Students come together to celebrate Springfest — Chris Caswell
Students came together this week to participate in various activities to celebrate the spring season as part of Student Union’s traditional Springfest.
“Springfest has become one of Wake Forest’s most beloved traditions on campus,” said Nia McIntosh, chair of the Festivals committee of Student Union. “Dating back to 1976, Springfest has been well-attended by man generations of Wake Forest students. This year, the Festivals committee of Student Union is excited to keep this valued event alive with a jam-packed week full of fun activities that will appeal to all students on campus.”
Student Union has planned activities each day of the week, – the first on Monday – culminating in “Shag on the Mag,” an annual dance held in a tent on Manchester Plaza.
“Springfest is one of my favorite Student Union activities of the year because of the large turnout it produces, and it creates an even stronger sense of community,” said sophomore Preston Bowers.
On Monday, Springfest opened with a midday ice cream and cake social go get students excited for the other activities of the week.
“It’s a good way to welcome the new season,” said freshman Ryan Grady. “I think the campus is livelier with the nicer weather.”
Student Union hosted a movie on Tuesday night on the Magnolia Quad with a showing of “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” Students had the opportunity to watch the movie outdoors on a large projection screen.
On Wednesday, students flocked to Davis Field to attend “The Golden Exchange,” one of the most anticipated events.
Food trucks parked next to the field, and there were a variety of activities such as a rock climbing wall, a fortune teller and treasure hunts.
Many students, however, were most excited about the petting zoo.
“I was very impressed with the petting zoo, specifically the camel and the baby kangaroo,” Bowers said.
Freshman Kai Lin also enjoyed the petting zoo, but his favorite was the rock climbing wall.
The event was well attended by both students and children from the community.
Students gathered in the Barn on Thursday to show off their artistic talents.
“Be it spoken word, rap, bands, solo artists or a capella groups,” said McIntosh. “We have very talented students who excel in the arts.”
There were approximately 30 attendees at the event, but people came and went throughout the two hours-long event.
“It was pretty fun, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves,” said freshman Noah Shea.
Springfest will culminate in “Shag on the Mag” on Friday evening. Students will pack into a tent on the Magnolia Quad to shag dance.
“Shag on the Mag is special, because there is no other event quite like it,” McIntosh said. “This event not only helps bring the campus community together, but it also provides an opportunity for a variety of community members to converse in a safe environment.”
Students like Bowers are excited for it, too.
“‘Shag on the Mag’ is an awesome party for all students to be together,” Bowers said. “Last year, it was really fun, so I have high expectations for it this year as well.”
Chris Caswell/ Old Gold & Black
Food hardship –Chris Caswell
According to a report released today by the Food Action and Research Center, almost 35 percent of households with children in Winston-Salem struggle to buy enough food for their families.
Clinton takes North Carolina
By Chris Caswell, Annabel Love, Bennett Brownlow, Brandon Liu, Karlee Spirit, Merritt Enright
Hillary Clinton is one step closer to the Democratic nomination as she beat opponent Bernie Sanders in North Carolina, Florida and Ohio early on tonight with incomplete results. Shortly before 8:30 p.m., CNN projected Clinton to win North Carolina’s delegates.
With 81 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton had 54.7 percent, and Sanders had 40.7 percent of the vote.
“Because of all of you and our supporters across the country, our campaign has earned more votes than any other candidate – Democrat or Republican,” Clinton said in a victory speech at 9 p.m.
Looking towards the general election, Clinton made several jabs at Republican front-runner, Donald Trump.
Though Sanders votes came up short, he still mobilized considerable support with about 40 percent of the Democratic vote.
“Peoples’ hearts are with Sanders, but some figured that he can’t win so they will side with Hillary,” said Allan Louden, chair of the Communication Department.
Sanders’ campaign was highly visible outside The Arts Council Theatre, a Winston-Salem polling place.
“As a first-year law school student, I already have about $100,000 of debt that is going to weigh down on me for at least, what, 10 years?” said Sanders volunteer Andrew Jacobson. “Bernie is just catching a bad rap, because he’s slightly more progressive than the norm.”
Sanders has done well capturing the youth vote. Many around Wake Forest’s campus were disappointed in his loss.
“Bernie has a way of grabbing attention — I was super apathetic and desensitized to politics before hearing Bernie’s speeches,” said freshman Grace Kim. “I feel like Bernie really addressed many of my concerns, and he is super inspiring.”
About fifteen people – ten students and five adults – watched the results in the Pro Humanitate house.
Many were not surprised to see Clinton win.
“If she wasn’t, something would be very wrong,” said junior Ryan Wolfe, a John Kasich supporter.
A group of both Republicans and Democrats also watched the results of the election in Kirby Hall.
Junior Connor Rubin, from Michigan, was excited to see North Carolina’s Democratic results. He raised his arms and the air and cheered when CNN called the election for Clinton.
“I think she’s pragmatic. I think she’s tough, and I think she has the right ideas to move the country forward,” said Rubin. “It’s important to have more than just pie-in-the-sky ideas — it’s important to have an actual actionable plan.”
Clinton’s campaign has hit close to home for Demon Deacons. Former President Bill Clinton visited Wake Forest to campaign for his wife on Sunday.
“I’ve always been pretty “Hillary,” but after hearing Bill speak the other day and explain that she was basically going to continue Bill and Obama’s agendas, I was sold,” said Wake Forest junior and Democratic voter Khaki Wade.
The event, sponsored by the university’s “Wake the Vote” program, was open to the public, however, most of the event’s attendees were college-aged.
About 200-300 people attended the event, but many more were turned away, because the venue filled up quickly. The line started at the main entrance of the School of Law and wrapped around the building, almost to the University Blvd. entrance to campus.
“Would it be a good thing to have the first woman president?” asked Bill Clinton. “Yes, it would. But the real reason you ought to be for her is, especially those of you who are younger, who have more tomorrows than yesterdays, is that she is the single best change-maker I have ever had anything to do with.”
Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio also took to the polls Tuesday. Hillary Clinton went into today’s primary with 768 delegates, leading Sanders by 214 (excluding superdelegates).
The feasibility of Sanders’ proposals remain a central issue in the race; Clinton has often asserted that they are simply not affordable or sustainable. Sanders has often attacked Clinton for following President Obama too closely in hers.
A number of Sanders supporters watched the results come in from Hoot’s Roller Bar & Beer Co. Campaign volunteer, Danny Timpona bought other supporters a round of tequila shots after North Carolina’s Democratic primary was called.
“Even if we don’t get North Carolina, I will still vote,” said Sanders volunteer Amelia Spurlock from Winston-Salem. “I will not lay down and die. I will not be one of those people who doesn’t vote if their candidate doesn’t get elected.”
B-Matter — Chris Caswell
DEM15
Democrats took to the polls on March 15 in five states, including North Carolina, to cast their votes for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio also took to the polls Tuesday. Tuesday had the most primaries on a single day since “Super Tuesday” at the beginning of the month.
Hilary Clinton won 7 of 11 states over Bernie Sanders, particularly doing well with minorities. Sanders, on the other hand, has been carrying the youth vote. The feasibility of Sanders’ proposals remain a central issue in the race; Clinton has often asserted that they are simply not affordable or sustainable. Sanders, though, has often attacked Clinton for following President Obama too closely in her’s.
GOP15
Republicans took to the polls in North Carolina on Tuesday to select their presidential nominee. Other states, including Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and the Northern Mariana Islands also voted simultaneously.
Coming out of “Super Tuesday,” on March 1, where 11 states voted in the presidential primaries, one candidate stands out. Donald Trump won 7 of the 11 states, making his nomination likely.
Ted Cruz won 3 of those states, while Marco Rubio won 1 state. Cruz and Rubio have both focused their attacks on Trump in recent weeks as he maintains his momentum through “Super Tuesday.”
Both of them have criticized Trump for his “Trump University,” a business program started by Trump that is the subject of several lawsuits. Rubio has gone as far as calling Trump a con-man who took advantage of hard-working Americans.
VOTERS15
Democrats and Republicans in Winston-Salem took to the polls on Tuesday to vote inthe North Carolina Democratic and Republican primaries.
This was the first election since the new 2013 voter ID law took effect in North Carolina. This law forces voters to show a valid government ID in order to cast a ballot.
The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the state for the law, claiming that it discriminates against African-Americans, disproportionately limiting their voting rights.
Reflection — Chris Caswell
My second story was an interesting experience, because it was my first time covering a speech or discussion. Before, I had only covered press releases or features on different student organizations. One challenge I discovered in covering an event like the College Republican one was that since I could not record it, it was just difficult to write down quotes fast enough without butchering them.
It was very interesting, despite this challenge, covering and learning more about a public figure such as Guillory. It was fascinating learning about his experiences with civil rights and hearing how those experiences shaped his beliefs today.
Wake Forest College Republicans host former Louisiana state senator — Chris Caswell
Wake Forest College Republicans hosted former Louisiana state senator and congressional candidate, Elbert Guillory on Feb. 12.
Guillory has drawn considerable interest across the country due to his multiple changes in party affiliation. According to The Daily Advertiser, a Louisiana newspaper, Guillory was a registered Republican prior to 2007. In 2007, he switched to the Democratic Party when he first ran for the state House. Then in 2013, he returned to the Republican Party.
In 2013, he released a video explaining his choice to switch affiliations. In the video, he explains that he believes the Republican Party is better for blacks.
“The left is only concerned with one thing: control,” Guillory says. “Programs such as welfare, food stamps; these programs aren’t designed to lift black Americans out of poverty. They were always intended as a mechanism for politicians to control the black community.”
At the College Republicans event, instead of giving a speech, Guillory encouraged an open discussion, but he began by introducing himself and talking about the events in his life that shaped his career and beliefs as a politician.
According to Guillory, he was arrested at a public library when he was 15 years-old. He was arrested for sitting in the library after the librarian refused to let him check out a book. He has said in a previous interview with the National Review that this was a driving force in his life, leading him to public service.
Guillory mentioned another important event in his life, too. At the age of 17, Guillory was the Editor-in-chief of his school’s newspaper, but a year later, he was expelled from his school at gunpoint because of articles he wrote about civil rights.
Guillory was shaped by these discriminatory events, but he emphasized that the U.S. has changed a lot since then.
“The United States is not perfect, but it’s come a long way in my lifetime,” said Guillory. “I’m not sure it ever will be [perfect], but it’s the best thing on Planet Earth.”
Though Guillory thinks the country has come a long way in his lifetime, he still believes it faces important challenges ahead.
When asked what he thought the biggest single issue was facing the U.S. today, he responded with funding, in particular, the national debt.
“It will affect every decision Americans make over the next decade,” said Guillory. “There is no money for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Students asked Guillory what the government can do to control the deficit and what programs should be cut back. He responded that it must put a ceiling on debt and should cut back on “just about everything.” An example Guillory gave was social security. He said that the government should cut it back, because it is unstable and unsustainable.
Another issue that he spoke of is education. Guillory said that the American education system has deteriorated over the past several decades.
He compared scores from his community – amid the civil rights movement – to now and claimed that scores were worse now than when “separate but equal” was still legal in schools. Guillory said that education is an area in which the U.S. must improve to compete globally.
“We cannot compete on an international basis, and we can’t grow anything, like the economy, with an illiterate country,” said Gillory.
Later on, when asked how exactly he proposes the government strengthen schools, he said schools should take disruptive children out of the classroom so other can learn.
“The federal government said that the bad kid has to stay in the classroom,” Guillory said. “They should put that kid in a better environment.”
However, he also said that, in response to a question about Common Core standards, that the federal government should leave guidelines on education to states.
The College Republicans were, overall, pleased with the discussion.
“Senator Guillory spoke extensively on ways in which the left has created a culture of dependence that is harmful to American welfare as a whole and detrimental to equality,” said Joe Macy, President of College Republicans. “We hope his legacy will reach across several generations to renew core values to ensure a better future.”
Another student shared Macy’s enthusiasm for the event.
“It was a wonderful chance for Wake Forest students to get a good perspective from a sitting senator,” said graduate student Eric Henderson. “For me, it’s nice to see a good turnout, because a young crowd isn’t privy (sic) to participating in politics.”
Media in journalism — Chris Caswell
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/us/severe-weather-threat-for-southeast/index.html
This article described the damage a severe storm caused. It has a video of the damage.
WFU Beat — Chris Caswell
Primary sources
Penny Rue, VP of Campus Life
Michelle Gillespie, Dean of the College
Adam Goldstein, Dean of Students
Melissa Harris-Perry, Director Pro Humanitate Institute
Provost Kersh
Info sources
news.wfu.edu
events.wfu.edu
Winston-Salem Journal
Chronicle of Higher Education
OGB
Ideas
WFUBMC 3D printing body parts
98% graduates employed
Wake Forest research aims to prevent overuse injuries (DOD Grant)
Reflection — Chris Caswell
Writing this news story was challenging, but it was also the most rewording one I’ve written. I was somewhat nervous at first whether I could get the sources I needed to write an accurate profile of the since the people that Alexander Literary Organization influence the most are in a maximum security prison. But, it ended up being easier than I thought. I asked the president of the organization for a contact person at the prison and emailed him for a good time to call and mentioned that I would like to get a quote from an inmate if I could. Once he understood what I was working on, the coordinator at the prison was very helpful and even brought an inmate to the phone for me to speak to. Hearing him talk about the program’s influence on him made that interview the most powerful and moving one I’ve done. Once I talked to my two sources in the prison, it felt like the story wrote itself.
Brandon Liu edited on my story, and he was very helpful. He pointed out some sentences that did not flow well and just had awkward wording.
