Gray Thursday
In this Issue:
- Chat apps like Group Me and WhatsApp and recent phishing
- New Wake Forest quantum lab takes research to the next level
- Upcoming events:
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- aWake All Night – MONOPOLY
- University Theatre: The Firebugs
- Connect and Cultivate in the Campus Garden
- Harvest Moon Festival
Temps remain cool here in Winston-Salem. I am finding the cool days delightful (my students say notsomuch). It was rainy and gray a good bit of the day, with a high of only 64. The rest of this week will be warmer and sunny, but still only mid- to high-70s. My hope is all our students spend some time outdoors in our many beautiful outdoor spaces.
Here’s the news of the day. Dig in!
Chat apps like Group Me and WhatsApp and recent phishing
The following item ran in the WFU Should Know student enewsletter today, and I wanted to share it here. Phishing scams are an unfortunate reality, and our IS team wants to make sure that all students are aware of this scam that is being seen with chat apps like GroupMe or WhatsApp:
“Student groups at Wake Forest using chat apps like GroupMe or WhatsApp have recently been a target of phishing scams. If your club or organization uses these apps, stay alert! Here are a few quick tips to keep your group safe:
- If possible, adjust the settings so only verified Wake Forest University accounts can join.
- Limit member data collection; only ask for names and WFU emails.
- Trust your gut. If someone without a WFU email asks to join, do not accept the request.
- Never share personal or financial details inside these apps.
If you suspect a phishing attempt or an unauthorized member, report it to Wake Forest Information Security at .”
New Wake Forest quantum lab takes research to the next level
This news about a new research lab caught my eye today:
“With the debut of its new Nano and Quantum Technologies Laboratory (NanoteQ), Wake Forest gains a critical edge in quantum computing research.
NanoteQ includes the University’s first ISO 5-certified clean room. And that provides the tightly controlled space needed for creating and studying the silicon-based qubits that make quantum computing possible.
The facility hosts cross-disciplinary research by undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs and faculty, as well as guest scientists and corporate partners.
‘Physics is becoming the physics of information, and this laboratory is going to play a deeper and deeper role,’ said David Carroll, Wake Forest physics professor and NanoteQ director.”
Upcoming Events:
If your Deac is looking for something to do this weekend, there are a variety of fun options coming up:
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival will be tomorrow (Friday 9/25) from 4:30-5:30 in Benson 410:
“The Mid-Autumn Festival is made for international Chinese students, students learning Chinese, and the broader campus to exchange information regarding conceptions around this traditional festival, to learn more about it. The event will include traditional cuisine, including Moon Cakes, as the students discuss to further their information about this festival. There will also be a lot of background information about the traditional history surrounding this event.”
aWake All Night – MONOPOLY
And for those who want to have a night of game themed fun, head to Benson 401 tomorrow night from 8-11 p.m. in Room 401:
“aWake All Night is a fun late-night opportunity for students to come together as a community and enjoy a themed-late night event experience. This year’s aWake All Night is MONOPOLY THEMED!!! Stop by from 8 pm to 11 pm, with snacks, desserts, arcade-themed games, a cash tube, and some casino games, and more!”
University Theatre: The Firebugs
The University Theatre will be presenting The Firebugs by Max Frisch, directed by Brook Davis, on September 25-26 and October 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. and September 27 and October 4 at 2:00 p.m. on the Tedford Stage:
“Woe to us! Fires are blazing everywhere! A chorus of firefighters and all the newspapers warn of dangerous arsonists on the loose. The upstanding Gottlieb and Babette Biedermann invite two strangers (who smell of gasoline) into their comfortable home to sleep in their attic. Surely these charmers can’t be the firebugs. . .
Max Frisch’s funny and pointed political satire warns of the perils of complacency and playing it safe in a dangerous, combustible world.”
Our theatre productions are remarkable: tremendous student talent in not just acting but set design, lighting, costuming, and more. So families, if you will be in town (whether for Family Weekend or another time), be sure to check it out. And student readers, it’s always amazing to see talents in your classmates that you might not realize they had – so support your friends and peers and go see The Firebugs too!
Connect and Cultivate in the Campus Garden
To take a break from studying and get out in nature, there is an opportunity Sunday afternoon from 3-4 p.m. in the Campus Garden:
“Connect and Cultivate is a great way to meet new people and get involved on campus while enjoying the nice weather! Practice the fundamentals of gardening, join your peers in productive work that helps alleviate hunger, and learn about the connections between sustainable agriculture and climate change.
No experience required; just come with closed-toed shoes, clothes you are comfortable working in, and a water bottle for hot afternoons.”
Harvest Moon Festival
To close out the weekend, the Harvest Moon Festival is Sunday evening:
“Join us from 5 to 7 p.m. in Benson 401 for an enchanting evening celebrating the rich tapestry of Asian cultures at A.S.I.A.’s Annual Harvest Moon Festival! Experience captivating performances by talented student groups, explore interactive activities hosted by various cultural organizations, and indulge in an incredible array of authentic Asian cuisine from across the continent—all completely free! This signature A.S.I.A. event welcomes everyone to come together under the harvest moon and celebrate the themes of gratitude, community, and cultural connection that unite us all.”
That is not everything that is happening this weekend, of course – just a little taste of what is to come. Wishing all our Deacs a great end to their week!