The Z. Smith Reynolds Library proudly presents the first Library Lecture Series event for the semester: “A Conversation with Mr. Wake Forest: A Student Event with Provost Emeritus Ed Wilson”. It will take place on Thursday, January 22 at 4:00 p.m. Students are invited to join Dr. Wilson, “Mr. Wake Forest”, for an informal discussion where he will answer questions and share reflections. A legendary figure on campus, Dr. Wilson graduated from Wake Forest in 1943, returned to teach English in 1951, and became the first Provost for the University in 1967. He has received numerous accolades along the way; for example, the Wilson Wing of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library is named in his honor. Dr. Lynn Sutton, Vice Provost and Dean of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, will host this event. Doors will open to the first 100 students beginning at 3:30 p.m. and then to the public at 3:55 p.m. A livestream of the event will be available through the Z. Smith Reynolds Library’s YouTube channel and an overflow room will be set up in Room 204. Students, this one’s for you! Please join us!

In her own words:

This Frederick Chopin birthday celebration promises to be an unprecedented “Library Lecture” experience featuring Pamela Howland from the Wake Forest Department of Music on the piano and the paintings of her husband Wendell Myers. Wendell’s nocturne-inspired art will be on display and attendees will be encouraged to walk around the room and experience the combined art forms. The end of the program will culminate with a live demonstration consisting of Wendell painting-on-the-spot as Pamela plays.

The event will begin with a brief introduction of the occasion, followed by a concert of Chopin’s Nocturnes. Light refreshments will also be served.

Dr. Jim Otteson’s presentation will be based on his recently released book The End of Socialism, which explores socialism as a system of political economy – that is, from the perspectives of both moral philosophy and economic theory. His book examines the exact nature of the practical difficulties socialism faces, which turn out to be greater than one might initially suppose, and then asks whether the moral ideals it champions – equality, fairness, and community – are important enough to warrant attempts to overcome these difficulties nonetheless, especially in light of the alleged moral failings of capitalism. The result is an examination of the “end of socialism,” both in the sense of the moral goals it proposes and in the results of its unfolding logic.

Dr. Otteson joined the Wake Forest University School of Business in the Fall of 2013 as Executive Director of the BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism and Teaching Professor of Political Economy.