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OLD GOLD&BLACK W A K E
VOL. 95, NO. 14
F O R E S T
Life | B5
U N I V E R S I T Y
T H U R S D AY, J A N U A RY 1 9 , 2 0 1 2
oldgoldandblack.com
“Covers the campus like the magnolias”
Religious diversity impacts donations Off-campus By Yasmin Bendaas | Staff writer
A once regular university donor tells Phone-a-thon caller Laura Coats (’13) that she will no longer be making contributions to the university as long as there is an imam on staff. It was not the first time Coats, or other Phonea-thon callers, had heard such statements. C o a t s described a separate phone call where an alumna on the line complained that the Griggs call was placed on a Sunday from a Baptist university. Coats politely ended the conversation, recognizing as a current student that the university is no longer a Bap-
tist institution. In fact, Wake Forest separated from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in 1986. Shocking to some, Wake Forest has recently added the positions of imam and rabbi into the Office of the Chaplain in the last two years. With religious diversity statistics showing an increase in non-Christian populations, albeit very slightly, it is apparent that not all with ties to the school approve of its current direction. The conflict over the institution and religion is readily apparent, with some representatives of the “Old Wake Forest” increasingly distancing themselves from the university, and refusing to give any donations at all. However, unlike Coats, most students have not been on the receiving end of the turmoil. “This is being fought over behind closed doors,” said sophomore Muhammad Siddiqui, Muslim Stu-
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Instead of kicking back, relaxing and enjoying an entertaining slew of college bowl games, 21 students and two faculty leaders spent Jan. 1 to Jan.15 engaged in opportunities of foreign service through the university’s Volunteer Service Corps. This year’s programs included trips Vietnam and India. Senior Stephanie Edwards spearheaded the Vietnam trip, which focused on rebuilding homes for the poor in the community of Phu My, and helping out at a local school. According to Edwards, tasks included “painting, laying out flooring, tiling, delivering furniture, distributing donations, and playing games with the children.” The Vietnam program is run in conjunction with the Peacework Village Network, an organization that aims to “alleviate conditions of poverty and promote peace and prosperity through economic development partnerships and service around the world.” Commenting on the experience, Edwards said, “international service projects are a fantastic way
“This is being fought over behind closed doors.”
Muhammad Siddiqui Muslim Student Association President
regarding the actions taken by some large donors against his current post in the Office of the Chaplain. As some large donors refuse to fund the university until the additional religious posts in the Office of the Chaplain are removed, it seems possible that most of the disapproval is
geared towards one position in particular — that of an imam. In a letter sent to the editor-inchief of the Old Gold & Black and addressed to President Nathan O. Hatch, an alum lists the threats he believes Islam holds, including “stealth jihadists posing as assistant Chaplains.” He also writes that followers of Islam promote “the use of violence in order to have their faith be the dominant world totalitarian political ideology.” In interviews with those familiar with this subject, the conflict over the additional position in the Office of the Chaplain reaches even into the most powerful positions, including a minority number of members of the Board of Trustees. The question becomes how much power and voice those carrying higher positions at the university
See Donors, Page A3
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By David Inczauskis | Staff writer
dent Association President. Although it seems students are kept out of the discussion, religiously related faculty have not been. “It’s been aggressive, very aggressive,” Imam Khalid Griggs said
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Beachley
University students spend break volunteering in India and Vietnam
for both the giver and receiver to learn from each other and about oneself, and most importantly, that humans are more alike than different despite background and upbringing.” Having already visited Vietnam, Edwards felt that the hardest part of the trip — culturally speaking — would be her readjustment to the ebb and flow of daily life at Wake Forest upon returning. “I already can notice that I am experiencing reverse culture shock being back at Wake Forest and having to think about the semester that is about to start,” she said. Aside from the positive feelings associated with the act of giving and the chance to visit a new country, the benefits of international service trips are many. Edwards, for example, was reminded of the joys of living in the present and fighting for the best possible outcome regardless of the circumstances. “In the end, we are each in control of our own individual happiness,” she said. “And I certainly was reminded of that on this trip.” The other winter break service trip to Calcutta, India, contained its fair share of memorable
housing sees rise in crime By Morgan Schutte | Contributing writer
The large number of off-campus break-ins over winter break created a headache for a few unlucky students. The break-ins started Dec. 19 and continued until the end of the month. The majority of the items stolen were TVs, gaming systems and jewelry; however, three vehicles were also taken. A recent press release from University Police stated that there were 26 house break-ins during the fall semester and over winter break, with most occurring during the break. The Winston-Salem Police Department has charged four people in recent neighborhood thefts, but more arrests are expected to take place. The large number of break-ins prompted the WSPD’s captain to pull units from other parts of the city and put them in District One, which includes WFU and a few surrounding residential neighborhoods. There were hopes that the increased police presence would deter further incidents; however, the break-ins continued. “Sadly, this particular crime spree was not unique to WFU,” WFU Chief of Police Regina Lawson said. “The entire city experienced an unusual increase in breakLawson ins.” The robberies were especially unusual because many of them occurred during the day, when people least expect burglaries to occur. Lawson emphasized how important it is for students to be alert and attentive to the activity in their neighborhood. “If someone just randomly stops by, is lost, is taking up money for some kind of collection, don’t be afraid to report it,” she said. “ Be aware of anything that just doesn’t fit.” University Police aided Winston-Salem investigators by contacting students whose houses were burglarized, and patrolling the areas that were affected by the break-ins. “If someone just randomly stops by, is lost, is taking up money for some kind of collection, don’t be afraid to report it. Be aware of anything that just doesn’t fit.”
exchanges and cultural experiences, as well. Led by senior Leah Beachley, the program allowed students to share two weeks of time with the renowned organization Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. The Volunteer Service Corps’ group aided in four different sectors: Kalighat, a home for the sick and the dying; Prem Dan, a home for disabled women and children; Shanti Dan, a home for disabled women and girls; and Shishu Bhavan, an orphanage. Beachley specified that the tasks included assisting with the laundry, cleaning the facilities, and spending time with the residents of the homes. Despite a few initial preoccupations regarding the impoverished and disadvantaged state of the residents, Beachley and the rest of the group were able to overcome reservations and learn a great deal about the kind, affectionate nature of humanity. “What I learned is that although disabled children do require extra care, at the end of the day they are no different than other children,” said
Even students living in condominiums were not spared. Junior Amanda Hoecker returned to her Crowne Oaks apartment to find a broken window. “Nothing was stolen, just a bunch of things moved around and some things were broken. There was jewelry in the toilet and bed,” Hoecker said. When asked how the situation was handled, Hoecker was less than complimentary. “The police didn’t handle the situation very well,” she said. “They came and took some pictures and fingerprints but then said that nothing would really come of the situation — they didn’t do any follow up or anything.” The following day, Hoecker and her two roommates had a security system installed and now use it
See VSC, Page A6
See Break-ins, Page A6
Regina Lawson
Chief of University Police
Aging recreational facilities frustrate students By James McCabe | Staff writer
As the university continues to expand the size of its student body, facilities such as academic buildings and dormitories seem to follow in step. While attention is given to certain areas, one area in particular is typically left for last: the Campus Recreation facilities. Bowen “In comparison to other universities, we are very far behind,” Mike Bowen, assistant
director of Outdoor Pursuits, said. With the aging Reynolds Gym and the overused outdoor fields, the Campus Recreation facilities have been showing their age for quite a few years. Campus Recreation has applied several times for indoor and outdoor facility improvements, but they get the same response every time: nothing.
The “Master Plan” The Master Plan, according to Max Floyd, director of Campus Recreation, will incorporate brand new recreation facilities without destroying existing ones. Floyd realizes that there is a greater plan in the works. “There is a plan for everything,” Floyd said. “Just because I am the
manager of the recreation space does not mean I am the planner of the space. “The priority of this administration is the strategic concept of educating the body as a whole,” Floyd said. “This includes the academic, spiritual and the physical — all while preserving existing recreation spaces.” Due to construction of Spry stadium in 1996 and Polo Residence Hall in 1998, the field space decreased from six shared fields to three varsity-only fields. T.J. Peele, the director of Intramural Sports, realizes the impact of fewer fields on such an active student body. “This is a very active campus. People are used to excelling in all things at Wake, especially academic,” Peele said. “But that same academic
focus carries out into their physical life and we need to ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing to make this the best possible atmosphere with the limited space we have?’”
Free Recreation With declining recreation space, the continued availability of free recreation, meaning a facility open for students to use as they please, is challenging. Room 201 in Reynolds Gym is historically known for being dedicated to free recreation. This full-sized basketball court is large enough to host several half-court pick-up games while the other two larger courts upstairs are being used. Rooms 401
See Facilities, Page A3
Clare Stanton/Old Gold and Black
Students struggle with heavily congested campus recreational facilities.