Stories this week at Wake Forest University

WFU TO SHOWCASE THE CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE— Students in some Wake Forest classrooms can ask their professor a question during class without saying a word. They’re using a program called PocketClassroom, created by Wake Forest for use on iPAQ hand-held computers. The program is currently being used in one of Wake Forest’s French classes as part of a pilot program. The new technology will be demonstrated April 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the third floor atrium of Greene Hall. The university’s new A30 IBM ThinkPad computer will also be on display at the “Classroom of the Future” conference. Freshmen and juniors will receive the new computer in the fall. To arrange coverage of the conference or for more information, contact Sarah Smith at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

WAKE FOREST EXPERT CAUTIONS AGAINST ‘EXERCISE IN A BOTTLE’— New research reported recently in the news suggests that exercise in a bottle may be one step closer to becoming a reality. The research involves a gene that regulates the activity of mitochondria; the power plants that help cells convert chemicals into mechanical energy. Paul Ribisl, chair of Wake Forest’s health and exercise science department, says the benefits of physical exercise go beyond biochemistry. “Aerobic workouts strengthen the heart, while weight-bearing exercises like walking and running protect the skeleton,” he says. “Exercise also has psychological benefits, too, providing a break from daily drudgery and a chance to socialize with others.” Ribisl has lectured and written on the causes of obesity, and has studied how genetics, diet and exercise play important roles in its control and treatment. To arrange an interview with Ribisl, contact Sarah Smith at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

WFU HOSTS PROGRAM FOR MINORITY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS— More than 75 minority high school girls from across North Carolina will attend the Women of Courage and Valor program at Wake Forest on April 19. Speakers will include area business leaders and university faculty. Topics will include career planning, higher education, goal-setting and self-esteem. They will also speak about careers in which women are underrepresented. To arrange coverage, contact Vanessa Willis at willisv@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

LOCAL CARDIAC PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM WALK/RUN— A walk/run created in memory of a local Moravian pastor last year funded scholarships for 12 local cardiac patients to participate in the Wake Forest Cardiac Rehabilitation Program who could have otherwise not afforded it. More than 160 people raised more than $10,000 at the event. The second annual Rev. Burton Rights Memorial Walk/Run will be April 20 at 9 a.m. Rights was pastor of Clemmons Moravian Church for 36 years and pastor of Messiah Moravian Church for five years. He was also an active participant in Wake Forest’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for 19 years. “He was a true inspiration to fellow participants,” said Peter Brubaker, director of the program. The course for the 3.1-mile walk/run will begin at Reynolds Gym and loop through campus to Reynolda Gardens and back. To arrange coverage, contact Sarah Smith at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

STUDENTS USE ENVIRONMENT AS INSPIRATION IN FRESHMAN WRITING CLASS— Each spring on Earth Day, April 22, some people may take the time to think about the importance of the environment and the relationship between nature and their daily lives. William Volker is one of 30 Wake Forest freshmen who have been thinking about that relationship all semester in a special course called “Writing the Natural World.” The students have read the works of naturalists like Thoreau and Emerson, and recently used T.C. Boyle’s novel “The Tortilla Curtain” to explore the links between the environment and immigration. Volker, an avid outdoorsman from Colorado, says the class has inspired him to look more fully at the outdoor activities he loves. “I’m traveling to Cuba this summer and plan to keep a journal for the first time in my life,” he says. Dean Franco, assistant professor of English, says part of the motivation behind offering the unique class was students like Volker. “Students here at Wake Forest are very savvy to environmental matters,” he says. “They know that an environmental terrain is always open to oil drilling and are sensitive to that reality.” For more information on the class, contact Sarah Smith at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.