Under Construction
Construction projects abound every summer at Wake Forest. It’s a time when a large part of campus is not present and you have the space and the freedom to make updates and upgrades. Mentally, too, the summer is a time to reflect and pause - think about what you want to accomplish in the coming academic year and put plans in place to see it through.
It feels like a good time for this blog to take a pause as well. Though the blog is more than a year old, I have not had the chance to evaluate what it is, what it could be, what it should be. Everything we do ought to be done with a goal and a mission in mind - and so it is time to think strategically about how this blog can best serve the needs and interests of Wake Foresters.
So there will be a break in the action while my colleagues and I revisit the best aims of the blog. How can we make it better? What types of information would our readers want to see here? What is the role of interactive media? How can this be more useful to you? Those are all questions that need answering. Please, share your good ideas!
My colleagues and I look forward to bringing you an even better blog in the coming months. So enjoy the rest of the summer and we’ll see you again soon. Go Deacs!
I would suggest more hard news about what’s going on, and less of “how much we love Wake” sort of chatter. We already love Wake or we wouldn’t bother to log onto your blog. For example, information on the new construction projects are always interesting as alums like to know things like that. Also, information on what kind of new ideas and plans floating in the air might be really interesting.
Best,
Alex
- Friday, July 24, 2009 11:15 am
As parents of a male student who does not give his parents much information, we enjoy reading about what the students are doing on campus. Also, it gives us topics to bring up with our son to promote conversation. I know it may be hard to believe as a young mother of a toddler, but most boys are not real talkers with their parents during the teen/young adult years. We love reading your blog even though we are not alumni. Many thanks for your time so that we can feel connected.
- Monday, July 27, 2009 9:14 am
I would love to see pictures on the WFU blog (especially pictures of the new construction projects you talk about).
- Monday, July 27, 2009 2:09 pm
Last year, as a freshman parent almost 800 miles away from Wake Forest, this blog gave me a great sense of the campus. Your way with words often made it so easy to imagine exactly what you were seeing, hearing or even smelling. And that made me feel like I had a better understanding of where my daughter was. I loved reading about the weather, the mood on campus, even the view outside your window. Especially for parents who are not alumni, you provided a great way for us to feel connected. I do hope you’ll be blogging again next month when the students arrive on campus.
- Monday, July 27, 2009 3:14 pm
Please don’t “institutionalize” your blog! My favorite thing about it is your personal voice coming through based on your experiences, past and present!
- Tuesday, July 28, 2009 2:45 pm
I want to echo what “Lisa” said above. I am a parent of an incoming student from the west coast - your blog has been invaluable. From her first visit to campus over a year ago, she has been SO passionate about wanting to be a Demon Deacon. Reading your blog helped me to understand some of the things about Wake that must have ignited her passion. I hope you continue being my “window” as she goes far away next month to start her adventure at Mother So Dear! You are also a great writer and seem like a wonderful person too! Thanks for all the time you spend on this.
- Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:47 pm
I have enjoyed your blog for the last two years. It’s the first thing I click to when I log in! Don’t change a thing…GO DEACS!
- Monday, August 3, 2009 11:16 am
Please continue your blog exactly as it is! I love reading your comments and your blog makes me feel connected to WF on a daily basis. Our daughter is very far from home when she is there; your blog makes the campus come alive to me, and I really appreciate that. The new website design is great, and there are more than enough places to find “useful” information out there. Please don’t underestimate how much your blog is already appreciated and enjoyed ~
- Monday, August 3, 2009 6:47 pm
I really enjoy your blog, and the casual/personal nature of it. I don’t have a chance to read it every day, but occasionally I pop over and read back a few weeks to catch up on the goings on at Wake. I enjoy all the updates from the mundane to the profound. As a young alumni ‘05 I’d like to see some more spotlights on what other Alumni are doing, and information on how to be more involved as an alum (ie events on campus, local alumni events, incoming student interviews etc.) But all that said, I think keeping it personal is important.
- Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:50 am
What happened to all of the old entries? They in themselves, as an archive, are interesting!
- Thursday, August 6, 2009 6:31 pm
It would be really great if you could post some pics of the construction projects. Thanks!
Mike
- Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:50 pm
Just keep writing it!
- Tuesday, August 25, 2009 8:41 am
Yes, please start writing again. I have been reading the blog for the past year, and I now have a child on campus. I logged on today to read about first week of students back at school and was disappointed to see the blog is on hiatus. It serves a very good purpose. Many thanks.
- Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:31 am
This blog is yet another gem that Wake Forest offers parents, alumni, and students. I have been reading your blog since my daughter’s first day on campus as a freshman one year ago. I really appreciate reading about all the happenings on campus from someone with such a passionate and charming voice. I now have a greater understanding as to why my daughter loves Wake Forest University so much through reading your words, and I feel more connected and a part of the WFU community as well. Please continue to write and share your insights and thoughts with us. Hurry back!!!
- Monday, August 31, 2009 6:03 pm
We miss you! Please start writing again. We are the parents of a male student and enjoy reading your daily observations of campus life. It makes us feel a little more connected to his world.
- Monday, August 31, 2009 7:43 pm
I’m missing my connection to WFU - especially at this exciting time of year when everyone is so happy to be back on campus, NCAA football is about to begin and campus is buzzing. Please start writing again - you have become a daily staple!
- Tuesday, September 1, 2009 2:56 pm
I love the blog! Your familiar way of writing as if you were speaking to us over the telephone makes me feel a little closer to my daughter. I love hearing about the student atmosphere and mood, about the weather and the trees turning color. It was good to know ahead of time that the magnolias were coming down…too sad! Your tone is appreciated by parents who may not be alums. Please don’t become just another hard news source! Photos would be fun.
- Friday, September 11, 2009 8:37 am
Wow! I’m flabbergasted. Where’s my Quad-View Blog? Betsy Chapman - where are you?
I agree with all previous responses. The blog was a wonderful way for a parent of an active student (especially a freshman parent) to ’stay connected’ with the day-to-day campus goings-ons. I set my calendar reminder to read your posts at least once a week (usually Fridays) and loved reading through the timely updates of your personal perspective on daily Deac life. It gave us the feeling we were there too. You did such a brilliant job conveying a thoughtful sense of season, excitement, & place. It wasn’t an ivory-tower marketing view either, but rather a true-fan/insider’s view. I particularly loved your event coverage & recaps. I’m sure it was alot of work - but know that you have a loyal fan base following along with your every word. Thank you for being our personal field correspondent. You’ll be missed. Hopefully, you’ll be back!
- Friday, September 25, 2009 8:24 am
Betsey!!!!!!! Where are you????????? Come back!!!!!!!!
- Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:13 am
When is the quad view Blog coming back??? I really miss being able to stay in touch with what’s happening on campus, even if it’s only to hear about the beautiful weather or the trees blooming. It makes me feel so much closer to my son. Please bring it back soon!
- Friday, October 9, 2009 6:56 pm
Please bring the Blog and Betsey back. We miss it. As a parent of a student that lives 3000 miles away, it was a great way to get a feel for what was happening on campus.
- Sunday, November 1, 2009 2:17 pm
I miss the blog. Will you be coming back or should I stop checking? I really did enjoy hearing what you had to say, for so many reasons.
- Thursday, November 5, 2009 4:05 pm