Stories this week at WFU
FORMER CEO OF TIAA-CREF ON CAMPUS TODAY— Recently retired chief executive officer of TIAA-CREF John Biggs will speak at Wake Forest today at 4:30 p.m. in Greene Hall Room 162. Biggs will present a lecture titled “The Long-Term Effects on Corporate Governance from the Turn-of-the-Century Business Scandals.” Under Biggs’ leadership, TIAA-CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund) created principle-based investment criteria and continues to play the role of shareholder activist for better corporate governance. Biggs was considered to head the Accounting Oversight Board established by former SEC chairman Harvey Pitt. To arrange an interview with Biggs, contact Sarah Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
WOMEN IN THE MILITARY — Maj. Gen. Celia Adolphi, the first two-star woman general in the history of the Army Reserve, will be available for comment regarding women in the military today from 3 – 4 p.m. Adolphi is visiting campus to speak with Wake Forest’s cadets later in the afternoon. Maj. Tina Colston, the ROTC recruiting officer at Wake Forest, will also be available, as well as two of Wake Forest’s female ROTC cadets. Thirty-five percent of Wake Forest’s ROTC cadets are women. To arrange coverage, contact Cheryl Walker at walkercv@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
ECONOMIC EXPERT SAYS WAR UNCERTAINTY AFFECTS ECONOMY — The economy’s recent turnaround can be attributed to President Bush’s 48-hour ultimatum to Sadaam Hussein, says a Wake Forest economic historian. That speech eliminated the uncertainty of whether the United States would take action, says Robert Whaples, associate professor of economics. “Economic markets, which are controlled by people, don’t like uncertainty,” says Whaples. “The uncertainty has lessened, and therefore the market is doing better.” Whaples, who teaches a first-year seminar class about the government’s role in the economy, says every war in the history of the United States has been associated with a period of economic growth for the country except one – the Gulf War. He recently organized a campus forum with other economic department faculty to discuss war and the economy, and regularly talks about the issues in his classes. Whaples is a past recipient of the Economic History Association’s prize for excellence in teaching economic history. He is available for analysis of the war’s effect on the economy. To arrange an interview, contact Sarah S. Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR CAN DISCUSS STRESS AND WAR — Batja Mesquita, associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest, can comment on issues related to stress and war. She does research on emotions, well-being and coping strategies. Her specialty is cultural differences in psychology, particularly emotions. Mesquita has researched emotional responses to war in the former Yugoslavia. To arrange an interview, contact Cheryl V. Walker in the News Service.
NATIVE AMERICAN TO DISCUSS INDIAN VIEWS ON WAR, PEACE – Osage Indian George E. Tinker will present “War and Peace Ceremonies of the Osage Nation” March 28 at 4:30 p.m. in Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. A professor and pastor, Tinker will examine the historical and modern Native American views on war and peace. To arrange coverage of his talk, contact the News Service.
COLLEGES GATHER TO DISCUSS TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS — More than 130 representatives from around 30 southeastern colleges and universities will share ideas and discuss advancing technologies April 1 at Wake Forest. The technology consortium was organized by Wake Forest and will feature a variety of topics, including wireless computing on campus, empowering students to use new technology, moving applications from paper to online, and campus intranets. David Brown, a Wake Forest vice president who was provost of the university when it launched its technology initiative in 1996, will deliver the keynote address at 9:30 a.m. Brown is recognized nationally as a leader in incorporating technology into the classroom. The event runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. To arrange coverage of any part of the event, contact Sarah S. Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-4393.
MALE MINORITY STUDENTS TO GATHER FOR MULTICULTURAL SUMMIT—Wake Forest University will host a Multicultural Male Summit March 29 for 200 minority male students from several North Carolina universities beginning at 10 a.m. The 8 p.m. keynote address by Michael Dyson – author, columnist and radio commentator – will be held at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art and is open to the public. Dyson is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and a commentator for National Public Radio’s “Tavis Smiley Show.” He is the author of the national bestsellers, “Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X,” and “Holler if You Hear Me: Search for Tupac Shakur.” The summit, sponsored by Wake Forest’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, will include workshops, forums and lectures on the theme “Identity: Who am I?…Why am I?” To arrange coverage, contact the News Service.
