WFU in the news: Oct. 9-15, 2023

FEATURED NEWS

Facing scrutiny, a museum that holds 12,000 human remains changes course
By Zachary Small | The New York Times
The American Museum of Natural History is planning to overhaul its stewardship of some 12,000 human remains, the painful legacy of collecting practices that saw the museum acquire the skeletons of Indigenous and enslaved people taken from their graves and the bodies of New Yorkers who died as recently as the 1940s. “There is no expressly legal way for human remains to end up in a museum,” said law professor Tanya Marsh, who specializes in the law of human remains. – 10/15/2023

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Students want help with time management
By Colleen Flaherty | Inside Higher Ed
Students are interested in a variety of offerings for help with time management, according to the Student Voice survey on the college experience. High on the list are comprehensive syllabi. Jacqueline Friedman, senior associate director for clinical services at Wake Forest’s Center for Learning, Access and Student Success—where academic success coaches help students organize their various syllabi into a single, editable electronic document linked to their Google Drives—said it’s a “really good task-organization document and helps students go into depth in each of their class syllabi.” Friedman also recommends other effective time-management tools. – 10/05/2023

New Wake Divinity dean wants to expand the ‘circle of we’
By Jeff Brumley | Baptist News Global
Friends and colleagues have sometimes considered Corey D.B. Walker, the new dean of Wake Forest’s School of Divinity, as somewhat of an academic jack-of-all-trades given his extensive research, writing, teaching and higher education leadership experience. “A lot of people think I am doing a lot of different things, but the truth is I have been doing one big thing, and that is responding to the depth and the continuing evolution of my calling to use the gifts God has given me to expand the wide ‘circle of we’ and what it means to be human in the world and to be human in relation to God,” said Walker, who is an ordained American Baptist minister. – 10/09/2023

On university campuses, students wrestle with Israel-Hamas war
By Ali Martin, Camilo Fonseca, Henry Gass, Isa Meyers | Christian Science Monitor
Hamas’ surprise attack on Israeli civilians over the weekend incited strong reactions on college campuses across the U.S. As the conflict escalated to war and atrocities were coming to light, many students voiced often harsh judgments about responsibility and the conflict’s history. “If we truly believe in bringing about some peaceful resolution to this crisis, we have to acknowledge that violence occurs on all sides,” said Barry Trachtenberg, a professor of Jewish history. “Students should be allowed to disagree over politics.” – 10/13/2023

Politicians fuel EV backlash as U.S. auto workers strike
By Mitchell Beer, Christopher Bonasia | The Energy Mix
As the more than 30,000 auto workers on strike in the United States showcase the need for a realistic, fair transition to electric vehicle manufacturing, populist politicians in the U.S. and beyond are seizing the moment to try to sideline that transition. “There’s still significant numbers of skilled labourers in the region who have weathered the ebb and flow of manufacturing jobs over the decades,” said economics professor Mark Curtis, whose research includes the economic impact of the clean energy industry on workers. – 10/09/2023

How to handle your brain getting stuck in ‘waiting mode’
By Brie Schmidt | Glam
If you tend to feel overwhelmed by to-do lists, try organizing yours by the estimated time each item requires, beginning with the quickest tasks. Then, knock out one five-minute-or-less item to give yourself some tailwind. If your list still puts you in a state of panic, you might need to break down each item into smaller, bite-sized chunks. As psychology professor E.J. Masicampo told CNN, “Something that’s been sitting on your to-do list for too long is probably just stated in too big terms.” – 10/11/2023

Gun nation: A data dustup, incivility, and a teachable moment on Twitter
By Dan Zimmerman | The Truth About Guns
Sociologist David Yamane writes: “As remarkable as it sounds, I learned something important on Twitter recently. I’m writing up this ‘teachable moment’ in the hope that others can benefit from it as well. I spoke with my occasional writing coach, Brendan O’Meara of the CNF Podcast, and he said something offhand that is surely going to be in my book: ‘Being gun literate is a civic responsibility in a country with so many guns.’” Yamane is writing a book on American gun culture tentatively titled “Gun Curious.” – 10/12/2023

62 reasons why college is better in the South
Southern Living
College is better in the South – that’s our story, and we’re sticking to it. From gorgeous campuses and top-notch academics, to unbeatable athletics and welcoming communities, there’s nothing quite like a Southern university. We have 62 reasons that prove it. Number 42: Our celebrations are legendary. At Wake Forest University, fans take part in rolling the quad. – 10/11/2023

REGIONAL & TRADE

Grow or die? It’s a question Triad manufacturers are struggling to answer.
By Richard Craver | Greensboro News & Record
That is the question facing an increasing number of publicly-traded corporations in the Triad trying to strike the right balance between two competing business mantras. The latest example recently surfaced when Krispy Kreme – out of the blue – signaled it is considering selling its majority stake in subsidiary Insomnia Cookies. “Diversification can offer advantages for corporations that have successfully built their businesses around one or more brands in a specific category,” said marketing professor Roger Beahm. – 10/09/2023

Ahead of capital projects, Wake Forest University names Christopher Kiwus as top leader for facilities, real estate
By Lillian Johnson | Triad Business Journal
As it plans to develop nearly 178 acres near its athletics venues, Wake Forest University has named its top leader for facilities, real estate and planning. Christopher Kiwus, who currently serves in the same role at Virginia Tech, will join Wake Forest on Jan. 1. He takes over for John Wise, who has been serving in an interim capacity in addition to his role as vice president for hospitality and auxiliary services. – 10/13/2023

LOCAL

Activities
Winston-Salem Journal
Wake Forest School of Divinity is hosting more than 25 scholars and health leaders at an international symposium on religion and health. The “Baobab Gathering,” named after the iconic African tree that sustains life, began Oct. 13 and continues through Oct. 17 and will include a public forum at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Porter Byrum Welcome Center. The event is organized in collaboration with Love Out Loud, a local faith-based nonprofit committed to partnering with organizations working together for the flourishing of Winston-Salem. – 10/14/2023

Business Milestones
Winston-Salem Journal
Professor of Music Peter Kairoff has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New York, N.Y. The Hall of Fame recognizes educators who “foster passion, creativity and discipline in the next generation of piano artists.” He joins distinguished educators from across the U.S. and Canada. Kairoff has been with the department of music since 1988. He has also served as the longtime director of Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. – 10/14/2023