Opinion > September 20, 2007

Students exhibited class, enthusiasm at game

On Sept. 15, our football team had an important victory over Army.  It was a great win and we are determined to use this victory as a springboard to another great season.

Of equal importance is the manner that we treated our guests and the football players from the U.S. Military Academy.  We could not have been prouder of the classy way students welcomed our opponents to the stadium and for your outstanding sportsmanship throughout the game.  The way students welcomed the Army team prior to the game and treated them during the game was an example of tremendous sportsmanship.  Fans created the type of wholesome, yet intense atmosphere that is critical to the overall success of our program.

As we have said many, many times before, students’ enthusiasm at our games inspires our team to play their very best.  We hope that fans will continue to come out and support their team and make BB&T Field the toughest place to play in college football while treating our opponents with the respect that they deserve.  If we work together, the only thing our opponents will have to feel bad about as they leave our stadium is the outcome of the game.

Thanks again to the fans for the tremendous environment that was created at BB&T Field last Saturday!  Our fans are the best!

Ron Wellman and Jim Grobe, Director of Athletics and Football Head Coach

Career Services provides more than the Career Fair

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the editorial appearing in the Old Gold & Black last week, “Career Services Needs to Reach out to Liberal Arts,” (Sept. 13) and to clarify the role of the career fair in the overall career development process. For liberal arts majors interested in business-oriented jobs, the Career Fest provides excellent and early exposure to many opportunities. It is the kickoff for a long process influenced by market conditions and varied recruiting patterns that are seasonal and individual in nature. Only a few of the several hundred organizations that recruit students from the university opt to use the career fair as a recruiting vehicle. Career Services recognizes that many students may not be interested in opportunities provided by these employers. However, the career fair and, in some cases, on-campus recruitment represent only one dimension of the overall job search process.

The Career Services staff helps students to identify their interests, acquaint them with a wide variety of professions and assist in identifying opportunities that match their career aspirations. Many strategies, processes and resources are employed to accomplish these objectives. Each year our staff works with over 1,000 students pursuing over 40 discrete career paths ranging from advertising to public service. The career fair is only one of a myriad of resources available to aid students in the search process. For example, students who did not find opportunities matching their interests and skills at the recent Career Fest might consider attending upcoming programs on careers in journalism, writing, media and the world of creative arts. Many other opportunities to explore various career options are offered throughout the year.

The Career Services staff stands ready to provide counsel to all students in the utilization of our many resources as they navigate the extremely important and difficult transition from college to the world of work.

William Currin, Director, Office of Career Services

Student worries about lack of school spirit

I love football and I love this university.  There’s not a single home game I’ve missed in my entire time as a student here, and I’ve never come late or left a game early.  I’ve traveled to many away games through the years too.  I make signs, cheer my tail off, pray for victories and still sing the alma mater after losses.  I am so proud of our team and so proud of our fans as well. 

However, I am getting concerned about the spirit (and often lack of spirit) demonstrated by many students – including Screamin’ Demons.  True spirit is not an abiding by certain specific rules.  It is something that comes about when one is passionate about his or her team and demonstrates that from within.  It is not about wearing a certain shirt.  It is not about simply attending a game.  Truthfully, I am a little disappointed when I see my fellow classmates dressed up for games in attire that does not represent our school colors, and I am especially disappointed when they only show up for the first half of the game or even worse – just for the tailgate.  In fact, I’m not sure why this is such an issue now, because from what I can tell, the attire has become much more spirited over the last three years without the help from Screamin’ Demons. 

However, I don’t think it is fair for to punish students for wearing sundresses or ties that are gold and black.  That would be stealing something from a tradition that goes back much farther than the Screamin’ Demons.  Can you believe that at the game at Ole’ Miss last year, one of the most spirited students I know actually rolled his eyes when he noticed me in a black polka-dotted shirt and black skirt? 

I lost a lot of respect that day for the boy who was nominated as one of the so-called most-spirited college football fans in the country.  I do respect Screamin’ Demons’ attempt to build a strong student spirit group, but I personally believe its effort might be better spent regulating the actual spirit of the Screamin’ Demons.  My freshman year, I had a fellow Screamin’ Demon standing in front of me tell me that I was shouting too loud.  What?!  Although it is not as easy for Screamin’ Demon leadership to pinpoint people like that as it is for them to pinpoint girls wearing dresses, I think they can still make improvements in the area of true spirit.  What about providing signs similar to those at basketball games?  Maybe handing out noisemakers of some kind?  As long as it isn’t the Demon Deacon shooting T-shirts up in the middle of an important play (which is something I have always found to decrease spirit by distracting us from the actual game), I am going to full-spiritedly encourage it.

Christine Hunt Frackelton, Senior

SG doesn’t deserve complaints of inefficieny

It became clear to me, after a reading of your most recent issue, that at least one of the columnists has a bone to pick with Student Government over something. The column, “Communication on football tickets poor” (Sept. 13) by graduate student Sarah Evans, provided no factual information of anything she would like to see, other than perhaps her wish to have received a ticket to the game. If Evans wishes to get involved with SG, then there is no doubt in my mind that she could, however she chooses to wait until something is “wrong” to express those sentiments.

SG, in particular senior president Whitney Marshall, works very hard to ensure that things run as smoothly as possible in tough situations (for example, the distribution of limited tickets to a large student body). On a recent Sunday night, I ran into Marshall, leaving near midnight to go help with the online ticket distribution. Marshall, it should be noted, also serves in a variety of leadership capacities on campus, including being a resident adviser. The fact that Marshall may have failed to respond to one person’s complaint seems of little consequence.

Could the communication been better? Perhaps, though I certainly learned of the process and had no problem understanding how it worked. Is this perceived lack of communication indicative of conspiracy or sheer laziness on the behalf of SG as Evans seems to suggest? I doubt it. If Evans is so interested in going to football games, perhaps she should become a Screamin’ Demon. Or better yet, volunteer to help SG implement better mass communication– anything to keep uninformed opinions out of such an otherwise outstanding publication.

Quinn Morris, Sophomore

Student organizations thanked for banner making

We want to take this opportunity to thank the various organizations who participated in the Homecoming banner contest last week sponsored by the Traditions Council and Student Union.  Our job to select the three winners was a difficult one, and we congratulate the winning organizations on their creativity.  It was gratifying to see many student organizations take part in the contest, and we appreciate your commitment to preserving and promoting the traditions of Wake Forest.

Minta McNally, Associate Vice President of University Advancement, on behalf of the Homecoming Banner Judging Committee

Reviewer with lack of interest shouldn’t write

This is in response to Lukia Kliossis’s review of “Shoot ’Em Up” (Sept. 15).

It is a waste of a reader’s time and page space for a movie reviewer to review a movie they didn’t want to see in the first place. 

In the future, reviewers should see movies that interest them.  This gives readers who were also interested in that movie a fair assessment of whether it is worth seeing or not. 

One excuse for not doing this is when a reviewer hates a movie it turns into a fun read.  Kliossis did not have the talent or movie expertise to write such an article. 

Even if she did, the article would be far more valuable to students if it was written by someone with sincere interest in this type of film. Instead, we were left with a masturbatory piece meant to glorify the writer’s own opinion.

Wade Hampton, Junior