News > May 1, 2008

By Elliot Engstrom | News editor

10. Influenza Virus When students returned to campus for Spring semester, they brought with them hopes for a new semester and a new chance at that glorious letter which begins our alphabet and lightens our hearts – an “A”.

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Unfortunately, a few students also brought with them the influenza virus, which quickly spread to include approximately 260 diagnosed cases in the span of a week and a half. These “reported” cases only include those students who chose to visit Student Health. At the virus’ peak, Student Health was seeing approximately 50 new cases a day. Rumors circulated about a mass class cancellations, but these were dismissed by the administration as untrue. “Because influenza spreads readily by direct contact of nasal mucus or by inhalation of infected particles in the air, the best prevention is the vaccine,” staff writer Molly Nevola wrote. Despite the phase of barely populated classes and teachers actually asking students to sit in the back of the room, we live to fight another day.

9. Grobe’s suspected leaving

Jim Grobe gave the university a scare when rumors abounded that he would be leaving the university to take the head football coach position at Arkansas.

“Sources close to the team said that players expressed shock and confusion after hearing the news from outside sources,” staff writer Connor Swarbrick wrote. “Many of the players were in communication with each other in order to try and sort out the issue at hand.” The following day Outgoing Editor in Chief Caitlin Kenney reported that the football coach would in fact not be leaving. Atheltic director Ron Wellman and Grobe stayed up in the early hours of the morning discussing Grobe’s future with the university – the conversation certainly must have been intense. When Wellman left Grobe that morning, he still did not have a definite answer. However, the next morning it was reported that Grobe would be staying.

8. Beating Duke in Basketball

The eighth story on the Old Gold & Black’s list certainly was not expected, but everyone knows an upset is better than winning a game that was supposed to be won. When the unranked Demon Deacons stepped onto the court to face the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils Feb. 17, everyone in the media expected a score differential of at least 10 points or more. They all just chose the wrong team. At the end of the night, the Deacons had defeated their undefeated ACC rival 86-73 in front of a roaring crowd in Winston-Salem. Even though the Deacs did not make post-season play, the win certainly was a glimpse into what our young team is becoming.

7. Meineke CarCare Bowl

The Demon Deacon football team’s trip to Charlotte for the Meineke Car Care was certainly one of the highlights of this year. This season’s game capped off with a 24-10 victory over the University of Connecticut Huskies. Star receiver and redshirt senior Kenneth Moore’s performance brought his career total of catches up to 98, surpassing the ACC record set by former N.C. State star Torry Holt.“The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have had the memory of the stellar 2006 season and the high expectations it brought hanging over their heads throughout the 2007 season,” Outgoing Sports Editor Ryan Durham wrote.

“During the Meineke Car Care Bowl Dec. 29, they have accomplished something last year’s team could not – winning a bowl game.”

6. Coffee house debate

At the end of the 2006-2007 year, failed attempts had already been made to replace Shorty’s with a Starbucks. However, the idea of Starbucks reappeared when the university announced that Rhoda’s Cafe would actually be turned into something that could legitimately be called a cafe. While no official decision has yet been made, the controversy has caused a rift on campus. Outgoing Student Body President Whitney Marshall has been clear that she completely supports Campus Grounds in taking over the new library coffee facility. However, Lynn Sutton, director of Z. Smith Reynolds Library, has clearly stated to the Old Gold & Black that she supports the installation of a Starbucks to fill the space.

5. Clinton’s visit to campus

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and Reynolds Professor of American Studies Maya Angelou held a conversation in front of a packed Wait Chapel April 18. The day leading up to the evening’s event featured community members waiting in line for hours on end, numerous campus security checks, and even sightings of Secret Service agents eating in the Benson Food Court and working out in the Miller Center. The two women talked about everything from haircuts to American dependence on foreign oil. The event drew the nation’s eyes to the university and was a prime example of our university’s relevance to the surrounding community.

4. Soccer National Championship

Many students made the drive from their homes to Cary, N.C. Dec. 16, where the men’s soccer team defeated Ohio State University to become the first soccer team in university history to be named national champions and receive the College Cup. The Deacons were ranked No. 1 throughout much of the 2007 season, and they did not fail to live up to expectations in the championship. The Buckeyes were 14-0-2 when scoring first so far in the season, but the Deacons were still able to come from behind for the win and the championship.

3. University Changes

A Feb. 12 press release detailed a list of new initiatives approved by the trustees. The changes included significant increases in cost of attendance, a raised enrollment, several major facility renovations and the redevelopment of Deacon Boulevard. Tuition will increase from the current figure of $34,230 to approximately $36,560, an increase of 6.8 percent. However, other costs including housing and parking will also increase.

“The Old Gold & Black estimates total cost per average student will exceed $47,000,” contributing editor Kevin Koehler wrote in the Feb. 14 issue. The enrollment increase has since been made official, with a planned increase of 500 students over the next five years. Facility renovations will include the updating of Shorty’s, the moving of a coffee shop into the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, and the development of what are currently faculty apartments into student housing.

2. Faculty Apartments

Upon learning of the expulsion of faculty from Faculty Apartments, many campus organizations were abuzz. The university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors held an emergency meeting Feb. 18 in which they questioned the decision. Numerous opinion articles were submitted to the Old Gold & Black on the topic during the next weeks. Several meetings between faculty and staff occurred and action taken by organizations such as Student Pro Humanitate also got involved. Additionally, an anonymous letter was drafted by apartment residents directed towards the administration in which they voiced many complaints.

1. Skip Prosser

“The university’s Hearn Plaza was ceremoniously rolled at midnight July 26,” Outgoing News Editor Liza Greenspun wrote July 27. “However, this time students were not rolling the Quad after an important conference sports win, but to honor the life and career of Skip Prosser, men’s basketball head coach, who passed earlier in the day.”

Prosser was found unresponsive in his office by coordinator of basketball operations Mike Muse at 12:45 p.m. and was pronounced dead at 1:41 p.m. at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

“Coach Prosser was one of the finest individuals I have known in my life, and he has left a lasting impression on the lives of many throughout the Wake Forest community,” athletics director Ron Wellman said.

Once the time of mourning had passed the search for a new coach had to be considered. In lieu of bringing in an outside coach, Associate Head Coach Dino Gaudio was promoted to head coach.