William Paterson University

The University will celebrate its mid-year commencement on Sunday, January 26, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. in the Rec Center on campus. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held on Monday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A total of 806 students are scheduled to receive degrees at the event, which marks the University’s 176th commencement. Bachelor’s degrees will be conferred on 692 undergraduates; 114 students will receive master’s degrees. All graduates will have completed their degree requirements between August and December 2002.

Leonard Harris, the University Distinguished Visiting Professor for the 2002-2003 academic year, will be the commencement speaker. An interdisciplinary scholar whose work encompasses American philosophical thought, the Harlem Renaissance, and African American history, Harris is a professor of philosophy at Purdue University.

President Arnold Speert will address the graduating class along with Mary Antoine, senior class president. Gary Kirkpatrick, senior faculty member in the College of Arts and Communication, will lead the academic procession in the role of University marshal.

Graduates will be recognized individually by college and major and will proceed to the platform, where the college dean will award the diploma.

Faculty Achievements

Five O'Clock Shadows , an animated film by Kristen Palana, assistant professor, digital media/computer graphics, won a jury award and will be screened at the 36th New York EXPOsition of Short Film and Video this month. The films shown at the Expo represent work from 23 countries. The film bridges together traditional fine art techniques with animation, computer graphics, photography, and video…Kathleen Korgen, sociology, was the first speaker in a new lecture series featuring faculty and staff sponsored by Provost and Executive Vice President Chernoh Sesay on December 11. Korgen’s topic, "The Elephant in the Living Room: How Close Black and White Friends Deal with the Issue of Race," is based on her forthcoming book Crossing the Racial Divide: Close Friendships Between Black and White Americans…Brad Gooch, English, was a featured speaker at the Miami International Book Fairon November 24, where he read from and discussed his new book, Godtalk. The event was carried live on C-SPAN.

Andrew B. Crawford, Jr.

In Memoriam—

With great sadness the University community mourns the passing of Andrew B. Crawford, Jr., a member of the maintenance staff, on November 28, 2002. A 2001 graduate with a degree in communication, he served as a student representative to the University’s Board of Trustees. "The William Paterson University community was very fortunate to have known Andrew Crawford, Jr. as a student, employee and student representative to the Board of Trustees," says University president Arnold Speert. "He was thoughtful, mature, and affable and always could be counted on to meet his many responsibilities with good judgement. We mourn his tragic death and will miss him as a friend and colleague." A full-time employee who worked the evening shift, Crawford was also a full-time staff assistant for Representative Donald M. Payne, (D., 10th district) of Newark, serving as a liaison to elected officials in Union County. He represented the congressman at official functions, and coordinated grants. As a student, Crawford was a resident assistant and a student technology consultant in the computer labs, while also a member of the maintenance staff.

NJTQEC Celebration at College of Education