WFU in the news: Nov. 29-Dec. 5

FEATURED NEWS

Wait Chapel expands programming, strengthens community
By Laurie Willis | news.wfu.edu
Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University’s most iconic building, has hosted religious services, academic ceremonies, concerts, lectures, weddings and other events for more than 60 years. Jonathan Lee Walton, who joined the University in 2019 as Dean of the Divinity School and the inaugural Dean of Wait Chapel, is working diligently to ensure its continued relevance. Through collaborations on and off campus, Walton is implementing programming to bring more vibrancy to the building that’s situated near the center of campus. – 12/02/2021

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Chile’s presidential runoff pits Pinochet supporter against left-leaning reformer
By Peter Siavelis, Pamela Figueroa, Jennifer M. Piscopo | The Washington Post
Last month, Chilean voters made far-right candidate José Antonio Kast the front-runner for presidential runoff elections on Dec. 19. Kast will face the left’s Gabriel Boric, setting up a sharply divided race. Boric can remind Chileans their choice is not between the status quo or reform, but between returning to an authoritarian past or seeking a more democratic future, writes politics and international affairs expert Peter Siavelis in this opinion piece. – 12/01/2021

Most beautiful universities around the globe
India Today
Wake Forest University is ranked the most beautiful college campus in the state of North Carolina in this list of most beautiful universities around the world. –12/01/2021

Divorce is on the rise. Here’s what psychologists recommend parents do to help kids
by Alan D. Blotcky | The Dallas Morning News
Work by Linda Nielsen, education professor and nationally recognized expert on father-daughter relationships, is included in this roundup of advice on how to help children through divorce. – 11/29/2021

Xi pledges billion vaccines for Africa in wake of Omicron
Time Magazine
“Xi Jinping’s keynote speech focused on the most immediate concern for the continent, namely the shortage of vaccines to combat the pandemic, especially in light of the new variant,” said politics and international affairs professor Lina Benabdallah. – 11/29/2021

LOCAL

Pilot Mountain fire will bring new growth to mountain
By Lee Anne Denyer | WXII-TV (Winston Salem, NC)
Fire is common in this part of the country, said engineering professor Lauren Lowman, who studies fire and its impact on ecosystems. “Fires are important to maintaining what is this regular cycle of which plants are there and thriving and which get killed off and allowed to regrow later. Fire plays a really important role in governing that process.” – 12/02/2021

Thousands of jobs could be coming to Greensboro. What comes next and how soon?
By Ben Briscoe, Tom Santaniello | WFMY-TV (Greensboro, NC)
Two major economic developments could each bring more than 1,700 new jobs to the Triad. “When jobs are created, communities have a little bit more stability in them,” said economics expert Todd McFall. “People have more opportunities for work.” – 12/01/2021

First-ever public menorah lighting takes place in Winston-Salem
By Justin Shrair | WXII-TV (Winston Salem, NC)
Winston-Salem community members celebrated Hanukkah in an inaugural public menorah lighting at Bailey Park. “To see such a big gathering of people…makes me feel proud to be Jewish,” said junior Sydney Rojas. WFU Rabbi of Chabad Levi Gurevitz helped Mayor Allen Joines light the menorah. – 12/01/2021

Music Carolina 2021 WinterFest to present two concerts in December
By Fran Daniel | Winston-Salem Journal
Music Carolina will kick off its 2021 WinterFest concert series on Dec. 10 with “Winter Light,” featuring Tom Caufield on acoustic guitar and Matt Kendrick on bass. Kendrick, who teaches electric bass and jazz improvisation at Wake Forest, has released five CDs, four on his own label Suitcase Music and one on Ichiban Records. – 12/04/2021

History of Cyber Monday and how it’s expanded small business shopping
By Jaelen Gilkey | WFMY-TV (Greensboro, NC)
Economics professor Tommy Leung explained its growth. “In total spending was close to 3.7 billion, 2017 4.7 billion, 2018 it was 6 billion, 2019 7.9 billion, and 2020 was 8.9 billion. So on average, it’s about 20%-30% growth from year to year.” – 11/29/2021

Whitaker Park redevelopment project reaches Brownfields certification stage
By Richard Craver | Winston-Salem Journal
The largest land tracts still available at Whitaker Park are being prepped for a key transition. The nonprofit WPDA was created by Winston-Salem Business Inc., the Winston-Salem Alliance and Wake Forest University for the sole purpose of shocking a heartbeat back into the former tobacco manufacturing campus. – 11/30/2021