Stories this week at Wake Forest University
FOOTBALL, PIANO, SCOUTSÖWHEN TO SAY WHEN WITH KIDS’ SCHEDULES
The start of a new school year can bring commitments to a variety of extracurricular activities for children. Making sure they are not overscheduled can be difficult. Wake Forest counseling expert Samuel T. Gladding says the best way to prevent overscheduling is to start keeping track of it at the beginning of the school year. “Don’t wait until family members have signed up for more activities than they can handle,” he says. Gladding, father of three school-age sons and the author of “Family Therapy: History, Theory and Practice,” says a good rule of thumb is two activities per child. More than that, he says, asks for trouble. To arrange an interview with Gladding about scheduling kids’ activities, contact the News Service.
HOW FORWARDED MESSAGES CAN COST COMPANIES
They target companies like Gap, Honda, Taco Bell and Coca-Cola: Internet rumors promising bogus discounts, falsely warning about product dangers or encouraging support of a fictitious cause. In a research project at Wake Forest, Connie Chesner debunked the myths and found that few-if any-companies have a response strategy to combat the rumors. She completed the project for her master’s degree in communication from Wake Forest with urban legend expert and Associate Professor of Communication John Llewellyn. “There is a public curiosity out there, and these Internet myths are answering what the companies aren’t,” Chesner said. “Rumors fill in information gaps and the gaps are being filled with inaccurate information that is ultimately hurting the company.” To arrange an interview with Chesner, contact the News Service.
STUDENTS RETURN FROM NEPAL AUG. 13
Students in Wake Forest’s new study abroad program, SPIN (Summer Program In Nepal), will return from Nepal on Monday, Aug. 13, flying into Piedmont Triad International Airport. The students have participated in an intensive cultural study of the exotic country that features the world’s tallest mountains, the Himalayas. From yoga lessons to worship with Tibetan Buddhist monks, the students have explored the exotic country to discover how the religious and cultural influences of neighboring China and India have affected the Nepalese. They trekked through the Himalayas and lived with families during their journey. The students and their faculty advisor, Stephen Folmar, visiting professor of anthropology, will be available for interviews beginning Aug. 14. To arrange an interview, call the News Service. For photos and a daily log of the trip, visit www.wfu.edu/anthropology/nepal.
FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENTS PUT DOWN THE GAVEL, PICK UP THE SHOVEL
American Lawyer magazine recently reported that pro bono legal work in 2000 was down an average of one hour from the previous year. Wake Forest Law School students are working to reverse that trend. To encourage a commitment to community service and later legal pro bono work as lawyers, the law school dedicates a day of its five-day orientation program to a community service project. On Aug. 15, the entire entering class, in addition to faculty and staff, will work together to help build the foundations for six Habitat for Humanity houses in the Neals Place development in Winston-Salem. The program is organized through the Public Interest Law Organization, a Wake Forest student group that works to emphasize the importance of serving the community as part of a lawyer’s professional commitment. To arrange coverage, contact Ann Gibbs at 758-6119.
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION BEGINS AUG. 22
New students will move into Wake Forest residence halls and begin orientation on Aug. 22. Distribution of ThinkPads and printers will be that day from noon-5 p.m. in the Information Systems building. A computer training session for all freshmen will be held on Aug. 24 in several sessions throughout the day. Classes begin on Aug. 29.
Categories: Campus Life, Community Impact, Experiential Learning, Happening at Wake, Research & Discovery
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