WFU in the news: Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2024

FEATURED NEWS

Wake Forest University gallery allowing guests to feel art
By Sydney McCoy | Spectrum News Charlotte
“We are really making sure that we’re focused on buying artworks from people that are queer, BIPOC, female, identifying nonbinary and Indigenous artists, that people that are less represented in our previously existing collection, because that’s really important for our students here on campus to feel seen, heard, known within the artworks and artist biographies that we’re having here,” said junior Georgia-Kathryn Duncan who is one of the students who will be traveling to New York City on the upcoming art acquisition trip in March. – 1/31/2024

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Days of darkness: The conspiracy theory trap that has ensnared millions
By David Klepper | Associated Press
“We are the stories we tell ourselves,” said Associate Professor of Communication John Llewellyn, who studies conspiracy theories and why people believe what they believe. “We’ve landed on the moon, and now we’ve got artificial intelligence — for better or worse — but no matter how advanced we get, we still have to deal with the human brain.” – 1/31/2024

Why the American public is more war-weary than ever
By William Walldorf | TIME
Politics and international affairs professor William Walldorf, a visiting fellow at Defense Priorities, writes: “The U.S. is creeping toward war in the Middle East. A drone attack at a U.S. base on Sunday killed three American troops and injured 34 others. The attack—claimed by Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which opposes Washington’s support for Israel—has prompted President Joe Biden to vow retaliation. Are Americans ready for war? Not at all.” – 1/31/2024

Avoid war, focus on ‘family’ and deal with a surprise candidate
By Cátia Bruno | Observador
Russia goes to the vote in March and no one has any doubts that Putin will win. But despite this, the Kremlin fears surprises and wants to control the process as much as possible. “Elections require a lot of mobilization from the State to get people to the polls and mitigate uncertainty. It will be interesting to observe how the State carries out this task amidst the economic and political constraints of a war The Kremlin just wants this to end,” said Wake Forest Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs Adam Lenton .– 2/02/2024

Honesty project reveals new truths about misinformation
By Debbie Peterson | Psychology Today
Philosophy professor Christian B. Miller explained the importance of the study: “Out of 60 different characteristics, people ranked honesty number one in terms of what they liked, respected, and wanted to know about another person,” concluding that “honesty promotes trust, shows respect and prevents harm.” – 1/30/2024

Hanes, Bright, Scott, Tierney to unveil joint installation at Venice Biennale
Mirage News
Wake Forest University Hanes Gallery, under the direction of Paul Bright, is partnering with American artist Dread Scott and Cristin Tierney Gallery (NYC) on an installation for the 60th International Art Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, which will be held from April 20 through Nov. 24 in Venice, Italy. Since 1895, the Venice Biennale has been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. – 1/31/2024

REGIONAL & TRADE

February 1 marks the 64th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins, sparking a nationwide movement
By Emily Mikkelsen | WJZY-TV (Charlotte, NC)
By Feb. 5, hundreds of students were joining in on the protest and the sit-ins were spreading, including to the Woolworth’s in neighboring Winston-Salem, which is now being renovated into an event space to preserve the history made by Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University students. – 2/01/2024

WAKE FOREST NEWS

Physics pioneers win NSF CAREER Awards
By Kim McGrath | Wake Forest News
Assistant Professors of Physics Ajay Ram Srimath Kandada and Stephen M. Winter have each been granted National Science Foundation CAREER awards, which recognize the best and brightest talent in the United States. Together, the two grants total more than $1 million. The five-year grants are awarded to junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research and education. – 2/01/2024