Stories this week at Wake Forest

TIBETAN BUDDHIST NUNS TO PERFORM ON CAMPUS

Tibetan Buddhist nuns will present “Women’s Freedom and Spiritual Liberation: An Evening of Sacred Performance” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 in the Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. In colorful robes and masks, the nuns will perform ritual dances and sing harmonic chants to the music of drums and traditional instruments made of bone. The nuns are touring the West for the first time to share with audiences the central role women have played in the spiritual life of Tibet.

WFU STUDENTS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH AREA CHILDREN

Goblins, ghouls and other Halloween creatures will roam University Plaza as part of Project Pumpkin on Oct. 28. Nearly 1,000 disadvantaged children, some clad in costume, will be on campus from 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. for the annual Halloween event sponsored by Wake Forest’s Volunteer Service Corps. The children will treat-or-trick and take part in other activities such as carnival games and face painting. More than 1,500 Wake Forest students, also dressed in Halloween costumes, help with the event, now in its 11th year. More than 35 social service agencies, such as the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs and the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem, have participated in Project Pumpkin.

THE THRILL OF SPOOKY MOVIES

The best scary movies are always allegories about contemporary life, says David Lubin, the Charlotte Weber Professor of Art at Wake Forest and an expert on horror films. “The scariest of them-say, ‘The Exorcist,’ or ‘The Omen,’ or ‘Alien’-are topsy-turvy versions of everyday anxieties and fears: What if your innocent little child is corrupted by the evils of the adult world? What if your innocent little child is actually a monster? What if you discover a monstrous growth within you?” Call the News Service to interview Lubin about the public’s interest in scary films.

SOCIAL IMPACT OF PICKING GENETIC TRAITS AND OTHER ISSUES

The often controversial and difficult questions surrounding DNA research will be the focus of “Genetic Enhancement: Social Values and Personal Autonomy in the 21st Century,” a symposium on Nov. 6 at Wake Forest. The free and public symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. During the symposium, scientists, physicians and legal scholars will tackle issues, such as using genetic technology to fight and prevent disease and to pick physical traits in children. The symposium is part of the university’s yearlong celebration, “Science and Technology: The Next Millennium.” Members of the public can register or receive more information by calling the Wake Forest Law Review office at 336-758-5439. Contact the News Service to arrange interviews with symposium speakers.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MAYAN MILLENNIUM FOCUS OF TALKS

Scholars, mystics and counter-cultural visionaries have speculated on what will happen when the ancient 5,000-year Mayan calendar ends in a few years. Duncan Earle, an expert on Mayan culture and the Mayan calendar system, will present two talks on the subject. On Oct. 31, Earle will present his talk, “The Ancient Future Past: Approaching the Maya Millennium,” at 2 p.m. at Sciworks. “Astronomy, Calendar, Cosmos: Science and Belief in the Mayan World” will be the subject of Earle’s talk on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at Wake Forest’s Museum of Anthropology.

URBAN SPRAWL FOCUS OF LAW SCHOOL, SIERRA CLUB EVENT

“Smart Growth in the Triad,” a seminar to address urban development issues, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the Worrell Professional Center, Room 1312. The event is sponsored by Environmental Law Society at the Wake Forest School of Law and the Sierra Club. A $10 registration fee is required for lunch. To register, call 336-758-5724..

HAVE WE GOT NEWS FOR YOU

Check the Wake Forest University News Service Web site for up-to-date information and news stories. The site provides answers to frequently-asked questions about Wake Forest, links to archived news releases, photographs, and information on the latest breaking news story. A list of expert sources from the faculty are available in the online, searchable Source Guide. “The site is an important tool for journalists who quickly need to download a photograph, audio file or news release,” said Julie Leonard, a media relations officer and coordinator of the site. The site is updated daily and located at www.wfu.edu/wfunews.

Categories: Arts & Culture, Events, Speakers