Stories this week at WFU

BEST DIET TIP? FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN EAT – In today’s diet-obsessed world, we hear a lot about not eating too many carbohydrates, fats, and protein, but we don’t hear about what we can eat, says a Wake Forest nutrition expert. He says fruits and vegetables top the list of foods we should be eating. “It would be hard to find research that demonstrates harmful effects from fruits and veggies,” says Gary Miller, associate professor of health and exercise science. “There is a serious lack of fruit and vegetable consumption in our society.” He says there may be limited selection for local fresh fruits and vegetables in the grocery at this time of year, but most stores stock fresh produce from around the world and frozen produce can be as nutritious as fresh. To arrange an interview with Miller during National Nutrition Month (March), contact Sarah Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

STUDENTS ASK, ANSWER TOUGH HEALTH QUESTIONS – This month in Paul Ribisl’s first-year seminar class, 15 Wake Forest students will discuss eating disorders, date rape, alcohol and tobacco use. Earlier this semester, they debated the risks and benefits of breast implants and estrogen replacement, and the role that stress plays in disease. “Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Health and Society” forces students to research various health issues and then defend one side of them. Ribisl, chairman of the health and exercise science department, says that often by the end of the class period, after hearing classmates’ arguments, many students change their stance. Ribisl has taught at Wake Forest since 1973 and also founded the university’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. To arrange an interview with Ribisl or coverage of the class during Health Awareness Month (March), contact Sarah Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

SOME STUDENTS ‘DEBATE’ SPRING BREAK – The Wake Forest men’s basketball team isn’t the only team that opted out of trips to the beach to stay around Campus and practice during spring break. The university’s debate team, consistently ranked among the top debate programs in the country, also went to work preparing for a national tournament. The team will compete in the National Debate Tournament at Emory University the first week of April. Several debaters have already received bids for the national tournament by placing high in season tournaments. Ross Smith, debate coach, was named coach of the year at the Southeast regional qualifying tournament March 1-2. To arrange an interview with team members or Smith, contact Sarah Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

COACHTALK: THE RHETORIC OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL – Following every men’s college basketball tournament game this month, reporters will likely look to the coaches to explain the outcome. To help explain the coaches’ comments, the media can turn to a Wake Forest communication expert who has researched coaches’ post-game comments for nearly two decades. “After a while, if you listen to enough coaches, you begin to think you’ve heard it all before,” says John Llewellyn, an associate professor of communication. “And the odds are you have.” Llewellyn analyzed the professional vocabulary of NCAA Division I men’s college basketball coaches for “Coachtalk,” a chapter in “Case Studies in Sport Communication,” scheduled for release this year by Praeger Press. He says there is a pattern in what winning and losing coaches say after each game that reveals an underlying respect for each other and the world of athletics. Llewellyn is available for interviews about his research and to analyze coaches’ comments during March Madness. For more information, contact Sarah Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-4393.

FEMINIST RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES TOPIC OF WFU LECTURES – Three leading scholars in the fields of feminist and womanist theology will present lectures during the inaugural, two-day “Phyllis Trible Lecture Series” March 18 and 19 at Wake Forest Divinity School. The theme for the lectures is “Feminist and Womanist Religious Perspectives,” and all events are open to the public. Carol Myers, the Mary Grace Wilson Professor of Religion at Duke University, will speak on the subject of biblical studies; Margaret Farley, the Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethics at Yale University Divinity School, will discuss the topic of medical ethics; and Katie Cannon, the Annie Scales Rogers Professor of Christian Education at Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, will address the subject of womanist theology. A full release about the lecture series is available on the News Service Web site. For more information or to arrange coverage or advance interviews, contact Jacob McConnico at mcconnjn@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

LEADER OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MUSLIMS TO SPEAK AT WFU – W. Deen Mohammed, the leader and international spokesman for the American Society of Muslims, will present “Respecting Human Dignity: A Prerequisite for 21st Century Leaders” at Wake Forest at 7 p.m. March 19. The free, public event is sponsored by the religion department and will be held in Wait Chapel. Mohammed is the son of Elijah Mohammed, the former leader of the Nation of Islam. The American Society of Muslims represents more than two million American Muslims, while the modern Nation of Islam represents approximately 200,000 American Muslims. A full release about the event is available on the News Service Web site. For more information or to arrange coverage of the event, contact Jacob McConnico at mcconnjn@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.