Reflections on rush following its conclusion Page 9
Former NAACP president delivers MLK Day keynote Page 4
Men’s tennis starts undefeated Page 13
Campus prepares for infamous Pledge Night Page 16
OLD GOLD&BLACK WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
VOL. 97, NO. 16
T H U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 3 , 2 014 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
oldgoldandblack.com
Administration encourages safer alcohol use
Adrian Martino/Old Gold & Black
On Jan. 20, Solo cups were displayed in this exhibit meant to encourage students to think about and discuss their values and behaviors, especially those related to drinking. The exhibit was part of the university’s fourth annual “Living Our Values” campaign, which began after the 2010 pledge night incident.
With the theme “Binge Thinking,” the campaign aims to discourage alcohol abuse and address its serious dangers BY HILARY BURNS Senior Writer burnsh0@wfu.edu On Tuesday Jan. 20, 924 red Solo cups were intricately arranged on the third floor of Benson to spell the words, “Binge Thinking.”
This display of abstract art is part of a week-long celebration called Living Our Values: Binge Thinking. It is no coincidence that this campaign title sounds similar to the dangerous activity involving alcohol. This week-long celebration includes a series of events for student leaders, new members of Greek life and athletes. These events and the Binge Thinking posters around campus are meant to promote the values students share as members of the Wake Forest community. All of these events lead up to the Greek community’s Pledge Night festivities on Jan. 24. Sophomore Michael Peretz offered input into the Binge
Thinking campaign. He believes Living Our Values will promote much-needed conversations about dangerous activities on campus, especially in the Greek community. “While our university prides itself on being an inclusive, honest and spirited community, the naturally exclusive bid process for fraternities and sororities, with a historicallyrowdy celebration, often referred to as “Kiss Night,” has tended to hurt our campus unity,” Peretz said. “I believe this week can be a great opportunity for all students, especially those affiliated with Greek Life, like myself, to
See Binge Thinking, Page 6
Five-year plan calls for physical, academic growth Over the next five years, the university’s campus and academic reputation will undergo changes BY MORGAN SCHICK & AUSTIN COOK Asst. News Editor & News Editor schimo13@wfu.edu & cookar12@wfu.edu In the midst of rapid changes and expansion for the university, including the construction of new buildings and the rollout of the Wake Will campaign, the administration’s five-year plan has become the subject of much attention. Plans for the university’s continued devel-
opment and growth continue to be revealed to students in pieces, offering a glimpse into what changes the campus and academic realm will undergo in the coming years. But amid the quickly changing scene for the university is a concerted effort by administrators and faculty to preserve the school’s reputation as a “collegiate university.” “The big universities are talking about all the research they do, and the small colleges are talking about bringing in more faculty who are accomplished in terms of their research,” Rogan Kersh, university provost, said. “We’ve got the formula right. Other people are trying to copy it, but we need to sustain and maintain that formula.”
The university is aiming to raise $ 1 billion by 2018 to invest in financial aid, faculty research grants and facility renovations, a historic fundraising goal that highlights the unique situation that Wake Forest. The five-year plan will play a large role as administrators try to transition it from a regional university Kersh to a nationally renowned institution. The new set of goals for the next halfdecade will include an increased focus on
new technology, building renovations and wellness initiatives, while maintaining the same commitment to students that makes the university unique. The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Center (URECA), which was established nearly a year ago to further promote undergraduate research, provides undergraduates the opportunity to conduct the research alongside their professors. The Wake Will campaign plans to raise $10 million for the URECA, expanding these opportunities for students. Students and faculty alike find it important to uphold this balance between offer-
See Plan, Page 5