Stories this week at WFU
N.C. POLITICS EXPERT CAN PROVIDE EDWARDS CAMPAIGN INSIGHT
Jack Fleer, professor emeritus of political science at Wake Forest University and author of the book “North Carolina Politics,” is available to comment on U.S. Sen. John Edwards’ presidential run. Fleer has been a keen observer of North Carolina politics for more than 30 years, and he has followed Edwards’ career since 1998 when he won the U.S. Senate seat during his first run for office. “I have sort of been referring to Edwards as a David and Goliath kind of candidate because he was the low guy on the totem pole in Iowa, and he came out in second place,” Fleer said. “Similarly, the odds were against him in 1998. The two are examples of Edwards overcoming odds in situations where he wasn’t given much chance to win elections.”
Contact: Jacob McConnico, mcconnjn@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
WFU CELEBRATRES TRADITION OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
Wake Forest will mark the end of the year of the sheep and the beginning of the year of the monkey at its annual Chinese New Year Festival Jan. 24 from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Reynolds Gym, Room 201. The festival, which boasts more than 500 attendees, features participants dressed in historical Chinese costumes, martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy and paper folding. Performances of the traditional lion dance, shuttlecock kicking and a children’s dance will be held at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. Media are invited to a dress rehearsal for the lion dancers and children performers Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in Reynolds Gym.
Contact: Pam Barrett, barretpm@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237; day of event: Cristina Yu, 336-758-5675.
‘ANGELS IN AMERICA’ AUTHOR TO GIVE JAN. 27 LECTURE
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner will give a free, public lecture at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 in Wait Chapel. The event will be followed by a book signing at the College Book Store. Kushner, an openly gay, Jewish socialist, is the author of several critically acclaimed plays, including “A Bright Room Called Day,” “Slavs,” “Homebody/Kabul,” and the seven-hour, two-part epic “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.” Although the lecture is free and open to the public, Kushner will not do any interviews during his visit. The lecture cannot be recorded.
Contact: Jacob McConnico, mcconnjn@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
SOCIAL ACTIVIST, RACE RELATIONS EXPERT TO SPEAK AT WFU
Tim Wise, renowned social activist and senior advisor at the Race Relations Institute at Fisk University, will speak at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Wake Forest in Benson University Center’s Pugh Auditorium. The topic of his lecture is “Beyond Diversity: Challenging Racism in the Age of Backlash.” According to Wise, who is white, “Racism is a white problem, and a problem that all whites must address.” For the last two decades, the Nashville-based activist has spoken across the United States on more than 275 college campuses and to hundreds of community groups. In the early 90s, while working as the associate director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism, Wise was instrumental in the political defeat of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Contact: Pam Barrett, barretpm@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.
NEWS SERVICE CLOSED JAN. 22
The News Service will be closed Jan. 22 for a staff meeting. News Service staff will be checking voice mail messages throughout the day and returning calls as quickly as possible.
Categories: Arts & Culture, Happening at Wake, University Announcements
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