4 Weeks Until FDOC (First Day of Classes)
In this Issue:
- ’29s and P’29s: Club Sports webinar tomorrow at 6 p.m.
- Mentally, we’re here
- As classic film “Sunset Boulevard” celebrates its 75th, WFU expert’s new book garners national attention
- Great outdoor spaces on south campus
Greetings from a very warm Winston-Salem! Our stretch of hot days continues – my car thermometer read 101 when I got in it around 2:15 p.m. today – but there is a tantalizingly cool forecast coming up later this week:
Temps in the 70s? YES, PLEASE!
This cool weather coincides with when I will be helping move my ’27 into a townhouse in Raleigh, so you’d best believe I am happy about this forecast!
Let’s get to today’s news!
’29s and P’29s: Club Sports webinar tomorrow at 6 p.m.
I received word that tomorrow our Club Sports program is hosting a webinar for new students and families (though I guess theoretically any student or family could attend). If you have a Deac interested in Club Sports, tune in if you can. Details are below.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Jul 29, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: WFU Club Sports Webinar
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android; see details
Mentally, we’re here
FDOC (First Day of Classes) is 4 weeks from today. There was a fun video on our wfuniversity Instagram account showing some glimpses of the fall semester and what your Deacs might see/do. The caption in the video was “Mentally, we’re here” and I love the sentiment in the actual Instagram post: “Counting down the days until you return to the Forest, Deacs!”
I couldn’t agree more!
As classic film “Sunset Boulevard” celebrates its 75th, WFU expert’s new book garners national attention
This one is for the classic movie fans out there:
“Professor Emeritus of Art History David M. Lubin is drawing national attention with his forthcoming book, ‘Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of “Sunset Boulevard” and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream.’ Set to release on August 12, the upcoming publication is generating coverage in major media outlets, underscoring its contribution to film history and American culture.
The movie resonated with Lubin’s students, and several reviewed and shared feedback on the book in its draft form….
‘Ready for My Close-Up’ offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at Billy Wilder’s 1950 cinematic masterpiece, “Sunset Boulevard.” Pre-release coverage highlights the book’s detailed research and insightful analysis of the film. The book made The Wall Street Journal’s list of ‘Summer books to get lost in,’ and the LA Times’ list of ‘30 Must-Read Books for Summer.’”
Great outdoor spaces on south campus
I snapped a few pics of the south portion of campus this afternoon. The Mag Quad (aka Manchester Plaza) has a series of Adirondack chairs in the lawn, string lighting, and fire tables for students to use (during cooler times!), plus our big tent with picnic tables.
Our students will be able to make use of these great outdoor spaces for most of the school year, given our climate. Particularly in the first weeks of school, when people are trying to meet each other and either make or renew the ties of friendship, consider these outdoor gathering spaces rather than staying in your own room. They are particularly beautiful in the sunset and early twilight hours.
And a bonus pic of one of the magnolias in bloom. I pulled it down to me to smell it and it was maybe a little past its peak scent beauty, but still lovely.
