Midweek Musings

In this Issue:

• Upcoming health and safety inspections in the residence halls
• A few large events coming up soon:
  • aWake All Night – Sept. 5
  • Arrive and Thrive – Sept. 10
  • Humans vs. Zombies at ZSR – Sept. 12
  • Superman Movie on Manchester Plaza (lower quad) – Sept. 12
• September is National Recovery Month

It’s another lovely weather day in Winston-Salem. But temps will creep up Friday and Saturday to nearly 90 degrees before returning to the high 70s next week. Saturday’s football game against Western Carolina is a 2 p.m. kickoff, which will be in the hotter part of the day. All our Screamin Demons and fans should dress appropriately (and the mom in me encourages everyone to use sunscreen).

On to today’s news!

Upcoming health and safety inspections in the residence halls

Resident students were sent an email about upcoming health and safety inspections. It read, in part: “As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and healthy living environment for all residents, Health and Safety Inspections will take place between Monday, September 8 and Thursday, September 11. During this time, staff will enter all rooms for a quick visual check to make sure everything is in line with health and safety standards.”

Students should read that email completely to be aware of all details and to avoid potential violations.

A few large events coming up soon:

I was taking a look at The Link’s events calendar (The Link is our student engagement platform where organizations and clubs post upcoming events).

There are a few large scale events coming up in the next couple of weeks and I thought I would mention a few here so interested Deacs can plan ahead:

aWake All Night – Sept. 5

This Friday from 8-11 p.m., the Benson Center will be the place to be for aWake All Night:

“Join Student Union in Benson for a Monte Carlo Casino-themed event! Bring your friends to play poker, blackjack, roulette, and more! Have the chance to win exciting prize baskets, make your very own license plate, and enjoy food and drinks!”

Definitely a good option for your Deacs to have some fun this Friday.

Arrive and Thrive – Sept. 10

I saw this event notice for Arrive and Thrive. This one is always fun!

“Discover how to truly thrive at Wake Forest by joining us for Arrive & Thrive! This dynamic event brings together campus partners dedicated to supporting your success across all 8 Dimensions of Wellbeing: social, spiritual, occupational, financial, intellectual, physical, environmental, and emotional.

Interact directly with various campus offices, gain valuable insights into available resources, and learn how to foster a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling student experience.

The first 100 attendees can build a customizable Wake Ready kit, a clear bag packed with useful items to kickstart your journey to wellbeing at Wake Forest. And yes, there will be popsicles!”

This will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10 on south campus on the lower quad (aka Manchester plaza).

Humans vs. Zombies at ZSR – Sept. 12

If you have never played Humans vs. Zombies, it is a lot of fun. And your Deacs have a chance to play next week; here is the scoop:

“Join us for another zombie apocalypse at ZSR Library! Humans vs Zombies, an action-packed role playing game of tag, has been a library tradition since 2010. For more information on this event and to see the official “rules”, check out our website.

This event is open to all WFU students (WFU ID and signed release forms are required of every participant).”

Humans vs. Zombies will be next Friday night, Sept. 12 from 7-9 in the ZSR Library.

Superman Movie on Manchester Plaza (lower quad) – Sept. 12

Who wouldn’t like a movie outdoors? This is bound to be a lot of fun, and might be a great option for students who love superhero movies and/or want a low key, relaxing activity.

“Looking to do something fun and relaxing on a Friday night? Show up to our movie premiere of James Gunn’s Superman at sunset happening on Manchester Plaza! There will also be a chance to stuff your own plush, so show up early at 7:00 pm before supplies run out. Light food and snacks will be served.”

This will be next Friday, Sept. 12 from 7-10 p.m. on Manchester Plaza/the lower quad.

September is National Recovery Month

Did you know September is National Recovery Month? “September has been recognized as National Recovery Month since 1989. It is a time to celebrate and promote recovery from substance use disorders and mental health challenges. The month highlights the successes of those in recovery, raises awareness about the importance of treatment and support services, and helps reduce the stigma surrounding these conditions.”

There is a Recovery Month display in ZSR right before you enter Smith’s Cafe, and ZSR has also helped curate a reading list for Deacs who are interested in hearing more about the experiences of people in recovery.

We also have a robust Collegiate Recovery Community on campus as well as sober tailgates. My friend and colleague Jonah Neville, Assistant Director of Substance Use and Recovery Support, created an online form that will allow people to anonymously pledge to support Deacs in Recovery (it just a simple statement of support, not any sort of monetary pledge). If the spirit moves you, offer a word of encouragement. I think Jonah said it best when he said he wants to “ensure Wake Forest University is a recovery friendly campus where all students in recovery can thrive and belong.”

This one hits close to home for me because I have family members who would not be living happy adult lives without the recovery programs they belong to. Perhaps your family knows too. But I am grateful for these resources for students who need them.