Stories this week at Wake Forest

WFU WILL CELEBRATE LOVEFEAST SERVICE

Wake Forest will hold its traditional Christmas lovefeast and candlelight service at 8 p.m. Dec. 5 in Wait Chapel. The event is free and open to the public. Rev. James Newsome, pastor of Rural Hall Moravian Church and a Wake Forest graduate, will assist Wake Forest Chaplain Ed Christman in conducting the service. The service will feature music by the university’s Concert Choir, the Handbell Choir, the Flute Choir and the Messiah Moravian Church Band. Luminaries will encircle University Plaza. Inside the chapel, each person will receive a beeswax candle to be lit at the end of the service. Wake Forest began holding an annual lovefeast in 1965. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to Wait Chapel and University Plaza. Vehicles are not allowed on University Plaza. Inside the chapel, camera crews may set up along the stairways on each side of the sanctuary.

FACULTY/STAFF WILL SERVE LATE-NIGHT BREAKFAST TO STUDENTS

Approximately 50 faculty and staff will serve a hot late-night breakfast Dec. 6 to study-weary students preparing for final exams. As many as 700 students are expected for the breakfast, which will be served from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the cafeteria located on the first floor of Reynolda Hall. The late-night breakfasts have become a popular retreat from study for students at the beginning of exam week each fall and spring. Contact Kevin Cox in the News Service for details.

STUDENTS WILL VOLUNTEER IN CALUTTA

Two Winston-Salem residents (Greg Frey and Michael Hogge) will be among 11 Wake Forest students spending Christmas Day in Calcutta. The group will travel to Calcutta to volunteer at three homes for the poor established by Mother Teresa in India. From Dec. 12-30, the students will fill in for long-term volunteers at the Khalighat Home for the Dying and Destitute; Prem Dan, a home for the mentally and physically handicapped; and the Shishu Bhavan orphanage. To arrange an interview before the students depart, call the News Service.

STRIKE STRESS FROM YOUR HOLIDAY LIST

Holidays are a time of joy, good cheer and optimistic hopes for a new year, but many people experience seasonal stress. “Holiday blues can be caused by many factors, including unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization and the inability to be with one’s family,” said Mariann Schubert, director of the counseling center at Wake Forest. Schubert said it’s important to have manageable expectations for the holidays, so you won’t stress yourself trying to make it the best holiday ever. Also, find time for yourself rather than spending every moment providing activities for your family and friends. If money is your source of stress, enjoy free holiday activities, such as driving around to look at holiday decorations. And make time for yourself. Call the News Service to arrange an interview with Schubert about holiday stress.

EDUCATIONAL GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

With a little help from university faculty and staff, the News Service has compiled some educational gift ideas.

• Paul Anderson, an associate professor of physics, suggests stocking stuffers that encourage thinking skills, such as small magnifying glasses, simple calculators, and measuring tapes. Children might also enjoy bug-collecting boxes and magnets.
• Leah McCoy, an associate education professor, put educational software at the top of her list. McCoy said children in grades K-3 might enjoy interactive storybooks, such as those by Living Books. “The Cat in the Hat” and other stories come alive through sight and sound by clicking on the book’s text and illustrations. The software helps children develop reading skills and an interest in computers. Older children can choose books in other languages, such as Spanish and French.
• Beverly Hancock, curator of interpretation at the university’s Museum of Anthropology, encourages parents to choose gifts from other cultures, such as Chinese sister dolls, Oaxan woodcarvings, handcrafted Southwestern jewelry and daisy chain necklaces from Mozambique. These gifts and others from Indonesia, China, India, Africa and the American Southwest are available at the museum.
• Mary Lynn Redmond, an associate education professor, suggests software, books, videos and music to help children learn another language. The “Bookswithoutborders” series offers videos and supporting materials for learning a second language. The series also includes popular movies in other languages, such as “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” in French and a “Bug’s Life” in Spanish. Software programs vary from multimedia programs featuring audio and video to programs with games, words and phrases.

SEARCHING FOR STORIES

Interested in stories about Wake Forest? Then search the News Service’s on-line story archive for current news releases and tip sheets, as well as stories dating back to 1996. To find the story archive, go to the News Service Web site at www.wfu.edu/wfunews and click on the story archive link found on the top of the page. Stories are listed by title and arranged by date.