A sporty morning walk

October 19, 2020

by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. ('92, MA '94)

It’s a new week, Daily Deacdom. Let’s meet it with a smile!

A message went out to undergraduate students (and later to parents and families) about end-of-semester updates and information about the spring semester; read it here. There is a lot to digest in this message, so I encourage everyone to read it thoroughly.

Today’s edition of Weekly Messages for First-Year Families is about health and wellbeing. The companion piece, Letters So Dear for ’24s, is available here. In addition, a message went out to residents of Deacon Place about vehicle break ins and there was a message to students who petitioned to stay after the 11/24 closure of campus.

A couple of key traditions that your students can get involved with if interested:

Project Pumpkin will take place on Wednesday, October 28 from 4-7 p.m. Because of the pandemic, this year will be a drive-thru experience with social distancing guidelines, rather than being on the Quad. Despite the change in format, this will still be a great and festive occasion. The event – which has always hosted children on Halloween for trick-or-treating – is open to the public, with candy issued in single-serve bags on a first-come, first-serve basis until supplies last. More event details coming soon. Students can sign up to contribute decorations or decorate their own vehicle here. The Office of Civic and Community Engagement will be accepting candy donations via a dropbox outside Benson 506 through Friday, Oct. 23.

Wake ‘N Shake – which is our 12 hour dance marathon each spring – now has its Committee Applications live. Students can complete this form and submit their application to join a committee; must be done by October 23 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

This week is virtual Homecoming events. You can see what the Office of Alumni Engagement has to offer alumni (and alumni families) on their website. At minimum, you should watch this playing of the alma mater on our carillon. It gives you a view inside the tower of Wait Chapel and some impressive views from the top. There are also Homecoming events for students.

This past weekend was another stunner weather-wise. My sophomore in high school (affectionately referred to here as hopeful Class of ’27 Deac) and I traversed the campus in the very early morning hours. We explored parts of campus that are not as frequently-walked (such as the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex), or had especially scenic views (such as the space between Magnolia and Dogwood halls towards Wait Chapel), or had great statues (Arnold Palmer at the golf complex, and the big Deacon at Wellman Plaza, right in front of the McCreary Football Field House, Sutton Sports Performance Center, and Shah Basketball Complex). Class of ’27 and I loved seeing the masks on Arnold Palmer and the Deacon.

We also hit up the Quad, which had been lightly rolled following our football win over Virginia. As much as I have loved rolling the Quad, it is hard to roll the Quad and still be socially distant, so perhaps it is wisest to skip that tradition right now (we reminded students a few weeks ago via the Your Corona Chronicle that “there’s been a toilet paper shortage… keep your roll in the house and keep us here for the next game.”) A few pictures of what we saw during our weekend walk are below.

Arnold Palmer Golf Complex Statue of Arnold Palmer at the Golf Complex bearing his name Close up of Arnold Palmer statue with mask Hopeful future student at the statue of the Deacon. Both are masked. Demon Deacon statue at Wellman Plaza Haddock Golf house Dianne Dailey golf house Rolled quad after football win Wait Chapel as seen through Magnolia and Dogwood hall sidewalk