Friday Thoughts
I am out of the office today, so this is a pre-post.
In case you missed it, there was a great news story this week about Davis Feldman, a senior biology major from Charlotte. He is a certified EMT and will serve as chief of the WFU EMS group this year. After classes were moved to remote learning in the spring, he went to New York to work as a medic in a field hospital, all while maintaining his academics. It is a powerful story; read it here.
Father’s Day is this Sunday, so we want to celebrate all the Deac dads, stepdads, grandads, and men who play a special role in our Deacs’ lives. If you are still looking for a thoughtful Father’s Day gift, our own Dr. Linda Nielsen of Education was in the New York Times with her thoughts; read the article here. If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Nielsen’s three decades of research and teaching on father-daughter relationships, you can visit her website; she also has a new book out: Improving father-daughter relationships: A guide for women & their dads.
For any of you who – like me – have trouble remembering what day it is during this pandemic, there is a reason for that. Dr. Adrian Bardon of our Philosophy department explained that “being relaxed and having a routine means you are in ‘flow.’ Our pandemic lives have broken us out of that, and forced negative thoughts, which distorts our perception of time. ‘This state of rumination is closely associated with subjective reports of time slowing down and dragging by,’ he says.” Read the story here, or you can see Dr. Bardon’s A Brief History of the Philosophy of Time.
Finally, it is Juneteenth, a day that “honors and commemorates the freedom and emancipation of enslaved individuals.” A message was sent to the campus community today about the Slavery, Race, and Memory project; read it here. If you are observing, celebrating, or reflecting, may it be a meaningful day.
Stay safe and well, Daily Deacdom!
LATE EDIT: if you missed lastnight’s town hall, you can access it here.