Stories this week at Wake Forest

EXPERT ADDRESSES CHARACTER EDUCATION TREND

Across the country, school systems are increasingly adding character education programs into their curriculums. While many educators say the programs are invaluable, the effort to teach children about moral behavior in the public school setting has some families up in arms. Some parents are challenging their school systems’ new programs, saying they rob them of the chance to instill their own values in their children. Arthur Schwartz, the nation’s foremost expert on the effectiveness of character education, will discuss the trend at 7 p.m. on Feb. 1 in Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. Schwartz, currently with the John Templeton Foundation, previously taught at Harvard University. The event is free and open to the public.

THE SUBWAY DIET: BELIEVABLE OR BOLOGNA?

They say you can shed more than 100 pounds just by piling on the veggies, losing the cheese and holding the mayo. But is the Subway Diet really a smart way to lose weight? It’s an unlikely source for a diet, but it may work, says Gary Miller, a Wake Forest assistant professor of health and exercise science who specializes in nutrition. “It is decent food,” Miller says, “If you stick to the diet and eat only the sub sandwiches, you will most likely eat fewer calories and probably lose weight.” The secret to the Subway Diet is portion-control, he says. To speak with Miller about the Subway Diet, contact the News Service.

CONVOCATION SPEAKER TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS

Nationally acclaimed author and legal scholar Mary Ann Glendon will give the Founders’ Day Convocation address at 11 a.m. on Feb. 8 in Wait Chapel. Titled, “One Nation: Two Cultures,” her talk will address human rights in the United States and abroad. The event is free and open to the public. Glendon is the Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and has written more than a dozen books about American society. Also on Feb. 8, at 3 p.m., Glendon will participate in a moderated public discussion in Pugh Auditorium.

TANGOFEST BRINGS ARGENTINE MUSIC AND DANCE TO TRIAD

The first Triad Tangofest will celebrate the passion, drama and excitement of Argentine tango dance and music Feb. 2-5. Organized by Wake Forest Assistant Professor of Music Jacqui Carrasco, the Tangofest will include performances by the New York Tango Trio and by faculty from Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. On Feb. 3, Triad residents can learn a few tango steps at a dance workshop offered at Wake Forest’s Brendle Recital Hall by dancers from Baila Tango in Durham. The workshop runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost for non-Wake Forest students is $20. At 8 p.m., “A Night in Buenos Aires-A Milonga” will begin at the Vintage Theatre at 7 Vintage Ave. in Winston-Salem. A “milonga” is a special Argentine evening of social dancing. Music will be provided by the New York Tango Trio and violinist Jacqui Carrasco. A free group beginner’s lesson will be offered at 7 p.m. For a complete schedule of events, call the News Service.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION SCHEDULED

Wake Forest University will host a Chinese New Year celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 3 in the theater lobby of Scales Fine Arts Center. The program will feature demonstrations and hands-on activities highlighting various aspects of Chinese culture, including calligraphy, face painting, paper folding, tea tasting and acupuncture. Participants will also be able to find their Chinese zodiac signs. The traditional celebratory lion dance and martial arts demonstrations are scheduled throughout the afternoon. The event is free and open to the public.