I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

While browsing the Faculty Focus article on Window on Wake Forest, I came across an entry about sociology professor Saylor Breckenridge. Breckenridge played the part of an inventor of a magical pair of spandex pants in the music video for Sugar High Gang’s “Team Spandex”, shot recently in Winston-Salem.

In addition to his apparent specialty in Spandex conjuring, he also lists among his professional interests major league baseball and the comic book publishing industry, according to his bio on the university’s Sociology page.

Before watching the video below, let me warn you, it is completely absurd, but hey, props for the most interesting faculty “research, grant, or milestone” on this month’s list.

Love Wake Forest football? Get ready to kick-off the 2010 season responsibly with the Wake vs. Presbyterian game on September 2 and continue the tradition all season long! We all know that tailgating football means creating a lot of aluminum can and drink bottle waste. So do your part this season to make sure these items end up where they belong, not in the landfill.

Join the facebook group to receive updates about volunteer opportunities and the progress of this exciting, much-needed program!

While working with our wonderful Director of Landscaping Services, Jim Coffey, this summer, I learned a whole lot about the university’s trees. One bit of history that Jim dug out of the Facilities newsletter archives that I found very interesting and worth sharing is a piece he wrote about the history of the Southern Magnolias on Manchester Plaza. Enjoy!

Image from the University Photo Archive

In 1947 while visiting the old campus, Dr. Walter Raphael Wiley (BS 1929, BS Med. 1930) and his wife, Monnie Louise McDaniel Wiley learned of the impending move of the University to Winston-Salem. Mrs. Wiley wanted to establish a symbolic bridge between the old and new campuses.

Being an avid gardener and loving the magnolias on the old campus, she had her nephew, Robert Earl Williford, collect seeds from the magnolia trees on the old campus. Mr. Williford enlisted the aid of Dr. Budd Smith, professor of biology, and the seeds were mailed to the Wileys in Chesterfield, SC. Mrs. Wiley planted the seeds in a filled-in swimming pool on their property.

In 1956 when construction of the college buildings in Winston-Salem was underway, the magnolia trees in Chesterfield were about 5 feet tall. Since 1947 when the seeds were planted, it had taken three transplanting to establish good root systems and have the trees ready to move to the new campus.

The administration, then housed at Graylyn, graciously accepted Mrs. Wiley’s offer to donate the trees. She and her son, Walter R. Wiley, JR. balled the trees, put them in the back of a large station wagon, and drove them to Winston-Salem. They left the trees, approximately 20 of them, with the nursery/landscaping department on the new campus where she said “we unloaded them onto a large muddy hill.” The Trees were planted a week later. The trees were planted a week later. Thus began Magnolia Court behind Reynolda Hal.

The Magnolia Trees on Manchester Plaza are now included in the Campus Tree Care Plan as heritage trees.

By Jim Coffey, Director of Landscaping Services

ZSR seems to be capitalizing on the severe lack of work many students experience during the first week of the semester. Join your fellow students in the library Friday (tomorrow), August 27 at 9 p.m. to play capture the flag. I mean, really? Haven’t you always thought the labyrinthine tunnels of the library basement or the 8th floors stacks would make a great playing field?

Seize this opportunity to make as much noise and have more fun than you've ever had in the library.

Game on ZSR.

Sponsored by Campus Life, Student Activities Fee, Resident Student Assocation & the Z. Smith Reynolds Library.

Are you 21? Do you was to sample the best regional beers around? Spend your Saturday at the Great North Carolina Beer Festival at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC (about 30 minutes from campus). Enjoy unlimited samples of over 100 beers while Kansas entertains the crowd.

Ticket information is available online. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance as they are $5 cheaper than at the door, and you don’t want them to sell out before you get there!

Hope to see you all come out and enjoy a beautiful August Saturday while celebrating the new academic year!