Campus Radio Station Presents “Bravery in Radio” Award to “Cousin Brucie”

Cousin Brucie (left) and Rob Quicke, assistant professor and general manager of WP 887.7 FM

Students and the general manager of the University’s radio station WPSC 88.7 FM traveled to New York last week to present the second annual Bravery in Radio award to radio icon Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow). The award was presented live on Morrow’s Sirius XM radio show, which was broadcast to a national audience.

University to Hold Commencement Ceremonies on May 18

President Arnold Speert will address the graduating class, in what will be his final commencement address, and Leonard Zax, president of the Hamilton Partnership, which is spearheading the creation of the Paterson National Park in the city’s historic district, and the Reverend Louis J. Scurti, director of Catholic Campus Ministry, the Bishop Rodimer Catholic Campus Ministry Center, and the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel in Haledon, will receive honorary degrees as part of the University’s 187th commencement ceremonies on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

University Offers Discounted Tuition on More Than 700 Summer Session Courses

In an effort to help keep the cost of higher education more affordable for students, William Paterson University is offering more than 700 summer courses at discounted tuition rates of 13 percent for undergraduate students and 8 percent for graduate students.

University Sponsors First Cross-Cultural Arts Festival

Simon Shaheen, one of the most significant Arab musicians of his generation, playing the oud during a concert held as part of the festival

The University’s inaugural Cross-Cultural Arts Festival, a weeklong arts festival that celebrated the wide range of cultures in the Middle East through highlighting the impact of the fine arts, music, and film in facilitating cross-cultural empathy and developing global connections, was held recently on the campus.

News Notes

Ofelia Garcia, professor of art and former dean of the the College of the Arts and Communication, has been named as a recipient of a prestigious, lifetime achievement award from the Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA), an affiliated society of the College Art Association, for 2011. Read More

William Paterson to Offer New Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative and Professional Writing

William Paterson University has launched a master of fine arts degree in creative and professional writing that will prepare students to explore the craft of writing and provide applied experience in editing and publishing.

Thomas Jefferson’s Two Families are the Subject of Annual Jefferson Lecture on May 5

“Thomas Jefferson’s Two Families,” a look at how the former president managed to care for the members of his two disparate families in the same house, is the topic of an address by Jan Lewis, a professor of history at Rutgers University, who will present the 26th annual Annual Abram Kartch/Thomas Jefferson Lecture at William Paterson University in Wayne on Wednesday, May 5.

William Paterson University Foundation Presents President Speert with Legacy Award

Legacy Award honoree Arnold Speert (right) with (from left) Michael Seeve, president, Mountain Development, and chairperson of the William Paterson University Foundation, and Frederick L. Gruel, president and CEO of AAA New Jersey Automobile Club, and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and the William Paterson University Foundation.

It was a night of celebration and reminiscences as nearly five hundred members of the William Paterson University community joined together to honor President Arnold Speert as he received the 2010 Legacy Award on April 16. Faculty, staff, alumni, legislators, college presidents, friends, family, and supporters were among the guests at The Rockleigh in Rockleigh, New Jersey, where the William Paterson University Foundation presented Speert with its highest honor during the Foundation’s 20th annual Legacy Award Gala and Silent Auction. The capacity crowd paid tribute to Speert as he prepares to retire after forty years on campus—including twenty-five as president—while also raising funds to support the University’s mission of promoting student success and academic excellence.

Music Management Students Benefit from Lectures by Top Names in Music Industry

Grammy Award-winning producer Rob Fusari ’08 (left) with Steve Leeds, instructor of Music Management Seminar, and vice president of talent at Sirius Satellite Radio.

Tommy James, the American pop-rock musician best known as leader of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells, and Rob Fusari ’08, one of the producers on Lady Gaga’s smash hit "The Fame," were among the recent guests who spoke to students in the University’s Music Management Seminar taught by Steve Leeds, vice president of talent at Sirius Satellite Radio.

President Speert Honored by Local Organizations

In recognition of his many years of service to the local business community, President Speert was honored by the North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce, and the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce during an event held on March 26 in the University’s building at 1600 Valley Road. Among those present were Gloria Martini, president of the North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jamie Dykes president, Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce, Karen Luberto, vice president, Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, and Terry Duffy, Passaic County freeholder.

WPTV Telethon Raises Funds for Charity

The William Paterson University TV Club, which runs WPTV-6, the on-campus television station raised $1,100 for the Ronald MacDonald House through its telethon on April 15. This is the twentieth bi-annual telethon that the TV station has held to raise money for charity.

Women of Vision Awards

Honored at the Red Dress Dinner were (from left) Stephanie Koprowski-McGowan, director of education enrollment and certification; Sheetal Ranjan, assistant professor of sociology; Sylvia Lasalandra-Frodella, a 1996 graduate of the University; and Alma Diaz, a psychology major. With them is Librada Sanchez (center), director, Women’s Center.

The fifth annual Women of Vision Awards celebrated the accomplishments of four members of the William Paterson University community during the closing ceremony of the University’s observance of Women’s History Month on March 24.

Students Raise Money for Haiti

On a clear, sparkling, warm, spring day, seventy students and other members of the campus community participated in a campus walkathon to raise money for victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

Baseball Making Final Postseason Push

Just one game out of the sixth and final spot in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, the William Paterson baseball team (16-16-1, 6-8 NJAC) will finish its regular season with five games this week, including a Senior Day contest Thursday, April 29, against Rutgers-Newark at 3:30 p.m.

Softball Looks to Wrap Up NJAC Bid

Christina Zippler

With two regular-season home doubleheaders remaining, the William Paterson softball team (23-12-1, 8-6 NJAC) will look to wrap-up one of six bids to the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament this week. The Pioneers will face Rutgers-Newark Tuesday, April 27, at 3:00 p.m. and will celebrate Senior Day Saturday, May 1, against No. 21 Rowan at 1:00 p.m.

Rivera Invited to Try Out for New York Jets

Joel Rivera

William Paterson wide receiver Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) will try out for the NFL’s New York Jets when the team conducts its Rookie Minicamp starting Friday, April 30. Rivera, a two-time member of the All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) First Team, owns the program’s career receptions (159), yardage (2,209) and touchdowns (23) records, the single-season catches (74, 2008) and yardage (965, 2008) top marks, and the single-game receptions (16, 9/27/08 at Rowan) and yardage (226, 9/27/08 at Rowan) records after starting in 29 of 36 career games.