Tuesday Roundup
One of the things I appreciated as a student (and now as a staff member) is just how much art we have on campus. We have a huge number of works in the Benson Center, Reynolda Hall, and other buildings, and that art adds exponentially to the beauty of our campus. It also gives our students the opportunity to engage with those works every day, in a casual way, and increase their appreciation of art. There is a great new story out about the renaming of our student art collection: it will now be the Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art in honor of John Reece’s father – the founder of the collection, and a major name in Wake Forest history (he was the Dean of Men back in the day). Here’s a quote from the story:
“‘The works students acquire on these trips get people talking and thinking,’ said Kayla Amador, assistant director of the Hanes Gallery and a participant in the 2017 art-buying trip. ‘And as time progresses, the context of each artwork purchased will develop and change. Over six decades, students have chosen works to reflect the times. Ensuring that these works are well-cared for means that conversations will continue to happen as each new generation has an opportunity to experience the art.’”
For our P’25s and families of transfer students this spring, Letters So Dear went out yesterday to our first year students and new transfer students. Our student letter writer has three pieces of good advice – short and sweet – and spot on.
This morning I learned of a potentially exciting opportunity for students: “ESG@Wake: Competition Kick-Off: Join us for a special kick-off event to celebrate Wake’s inaugural ESG student competition. The event will be held Feb. 23 at 8:30 a.m. in Farrell Hall – Room A27/A28. Windstream CEO and Wake Forest MBA alumnus Tony Thomas will be the guest speaker. A top-rated U.S.-based private telecommunications firm, Windstream has earned top ratings for ESG performance. Students can RSVP today or learn more at this flyer (including information about a $25,000 competition).
Resident students received a message today from Residence Life and Housing about the adjusted closing date for residence halls this spring.
I have told you that I am doing the Sleepin’ Deacon Challenge to try and improve my sleep habits, and that I would share some tips. Each morning, we are asked to assess our sleep practices from the night before, and here are the types of things we are encouraged to do (or not do). Perhaps these would be helpful to you (or your Deac!)
Schedule sleep into your calendar (i.e., have a planned, regular bedtime)
Wake up at the same time every day
Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night
No caffeine before bedtime; avoid large meals too
Avoid electronics 1 hour before bedtime
Charge your phone/tablet/laptop away from your bed
Have a soothing ritual before going to bed (that could be reading or meditating or stretching), or use a calming aid (e.g., aromatherapy/candle, applying lotion, etc.)
Make your room a stress-free zone. Part of that includes having your room dark and quiet for sleep, but it also means using your bed only for sleep (so don’t read a book, or watch tv, or scroll on your device, only use the bed for sleep).
Be sure to exercise at least 30 minutes a day
I have been doing pretty well with the first half of the list (though some of it feels a bit cheaty to me: I have been dealing with Long COVID since October, so I am *always* tired at night and sleep comes easy), but the steering clear from electronics for an hour before bed is soooooooo hard for me. I suspect avoiding electronics might be the hardest for our students doing the Sleepin’ Deacon Challenge too.
Our men’s basketball team heads down I-40 to Durham tonight to take on the Duke Blue Devils at home. Cameron Indoor Stadium is a small but mighty arena, and the student section is always dialed up to 11. Daily Deacdom, hope you can watch the game (7 pm on ESPN) and put out a lot of positive energy and support for our Deacs to play their very best!
— by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)