Harvard proposes reforms to college application process Page 4
Opinion: Student Government President responds to controversy Page 8
Womens basketball defeats UNC Page 14
New cold-pressed juice offered at Campus Grounds Page 16
Old Gold&Black
C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F WA K E F O R E S T ’ s S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R VOL. 100, NO. 3
T H U R S D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
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University officials respond to student investigation Administration details new measures
BY BUCK HINMAN
and performances by the ballroom dance club. Local nutrition experts and representatives from the Thrive campaign also attended to discuss strategies of healthy living with students. “I think that holding the whole event with food and stuff was a really good way to promote the opening,” freshman Claire Ewing said, who won a raffle for following the Campus Recreation Instagram page. Students are encouraged to utilize the new and improved courts, whether they are official student athletes or just want to play pick-up games with friends. “The addition is going to be a one-stopshop, a sort of Campus Recreation hub, for students,” said Swain Lewis, the assistant fitness coordinator for the Miller Fitness Center.
This week, university officials addressed questions raised by an Old Gold & Black investigation into claims of racial bias in Wake Forest’s University Police Department. The investigation found a large gap between the number of black and white students arrested on campus and discrepancies in a third-party report claiming there was no evidence of racial bias in the department. In a series of interviews, members of the faculty and administration expressed their commitment to improve inclusion on campus and detailed the steps they have taken to do so. “Our department has worked tirelessly to build on what we have learned and set new goals for improved community engagement,” said Chief Regina Lawson of University Police. “We have learned from past mistakes, are focused on the present and continue to work toward the future.” Since the release of the Williams/Moss Report in August 2014 and the subsequent creation of the WFU Police Accountability Task Force in December of the same year, University Police has implemented policies to counteract a persistent sentiment of distrust among minority groups on campus. According to Lawson, these include a recent move from voluntary to mandatory bias training for all officers and a major shift in the management of large social events at places like the Barn, where reports of overpolicing created a point of tension between black students and the WFUPD. Vice President of Campus Life Penny Rue said officers who stop students for identification must now also conduct a field interview and file a report. “This simple act of documenting and talking to a student inserts judgment into the mix, and prevents unconscious bias on the part of the officer,” Rue said. “We haven’t received a single bias report against University Police since late 2014. That doesn’t mean the problem is completely resolved, though. I encourage students who feel they have been profiled to file a bias report.”
See Gym
See Police,
Julia Haines/Old Gold & Black
Campus celebrates gym upgrades Reynolds now has two new gymnasiums as well BYJULIA HAINES News Editor Students joined the staff of Campus Recreation and the Office of Wellbeing Wednesday to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the Reynolds Gym Transformation & Expansion project. The recently completed facilities feature two full-sized courts and an entire basement space designated for Outdoor Pursuits. Many students were impressed with how quickly Phase I of the expansion was completed. They are also looking forward to
the continuing process of Phases II and III to be completed in the future. “It’s cool to see it finally completed, after seeing them work on it for so long,” said sophomore Edima Udom. The space will be primarily dedicated to intramural and club team use, however, open gym hours will also be offered. “With this addition, a new day is upon us, a new way to look at recreation is here and a new commitment to a full, whole and happy Wake Forest community life will be within each person’s choice menu,” said Director of Campus Recreation Max Floyd. “This change is making a tangible statement of the university’s commitment for the health and well-being of all community members.” In order to better promote the official opening of the new space, Campus Recreation hosted an event for the campus community featuring a live band, free food
Harvard proposes reforms to college application process Page 4
Opinion: Student Government President responds to controversy Page 8
Womens basketball defeats UNC Page 14
New cold-pressed juice offered at Campus Grounds Page 16
Old Gold&Black
C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F WA K E F O R E S T ’ s S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R VOL. 100, NO. 3
T H U R S D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
www.wfuogb.com
University officials respond to student investigation Administration details new measures
BY BUCK HINMAN
and performances by the ballroom dance club. Local nutrition experts and representatives from the Thrive campaign also attended to discuss strategies of healthy living with students. “I think that holding the whole event with food and stuff was a really good way to promote the opening,” freshman Claire Ewing said, who won a raffle for following the Campus Recreation Instagram page. Students are encouraged to utilize the new and improved courts, whether they are official student athletes or just want to play pick-up games with friends. “The addition is going to be a one-stopshop, a sort of Campus Recreation hub, for students,” said Swain Lewis, the assistant fitness coordinator for the Miller Fitness Center.
This week, university officials addressed questions raised by an Old Gold & Black investigation into claims of racial bias in Wake Forest’s University Police Department. The investigation found a large gap between the number of black and white students arrested on campus and discrepancies in a third-party report claiming there was no evidence of racial bias in the department. In a series of interviews, members of the faculty and administration expressed their commitment to improve inclusion on campus and detailed the steps they have taken to do so. “Our department has worked tirelessly to build on what we have learned and set new goals for improved community engagement,” said Chief Regina Lawson of University Police. “We have learned from past mistakes, are focused on the present and continue to work toward the future.” Since the release of the Williams/Moss Report in August 2014 and the subsequent creation of the WFU Police Accountability Task Force in December of the same year, University Police has implemented policies to counteract a persistent sentiment of distrust among minority groups on campus. According to Lawson, these include a recent move from voluntary to mandatory bias training for all officers and a major shift in the management of large social events at places like the Barn, where reports of overpolicing created a point of tension between black students and the WFUPD. Vice President of Campus Life Penny Rue said officers who stop students for identification must now also conduct a field interview and file a report. “This simple act of documenting and talking to a student inserts judgment into the mix, and prevents unconscious bias on the part of the officer,” Rue said. “We haven’t received a single bias report against University Police since late 2014. That doesn’t mean the problem is completely resolved, though. I encourage students who feel they have been profiled to file a bias report.”
See Gym
See Police,
Julia Haines/Old Gold & Black
Campus celebrates gym upgrades Reynolds now has two new gymnasiums as well BYJULIA HAINES News Editor Students joined the staff of Campus Recreation and the Office of Wellbeing Wednesday to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the Reynolds Gym Transformation & Expansion project. The recently completed facilities feature two full-sized courts and an entire basement space designated for Outdoor Pursuits. Many students were impressed with how quickly Phase I of the expansion was completed. They are also looking forward to
the continuing process of Phases II and III to be completed in the future. “It’s cool to see it finally completed, after seeing them work on it for so long,” said sophomore Edima Udom. The space will be primarily dedicated to intramural and club team use, however, open gym hours will also be offered. “With this addition, a new day is upon us, a new way to look at recreation is here and a new commitment to a full, whole and happy Wake Forest community life will be within each person’s choice menu,” said Director of Campus Recreation Max Floyd. “This change is making a tangible statement of the university’s commitment for the health and well-being of all community members.” In order to better promote the official opening of the new space, Campus Recreation hosted an event for the campus community featuring a live band, free food
OGB
“ More universities should be test-optional This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
With the “Making Caring Common” project hititng the news recently, a new conversation has sparked about whether or not universities should become test-optional or not. Prospective students are no longer required to send in standardized tests, such as their SAT score, ACT score, and Subject Test scores. If students feel that their scores are good enough, they have the option to send those in. However, there are many benefits to being a test-optional school. Standardized tests don’t always accurately reflect how a student will do at a college; some students do not test well. It is also difficult to judge a student’s ability based on these scores because intelligence and creativity are beyond what a standardized test can capture.
Standardized test[s] do not always show what kind of student they will be, there is more to a person than a test score.” That is why we on the Old Gold & Black staff believe that universities should change their policies to not require standardized test scores. A student’s resume is more valuable than how they score on a test. A student’s involvement in high school activities, the classes they took and how they balanced their various extracurricular show more of his or her character and aptitude than standardized test scores. While one of the aims of these tests is to put students on a level playing field, more students spend more money on tutors for months so that they can receive high test scores.
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With the cost of a tutor and the cost of all of the tests, the total money spent comes out to be quite expensive. If schools were to become test-optional or not even look at those scores, the playing field would be more level because students would not have to worry about paying for the tests as well as not being inadequately judged by a number. Someone scoring nearly a perfect score on a SAT or another standardized test does not always match what kind of student they will be. There is more to a person than a test score. Work ethic, initiative, drive, and dedication all matter too. But those cannot be easily tested through multiple choice questions. A test score will not show how a student should thrive; admissions offices should take the initiative to not look at those scores.
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The disconnect from those who can and cannot afford a private tutor shows that test scores are subject to being unfair and often irrelevant. A wealthy family can pay for a tutor to boost test scores, but that only shows that a student has received more practice, not that their abilities are any higher than a student who couldn’t afford to prepare. The whole industry thrives on having high school students prepare for these tests. According to the Huffington Post, as of 2010, the College Board had a net worth of $65.6 million. The College Board sets the SAT price at $49 in addition to charging $10.50 for each school the student sends their scores to. The AP tests cost $89 each, so the gap in students who come from wealthy families and those form low-income families keeps growing.
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News | Old Gold & Black
BY MARGIE FENG Staf f Writer fengy13@wfu.edu Parker Hambright is a junior from Jacksonville, NC who is a student Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Wake Forest. Part of the reason he was drawn to Wake Forest was because of the campus Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. He became an EMT when he was a sophomore. Hambright enjoys being a part of the EMS at Wake Forest because he believes that it is an organization that genuinely gives back to the community. He feels like it is an inclusive group where the members truly care about others. What is an EMT? EMT stands for Emergency Medical Technician. We operate as any other EMT based EMS system in North Carolina except we are unable to transport patients and we have fewer medications we can administer. Why did you want to be a part of the EMS system? When Virginia Tech had the campus shooting nine years ago, the Virginia Tech EMS system was the first responders and made a huge impact on the campus. That was one of the things that inspired me to be a part of the EMS system. Wake Forest has a strong student EMS system and I was actually partly drawn to Wake Forest because of it. When were you first interested in becoming an EMT? During my freshman year, I saw them driving around campus, which motivated me to start the process of joining. My freshman year roommate was EMT certified and introduced me to the benefits of being EMT certified. So, the summer after my freshman year, I took EMT courses, which were eight hours a day and five days a week for five weeks. Then I took my national certification, applied for reciprocity and then began to work for Wake Forest EMS at the beginning of my sophomore year. Can you describe your job as an EMT right now? The Wake Forest EMS members go through a probationary period. During my first semester as a sophomore, I worked a significant amount of shifts where I shadowed full members.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Once the full members developed enough confidence in me, they signed off and promoted me. Now I am a full member of Wake Forest EMS. I work shifts independently on weekdays and I work as a crew captain for certain shifts on the weekends. Do you mostly work on campus? Yes. We are only campus-based. What is the process when you receive a call during your shifts? We are dispatched through 911 or the campus police. When we arrive to a call, whoever is the most-experienced, senior member working the shift typically runs the call and then the other three assist. If we need more assistance, we are able to contact Forsyth EMS or transport them to student health. How many shifts do you have per week? Typical campus EMS members work about 15 to 20 hours a week. Do you get paid? No, we don’t get paid. It is a volunteerbased organization. So are you especially busy on weekends? (Laughs) Yes, Friday and Saturday nights are typically our highest call volume. What kind of patients are you dealing with on those days? Typically, about 40 percent of our calls are alcohol-related. We also receive a significant amount of minor traumas, seizure, or other disorders. But we receive anything ranging from anxiety attacks to faculty members with chest pains. Are you annoyed that you have to respond to calls for people who drink too much? It doesn’t really bother me because these calls can be funny sometimes. Some people are pretty entertaining when they are drunk, so you can get good stories out of it. But overall, I care about making campus a safer place so it doesn’t bother me to respond to calls — no matter what they are. What part of the job do you like the most? That’s a hard question. There are a lot of different components of the job that I like. First of all, I feel like everyone in the or-
POLICE BEAT
McKenzie Maddox/Old Gold & Black
ganization genuinely cares about each other and there is a strong camaraderie. It is a nice group to belong to and identify yourself with because I feel like people on campus view us in high respect, for the most part. It’s nice to identify yourself with a good group. What drew me to EMS initially is that I really enjoyed going out on a call and being able to dictate and control the whole call. It gives me the ability to be able to make decisions on my own and have a positive impact on campus. Can you describe the process of getting an EMT certificate? There is a class that you have to take. Wake Forest offers it in the HES Department, or you can take it in a community college. The class can have varying time lengths, depending on where you take it. Once you finish the class, if you receive a
certain percentile on your test, the instructors will say you are eligible to take a national or state test in a testing center. Once you pass the standardized test, you receive a certificate in the mail, then you can file for reciprocity. After this, you can apply for a job at certain EMS organizations. Would you encourage other students to be an EMT? Yes, definitely. We have people who aren’t even involved in pre-med that become members of Wake Forest EMS. People are doing it because they genuinely care, they are not doing it to just to put on the resume. I encourage students to join EMS as early as possible because it is a somewhat long process to take the class and become certified. If you really want to enjoy it as much as possible, start the process early.
Larceny
Underage consumption
Miscellaneous
t 4VCKFDU T DVU UIF MPDL PG B CJLF BOE TUPMF JU GSPN PVUTJEF North Campus Apartments. The report was filed at 12:24 p.m. on Jan. 18 t 4VCKFDU T UPPL UXP 57T GSPN UIF DPODPVSTF MFWFM PG the LJVM Colliseum. The report was filed at at 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 19. t4VCKFDU T TUPMF B QBJS PG TVOHMBTTFT TXFBUFS BOE MFHHJOHT from a room in Taylor. The report was filed at 1:33 p.m. on Jan. 19. t " TUVEFOU ESPQQFE UIFJS DFMM QIPOF PO .BODIFTUFS 1MB[B and could not find it. The report was filed at 9:15 a.m. on Jan. 21. t7JDUJN DPOGSPOUFE PGGFOEFS BCPVU TUFBMJOH UIFJS DIJQT BU Subway. The offender then returned them. The report was filed at 1:58 p.m. on Jan. 22.
t 841% TFOU B SFQPSU BCPVU VOEFSBHF DPOTVNQUJPO PO Ranch Dr. The report was filed at 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. t "O PGGFOEFS JO $PMMJOT XBT GPVOE JOUPYJDBUFE BOE USBOTported to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 1:29 a.m. on Jan. 22. t "O PGGFOEFS JO #PTUXJDL XBT GPVOE JOUPYJDBUFE BOE USBOTported to Student Health. The report was filed at 1:34 a.m. on Jan. 22. t "O PGGFOEFS JO -VUFS XBT GPVOE JOUPYJDBUFE BOE USBOTQPSUFE by ambulance to WFUBMC to be treated for a large cut on his chin. The report was filed at 5:15 a.m. on Jan. 22. t "O PGGFOEFS JO 4PVUI XBT GPVOE JOUPYJDBUFE BOE XBT transported to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 1:35 a.m. on Jan. 23. t "O PGGFOEFS JO -VUFS XBT GPVOE JOUPYJDBUFE BOE USBOTQPSUFE to Student Health. The report was filed at 1:33 a.m. on Jan. 23.
t 4VCKFDU T UISFX FHHT BU B GSBUFSOJUZ GSPOU EPPS JO Davis. The report was filed at 2:52 p.m. on Jan. 18. t *U XBT SFQPSUFE UP 6OJWFSTJUZ 1PMJDF UIBU TVCKFDU T damaged a door handle in Bostwick. After investigation, it was discovered that the door handle was not damaged; it broke on its own. The report was filed at 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 19. t " WJTJUPS T WFIJDMF XBT SFQPSUFE BT TUPMFO GSPN UIF University Corporate Center. After investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had been repossessed. The report was filed at 5:53 p.m. on Jan. 21. t 6OJWFSTJUZ 1PMJDF MPDBUFE BO PGGFOEFS XIP CSPLF into BB&T Tower. The offender was arrested at BB&T Tower and charged with a felony breaking and entering. The report was filed at 10:43 p.m. on Jan. 22.
Page 4 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Gym:
Many students expressed surprise at how modern the new facility was, especially when compared with Reynolds gymnasium, built in 1956, and the Miller Center, built in 2001. “It’s really beautiful — more beautiful than I would originally picture a basketball court to be,” said sophmore Phylicia Montague. “The open concept with all of the windows is refreshing,” sophomore Phylicia Montague said. The updated facilities mark the completion of the first phase of a three-phase long project through which Wake Forest is demonstrating its dedication to keeping its fitness program modern and up to date, especially when compared with the fitness facilities of rival universities. “I am looking forward to not seeing rust, nor missing grout, nor worn out corners, but seeing new standards, new backboards, new fitness equipment and new offices with windows looking to a campus eager to see what is next from our programmers and leaders,” Floyd said. “I am looking forward to showcasing our facility and programs to my peers within the southeast and ACC.” Construction on phases II and III of the renovations will
A Harvard proposal to improve admissions gains widespread support BY CHRIS CASWELL News Editor caswck14@wfu.edu On Jan. 20, approximately 80 educators from universities across the U.S. endorsed the “Making Caring Common” project which advocates for changes in the universities’ admissions practices. This project, titled “Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admissions,” was proposed by Harvard Graduate School of Education. One of the main goals of the report is to encourage universities to change their application process because current requirements often put students of a certain race, gender or socioeconomic status at a disadvantage. “[This project] demonstrates how the admissions process can more accurately and meaningfully assess young people’s contributions to others and their communities, especially students who vary widely by race, culture and class,” according to the report. A key portion of this initiative concerns standardized testing. “Admissions offices should work to relieve undue pressure associated with admission tests (SAT and ACT),” according to the report. Wake Forest has been ahead of this trend starting in May of 2008, when it announced that it would no longer require standardized testing from its applicants. “Wake Forest has always been an outspoken champion of the importance of goodness, kindness and ‘pro humanitate,’” said Martha Allman, Dean of Admissions and one of the educators who endorsed the project. “Our decision to become test optional in 2008 was a powerful statement that we believe students should be evaluated on their high school accomplishments, talents and
ex continue into the future, as the university strives to ensure that future generations of Wake Forest students will also be able to utilize equipment being installed now. “I am looking forward to not only the hop in my step as I get out of my car each morning but the satisfaction in my soul when I leave each evening knowing that we have made this university a better place for not only those in attendance now, but for every future Wake Forester,” Floyd said. Other changes include laundry facilities and office spaces that are located below the new courts. The Outdoor Pursuits organization also moved out of their offices in the old part of the Reynolds building and expanded into a larger space on the first floor of the addition, which will allow for better equipment storage. “Phases II and III of the renovations will include a new climbing facility, and we will be offering more international trips in coming years,” said Lee Collette, coordinator of Outdoor Pursuits. “Our main purpose is to encourage students to unplug and escape the bubble of Wake Forest and Winston-Salem,” Collette said. “There are so many unique opportunities right here in North Carolina that many students don’t know about.” The new gymnasiums were not only designed as bas-
character, not denied access to a selective college because of a single test score.” Joseph Soares, chair of the department of sociology, played an important role in the university’s decision to go test-optional. Soares has conducted extensive research on the subject. Additionally, he has written multiple books and organized a national conference on the subject of standardized tests in college admissions. He is also one of the approximately 80 educators who endorsed the “Turning the Tide” project. He strongly encourages other universities to nix standardized tests from their application. “I found that the [SATs] are predictively weak,” Soares said. “The tests transmit social biases that are not relevant to how someone will do in college, be evaluated during their first year and cumulative grades or determine what kind of job or home-life a person is going to have after they leave college.” When combined with other parts of the college application — grades, activities, etc. — SAT scores add little to the data that colleges use to make their admission decisions. However, Soares found that the tests were a poor predictor of college success, but they also make it harder for minorities and those from low socioeconomic statuses to do well on the test. “When you add that one percentage point, [SAT scores], to your model [of a student’s application], you’re adding a variable that brings with it, social biases and social disparity,” Soares said. “Those disparities are most pronounced by race and gender — that is, women score lower than men on the SAT. If you work with high school grades, you do not have the same transmission of those social biases. There is no such thing as a perfectly neutral measure, but high school grades are more neutral than test scores.” The “Turning the Tide” project advocates other changes besides moving away from test scores, as well. Furthermore, the report encourages universities to evaluate students
Old Gold & Black| News
ketball courts, but also to accomodate several different sports. “The new courts are a lot more versatile,” sophomore David Choe said, noting that the lines on the court surface allow for not only basketball games, but also other sports such as volleyball and badminton. “I will be using the open gym hours because I play a lot of basketball.” When asked about the variety of uses for the addition, Floyd mentioned that the open floor plan of the two courts would allow for nonathletic events to take place in the space as well, including blood drives, local high school proms, receptions and alumni events. “This addition will provide activity space and gathering areas, as it injects the campus with excitement, hope and vision toward what lies ahead,” Floyd said. “The student experience will be changed in that the venue where they gather will have views, natural lighting and easy access.” Not only will undergraduate students be able to use the new space, but several graduate students who attended the event expressed excitement about the addition as well. “As a health and exercise graduate student, I think it is important that the university emphasize ways for students to improve their quality of life through fitness, and I think that the new gym space will cultivate that,” graduate student Nathan Love said.
in their service and activities, not just in their achievements. “The admissions process should clearly convey that what counts is not whether service occurred locally, in some distant place or whether students were leaders, but whether students immersed themselves in an experience, and the emotional, ethical awareness and skills generated by that experience,” the report says. It also underscores the importance of diversity in community service engagement. “Rather than students ‘doing for’ students from different backgrounds, for example, we encourage students to ‘do with’ — to work in diverse groups for sustained periods of time on school and community challenges, groups in which students learn from one another,” the report says. Many students and parents are under the impression that the quantity of activities a student participates is more important than the quality of the experience and the impact on the student.
This is also something that Soares believes needs to change in college preparation. “We are not doing the youth of America a service by telling them that you have got to have a résumé that makes you look like you’re an Olympic athlete who has been working in leper colonies with Mother Theresa in order to get into college,” Soares said. “So what this ‘Turning the Tide’ document does is it tries to de-escalate the arms race or the competitive race and tries to make [the application] more real. And making it more real means placing more emphasis on looking for people who are doing a few things, but very seriously.” According to the report, if more colleges begin adopting these proposals, universities will find students with greater depth and achievement. Hopefully, students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be able to express themselves in their applications on a more equal ground than someone from a more privileged background.
Julia Haines/Old Gold & Black
The “Turning the Tides” report suggests that standardized tests do
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 5
News | Old Gold & Black
Police: Opinions differed on the merits of the Williams/Moss Report. The report was written by two retired police chiefs working with the consulting firm Developmental Associates. They analyzed arrest statistics provided by the WFUPD to look for evidence of racial bias. The statistics provided in the report indicated a trend from 2007-2014, in which black students were arrested at a rate nearly four times higher than their demographic representation on campus. Kami Simmons, a professor at Wake Forest’s Law School and the chair of the WFU Police Accountability Task Force, voiced her concern. “In my experience, when you see statistics like that, it’s troubling, and you want to take efforts to close that gap,” Simmons said. “My hope is that some of the things that we are beginning to do — and it is a long process — will allow us to move forward and close that gap. Whether it’s intentional or not, it’s still a gap.” Rue, who commissioned the report, said that while the racial discrepancy in arrests is high, the overall number of arrests remained low. “It’s really hard to generalize about these statistics on a larger scale without a larger sample,” she said. “Only 68 people were arrested in the time frame
analyzed in the report. That’s fewer than 10 arrests per year.” After speaking with students and faculty about their experiences with University Police, the report concluded that “none of the allegations [of racial bias] rose to the level of actual racial bias,” and that “the race of arrestees by the WFUPD is in accord with organizations and we see no bias as it pertains to the issue of race in arrest situations.” However, the report’s methods and its conclusions sparked controversy from both students and faculty. “I don’t support the conclusions in the Williams/Moss report for several reasons,” Student Body President Adam Hammer said. “Comparing the statistics in the report to our peer institutions is both qualitatively unsound and problematic. It merely proves racial bias is prevalent in our communities and high-education institutions across our country.” When asked for comment, Rue said she did not support the report’s conclusions, and that she would be willing to meet with students to consider removing the report from the WFUPD website or providing a disclaimer expressing general disagreement with the report’s assertions. Provost Rogan Kersh acknowledged the controversy surrounding the report. “If there’s sentiment that the report so misses the mark that we need to commission a second report that is done
Chris Caswell/Old Gold & Black
University officials responded to lingering questions about the Williams/Moss report following the article published last week. by more statistically able people, I can imagine going down that path,” he said. “I understand the problems with the report, and I think it has caused a large
lack of confidence in the campus community,” said Simmons. “I hope that the measures we are taking will help us rebuild trust on this campus.
Kyle Tatich tatika14@wfu.edu
Page 6 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | News
Safety concerns lead to hoverboard ban Due to reports of hoverboards banned the electric skateboards BY SHELBY DEVINE Life Editor devisn14@wfu.edu On Jan. 6, an email was sent to Wake Forest students to notify them that hoverboards — self-balancing, double-wheeled, electronic skateboards that have become incredibly popular around the world within the last year — were banned this semester by Residence Life and Housing, who cited safety hazards as their reasoning. They were one of the hottest gifts of this holiday season — but maybe a little too hot. Despite their popularity with consumers, hoverboards have been banned by many due to them frequently catching on fire. The lithium-ion batteries inside the board are flammable by nature and when they are not of high quality, they have a tendency to become engulfed in flames. This is why they have been banned by many shipping companies, airlines and retailers. Additionally, they have been banned in public areas in the United Kingdom, New York City and other universities across the United States. In the relatively short amount of time
they have been on the market, the perception of hoverboards has changed from that of a fashionable new toy to a potential fireproducing machine. Hoverboards can be a unique mode of transportation and a form of entertainment, but the risks involved create a hazard that the Wake Forest administration is unwilling to permit. Wake Forest is among many universities, such as Louisiana State University, the University of Missouri and the University of Arkansas, that have banned hoverboards. “Wake Forest took the step to ban hoverboards, or self-balancing skateboards, because it has been reported that these devices’ batteries can burst into flames — especially while being charged — resulting in a metal fire that can burn with intense heat,” said Penny Rue, vice president of student life. “As a result, we are not willing to risk the safety of our community.” The decision was made with the goal of promoting a safer campus. University administration consulted multiple safety organizations before they decided to deem the product as potentially dangerous. “Like many institutions around the country, Wake Forest University has heeded the warnings by the Consumer Products Safety Commission with regard to the dangers associated with hoverboards,” said Donna McGalliard, dean of residence life. “After consultation with our own Environmental Health and Safety professionals and
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other university and local community partners, Wake Forest determined that this policy was necessary to keep our community safe.” According to the updated Wake Forest Guide to Community Living, hoverboards may not be used, stored, or charged in any university owned or leased residence buildings. If the policy is violated, the hoverboard will be taken and the student in possession could potentially face fines and a student conduct referral. Taylor Ibelli, a senior, believes that the decision to ban hoverboards was right for the university. “After hearing about the hoverboard explosion that destroyed a family’s home in Louisiana, I think banning hoverboards on campus is smart,” Ibelli said. “The most commonly used energy source, lithium ion batteries, is highly flammable and known for being extremely unstable. They are a ticking time bomb that can explode if your hoverboard charges incorrectly.” In addition to being a fire hazard, hoverboards pose a risk for injury. There have been many reports of hoverboard users falling off the motorized boards and sustaining injuries, but the primary reason that they have been banned in cities and universities alike is the potential for the boards to ignite. However, some Wake Forest students,
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a Level 2 travel alert earlier this week for those planning to visit certain areas of South America where there have been cases of the Zika virus. Although 80 percent of those infected experience little to no symptoms, the virus has caused concern because it is contagious and can lead to microcephaly in newborn babies if the mother has been infected. Microcephaly is when newborn babies develop abnormally small heads, which can lead to complications with growth — sometimes death. There have been 4,000 cases of microcephaly in newborn babies born to infected mothers recorded in Brazil in the last two months. The Zika virus has been spread across countries by mosquitoes, with the World Health Organization predicting that it will reach all of the countries in the Americas except perhaps Canada and Chile.
Kansas City Star/TNS
t In recent years, the percentage of students
involved in Greek Life has remained relatively steady.
t 5IF PWFSBMM OVNCFS PG TUVEFOUT JO B GSBternity or sorority has grown slightly, but the overall student body has also grown by a proportional amount. t 5IF PWFSBMM QFSDFOUBHF PG NFO BOE XPNFO in a greek organization has remained between 44 and 49 percent for the last four years.
OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE
Zika virus to spread across the Americas with no known cure
however, do not agree with the university banning hoverboard and consider it an inconvenience more than a preventative safety measure. “Hoverboards are an awesome way to move around campus, especially for the athletes when we’re sore and tired,” said sophomore and Wake Forest football kicker Adam Centers. “I broke my leg this summer so it would have been helpful to have one so I could get to class on time,” Though hoverboards could become the transportation and toy of the future, university administration believe they are unsafe and not worth the risk.
half-marathon in Alabama A dog from Alabama named Ludivine received a lot of media attention on Saturday, Jan. 16. The bloodhound’s owner, April Hamlin, let her dog out for a quick bathroom break that turned into a 13.1 mile run. Ludivine finished the race at one hour, 32 minutes and 56 seconds, placing seventh among all participants in the race. When interviewed by Runners World, Hamlin said she was surprised at her dog’s participation in the race, because Ludivine is usually on the lazier side. Runner Tim Horvath finished in front of Ludivine in sixth place, after running much of the race alongside the dog. He had assumed that the dog was meant to be in the race with an owner and had simply run up ahead. Greta Armstrong, the director of the Elkmont Train Trek Half-Marathon, has said that the race will be renamed the Hound Dog Half in Ludivine’s honor.
The Carolina Panthers advancing to Super Bowl 50 The Carolina Panthers hosted the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 24. Although many analysts predicted this game to be close, Carolina’s offense and defense outworked Arizona from the start, scoring 24 points in the first half and holding Arizona to just seven. The scoring did not stop in the second half either as the Panthers outscored the Cardinals by 17, ultimately giving them a 49-15 win. Quarterback Cam Newton threw for 335 yards, two touchdowns and even ran for two more scores. Luke Kuechly, on Carolina’s defense, returned an interception for a touchdown and the Panthers forced seven Arizona turnovers. With a 49-15 win, the Carolina Panthers will advance to their second Super Bowl in franchise history and will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 7.
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 7
Student awarded national scholarship Upon receiving the Schwarzman Scholarship, Addison McLamb will be attending graduate school in China BY KATHERINE CASSIDY Staff Writer casski15@wfu.edu As the second semester of the year begins, seniors at Wake Forest University are starting to finalize their plans for after graduation. Students have a variety of different plans — some of which include a gap year, starting a career, or attending a graduate school. For Wake Forest senior Addison McLamb, the end of his undergraduate career means the start of a new academic journey in China. McLamb is a recipient of the recently-founded Schwarzman Scholarship. Stephen A. Schwarzman, the C.E.O. and co-founder of a private equity and financial firm, founded the Schwarzman Scholarship to develop global leaders. The cutting-edge program has a 450 million dollar endowment, and is committed to helping students from around the world gain a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of the global community in the 21st century. McLamb’s upcoming year will be fully funded by the Schwarzman Scholars program, a significant feat in an era of crippling student debt. McLamb has studied several languages during his four years at Wake Forest, including Chinese, Russian, Arabic and Spanish. In addition to academic strength, scholars were selected on the basis of character, leadership and having an intense interest in global awareness. The Schwarzman Scholars program accepted just 111 students from around the world for its inaugural class of students. With an acceptance rate of just 3.7 percent, the program has proven its prestige even in its first year. Outside of the classroom, McLamb is an active member of the Wake Forest community, and is heavily involved in the ROTC program — ranking 5th of over 5,000 senior cadets in the country. “[ROTC] is the best leadership training on a college campus,” McLamb said. “Hands down.” “Anyone can be a leader when it’s 75 degrees and sunny. Military leadership training often puts you in tough situations, where it really sucks to be in charge. It demands you to take ownership of entire organizations and move them toward improbable goals. It’s taught me a lot about myself — mainly about how many weak areas I have — but it has been an extraordinary source of growth,” McLamb said. The scholarship application process has many components including an online portion, three letters of recommendation, a short video self-introduction and a three-part essay. The 300 finalists move on to an interview by a panel of global leaders.
Katherine Cassidy/Old Gold & Black
Addison McLamb is the recipient of the Schwarzman Scholarship, a new prestigious program that helps students from around the world gain a better understanding of the global community. The leaders range from executives of businesses and nonprofits, to world-renowned journalists, to former heads of state in the cities of New York, Beijing, London and Bangkok. “Having people like Walter Isaacson [American Foreign Policy Scholar, biographical author, and CEO of the Aspen Institute] ask me foreign relations questions, as well as talking about defense with David Petraeus [former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency] were sobering,” McLamb said. “But I have to admit, it was pretty fun.” A Chinese major here at Wake Forest, McLamb has spent his undergraduate career learning the skills necessary to be a successful Schwarzman Scholar. McLamb said he applied to the program because he felt that it was, “a neat culmination of [his] interest in the China-U.S. relationship.” Scholars will obtain a Master’s Degree over the course of their scholarship in the fields of economics, business, public policy and international studies. The degree will be earned at Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University, which is located in Beijing, China. While studying in China, students will be deeply immersed in the Chinese culture through excursions and lectures, in addition to the traditional class-
room setting. The degrees are intended to better prepare leaders for fields including, but not limited to, law, technology, engineering and business. “My dad once told me that if you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” McLamb said. “I have a competitive streak, and know that being surrounded by great people will cause me to push myself much harder.” When asked which concentration he plans to pursue, McLamb said that he is planning on focusing on economics and business. “I believe that international business will emerge as the most effective tool for avoiding a great power war in our lifetime,” McLamb said. Following the completion of his year as a Schwarzman Scholar, McLamb will serve as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army — a position that he is deferring in order to participate in the scholarship program. His advice for others is to always push yourself to achieve your goals. “Don’t stop reaching. When things get tough, you know that you’re in the sweet spot. It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts,” McLamb said.
Wake In A Week Oktoberfest Bash Time: Jan. 30, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Location: The Barn The Greek Organization Kappa Alpha Order will be hosting a fundraising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Admission is $1 and the event is open to all.
Computer Science Colloquium Time: Feb. 1, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location: Manchester Hall, 017 Manchester Dr. Derek Bruff, Director of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching and Lecturer in their Department of Mathematics, will visit to discuss active learning in the STEM classroom.
Creating things with Google Forms
The Unbroken Circle Benefit for the Shalom Project Time: Jan. 30, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: Porter Byrum Welcome Center, Kulynych Auditorium Unbroken Circle, Wake Forest’s multi-generational string band, will be the featured performers for The Shalom Project Benefit Concert.
Lunch ‘n Learn: 10 Foods for a Healthy Heart Time: Feb. 2, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: Reynolda Hall, 301 Reynolda Registered dietitian Cindy Silver will be leading a discussion about healthy fats in celebration of Healthy Heart Month. Register online at events.wfu.edu.
STEM Slam
Faculty/Guest Artist Recital Time: Jan. 31, 3:00 p.m. Location: Scales Fine Arts Center, Brendle Recital Hall Adam McCord will play the saxophone and Krista WallaceBoaz will play the piano in this concert. The concert is free and open to the public.
Speaking of Climate Change Time: Feb. 2, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Porter Byrum Welcome Center Laura Lengnick, soil scientist, and Dayna Reggero, visual storyteller, share stories to explore the connections between climate change, food, faith and community resilience.
Days 1 through 90: Pivotal not Probationary
Time: Feb. 3, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: ZSR Library Students can learn how to create surveys, questionnaires and quizzes using Google Forms. Register online at events.wfu.edu. Time: Feb. 3, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: Farrell Hall, Broyhill Auditorium Students will be able to meet with professionals in STEM fields to learn more about what it is like to have a career in the STEM industry. Time: Feb. 4, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: Reynolda Hall, 301 Reynolda Students nervous about transitioning into new jobs can attend this class to discuss Michael D. Watkins bestselling book The First 90 Days.
OPINION OLD GOLD & BLACK
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e d i t O r : Becky Swig, swigrr15@wfu.edu a s s t . e d i t O r : Natalie Wilson, wilsnh15@wfu.edu
The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board
Student Government President calls for change There is a systemic issue of racial bias in our community, and consequently, I don’t support the conclusions in the Williams/ Moss report for several reasons. I am not the first person to assert these remarks publicly. In fact, black students in our community have made statements similar to this since the release of the Williams/Moss report two years ago. Comparing the statistics in the report to our peer institutions is both qualitatively unsound and problematic. It merely proves that the issue of racial bias is prevalent in communities and higher-education institutions across our country and that polic-
ing problems are not just unique to our community. The issue at Wake Forest is a product of systemic biases. It’s extremely unsettling that university police did not bother to ask Deborah Marke if she was okay or why she was upset, and even more unsettling that students of color are being profiled, questioned and arrested at rates staggering to that of white students. Deborah’s story is not uncommon; it is representative of the stories of many students of color on our campus and reflects the complexities of racial bias at Wake Forest that we, as a community, have yet to fully work through.
Incidents like these are deeply upsetting and manifest a need for increased and restructured empathy training toward minorities in police departments within our community and those across the country. This report brings to light a long-standing issue in our community, and I am strongly urging the administration to follow through on awaited reforms discussed during the deliberative dialogue and numerous discussions, and advocating for University Police to refocus empathy as the core pillar of our community. In my conversations with the administration, I understand that reforms are under-
way and progress is afoot, but they must be better communicated to students. I unequivocally believe that initiatives to fix community policing issues are of commensurate importance, starting with simply admitting that there is, in fact, a problem. Regardless of reforms and initiatives underway, many students will remain unhappy with any progress until the trust deficit between the administration and students is mollified and truth before reconciliation is truly enacted. Sincerely, Adam Hammer Student Government President
With that freedom comes a lot of responsibility. While it seems like a lot, I do think it is imperative to get involved in things other than class. Having something else to do keeps me in check, it keeps me from going stir-crazy and it actually helps me do my work. With an endless stream of time I would always procrastinate my work, but when I am busy, it forces me to do it during any free second I have. Coming to school I was worried that I would over extend myself and did not want to sign up for much, but I have found the opposite to be true. I am happier when I am busy — not too busy — but when I do have things to do. Being busy keeps me accountable because I have to answer to someone else. If
it were just me, half of the time I would just give up on work and start watching something on Netflix, but being involved and surrounded by others who are working hard makes me want to do the same. Getting involved in other activities gives me a sense of purpose other than being a student. We have schoolwork we need to do on top of other activities we do to keep ourselves busy. We are constantly juggling various components of our lives — school, extracurriculurs, greek life, sleep, social life, exercise and more. It is nice to know people in many other facets of the campus — I am not just meeting the freshmen from my classes, I am meeting people who share similar interests as me.
“ With the freedom we have during college, it is important to get involved on campus
When we first come to college, we have a blank slate. We have nothing tying us down to who we were in high school and no obligations (other than to attend class). We can be whoever we want to be and do almost whatever we want to do.
Cole Teander
With an endless stream of time I would procrastinate my work, but when I am busy, it forces me to do it during any free second I have.” We have a copious amount of free time and few restrictions. We come to college with the opportunity to become who we want, and in order to find ourselves we need to sign up for activities and find our passions. The thing about coming to a new place is that we do not have to do what we did in high school, or we can. But that decision is up to us. We have a freedom that we did not have before. We do not have our parents hanging over every decision we make, and not having that is liberating and terrifying.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 9
Tried and Drew |
“ a duty to participate in politics Citizens have We live in an age of broken politics, but it’s not because of corrupt politicians Drew Finley
Guest Columnist
“Our political system is broken.” “Congress is so polarized that no meaningful legislation can ever be passed.” “Our politicians are all corrupt.” Phrases like these have become standard maxims of the American citizenry in recent years since our default response to any mention that our way of doing things politically might not be as great as we like to think it is. After all our way at its core was only a “Great Experiment” in democracy. Perhaps the politicians of today simply aren’t up to
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the task of governing us anymore. But there is one fundamental problem with logic like that — it is in direct violation of the founding principles of this country. Inherent in the American political experience is vigorous and sustained participation by the citizens themselves, not just the politicians who govern them. Consider the remarks of the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville when he visited the United States. “No sooner do you set foot upon American soil, than you are stunned by a kind of tumult; a confused clamour is heard on every side; and a thousand simultaneous voices demand the immediate satisfaction of their social wants.” When de Tocqueville composed his “Democracy in America,” he observed an inte-
gral feature of the democratic process that has been totally forgotten in today’s political culture. If citizens are dissatisfied with the functioning of their government, it is in part their duty to take action to modify it. It is too often the case today that citizens believe that if an obstacle or problem manifests itself in the political process, it should be the sole responsibility of the politicians to remedy it. This assumption is obviously not completely inaccurate. Of course the duty first falls upon politicians to fix governmental problems — that is their job — but it is also true that citizens, through their enthusiastic participation, play a vital role in engineering political change. Indeed, the Constitution that we now hold so dear to us, might not even have been ratified if citizens did not participate in the political process. Consider the example of The Federalist Papers that Robert Curry employs in his recent book, Common Sense Nation. These writings, as Curry notes, are considered to
form the greatest book on political liberty in the history of the world, yet were editorials in newspapers that could be read by the ordinary citizen. In today’s world, The Federalist Papers are almost exclusively read by scholars, not everyday citizens. That is where the crucial difference lies between the citizenry of the past and the citizenry of today. Those who lived during the time of Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson and other founding fathers read the editorials, thought about them, debated them, and ultimately decided to vote for the Constitution. In short, they exhibited a level of vigorous and sustained participation in the political process that is altogether inconceivable by today’s standards. So maybe our political system is broken. Maybe Congress is hopelessly polarized and our politicians corrupt. Or maybe we have lost one of the essential ingredients to a successfully functioning democratic government. Let’s just hope we haven’t lost any others.
Keeping it Cas-u-well| Mental Illness Attention current sophomores and juniors:
misconceptions about Chris Caswell
Mental illness is often misunderstood in society, so in recent years, several groups across the country and the world have tried bringing them to national attention. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), schizophrenia and depression are just three of the many mental illnesses that are often misunderstood. First, I want to emphasize that these disorders aren’t just in a person’s head; they can’t just “snap out of it.” It’s important that people keep this in mind, but I think real progress has been made in treating mental illness like a real disease, not just blaming someone who suffers from one of these illnesses. However, I think there are still a lot of misconceptions about mental illnesses that many people, especially those who are not close to someone who suffers from a mental illness (and I do not pretend to be an expert on the subject), do not understand. One being that people try to claim a mental illness as a source of pride. Many people wrongly claim these diseases — specifically OCD — as a badge of honor. People who are not really affected by any mental illness for some reason think saying they’re “so OCD,” for example, makes them unique or special. In this example, no, you’re not “OCD,” you just like your things in a certain way.
The same goes for other mental illnesses such as depression or insomnia. I’m sorry if you’re feeling sad, but once again, that’s not the same thing as being depressed. And just because you can’t sleep, that does not make you an insomniac. For people who suffer from and/or are close to someone who suffers from a mental illness, it can be insulting and frustrating to hear someone appropriate one as a positive attribute for the sake of portraying themselves as unique. It makes light of a serious illness and makes it sound like a good thing — like the illness isn’t a bad thing at all and like OCD is just a synonym for organized. Another fallacy of mental illnesses is that they define the person who suffers from it. Labels can be important, because they describe objects and people, as well as provide a means of treatment. But labels, when it comes to mental illness, can also be a bad thing. Mental illness should not define or limit one’s perception of someone who suffers from a mental illness. In many cases, a label does just that. If you know that someone suffers from bipolar disorder, that tends to be the most important thing you think about that person, though understanding that person and what they face is much more complicated and intricate than those two words. Mental illnesses are similar to physical illnesses in many ways, but they do differ, too. Every single case is different. Two people who are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder will have very different experiences and face very different obstacles. I’m sure there are exceptions, but with physical diseases, if two people suffer from the same illness, they will receive similar treatment. With mental illnesses, labels can be counter-productive as an over-simplification of people’s identity and experiences.
You are invited to apply for the position of STUDENT TRUSTEE Wake Forest University Applications are available in the following locations: Benson 506 OR campuslife.wfu.edu Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, February 19th to 506 Benson (PHI) – Attention: Dr. Mary T. Gerardy (gerardym@wfu.edu) The Board of Trustees possesses the governing authority for the administration and operation of all aspects of the University. Here, the term “trustee” is synonymous with the term “director” which one commonly hears in connection with the governing board of a corporation. To do its work, the Board of Trustees meets several times a year and is organized into a number of committees which focus on the University’s operations and programs. Each trustee is a “fiduciary” as the duties of a trustee include the obligation to serve the institution above self-interest to the best of one’s ability. The student trustee is full member of the board with all the rights and obligations of other trustees.
This ad is provided by the Student Life Committee.
Page 10 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | Opinion
“ Success at “Work Forest” is unrelated to grades At Bat-alie| Academics
GPA scales are often universal, but the value of having a high GPA is not Natalie Wilson
Asst. Opinion Editor wilsnh15@wfu.edu
Clubs, sports teams, Greek organizations, graduate programs — many groups seem to care about GPAs. But as an individual student, should you? The most standard measure of GPA occurs on a scale through 4.00. In high school, participating in college-level classes sometimes allows a student to be recognized for his or her efforts through achieving a GPA higher than that. For the most part, if someone works hard and completes all assignments on time, he or she will be rewarded with the highest grades possible — “honor roll” worthy As and Bs. Is it any wonder that students at the university we so lovingly refer to as “Work Forest” are sometimes comparatively shocked by their GPAs? From a young age, we are taught that if we truly give an effort of 100 percent and work as hard as we can to achieve a high grade, then we’ve done all we can do.
Doing it the (Ridge)way|
causing our candidates to be radical, and not in a good way Ben Ridgeway
Guest Columnist ridgbr15@wfu.edu We know that Republicans and Democrats are fundamentally different. Not to mention that the candidates this year are increasingly radical when compared to past candidates. This year, two of the front runners in opposing parties are completely on opposite sides of the political spectrum. On one side, Bernie Sanders pushes for free tuition, advocates for government-funded healthcare and wants to call troops home from the Middle East. On the other side, Donald Trump believes in a literal wall between the United States and Mexico, supports the temporary deportation of Muslims, thinks climate change is a hoax, advocates for limited restriction on guns and wants a total repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Not once in our nation’s 240 years has a third party candidate won the presidency. It seems that candidates are be-
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Of course that’s true and important to keep in mind. The problem arises not in this idea itself, but in the sense of entitlement we all infer somewhere along the way. My French class syllabus says it best: “Please realize that the sentence, ‘I deserve to pass this class/receive a better grade, because I work hard’ is a fallacy.” The word “entitlement” comes across as abrasive, but don’t worry — I am not addressing this problem as someone who is not also affected by it. When satisfactorily meeting all expectations in high school meant earning the best possible grade in just about any class, it was startling in college to suddenly be held to different standards and expectations by each professor. When my photography class received some of our first portfolio grades last semester, many of us were surprised and disappointed. When my professor half joked that he hadn’t given an A since 2010, some of us were stunned. He insisted that since there is no perfect portfolio, he should give no perfect grades and that an assignment must not just follow the guidelines, but be executed excellently to get anywhere close.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that my professor had the right idea. It only works, however, if everyone — students and professors at all universities — think of grades in this way. Of course one can’t do more than their best, but that doesn’t guarantee that the best is good enough. The liberal arts nature of our entire public education system leads students to believe that they can be good at everything, and that’s not feasible — but also not a problem. Straight-A’s are all too achievable for young students. There should be no shame in one hardworking student earning an A in accounting and a C in photography and another earning just the opposite, even if they complete all the same work. The former isn’t as artistic and took pictures that showcase technical mistakes and unappealing visuals; the latter mixed up numbers and made mistakes when recording information. One will work for a bank and the other for a magazine; both will be happy and successful utilizing their differing gifts to fulfill differing roles. While GPAs are still important to certain organizations and programs, especially while a student applies to higher education — and yes, according to Forbes magazine, recruiters at large companies do expect to see GPAs on resumes and will use them to distinguish
candidates — the national trend toward grade inflation means that college GPAs are becoming more and more like high school GPAs: meaningless. But that’s okay. As long as there isn’t a standard for them, they shouldn’t matter. Because of the way GPAs are considered in high school, they reflect less on the abilities of students and more on the education system (which is a general trend in public education perpetuated by standardized testing and No Child Left Behind, but that’s a different argument). If the average grade for a particular course is an A-, it demonstrates that the teacher has effectively covered an appropriate curriculum. A high grade denotes the ability to be obedient and diligent more than motivated and successful. Unfortunately, it’s hard not to buy into that system after being taught by it for over 12 years. What does it mean, however, when an A- is actually the average grade given, not at a high school, but at Harvard University? According to registrar data, it is. How do you think our school compares? Stop caring about your GPA. Instead, continue to take on challenging classes and accept that though hard work doesn’t always deliver great grades, what is learned is more important than any number.
Voters on each side start to think more alike and adopt similar, if not identical views. Our founding fathers even warned against this, Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, “If everyone is thinking alike, then someone is not thinking.” Also, George Washington stated that it, “should be in the interest of the people to destroy” the two party system
because it would, “gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual.” In my opinion, these statements could not be any more true than what they have become. So, this year, I believe that Americans should begin to think for themselves, cast their party biases aside and vote for a candidate that best represents their views.
“ vote for a candidate that
coming more and more radical from election to election. We see it all the time and the reason that candidates do this is quite simple. They need votes and they use the system to their advantage. By projecting their views as too far left or too far right, they are able to accumulate more voters that identify with their party. No voter ever states to someone their complete set of views. They simply identify as either Republican or Democrat. In the words of Peter Ackroyd, “It is the nature of humankind to idealize, to indulge in excessive praise as well as unjust condemnation.” It is because of this thought that the candidates set out to encompass the views of the majority of the voters in their party so they can win the election. Furthermore, when voters from each party see that their party’s leaders are radical, they adopt more radical beliefs. This creates a very strong “us versus them” mentality rather than an “issue by issue” comparison with an individual running for president.
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Demon Deacons lose in painful fashion BY BRANDON PALMER Sports Editor Devastating. Heartbreaking. Disastrous. Seasonshattering. Tear-jerking. All of these words come to mind when thinking of the Wake Forest men’s basketball team’s loss on Tuesday night to the 11th ranked Virginia Cavaliers. Yet there are no words that can truly explain or describe what occurred on that night. The Cavaliers won the game and led for a total of 45 seconds. The Demon Deacons played their best game of the season for 39 minutes, and led the Cavaliers by seven-points with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Punctuated by a vicious Devin Thomas dunk over a defender with less than a minute remaining, the Deacons looked well on their way to pulling off their biggest win of the season. Students had begun funneling towards the court, and ropes were being put up to protect the visiting bench from being overrun when the Wake Forest students inevitably stormed the court. Unfortunately, that court storming never came to fruition, as the Deacs missed free throw after free throw in the waning seconds and allowed the Cavaliers to bank in a three-pointer at the buzzer. Wake Forest dominated every aspect of the game and countered every run the Cavaliers made, and at the end of the day it still somehow wasn’t enough to win. It’s easy to blame coaching decisions, poor defense, or horrific free throwing shooting for the epic collapse, and all of these would be valid claims, but when a player who hasn’t made a three-point shot in over a month makes a wild, one-handed shot at the buzzer to cap an impossible rally there really isn’t anywhere to point a finger. Wake Forest suffered what was likely the most gutwrenching loss of this basketball season, and perhaps the biggest tragedy to come from the loss was that no one is going to remember how well the team played. Wake Forest played its best defense of the year, hustled on every play and dominated one of the best teams in the country. Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who said after the game that “Wake Forest really outplayed us,” seemed resigned to the fact that Wake Forest was going to win the game. This game is going to be nearly impossible for the players to forget, and with an NCAA tournament berth seeming less likely by the day, the way this team
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Adrian Martino/Old Gold & Black
This one hurt. Wake Forest lost a heartbreaker to the University of Virginia on Tuesday night; blowing
ACC releases 2016 football schedules The Atlantic Coast Conference released
BY KYLE TATICH & BRANDON PALMER Print Managing Editor & Sports Editor On Tuesday, Jan. 26 the Atlantic Coast Conference released the 2016 schedules for each of its 14 members.
Arguably, Wake Forest could not have asked for a better schedule as it is much more balanced than it was last season. Last year, the Demon Deacons played a three-game stretch in which it hosted Louisville and then traveled to both Notre Dame and Clemson, two of the teams competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff at the time. This season, the Demon Deacons will space out its most difficult opponents, playing in Tallahassee, Fla., against Florida State on Oct. 15 and then hosting Clemson a month later on Nov. 19 in Winston-Salem, NC. “The ACC will once again be one of the top conferences
in the country and we look forward to the many challenges the schedule presents,” Clawson said. Perhaps most notably, Wake Forest will play seven of its 12 games at home, the most scheduled in Winston-Salem since 2012. In addition to Clemson, the Demon Deacons will play host to Tulane, Delaware, Syracuse, Army, Virginia and Boston College. “We are excited to have seven home games in front of our fans at BB&T stadium,” Clawson said.
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Page 12 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Spotlight: Coach Bobby Muuss BYKYLE TATICH Print Managing Editor tatika14@wfu.edu The Wake Forest men’s soccer team was one of the top teams in the country throughout the season. The team won the ACC regular season title and received the number one overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. Two star players, Michael Gamble and Jack Harrison, were highly selected in the MLS SuperDraft. The team brought the entire community together, as the Soccer Stadium was constanlty sold out throughout the season. All of this was done after the departure of long-tenured head coach Jay Vidovich. Bobby Muuss was hired this offseason and many were unsure of what to expect. Coach Muuss was able to come in and quickly make Wake Forest a National Championship contender again. First off coach, I want to congratulate you on a terrific season. Could you tell us a little about yourself, your background and what ultimately led you to Wake Forest? Myself? Well, I’m a Long Island, New York guy that was very fortunate to get an opportunity to go to a Division II school in New Haven, Conn. called Southern Connecticut State University. What drew me to Southern Connecticut is exactly what drew me to Wake Forest. I wanted to win a National Championship and it was one of the best Division II programs in the country. Was it difficult to come in and fill coach Vidovich’s shoes after he’d been here for 22 years? The hardest thing was replacing someone with so much history, who left a great legacy while being so successful. You come in and tiptoe on what you want to do because everyone wants to come in and make it theirs. But I was here as an assistant for some of the best years of the program with coach Jay. You want to make it yours but you want to respect the history and the way things have been done. Did you expect that the program would be able to win the ACC regular season title and be one of the best teams in the country in your first year? Well, there’s always an expectation for Wake Forest soccer to be among the national elite, but I think the transition that we went through in the winter was hard for the guys. I don’t think anyone saw coach Jay leaving, myself
included — so it was a little bit of shock. Was I surprised? No, I wasn’t because of the history of the program. I also give a lot of credit to the older guys and to the leaders of this group to say ‘OK we want to put the change and transition behind us and worry about the big picture: winning a championship.’ Two of those leaders were Michael Gamble and Jack Harrison who were just selected in the MLS SuperDraft. Can you talk a little bit about their leadership and how you see them performing in their professional careers? Michael was one of those who said, ‘OK this is my last year and I want to leave a legacy behind. I want to continue to change the program for the better and get us back to the national elite.’ Jack, obviously a very special talent and team oriented player, was under a lot of pressure and stress as Michael went down with injuries. I was very fortunate as a first year head coach to basically inherit two of the most dynamic players in America. They didn’t just talk about wanting to be pros, they went out and showed it with their work effort everyday, on and off the field. Can you talk about your goals for next year and for the future, both for the team and for yourself? We set the bar pretty high, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. I tell people all the time that the goals for the Wake Forest soccer program, no matter if it’s an up year or a down year, is to win a National Championship. I tell our guys all the time that everyday, when I walk in my office, there’s evidence and proof that we can win a national championship if we do things the right way.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
Hometown: East Islip, New York. College: Southern Connecticut State University/ University of Connecticut Position: Head Coach Previous Schools: Universtiy of Denver, Wake Forest (Assistant)
What do you like most about Wake Forest? I just think the relationships. If you went to a game this year and saw the way the student body and community embraced this program, it gives you goosebumps. I think every player that I meet with when we do end-of-the-year emails brings up that aspect of the way the community supported this team. The family — between alumni, the administrators here, academic support, the faculty, the students — it’s just something very unique. It’s a smaller school and very close knit group and it’s something I’ve missed for the years that I’ve been away. Certainly I’ve embraced it again being back. There’s a lot of programs in sports that talk about family and I think Wake Forest and the men’s soccer program have a true family and the way the alumni has embraced these young men and the way the community has embraced these young men has been incredible.
Accolades Won a National Championship with UConn as an assistant coach Two league championships with University of Denver Won 2014-15 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship with Wake Forest Has had at least six of his players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft
Deac Notes Former Demon Deacon Al-Farrouq Aminu has big plans for the Summer Olympics
Former Demon Deacon great Ricky Proehl is headed to the Super Bowl
Former Wake Forest men’s basketball player Al-Farrouq Aminu has big plans for this summer. Aminu, who is having the best shooting season of his career with Portland, is determined to lead his home country of Nigeria to a medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. No African country has ever medaled in basketball during the Olympics, but Aminu believes he can lead his fellow countrymen to victory.
Wake Forest’s all time leader in receptions and touchdowns, Ricky Proehl, will be at the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7. However, it will not be as a player, but rather as the wide receiver’s coach of the Carolina Panthers. The former Demon Deacon football star, and long-time NFL receiver, has found a home as a coach on the best team in football. Proehl has proven to play a major role in the Panters offensive rise this season.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 13
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Basketball: Last second shot sinks Wake Forest plays down the stretch of the season will show fans a lot about the grit and determination of this team. A road trip to Notre Dame is not going to be an easy game, in fact it will likely be a loss, but this team has proven they can play with anyone when they play at the top of their game. Unfortunately for the Deacs, Virginia was not the only
close loss to a top ranked team this past week. The scheduling gods (read: ACC officials) have not been kind to WakeForest this season. After coming off games against Syracuse and North Carolina, the Deacons were faced with traveling to the University of Miami on Saturday, followed by the aforementioned visit from the Virginia Cavaliers. Miami has been playing great basketball as of late, and as a result is currently ranked number 15 in the country. The Hurricanes defeated the Duke Blue Devils emphatically on Monday night.
Timothy Valshtein/Old Gold & Black
Wake Forest students, alumni and fans were seconds away from storming the court on Tuesday night before a one-handed, three-point shot by the University of Virgina fell through the net.
The Deacs, once again, fought valiantly and had the Hurricanes on the ropes when they tied the game at 48, with under ten minutes remaining. Unfortunately, the Deacs failed to close out a close game down the stretch against a better team, a precursor to what would occur against Virginia. This has been a recurring trend this season as the Deacs have played teams such as Duke, Louisville and Xavier extremely tight, but ultimately failed to come up with the shots they needed to win the games. Often, these game defining shots have come in the form of free throws, one of the most fundamental aspects of the game of basketball. Understandably, the level of difficulty increases as the pressure of the game rises, but one can only imagine what his teams record would be if they were able to consistently make free throws down the stretch of games. Based on the lack of free throw consistency, it would be easy to blame the team for these tight losses and not finishing out these games; however, great teams are supposed to beat average to good teams. Right now the Deacs are an average team, great on some nights, bad on others. If the Deacs were failing to close out games against inferior opponents, then there would have to be serious concerns about the trajectory of this team; however, there is no shame in losing close games to great opponents. In order to get over the hump both this year and moving forward, the team needs to beat one of these superior teams. It appeared the Deacs were going to finally fulfill this goal in the Virginia game, but the ball did not bounce the right way. Playing in the ACC provides an excellent opportunity for quality and program resurrecting wins, and hopefully this team will be able to get one.
Football: Fall features seven home games In addition to Florida State, the Demon Deacons will travel to Duke, Indiana, N.C. State and Louisville in 2016. Despite a record of 3-9, Wake Forest proved it was improving throughout the 2015 season. Expect the Demon Deacons to continue to improve in 2016 and perhaps reach a bowl game for the first time since 2011. It will be hard to view the 2016 football season as a success if the Demon Deacons fail to make a bowl game. I believe, based solely on looking at the schedule that the Deacs could finish with anywhere from five to eight wins, with the most likely scenario being a six and six season ending in a bowl berth. It must be noted that Wake Forest will still be one of the youngest teams in the country next year and will therefore likely make many mistakes that could cost them close games. This team will be coach Clawson’s most talented group since he joined the Demon Deacons three seasons ago. This team has the capability to beat nine of the teams on their schedule next season, but that will unfotunately not be the case. As a team and a program that is in the midst of a rebuilding process, the most important thing next season is to see proof that the program is improving and headed in the right direction. No one is claiming that Wake Forest needs to be a consistent title contender; however, Wake Forest should be consistetly striving to compete in a bowl game at the end of the season. 2016 is coach Clawson’s third season as the Deacs leader and this is likely the teams first realistic chance to reach a bowl game. In his first two seasons progress was undoubly made, but the record stayed the same. In his third season it will not be enough to just acknowledge that the team improved, this year there must be tangible evidence of success in the form of a bowl berth. Anything short of six wins will be perceived as a failure.
Timothy Valshtein/Old Gold & Black
2016 Football Schedule Sept. 1
Tulane
Oct. 1
at N.C. State
Nov. 5
Virginia
Sept. 10
at Duke
Oct. 8
Syracuse
Nov. 12
at Louisville
Sept. 17
Delaware
Oct. 15
at Florida State
Nov. 19
Clemson
Sept. 24
at Indiana
Oct. 29
Army
Nov. 26
Boston College
Page 14 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Demon Deacons beginning to hit their stride Thewomen’sbasketballteam takesdownrivalUNCforone ofprogram’sbiggestwins BY ElizaBEth WallacE Staff Writer wallem14@wfu.edu The Deacs finally triumphed over the UNC Tar Heels at home last Thursday, Jan. 19 at home. This was the first time since 2004 that Wake Forest had come out on top and it marks their first ACC win of the year. Rookie of the week, Elisa Penna set the tone for the game by hitting an opening three-point shot to immediately establish a lead over the Tar Heels. This was followed by Ataijah Taylor having four points in the first two minutes, as well as an assist. The team had chemistry and ultimately played better. The Tar Heels never had a lead over the Deacs throughout the entire game. Stephanie Watts and Jamie Cherry led the Tar Heels in all aspects of the game: points, rebounds, steals and assists. Watts finished the game with 24 points, 19 of which were in the second half alone. Wake Forest’s lead over the Tar Heels started to pick up in the second quarter after several crucial defensive plays made by the Deacs. The lead stretched out even more in the third quarter; the Deacs had several offensive and defensive boards that were converted into points. Jill Brunori and Milan Quinn had stellar defensive performances,
each finishing with double digits in rebounds. The Tar Heels were successful at the free throw line, especially in the first half where they were seven of eight. Overall, free throws weren’t an integral part in determining the outcome of this particular game. Wake Forest converted 34 points within the paint, while UNC only finished 26. Three-point shots were not falling for the Tar Heels in the second half; UNC converted on 42.9 percent from behind the arc
before missing 11 of its last 12. However, the most significant disparity between the two teams was bench depth. Wake Forest’s bench players contributed 28 points, while the Tar Heel’s bench totaled four points. This statistic shows the Deacs play better team basketball, not relying on a few players to determine the outcome of the game. Although the Tar Heels lost, they put up a good fight. After coming off of three prior losses, they were vulnerable and unconfident; however, this was no excuse for
the Deacs. After losing five straight ACC games, Wake Forest bounced back and played harder, smarter and all around better. The Deacs were also victorious against Boston College last Saturday, Jan. 24 in Chestnut Hill. Wake Forest finished 50 percent from three-point land and 87 percent from the free throw line. High scorers were Elisa Penna (22), Ariel Stephenson (13) and Milan Quinn (10). The Deacs will take on Florida State at home on Jan. 28 at 7pm.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
the Wake Forest women’s basketball team will be riding a two-game winning streak into thursday night as they take on
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 15
ACC Recap: Clemson continues to impress of their last six, defeating three ranked opponents Staff Writer This week, the most notable news in the conference focuses on the less prominent programs such as Clemson, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. This highly contrasts with last week, when the more premier programs in the ACC conference stole the headlines as North Carolina continued to excel and Duke began to fall. These less prominent teams may lack history and national attention, but they continue to improve and dabble in the conversation of who will be NCAA Tournament contenders. The Clemson Tigers are currently 5-2 in the conference and 12-7 overall, putting them in a good enough position to rank in the top half of ACC play. While Clemson looked unimpressive during its non-conference play, something began to click once the Tigers entered the
month of January. With wins over Syracuse, Louisville, Duke and Miami, Clemson has risen to sixth place in the ACC. The upstart Tigers are led by Jaron Blossomgame, who is averaging 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest. In order for the Tigers to keep up their winning ways, the team must keep the momentum going in upcoming games against Pittsburgh and Florida State. Another team that seems to be turning heads is Virginia Tech. The Hokies are currently 4-3 in conference play and 12-8 overall. Second year coach Buzz Williams has penned impressive wins against N.C. State and Virginia this season. Virginia Tech is led by a trio of scorers, including Zach LeDay, Seth Allen and Justin Bibbs. While it’s unlikely that Virginia Tech makes the tournament, they have proved capable of defeating any ACC opponent on any given night, this is validated by their close, five-point loss to No. 2 North Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 24. The Pittsburgh Panthers might be the most dangerous team in the ACC, currently sitting at 5-2 in conference play and 16-3 overall. Despite not having any notable wins, Jamie Dixon has his team playing consistent offense along with stifling defense. The heart of the Panthers schedule is
still to come as the team takes on Virginia, Miami and North Carolina all in an eightday span. In order to win any of those contests, Pittsburgh leading scorer Michael Young needs to shoulder most of the offensive load for the Panthers. It is an uphill battle, but Jamie Dixon and his team can be as dangerous as anyone heading into the ACC and NCAA Tournaments come March. Ever since joining the ACC, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are one of the images of consistency that come to mind. Every year, Notre Dame seems to be lurking
around the upper half of the conference and seemingly play competitively in every game. The Irish are currently 5-2 in conference play and 14-5 overall. Notre Dame’s most impressive win came against Duke a few weeks ago and will have many more opportunities for marquee wins as their schedule soon becomes tougher. Big man Zach Auguste recently injured his hamstring and it is unknown how long he’ll be out. So if Mike Bray’s team has any chance of contending in the ACC Tournament, guard Demetrius Jackson will have to carry the load.
Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS
Newton, Panthers dominate way to Super Bowl birth Peyton Manning looks to ride off into the sunset as BY ZACH SEARLE Staff Writer searzf14@wfu.edu Super Bowl 50 Preview Now that Conference Championship weekend is over, the stage has finally been set for Super Bowl 50. The Denver Broncos will take on the Carolina Panthers at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.on Sunday Feb. 7. Carolina made a statement on Sunday with a commanding 49-15 win against the Cardinals, giving them great momentum heading into the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Broncos and their strong defense, snuck out a win over New England and their comeback late in the game by a score of 20-18. Here is a recap of both Conference Championship games: AFC Championship Sports Authority Field was the site for this year’s AFC Championship as the Denver Broncos hosted the New England Patriots. The Patriots were looking to advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl, while the Broncos were trying to advance to their second in three years. Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady, who brought his team to the conference championship for the fifth consecutive year, threw for 310 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Denver’s rock solid defense along with New England’s injured offensive line al-
lowed the defensive line to get to Brady on almost every snap, knocking him down a staggering 23 times. After an early touchdown in the first quarter by both teams, Stephen Gostowski’s missed extra point, his first miss in 523 successful attempts, put the Patriots on the losing end. On the other side, Peyton Manning played an incredible game throwing for 176 yards with two touchdowns, with a 12 yard scramble. Owen Daniels caught both touchdowns and cemented an eight-point lead over the Patriots in the fourth quarter. Down by eight, the Patriots were presented with one last try for a tie. After leading his team down the field quickly, including two fourth down conversions, Tom Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone. However, the Patriots’ season came to an end when Denver cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Brady’s twopoint conversion pass on the next play. 39 year old Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will head back to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in franchise history and look to bring the trophy back to Denver.
15 win. Cam Newton threw for 335 yards with two touchdowns and ran for two more scores. Greg Olsen and Corey Brown both had a number of receptions totaling 113 yards each. Brown also had a touchdown added to his stat line. The Arizona Cardinals on the other hand lacked an offense in many ways. Carson Palmer threw for 235 yards with a touchdown, but turned the ball over six times. Carolina’s defense was dominant to say the
least. The Cardinals season ended abruptly and painfully on Sunday night as they allowed the most points scored against them all season. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers will advance to their second Super Bowl in franchise history, the first being a loss against the Patriots 12 years ago. Cam Newton will look to lead his offense against a very powerful and strong Denver defense, with hopes of bringing the trophy to Charlotte for the first time.
NFC Championship The Carolina Panthers hosted the Arizona Cardinals for the title of the NFC Conference on Sunday night. In what was projected to be a close game between a great Arizona offense and a fantastic Carolina defense, turned into a blowout quickly. Carolina’s offense and defense outworked Arizona from the start, scoring 24 points in the first half and leaving Arizona with just seven. The scoring didn’t stop in the second half either, the Panthers outscored the Cardinals by 17, ultimately giving them a 49-
David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/TNS
LIFE
T H U R S D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 6
PA G E 1 6
O N L I N E AT : w w w. w f u o g b. co m E D I T O R S : Nicholas DeMayo, demanj14@wfu.edu, Shelby Devine, devisn14@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Wake Forest’s New Squeeze Find out about the cold-pressed juice craze that is sweeping the campus BY NICHOLAS DEMAYO Life Editor demanj14@wfu.edu I had my last serving of raw vegetables about three days ago. And those vegetables — spinach, tomato and cucumber — came on a six-inch turkey sub wrapped in Subway paper. Although I am admittedly not the most health-conscious person, this experience seems to be common among Wake Forest students and Americans in general. According to a report released in 2013 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 15 percent of all Americans consume their recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. Because of this, Americans — especially those living in the South — find themselves struggling with higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Personally, the effects of not eating my fruits and vegetables seem pretty evident, for I can feel the fabric of my jeans becoming a little tighter around my thighs with every passing day. But just around three days ago something else happened, something that gives me some hope to resolve my plight of ever-shrinking jeans and clogging arteries. Three days ago, an apple was picked in Mt. Airy and driven a short distance to Winston-Salem to fulfill its fate: to be crushed and freshly bottled as cold-pressed juice. Cold-pressed juice gained popularity in the 2000s when celebrities endorsed “juice cleanses” as a way to detoxify the body and reboot the digestive system. Eventually, coldpressed juice shops opened up in large cities, making the product available to the masses. In fact, the shops in New York City became so popular that they hosted a “juice crawl,” an event where juicers would jump from shop to shop to sample their cold-pressed commodities. While New Yorkers enjoyed their juice, residents of Winston-Salem did not have a cold-pressed juice joint, that is, until Lonnie Atkinson opened Village Juice Co. in 2015. “The demand was there for healthy, raw food items – especially at Wake Forest,” said co-owner Elizabeth LucasAverett.
Photo courtesy of Lonnie Atkinson
Photo courtesy of Gabi Navarro and Ivanna Mar
Wake Forest students received the opening of Village Juice Co. with excitement and quickly spread the word about the cold-pressed juices and nut milks that the business offers. Now, the business has grown to serve the Winston-Salem area from three distribution points, including one at Campus Grounds. But what makes a juice “cold-pressed?” The term “coldpressed” refers to a technology that avoids heat during the extraction process. Unlike blenders and centrifugal juicers, this process does not damage the cells of the fruit or vegetable. Cold pressing yields up to 40 percent more of its vital nutrients than the faster, less expensive centrifugal juicers. Avoiding heat also means the juicer obtains low-levels of oxidation during the juicing process. The result is a juice that is fresh, loaded with nutrients, vibrant in color, and packed with flavor. Limited oxidation also extends shelf life, meaning that even though Village Juice Co. makes their juice fresh every day, it maintains its nutritional value for days instead of hours. So while many expensive, green juices can be found in supermarkets, none of these are like the fresh juice at Village Juice Co. That’s because the juices on the shelves have either been pasteurized or subject to high pressure processing (HPP). Pasteurization allows a juice to stay on the shelves for months, but also adds heat that destroys healthy enzymes and nutrients. HPP does not add heat, but rather kills bacteria with high pressure, creating a shelf life of about 30 days. Both of these processes would negate from what makes the juice from Village Juice Co. so popular to Wake Forest students, and that’s why Village Juice Co. takes the fruits, vegetables and nuts they receive and turns them into juice within a few hours. Many Wake Forest students also appreciate the steps Village Juice Co. goes through to source their produce. “We get to know our suppliers very well,” said LucasAverett. “And we make sure that they use sustainable and responsible farming practices.” This ensures that the cold-pressed juice has a lower environmental footprint. Also, Village Juice Co. relies on local relationships and vendors across its business.
“Our roots are very local; in fact, three of the four partners are Wake Forest alums,” said Lucas-Averett. Village Juice Co. seeks local, responsibly-farmed, sustainable produce and their products require a great deal of it. It takes anywhere from two to four pounds of produce to make each 17 ounce bottle of juice. The sheer quantity of raw fruits and vegetables allow cold-pressed juice to lay claim to many health benefits, even with one juice a day. Some of these benefits kick in immediately. For example, one bottle of juice adds vitamins and electrolytes to rehydrate the body after a workout or a long night out. Also, roots like ginger and other botanicals in the juice help soothe stomachaches. Other benefits — such as better immunity, better digestive health and cardiovascular health — begin to set in with prolonged consumption of cold-pressed juice as a result of a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables. Additionally, many Wake Forest students have really taken a liking to the taste of Village Juice. “Cold-pressed juice has a very crisp and refreshing taste,” said senior Byron McClendon, “and you feel great when you drink something that is good for you.” In a time where busy schedules keep people from taking care of their bodies, Village Juice and other cold-pressed juices are a convenient way to consume the nutrients that can only be found in raw fruits and vegetables. And because of this, cold-pressed juice has really caught on at Wake Forest.
Photo courtesy of Lonnie Atkinson
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 17
Movie Review | Spotlight
Spotlight wows audiences BY HOPE GAME Senior Writer gamehm12@wfu.edu Movie critics, journalists and theatergoers alike all have something to say about Spotlight. And for the most part, feedback has been overwhelming positive. Released to limited theaters on Nov. 6, Spotlight has impressed audiences of all ages. The film is nominated for six Oscars and has earned a Rotten Tomatoes average audience score of 95 percent. The movie is based on true events. During an investigation in 2001, the Spotlight Team of The Boston Globe uncovered an abuse scandal within the Catholic Archdiocese in Boston. In early 2002, the Globe published multiple articles revealing allegations from more than 130 people recalling horrific stories from their childhoods about molestations by priests on minors within the diocese. As they further investigated, the Spotlight reporters realized the sexual abuse coverup was more complex than expected. The Spotlight Team’s work earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for their series of reports. Director Tom McCarthy wrote the de-
tailed script with The Fifth Estate writer, Josh Singer. Some critics are praising the pair for their lack of Hollywood glitz and glam and emphasis on the true story uncovered by the Spotlight Team. McCarthy and Singer focus on the demographics and neighborhoods of Boston and the priests and victims under question. The movie is well thought-out, presented and executed. Spotlight has an extremely impressive cast including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Live Schreiber, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery and Brian d’Arcy James. They each play a key reporter, editor or researcher of the Spotlight Team. Although movie renditions of historical events often don’t do the story justice, Spotlight’s intensity and urgency appropriately reflect that of news-
Boston Globe’s Spotlight
The
room breaking sensitive stories. The movie never slows down — I was on the edge of my seat throughout the two-hour film. While some critics are calling the film a thriller, Spotlight is not your typical crime drama featuring high-speed chases and action-pack “fight scenes.” You’ll watch the Spotlight Team in meetings in their offices, visiting informants and sharing a couple beers and a pizza while working at home together. Instead, Spotlight’s action lies in the moving interviews with victims and arguments between coworkers in the newsroom. The movie is incredibly accurate, with one big exception. Some critics say McCarthy and Singer took too many liberties with the chronological order of events. In 2001, articles by the Boston Phoenix preceded the Globe investigation. There were many other reporters at the Globe helping to break this story as well as many lawyers representing the victims of abuse. Regardless, Spotlight is remarkably compelling. Spotlight doesn’t have crazy special effects and the props aren’t outlandish. It lacks flashbacks and a catchy soundtrack. The writers did not add a love story to raise interest. Instead, the Spotlight office features dated furniture, stacks of photocopies and article clips — true to most newsrooms of the time. If you don’t make it to theatres to see it, Spotlight comes out on DVD on Feb. 23. You don’t want to miss it.
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Life | Old Gold & Black
Top Five British Actors The recent 2016 Golden Globe awards has us thinking about some of the best British actors on televi-
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Restaurant Review | Sakura
Restaurant offers eclectic menu BY TORI KOCH Contributing Writer kochvr12@wfu.edu Do you love sushi? Do you love hibachi? Do you love insanely low prices? Sakura is a gem in Winston-Salem. Located on South Stratford Road near Party City, it is the one dining experience I always miss when I go home to the north. Sakura has something for everyone. Their extensive sushi menu is definitely not something to skip over, but if you are not one for fish or seaweed, their hibachi and tempura menu is just as amazing. They have everything from shrimp shumai to steak hibachi to bento boxes. For those who have never eaten out at a hibachi steakhouse, they tend to be very expensive with meals costing upwards of $20 because the chef cooks in front of you. However, if you want the same quality food without the excess in price, Sakura has the deal. For less than $10, you will receive soup, a protein, hibachi vegetables and rice. It is filling to say the least.
Additionally, the staff at Sakura is wonderful. They always greet you with a smile and you are sure to be seated in less than five minutes.
Seattle Times
They really love Wake Forest students since they can receive a 10 percent discount with their Wake Forest ID. Some of their great deals include “2 for $20” dinners and their $5 lunch specials.
Generally they give you a few different menu items to choose from and you can pick one appetizer and two entrees — all served with soup or salad, vegetables and rice. They change the options up every season, so be sure to check back for their new combinations. Although the inside décor is quote cozy, being able to sit out on their patio in the spring and summer is delightful. One dish I would not recommend is their ramen. The taste can be inconsistent and the seasonings make it more like lo mein than ramen. Also, take note that some of their mixed drinks are made with sake, rather than traditional liquors. It makes for an interesting twist. Some of the more notable menu items are: 1) Stratford Roll: They roll crabmeat, shrimp, and Japanese mayo, and then fry the whole roll. 2) Salmon Bento Box: Includes fresh grilled salmon in cucumber sauce topped with mango salsa, four pieces of a California roll, vegetable tempura, steamed rice and clear or Miso soup as an appetizer. 3) Tempura Fried Ice Cream: Enough said. Sakura can be a go-to for any occasion. Whether you are with friends, family or even looking for a cute date night, Sakura should be a top choice.
Drink of the Week
Pimm’s Cup -
1 1/4 oz Pimm’s No. 1
ice. Add Pimm’s and with a cucumber Recipe Courtesy of drinkoftheweek.com
Drink Responsibly!
Page 18 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | Life
Book Review | Anthony Doerr
Author creates powerful new novel Pulitzer Prize winning novel interesting and exciting BY HANNAH GOODWIN Contributing Writer goodhl15@wfu.edu Over winter break, I had the chance to read All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — a Pulitzer Prize winning novel set during World War II. Doerr’s novel is centered on Marie-Laure, a blind Parisian who lives with her widowed father, and Werner, a German orphan who is recruited into the Hitler Youth for his brilliance when it comes to radio. Both are individuals under the age of 18 throughout the majority of the war. The book flashes back and forth between the main stories of Marie-Laure and Werner until August of 1944, when Marie-Laure’s and Werner’s paths cross. The story of Marie-Laure focuses on both she and her father. Marie-Laure’s father works at a museum as a locksmith and receives one of five replicas of a highly sought-after, precious stone, called the Sea of Flames. At the time, he doesn’t know whether he has the genuine stone or a copy. The war causes both Marie-Laure and her father to relocate from their home in Paris. They end up living with her father’s uncle in a port city near Normandy called Saint-Malo.
The story of Werner revolves around the radio. Werner’s knack for radios gets him a position, at the age of 16, in a traveling team of men who track down the sources of anti-German radio broadcasts. The author spent 10 years writing, revising and editing this book. The hundreds of hours and the diligence of the author is evident in the amount of details he includes.
It is obvious he did a lot of research based on the way he makes the streets of Paris and Saint-Malo come alive. This book truly makes your heart race, ache and skip a beat — it may or may not be healthy to read it in the short period of time that I did. But it was all so worth it. After reading the novel, I feel like I really got to know Marie-Laure and Werner. The
Photos courtesy of amazon.com
All the Light We Cannot See is a New York Times bestselling novel created by American author Anthony Doerr and a Pulitzer Prize winner in fiction.
author truly created the setting that made me feel like I was next to Marie-Laure as she counted storm drains on the street in order to know where she was going. I felt like I was next to Werner as he stared quietly at a broken radio, waiting for the solution to the problem to show itself. Not only did I feel sucked into the story, but I was made constantly aware of the fact that I would never really know what it was like to live during that time in those conditions. It was entirely humbling to feel so close to the characters and then remember that I was lucky enough to not have to go through the same traumatic events. I admire this work for connecting the reader into the story so that they feel an echo of the pain experienced by its characters, but are also reminded of what they have to be grateful for. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has the time to read it. It has a great story-line and shows another side to World War II that is so different from other books written about the war. Doerr doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to the authenticity of his characters and their stories. The reality of the horror of World War II is not covered up with sugar and wrapped in a ribbon to be easily digestible by its readers. It is the truth told through these characters that makes this book not only worth reading, but necessary to broaden our understanding of and empathy towards the real people sucked into World War II.
Trend Alert | Mundane Snapchats
DJ Khaled inspires fans with social media Music star becomes social media icon by showing followers his daily life and uplifting them with motivational quotes
BY LAUREN DARNIS Staff Writer darnla12@wfu.edu DJ Khaled has become increasingly popular lately with his new use of the social media platform Snapchat. Like other celebrities who have used social media to develop their fan-base — such as Drake who popularized and generated memes and Rihanna who created a presence on Instagram – DJ Khaled’s use of Snapchat has brought him closer to his fans and the social media world as a unique public figure. Although other celebrities use social media as a means to advertise, DJ Khaled takes the resource a step further to inspire his fans through advertising that the greatest things in life are already all around us and that you can never let someone discourage you from succeeding and further success. Many may view this trend as silly, but I believe there is no waste in positivity and motivation. Everyone can use a little DJ Khaled philosophy in his or her everyday life. DJ Khaled is a record producer, radio personality, DJ and record label executive from Miami, Fla. He is best known for his signature catchphrases in his songs: “We the Best Music,” “DJ Khaled” or “Another One.” He has a huge influence in the world of hip-hop and works behind the scenes with big artists like Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. Each day on is Snapchat (handle: @djkhaled305), DJ Khaled goes through his every day, mundane activities and
gives them metaphorical meaning to inspire all of his followers. For example, for each meal he documents, he comments on how “they don’t want us eating [insert breakfast, lunch or dinner].” He also shows many scenes of him watering his plants, which he calls his “angels,” or greeting his lion statue. Other examples of DJ Khaled’s major keys to success are to “always be strong enough to let go, and be smart enough to wait for what you deserve,” and “eight-plus hours of sleep. Major key.” His “live in the moment” and “stop and smell the roses” spirit motivates viewers to strive for success and seek the beauty in what they are blessed with — no matter how big or small. The general public uses DJ Khaled’s phrase “major key to success” for the little things in life and it has quickly become a phrase featured on a variety of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Mia Harris, a junior at Wake Forest University from Chicago said the “major keys to success” for her to survive the snowstorm this past weekend were “a warm couch, soup, and Netflix; major key of survival.” His philosophies are not about putting others down, but about raising yourself up. He says that you must raise yourself up because most people will hope you fail so that they can succeed. He opposes the mentality of putting others down and seems to thrive off of countering the negativity. By eliminating the negative energy, you can only create confidence and a clear path for your own success. If you have ever heard about the law of attraction, which involves thinking positively about things in life and having positive thoughts and events come back to you as a result, I think DJ Khaled serves as a great example of the phenomena.
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan/Sipa USA/TNS
DJ Khaled started a trend by using Snapchat to exhibit his daily life for his many followers.
Although DJ Khaled has a lot to boast about, he never seems to wish the worst on anyone. Instead, he practices not apologizing for what he has made for himself, which teaches his fans that they should be able to enjoy what they have made for themselves. This counteracts the social norm of listening to those who always think they are missing something. Following DJ Khaled on his journey to success and happiness yesterday, today and tomorrow can create a sense of positive vibes and uplift those who watch it.
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2016 | Page 19
Travel Column | Northern France
Storm the beaches of Normandy Normandy, France offers a unique experience for both history lovers and tourists BY GRACEYOUNG Staff Writer youngc13@wfu.edu Sixty hours seems like a pretty large amount of time when you’re visiting any place — especially one with as many high profile WWII sites as the Normandy region of France. However, it’s really not. Based on my own experience of seeing this historic region in just two and a half days, here are some tips to make the most of your time in Normandy. I used the town of Bayeux as my base of operations during my travels in Normandy, partially because of its historic significance and partially because it’s pretty nicely located in relation to the rest of the region. The Bayeux tapestry is definitely worth checking out on your first half-day because it only requires a little bit of walking from anywhere in the village. It’s well-priced and it’s important in terms of history (it details the lead-up to William the Conqueror’s invasion of England). About 30 minutes from the center of Bayeux is the Pointe du Hoc, once the site of a Nazi artillery battery situated approximately halfway between Utah and
Omaha beaches. Definitely a must-see for any history-minded person. You can actually walk around and poke your head into old bunkers and many of the guns are still there. The view alone makes it worth the visit because if you stand at the very tip of Pointe du Hoc and look to the west, you can vaguely see Utah Beach, and if you look to the east, you can see Omaha. From the Pointe du Hoc, travel 31 minutes northwest to end up in the village of Sainte-Mère-Église for a stop at the informative Airborne Museum. Fans of HBO’s Band of Brothers will almost certainly want to check it out. On the way back to Bayeux, one of my favorite sites, and one that very few people even know about, is Brécourt Manor. It’s not marked on any guidebooks or with any signs, but if you can find it — and especially if you have a decent guide, it’s a great place to stop. Today, it’s just a farmhouse and a field with hedgerows, but back on June 6, 1944, the Manor presented the 101st Airborne with one of its most harrowing battles. Basically, it’s really important. The second day in Normandy should be dedicated to visiting Omaha Beach, Utah Beach and the American cemetery, so definitely get an early start. Start the day with Omaha Beach, a fairly short 22-minute drive from Bayeux, according to Google Maps. A bunker still stands on the beach itself, covered in infographics in French, English, Italian and German.
It also includes a map of the area as it would have appeared on June 6, 1944. The American Cemetery is a very quick 8-minute drive from Omaha Beach, so that should be your next site. There really aren’t too many words to describe the experience of the cemetery. For one, it’s huge. It’s also incredibly moving as you walk through the rows and rows of pristine white headstones in silence. No one speaks. It’s very sobering. The last site to see on your visit to Nor-
mandy is Utah Beach. The casualties at Utah weren’t nearly as high as they were at Omaha, but that doesn’t diminish the significance. The overlooking memorial stands up beautifully against the horizon, making for a wonderful last view of Normandy. There’s so much more to see in Normandy. The food is great, the drinks are greater — make sure to try the regional alcohol, calvados — and the history is more than you can imagine.
Grace Young/Old Gold & Black
Pointe du Hoc, on the shores of Northern France, features picturesque views of beaches that were important sites of the Invasion of Normandy.
Music Column | Glenn Frey
Many remember rock star Glenn Frey after he passed BY BOONE AIKEN Contributing Writer aikejb14@wfu.edu The 1970s — an era where priceless vinyl records are now compiled among the multitude of “classic rock” playlists that scatter Spotify and iTunes; an era that brought about unfathomable guitar riffs and stadium-shaking lyrics; most importantly, an era of freedom and innovation in the music industry that will forever coin these ten years as the golden age of rock n’ roll. In 1971, a young man named Glenn Frey moved from the harsh chill of Michigan in search of a prosperous musical career on the west coast. After initially forming a small band called Longbranch Pennywhistle in Los Angeles, Frey received a call from manager John Boylan and his partner Linda Ronstadt, requesting that he and another young Texan, Don Henley, join them on a summer tour. Among this crowd of talent was Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, two musicians who were also looking for a fresh start. Perhaps by some persuasion from Ronstadt, or
perhaps by an innate connection among the young stars, these four men soon signed together with Asylum Records in a deal that, unbeknown to them at the time, would spark something truly magical. First suggested by Frey, the band took on a name that turned them into the icon that is known around the world today — The Eagles. With the summer tour behind them and eyes set on success, Frey and The Eagles began producing music that would eventually land them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their first major success came along with their release of the record, Eagles, in 1972. Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/TNS Songs such as “Take It Easy” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” put the band in the national Glenn Frey’s many awards and recognitions include six Grammy Awards, six platinum albums and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. spotlight and into the top-40 charts. Along with co-authoring many of the band’s songs, Frey established a role as a key Frey guest-starred on TV shows such as Mi- release one final album — The Long Road Out component of the band’s success — he shred- ami Vice and Nash Bridges. In the short span of Eden. On Jan. 18, 2016, Frey passed away ded a six-string with effortless ability, belted of twenty years, a once young and ambitious while recovering from intestinal surgery. lead vocals with Eagles member Henley and musician from Michigan found himself in “The bond we forged 45 years ago was neveven tried his hand at the keys on the piano. a whirlwind of fame, stardom and a never- er broken, even during the 14 years that The The journey continued until the mid-1980s ending limelight. Eagles were dissolved,” said Henley. when the group decided to part ways. Around the year 2000, Frey was diagnosed “We were two young men who made the Despite the breakup, Frey carried out a with rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that cre- pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same successful solo career, releasing songs such as ates painful joint tension over the span of dream — to make our mark in the music “The Heat Is On” and “Smuggler’s Blues” in time. industry.” 1984, both of which reached the top fifteen Despite the difficulty of these medical isThough Glenn Frey is gone, his legacy will on U.S. Billboard’s Hot 100. sues, Frey maintained a positive attitude on forever thrive in those old vinyl records that As his music career slowly came to a close, life, regrouping with The Eagles in 2007 to take us back to the golden era of rock n’ roll.
Page 20 | Thursday, January 28, 2016
Old Gold & Black | Life
Born to Dance The department of theater and dance offers a minor in dance that creates a vibrant community of talented performers BY CAITLIN HERLIHY Senior Writer herlcr13@wfu.edu The stage lights beamed and all eyes fell on the ballerina taking the stage. Several months of rigid rehearsals and minor injuries culminated in the following three minutes. It was her chance to prove she was capable of training among the most talented ballerinas in the country. With this in mind, she took a deep breath and began her routine. Gabi Navarro was just 14 years old when an instructor from the Bolshoi Ballet scouted her at the Youth American Grand Prix in Philadelphia. She was just 14 years old when she was confronted with the once in a lifetime opportunity to train at the American Ballet Theater. At 14 years old she made the decision to refuse the offer and pursue a college education. “I was so young,” says Navarro, a senior Presidential Scholar at Wake Forest. “I had to start thinking about what I wanted to do. I loved school and got excited about things happening outside of dance. I wanted to do it all.” Dancers of all styles are faced with the decision to forgo an immediate college education to pursue dance intensive programs at world-renowned companies, like Bolshoi, Hamburg, The Royal Ballet School and others. Many dancers, however, opt for the collegiate experience found at Wake Forest, instead. Students interested in dance here are provided with rigorous instruction and performance opportunities while being offered a liberal arts education and well-rounded college experience. “The nature of a Wake Forest student is to have two majors and six minors,” says Nina Lucas, the director of dance. “It’s a great place for students who have danced and want to continue dancing, but also want to pursue other things.”
Photos by Caitlin Herlihy/Old Gold & Black
Major in the Making The department of theater and dance offers a dance minor to students of all levels of experience. With a minimum requirement of 19 hours and additional rehearsal time outside of the classroom, the dance minor is intensive and time demanding. Students take courses ranging from beginning classical ballet, modern and jazz to advanced technique classes. The heavy course load brings a dance major into question. With the amount of time dancers dedicate to classes, rehearsals and performances, the department is discussing the addition of a major. “Would it make sense? Absolutely,” says Christopher Martin, an assistant teaching professor for ballet. “Would the campus benefit? It’s something we’re discussing. I don’t
think anyone really immerses themselves unless they are a major, but students have to take care of [non-dance related courses], too.” The addition of a dance major would provide students with a broader scope of information discussed. Students would have the opportunity to pick a focus like kinesiology, performance or dance education to study. “The beauty of Wake Forest’s dance program is that we offer quality programs of all types,” Lucas says. “We have a nice, tight curriculum that could easily be a major. I don’t know how many dancers would choose to major, but we wouldn’t exclude anyone. That’s the beauty of the liberal arts education.” The decision to develop a major depends heavily on funding from the school. Therefore, the department is forced into a standstill on the issue until they receive the necessary funds to move forward. A major would require more space for the dancers, prompting a full renovation of Scales. Funding would also be used to hire new professors and organize more student workshops with local performers. “As of right now, I feel like the Wake Forest department of theater and dance is severely under funded and under appreciated,” Pappas says. “I think administration needs to take a look at the students in The dance department and their level of talent. If Wake funded The dance department properly and gave as many resources as it gives, say the business school, we could pull even more talented students, both prospective and current, to continue their passion or explore their newfound passion for dance.” Dancing Around Campus The department of theater and dance extends opportunities beyond the classroom. Through student-lead, performance-based organizations, students interested in performing arts are able to continue developing their skills and mastering their craft. The Dance Company, Momentum Crew, Lost in Translation, Salsa Dancing Club and Setting the Groove are a few outlets for student dancers, whether they are declared minors or not. “I don’t press the dancers in [The Dance Company] to minor,” Lucas says. “It’s their life. My goal when I first came was to build the program, keep providing quality classes and make those classes accessible and inclusive. We not only want our elite dancers, but also students that are interested in learning about the art form.” Many dancers on campus value the department of theater and dance as a stress reliever when their rivaling coursework becomes too much to bear. Professors welcome dancers of all backgrounds and levels to express themselves in one of Scales’ studios.
Preparing for the Future As the imminent graduation day quickly approaches, Navarro prepares for her future. Navigating through internships, jobs, applications and interviews, she remains thankful for her decision to forgo professional ballet training and pursue dance at the collegiate level. “It’s one of the first things I get asked in an interview,” Navarro says. “[Ballet] has taught me how to schedule my time. It’s taught me determination.” Many Wake Forest students use on campus resources to help find jobs and internships in their desired field. Although the OPCD offers a career trek for performing and visual arts, resources beyond this are limited. The job search presents a different challenge for performing arts students because the career field is heavily based on talent and experience rather than credentials. “Plenty of dancers end up becoming orthopedic surgeons or lawyers or even loving parents,” Martin says. “What’s unique about a dancer is that at a very early age they are held to the standards of a professional environment with rigor and consistency. We know what it means to show up every day and work.” The OPCD is able to track first destination careers of Wake Forest alums within six months of their graduation date. Because this information is based on their majors, dance minors are not accounted for. Based on statistics available, a few students have pursued MFA programs and teaching careers, but the majority of dance minors are not recorded as having performing arts-related careers. “I’m not thinking of becoming a dancer after college,” Navarro says. “But I still do it because I love it. I’ve never had a feeling like I have when I’m on stage. There are times when I ask myself if I want to continue, but then I nail a dance on stage that I’ve been working on for months and remember why I love it so much.”