From the Quad
6/26/2020 3:37:00 PM | General
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation:
In the blur that has been the month of June you may have noticed that it's been a while since I've written to you From the Quad. As my very patient staff knows, it's not been for a lack of trying — in fact we've started several letters, but it seems with so many different issues percolating, by the time the day is over the letter I began early that morning is already out of date. I appreciate Will Pantages and our outstanding communications/social media team for picking up my slack to keep you informed in "real time" through the pandemic, the social justice crisis, and about "normal" spring and summer athletics activities — and special ones — like a first round baseball draft pick, our next Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Class, and even the new "Bachelor!" So finally, here's From the Quad, No. 28.
End of an Era - Saluting a Transformational Leader
Let's start with a huge Demon Deacon thank you to Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford who announced yesterday that he will retire on June 1, 2021 . It's impossible to overstate the impact of Commissioner Swofford's leadership of the ACC over the last quarter century. On a personal level, having grown up in Chapel Hill while he served as UNC's Athletics Director, Commissioner Swofford's integrity, servant-leadership and vision gave me my earliest professional inspiration and example. On behalf of Deacon Nation, Mary Lawrence and I wish Nora and John the very best — we look forward to hosting them often for Wake Forest games in their retirement.
Facing Racism and Anti-Black Violence - Deacons Taking Action
As President Hatch eloquently wrote on Saturday, May 30, recent tragedies, most vividly represented by the murder of George Floyd, have once again provided a tragic jolt of the plague of racism and inequality in our country. As much as I am truly saddened by these recent events, I know that I cannot fully grasp the pain felt by our African-American students and staff.
You will recall that last year Dr. Hatch commissioned the President's Commission on Race, Equity and Community, and I also encourage Deacon Nation to read about Wake Forest University's Slavery, Race and Memory Project. Earlier today I listened as Mary Tribble shared her great-great-great-great grandmother, Sally Wait's story — you can read her powerful essay here in the collection of essays published as part of the project.
I am very proud of the proactive social justice conversations our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has held this month, led by officers Emilia Migliaccio, Cydney Delley, Dominic Peters and DJ Taylor and ACC SAAC representative Caroline Kuhn. SAAC hosted a student-athlete social justice forum on June 16 and are engaged in a number of initiatives that we look forward to sharing in the coming months. Our football team created this important video, which has received national acclaim.
Wake Forest's Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Practice Dr. Malika Roman Isler provided important University context during our Athletics staff forum on June 17. And several of our senior African-American staff members shared very personal stories with our entire staff about their encounters with racism and its effects on their families.
I ended our staff forum by sharing the gripping testimony of Wendell Taylor's ('95) personal experiences with racial profiling. A generous Deacon Club member, trustee at the University of Richmond, and the managing partner of a major Washington D.C. law practice, Wendell's address to his firm in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder is painful to hear, but I encourage you to take 14 minutes and listen.
Finally, I want to extend a special thanks to Dean Jonathan L. Walton and athletics videographer Roger Epps for producing this outstanding video back on June 1 featuring a number of our student-athletes, coaches and alums.
This work must continue.
COVID-19 Update
Over the last two days I have participated in the Wake Forest Board of Trustees meeting, by Zoom of course. We are incredibly fortunate to have a tremendous group of Trustees, led by Chair Gerald Roach, to support President Hatch and the Cabinet in navigating an unprecedented time of crisis and challenge. President Hatch's letter earlier this month described the combination of innovative course delivery, a unique fall academic calendar and health and safety precautions being developed for the fall semester. We will share more of Athletics' return-to-campus plans and COVID-19 health and safety protocols following President Hatch's much-anticipated June 30 communication detailing the OurWayForward.wfu.edu plan for the fall semester.
Planning for Student-Athletes to Voluntarily Return to Campus
The health and safety of our student-athletes is always our highest priority. Demon Deacon student-athletes, like Wake Forest students in general, have overwhelmingly communicated a desire to return to campus, be with their teammates and resume training and in-person learning. For student-athletes, their eventual return to campus and athletics activity is completely voluntary and our athletics scholarship commitments will be honored regardless. In fact, we have engaged our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and our Football Leadership Council in the development of our plans and policies.
Back in April, President Hatch commissioned the COVID-19 Scenario University Planning Team (CSUPT). Led by Dean of the School of Business Dr. Charles Iacovou, and including Senior Associate A.D. Randy Casstevens, CSUPT has worked tirelessly to create a roadmap for the resumption of on-campus learning. Additionally, they are responsible for reviewing and approving plans for resumption of activity for major subsets of the University.
In the next From the Quad, I'll cover more details of the Wake Forest Athletics Phased Activities Resumption Plan (WFAPARP), which was approved earlier this month by the CSUPT decision committee. That group includes WFU Student Health Services Clinical Director Dr. Joanne Clinch, Provost Rogan Kersh, Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue, and Executive V.P. Hof Milam. I'm especially grateful for our WFAPARP team, which has worked concurrently with CSUPT to meet or exceed University and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) standards, and is also following all NCAA and ACC guidelines. Athletics' medical plan is supported by the resources of both Wake Forest Baptist Health and the campus health services. All student-athlete health decisions are under the authority of Dr. Chris Miles, our medical director.
Deacon Club Accelerating to the End of Another Strong Year
Even though the games were canceled this spring, we still have 405 student-athletes depending on the generosity of over 5,000 Wake Forest alumni, parents, friends and fans who provide scholarships, sports medicine, academic and mental health support, world-class facilities and more. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Deacon Club members have exceeded $20 million in total annual cash gifts for the fifth time in history! We've now passed the $21 million mark with a few more days left until the extended 2020 membership year deadline of June 30!
Your support provides an education for individuals like Dr. Louis Frazier, a standout on the 2006 ACC Champion football team who is on the front lines of COVID-19 patient care in Nashville, Tenn., and current student-athletes such as soccer's rising senior Hannah Betfort, who has been diligently continuing her schoolwork, serving as team captain, and training on nearby playgrounds since the onset of the pandemic.
The Deacon Club has a year-end push to secure 500 additional gifts by June 30, which will ensure an additional $30,000 matching contribution from a generous donor. If you haven't yet made a gift and are able to help, please visit the new Deacon Club website today!
Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte — Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Congratulations to Danny Morrison and the Charlotte Sports Foundation on securing Duke's Mayo as the new title sponsor for our football game versus Notre Dame on Saturday, September 26! Purchase your Notre Dame tickets through the Wake Forest Ticket Office by Tuesday, June 30, and you'll receive an exclusive game t-shirt (limit one shirt per ticket account). Click here to get your tickets now — starting at just $40!
We remain focused on our goal of providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and will have more details to come later this summer on potential attendance scenarios for the fall. Purchase your season tickets here — starting at less than $30 per game — or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 ext. 1. Remember the Ticket Purchase Assurance Program protects you when you buy direct from Wake Forest.
Please enjoy a safe and restful weekend — socially distant of course! Please keep wearing masks and send me your thoughts, questions and suggestions to wfuad@wfu.edu.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
In the blur that has been the month of June you may have noticed that it's been a while since I've written to you From the Quad. As my very patient staff knows, it's not been for a lack of trying — in fact we've started several letters, but it seems with so many different issues percolating, by the time the day is over the letter I began early that morning is already out of date. I appreciate Will Pantages and our outstanding communications/social media team for picking up my slack to keep you informed in "real time" through the pandemic, the social justice crisis, and about "normal" spring and summer athletics activities — and special ones — like a first round baseball draft pick, our next Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Class, and even the new "Bachelor!" So finally, here's From the Quad, No. 28.
End of an Era - Saluting a Transformational Leader
Let's start with a huge Demon Deacon thank you to Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford who announced yesterday that he will retire on June 1, 2021 . It's impossible to overstate the impact of Commissioner Swofford's leadership of the ACC over the last quarter century. On a personal level, having grown up in Chapel Hill while he served as UNC's Athletics Director, Commissioner Swofford's integrity, servant-leadership and vision gave me my earliest professional inspiration and example. On behalf of Deacon Nation, Mary Lawrence and I wish Nora and John the very best — we look forward to hosting them often for Wake Forest games in their retirement.
Facing Racism and Anti-Black Violence - Deacons Taking Action
As President Hatch eloquently wrote on Saturday, May 30, recent tragedies, most vividly represented by the murder of George Floyd, have once again provided a tragic jolt of the plague of racism and inequality in our country. As much as I am truly saddened by these recent events, I know that I cannot fully grasp the pain felt by our African-American students and staff.
You will recall that last year Dr. Hatch commissioned the President's Commission on Race, Equity and Community, and I also encourage Deacon Nation to read about Wake Forest University's Slavery, Race and Memory Project. Earlier today I listened as Mary Tribble shared her great-great-great-great grandmother, Sally Wait's story — you can read her powerful essay here in the collection of essays published as part of the project.
I am very proud of the proactive social justice conversations our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has held this month, led by officers Emilia Migliaccio, Cydney Delley, Dominic Peters and DJ Taylor and ACC SAAC representative Caroline Kuhn. SAAC hosted a student-athlete social justice forum on June 16 and are engaged in a number of initiatives that we look forward to sharing in the coming months. Our football team created this important video, which has received national acclaim.
Wake Forest's Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Practice Dr. Malika Roman Isler provided important University context during our Athletics staff forum on June 17. And several of our senior African-American staff members shared very personal stories with our entire staff about their encounters with racism and its effects on their families.
I ended our staff forum by sharing the gripping testimony of Wendell Taylor's ('95) personal experiences with racial profiling. A generous Deacon Club member, trustee at the University of Richmond, and the managing partner of a major Washington D.C. law practice, Wendell's address to his firm in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder is painful to hear, but I encourage you to take 14 minutes and listen.
Finally, I want to extend a special thanks to Dean Jonathan L. Walton and athletics videographer Roger Epps for producing this outstanding video back on June 1 featuring a number of our student-athletes, coaches and alums.
This work must continue.
COVID-19 Update
Over the last two days I have participated in the Wake Forest Board of Trustees meeting, by Zoom of course. We are incredibly fortunate to have a tremendous group of Trustees, led by Chair Gerald Roach, to support President Hatch and the Cabinet in navigating an unprecedented time of crisis and challenge. President Hatch's letter earlier this month described the combination of innovative course delivery, a unique fall academic calendar and health and safety precautions being developed for the fall semester. We will share more of Athletics' return-to-campus plans and COVID-19 health and safety protocols following President Hatch's much-anticipated June 30 communication detailing the OurWayForward.wfu.edu plan for the fall semester.
Planning for Student-Athletes to Voluntarily Return to Campus
The health and safety of our student-athletes is always our highest priority. Demon Deacon student-athletes, like Wake Forest students in general, have overwhelmingly communicated a desire to return to campus, be with their teammates and resume training and in-person learning. For student-athletes, their eventual return to campus and athletics activity is completely voluntary and our athletics scholarship commitments will be honored regardless. In fact, we have engaged our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and our Football Leadership Council in the development of our plans and policies.
Back in April, President Hatch commissioned the COVID-19 Scenario University Planning Team (CSUPT). Led by Dean of the School of Business Dr. Charles Iacovou, and including Senior Associate A.D. Randy Casstevens, CSUPT has worked tirelessly to create a roadmap for the resumption of on-campus learning. Additionally, they are responsible for reviewing and approving plans for resumption of activity for major subsets of the University.
In the next From the Quad, I'll cover more details of the Wake Forest Athletics Phased Activities Resumption Plan (WFAPARP), which was approved earlier this month by the CSUPT decision committee. That group includes WFU Student Health Services Clinical Director Dr. Joanne Clinch, Provost Rogan Kersh, Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue, and Executive V.P. Hof Milam. I'm especially grateful for our WFAPARP team, which has worked concurrently with CSUPT to meet or exceed University and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) standards, and is also following all NCAA and ACC guidelines. Athletics' medical plan is supported by the resources of both Wake Forest Baptist Health and the campus health services. All student-athlete health decisions are under the authority of Dr. Chris Miles, our medical director.
Deacon Club Accelerating to the End of Another Strong Year
Even though the games were canceled this spring, we still have 405 student-athletes depending on the generosity of over 5,000 Wake Forest alumni, parents, friends and fans who provide scholarships, sports medicine, academic and mental health support, world-class facilities and more. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Deacon Club members have exceeded $20 million in total annual cash gifts for the fifth time in history! We've now passed the $21 million mark with a few more days left until the extended 2020 membership year deadline of June 30!
Your support provides an education for individuals like Dr. Louis Frazier, a standout on the 2006 ACC Champion football team who is on the front lines of COVID-19 patient care in Nashville, Tenn., and current student-athletes such as soccer's rising senior Hannah Betfort, who has been diligently continuing her schoolwork, serving as team captain, and training on nearby playgrounds since the onset of the pandemic.
The Deacon Club has a year-end push to secure 500 additional gifts by June 30, which will ensure an additional $30,000 matching contribution from a generous donor. If you haven't yet made a gift and are able to help, please visit the new Deacon Club website today!
Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte — Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Congratulations to Danny Morrison and the Charlotte Sports Foundation on securing Duke's Mayo as the new title sponsor for our football game versus Notre Dame on Saturday, September 26! Purchase your Notre Dame tickets through the Wake Forest Ticket Office by Tuesday, June 30, and you'll receive an exclusive game t-shirt (limit one shirt per ticket account). Click here to get your tickets now — starting at just $40!
We remain focused on our goal of providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and will have more details to come later this summer on potential attendance scenarios for the fall. Purchase your season tickets here — starting at less than $30 per game — or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 ext. 1. Remember the Ticket Purchase Assurance Program protects you when you buy direct from Wake Forest.
Please enjoy a safe and restful weekend — socially distant of course! Please keep wearing masks and send me your thoughts, questions and suggestions to wfuad@wfu.edu.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
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