03/05/2026 Full Edition

Old Gold&Black

“Covers the campus like

magnolia s ”

Forest as “high risk” institution

MIRIAM FABRYCKY Deputy Editor

Leaked photos of an internal U.S. Army email show Wake Forest appearing on a list of 33 “moderate to high risk” universities, CNN and Business Insider reported in February. It’s unclear what exactly the Army means by this designation, which comes shortly after the Defense Department announced it would end its academic partnerships with Harvard University.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would block service members from attending certain selective universities, including Princeton University, Columbia University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, Yale University and “many others.” Hegseth said the ban would come into effect for the 2026-2027 academic year; the Defense Department has not published a full list of affected institutions.

“No longer will we sit back and treat these woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination as valid centers of so-called intellectual curiosity,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

and professor of military science with the No Fear Training Corps (ROTC) program, said in an interthe Army is reassessing its partnerships with the university.

“The list that’s been circulated was a picture of Flach said. “The Army has published no list of high or moderate risk universities, so we don’t have any reason to believe that that’s the case.”

Even if the Army did cut academic ties with Wake Forest, Flach said he anticipated only minimal effects for enrolled service members and ROTC cadets.

“All other programs [beyond Harvard] are still under evaluation,” Flach said. “I do know that all current students in a funded program would be allowed to continue their education, even for the program at Harvard.”

“It doesn't have anything to do with undergraduate education programs or education assistance, and it certainly doesn't have anything to do with ROTC,” Flach continued. “So ROTC programs would remain in place.”

Wake Forest shares longstanding partnerships with the U.S. Army. During World War II, the then-College hosted the Army’s Advanced Finance School on its campus in Wake Forest, N.C. Following the war, a of the Army Chemical Corps Reserve at Wake Forest, which enrolled hundreds of students. Wake Forest maintained high ROTC participation over the next several decades.

Today, Wake Forest enrolls a handful of active-duty service members, usually in professional programs. 13 active and former military personnel attended the Wake Forest School of Law in Spring 2025.

“All those folks, even if the Army came out today and said that we were gonna follow the path that Harvard went down, they wouldn't be affected,” Flach said. “Veterans would still be able to use veterans’tion or discussion of any of that changing.”

One change that will take effect soon: Wake Forest ROTC will transition from a “host university” program to an extension unit of ROTC at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The move is driven by the Army’s reductions in force as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to shrink the federal government. Flach said the number of ROTC staff at Wake Forest “will be reduced slightly” but that the “student experience won’t change.”

“We'll still have full-time cadets. We'll still have scholarships,” Flach said. “They're still going to have class here, [physical training] here, leadership laboratory here… If anything, I would argue the cadet experience is going to improve from just additional diversity and additional access to resources.”

Old Gold & Black

This column represents the views of the multimedia director of the Old Gold & Black, Piper Saunders

Editorial: The value of original multimedia content

The past is supposed to look like

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Old Gold&Black

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SINCE 1916

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>> The the of letters to the editor. to the editor should should the the right to edit all letters for letters

Retired general and National Security Advisor emphasizes importance of teamwork and civic duty

ARIC LOIACONO Staff Writer

In a student-facing Face to Face speaker event in Wait Chapel on Feb. 26, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster drew from his 34 years in the U.S. Army and tenure as National Security Advisor to emphasize the importance of collaborative, mission-driven and Constitutional leadership.

implement the policies and decisions of your civilian bosses,” McMaster said. “Our democracy was founded on the radical idea that sovereignty lies with the people.”

A renowned strategist, McMaster served as National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2018. He left the White House after reportedly encountering leadership differences with the president.

Management master’s student Sailor Troutman and recent School of Business graduate Matthew Littrell moderated the event, which was hosted by Army ROTC cadet Reesa Devers.

his childhood in Philadelphia, recalling an early fascination with military history.

“I always just was drawn to the Army,” McMaster said. “I was just enthralled with the idea of being challenged and having the privilege of being part of missions bigger than myself. And then also having the leadership challenge of building cohesive teams that -

other.”

at the United States Military Academy reinforced his belief in the value of collective effort.

“It was really how the team plays together to determine the outcome more than any other factor,” McMaster said. “There’s not typically one great star.”

When asked about his service during the Gulf War, McMaster recounted the 1991 Battle of 73 Easting, in which his unit defeated an opposing Iraqi force against daunting odds.

we were able to destroy a force that was about ten times larger than us and suffered no casualties, thank God,” McMaster said.

He attributed the success to his unit’s rigorous preparation and the bonds they formed through that training.

“We trained together very, very intensely,” McMaster said. “You develop a mentality and a feeling for one another, almost like a family, and you don’t want to let the other members of your family down.”

When considering military strategy, McMaster said that combat readiness requires more than just technical training.

“Tactics are important, sure,” McMaster said. “But there must be a mental, moral and physical preparation for combat. Spiritual preparation for combat is just as important as well. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, fear is the worst thing that can happen in combat. It leads to hesitation, which can get you killed.”

The discussion later shifted to politics, with Mc-

Master urging students to reject hostility and prioritize thoughtful, substantive dialogue.

“I think the most important thing is to try to transcend the vitriolic kind of partisan discourse you see,” McMaster said. “It’s so sad to see facts get thrown in the trash bin, all because of a bias towards a certain party. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.”

Turning his focus to those currently serving in the military and government, McMaster advised public servants to uphold Constitutional principles. He warned of against one another.

“It undermines sovereignty,” McMaster said. “It undermines the Constitution.”

McMaster emphasized that leadership carries an obligation to provide candid advice.

“You owe that person your best advice,” McMaster said. “What the heck is advice anyway if you’re just telling someone what they want to hear? What I would do with President Trump was clarify what that person wants to achieve.”

“Mr. President, are these the right objectives?” he continued. “Is this the overarching goal? And then once he says yes, then you bring in the options.”

First-year Declan Flood said he appreciated McMaster’s remarks on Constitutional responsibility.

“It really made me think about how important it is to listen to different perspectives and focus on facts instead of just opinions,” Flood said.

Several attendees said McMaster’s insights from

“Hearing how he prepped his team for combat showed me that trust and teamwork are everything, even outside the military,” Winslow said.

Contact Aric Loiacono at loiaat25@wfu.edu

POLICE BEAT

• Subjects were playing beer pong, consuming alcoholic beverages and listening to music in a loud manner in Deacon Place Building 8. e report was led at 11:05 p.m. on Feb. 27.

• Student consumed alcohol underage at a party at a Deacon Place apartment. e report was led at 2:14 a.m. on March 1.

• Underage student consumed about 12 drinks at an unknown friend’s house and was transported to the hospital from Kitchen Residence Hall. e report was led at 4:14 a.m. on March 1.

Wake Forest launches new digital storytelling program

The 4+1 Content Creation and Strategic Storytelling master’s program teaches narrative skills to students across disciplines

SYDNEY GLENN News Editor

will soon be eligible for a new 4+1 skills of content creation and strategic storytelling. The program will allow

ing their senior year.

Film Program, said he was inspired to create the new degree after recog-

derstanding of how to tell compelling stories.

“We knew that gaining editing, cinematography and storytelling skillscited to see how these skills will be

this professional trend, Wake Forest

tical experience.

“We are coming to recognize that

ism professor Barry Yeoman said. “No

dents working towards the new mas-

chosen concentration and complete a

work and hands-on experience will

sights into their master’s before they

tion does,” Yeoman said. “These sets

Earning a bachelor’s degree and

ing.

“Starting the program as a senior makes the program more appealing

his leadership in creating the program. Yeoman said. “He can tell stories in -

“We are always looking for ways to become more ingrained into the

stown, we are already set apart from

skills. Recognizing the persistence of

gram.”

The program application deadline time to determine whether joining the them.

Contact Caroline Khalaf at khalca23@wfu.edu

Forbes ranks Wake Forest among America’s Best Large Employers

ARIC LOIACONO Staff Writer

Wake Forest ranks No. 59 on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best Large Employers. Released on Feb. 10 in partnership with Statista, the list draws its employees at organizations nationwide.

Wake Forest Vice President and Chief

They shared their experience honestly, and that tells me we’re doing some things right.”

how Wake Forest presents itself to pro-

the nomination corresponds well with

“It’s exciting for Wake Forest to get

recognition at that scale,” Tallant said. “When we’re talking with candidates, -

a great place to work. It’s another when Rogan said context matters when interpreting rankings like Forbes’ employer list.

est Baptist in the rankings,” Rogan said.

“It’s one of the largest employers in For-

to retirement, we want people to feel someone’s career, we want it to be a emphasized that employee experiencethat their work matters and that they’re belonging is something we really try to emphasize across departments.” Rogan stressed the importance of

still did pretty well.”

stages.

ployee lifecycle,” she said. “From on-

a whole.”

Contact Aric Loiacono at loiaat25@wfu.edu

CITY & STATE

Nick Costantino, costnp24@wfu.edu

OLD GOLD & BLACK

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2025

The sheriff who could oust one of N.C.’s most powerful politicians

State senate Republican primary heats up ahead of Election Day

DANIEL ADAMS Contributing Writer

Ahead of the March 3 election, one North Carolina Senate Republican primary is shaping up to be one of the most heated races in recent state history. In N.C. District 26, which comprises rural areas of the Piedmont Triad as well as parts of Greensboro, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page is challenging State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. The contest could upend the power structure of the state Republican party.

Polls show Berger, who’s served in the Senate since 2000, trailing Page, who’s served as sheriff since 1998, by a remarkable 30 points in their shared home county.

The race has devolved into an ugly intra-party fight marked by negative ad campaigns backed by millions in spending from the Republican State Leadership Committee and PACs.

These organizations, some of which a re not required to disclose their donors to the public, fan the flame of an already contentious primary.

“ is will undoubtedly be a national record for a legislative primary.

In 2025 alone, the N.C. True Conservatives PAC and American Conservative Fund put over $2.8 million towards promotional materials supporting Berger, according to State Board of Elections records. The sports wagering company DraftKings is a significant donor of the latter organization; the Berger-led Senate legalized sports betting in 2024.

The pro-Berger advertisements

criticize Sheriff Page for his support of the N.C. House Republicans' proposed budget, which Berger argues would inhibit future income tax cuts.

N.C. is the only state that does not currently have a budget; Gov. Josh Stein has attributed this failure to state Republican leaders.

Pro-Berger advertisements have also criticized Page’s oversight of the Rockingham County jail, which the state is currently investigating due to 12 inmate deaths over the past five years. Page also allegedly illegally transferred funds from jail vending machines into his own bank account, according to The Assembly.

While Berger outmatched Page handily in funding last year – $1.58 million to $29,000 – Page holds strong in the race, supported by community ties and name recognition in Rockingham County.

“He’s building off relationships from several decades in law enforcement, getting to know people on a

one-on-one basis. I think those relationships are clearly paying off,” political consultant Patrick Sebastian said. Sebastian works for Piedmont Accountability Coalition, which has funded anti-Berger advertisements.

“This will undoubtedly be a national record for a legislative primary, for the amount of outside money that's come in to support an incumbent,” he said.

Berger and Page’s intra-party vitriol reflects a deeper conflict within North Carolina’s Republican Party, much of which is rooted in disagreements over the state’s failed budget negotiations. As election day approaches on March 3, voters will decide between long-term leadership and a grassroots challenger, shaping the future of conservative politics in North Carolina.

Contact Daniel Adams at adamdj25@wfu.edu

The winter weather’s toll on Winston-Salem

As snow pummeled the region, businesses shut down

EVE DARKE Staff Writer

As Winston-Salem thaws from a historic winter and in-person classes are back in full swing on Wake Forest’s campus, the two weeks of inclement weather back in January may feel like a distant memory. For many Winston-Salem business owners and families, however, the back-to-back storms were difcult and carried lasting consequences.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools cancelled in-person classes for multiple days, opting for remote learning to prioritize student safety. Many businesses also faced di cult decisions.

NASCAR’s Cook Out Clash, for example, which attracted about 15,000 visitors in 2025, was expected to draw crowds to Winston-Salem again this January. Instead, the event was postponed to Feb. 4 amid accumulating snow and icy roads. is left local companies without their anticipated in ux of customers during a time when business in Winston-Salem is already low.

Tommy Priest, owner of Co ee Park Airstream, told WUNC news that the winter weather hurt many small businesses.

“If we get anything big in town, we

see spillover all across the spectrum,” Priest said. “ e restaurants pack up, the hotels, the beer shops de nitely pack up – especially with the Clash. It’s just a big hit.”

Another business that faced challenges was local Studio Aware Hot Yoga. Owner Nicolette Kourpias said the studio closed for two days and operated on a modi ed schedule afterward to prioritize safety for both instructors and members.

“ e recent snowfall was beautiful, but it also made things stressful for small businesses like Aware,” Kourpias said. Having grown up in Maryland, she said she used to view winter storms as routine.

“We played in it, drove in it and life carried on,” Kourpias said. “My mom grew up in Nebraska and still talks about walking to school through blizzards. But Winston-Salem is di erent. We don’t have the same snow removal resources, and many people aren’t used to driving in those conditions, which can make it unsafe.”

She continued: “We’re in the business of stress relief, so not being able to open our doors — when people needed it most – was incredibly hard. But the reality is, even our team was impacted

Inclement weather caused Wake Forest to shutter inperson classes for almost two weeks in mid-January.

– two of our instructors couldn’t leave their driveways for over a week. Ultimately, our responsibility is to support wellbeing, and that includes making decisions that keep both our members and team safe.”

The snow may have lasted only days, but even brief closures and postponements led to real economic and person -

al costs for many. As spring approaches, the city is hopeful that warmer weather will bring renewed foot tra c and spending. For students and residents alike, the return to normalcy presents an opportunity to show up and support our community.

Eve Darke at darkev23@wfu.edu

Civil legal aid in N.C. still frozen as legislature remains gridlocked

North Carolina is the only state with no IOLTA funding

NICK COSTANTINO City & State Editor

Lawmakers in Raleigh halted access to a state program that funds free civil legal services in June 2025. at funding is still frozen, leading many civil legal aid services in North Carolina to lay o sta and close o ces.

“Fewer legal aid attorneys mean more individuals will appear in court without representation, resulting in longer hearings, more continuances and increased administrative burdens on clerks, judges and attorneys,” the North Carolina State Bar stated in November.

What is IOLTA?

Although there is a constitutional right to an attorney in criminal cases, there exists no such right for civil cases, such as for domestic violence and disaster relief lawsuits. Without access to an attorney, plainti s struggle to adequately advocate for themselves in court.

For example, victims of domestic violence cases who have an attorney representing them in court are 2.5 times more likely to get protective orders, according to a study by the American Bar Association. Civil legal aid services have also been instrumental in western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.

e Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) framework seeks to ll this gap by drawing funding from trust accounts – not taxpayer dollars. 49 states currently support the program. N.C. does not. e funding freeze will remain in e ect until at least June 30, at which point the N.C. legislature will have to decide whether it wants to continue the freeze or open access to the funding. e General Assembly has yet to pass a statewide budget for 2025-2027 and plans to meet in a short legislative session in April to resolve this issue.

Nonpro t provider feels e ects

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC), the largest nonpro t provider of civil legal aid in North Carolina, said they lost approximately $6.3 million in funding due to the IOLTA freeze. In November, the nonpartisan organization laid o 45 sta positions and closed multiple o ces. ey estimate they will be able to provide services to 8,000 fewer clients as a result.

Ashley Campbell, the executive director of LANC, said in a statement that the funding freeze surprised the rm and has made their work much more di cult.

“Even though the amount has varied by year, [IOLTA has] always been a consistent source of funding for civil legal aid in North Carolina and in every other state in the United States,” Campbell said. “So when it became an issue, it was a big shock. We didn't know that there was any interest in changing how IOLTA funding was used until late spring of 2025.”

Campbell added that attorney support can signi cantly in uence the results of civil cases.

“We know from decades of doing that work that our clients have better outcomes when they have lawyers by their side,” Campbell stated. “Oftentimes, they're able to secure child custody or child

support or possession of their home or vehicle, which all of those are really stabilizing factors in a family's life that's had domestic violence in the home.”

“I'm also concerned that if we have another natural disaster in the fall, we aren't going to have any funding to serve disaster survivors,” Campbell continued.

Campbell said she and her colleagues have worked to communicate the advantages of funding civil legal aid to lawmakers in Raleigh. She said she hopes they understand the detrimental e ects of the funding freeze.

“When it became an issue, it was a big shock. We didn’t know that there was any interest in changing how IOLTA funding was used until late spring of 2025.

“We sent a letter to every member of the Oversight Committee to communicate more about the work that we do and to share accurate information about what we can and cannot do,” Campbell stated. “So we continue to have those meetings and again [and] are encouraged by the conversations that we're having that show that there's bipartisan support for restoration from the funding.”

Campbell emphasized that LANC will continue providing legal assistance statewide, but that the quality of this assistance may su er due to sta ng shortages.

“What we really value, and we think the community values, is the ability to walk up to our front door and see a real person and talk to that person about your legal problem. And that's really what's going to go away for North Carolinians if funding is not restored,” Campbell said.

Wake Forest Law pro bono director weighs in

Corey Frost, the pro bono faculty director at the Wake Forest School of Law, said IOLTA funding is paramount to support civil legal aid e orts.

“When legal aid becomes inaccessible… there's just people who are having to navigate the legal process on their own when they may not even realize they qualify for help from organizations like Legal Aid,” Frost said.

He emphasized that pro bono programs like the ones at the law school do not have the capacity to handle these needs on their own.

“We don't have the capacity to take over entire cases or represent a victim of domestic violence, start to nish, in getting a restraining order,” he said. “Law students don't have the knowledge and ability to do that, and the sta at law schools don't have the capacity to supervise law students in doing all of that. So we can help with some things, but we are by no means a replacement for IOLTA funding.”

Contact Nick Costantino at costnp24@wfu.edu

Cooper leads Whatley by 10 points in Senate

Former governor matches up against Trump endorsee

CHLOE EDELMAN Staff Writer

A new poll suggests Senate candidate and former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) leads his probable Republican opponent, former RNC Chair Michael Whatley, by 10 percentage points. e data gives hope to Democratic o cials looking to “take back Congress” this November.

Cooper previously served four terms as N.C.’s Attorney General and two as governor. Shortly after leaving o ce in January 2025, he announced his intention to run for the Senate seat left open by om Tillis’ (R-N.C.) retirement. Cooper emphasizes economic growth and healthcare coverage in his campaign.

President Trump has endorsed Whatley, who managed the rst Trump administration’s Farm Plan and Energy Plan. Whatley, who holds a master’s degree in religion from Wake Forest, focuses on rural and agricultural policies in his Senate bid.

Cooper enjoys the bene ts of strong name recognition and holds a statewide approval rating of 55% in the purple state, with 30% approval

among registered Republicans. On the other side, Whatley faces a publicity problem – 35% of North Carolinians say they don’t know who he is.

Ticket-splitting trends

North Carolina is a true purple state, and elections can be unpredictable. In the 2024 presidential election, the state went for Donald Trump, who received 51.1% of the state’s votes. But on the same ballot, Democrat Josh Stein defeated then-Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson (R) by almost 15 percentage points. Democratic candidates also won other statewide elections that year – Rachel Hunt (D) won Lieutenant Gov. and Je Jackson (D) won Attorney General.

is trend, known as “ticket-splitting,” means competition between an established Democrat like Cooper and a Trump-endorsed Republican like Whatley can be a toss-up. Association with the president may act as more of a drag than a headwind for candidates this year, however. Trump’s approval rating dropped to 45% among North Carolinians last month.

State leaders from both parties stress the importance of this Senate race.

“I think the future of the Democratic Party itself hinges on North Carolina,” Wesley Harris, chair of the Mecklenburg County Democrats, said in an interview with WCNC.

“It is a must-win seat at all costs,” Mecklenburg County GOP Chair

Kyle Kirby told WCNC. “If Cooper were to win the open Senate seat, it would be a catastrophe for not only Republicans, but North Carolinians in general.” e primary election is this Tuesday, March 3.

Contact Chloe Edelman at edelcs23@wfu.edu

Taylor Riley, riletc24@wfu.edu

Bianca Reznic, reznba24@wfu.edu

TEDxWFU to host 12th annual speaker event

Guest lecturers bring expertise ranging from youth mentoring to moon mining

BIANCA REZNIC Features Editor

TEDxWFU will host their 12th annual speaker event on March 22, featuring eight diverse lectures from civic, athletic, business and even campus leaders on the theme “Playing with Fire.” Guest orators will include Artis Stevens, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, IRONMAN champion Leanda Cave and volleyball broadcaster Kele Eveland, among others.

TEDxWFU’s Executive Director, senior Michelle Martinkov, said the organization aims to expose students to new topics and perspectives.

“ is conference is a really good opportunity for people to expand their mindset and learn about things they might not really know about, or even have heard of before, and pique their curiosity and be an avenue for people to explore di erent ideas that might be of interest to them,” Martinkov said. “[It’s also] to inspire people to be more proactive in learning about di erent [subjects].”

is year’s eight speakers perform a range of groundbreaking work, from youth mentoring to moon mining. Students in attendance will have the opportunity to meet these speakers at a reception following the lectures.

“We wanted to center our speakers to be people who are trailblazers, who are bold, who are disrupters in their eld and aren’t scared to start a re,” Martinkov said. “It’s an opportunity for students to ask any questions [and] get some face-to-face engagement with the speakers.”

Bella Santos, former executive director and current special advisor to the TEDx team, echoed this sentiment, adding that the organizers hope students leave inspired to pursue their own passions.

“I hope people learn something new, factually, but I also hope that they leave inspired,” Santos said. “I think just seeing passionate people helps people realign with what they’re passionate about and focus more on their skills and dreams, which is cool.”

e event o ers students the opportunity to get the “insider scoop” on the newest research and develop-

ments in a variety of elds.

“We have a very strong lineup, probably one of the strongest we’ve ever seen before with really groundbreaking ideas coming out,” Martinkov said. “Some of our speakers are going to be speaking on topics there is not a lot of discourse on, even online. So it’s just a unique opportunity to hear some of the research and discoveries people are making rsthand.”

A great deal of e ort and collaboration goes into bringing an event like TEDx to fruition. Hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship, TEDxWFU also works with other campus departments such as the O ce of Student Engagement, the O ce of the Provost and the Program for Leadership and Character, as well as university faculty.

“We’ve really been able to have students engage a lot with the organization and the speakers,” Martinkov said. “It really is a community event where there’s a lot of collaboration between di erent student organizations, clubs and o ces within the school.”

In addition to university organizations, TEDxWFU is partnering with local sponsors, including eodore’s Bar & Market and Aperture Cinema. e businesses are providing gift donations for a ra e to incentivize attendance.

Santos shared her process of connecting with speakers in her previous experience as Executive Director.

“Normally, I would go through the Forbes 30 under 30 list,” Santos said. “[I’d] also email people I’d heard of or people I was interested in and ask them to come to the event. You have to send out so many invites.”

“Dealing with the speakers can be really awesome but also really challenging, because they’re high-pro le people that don’t have time to just be emailing us all day,” Santos continued.

When considering speaker invitations, Martinkov said she worked to attract students from all corners of Wake Forest’s campus and select guests who could relate to the event’s main theme.

“We really tried to cover a broad range of topics that could interest anyone in the school and to make our speaker lineup more diverse…whoever we thought t

the theme of ‘playing with re’ the most, who was the boldest, who was the disruptor that we were looking for,” Martinkov said.

Santos noted that the organization’s director’s personal interests often play a role in the speaker lineup. She said that this year’s chosen speakers re ect the club’s recent change in leadership.

“It’s kind of cool seeing who they [choose]... I feel like I brought a lot more artsy people in last year…which is great [because] I love the artistic stu ,” Santos said. “ is year, we have a more business/entrepreneurship/ science side of things, which is good because I probably never would have really done that as much.”

Another unique component of this TEDxWFU event is that it will feature one of Wake Forest’s own students: rst-year Emilio Morgenstern, a kidney transplant recipient and advocate for organ donation awareness.

“We’re excited to be able to feature students who go to Wake Forest and give them an opportunity to share their story, and for students to really connect with other students,” Martinkov said. “[Having more student speakers is] something we’re going to be doing more of in the years to come.”

From the logistics side, the TEDxWFU team has many facets. e club leadership consists of four main teams: hospitality, marketing, facilities and nance. ese groups work alongside the programming board to organize the event. Together, they nalize all the details necessary to arrange the event, like advertising to students, booking hotels and ights for speakers and contracting parking and security sta for the event. Students involved with the organization gain rst-hand experience coordinating an elaborate and engaging event.

“It’s a very professional student organization,” Santos said. “We typically advertise it to students as more of an on-campus internship.”

Overall, the TEDx event will o er Wake Forest students a unique opportunity to engage with groundbreaking discoveries, gain inspiration to pursue their own passions and foster community.

“TEDx is a huge brand,” Martinkov said. “All the speakers are going to have their videos published on the o cial YouTube website so people who miss the event can watch them there. It’s [also] a lot of publicity for the school and engages the community in a really meaningful way.”

Cycling instructor Delaney Wiegel spreads

Senior teaches high-energy cycling classes fueled by motivating messages

CAROLINE KHALAF Senior Writer

Blue and purple lights flash in a dark room, and hype music blasts through the speakers. It’s not a dance club. It’s a cycle class at the Reynolds Gymnasium.

Senior Delaney Wiegel has been teaching indoor cycling classes at Wake Forest since her sophomore year. She specializes in beat-based cycling, also known as spin, which utilizes a specialized stationary bike with a weighted flywheel to create resistance. The exercise also has a twist – its pace is determined by the beats per minute of accompanying songs. Wiegel leads 45-minute outdoor spin classes and enjoys teaching the rhythmic, music-based routines to groups of students.

A longtime passion

When Wiegel took her first cycle class in eighth grade, she hated working out. Her mom was very active and always tried to get Wiegel to run or play sports. Most of the time, she refused.

But one morning, Wiegel’s mom woke her up and told her they would be going to a cycling class. Wiegel couldn’t fight back and, to her surprise, didn’t hate the class. From then on, she looked forward to cycling at Spoke Fitness, the studio she still frequents in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y.

“I don’t feel like I’m working out, but my heart rate is up, and I’m out of breath,” Wiegel said. “I wasn’t clocking that I was working out because I was having such a good time.”

When Wiegel arrived at Wake Forest, the gym enrolled only one cycle instructor and offered few classes. Wiegel approached the instructor after one of these classes and asked to take over his position when he graduated that spring. Wake Forest later developed its indoor cycle program and now requires an audition and certification for instructors.

Wiegel strives to recreate the positive environment she experienced in her first cycle classes.

“I

tell them that we don’t come here because we’re trying to get rid of a negative image we’ve told ourselves we see in the mirror.

“I saw how much joy it brought me as someone who found her groove in wellness and working out through cycle,” Wiegel said. “I realized that there was such a toxic stigma around why people work out. It was always from wanting to lose weight or getting ready for a vacation. I absolutely hate that mindset. You can be healthy without being toxic, and you can look and feel your best by doing it with things that you love.”

Participants in Wiegel’s cycle classes say they enjoy her emphasis on making fitness fun. Senior Grayson Weavil said she started attending to support her best friend, then fell in love with Wiegel’s teaching style.

“I am not a huge workout person, but [Wiegel]’s classes have actually transformed my mindset about how fun working out can be,” Weavil said. “I honestly used to dread the idea of going to the gym or a workout class, but I’ve really developed a love for cycling because of [Wiegel’s] classes. I actually enjoy going and she makes me feel great when I go to her

class.”

Though cycling may not seem to align with Wiegel’s Business and Enterprise Management major, she has a zeal for the activity. After graduating in May, Wiegel plans to move to Houston, Texas, for a position in commercial real estate at Marcus & Millichap. She plans to continue cycling in her new home city.

“Whether I teach right away or not, I’ll always carry cycle with me through being a student,” Wiegel said. “I cycle two different ways. Obviously, I teach, and then I also strive to be a student a lot because when I’m a student, I push myself further than when I’m teaching.”

Spinning up the perfect class

The first step in preparing for spin class, according to Wiegel, is creating the perfect playlist. It’s a strategic, detailed process – different stages of the workout, including warm up, sprint, slow climb, job and oblique, require songs with different beats per minute. Wiegel said she finds the best music through SoundCloud remixes. She also enjoys curating a theme, whether that be rap, Taylor Swift Eras Tour or Tate McRae – the latter being Wiegel’s personal favorite.

Upon arrival, Wiegel practices her choreography, connects to the speakers and turns on colorful LED lights in the studio. At the beginning of each class, she ensures the participants know her studio is a judgment-free zone.

“I always say, ‘if you are going to judge the people around you, my classes aren’t for you,’ Wiegel ex -

plained. “And I say, ‘whatever you do today, as long as it’s your best, I’m proud of you. Whether that’s sitting the entire time or going full out, you showed up, and the hardest part was walking through the door. So, I’m proud of you.’”

Wiegel said motivation is vital during difficult workouts.

“In the final sprint or during the arms I’ll always be like, ‘we are absolutely blessed to feel the burn, because it means we’re alive,’” Wiegel said. “We’re living, and that’s a blessing.”

At the end of every class, Wiegel tells her students to put one hand on their heart and one on their stomach so they can feel their heart beating and their stomach rising and falling.

“I tell them that we don’t come here because we’re trying to get rid of a negative image we’ve told ourselves we see in the mirror,” Wiegel explained. “We come here because we want to show ourselves we’re capable of growth, both inside and outside the classroom, and we can do hard things. I figured if I could start teaching and spread that mindset and even help one person, then I’ve done my good deed for the world.”

Weavil expressed admiration for her friend and teacher.

“[Wiegel] is by far the most wise, intentional and bright person that I’ve ever met,” she said. “She has this unique outlook on life that makes you so innately grateful for the circumstances you’re in. She makes me feel so confident about myself, and she is somebody who truly celebrates me as a friend.”

Contact Caroline Khalaf at khalca23@wfu.edu

Alpha Phi Omega welcomes new members

Following a record-breaking fall rush, service fraternity concludes spring recruitment

TAYLOR RILEY Features Editor

On Feb. 14, Alpha Phi Omega (APO) presented bids to their new pledge class, concluding this semester’s competitive recruitment process for Wake Forest’s only service fraternity. This was APO’s first recruitment cycle since introducing a fall rush option in 2025, which proved extremely popular and left many hopeful members without a bid.

“Up until this year, we’ve only had spring rush, so this is a very atypical year for us,” Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair Ella Jones said. “We had 75 new members join in the fall, and over 400 people rushed, which was monumental for APO.”

Jones believes APO attracts significant numbers of students every year because it offers members a sense of belonging and purpose when they arrive at Wake Forest.

“APO has a huge draw for a couple different reasons,” Jones said. “Community service, first and foremost. There’s a huge chance to get outside of the ‘Wake Bubble.’ That ability to leave campus is really huge, but also the ability to be part of a brotherhood appeals to a lot of people. It’s a cool community of people who see something larger than Wake Forest and who have perspective beyond themselves."

Founded in 1925 and chartered at Wake Forest in 1952, APO facilitates student service to the University and Winston-Salem. To meet their required 25 hours of service per semester, brothers regularly volunteer with organizations including Campus Kitchen, Campus Garden and Virtual Tutoring as well as traditional Wake Forest service events including Wake ‘N Shake and Hit the Bricks.

President Henry Wolfe believes the popularity of the organization’s first fall rush can also be attributed to the fact that many freshmen are less busy during their first semester.

“Since rush for a lot of the social organizations is in the spring, [freshmen] weren't involved with any of that yet,” Wolfe said. “We were really over-

whelmed, but obviously excited with how many people rushed in the fall.”

Because APO takes about 150 new members per year, they did not offer bids to many potential new members. Executive members emphasized that they did not make these decisions lightly.

“Obviously if you are coming to Wake Forest, you are holistic, and you are smart, and you are well-rounded and you have done community service at some point in your life,” Jones said. “Off of that premise, everybody who fills out the application to do APO rush is qualified to be a part of the community service frat. In my dream world, everybody on campus would be part of APO and we’d all be better for having that incentive to do service. Unfortunately, we can’t have an organization with 3,000 members, so cuts are a very pervasive part of APO.”

“

Community service, rst and foremost. ere's a huge chance to get outside of the 'Wake Bubble.'

While fewer rushed this semester, the recruitment process was still a challenging undertaking for APO leaders, who could only admit about 75 rushees. Membership Vice President Jack Tompson explained that APO rush is a two-week process filled with applications, interviews and nightly events designed to showcase the experience and personality of potential new members.

“Our motto is Leadership, Friendship and Service,” Tompson said. “Those are the three qualities and activities that we look for in our rushees.”

While APO is a service organization, the club also emphasizes its social opportunities. Rush included events such as making gratitude posters and speed dating to allow brothers to get to know the prospective new members as friends as well as

community leaders.

“We do a mix of events between social events where the brothers get to meet a lot of the rushees and just hang out with them, see more faces and see more personalities,” Wolfe said. We also do more service-oriented events where the rushees get to hear about the needs of Winston-Salem.”

Freshman and new member Alina Vinokur said she enjoyed the Service Shark Tank rush event, where potential new members are placed on teams tasked with inventing a service project in under 30 minutes and pitching it to brothers as if they were participants on the entrepreneurship show “Shark Tank.” While the invented service projects are often humorous in nature, the event facilitates innovation, collaboration and recognition of Winston-Salem’s needs.

“It’s not like each person is contributing 25% or each person is contributing 50%,” Vinokur said. “Every person in the team contributes 100%. It is a little bit competitive, but it’s a form of uplifting competition.”

APO’s strong sense of community, exemplified in rush, is one of the cornerstones of the organization.

“It's super cool to see such a large group of people come together and all do service,” Wolfe said. “It's a really fun common interest, and makes it a lot more rewarding to be doing it with your friends who also have the same passion as you.”

Jones agrees that APO is an appealing organization for many due to the service opportunities and friendships it provides.

“I love APO – it’s very easily my favorite thing that I’m a part of on campus,” Jones said. “I did comprehensive community service in high school and do comprehensive community service in Winston-Salem. More than anything, APO has given me people to do it alongside me… community perpetuates community.”

Contact Taylor Riley at riletc24@wfu.edu

ENVIRONMENT

Reese Lile, lilerl24@wfu.edu

When you give a Deacon an apple tree

A New(ton) apple tree gifted to the campus has historic roots tracing back to the father of modern physics

REESE LILE Environment Editor

The Wake Forest grounds are an arborist’s dream, studded with hundreds of trees of every shape, color and country of origin. And joining these is a celebrity amongst trees.

Wake Forest is now home to a clone of the original apple tree under which Isaac Newton is said to have watched an apple fall and then discovered gravity. The original tree, which is over 350 years old, grows in the apple orchard in Woolsthorpe Manor, Newton’s English estate. The estate takes clippings from the original tree and gives them to the United Kingdom’s National Trust, which decides who will receive a piece of the living tree. The clippings are highly coveted and rarely allowed out of England.

The apple tree was transported in a dormant state and required a great amount of attention to ensure that it did not exper ience shock during its voyage. Wake Forest planted it in late January, following weeks of snowstorms. It now grows behind the Olin Physical Laboratory. A “Flower of Kent,” the tree belongs to a traditional species that produces fruit suitable for cooking. Wake Forest’s specimen is currently a small, nondescript sapling, but small buds are appearing on the branches as spring approaches.

David Carroll, professor of physics and head of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest, helped facilitate the university’s acquisition of this special tree. He says that the physics department is in the process of registering Wake Forest as one of the few places in the world where an Isaac Newton tree grows, and they plan to place a plaque underneath the tree to mark its importance.

Carroll said he hopes the tree will spark students’ creativity and honor one of history’s greatest thinkers.

“[The tree] is supposed to inspire the people who work in this building to think like Newton,” Carroll said. “The stuff that he did changed our world. And so every once in a while, people need to remind themselves of the folks that did things like that.”

The tree also celebrates Wake Forest’s scientists. The university boasts strong chemistry, biology, environmental studies and physics departments. The tree, which symbolizes the value of these disciplines, reminds students and faculty that their work on the world.

“It is very easy for us to retreat into the politics and day-to-day paperwork of living, and forget that we are on a college campus in a place where we are supposed to have new ideas and be creative,” Carroll said. “[The tree] is here to make us think about questions like: How are we going to help our planet? How are we going to prevent ourselves from killing our planet? It stands as a testimony to a tree that’s lived for 350 years, because people truly believe that science can solve those problems for us if we let it.”

In addition to hosting this exceptional sapling, the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials possesses seeds from the original Newton tree and is growing them in pots. According to Carroll, the center plans to raise them to the sapling stage, then plant the trees around Winston-Salem to establish the species in the city.

and now especially by Wake Forest Students, who can sit beside a tree renowned for its role in modern physics. Maybe someday the tree will be big enough for one lucky student to sit under, watch an apple fall and discover a new law of physics.

Contact Reese Lile at lilerl24@wfu.edu

We hear a lot about what’s going wrong on the planet – let’s see what’s going right

REESE LILE Environment Editor

caps melting, pollution choking cities and countless microplastics in everything we own and eat. While it is important to stay informed about environmental problems, it is just as important to acknowledge what is going well.

py news in the world of the environment.

Trees are cool(ing)!

It’s widely known that trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it, reducing overall pollutant levels in the atmosphere. However, scientists have recently discovered that forests regulate climates in other ways. Thicker, more substantial forests can cool surrounding areas and reduce the overall atmospheric temperature by absorbing solar radiation as well as through the process of evapotranspiration, in which trees transfer water from the ground and release it as water vapor.

Trees are obviously important for reducing carbon dioxide levels, but they also keep us cool in other ways amid rising temperatures, which is yet another reason why we should protect forests.

Youth are the environmental future

Across the world, young people are driving advancements in sustainable technology. In the Czech

tem called “PURA” that cleans dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria from water supplies.

In Nigeria and Uganda, two winning projects Management Youth-Led Projects Competition are

adaptation initiative that uses games to inform comyouth initiative called SV4CASH is working to imwith communities to design early warning systems. Young people are the future of environmentalism. It is important to recognize and share the successes these may inspire others to do the same.

Contact Reese Lile at lilerl24@wfu.edu

OPINION

OLD GOLD & BLACK

PAGE 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

Sara Catherine Bradshaw, bradsc24@wfu.edu

Caroline Gottsman, gottca23@wfu.edu

e views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board

When enforcement crosses the line ICE needs

MCKENZIE BERGFELD Contributing Writer

Every person, whether a U.S. citizen or not, deserves basic human rights that no government agency should be allowed to violate. Since Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increasingly infringed on these rights, treating both U.S. immigrants and U.S. citizens inhumanely. Because of this mistreatment, reformation of ICE is necessary.

Over the past year, the federal government has expanded immigration enforcement through a mass deportation initiative. When Donald Trump returned people in immigration detention centers. By December, that number rose to 66,000. In order to support Trump’s aggressive immigration policy, Congress authorized $85 billion for ICE through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making ICE the most funded law enforcement agency in the country.

As ICE operations have expanded, so too have the acts of violence they’ve committed against people, both within and beyond detention centers.

For instance, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, immigrants detained at Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army post in El Paso, Texas, live in squalid and of operation, the detention center violated federal standards at least 60 times. Detainees complain of overcrowding, shortages of food and basic hygiene

reform

supplies and dangerous living conditions due to improper disposal of human waste. Many also allege -

him. His death was ruled a homicide.

The situation at Fort Bliss mirrors a broader pattern of careless violence by immigration agents, including against U.S. citizens. On Jan. 7, an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Good tried to “weaponize her vehicle” against an agent, but experts have disputed this allegation.

The killing of Good sparked nationwide protests. However, the violence didn’t end there. On Jan.

37-year-old U.S. citizen in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that the agents acted in self-defense. However, many argue that videos of the moments just before the shooting disprove the department’s narrative.

The federal government must better regulate ICE activities after these irresponsible acts of violence. Rather than making excuses, the government must discipline agents when they misuse their power. When ICE commits uncalled-for violence against immigrants or citizens, involved agents should be

Furthermore, more ICE funding should be allotted to improving conditions in detention centers and developing a balanced immigration legal system

Since the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill, most of the agency’s money has gone toward aggressive methods like arrests, detentions and deportations while neglecting more civil facets of the immigration process, such as hearings.

“ e federal government must better regulate ICE activities after these irresponsible acts of violence.

Without funding these aspects, immigrants are not given enough of a chance to stay in the U.S., even if they are good, hardworking people who are looking

Just because immigrants were born in a different country does not mean that they are unworthy of due process and other basic human rights. ICE’s violations of both immigrants’ and citizens’ human rights do not have to continue. With greater agent accountability and funding changes, ICE can be reformed for the better.

No more people should be treated inhumanely or killed by ICE.

Contact McKenzie Bergfeld at bergma24@wfu.edu

The ups and downs of a mid-year transfer

ANNIKA WATSON Contributing Writer

I started my time at Wake Forest this January as a mid-year sophomore transfer. People are always shocked when I tell them I transferred nearly 600 miles from home to a school where I knew almost no one. They ask me if it’s been hard to make the transition from Colgate University to Wake Forest, and I usually answer that it’s been much easier than I expected. This answer is generally true, but I have honestly had a lot of ups and downs.

Overall, however, Wake Forest’s resources and community have consistently helped me, even in times of stress.

My decision to come to Wake Forest was somewhat last-minute, and my turnaround between submitting my initial deposit and moving in for sorority recruitment was rapid. However, Wake Forest staff were extraordinarily helpful throughout my transfer process. I spent hours on the phone with academic advisors, Residence Life & Housing and

They gave me information that smoothed my transi— particularly when selecting from limited housing and transferring my credits — but I always felt that I could reach out with any questions. -

to Wake Forest. Although I did not discover that I got into Wake Forest until a month after registration for sorority recruitment closed, I was able to register late with the help of Assistant Director Brittany Harris-Nelson. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to rush, as I have made some of my best friends through Greek life. The community I found in Delta

When I tell people my transition has been easier

than expected, it is almost completely because of the support network I was able to form through my Greek life experience.

Another strong point was the support I received from faculty members after coming to campus.

Wake Forest was how willing my professors were to meet in person. Whenever I had an issue or concern, all I needed to do was contact the right person, and they were happy to set up a time to meet and talk me through my struggles. The ability to discuss things face-to-face is something I feel Wake Forest does differently from many other institutions.

Coming into a school in the middle of an academic

because everyone would have already established their friend groups. However, I immediately realized that this was not the case. All my peers have been incredibly welcoming, and almost everyone I’ve met has encouraged me to hang out and meet even more people.

Although I do feel like I’ve been surrounded by support, not every aspect of my transition has been easy. For one, I was involved in a lot of clubs at my previous institution, but I found that joining similar organizations at Wake Forest was somewhat-

terest Matcher on The Link, but I never received a response, even weeks later.

Luckily, I was eventually able to join a few organizations by reaching out to executive board mem-

showed me even more ways to get involved. However, I wish I had been able to join organizations sooner, as meeting people through clubs would have student.

Wake Forest requires all transfer students to complete a series of orientation modules, which I found surprisingly informative. In addition to the standard alcohol and sexual assault prevention training, and quick quizzes that provide important inforin-person orientation was much less informationdense than I expected, these virtual resources were helpful.

I understand that there is a difference between the orientation experience of fall and spring transfer students. This makes sense, as transfers arriving during the fall semester are moving in at the same same orientation program. This is not the case for mid-year transfers. The other spring transfers and I participated in a brief one-day orientation where we listened to a few presentations, visited the Wak-which I probably would not have discovered for a long time if left to my own devices. However, I to establish our overall understanding of the camthan I care to admit.

Overall, I mean it when I say things have been easier than I expected, but I think it’s largely bedidn’t expect to come to a campus full of such welcoming people. While I believe some aspects of the mid-year transfer experience can be improved, the Wake Forest community has done an excellent job making me feel like I belong.

Contact Annika Watson at watsjc22@wfu.edu

Super Bowl ads represent the worst of America

Featuring

AI, weight loss drugs and gambling, this year’s ads celebrated America’s most concerning addictions

BEKIE SUSSMAN Staff Writer

Picture this. It’s a Sunday evening. You’re huddled around a TV with friends, neighbors and family eating dips and wings, and enjoying one of America’s most treasured pastimes: the Super Bowl. For many viewers, myself included, the commercials are just as much a part of the Super Bowl experience as the game itself. In fact, 42% of Americans tune in spemyself wondering when Super Bowl commercials stopped being fun and started feeling like a sales pitch for everything wrong with modern culture.

The 2026 Super Bowl ads didn’t just miss the mark; they felt dystopian.

“My takeaway from the Super Bowl ads is that the American economy is being propped up by AI, weight loss drugs, cryptocurrency and gambling,” Axios reporter Andrew Solender posted on X.

He’s right.

T he most concerning trend in ads this year was AI. Whether it was the Ring commercial where AI Google’s ad showing Gemini helping a family imagine their future home, the Amazon Alexa commercial featuring Chris Hemsworth joking about AI or the Meta ad promoting AI smart glasses, AI was everywhere.

These ads romanticized AI as the solution to nearly every problem. They presented the technology as helpful and unavoidable, all while appearing to be willfully ignorant of the many problems that come with AI adoption, such as invasions of privacy, job loss and a growing intellectual and emotional dependency on technology. AI may shape the future, but the frequency at which advertisers are asking viewers to embrace this new technology is jarring.

Indeed, almost a quarter of this year’s Super Bowl

ads were produced with or featured AI, making it impossible for viewers to escape. Almost all of these AI ads ranked near the bottom of the USA Today’s Ad Meter ranking, suggesting that watchers were not impressed by these AI ads. This is a huge disconnect. Companies may believe AI is the future they need to sell, but viewers still want to laugh, have fun and watch authentic commercials.

The amount of weight-loss drug advertisements also contributed to the uneasy tone many viewers felt this year. Several ads promoted GLP-1 medications. Serena Williams even endorsed one product. While these medications can serve legitimate medical purposes, marketing them at the Super Bowl with a celebrity cameo walks the line between real treatment and a cash grab from power-hungry health companies promoting prescription drugs as a lifestyle solution.

Then there were the gambling commercials encouraging viewers to download apps and bet before the kickoff whistle even blew. One online sports betting and casino app, Fanatics Sportsbook, ran an ad featuring Kendall Jenner. After the game, the company’s CEO celebrated a “spike” in downloads, which is concerning. Framing gambling as part of the viewing experience normalizes an addictive and risky habit.

Lighthearted beer ads and funny commercials have been replaced with AI, prescription drugs and gambling campaigns. The 2026 Super Bowl advertisements left viewers more exhausted than ent ertained by preying on our addictions, tempting us with can’t help but wonder which of America’s cravings will be capitalized upon in next year’s ads.

Contact Bekie Sussman at watsjc22@wfu.edu

human billboards for unattainable lifestyles

Don't romanticize people paid to sell viewers what they can't have

HANNAH ORDAN Staff Writer

dominate the social media feeds of Generation Z. From luxurious party-girl Alix Earle to ultra-feminine homemaker Nara Smith, the astronomic rise of content creation is making us the unknowing targets of subtle advertising.

Beyond the mask of “relatable” posts, we fall for the clothes, the makeup products and the accessories they parade for us. Video by video, brand deal of their lives. And, often oblivious to their manipulating strategies, we eat it up.

Take Earle. Since the University of Miami alumna blew up on TikTok while a college student, she’s She’s now known for content ranging from elegant “get ready with me” vlogs to fun lip-synching videos.

While some praise Earle for her online vulnerability, often referring to her videos about struggling with cystic acne, a closer look at Earle’s videos re-ers an unattainable lifestyle.

Phoebe Diamond said. “The amount of time, money and energy that goes into her lifestyle is not as obviously advertised as the fun, lighthearted parts of her life.”

“I also feel like this type of content can be harmful, especially to younger girls on social media, who may create these expectations for what their college and post-graduate lives ‘should’ look like when most people can never achieve the life that she is selling,” Diamond continued.

To be sure, Earle is only one of many catalysts as Nara Smith and Brigette Pheloung, the latter of whom goes by “Acquired Style” online, often post several times a day. They display trendy clothes, family life and brand deals advertising coveted merchandise.

bothers me. Social media is a powerful outlet for self-expression, and I honestly believe in its potential for beauty. My concern is that millions of people “normal.” We romanticize the lives of these creators so much that we forget their true motivations.

their lifestyles, and in falling for it, we as viewers lose sight of the boundary between authenticity and not our “big sisters of the internet.” When all is said and done, they are salespeople working to sell all of us on an impossible, intentional, edited life.

Contact Hannah Ordan at ordahg25@wfu.edu

Scottie Kimmelman, kimmsd22@wfu.edu

James Lombardo, lombjp23@wfu.edu

Follow us on X @wfuogbsports

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Men’s Basketball bounces back in win against Syracuse

Myles Colvin’s big day leads Deacons to win after back-to-back losses

ALEX GENDRON Staff Writer

With the season soon coming to a close, Wake Forest played their second-to-last home game of the year against the Syracuse Orange. Coming off back-to-back losses to Virginia Tech and Boston College, head coach Steve Forbes and the Deacons looked to build some momentum entering the ACC tournament. In a similar spot as Wake, Syracuse sat just one spot above the Deacons in the ACC standings, meaning this game would have important implications for seeding.

Sophomore forward Donnie Freeman led the Orange in the

half. Despite the strong offensive start from Wake, they trailed at the half by a score of 46-42.

utes left in the game. This marked the start of Wake’s rally back as they continued their great offensive day. From the

overtook the lead from the Orange. Although Syracuse still able to close it out and secure a much-needed bounce-back win.

Myles Colvin led Wake in a fantastic performance

day on Wednesday night against Boston College, Colvin answered in a huge way.

In addition, big men Tre’Von Spillers and Cooper

great contributions from guards Naithan George and Nate

Despite their efforts, Wake’s offense was more consistent and overpowering, especially in the second half. A key to success for Wake was on the boards, as theyous games.

“Myles Colvin is a testament to resiliency and belief in yourself,” Forbes said. “What a great comeback for him.”liers. This will be one of Wake’s biggest challenges of the season, as Virginia coach Ryan Odom has done a fantastic win and carry their hot shooting to John Paul Jones Arena this Tuesday.

Contact Alex Gendron at gendac24@wfu.edu

Hughes and Tkachuk brothers take charge, U.S. Men's Hockey wins gold

BEN

BLAKE Staff Writer

With National Hockey League (NHL) players back by

Contact Ben Blake at blakbv25@wfu.edu

Men’s Tennis opens ACC play with victory over No. 28 Clemson

Since 2013, Wake Forest leads the nation in home wins with 233

ELLA MAYNARD Staff Writer

The No. 3 Wake Forest men’s tennis team extended its home winning streak to 37 matches, a run dating back to April 2024, in a Friday night 4-0 sweep of No. 28 Clemson. The Demon Deacons secured their sixth consecutive victory in front of a lively home crowd.

Wake Forest wasted little time taking control.

ACC Freshman of the Week Mees Rottger ing and sophomore Kacper Szymkowiak jumped out to an unrattled 3-1 lead in doubles. In a tight battle, the pair won a 6-4 victory and set the tone early. On court three, junior Luca Pow and sophomore Charlie Rob ertson delivered yet another statement performance. The duo earned a ranked win over No. 62 Mesarovic/

Farzam, clinching the doubles point for the Deacs. With the early advantage secured, Wake Forest

No. 2-ranked freshman Andrew Delgado and graduate student DK Suresh Ekam-

Wake Forest carried their momentum into singles. All six players got off to quick starts. Pow supplied one of the most commanding performances of the night with a quick 3-0 start and a smooth cruise to a 6-1, 6-4 win. Freshman Dominick Mosejczuk followed with another strong showing at sixth singles, defeating Clemson’s Yannic Nittmann 6-2, 6-4. With two singles victories secured, the Demon Deacons needed just one more point to close out the match.

Sophomore Joaquin Guilleme took control early in what would become the clinching court, win-

ning three consecutive games to open the match. The rallies featured impressive shot-making and quick recoveries from both players, but Guilleme didn’t let up. He sealed the sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 victory, capping off a dominant night for Wake Forest.

victory of the season and displayed the team’s depth across both doubles and singles lineups.

“We’ve had a tough non-conference schedule

ACC match in front of our fans,” head coach Tony Bresky said following the match. “Our players were inspired by them and played a very good match.”cons will remain at home next weekend for a double-

Carolina State at 4 p.m. Wake Forest will look to extend its home streak even further as ACC play continues.

Contact Ella Maynard at maynir24@wfu.edu

Baseball sweeps weekend series against Siena

Offense breaks out for 34 runs as the Demon Deacons move to 6-1 on the season

SCOTTIE KIMMELMAN Sports Editor

The Wake Forest baseball team took down the Siena Saints in another successful weekend slate. With encouraging pitching performances and offensive outbursts, it seems this Demon Deacon ballclub is starting to put everything together.

The Friday night showdown at David F. Couch Ballpark featured a packed house, warm weather and strong winds

proved helpful early on as sophomores Dalton Wentz and Luke Costello each

Wentz’s shot looked to be a routine

the year and smacked a low line drive

Demon Deacons an early 2-0 lead. For both sides, however, that was just the start of a slugfest.

After struggling last week in Puerto Rico, right-handed starter Blake Morningstar continued to falter on Friday.

heap of trouble in the third.

Following 3 straight walks to open the inning, Morningstar allowed a grand slam to Siena third baseman Jake Sparks as well as a solo shot to designated hitter Scott Lynch. He ended his day with a total of 6 earned runs in his 4 innings of work.

With the Demons Deacons behind 4 runs heading into the bottom half of the inning, the bats were primed to explode. After the leadoff hitter, Javar Williams, reached with a double, Wentz wasted no time again by launching his second

home run of the game, this one also toer Matt Conte hit a 2-run home run of his own to tie the game at 6 apiece.

With Morningstar now out of the ballgame, coach Tom Walter called on southpaw Rhys Bowie to keep things close. In just his second outing of the season, Bowie provided 3 innings of 1-run ball with 6 strikeouts to show for it.

“I’m really happy with the way Rhys Bowie threw the ball,” Walter said.“He found a way to get us out of the eighth out. He also struck out the side in the sixth.”

By the eighth inning, things were still knotted up 7-7 as the Demon Deacons continued to seek a big hit. After struggling to make solid contact all afternoon,

with an RBI single that ended up winning the game for Wake Forest. Soon after, sophomore reliever Troy Dressler came on to close things out in the ninth and give the Demon Deacons an 11-7 victory.

The Saturday and Sunday games, matchup between these two squads, proved telling for the future of this Wake Forest ballclub. Following a dominant outing last Saturday, sophomore Chris innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing just a single run against the Saints.

Similar to last Saturday’s game, righthander Duncan Marsten followed Levonas in what turned out to be yet another masterful outing for the sophomore. Marsten, who is seeking to earn a promotion to the starting rotation, racked up 7 strikeouts in just over 3 innings of work while allowing 1 walk and no

Piper Saunders/Old Gold & Black

Juke Harris makes a dribble move during his 38-point performance against Boston College on Wednesday Feb. 25.

runs.

Senior reliever Luke Schmolke, who made his season debut on Saturday, -

ry. While the offense did their job yet again, scoring 8 runs in Game 2, it was the pitching that impressed Coach Walter most.

“Really happy with the way that Chris Levonas and Duncan Marsten threw the ball tonight,” Walter said. “Any time our guys have that type of stuff and are pounding the zone like they did tonight, we’re certainly going to be hard to beat.”

Wake Forest. The pitching and offense were explosive. It was the perfect way to cap off a weekend series at home. Along with other impressive showings, junior transfer Jackson Miller had his

best game of the year, going 3-4 with 2 runs and helping lead the Demon Dea-

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Wake Forest, however, as starting pitcher Matthew Dallas was forced to leave the ballgame with an apparent elbow injury in the fourth. According to Walter, Dallas will be evaluated for any serious damage.

Next up for Wake Forest is a midweek matchup in Greensboro as the Demon Deacons take on the UNC Greensboro Spartans next Tuesday, March 3, atwell to get the start, along with previously injured players making their way into the lineup.

Contact Scottie Kimmelman @ kimmsd22@wfu.edu

Baseball wins four over the weekend, extends winning streak to 11

Pivotal performances from the rotation lead Demon Deacons past LMU and Davidson

SCOTTIE KIMMELMAN Sports Editor

Friday doubleheader against LMU and Davidson

Following a mid-week victory in Greensboro, N.C., on Tuesday, highlighted by exceptional pitching, the Wake Forest Baseball team returned home with hopes of staying hot. While a four-game weekend slate starting off with a Friday night doubleheader would be challenging on the staff, they met their goal of winning against both Loyal Marymount University and Davidson College.

The Demon Deacons began their Friday with an afternoon matchup against LMU featuring junior Blake Morningstar on the bump. Morningstar, who struggled in his previous two starts heading into this game, dominated from the get-go.

right-hander made way for the offense batters of the frame failed to reach base, two walks and a hit-by-pitch gave Jackson Miller a grand opportunity to cash in. Wasting no time, the sophomore left-

an early 4-0 lead.

From then on, LMU never stood a chance. Beyond the entire lineup’s solid contributions, Morningstar virtually put the game to bed himself. After being unable to complete 5 innings in each of a career performance, going 7 innings of scoreless baseball with 9 strikeouts. The Deacs would end up claiming the 12-2 victory in just 8 innings of play.

“I was proud of our guys and their energy and it started on the mound,” Head Coach Tom Walter said after Friday’s game one victory. “Blake Morningstar gave us a great outing right out of the gate. He was really fantastic.”

Game two against Davidson featured a similar pitching outcome. Since an extended weekend slate threw the rotation out of whack, sophomore Duncan

start of the year. Wake Forest fans have only seen glimpses of what Marsten can bring to the table, but an extended start was the righty’s chance to prove what he had to offer.

Simply put, he did not disappoint.

Marsten carved down the side in order, all by way of the strikeout. It was an electric start for Wake Forest on a Friday night matchup, and Marsten failed to slow down.

Going a total of 5 innings, the right-outs, all without allowing an earned run. He did so, too, while issuing just a single walk on the day.

“Duncan was fantastic,” Walter said. “That's the best I've seen him here. I’m really happy with him.”

Even with Marsten keeping the Davidson bats quiet, the offense struggled

Then catcher Jimmy Keenan’s go-

the Demon Deacons. A couple more walks and singles allowed them to score a total of 6 in the inning. With the mounting pressure of a large upset now released, Wake Forest put the game to rest and took home a 7-1 victory.

Saturday takedown of LMU

If the pitching performances on Friday were impressive, then the one displayed by Chris Levonas on Saturday

appearances of the 2026 season, Levonas burst onto the scene against LMU in outing of his young career, the sophomore right-hander went for 6 innings without allowing a single run, a single

walk or a single hit. If it weren’t for two dropped third strikes, Levonas may have been stretched out to complete a potential perfect game.

Following his unbelievable 14-strikeouting, Levonas is now second in the nation in punchouts with 33, just behind Oregon State’s Dax Whitney. If things can keep up for the sophomore, a memorable season could be in the making.

“Levonas was outstanding,” Walter said. “He was throwing four pitches for strikes, pounding the zone, and getting ahead. He did everything you want.”

The Demon Deacons eventually claimed a 15-4 win thanks to major offensive contributions from Dalton Wentz, Kade Lewis and Matt Conte. Conte, in particular, walked the game off in home run.

Sunday shutdown of Davidson

Sunday’s afternoon contest against Davidson was possibly the most relaxing, stress-free game for Wake Forest all year long. Even with the usual relief arm, Rhys Bowie, getting the start, the Demon Deacons never seemed to feel pressured by the Wildcats.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this one was the offensive outburst from Kade Lewis. After struggling for the better part of the season, Lewis racked up 3 hits, including a monster home run

other members of the starting lineup, led to a convincing 16-6 win for Wake Forest to close out the weekend.

“It was a good weekend for us,” Walter said. “Obviously, anytime you can go 4-0 on a weekend, that's a great weekend.”

Next up for Wake Forest is a midweek matchup against Appalachian State. The Demon Deacons take on the Mountaineers on Wednesday, March 4.

Contact Scottie Kimmelman at kimmsd22@wfu.edu

ARTS & CULTURE

PAGE 18

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

Van Gogh Experience lives up to his name

Colorful exhibit lets visitors step inside masterpieces

GRACE SCHURINGA Arts & Culture Editor

Growing up, I explored museums mindlessly, never stopping long enough at any particular piece of artwork to consider its creator. But the Van Gogh Immersive Experience currently on exhibit in Winston-Salem interrupts those habits. It threw me into each painting, seating me next to Van Gogh at his asylum window and wondering if he was perhaps more sane than us all.

The exhibit is located in a converted warehouse off Stratford Road. Interactive activities aimed at children and 3D reconstructions of his greatest works present Van Gogh’s life and art in ways that are accessible to all. The main atwhere his masterpieces are projected onto all four walls. Chairs and hassocks allow visitors to linger and even lie down, enveloped by the colorful images. It is, as advertised, an immersive experience.

Van Gogh is famous for taking his own ear, and later his own life. During stints in asylums, the limited view from his small window barely hindered his creativity. He memorized the image of the “Starry Night” long before translating it to canvas and later gifting it to society.

“Starry Night” was the work of a man

in the thralls of mania. It was rash, dark and divine, and it serves as a reminder that many prisoners of their own minds.

Van Gogh’s work transcends space and time to grip viewers again and again across the globe, from his home in the

Netherlands to the Piedmont Triad. At the Immersive Experience, each stroke across the wall. We watch as the “Starry Night” is painted with the knowledge that the painting has outlived its painter.

Another night scene takes its place. This one is titled “Starry Night Over the Rhône.” The stars shine rather than glow. One of them extracts itself from the still image and shoots across the from across the river dance on the surface of the water.

The phrase “I think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than of the painting itself. Was Van Gogh blessed with clarity while gripped by the hand of death? The sky merges with the water, and a large wave washes it off the wall.

The walls darken momentarily, and bearing witness to the dance of hun-

are among his most famous works. In this room, they are all one. An invisible wind blows the interconnected substance across the four walls and they are gone again.

I encourage you to spend an hour in the mind of this great painter. The Van Gogh Immersive Experience will remain in Winston-Salem until the end of the year while it waits for a renewal from its parent company, Fervor.

Contact Grace Schuringa at schugh24@wfu.edu

Wake Forest going out culture plays on loop

University social scene is too restricted from weekend to weekend

LYDIA

DERRIS Arts & Culture Editor

We live for Thursdays and we weep when Saturday comes to an end.

At Wake Forest, we joke about the predictability of our weekends: bars on Thursdays, fraternities on Fridays, “narties” (night parties) on Saturdays. Bamboo, Miller’s, Joyner’s, Sofa, Dive, Burke, Gatsby’s. The same faces, the same conversations, just rearranged. The joke lands because it’s true. The repetition of our weekends mirrors the repetition of our overall social lives.

We go to one of these bars or fraternities and sit around, chat with the same faces and meet very few new ones. Often, people just hang around with the groups of people that they go out with, and don’t venture far beyond those groups. We fear approaching the unfamiliar.

We have a tendency to frame this pattern as resulting from the physical spaces we occupy, be it the right bar or the right fraternity house. But the enduring social architecture of Wake

Forest isn’t about buildings. It’s about who’s in them.

College is destabilizing – there’s no doubt about that. Of course, students turn to people who feel like home. It’s human instinct. But familiarity comforts us because it rarely demands cognitive risk. When we limit ourselves to the narrow circles in which we feel most at ease, we aren’t challenged to give thoughtful consideration to the ways in which we socialize.

This leads us to unconsciously reconstruct the same mental structures from which we came. Our “new” friends understand our family dynamics, our childhood memories and even our favorite words. Conversations and connections come easily because they run along preexisting grooves.

It’s apparent in the ways we organize ourselves on campus that Wake Forest students are fond of this social but sort ourselves, gravitating toward molds. This is most apparent in student organizations and Greek Life, where

One of my friends travelled to Philadelphia this weekend and met a woman whose daughter is a freshman at Wake Forest. This woman asked my friend what sorority she belonged to. Then, with an air of superiority, she lauded her daughter’s supposedly “better” sorority.

Before college begins, we inherit a set of cognitive templates that determine what counts as “interesting,” “cool,” and even “normal.” When we arrive here at Wake Forest, swimming among those ruptures in identity, we don’t discard those templates. We reinforce them. The same interpretive call this “vibes.” We call this “chemistry.” But truly, what we’re referring to is simple familiarity.

If we aren’t open-minded, we leave endless potential connections unexplored because they require more of us than we’re willing to risk.

Admitting a more diverse student body isn’t enough, because diversity without integration is purely aesthetic. If we inhabit mental spaces where our assumptions are never interrogated,

we are not expanding. We are merely

The repetition of “bars Thursday, frats Friday, narty Saturday” is boring and small. When our weekend conforms soothingly to our expectations, our imaginative range narrows dangerously.

Change is possible. It starts with walking into the spaces that don’t immediately feel like ours.

Contact Lydia Derris at derrlf23@wfu.edu

“Wuthering Heights”: A seductive adaptation

Obsession and madness take a backseat to sexual fascination between cinema

GRACE SCHURINGA Arts & Culture Editor

If Emily Brontë had lived to experience the big screen, I’m certain that she would have much to say about the

eyes in a crammed AMC theatre is not the same one that Brontë painted in her 1847 novel. However, I won’t deny its beautiful cinematography, artful costume design and cream-of-the-crop casting.

between the passionate, eccentric Catherine (Margot Robbie) and brooding Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). By the time the credits rolled, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the audience. Director Ema devastating romance between two of cinema’s most attractive stars.

As a classical fanatic, though, I longed for the original work’s Gothic representation of obsession and revenge set into motion by a soul-swapping love affair. Instead, trauma and escapism took a backseat to sex and a “right persentimentality — and glut of lewd innuendos that almost made me leave the complex depth.

Setting those low points aside, the narrative remained entertaining, even when it diverged from its source. I was heartened to see many of my — moments that always prompt me to evaluate my own standards for love.

Most famously: “[Heathcliff] is more myself than I am,” Robbie as Catherine his and mine are the same.”

in me, whether I experience it on the page or on the screen. It’s mysterious, but I understand it all the same. Parts of my own soul show up in the people I surround myself with every day.

Heights” to take us beyond the bounds of character Nelly Dean’s narration and place the viewer in the estate itself. And we wardrobe admirers were able to get a good look at Jacqueline Durran’s handiwork, the saving grace of the entire production.

I imagine that when Brontë conceptualized her masterpiece, Fennell’s in-

terpretation was not at all what she had in mind. However, I encourage you to forget that the movie is an adaptation and give in to the fantastical world of beauty dressed by Durran and brought something for everyone to admire.

“How to Make a Killing” almost hits its mark

HENRY YATES Staff Writer

Director John Patton Ford’s “How to Make a Killing” follows Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell), the son of a disowned daughter of a billionaire. Sick of his working-class existence, Becket starts killing off all of his relatives, most of whom he’s never met, to inherit their money.

It sounds crazy, but I would argue that main stumbling block in “How to Make a Killing” is its inability to commit to the insanity of its fast-paced plotline. It doesn’t help that Becket’s character is incredibly underdeveloped. His skills as a murderer, his inner life and even his motivation to kill all feel undercooked. Powell is still charismatic enough to get you to root for him. You’re not entirely sure why he’s doing it.

However, I still enjoyed “How to Make a Killing” to an extent. I’ll likely

Caught between a morality tale and a fun romp, its explorations of wealth inequality and corruption force the viewer to think. Its ending – though ut-

Glen Powell defends himself with a bow and arrows in the new thriller, “How to Make a Killing.” The thriller follows Becket in his mission to reclaim his inheratance from his family.

terly nonsensical – still prompted me to

ideas, and for that, I applaud Ford, who also wrote the screenplay.

those at the top of society has recently dominated headlines, and wealth inequality is only growing. For those reasons, I think “How to Make a Killing” is the right movie for the time. If you’re up for engaging with these ideas while

The Crossword

ACROSS

2. “Covers the campus like the ___”

3. abroad Semester away

6. Wake Forest’s city

7. Deacon Wake Forest’s mascot

11. Popular Spring Break destination

12. Main campus library

14. Spring owers on campus

16. Nighttime “non-party” parties

18. Windows down, music up

20. Spring live music events

23. Madness College basketball frenzy

DOWN

1. Exams before break

4. Chapel Iconic campus church

Slow but steady,

“Midwinter

MIRIAM FABRYCKY Deputy Editor

Polly Findlay’s “Midwinter Break” unfolds, ever so slowly, over tables: in an elderly couple’s kitchen, outside the cafes lining Amsterdam’s canals, at bars, at altars. It is an intimate film of unusual emotional intelligence that politely invited me to pull up a chair, then made me ache to avert my eyes.

English actress Lesley Manville stars as Stella, a devout Catholic from Northern Ireland who plans a trip to Amsterdam with her alcohol-dependent husband Gerry (Ciarán Hinds). The journey, an unusual excursion for the modest, reserved couple, becomes a painful emotional experience for both. Together, they confront dysfunctional dynamics in their marriage, traumatic memories from the Troubles and their unfulfilled expectations for life.

Manville is radiant as the delicate, wide-eyed Stella; her performance is just as commanding as her wistful portrayal of the titular older house cleaner in “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” four years ago. Hinds is a gruff, good-willed Gerry, and while Findlay doesn’t develop his emotional arc as fully as Stella, he deals with his own share of heartbreak.

Plodding from an overly slow start to an abrupt end that arrives too soon after the film’s emotional climax, “Midwinter Break” reveals its own story haltingly. It finally becomes clear that Stella booked the trip not to rekindle a connection with Gerry but to explore an intense calling to com-

5. Historic estate next to campus

8. Greek-letter brotherhood

9. Central grassy gathering space

10. Game day parking lot

13. Essential beach protection

15. Humanitate University motto

17. No classes for a week

19. Greek-letter sisterhood

21. What happens when you forget

sunscreen

22. Wake grads who return

Break” wins hearts

An unusual movie about an aging, fraying marriage

mit herself more fully to her religious convictions.

Having long entertained fantasies of joining a religious order, she spends hours alone at the Amsterdam Begijnhof, a historical sisterhood of celibate women somewhat similar to a convent. Almost as soon as viewers realize the true extent of Stella’s decades-delayed dream, however, they too recognize the impossibility of her desire.

Stella’s faith, the audience comes to understand, is scarcely different from Gerry’s drinking. Both are emotional crutches that provide the

couple with only a temporary escape from the pain of their lives. She wants transcendence and divine justification for the anguish she’s endured. He just wants to put the past behind him.

In one telling scene, the couple goes out to lunch after touring the Anne Frank House. Profoundly moved – more by her own reaction to the museum than by the museum itself –Stella begins crying. While patient, Gerry is clearly weary of his wife’s emotional upheaval.

“Why is anything spiritual so impossible for you to grasp?” Stella snaps.

In a clumsy attempt to defuse the argument through distraction, Gerry pushes a plate toward his wife.

“Cake?” he offers.

“Cake?” Stella repeats incredulously. Offended, she storms off, leaving Gerry alone at the table.

Were I there at that cafe, would I stay seated with Gerry, or would I leap up and run after Stella?

“Midwinter Break” is a bittersweet film about navigating disappointment – both how we proceed when we disappoint those we have committed to love, as well as when they disappoint us. Pivoting perhaps too quickly to a hopeful resolution, the film is most striking in its moments of lingering tension and resentment. And thanks to gorgeous coloring and costumes, it reveals that even these moments can contain overwhelming beauty.

“Let there be light,” Gerry says as he opens the curtains in their hotel room.

“Oh, look at that grey sky,” Stella frets.

There is much darkness in “Midwinter Break.” But there is light, too, in the sunrays that fall on the couple’s faces as they lean on each other while leaving the Begijnhof chapel and the bars in the red-light district. It glimmers again in the early-morning embrace they share in Schiphol airport as they glimpse the North Star calling them home.

Contact Miriam Fabrycky at fabrnl24@wfu.edu