Stories this week at Wake Forest University

EXPERT SAYS MEN, WOMEN NOT SO DIFFERENT— His innovative approach to feminism and masculinity has been featured in publications from The Wall Street Journal to People magazine; he’ll bring his expertise to Wake Forest on April 4. Sociologist Michael Kimmel, the author of several books on men, masculinity and feminism, will present “Mars and Venus, or Planet Earth: Women and Men in a New Millennium” at 6 p.m. in Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. In his newest book, “The Gendered Society,” Kimmel argues that the differences between men and women are not as great as we often imagine and challenges the notion that gender difference is the cause of the dramatic observable inequality between the sexes. Kimmel will be available for interviews prior to his lecture. To arrange an interview, contact Sarah Smith at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

FIFTH-GRADERS’ ART SHOWS REACTION TO SEPT. 11— Paintings created by fifth-graders at Brunson Elementary School in response to the events of Sept. 11 are now on display in Wake Forest’s Z. Smith Reynolds Library. Members of the student committee for the university’s Year of Unity and Hope offered to display art from local schools as part of the theme year. The art will be on display through April 22. To arrange coverage, contact Vanessa Willis at willisv@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

AIDS QUILT BRINGS LOCAL COMMUNITY TO CAMPUS— “A lot of people have been touched by AIDS in some way,” says Jason Browne, a university senior and president of Wake Forest’s Gay Straight Student Alliance (GSSA). “If they haven’t already, they eventually will be.” The GSSA is sponsoring the AIDS Memorial Quilt through March 31 at the Hanes Fine Arts Gallery. The group is also inviting visitors to record their thoughts and feelings on a signature panel set up in the gallery that will go on permanent display at Wake Forest at the end of the exhibit. An opening reception for the quilt on March 27 attracted dozens of people from the campus and local community. Exhibit hours this weekend are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Vanessa Willis at willisv@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

NEWS SERVICE CLOSED FOR GOOD FRIDAY— All university administrative offices, including the News Service, will be closed in observance of Good Friday on March 29. Undergraduate and graduate classes in the College, Divinity School, Calloway School of Business and Accountancy and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will also be cancelled