Stories this week at Wake Forest

PROFESSOR CAN COMMENT ON HELMS DELEGATION TO MEXICO

“While many people might be looking at this visit as simply symbolic, it is significant in many senses,” said William Meyers, professor of history at Wake Forest and an expert on U.S./Mexico relations. “First, it is an effort by Congress to show they are interested, informed, and involved in our ever-expanding relationship with Mexico. This is important because it comes on the eve of Bush’s attendance at a summit meeting of 34 governments of the Americas to discuss critical issues impacting the hemisphere.” To arrange an interview with Meyers, call the News Service.

LIPSTICK & ROUGE: WFU EXPERT SHOWS HOW MAKEUP CREATES A CHARACTER

On April 21 from 2-3:30 p.m., families can learn about theatrical makeup at Wake Forest’s Museum of Anthropology. Mary Wayne-Thomas, associate professor of theater, will demonstrate how makeup and costumes change people from their “real” selves into different people. The event will be held as part of the museum’s current exhibit, “Transformations: African Masks in the Museum of Anthropology,” which runs until June 21. Wayne-Thomas will choose a few people from the audience to transform with stage makeup. The “Who Am I?” program will be held in the museum’s classroom. Photographers are invited to cover the event. Contact the News Service.

JAPANESE GROUP WILL CREATE THUNDER AT WFU

The Japanese percussion group Taikoza will perform their unique style of music at 1 p.m. on April 21 on Davis Field, near the Z. Smith Reynolds Library. “Taiko” is used to describe a kind of Japanese drum that is hollowed out from a solid piece of keyaki wood. The drums fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Taikoza incorporates the shakuhachi, the fue (bamboo flutes) and the koto (a 13-string instrument) with the drums to create their powerful sound. The media is invited to attend.

LEADING EXPERT ON WORLD RELIGIONS TO SPEAK SUNDAY

Huston Smith, author of the best-selling world religions textbook ever published, will speak at Wake Forest on April 22. He will present, “Reflections from a Lifelong Engagement with the World’s Religions,” at 8 p.m. in Wingate Hall, Room 302. His most popular book, “The World’s Religions,” has sold more than 3 million copies since 1958. Smith’s newest book, “Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief,” was published in December 2000. He was honored in 1996 with Bill Moyers’ five-part PBS special, “The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith.” To arrange an interview with Smith, contact the News Service.

WFU STUDENTS HELP LEAP ACADEMY STUDENTS SHARE LIFE EXPERIENCES

Students in Jeryl Prescott’s English 111 class are helping LEAP Academy students with, “Written by Himself – Written by Herself,” which runs April 19 through April 22 at the Artistic Studio School for the Performing Arts. Prescott, associate dean of the College, will direct the show which contains monologues, vignettes, poetry, rap and choral pieces written by LEAP students about their life experiences. Wake Forest students helped LEAP students write their pieces for the performance and designed the set. Performances will be at 8 p.m. tonight through April 21, and at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on April 22. For more information, call the News Service.