Convocation: Retired faculty receive Medallion of Honor Page 4
OPINION: Staff members reject Islamophobia Page 8
Women’s basketball upsets N.C. State Page 11
Bachelor finishes hometown dates Page 16
Old Gold&Black WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916
VOL. 101, NO.7
T H U R S DAY, F E B RUA RY 16 , 2 017 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
wfuogb.com
Administration shares approach to unrecognized fraternities National Fraternity Headquarters and Wake Forest correspond BY MCKENZIE MADDOX Editor-in-Chief maddml14@wfu.edu
Henry Bonilla/ Old Gold & Black
Wake Forest faculty members, family and friends of Maya Angelou convened in the new Angelou residence hall parlor for the official ribbon cutting, signifying the dedication of the building in her honor.
WFU commemorates Angelou’s legacy The university held a ceremony to dedicate the new residence hall and honor the professor’s legacy BY MCKENZIE MADDOX Editor-in-Chief maddml14@wfu.edu On Friday, Feb. 17, the ceremonial ribbon was snipped, inaugurating the newest residence hall on campus named after the late poet, author, professor and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. She was a part of the Wake Forest faculty for 32 years until she passed in May of 2014. The dorm is the first building on campus to be named after an African-American and the second residence hall to be named after a female. South campus buzzed as members of the Wake Forest community and guests
gathered into Maya Angelou Residence building,” he said. “It’s also a moment Hall’s parlor at 3 p.m. Many of Ange- to celebrate and remember the life and lou’s friends and family, including her influence of a dear colleague, educator grandson Elliot Jones, traveled from and friend…Here she engaged us with difficult questions, deep thoughts and other places to be in attendance. “This is like Thanksgiving in Febru- meaningful exchanges. She reminded us ary,” Jones said. “All my aunties and that we are all human, that we have the power to love, to laugh, forgive and to uncles and family here in one place.” The event held numerous styles of trib- rise.” During the ceremony, singer and songutes that all commemorated the legacy of Angelou, including poetry recitation, writer Valerie Simpson Ashford pera musical performance and speeches formed “Reach Out and Touch,” a song from numerous individuals both in the that she and Nickolas Ashford wrote toWake Forest community and family of gether. It has been famously performed Angelou. The event started with junior by artists such as Diana Ross and Aretha Nia McIntosh expressively reading one Franklin. “I think it speaks to what she’s done of Angelou’s most well-known poems, “I for all of us and what she wants us to will rise.” Following McIntosh’s performance, do: to continue to reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this world a betPresident Nathan Hatch reflected on ter place,” she said from behind the baby the wisdom and knowledge that Ange- grand piano. lou graced upon the university. “Today is not simply a day to open a See Angelou, Page 4
Three years after two fraternities lost their national charters at Wake Forest, conversations have resurfaced on campus about the status of these unrecognized groups. In the Spring of 2017, both of these national organizations were eligible to discuss the possibility of returning to campus. Ongoing conversations between Wake Forest’s Office of Student Engagement and the national headquarters of both Kappa Sigma and Sigma Nu have taken place. According to Betsy Adams, the director of fraternity and sorority life, after the “scope of unrecognized activity” was communicated, an agreement was made that it is not the right time to consider the return of these organizations. “On the University’s side, this came up as a result of multiple reports of conduct violations that were tied to the unrecognized organizations,” Adams said. “Meanwhile, both national organizations reached out to ask when we would be ready to begin discussions about recolonization. When I shared what was happening on campus, there was agreement that we need to address these issues first.” During the 2013-2014 academic year, the national charters of both Kappa Sigma and Sigma Nu were suspended from Wake Forest due to alcohol and hazing violations, according to the Office of Student Engagement. Without a charter, these unrecognized groups do not have liability insurance, alcohol and risk management training nor the right to use the name or symbols of that organization. Panhellenic sorority presidents and correspondents have recently been reminded by the Office of Student Engagement of the liability risks of conducting social events with these unrecognized organizations.
See Unrecognized Fraternities, Page 6
Women’s March co-chairs discuss movement’s future In their first public appearance since the march,Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Linda Sarsour call for action BY LAUREN BARBER Staff Writer barblp0@wfu.edu
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the university’s Black History Month keynote speakers and national co-chairs of the Women’s March on Washington spoke in Wait Chapel. Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Linda Sarsour joined Professor Melissa HarrisPerry for a discussion about their experiences organizing the Women’s March and
steps moving forward in their first pubLast year, McIntosh organized the first lic appearance together since the march. Black History Month calendar by bringing The day after the presidential inaugura- together a new committee of faculty, staff tion, 4.2 million people marched across and students. As student chair, she wanted to the country in the streets of the capitol in what was the largest demonstration in the think intentionally about this year’s national history of the U.S. Junior Nia McIntosh theme, “The Crisis in Black Education.” and senior Sydni Williams introduced the panelists and moderator to the audience. See March, Page 5