Inside WFU – news for faculty and staff

Timely Warning: Sexual Offense Reported

September 17, 2018

This timely warning was e-mailed to students, faculty and staff on Sept. 17 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:

In order to promote safety on the Wake Forest University campus, the University is issuing this Timely Warning Notification concerning a possible threat to the community.

The Wake Forest University Police Department received two anonymous reports on the night of Sept. 16 alleging sexual assault occurred late last Friday night or early Saturday morning at 1101 Polo Road, a private property immediately off campus. University Police officials do not know if the two anonymous reports are about one alleged incident or two separate alleged incidents.

One report was made through the Silent Witness website, the other report was made by an anonymous phone call. Neither report identified the victim, possible assailants or witnesses.

It is not known if anyone involved is associated with Wake Forest.

The University Police Department is requesting information from anyone who might be able to provide more details about the alleged incident or incidents.  The emergency number for University Police is 336-758-5911; non-emergency is 336-758-5591. A person may provide information anonymously by using the University Police Department’s Silent Witness form.

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Theatre and Dance 2018-19 Season Tickets available

September 17, 2018

A guest post from Wake Forest Theatre and Dance

It’s time to buy season tickets for theatre and dance productions for the 2018-19 performance season.

Theatre season subscription passes are $40 for adults, $32 for senior citizens and WFU faculty/staff, and $20 for students. (Prices include NC sales tax.)

SEASON BENEFITS • Savings of at least 35% off single ticket prices • Opportunity to reserve your performance date and seat location before single tickets go on sale to the general public • Receive email notices about other Theatre events • Subscribers are invited to opening weekend receptions to meet the cast and production staff • Bonus free admission to student-produced spring Studio Series •

PURCHASE YOUR PASS TODAY • Call (ext. 5295) or visit the University Theatre Box Office Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. • Online through at college.wfu.edu/theatre • Email the Audience Services Coordinator at WFUTheatreTix@nullwfu.edu for more information •

Dance season subscription passes are available for $27 for adults, $22 for senior citizens, and $11 for students (NC sales tax to be charged at the end of the sale.)

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Hurricane Florence

September 13, 2018

This message was emailed today from President Hatch.

Dear Wake Forest students, faculty and staff,

Hurricane Florence is presenting many challenges for our state and region this weekend. But as with any challenge, we have an opportunity. As Wake Foresters, it is second nature for us to take good care of each other and lend a hand to those who need it. No matter what this storm may bring, I am confident that we will face it together as a campus community.

While current forecasts are increasingly favorable about the impact of the hurricane on Winston-Salem and our campus, please stay tuned to the alerts coming from our Wake Alert system and the local authorities. We will be making regular updates on the conditions as we have new information or if there are changes in the services that are available. While we expect it to be a smooth weekend, each of us will contribute to the safety of the whole campus by staying alert and acting responsibly.

As a father and a grandfather, I know what it is like to have loved ones far away in times of crisis. I know that many of you will be traveling to assist others this weekend. Some of you are volunteering at the Red Cross evacuation shelter at LJVM Coliseum. While the weather forecasts have become more sophisticated, we still cannot predict what might happen over the next few days, and we do not know the extent of what we may encounter in the region. Should you choose to leave the campus or the Winston-Salem area, please stay aware of the changing conditions around you and employ sound judgment.

Many of us have friends and loved ones close to the coast who will suffer the worst of Hurricane Florence and its aftermath. My thoughts are with you and those for whom you may be concerned.

I want to express deep gratitude on behalf of the entire campus to our University Police, Facilities and Campus Services staff, Campus Life staff and many other campus service providers. Their commitment to keeping those of us on campus safe, fed, healthy and productive over the next few days comes at the expense of their own friends and family. We appreciate their dedication.

With hope for a calm and uneventful weekend, take good care.

Sincerely,

Nathan O. Hatch
President

Soriano named a 2018 Influencer in Aging

September 13, 2018

Associate Professor of Dance and Associate Provost for Arts and Interdisciplinary Initiatives Christina Soriano has been named a 2018 Influencer in Aging by Next Avenue.

Soriano is one of 12 individuals recognized for their tireless work, passion and mission to unleash the potential power of older adults.

Soriano is the founder of IMPROVment ®, a program focused on physical and mental fitness for those with neurodegenerative diseases. Since 2012, she has led free weekly community dance classes in Winston-Salem for people living with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Along with Christina Hugenschmidt, an assistant professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Soriano recently received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a three-year clinical trial focused on improvisational dance. The goal is to learn how dance affects different body systems and to determine whether the movement aspect or the social engagement aspect — or both — affect quality of life in people with dementia.

“Shy of becoming a parent, this has been the most meaningful experience of my life. It all began with an invitation to do something I didn’t know anything about, but I want to continue doing this work, bringing it out there to others,” Soriano said.

Read more in this Q&A at Next Avenue.

Next Avenue is a national journalism service for America’s older population.

Chemistry professor awarded senior fellowship

September 12, 2018

Professor of Chemistry Akbar Salam has been awarded a Marie S. Curie External Senior Fellowship to be held at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Freiburg, Germany.

This fellowship is co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, People, Co-funding of regional, national and international programs (COFUND)” and the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Less than 20% of the applicant pool was funded.

Salam will spend Spring 2019 semester in Germany working on a project entitled “Development of Quantum Electrodynamical Theories of Resonance Energy Transfer.”