Old Gold&Black “Covers the campus like the magnolias”
VOL 109 , NO. 7
NOVEMBER 17, 2022
WA K E F O R E S T ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 6
Brad Jones steps down as graduate dean ELI LEADHAM Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Photo
Wake Forest students register to vote in Tribble Courtyard on National Voter Registration Day. Deacs Decide set up the table to help students register to vote during the early voting period.
Students react to North Carolina Senate race
Students share their thoughts on the Republican victory and express dissatisfaction with growing political polarization in the United States ASHLYN SEGLER Contributing Writer
As election results poured in late Tuesday night, the North Carolina midterm outcome elicited mixed reactions from students across campus. With relevant and contentious issues like abortion access, inflation and climate policy at the forefront of this midterm, many Wake Forest students tuned into to watch the election results. Students reported receiving results from a variety of sources, with some coming together to host watch parties with friends and others simply tracking results through news and so-
cial media outlets. In the final hours of election day, NBC news called the race for Republican Rep. Ted Budd’s defeat over Democrat Cheri Beasley for North Carolina’s seat in the Senate. The Associated Press followed suit soon thereafter. For many, Budd’s victory was a relief. “I’m glad North Carolina went red to keep the sides even in the election,” junior Taylor Wilkison said. “Since the executive branch is liberal, I defi-
nitely like to see more conservative representation in the House and Senate.” Junior Jack Lewis said that he was not surprised by Budd’s win. “Ted Budd was for the most part a good and uncontroversial conservative candidate who ran a solid campaign,” Lewis said. Alternatively, many were concerned by the Republican victory, specifically for its implications for the future of abortion access.
See NC Midterms, Page 3
Brad Jones, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, announced on Nov. 1 that he will step down on June 30 after 12 years in the position to go on a year-long research leave with the Wake Forest Department of Chemistry, where he was previously a faculty member. Jones was a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry since 1989 and served as chair of the department for eight years. While in the department, Jones specialized in the emergence of new spectroscopic instruments used to identify and quantify the amounts of inorganic species in complex real mixtures. Jones’ replacement, who will be selected by a search process, will also serve as Dean of the Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, according to a Nov. 3 announcement by the university. Jones received his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1984 from Wake Forest, where three of his children would later attend as undergraduates. While serving as dean, Jones not only impacted the lives of many students but the Wake Forest community as a whole. “I tried to enable others to make their own decisions,” Jones said. “We had a low-key but effective work environment, and we had a blast! Of course, we doubled graduate school enrollment, moved into off-campus spaces and launched Wake Forest’s first online program — online counseling now with an enrollment approaching 400.” Jones’ also impacted the student body through his efforts to diversify the student population. Jones visited historically Black colleges and universities while on recruiting trips. During his tenure, the fraction of underrepresented minority students nearly tripled, and it is currently at just over 20%, according to Jones. Provost Michele Gillespie shared that Jones has been a dedicated leader to the university and is supportive of his next steps. “Jones is currently the longest-serving dean in the university, and so I am delighted he will be taking a well-deserved research leave in the next academic year, before returning to the Department of Chemistry to teach and continue his research,” Gillespie said. ”He is a consummate teacher-scholar and university citizen, and we are fortunate to have been able to benefit from his committed leadership.”
Contact Eli Leadham at leadey22@wfu.edu
What's Inside NEWS Wake Forest Debate wins Gonzaga tournament Page Three
ENVIRONMENT Brazillion election delivers change... Page Five
FEATURES A look behind the scenes of Last Resort Page Seven
OPINION Ye's anti-semitism is inexcusable Page Nine
SPORTS Deacon Sportlight: Leo Guarino Page Thirteen
LIFE ‘TÁR’ is virtuosic Page Sixteen