before. Ultimately, it is important to foster relationships with your professors not just to get a better grade, but for the future. Your professors are the ones you go to for letters of recommendation, advice on graduate school and even for job connections. Keep this in mind when you are communicating with them. While some professors can be casual, this doesn’t mean you should treat them like your BFFL. When emailing professors, don’t write it as a text. Handle it more formally and professionally. Remember these are some of the smartest people in the industry, so it is always better to sound polite than rude. Overall, if you’re respectful of your professors’ time and put in effort, they’ll be respectful of you and help push you academically towards success.
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Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 13
Your major does not dictate your future A liberal arts college is a great place to experiment with different fields BY AMANDA WILCOX News Editor wilcaf16@wfu.edu
After making the decision to attend Wake Forest — perhaps one of the biggest decisions you have made in your life — deciding what to study can be overwhelming. Given how little you probably know about your changing self at the age of 18 and the how quickly you feel like you’re being forced to grow up, it can be difficult to predict what course your life will take in 20 years. Parents may believe that whatever major you choose will dictate your fate. However, the advantage of a liberal arts education at a top-notch school like Wake Forest is that your learning experiences here will prepare you for a wide variety of careers, even if they are not expressly related to your major. While keeping in mind that a major decision is not a life sentence, there are still a variety of factors to take into account as your consider what to study. First, do your best to separate your
plans for yourself from other people’s plans for you. Your parents may want you to be a doctor or a lawyer and society may define “success” in terms of monetary compensation over innovative contributions to a field or positive impacts on the world. Separate yourself from that. You may even need to quiet the voice in your head telling you that you aren’t smart enough for a particular course of study. However, part of adulthood is determining your future for yourself. If you do choose to follow in your family’s footsteps, make sure that you’re doing it because you want to, not because you think that is what is expected. For example, my mother was an economics major at Wake Forest and my father is an economist, but my sister and I both chose to major in economics because we were independently passionate about the subject. In fact, before being inspired by a wonderful AP Economics teacher, we wouldn’t have touched it with a ten-foot pole. Even though you are in charge of determining your own educational future, let outstanding professors and leaders in your chosen field inspire and encourage you. Secondly, most advice about choosing a college major admonishes you to “follow your passion.” But at the age
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Study what interests you, not what other people expect you to study. of 18, it can be difficult to know what your passions are, and there is nothing wrong with that. Often finding a passion isn’t a sudden epiphany but a meandering process that develops over a number of years. Therefore, you can start by pursuing a small interest. When you feel a little tug of curiousity, follow it, even if it is a completely different direction than one you imagined taking. When you look forward to completing assignments or readings for a particular class, you should take more classes like
it. For example, I had no plans to take history classes until I took a phenomenal first-year seminar on the life of Thomas Jefferson. After that I was enamoured enough with early American history that I declared a history minor. This process of educational exploration can take place outside the classroom, too. Follow the Twitter accounts of experts in your field of interest, attend relevant lectures on campus and read plenty of academic papers that interest you — when else will you have free and unencumbered access to JStor? It’s a great idea to dip your toe into lots of different waters before you invest a lot of education and time in a specific topic. Most importantly, perhaps, you should be flexible. You might expect to choose a specific major and later find out that you don’t enjoy it or aren’t good at it. These realities will force you to adjust or even redesign your ideal, which can be difficult and discouraging at the time. However, it will ultimately lead to a better outcome. A flexible and can-do attitude is critical to develop before you enter the workforce, because inevitably some of your plans won’t ultimately work out. A liberal arts college is the perfect place to try something new again and again.
“Work Forest” is hard but manageable minute to limit stress and maintain the With these tips, any high quality demanded by Wake Forest. student can overcome the Secondly, find what study habits work you. Whether you prefer to work in “Work Forest” stereotype for a dorm lounge surrounded by friends BY BECKY SWIG Print Managing Editor swigrr15@wfu.edu
The transition from high school to college can be demanding for any student. Without the regimented bells telling you when to switch classes, the new responsibility to actually do your readings outside of class and the constant pressure of feeling like you have an upcoming test or paper due is a hard adjustment at any school. Yet when it comes to the difficulty and rigor of classes, Wake Forest has earned itself a reputation: “Work Forest.” This stereotype can be intimidating at first, but there are strategies to handling and managing the loads of homework so that you can still achieve success. The first involves balancing your time appropriately. While college schedules lend themselves to more free time, your workload will increase as the year progresses and homework and projects can pile on quickly. It is important to not leave your work until the last
or need to take refuge on the eighth floor of the library, knowing how you study best is essential to succeeding at Wake Forest. There are many places around campus to work — the library, the dorms, Benson, Farrell Hall and Reynolda are some good examples. The next tip is to put your phone away while you are studying. This way you can actually focus on your calculus formula rather than your best friends’ new photo of Wait Chapel on Instagram. The more you focus when you work, the more productive and efficient you will be and the sooner you can move on to being on the quad with your friend who just Instagramed. In addition to minimizing distractions in order to maximize your time you spend studying, it’s also important to space out your studying and start preparing for tests and papers early. “As you’re reading textbook chapters, make short study guides for each one so before a test or final you already have all your studying material prepared,” said senior Jenny Hill.
Another great resource to help you beat the “Work Forest” stigma is utilize your professors. Go to their office hours whenever you can, so you can get your questions answered that you maybe didn’t have time to ask during class. “Don’t be afraid to go up and talk to your professors,” said junior Maddie Baxter. As scary as it may seem in the beginning, they just want to help you.” Speaking of classes, it may be tempting to skip class, but most professors have an attendance policy, and the amount of material covered in one class in college is more than one class in high school. “Go to every single class. Unless you are sick or have an emergency, you need to go to class,” Baxter said. Also, there are other great resources to utilize around campus, including The Writing Center, the Math Center and other on-campus tutors. You can make appointments at these centers and find students who have taken your class to help tutor you. Yet, another important aspect of beating the “Work Forest” blues is to not let the workload control your life. It’s important to take breaks, pack snacks for the library and use naps to your advantage. While you may think
that joining a club takes away time from studying, these are great outlets to de-stress and take a break from your workload. Finding a club or activity that you love will actually help you succeed, especially because Wake Forest has so many clubs available. So as a student, I can personally confirm that “Work Forest” is real; however, I can also confirm that if you use your time well and ask questions inside and outside of class, you will survive.
Graphic by Becky Swig/Old Gold & Black
Page 14 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
Explore all Winston-Salem has to offer Staying on campus for weeks on end can be stifling, so luckily Winston-Salem has lots of options for fun excursions BY DAVID AJAMY Opinion Editor ajamdg15@wfu.edu
As a Winston-Salem native, coming to Wake Forest meant I already knew the city and the best places in Winston-Salem to hang out and eat. Plus, whenever someone needed something, I became the go-to guy because I already had all the recommendations and knew where they should go. So now as a junior, I hope to keep passing on my insider knowledge and help the class of 2021 see the wonderful city of Winston-Salem from one of the many Winston-Salemites at Wake Forest. In the past few years, downtown Winston-Salem has been referred to as up-and-coming. With Wake Downtown opening earlier 2017, the Innovation Quarter opened doors for Wake Forest students with various opportunities to escape the Wake Forest Bubble. Downtown has everything you will need: food, music, study spots and art. There are countless places that have all kinds of food that will make even the pickiest freshman happy. From small quirky coffee shops to well-established restaurants, downtown has it all. While Mellow Mushrooms pizza is renowned, my favorite restaurant is Mooneys. It’s a must visit for sure. Mooneys had Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with large proportions and even larger taste that won’t kill your already broke wallet.
Erin Stephens/Old Gold & Black
If you need to escape the library for some fresh air, Hanging Rock has many Instagram-worthy views.
After a delicious dinner, the Arts Park is right around the corner to not only see some new art, but to get some amazing photos for your Instagram. Beyond this, you can usually find a cool film at the Aperture Cinema, and gallery hopping is a big thing on Trade Street. Both of these activities can be a lot of fun to do with a group of friends or alone. It’s just really fun to see the more artistic side of WinstonSalem. In the downtown area everything is concentrated around Trade and Fourth Street, so be sure to check out those two streets when exploring. After some exploring downtown there is the infa-
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If your parents are coming to visit, the restaurants in Reynolda Village are perfect for a dinner off-campus. The little village also features trails, shops, a greenhouse and the Reynolda House Museum of Art.
mous Target that is a must visit. Not only is it close ing distance and is accessible by the Reynolda Trails to campus but it’s almost impossible to not see an- right behind the Winston and Salem science buildother Wake Forest student while shopping there. ings. The village has everything you need, including Four or five blocks up is the Grand Movie Theater, great restaurants like the Village Tavern and Silo, and then past that is one of the two must visit Cook- cool boutique shops like Boho Blue and Monkees, outs near Wake Forest’s campus. Don’t know what and workout places like Pure Barre and Yoga Dogz. Cookout is? Well, get ready for a visit in the middle So no matter your interests and passions, Winof the night and have some mad good milkshakes ston-Salem has a lot to offer. For my final recomand greasy food for absurdly cheap prices. Then mendation, I advise you to save your Monday nights in the morning get some more greasy food at Waf- in order to visit Dewey’s Bakery and get some of fle House, a southern classic. Another option is the Winston-Salem’s famous sheet cakes for free and weekend staple Bagel Station, which is where half of then walk down to Juice Shop and get a Razamatazz Wake Forest goes for breakfast on Sunday morning. to cool off from the fall heat of Winston-Salem. On the topic of food, a must-visit restaurant is Nawab. Nawab is an Indian restaurant that changed my life. And they have a just astounding buffet lunch that everyone should definitely check out. I can proudly say that weekend Indian brunch has been a staple of my college career. The Porch Kitchen and Cantina is also a classic favorite for many Wake Forest students. Their interesting spin on Tex-Mex will leave your taste buds watering for days. When your parents come to town and your dining budget instantly increases for that one weekend, Milner’s American Southern, Fourth Street Filling Station, Fratelli’s Italian Steakhouse, Sweet Potatoes, Spring House and Ryan’s Restaurant are all great options for some high-quality dining. If you’re wanting to take your mom out to a nice brunch before she leaves, check out Midtown Cafe & Dessertery, Mama Zoe’s or Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro for delicious food in an environment that radiates southern hospitality. But I have been centering most of this article around food, so to fight off all these delicious calories as well as the Freshman 15, some exercise will definitely be needed. The best way to do that is by exploring North Carolina hiking paths. North Carolina mountains and their trails are something people travel from all over to come enjoy and your prime location in Winston-Salem gives you easy access to them all. A short, 30 minute drive north will take you to Pilot Mountain State Park. You must check this out before you walk across the graduation stage, even if you don’t particularly like hiking. Its an easy trail with amazing views and some great photo options. Another popular hiking trail for Wake Forest students is Hanging Rock State Park. The park is only a 45 minutes from campus and you can get the iconic photo of you “hanging” from the rock, which I think is on every Wake Forest student’s Instagram. Erin Stephens/Old Gold & Black Yet, if you maybe don’t have a car and are looking for something a bit closer to campus, Reynolda Village The study spaces at Wake Downtown offer a great is a great place to explore. The village is within walk- change of scenery, even if you don’t have class there.
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 | Page 15
Fall Event Calendar September Natalie Wilson/Old Gold & Black
BY NATALIE WILSON News Editor wilsnh15@wfu.edu
August
October
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Page 16 | Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
The 7 deadly sins of skipping class As the semester gets in full swing the snooze button may become tempting, but beware the consequences of skipping class BY LIZZIE SNYDER Staff Writer snydem15@wfu.edu
Getting ready for college feels like a whirlwind. From awkwardly emailing your random roommate, to picking out all of the dorm room essentials, this period of time feels like a hectic blur. The last thing on your mind is the fact that you actually have to go to class. With all of the fantastic new freedoms that college provides, skipping class seems like a fairly legitimate option. However, this choice may come back to bite you come midterms and finals.
GREED
GLUTTONY The last minute of the second season of The Office ends and Netflix sends you to the “Next Episode in 15 seconds” page. You have eight minutes until class starts. We’ve all been there, but what do you do? No one is there to tell you to get up and go to class. There is no bell that signals that class is about to start. The choice is up to you. While it might be tempting to lay in your bed all day and watch TV, it might tank your GPA in the long run.
Sometimes, there are days when you can’t pay attention if your laptop is open. Who cares about the history of American industrialization when there are new arrivals at ZARA to browse? Online shopping during class can be oh so tempting, but resist the urge and pay attention anyways. Your GPA and bank account will thank you. If you’re just going to sit in class and scroll away, you might as well just have skipped it. ENVY On a similar note, scrolling through your friend’s weekend Facebook posts during class can easily make you lose focus. Where did she get that shirt? Are they dating? Maybe I should message 14 people and ask. No. You should not because you are in class trying to learn. Focus. WRATH
SLOTH
It’s easy to go into the first round of midterms thinking you’ve done everything you can to perform well on a test. However, this is not always the case. Professors will sometimes throw curve balls or grade the free response section with extreme scrutiny. However, as much as you think a professor is out to get you; don’t let your anger keep you from giving up or not going to the class. Respectfully talk to your professors. If you make an effort, they will notice.
The most tempting deadly sin of all. Sleep is a beautiful thing, but sleeping through your 8 a.m. every morning is not a good way to start off your college career. Have a hard time getting out of bed? Maybe turning electronics off after midnight or rewarding yourself with a Chick-fil-a breakfast after class will do the trick. If your professor takes attendance, use your skips wisely. If they don’t, pretend like they do. You never know when you (and your entire hall) will get a cold.
PRIDE
LUST While you’re probably excited to meet new people at college, don’t let yourself get distracted by a potential cutie in class. Is he looking over here? How does my hair look? Did I put on perfume today? If you’re not careful, the thoughts can race through your mind at light speed during the entire class period. Make an effort to turn off your stream of consciousness and zero in on the lecture. Even though this person’s presence might encourage you to go to class, the professor will not ask you questions about the color of your crush’s eyes on the exam.
Erin Stephens/Old Gold & Black
If you go to Wake Forest, you probably got pretty good grades in high school while managing several activities on your plate. From sports, school, relationships and other extracurriculars, you probably had it all under control. College is probably the same situation, right? Wrong. Wake Forest is a different animal. It is easy to say, “I took Calculus in high school, I don’t need to go to class.” Wrong. You never know what nugget of information your particular professor sees as the most important and might put on the test. When the first midterm rolls around, you will wish your pride didn’t get the best of you. Go to class.
To spend a semester overseas or stay stateside? Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of studying abroad in order to choose what’s best for you BY ERIN STEPHENS Social Media Chair stepec14@wfu.edu
“At first you’re scared,” a friend explained to me. “Then you’re brave.” In just a few words, this adage captured my own semester›s worth of feelings and experiences I felt while studying abroad. But the beauty of studying abroad or staying stateside lies in the fact that each person›s college experience is uniquely their own. For some students, the chance to study overseas and the many resources that Wake Forest offers to make it possible may have sealed the deal on the college decision-making process. For others, spending a semester abroad has never once been a blip on the radar when planning their four years. With programs offered in over 200 cities and 70 countries worldwide, the choices available for a summer or semester abroad can be both overwhelming and exciting all at once — much like being there for yourself.
When studying abroad you’ve committed to living in a foreign city, surrounded by new languages, aromas, cultural norms and ways of life. The cross-cultural experience of a lifetime is at your fingertips and it’s what you make of it. You can spend your weekends checking cities off of your bucket list or getting to know the daily lives of the people in your new home away from home. For some students it can be hard to adjust — even if Instagram and Facebook posts seem to suggest that they are having the time of their lives all of the time. Studying abroad can have its ups and downs and don’t let social media fool you. But it’s also a time to explore your interests while falling deeper in love with a city every day. Spending a season of your life in a foreign country welcomes the ebb and flow of mixed emotions and an experience that is never stagnant. Some days are really good and some days are really bad, just as they are on this side of the pond. But challenging yourself and leaning into those moments that are hard can teach you more about yourself than you ever knew. You can return to the states having mastered the art of public transportation, the responsibility of managing a budget on your own or even becoming fluent in a foreign language.
Erin Stephens/Old Gold & Black
But you can also return home with your expenses run dry and a scholarly wakeup call while getting back in the swing of “Work Forest.” For most students, these caveats are well worth it. For some, however, missing the hallmark “Fall in the Forest” and the traditions that come with it or a season of ACC sports spent cheering on the Deacs is not. In the end, the decision is yours. Each year there are those who decide to study overseas and those who decide to stay near our Mother so Dear.
It is important to remember that first and foremost, you have time to make your choice. There are endless options if you do chose to take advantage of the programs that the Center for Global Studies and Programs offers. But it is equally important to remember that if you chose to stay stateside during your time at Wake Forest, you will still grow. No matter your geographical location, you will continue to learn new things about yourself and you will be changed for the better because of it.
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 17
Discover Wake Forest’s hidden gems From lunch locations to running trails, these spots are longing to be sought out by WFU ‘21
Bistro ‘34 For the best bang for your buck in the realm of on-campus fine dining, look no further than Bistro ‘34. On the same floor as the New Pit, you can order a salmon plate with steamed vegetables and buttery mashed potatoes topped off with a sweet dessert. Various old gold specials rotate throughout the week, but food dollars can also be used to treat yourself to a dinner that transports you to a restaurant off campus without the added expense.
BY ERIN STEPHENS Social Media Chair stepec14@wfu.edu
On a campus that may seem daunting now, it’s important to keep exploring and find places that make you feel at home. For me my freshman year, it was Campus Grounds. The warm, soft lighting surrounding cozy couches. The smell of fresh drip coffee. The promise of new music playing from student-curated playlists. Campus Grounds was everything I had hoped to discover as a freshman in search of a study spot other than the library. The student-run coffee shop was a treasure chest full of flavor and quirky charm — my own hidden gem. Yet, there are infinite nooks to discover and countless crannies to frequent. Here are a few of the hidden gems on the list. The rest are for you to find. Zicks Basement Whether it be a sunny school night or latenight on a Saturday, there’s bound to be a crowd at Zicks, the on-campus pizza parlor. But while you wait for that tasty flatbread or salad, play a round of pool or a board game with friends. Or you can also retreat to the basement, which is complete with TVs and video-game consoles to curb your hanger for the time being. The Magnolia Room Just two flights above the Pit lies Campus Dining’s best-kept secret: The Magnolia Room. It’s more commonly known as “The Mag Room.” For just one meal swipe, you’re guaranteed a
Amanda Wilcox/Old Gold & Black
lunch with white linen tablecloths, a plentiful array of salads, soups and sandwiches and a mint on your way out the door. Aside from weekday lunches, the elegant space is also used for receptions, a cappella concerts and formals. Davis Field On a sunny autumn day eno hammocks can be found strapped from tree to tree, slacklines wobbling between them like tightropes and students lounging on blankets side by side. Though it lies in plain sight, the sprawling green of Davis Field can feel like a lush new world of its own after a long day spent studying between classes. Be sure to step outside for a minute, take off your shoes and spend some time basking in the sunshine. May Way Dumplings Reynolda Trails are conveniently located just behind the freshmen dorms — a beautiful stroll to the shops and restaurants of Reynolda Village.
But when the Village Tavern has a wait that’s out the door and tables are full at Silo, quick service and fresh Asian fusion can be found at May Way Dumplings. The affordable and authentic dumpling restaurant is perfect for take out after a weeks worth of dinner on campus. Cross Country Trails On various stop signs around campus drive you might start to notice small red, yellow or blue stickers with arrows and a corresponding QR code. If you follow the arrows long enough and use the interactive maps after scanning the code, you will find yourself on a series of gravel trails covered by a canopy of trees. The cross country trails, located just behind Palmer and Piccolo and the Barn, are perfect for everything from a casual stroll to a long run on a hot day. The blue arrows lead along the trails for a 1.2 mile loop, red arrows extend onto faculty drive for a 2.23 mile trail, and the longest loop stretches even further for a three-mile circuit.
Rocking Chairs on the Balconies of 4th Floor Benson The five floors of Benson University Center are constantly hopping with activity. As the home to many campus offices, the copy center, mailroom and a bustling food court, Benson can be overwhelming at times. But on either side of the fourth floor are two balconies that provide an escape and a birds-eye view of the goings-on in Tribble courtyard and Benson circle. Seeing campus from a new perspective — and from the comfort of a rocking chair — can be refreshing beyond belief. Study Spot in Tribble Last but not certainly not least, I leave you with my number one hidden gem on this campus — the single desk in the basement of Tribble. At the end of a long hallway, it sits right beside a nearly floor to ceiling window with ample natural light and company only from surrounding professors offices. Since stumbling upon it, this desk has been my go-to study spot. I won’t tell you which wing it is on — that’s for you to find out — but I will say that if the library is overcrowded and you need a quiet spot to study through the night, this desk is worth searching for.
Campus traditions for your calendar Before the semester gets busy, make sure to pencil in these fun campus events to round out your Demon Deacon experience BY JULIA HAINES Staff Writer hainjm15@wfu.edu
Many of our campus traditions revolve around our university’s Pro Humanitate spirit, giving students the opportunity to volunteer their time and energy to improve the campus and the surrounding community. For your inner artist: D.E.S.K. Every spring, the campus Discovering Education through Student Knowledge (DESK) organization works to give local, impoverished elementary school kids personalized wooden desks. Laying a giant tarp over Poteat field, student groups gather to paint desks according to the kid’s preferences, who often request cartoon characters, flowers or sports. For your inner athlete: Hit the Bricks While running in circles may be the definition of insanity, running in ovals is a different story. Both students and faculty members create relay teams to compete in this day-long race around upper quad, taking shifts between classes to run laps with backpacks full of sand. The event raises money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, a cause close to the heart of many Demon Deacons. For your extra pair of fancy pants: President’s Ball, Wake Frost and Shag on the Mag President’s Ball gives you a chance to wear that one nice dress/suit your mom swore you might need. Held in LJVM Coliseum every other year,
the event offers students and faculty free finger food and danceable music. If you stick around long enough, you may get to witness President Nathan O. Hatch himself busting some moves. In the years between, the university hosts Wake Frost in the spring, a dance which is less formal, but just as much fun. Shag on the Mag happens every spring and is set up on Hearn Plaza with live shag music and, you guessed it, more finger food! For your inner pyromaniac: Lighting of the Quad To celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, students gather on upper quad in late fall for warm cider, cookies and a capella performances by a variety of student groups. At the end, everyone lines up around upper quad with candles and passes the light around while welcoming the season through watching the tree lights turn on. For your inner kid: Project Pumpkin Tons of families and kids from the local community come for a fun day of trick-or-treating and carnival games on upper quad every fall around Halloween. Student groups set up booths with candy and prizes and can even sign up to be a costumed escort for the day. On Halloween, the student orchestra performs their popular midnight Halloween concert while in costume, usually fitting a theme based around their instrument section. For your inner dancer: Wake N’ Shake Wake N’ Shake i is a 12-hour dance marathon that raises money for Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. This event takes place every spring. Students can sign up for a six hour or 12-hour shift, during which time they dance, listen to speeches from victims of cancer , spend time with friends and wait until, at the finale, they can finally sit and reflect. For your inner philanthropist: Pro Humanitate Day Pro Humanitate Day t is hosted by the Pro Humanitate Institute every
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April. Students can sign up in groups or individually to spend the day volunteering somewhere in the local community, whether it be at a food kitchen, in a diaper bank or elsewhere. It is a great chance to get a cool t-shirt and celebrate the university’s spirit. For your inner landscaper: Rake Forest Rake Forest, which takes place one Saturday every fall, gives students the opportunity to go to homes in the surrounding community and spend a few hours creating leaf piles and doing yard-work for the residents. For your inner vandalist: Roll the Quad After one of our sports teams earns a big win, whether it be in basketball, football or track & field, students rush to upper quad, toilet paper rolls in hand and throw them over the limbs of the trees. For days after, the trees on upper quad look like they’ve been snowed on and everyone revels in our recent victory. While some people stretch every opportunity to teepee some trees, you know it’s the right occasion if a) the win was against a big, rival team and b) if you actually attended the game/watched the whole thing.
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Old Gold & Black | Freshman Issue
Wake Forest Bucket List
As a Wake Forest student, you most likely innately possess an overachieving spirit that will probably compulsively make you want to complete this list as soon as possible. Just remember you have lots of time between freshman orientation and graduation to mark each item off.
If you’re discreet with your laptop screen, only you will know whether that allnighter was because you were finishing a research paper or completing a Netflix marathon.
2. Attend a performance by the campus comedy troupe, The Lilting Banshees.
Their creative placement of posters around campus will certainly grab your attention and make you wonder howexactly they managed to get that thing literally 20 feet into a tree or on the ceiling of your building’s lounge.
3. Befriend Aramark employees.
They work hard to ensure you have Starbucks caffeine at 1:00 a.m. and Subway at 3:00 a.m. So be sure to thank them, and appreciate all of those snazzy decorations when the Pit does a theme night!
4. Earn a coveted intramural championship t-shirt.
11. Use the ZSR Media Room. They have a surprisingly impressive collection of movies and tv shows on DVD. Since How I Met Your Mother is rumored to be leaving Netflix by the end of the year, you might just have to check out the box set.
12. Win a trivia night at Shorty’s. The burgers and beer (once you turn 21) are great, as is winning a gift certificate for you and your friends!
There will never be a better reason to go down to the stacks, stake out your spot and let fire with your nerf gun on unsuspecting peers. Black
5. Pit-sit from open to close. There’s
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unlimited food, coffee, shelter, wifi and power outlets — the five things any college student needs for basic survival.
s. Zombie
s at ZSR
Less than three miles there-and-back, the hiking trail is great escape from the busy, bustling city life of Winston-Salem. If you angle the camera carefully, you might just be able to convince your followers that you hung off the side of a mountain by your fingertips.
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Humans v
las De
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6. Cameo in a Dean Shore photo.
7. Take a trip to Hanging Rock.
Visit the bells in Wait Chapel
13. Participate in Humans vs. Zombies in the ZSR.
No one has to know that all you contributed to your 3 vs. 3 volleyball league was moral support from the bench every Tuesday at 10:00 p.m.
He runs the campus barber shop and in his free time takes photographs at campus events for his Facebook page.
ack
1. See the sun rise from the ZSR atrium.
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BY JULIA HAINES Staff Writer hainjm15@wfu.edu
14. Win a prize basket in the raffle at aWake All Night.
Hosted by Student Union in Benson every semester, this event is a great chance to practice your poker skills, get a stuffed animal with a cute t-shirt or try a new carnival game you’ve never had the chance to before.
15. Visit the bells in Wait Chapel.
You’ll get a great view of campus and Winston-Salem’s skyline, plus you might get to sign your name on the instrument that makes music for you every day at 5:00 p.m.
Have your name published in the Old Gold & Black. Getquoted for our weekly Word on the Quad, write a Letter to the Editor or join our staff!
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8. Complete a punch card for a free drink at Campus Grounds
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They stay open later than Starbucks, and the Hatch’s Hazelnut might just be liquid gold in its purest form, especially when paired with a banana bread from Camino.
9. Volunteer for a Campus Kitchen shift.
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Whether you tag along to rescue some aging bananas from the back of a grocery store, or repurpose some green beans from the Pit, you’re contributing your time and energy to a great cause.
10. Live in a dorm on the Quad.
It builds character to forgo fancy elevators and spacious rooms for such close quarters. Not only will it take you less than five minutes to sprint to wherever you need to be, but you’ll also have frequent heart-to-hearts while elbow to elbow with your suitemates. Plus, there’s nothing like waking up from your afternoon nap to the sound of the Wait Chapel bells.
Visit Awake All Night at Benson
Center
Freshman Issue | Old Gold & Black
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Page 19
Cheer on the Deacons for the 2017 season FS Jessie Bates Lukas Masterson
SS Cameron Glenn Traveon Redd MLB Grant Dawson Justin Strnad
OLB Demetrius Kemp Nate Mays
OLB Jaboree Williams Grant Dawson
DE
NT
DT
DE
Duke Ejiofor Willie Yarbary Sulaiman Kamara Wendell Dunn Paris Black Elontae Bateman Elontae Bateman Chris Calhoun
CB Cedric Jiles Essang Bassey
WR Slot WR Cortez Lewis Tabari Hines Scotty Washington Chuck Wade
LT
LG
C
Graphic by Kyle Tatich/Old Gold & Black
Check out this year’s projected depth chart and schedule in order to prepare yourself for an electric football season and fun tailgates
RG
RT
Justin Herron Phil Haynes Ryan Anderson Pat Osterhage Jake Benzinger Ryan Anderson Nathan Gilliam A’Lique Terry Je’Vionte’ Nash Ryan Anderson
CB Amari Henderson
TE Cam Serigne Devin Pike
WR Tabari Hines Alex Bachman
Special Teams Punter
QB Kendall Hinton John Wolford
Dom Maggio
RB Cade Carney Matt Colburn
Kicker
Dec. 2: ACC Championship
Nov. 25: vs. Duke
Nov.18: vs. NC State
Nov. 11: at Syracuse
Nov. 4: at. Notre Dame
Oct. 28: vs. Louisville
Oct. 21 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 7: at. Clemson
Sept. 30: vs. Florida State
Greg Dortch
Sept. 23: App State
Jessie Bates
Sept. 16: vs. Utah State
Specialist
Sept. 9: at Boston Coll.
Dayton Diemel
Aug.31:vs.Presbyterian
LS
Mike Weaver
Demon Deacon Dictionary BY REN SCHMITT Sports Editor schmwm16@wfu.edu
B-school (bee.skool), n. Shorthand version of “Business School” a.ka. Farrell. Possibly the nicest academic building on campus, and it’s only mildly exclusive. Bump (buhmp), n/v. Can be used as both a noun and verb. Refers to either a song that causes especially heightened excitement or a desire to behave in an erratic, enthusiastic manner. E.g. “Just passed organic chemistry, let’s bump.” Chucks (chuhks), n. Shorthand for the converse tennis shoes worn by all WFU sorority girls to social events. Freshman women should be careful to avoid wearing anything other than neutral colors, as each sorority has its own color of chucks that the members wear. Clubway (kluhb.wey), n. One of several other replacements for the word “Subway.” It is the only restaurant open for 24 hours on campus. It’s traffic tends to peak post-midnight Wednesday through Saturday. Darty (dahr.tee), n. Day Party DKE (deek), n. Not to be confused with the beloved Demon Deacon or Deac. This is a fraternity, not a man dressed in gaudy coattails. GDI/Geed (jee.dee.ahy/jeed), n. Term used to refer to individuals not affiliated with Greek life
LR (el.ahr), n. 1. Last Resort, a commonly frequented bar for students over 21, especially on Thursday nights Mountain/Beach Weekend (moun.tn/beech.week.end), n. A weekend trip to the mountains in the fall or the beach in the spring that are usually hosted by Greek organizations. These usually involve painted coolers and lots of dino nuggets. Narp (narp), n. “Non-athletic regular person,” a term used by athletes to refer to the less athetically inclined students North Pit (nawrth.pit), n. Located on north campus, seemingly miles from the freshman dorms, the north pit is essentially the regular Pit on steroids. While the cuisine is generally comparable, the ambience is far more sophisticated.
Pit (pit), n. The Pit will be the one constant in your life during freshman year. Friends will come and go, but the pit will always provide predictable food options and a space for socialization and studying. Pitsgiving (pits.givin), n. the best day of the year where the Pit serves Thanksgiving and the entire school crams into the Pit. Pit Sit (pit sit), v. When a group of individuals, often acting as a group working in shifts, occupy a section of the pit for the duration of a day to maximize the amount of food they get for their pit swipe. Students will swipe in for breakfast, socialize and complete some easy homework until it’s lunch time again. Sexiled (seg.zayl.d), adj. To be kicked out of one’s room for one’s roommate to engage in certain acts of experimentation. Wake Wednesdays (weyk wenz.deys), n. when students choose to go out and party on Wednesday nights W E D N E S DAY AU G U ST 2 3 , 2 017
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