WFU in the news: April 3-9, 2023

FEATURED NEWS

Wake Forest University’s debate team wins national championship
By John Hinton | Winston-Salem Journal
The Wake Forest University debate team won the national championship in intercollegiate debating Monday night at the 2023 National Debate Tournament. Wake Forest juniors Iyana Trotman and Tajaih Robinson defeated the University of Michigan in the final round. After a full 20-hour day of debating in the final, their stamina and hard work paid off. They defeated the University of Michigan on a 4-1 decision. It took thousands of research hours and practice crafting their arguments to arrive at that moment. – 4/06/2023

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Will ChatGPT change how professors assess learning?
By Beckie Supiano, Katherine Streeter | The Chronicle of Higher Education
When it comes to whether a student has learned a skill, a professor can get a pretty good idea by watching the student use it (though that does require some judgment), said Betsy Barre, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Figuring out whether students have acquired knowledge is harder, though, Barre said, “because we can’t see inside your brain.” So professors collect evidence of that learning — for instance, by having students answer questions designed to reveal their ability to retrieve and use particular knowledge. – 4/05/2023

Deciding who gets prosecuted is trickier than you think
By J. Brian Charles, Alan Greenblatt, Lucy Lang | Governing
“It’s always been true that prosecutors’ offices have had things they’d move to the back of the line,” said law professor Ronald Wright. “The discussion of the practice has become more political.” – 4/06/2023

What flexibility means to college students
By Colleen Flaherty | Inside Higher Ed
Many students think more flexibility on classroom deadlines, attendance and participation would boost their academic success, a recent Student Voice survey found. About a quarter of students also see strict attendance or participation requirements and unrealistic deadlines as actively impeding their success. But how do students define flexibility? One strategy for helping students manage deadlines is the comprehensive syllabus, used by academic coaches at Wake Forest University. – 4/07/2023

Foods that inflame arthritis
Ivanhoe Broadcast News
Nearly one in four people in the US are living with arthritis. It’s the leading cause of work disability, costing billions in lost earnings. Age, obesity, and genetics are risk factors that can lead to arthritis, but as Ivanhoe reports, what you eat can also cause your symptoms to worsen. Health and Exercise science professor Stephen Messier said, “The main symptom is pain, decrease in quality of life, and a decrease in mobility.” – 4/07/2023

EU woody biomass final policy continues threatening forests and climate: Critics
By Justin Catanoso | Mongabay
The final revisions to the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) were reached March 30, with nearly all environmental activists (who had lobbied intensely for changes for years), responding negatively to RED policies in support of forest biomass. The policy revisions will continue allowing the burning of the world’s forests to make energy, with emissions from EU powerplant smokestacks not counted. Journalism professor Justin Catanoso is a regular contributor to Mongabay. – 4/03/2023

REGIONAL & TRADE

Dr. Freischlag shifts focus to roles at Advocate Health, Wake Forest Baptist
By Lillian Johnson | Charlotte Business Journal
Triad Business Journal recently sat down with Freischlag to learn more about her new roles, what the merger between Advocate Aurora and Atrium Health means and who she relies on to help get things done. “Dr. Boulware will take us to the next level with research access, health equity and a new campus.… I’m here to support her, her new ideas and what she wants to do as we grow the second campus in Charlotte and as we expand our research footprint. – 4/07/2023

LOCAL

Debbie Allen to be artist-in-residence at Wake Forest
By Melissa Leonard Hall | Winston-Salem Journal
Debbie Allen, an award-winning director, producer and choreographer, will be Wake Forest University’s first Maya Angelou Artist-in-Residence Award. Allen will work with students at the university Nov. 13-14. Allen, a Kennedy Center honoree, has won six Emmys, a Golden Globe, five NAACP Image Awards and a Drama Desk award. She was the first recipient of the Astaire Award for best dancer. – 4/04/2023

Founder of Recovery Cafe to be commencement speaker at Wake Forest
By Melissa Leonard Hall | Winston-Salem Journal
Two alumni of Wake Forest University will be baccalaureate and commencement speakers for this year’s graduation. K. Killian Noe, a 1980 graduate of Wake and the founder of Recovery Café and the Recovery Café Network, will be the speaker at the May 15 graduation ceremony. Noe is also an author and pastor. Recovery Café and the Recovery Café Network offer people who are homeless, have addiction and mental health problems a place to go to feel included and the opportunity to give back to the community.– 4/03/2023

WFU Face to Face will host actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth
Yes! Weekly
In addition to the Face to Face keynote event, Chenoweth will participate in a student-led conversation at Wait Chapel at 5 p.m. moderated by members of Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character. – 4/05/2023