University Marketing and Communications

“Nepotism failed me,” director Jason Reitman told the crowd gathered in Wait Chapel on Saturday night to hear his keynote address concluding the 2011 Reynolda Film Festival. The son of successful producer and director Ivan Reitman told the story of his journey from a teenager fearful of being overshadowed by his father in the movie industry, working his way up as a writer and director of short films and television commercials, to finally getting his big break with “Thank You for Smoking.”

Betsy Martin has wanted to be a doctor since volunteering at the Hospice and Palliative Care Center in her hometown of Shelby, N.C., when she was in high school. Now a junior at Wake Forest, Martin had the opportunity Thursday to explore a variety of medical careers during the University's first Health Care Career Expo.

Wake Forest students hosted an Asian Spring Festival on March 26 — performing Indian and Korean dances and organizing an Asian costume fashion show. A Chinese Tai Chi fan dance and performances by the Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe were part of the celebration. See a photo gallery.

On April Fools’ Day, Cindy Gendrich’s students may have an advantage when planning practical jokes. In the theater professor’s first-year seminar, “Why Do People Laugh?” they have serious discussions about what causes giggles and guffaws.

The Humanities Institute is designed to “help faculty and students make the most of the energy, intellect and creativity they bring to humanistic learning, research and teaching,” according to director Mary Foskett. Read more in our Old Gold and Black story of the week.