This year will be no different, as event organizers like Cora Thomas are once again excited to bring together residents of all backgrounds and ages to honor and embrace Black culture through educational workshops, live music performances and family-friendly events.

Cora Thomas (far left) and the City of Syracuse’s Juneteenth board of directors are excited to honor and embrace Black culture during the city of Syracuse’s 34th annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival.

The city of Syracuse’s 34th annual takes place June 14-15 in Clinton Square downtown, beginning with the raising of the Juneteenth flag in front of Syracuse City Hall on Friday, June 14. One of the highlights is Saturday’s victory parade, which starts outside of the Dunbar Center at 11 a.m. and concludes in Clinton Square at noon.

“I am passionate about celebrating and preserving our history, and Juneteenth is a powerful symbol of freedom and unity,” says Cora Thomas, office manager who serves on the Syracuse Juneteenth board of directors as chair of the ancestral celebration.

“Being part of this committee allows me to contribute to raising awareness and fostering a sense of community and pride. It’s an honor and there’s a wonderful sense of unity as we honor the past and continue to look towards a brighter future.”

This year’s celebration is the third in Syracuse since Juneteenth (June 19) became an acknowledged New York state holiday in 2020.

All musical performances will occur in Clinton Square. The festivities conclude on the actual holiday, June 19, by honoring outstanding community members during the ancestral celebration in the city hall commons atrium. There will also be a Miss Juneteenth Pageant on June 13 at the Community Folk Art Center.

Thomas sat down with SU News to discuss the importance of Juneteenth, how the celebrations have grown over the years and why the victory parade is an “incredibly moving experience.”

Names like Marv Albert ’63, Bob Costas ’74 and Mike Tirico ’88, decorated members of the sports broadcasting industry, honed their crafts and developed their radio voices as student broadcasters with .

As members of the WAER Hall of Fame, Albert, Costas and Tirico certainly paved the way for future generations of sports radio play-by-play voices. But before WAER, which stands for Always Excellent Radio, became a world-renowned 50,000-watt blowtorch and powerful on-campus radio station, it was an ambitious project that required the hard work and dedication of five student broadcasters and a faculty advisor to get off the ground.

Starting in 1930, the Radio Workshop allowed students to produce on-air programs for local radio stations. Thanks to new radio technology, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the University to conduct experimental broadcasts in the Fall 1946 semester.

The five students who helped launch WAER-FM radio on April 1, 1947: Charles Reichblum ’48 (upper left), John Kurtz ’48 (upper right) and (bottom row left to right) Jerry Adler ’48, Ehrla Niman Lapinsky ’48 and James Cohan ’48.

Under the watchful direction of faculty advisor Lawrence Myers Jr., five students—program director Gerald Adler ’48, G’54, news and sports director Charles Reichblum ’48, music director Ehrla Niman Lapinsky ’48, continuity director James Cohan ’48 and production director John Kurtz ’48—helped usher in a golden era of radio on campus.

On April 1, 1947, WAER (then known as WJIV) officially launched as the first low-power FM radio station in the country, beaming out a 2.5-kilowatt signal that barely reached all radios on campus from its broadcast location underneath the steps of Carnegie Library.

“It was such a thrill launching WAER as a student, and now, seeing what it has become, well that was one of the greatest memories of my college career,” Reichblum says. “Back then, all of us grew up wanting to be in radio, and here we were, Syracuse University juniors running a real radio station. Those were special memories.”

The Original Voice of the Orange

On Nov. 9, 1984, Charles Reichblum and the founding members of WAER were honored with the Founders’ Award, presented annually to a WAER student who best exemplifies the professional ideals set by the station’s original staff.

Reichblum, the original “Voice of the Orange,” served as the radio play-by-play voice for Syracuse’s football and basketball games, partnering with his color commentator, Marv Shapiro ’48, who went on to become president of Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.

Reichblum and Shapiro called home football games from Archbold Gymnasium and home basketball games from the colosseum at the New York State Fairgrounds after a fire ravaged Archbold Gymnasium during Reichblum’s senior year. The broadcast team also aired road games.

Even if the station’s signal couldn’t be heard beyond campus, Reichblum says those pioneering students knew they were both making history and maximizing the opportunity to enjoy real-world broadcasting experience while still in school.

“I was the play-by-play announcer and we all felt fortunate to be playing the roles of real radio people while we were at Syracuse. Our station’s signal wasn’t very strong, but it did cover the campus. We were broadcasting across campus, and we had an FCC license. It’s a proud tradition WAER has on campus, and we were honored to be part of the founding group,” says Reichblum, now 95 years old.

On Nov. 9, 1984, the six founding members were honored with the Founders’ Award, presented annually to a WAER student who best exemplifies the professional ideals set by the station’s original staff.

Lifelong Passion for Radio … and Trivia

Reichblum grew up an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He fondly recalls spending countless hours in his room listening to Pirates baseball broadcasts on KDKA, which helped Reichblum form a special connection with his favorite team and his favorite medium.

Bob Prince handled the radio play-by-play duties for the Pirates, and Reichblum quickly became enamored with how Prince wove stories and trivia into his broadcasts. Upon learning that Prince lived down the street, Reichblum proceeded to knock on his door and introduce himself.

Charles Reichblum ’48, one of the founders of the student-run radio station, WAER-FM.

When he was 14 years old, Prince gave Reichblum his first job in radio, an internship where Reichblum monitored the station’s teletype to sort through that day’s news. One morning, Reichblum came upon a story that would spark his lifelong love affair with trivia and obscure facts. The teletype mentioned how three of the nation’s first five presidents—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe—died on the same day: July 4.

That presidential factoid was the first of what Reichblum dubbed his fascinating facts, a collection of stories that Reichblum started cultivating in high school and continued throughout his time at Syracuse University.

After graduating with a radio degree from the College of Speech and Dramatic Arts (which later became the ), Reichblum served as sports director at WJAS (Pittsburgh) before forming Century Features, Inc., a national company that provided syndicated sponsored weekly sports and news columns that ran in newspapers that were distributed across the country and Canada. , a fitting tribute for someone who amassed one of the world’s largest collections of stories during a 50-plus year career in journalism.

He broadcast the daily “Dr. Knowledge Feature” nationwide on the CBS radio network, and Reichblum also hosted his “Dr. Knowledge Show” on KDKA. Reichblum is the author of “The All-Time Book of Fascinating Facts,” including the newest version of the book, a summation of Reichblum’s interesting facts—which has been called the best trivia book of all time—the all-time book of fascinating facts. Previously, he wrote 11 “Knowledge in a Nutshell” and “Dr. Knowledge Presents” books.

Syracuse Holds a Special Place

It’s been nearly 75 years since Reichblum graduated from Syracuse, but the University still holds special significance—Reichblum and his wife, Audrey, raised a son, Robert ’78, who earned a broadcast journalism degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“I get nostalgic for many reasons, but I will always love Syracuse University. It was the perfect place for me. WAER launched my radio career, and we had such great instructors,” Reichblum says. “They were all helpful in getting us going in this field, and we were all infatuated with radio, which was the big thing back then. We held ourselves to a high standard at Syracuse and our broadcasts were on par with what you’d hear back then on WSYR. I’m so proud of what we accomplished.”

Bob Costas ’74

grew up idolizing New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame outfielder Mickey Mantle during the Golden Age of Major League Baseball, when New York City, with Mantle’s Yankees, Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers and Willie Mays’ New York Giants, was at the epicenter of the sport.

Costas loved listening to baseball on the radio, and he became enamored with the melodic voices and creative storytellers of the day. Hall of Famers like Mel Allen, Red Barber and Vin Scully.

When he arrived at Syracuse University in the fall of 1970 as an aspiring broadcast journalist, Costas just wanted to one day land a radio play-by-play job in baseball. Little did Costas know he would one day wind up in Cooperstown as a alongside Mantle and his childhood heroes.

“If I was throwing the rubber ball off a wall and imagining a game in my head as all kids did, I heard Mel Allen or Red Barber or Vin Scully. If I was shooting baskets, I heard Marty Glickman and then his protege, Marv Albert. And part of the reason why, a big part why I went to Syracuse University, is because Marty Glickman and Marv Albert had gone to Syracuse. And so, too by then had Dick Stockton and Len Berman and others,” says Costas, the only person in television history to have won Emmys for sports, news and entertainment.

Bob Costas ’74 delivers remarks during his 2018 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

“Since then, it’s become a list too long to count. It’s Sportscaster U. To me, a game wasn’t a game without those great and often melodic voices that gave the game lyrics and melody almost that quintessential example of that is Vin Scully with the great lyrics and this melodic and rhythmic case and delivery that he had that was perfectly suited to baseball. That wasn’t a partial influence. It was a major influence in my wanting to become a sports broadcaster,” Costas adds.

Costas’ broadcasting career has included winning 28 Emmy Awards, calling 12 Olympics, and covering multiple World Series, Super Bowls and NBA Finals. The WAER Hall of Famer still calls baseball games and makes appearances on MLB Network and CNN, and hosts “Back On the Record with Bob Costas” on HBO.

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Costas discusses his love for baseball and the new rule changes meant to speed up the pace of play, reveals which broadcasters inspired him, remembers thinking his career was doomed to fail after hearing his first sportscast, shares how and the helped him develop his voice and his style, and relives his most memorable sportscasting moments.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 134 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Bob Costas ’74. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Helping celebrate the best of Syracuse University, Costas will be among the many participants in Thursday’s —a day to��come together to support Syracuse and show what it means to be Forever Orange.

Syracuse University is ringing in the holidays with its third “” concert on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in historic .

Free and open to the public, the all-ages show features songs, carols and instrumental classics performed by the (SUBE) and the (SOS) Chorus, led by artistic director James T. Spencer and master director Kay Crawford, respectively.

Both groups are joined by emcee Bruce Paulsen, an on-air host for WCNY-FM; Harmonic Collective, an award-winning men’s a cappella chorus; and pianist Jon Bergman.

Attendees are invited to bring food or personal care items as a donation for the . For more information, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

The University offers free parking in the Irving Avenue Garage and the Quad Lot on North Campus. Convenient on-street parking is also available, due to students being on winter break.

Syracuse University Brass Ensemble playing during a previous performance.

“This new holiday tradition provides a distinctive opportunity to connect campus and community,” says the Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. “The Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and Spirit of Syracuse Chorus are much loved at Hendricks Chapel, leaving us excited for this latest chapter in our collaboration.”

SUBE and the SOS Chorus came together in 2019 for the inaugural “Horns and Harmonies” concert. The results were so positive that organizers decided to formalize the collaboration.

“A tradition was born, building on decades of successful SUBE winter concerts in Hendricks Chapel,” says Spencer, a meredith professor of who has conducted, written for and played in SUBE for much of its 35-year history. “SUBE and the SOS Chorus bring out the best in each another, while fostering a sense of community.”

“Horns and Harmonies” features individual and combined sets by SUBE and the SOS Chorus, culminating in a group performance of Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival.” The evening concludes with a traditional candlelight service in which everyone sings “Silent Night.”

Spencer, for one, is excited to deliver “fresh interpretations” of seasonal classics like Prokofiev’s “Sleighride” and Strauss Jr.’s “Radetsky March,” along with such holiday fare as “Jingle Bells” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” There’s even a piece inspired by the John Adams orchestral fanfare, “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.”

The SOS Chorus will also delve into different genres, ranging from pop (Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird”) to quasi-classical (“Night of Silence/Silent Night”) to Broadway (“We Need a Little Christmas from Mame”). Rounding out the lineup are such chestnuts as “Sleighride”; “Mary, Did You Know?”; and “The Man with the Bag.”

“We’re excited to reunite with the SUBE,” says Crawford, who is joined by assistant director Sky Harris and associate directors Alicia Caron and Paulette Young. “Four-part a cappella harmonies combined with the sounds of a British-style brass band are pure joy.”

“Horns and Harmonies” will be broadcast on WCNY-FM on Saturday, Dec. 24, at 8 p.m.

The Spirit of Syracuse (SOS) Chorus performing at the Sweet Adelines International convention.

, which is licensed to the University and is part of the , also plans to air the performance in December.�� Celebrating its 65^th season, the 70-member SOS Chorus is one of the oldest chapters of Sweet Adelines International (SAI)—a global organization committed to advancing barbershop harmony through education, performance and competition. Prior to the pandemic, the all-female chorus placed 21^st out of 600 groups worldwide at the SAI Convention and Competition in New Orleans.

“We create musical excellence in a warm, caring and supportive environment,” says Crawford, who has been involved with the chorus for more than three decades. “This encourages the personal growth and development of each member.”

Harris, Crawford’s colleague, is the founding director of Harmonic Collective, which participated last summer in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

SUBE is no stranger to Hendricks Chapel, having participated in the annual “” concert from 2007-19. The 35-piece ensemble regularly performs at Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Le Moyne College. SUBE also presents about a dozen concerts a year throughout the region.

Based in Syracuse’s , SUBE is preparing to return to the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival in Pennsylvania, where it last performed in 2017. The ensemble also has appeared at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky, and the North American Brass Band Association’s U.S. open contest, earning two first place awards.

The first three episodes will be released on Wednesday, Nov.9, 2022, at a launch party at Bird Library in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons from 3 to 4 p.m. and through the website and WAER 88.3’s website. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on those two platforms, Soundbeat.org and WAER.org, which will also make the series available on popular podcast platforms such as Apple, Spotify and Stitcher.

The podcast launch party will include an overview of the series, a preview of the first three episodes; remarks from Neal Powless G’08, University ombuds; and traditional Haudenosaunee food and drink from Angela Ferguson, seedkeeper of the Onondaga Nation.

The podcast series features candid conversations with Haudenosaunee students, alumni, staff and community members. Learn about the history and the people who were the first residents of our area. Why is a lacrosse stick so important to the Onondagas? What is it like being an ancestor of the Indigenous people of the land but going to college with mostly white students and faculty? How did matriarchal societies work for Native American groups and what is their connection to women’s suffrage? These are some of the topics covered in the podcast series. The first three episodes released include:

• Episode 1: “The Land Acknowledgment”: How can you acknowledge what you don’t understand? Neal Powless defines key terms in the Syracuse University Land Acknowledgment.
• Episode 2: “The Doctrine of Discovery”: How a 15th century papal bull connects Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Christopher Columbus and the land beneath you.
• Episode 3: “An Evening at Minnowbrook”: Joanne Shenandoah in Concert: A performance of story and song before a small audience in the Adirondack lodge overlooking Blue Mountain Lake.

Tarryn Mento, professional in residence at , has been named the station’s news director. The announcement was made by executive director and general manager Chris Bolt.

Tarryn Mento

“Tarryn has a professional past that shows commitment to elevating journalism and creativity,” Bolt says. “In the professional in residence role, she has also demonstrated great enthusiasm and energy in helping students learn and grow. I see her as a perfect addition to help WAER with both of our missions: to enlighten, entertain and engage the community; and to provide professional development opportunities to students.”

Mento joined WAER in 2021 as professional in residence after her experience at KPBS in San Diego, where she produced audio, video and digital content as a health, immigration and community journalist. She was previously a multimedia producer in New York City at MetroFocus and a Pulliam Fellow at the Arizona Republic in Phoenix.

She will oversee the news department’s shift to more digital content and distribution and will also work to enhance broadcast news offerings, improve community engagement programming and elevate student experiences. She will report to Kevin Kloss, content and operations manager.

“Tarryn brings a tremendous number of fresh ideas to the role of news director, and we’re excited to see her vision for multiplatform news coverage develop at WAER,” Kloss says.

WAER serves the greater Syracuse area with NPR and local news, eclectic music and Syracuse University sports. The station has long been the training ground of choice for aspiring broadcasters from the Newhouse School, and it .

The Newhouse School announces the appointment of two new general managers: �������������Ի�����������.

Chris Bolt

Chris Bolt ’89, G’95 has has covered the Central New York community for 30 years and served WAER’s director of news and public affairs since 1995. His work has appeared on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.

Throughout his career, Bolt has trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand Syracuse University students seeking careers in broadcasting.

“I am excited and honored to be able to lead WAER Public Media forward as we continue to serve our audience and fulfill the mission of our students’ professional development,” Bolt says. “I have devoted my career to public radio and to teaching aspiring broadcasters and journalists. I am fortunate to be able to continue working with a staff that has extensive experience and commitment to the same missions.”

Bolt says he plans to continue covering and fostering collaborations in the community, and to expand opportunities through the station’s connection to the Newhouse School that will “enhance student learning and growth in a changing media environment.”

WAER serves the greater Syracuse area with NPR and local news, eclectic music and SU sports. The station has long been the training ground of choice for aspiring broadcasters from the Newhouse School, and it����last year.

“WAER will continue to thrive in Chris’ capable hands,” says Newhouse dean . “I look forward collaborating with him on the ongoing integration of the station and the school for the benefit of our students.”

Meg Craig

A lifelong journalist, Meg Craig joins Newhouse from Syracuse.com, where she focused on online content and covered politics and government affairs. She was formerly a reporter and national/foreign content editor for the Chicago Tribune.

Craig has also served as an adjunct in the Newhouse School’s����department, and last year assisted students as they created a CitrusTV special report, “Faculty Under Pressure,” that went on to win a Syracuse Press Club award. She assumes the role from founding director Andy Robinson.

“I’m thrilled to move into this role at Newhouse, working alongside our students to help elevate their content and the entire network,” Craig says. “Andy has left big shoes to fill—he created OTN out of nothing and spent nearly 20 years helping students produce their best work. But I’m excited for the challenge of taking it to the next level and getting more students involved in the process.”

Orange Television Network (OTN) features student-produced programming seen on the air 24/7 throughout the academic year, viewable in all campus buildings and residence halls, and live online. Shows include campus comedy, sports, dance and music performances. Craig will will manage the technology, students and content distribution resources and work in association with other content distribution entities across the Newhouse School, including WAER.

“This is an exciting new chapter for OTN, as we reimagine its role in the education and professional training of our students,” Lodato says. “I know Meg will be an excellent partner and leader in this endeavor. I look forward to working with her.”

Wyatt Barmore-Pooley

Within weeks of graduating, Newhouse alumnus Wyatt Barmore-Pooley is on air several times a day. The former WAER student reporter is now producing and anchoring daily newscasts for WNBZ, a music station in upstate New York.

“It’s not a news station, but I’m the news guy,” Barmore-Pooley says.

The Plattsburgh station’s inaugural “news guy” attributes landing the gig to his WAER experience. He joined the Syracuse NPR station in August and was hired by WNBZ in December.

“We had the opportunity to talk to the movers and shakers in Onondaga County,” the 23-year-old says.

Barmore-Pooley covered election results live from the field and reported multimedia stories during his weekly shifts. That included a daily assignment on social media regulations that turned into a two-part series.

“The news director and I realized we can’t tell this in one and it’s worth it to split it into two,” Barmore-Pooley says. “So that faith in me was rewarding.”

Barmore-Pooley says working alongside WAER’s award-winning professional staff was one of the biggest takeaways from his time.

“Forget actually working on the news, it was just talking through perspectives on stories, perspectives on how we were going to approach this, how I should edit it,” he says.

He says that in-studio experience is what he misses the most from the Ostrom Avenue station—Barmore-Pooley’s new gig has him filing casts remotely. Yet he keeps the WAER vibe alive with an “on air” sign in his home office.

Barmore-Pooley and other current student reporters will elaborate on their experiences during WAER’s recruitment meeting today at 6:30 p.m. The station welcomes prospective students to attend the event in Newhouse 3 room 250 and learn about opportunities in news, sports and music.�� Students who are interested but can’t attend the meeting may reach out to program coordinator Tarryn Brittney Mento at tbmento@syr.edu.

Lee, WAER’s director and general manager, was the creator, producer and host of “,” a podcast that invites expert guests to discuss significant work, events and milestones in popular culture. Phillips, a professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the and the founding co-director of the , was a frequent guest on the podcast.

Lee was leaving to become general manager of New Jersey’s statewide public television network NJ PBS, and he didn’t want “Pop Life” to die. He asked Phillips to take over as host, and Phillips happily agreed.

Kendall Phillips

“I give a lot of the credit to Joe Lee, who started the show and was the host for many, many years,” Phillips says. “I feel like we are trying to honor that spirit that Joe put into the show to pop the hood on the engine of pop culture and say, ‘how is this working?’ ”

Phillips’ research focuses on controversies and conflicts arising around public memory, popular film and popular culture. He has published several books, including “”; “”; “”; and most recently, “.”

In this Q&A, Phillips discusses his vision for the podcast, future guests and an upcoming interview with … Kendall Phillips?

Two of the original Jabberwocky murals, located in the lower level of Bird Library.

“The Jab,” as it was fondly called, was a student-run musical venue that operated in the Kimmel Hall basement from 1969-85. The Oct. 30 event will feature live music performed by , local musicians who performed at the original Jab. It will also include a panel discussion from people involved in operations of the Jab, including:

• (Newhouse School), former program director at WAER.
• Desi Day, former Jabberwocky manager.
• (College of Arts and Sciences and Newhouse School), former program director at WAER.
• (College of Visual and Performing Arts), artist who painted which will be on display during the event.
• , former College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty member, founding director of the and a key booking agent for Jabberwocky.

Jabberwocky mural by Mitchel Resnick ’76

The Jab was a beloved student-run musical campus and community venue, which showcased emerging and well-known local, regional and national musicians such as Charles Mingus, The Talking Heads, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Bonnie Raitt and Cyndi Lauper. During the same time period, WAER was completely student-operated with a focus on local programming. Many of the Jab shows were broadcast live on WAER.

“The Jabberwocky was clearly an iconic institution that defined a significant part of the student experience of the time,” said David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University librarian. “In collaboration with our campus partners, we are pleased to host this event, which I’m sure will bring back fond memories for alumni of the 70s and 80s.”

Original murals from Jabberwocky were recently installed at Bird Library. The murals depict scenes from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and were created by Mitchel Resnick ’76.

Visitors to the lower level of Bird Library can get a sense of what it might have been like to step into the former campus music venue Jabberwocky, which operated in the Kimmel basement from 1969-85.

Original murals from were recently installed at Bird Library. The murals, which had been in private and University storage since Jabberwocky’s closing, depict scenes from “Alice in Wonderland” and were created by Mitchel Resnick ’76 (). They were painted in the 1970s on the original walls of Jabberwocky, which were made of tectum for noise control and durability.

The original murals, which took Resnick 2½ years to paint, were 10-foot-tall panels depicting characters from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass,” and “What Alice Found There,” which includes the nonsensical poem “Jabberwocky.”

Jabberwocky, fondly referred to as “The Jab,” was a beloved student-run musical campus and community venue, which showcased emerging and well-known local, regional and national musicians, such as Charles Mingus, The Talking Heads, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Cyndi Lauper.

“The Jabberwocky was clearly an iconic institution that defined a significant part of the student experience of the time,” says David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University Librarian. “The Alice in Wonderland murals were an inspired and fun backdrop for the many musical events that happened in Kimmel basement, and we are pleased to have them on display. I’m sure they will bring back fond memories�� for alumni of the ’70s and ’80s.”

Murals will be displayed on the lower level of Bird Library through fall 2021.

Syracuse University Libraries, in collaboration with the , and , are planning an event celebrating Jabberwocky as part of Syracuse University’s on Oct. 30.

The NYSBA represents the interests of over 300 television and radio stations in the New York State Assembly, the United States Congress and various other legislative bodies.

WAER News Director Chris Bolt was awarded Outstanding News Feature for his piece “.” Gill Gross ’21, a senior broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was recognized in the Outstanding Sports Coverage category for his piece “.”

“We are grateful for the donor support that allows WAER to do the kind of impactful journalism that we can all be proud of,” says Joe Lee, director and general manager of WAER.

Bolt has covered news in the Central New York community for over 30 years in addition to serving as teacher and mentor to hundreds of aspiring journalists.

A member of the WAER Sports Department for four years, Gross has broadcast Syracuse University sporting events and produced sportscasts and feature reports, contributing to television broadcasts and podcasts. His post-graduate plans include work in tennis broadcasting.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon in the fall.

For additional coverage of local news, Syracuse University Sports and NPR programming, visit waer.org.

Corey Spector

When the Syracuse University men’s basketball team ended its NCAA Tournament run last month, it also marked the end of a long season for the student media broadcast team at WAER.

Newhouse School of Public Communications seniors Corey Spector, Cooper Boardman and Gillon Gross traveled to Indianapolis to broadcast the men’s basketball game against San Diego State, and then, following the team’s first round win, its game against West Virginia.

After the win over the Mountaineers, the WAER team remained in Indianapolis during the weeklong break between games for COVID-19 safety. The extended stay meant additional hotel and meal charges for the radio station, which had seen a decrease in revenue related to the global pandemic.

Realizing Boardman, Gross, and Spector would need to stay put in Indianapolis for an additional week, former WAER Sports student broadcaster Matt Dery ’95 reached out to WAER General Manager Joe Lee to offer assistance.

“I was too busy enjoying the win over West Virginia to think about how the changes in this year’s tournament schedule would impact our broadcast crew,” says Lee. “Matt Dery was the first to alert me.”

“I happened to be in Indianapolis and reached out to Joe Lee to see if the broadcast crew needed anything,” says Dery. “Once I connected with the crew, they told me they might have to stay with a friend an hour away if the team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. There was no way I was letting that happen, so I rounded up some guys from my era to see if they would help out with the hotel cost for the extra week. There was zero hesitation from any of them.”

Gillon Gross

The “guys” Dery is referring to are former WAER student broadcasters Damon Amendolara ’01, Tim Benz ’93, Steve Bunin ’96, Mike Cranston ’95, Dave Pasch ’94, Andrew Siciliano ’96 and Zachary Zaidman ’96. They all pooled resources to cover the hotel cost for the week because, “WAER is family,” according to Dery.

WAER student broadcasters spent the week in between games completing remote coursework, preparing for the next broadcast and zipping around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“The NCAA held a media-only event at the home of the Indianapolis 500 where they gave media members a tour of the grounds, photo opportunities next to trophies and the iconic brick finish line, and a chance to drive three laps around the speedway in a 2021 Chevy Tahoe,” Spector says. “It was a great way to break up our week.”

For Lee, the generosity from the station’s alumni was another reminder of the bonds that tie together generations of WAER students.

“We see it all the time,” he says. “We’re fortunate to have an active alumni base, one that’s always looking to support our current students.”

Jaron May ’22

WAER 88.3 FM has announced that Jaron May, a junior broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, is the station’s incoming sports director.

“We’re excited to have Jaron leading the WAER sports department in the coming year. He demonstrates excellent leadership qualities and has proven to be a reliable member of the staff,” says Kevin Kloss, WAER’s content and operations manager who oversees the sports department. “We are both confident and excited in Jaron’s ability to help ensure the next wave of WAER students are prepared to continue the legacy of professional level sports broadcasts.”

As sports director, May will be responsible for leading a team of students in the tradition of providing high-quality sports broadcasts and coverage to the Syracuse University and Central New York community throughout the year ahead.

To learn more about May, visit

Members of the WAER staff in 1969

“Bringing WAER into the fold with the Newhouse School will allow for significant growth of opportunities for Syracuse University students, both inside Newhouse and across campus,” Lodato says. “The station has a rich history of success, and it’s one we intend to foster.”

The station will benefit from more resources and support from the school, while maintaining its independence as a self-contained unit that meshes with the Newhouse mission. School and station leadership will collaborate to expand student opportunities in the areas of news, programming and promotion—all of which align with Newhouse curricula.

“For years WAER has served as a central training ground for Newhouse students interested in developing skills as journalists and broadcasters,” Lee says. “Merging with Newhouse will strengthen content creation and distribution for an enhanced student experience. It is a compelling move on multiple levels.”

A student at WAER in the 1970s

WAER serves the greater Syracuse area with NPR and local news, eclectic music and Syracuse University sports. The station has long been the training ground of choice for aspiring broadcasters from the Newhouse School.

As many as 50 students can be found in the WAER newsroom each semester, covering stories and issues important to Central New York. The sports staff is entirely made up of students, who fill prominent play-by-play positions and also learn studio hosting, engineering and audio production. Lodato says the sports operation will remain independent, “and we’ll be close by to help.”

The move will also help strengthen WAER’s ties to the academic mission of the University, according to Klinger. “The Newhouse School and WAER already share a rich tradition of broadcast excellence and count many internationally-recognized broadcasters and on-air personalities among their alumni. This integration will build on that existing informal relationship and create a pipeline for student-produced content.”

Alumni sports broadcasters Bill Roth ’87, Mike Tirico ’88, Todd Kalas ’88 and Paul Peck ’87 at Veterans Stadium in the 1980s. Each began his career at WAER.

Founded at Syracuse University in 1947, the station has historical ties with the Newhouse School, and was once housed inside the Newhouse complex. Countless Newhouse alumni got their start in the industry through positions at WAER, including well-known broadcasters Lakshmi Singh ’94, Beth Mowins G’90, Mike Tirico ’88 and Bob Costas ’74.

WAER will continue to be housed in its current location at 795 Ostrom Ave. The station’s 12 professional staff members will become part of the Newhouse staff.

From “Your Election Blueprint,” an issue-oriented series of in-depth reports chiefly produced by James Corrigan G’21, to a series of feature-length stories highlighting various issues and races, culminating in WAER’s live election night broadcast which included a special one-hour “,” followed by live updates during NPR’s programming.

Student work was heavily featured in interviews and reporter debriefs, contributing to important content to add to the public education and debate over this year’s election.

WAER’s election coverage featured reporting from:

Dan Baldwin G’21 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

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Evan Beebe ’21 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

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Kyle Chouinard ’24 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

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James Corrigan G’21 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

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Geoffrey Goose ’24 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

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Brad Klein ’22 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

• Part of election night team, reporting live from GOP candidate gathering.

Brianna Langlois ’21 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

• Part of election night team writing about the chance for changes in policy on COVID-19 and international relations after the election.

Yasmin Nayrouz ’24 (Magazine, News and Digital Journalism)

• Part of election night team writing stories about 24th Congressional Seat Race; Board of Elections turnout review.

Ben Schiller ’24 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism)

• Election day coverage from polling places on turnout and why people wanted to participate in record numbers.

“WAER takes our local news obligation very seriously and nothing exemplifies that more than election coverage,” says Chris Bolt, news and public affairs director for WAER. “Syracuse University student reporters play a critical role in expanding our news resources to cover more ground, both physical ground to be at more events and topical ground of covering more issues and races. We had a goal of informing the Central New York audience about candidates, issues, controversies in the campaigns and details of the various voting methods. Students increased the knowledge of our community, as well as their own expertise, by participating every step of the way,”

To learn more about WAER’s 2020 election coverage, visit .

Taking a broader approach, “City Limits” strives to bring shared community issues, concerns and impacts into greater focus by taking the necessary time to fully explore topics for deeper understanding.

“Social justice might be the defining issue of our time and how we respond to it could determine the relative health of our community. Following the format of the “Poverty Project,” “Winds of Change” seeks to explore the impact of racial injustice and the efforts and work of those in Syracuse who endeavor to ensure equal access and participation for all, ” says Joe Lee, director and general manager of WAER.

The first episode, “How Art Amplifies Social Movements,” looks at the intersection of art and activism and how black artists and arts organizations are supporting the social justice movement in Syracuse. This story features the voices of the Black Artist Collective, 100 Black Men of Syracuse, the Community Folk Art Center, Syracuse Stage and Syracuse residents.

To learn more about “City Limits: Winds of Change,” visit . Episodes can be found at�� , and

“City Limits: Winds of Change” is supported by the Central New York Community Foundation and the John Ben Snow Foundation & Memorial Trust.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Mary Kate Intaglietta, Director of Development at 315.443.5253 or mintagli@syr.edu.

Syracuse University’s premier speaker series, the University Lectures brings to Syracuse University audience members and the larger public notable guest speakers of exceptional accomplishment who share their diverse global experiences and perspectives. The series was created through, and is supported by, the generosity of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51. Media sponsor for the University Lectures is .

Series events typically take place on campus, but—following public health guidance due to the COVID-19 pandemic—this fall’s lectures will all be virtual, viewable via Zoom. And audience members will be able to submit questions for consideration as part of the experience, time permitting. Connection information will be provided closer to each event.

Wilmer Valderrama
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Wilmer Valderrama

Valderrama will take part in a conversation with David Barbier Jr. ’23, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School. He is also a Posse Foundation Scholar and a participant in the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Valderrama has amassed an extensive acting résumé in film and television that solidified him in Hollywood as a sought-after leading man. He is most recognized for his portrayal of the character Fez on Fox’s Emmy-nominated series “That ’70s Show” (1998-2006), a role that garnered him numerous Teen Choice Awards. In 2016, he joined the cast of the hit CBS drama “NCIS” (then in its 14th season) as NCIS Special Agent Nick Torres.

His other recent television credits include Fox’s “Minority Report,” Netflix’s “The Ranch,” ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s television series “From Dusk Till Dawn.” Valderrama also voiced the main character of Disney’s hugely popular animated children’s show “Handy Manny,” which introduced preschoolers to Spanish.

His film credits include the animated feature “Charming” (2018), for which he voiced Prince Charming, “The Adderall Diaries” (2015), “To Whom It May Concern” (2015), “Larry Crowne” (2011) and “From Prada to Nada” (2011).

Behind the camera, Valderrama created and produced the MTV series “YO MOMMA,” also serving as its host. And his production company WV Entertainment has multiple television and film projects in development.

In his community, Valderrama serves on the board of Voto Latino and is the spokesperson for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Ready 2 Lead program, which works to educate and empower Latino youth. Valderrama also recently co-founded HARNESS, a group dedicated to connecting communities to inspire action and power change. In 2013, Valderrama was honored with an ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism.

Born in Miami, Valderrama moved to Venezuela with his family at age 3 and returned to the United States as a teen. He and his sisters were the first in their family to speak English, and his parents instilled in them the critical importance of education.

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Valderrama resides in Los Angeles.

Valderrama’s appearance is sponsored by the .

Nikole Hannah-Jones
Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Hannah-Jones will be interviewed by Rawiya Kameir, assistant teaching professor in the magazine, news and digital journalism department in the Newhouse School. A critic, editor and producer, Kameir was a finalist for the 2020 National Magazine Award in the Essays and Criticism category.

Hannah-Jones covers racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and has spent years chronicling the way official policy has created—and maintains—racial segregation in housing and schools.��Her deeply personal reports on the black experience in America��offer a compelling case for greater equity.

She was named a�� for “reshaping national conversations around education reform.” This is but one honor in a growing list. Her story “Worlds Apart” in The New York Times Magazine won the National Magazine Award (a.k.a. Ellie) for “journalism that illuminates issues of national importance” as well as the Hillman Prize for Magazine Journalism.

In 2016, Hannah-Jones was awarded a Peabody Award and a George Polk Award for radio reporting for her��“This American Life”��story “The Problem We All Live With.”��She was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and was also named to 2019’s The Root 100 as well as Essence’s Woke 100. Her reporting has also won Deadline Club Awards, Online Journalism Awards,��the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service, the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting and��the Emerson College President’s Award for Civic Leadership.

Most recently, The New York Times Magazine’s that she spearheaded on the history and lasting legacy of American slavery went viral, and her powerful introductory essay—written under the headline “Our Democracy’s Founding Ideals Were False When They Were Written. Black Americans Have Fought to Make Them True”—was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Named for the year the first enslaved Africans arrived in America, the project features an ongoing series of essays and art on the relationship between slavery and everything from social infrastructure and segregation, to music and sugar—all by Black American authors, activists, journalists and others.

Nothing we know about American life today has been untouched by the legacy of slavery. “The 1619 Project” quickly went viral—the print issue flew off shelves immediately, prompting hundreds of thousands of extra copies to be printed—spreading its heartbreaking and important message worldwide. Random House announced��that it will be adapting the project into a graphic novel and four��publications for young readers, while also releasing an extended version of the original��publication, including more essays, fiction and poetry.

Earlier this year, Hannah-Jones appeared on to discuss the project. And an impactful ad about the project—a collaboration with singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe—debuted at the Oscars just days later.

In addition to Hannah-Jones’ Pulitzer, “The 1619 Project” won two 2020 National Magazine Awards this past May, in the Public Interest category and in the Podcasting category, for three audio pieces.

In February 2020, she was profiled by Essence as part of its Black History Month series, celebrating “the accomplishments made by those in the past, as well as those paving the way for the future.”

Hannah-Jones co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting with the goal of increasing the number of reporters and editors of color.

Along with��The New York Times, her reporting has been featured in ProPublica,��The Atlantic Magazine, Huffington Post, Essence, The Week Magazine,��Grist, Politico Magazine and on��“Face the Nation,” “This American Life,” “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” MSNBC, C-SPAN,��Democracy Now and radio stations across the country.

Hannah-Jones’ appearance is co-sponsored by the , which is presenting .

Thom Filicia ’04
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.

Thom Filicia

Filicia started his career at renowned design firms Parish-Hadley, Robert Metzger and Bilhuber & Associates. He launched his acclaimed enterprise in 1998 and emerged as one of today’s most influential and respected interior and product designers. His projects range from residential and hospitality to commercial interiors all over the world.

includes such projects as the VIP Suite for the USA Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Aichi, Japan; an eco-friendly apartment for Riverhouse, Manhattan’s first premium (LEED certified) “green” luxury condominium tower; and the Delta Sky Decks at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Filicia has been praised as a top designer and international tastemaker. He gained widespread fame for his role as the interior design expert on the Emmy Award-winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” as well as for his television work for Style Network, HGTV and most recently Bravo’s “Get a Room with Carson & Thom.”

He is also the driving force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, which includes furniture, artwork, bedding, textiles and wallcovering, and has a flagship showroom, called , at The New York Design Center.

Filicia is the best-selling author of “Thom Filicia Style” (Atria/Simon & Schuster, 2008) and “American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat” (Clarkson Potter Publishers, 2012).

In 2011, he was named one of Elle Decor’s top 25 A-List Designers. In 2006, he was chosen as one of ’s Top 100 American Designers and ’s Top 50 “Tastemakers.”

Filicia’s appearance is co-sponsored by the and is part of Syracuse University’s LGBTQ History Month.

Nina Totenberg

The University Lectures series welcomes award-winning NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The event—featuring the veteran journalist in an on-stage conversation with College of Law Dean Craig M. Boise—is free and open to all.

It is co-sponsored by the , the , the , and the , along with media sponsor . American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided.

Newsweek has called Totenberg the “crème de la crème” of NPR, and Vanity Fair refers to her as the “Queen of Leaks.” Esquire named her one of the “Women We Love” in both 1988 and 1992.

Among her biggest stories was her 1991 groundbreaking report of sexual harassment allegations against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas by University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill, which prompted the Senate Judiciary Committee to re-open its confirmation hearings. NPR received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for its gavel-to-gavel coverage—anchored by Totenberg—of both the original hearings and the inquiry into Hill’s allegations, and for Totenberg’s reports and exclusive interview with Hill.

Earlier, in 1986, she broke the story that Supreme Court nominee Douglas Ginsburg had smoked marijuana, leading to Ginsburg withdrawing from consideration. In 1988, Totenberg won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for her coverage of Supreme Court nominations. The jurors of the award stated, “Ms. Totenberg broke the story of Judge (Douglas) Ginsburg’s use of marijuana, raising issues of changing social values and credibility with careful perspective under deadline pressure.”

That same coverage earned Totenberg additional awards, including the Long Island University George Polk Award for excellence in journalism; the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for investigative reporting; the Carr Van Anda Award from the Scripps School of Journalism; and the prestigious Joan S. Barone Award for excellence in Washington-based national affairs/public policy reporting, which also acknowledged her coverage of Justice Thurgood Marshall’s retirement.

Totenberg was the first radio journalist to be honored by the as Broadcaster of the Year. She has been recognized seven times by the for excellence in legal reporting and won the first-ever Toni House award presented by the for a career body of work.

A frequent contributor to major newspapers and periodicals, Totenberg has published articles in The New York Times Magazine, The Harvard Law Review, The Christian Science Monitor, Parade Magazine and New York Magazine.

Before joining NPR in 1975, she served as Washington editor of New Times Magazine. Prior to that, she was the legal affairs correspondent for the National Observer.

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About the University Lectures
The University Lectures was created through, and is supported by, the generosity of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51. The cross-disciplinary series brings to Syracuse University notable guest speakers of exceptional accomplishment who share their diverse global experiences and perspectives.

Upcoming speakers in the series are:

• , professor of electrical engineering and computer science emerita at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, internationally renowned research engineer, university educator and LGBTQ advocate (March 28)
• , distinguished fellow and director of executive education at the , former executive vice president��of the and two-time U.S. ambassador to Israel (April 16).

The University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the series, write to��lectures@syr.edu. For up-to-date information on the series, visit the University Lectures and follow on .

All three events will take place in and are free and open to the public. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) are available at each lecture. Media sponsor for the University Lectures is .

Now in its 18^th season, the University Lectures was created through, and is supported by, the generosity of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51. The cross-disciplinary series brings to Syracuse University notable guest speakers of exceptional accomplishment who share their diverse global experiences and perspectives.

Nina Totenberg
Tuesday, March 5
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

One of the country’s most respected journalists, Nina Totenberg is ’s award-winning legal affairs correspondent. With more than 40 years’ experience at NPR, her reports are regularly featured on and

Totenberg’s coverage of the Supreme Court and legal affairs has won her widespread recognition. As Newsweek stated: “The mainstays [of NPR] are ‘Morning Edition’ and ‘All Things Considered.’ But the crème de la crème is Nina Totenberg.”

Totenberg was the first radio journalist to be honored by the as Broadcaster of the Year. She has been recognized seven times by the for excellence in legal reporting and won the first-ever Toni House award presented by the for a career body of work.

In 1988, Totenberg won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for her coverage of Supreme Court nominations. The jurors of the award stated, “Ms. Totenberg broke the story of Judge (Douglas) Ginsburg’s use of marijuana, raising issues of changing social values and credibility with careful perspective under deadline pressure.”

In 1991, her groundbreaking report about University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment by Judge Clarence Thomas led the Senate Judiciary Committee to re-open Thomas’ Supreme Court confirmation hearings to consider Hill’s charges. NPR received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for its gavel-to-gavel coverage—anchored by Totenberg—of both the original hearings and the inquiry into Hill’s allegations, and for Totenberg’s reports and exclusive interview with Hill.

That same coverage earned Totenberg additional awards, including the Long Island University George Polk Award for excellence in journalism; the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for investigative reporting; the Carr Van Anda Award from the Scripps School of Journalism; and the prestigious Joan S. Barone Award for excellence in Washington-based national affairs/public policy reporting, which also acknowledged her coverage of Justice Thurgood Marshall’s retirement.

On a lighter note, in 1988 and 1992, Esquire magazine named her one of the “Women We Love.”

A frequent contributor to major newspapers and periodicals, she has published articles in The New York Times Magazine, The Harvard Law Review, The Christian Science Monitor, Parade Magazine and New York Magazine.

Before joining NPR in 1975, Totenberg served as Washington editor of New Times Magazine. Prior to that, she was the legal affairs correspondent for the National Observer.

Totenberg’s appearance is co-sponsored by the , the , the , and the .

Lynn Conway
Tuesday, March 26
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

Lynn Conway, professor of electrical engineering and computer science emerita at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is an internationally renowned research engineer, university educator and LGBTQ advocate.

As a young researcher at IBM in the 1960s, she made pioneering innovations in computer architecture. IBM fired her in 1968 upon learning she was undergoing gender transition. A gritty survivor, she restarted her career in “stealth-mode” after completing her transition.

While working at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s, Conway innovated breakthrough methods that dramatically simplified the design of silicon chips, triggering the microelectronics “VLSI revolution” in Silicon Valley and forever transforming computing and information technology.

She went on to serve as assistant director for strategic computing at the , then joined the University of Michigan in 1985 as professor of electrical engineering and computer science and associate dean of engineering.

Quietly coming out after retiring in 1999, Conway evolved her trans-support website, , into a multilingual beacon of encouragement and hope for transgender people worldwide. Then, in 2012, she published a memoir that finally revealed how—closeted and hidden behind the scenes—she conceived the ideas and orchestrated the events that disruptively changed an entire industry.

Conway is a fellow of the (IEEE) and the , and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Among Conway’s other honors: the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the IEEE Computer Society’s Computer Pioneer Award, the James Clerk Maxwell Medal from the IEEE and Royal Society of Edinburgh, and four honorary doctorates.

Conway’s appearance is co-sponsored by the .

Martin S. Indyk
Tuesday, April 16
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

Martin Indyk is distinguished fellow and director of executive education at the .��Previously, he was��the John C. Whitehead Distinguished Fellow in International Diplomacy in the Foreign Policy program at the . From February 2015 to March 2018, he served as executive vice president of Brookings.

Indyk was the U.S. special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from July 2013 to June 2014. Prior to his time as special envoy, he was vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program��and a senior fellow and the founding director of the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel from 1995-97 and again from 2000-01, Indyk also served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs at the National Security Council (1993-95) and assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs in the U.S. Department of State (1997-2000).

Before entering government, Indyk was founding executive director of the for eight years.

He is author of (Simon and Schuster, 2009) and co-author of ��with Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Lieberthal (Brookings Institution Press, 2012). He is currently completing a book tentatively titled��“Henry Kissinger and the Art of the Middle East Deal”��to be published by A.A. Knopf in 2019.

Indyk serves on the boards of the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia, the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel and the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Investment Initiative. Indyk also is a member of the advisory boards of the Israel Democracy Institute and America Abroad Media.

Indyk’s appearance is co-sponsored by the .

Previous University Lectures guests this season were: award-winning author and Syracuse University professor of English George Saunders (Oct. 18); internationally renowned author Margaret Atwood (Oct. 25), in collaboration with the Syracuse Symposium; accomplished artist Robert Shetterly (Nov. 29), along with an exhibition of his omnibus portrait series “Americans Who Tell the Truth: Models of Courageous Citizenship”; and comedian, author and “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, in collaboration with the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

The University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the series, write to��lectures@syr.edu. For up-to-date information on the series, visit the University Lectures and follow on .

Joe Lee conducting an in-studio interview at WAER.

Joe Lee hears voices every day. Voices from the past. They don’t haunt him. They make him smile and his heart swell with pride. They are the voices of the broadcast elite, recognized around the world because they have become icons in the news and sports business. And many of them were inspired by Joe and what he has done in his role as director and general manager of for more than two decades.

“To see a student come in as a freshman, get cleared for air, hear their first play-by-play and eventually a national broadcast, it is such a source of pride,” says Lee. He respects the history, tradition and legacy of the 72-year old radio station, while striving to keep it relevant to audiences and a launching pad for the new generations of journalists and broadcasters. “It’s like being given your father’s car to drive around. You don’t want to scratch it up, but you also want to find a way to make it perform even better.”

Better performance means ensuring that the professional staff at WAER and the scores of student volunteers are responsive to dramatic changes in the media world, disruptive technologies and—perhaps most importantly—to the evolving needs of the community. “We have dropped the term public radio and now use ‘public media’ but it remains all about public trust,” says Lee. Mobile applications, the web, podcasts and social media continue to transform how information is disseminated and received. Lee wants to ensure that the multiple forms of media are being used effectively to “enlight, engage and entertain”—the three words that define the mission of WAER.

“Students come to us for different things. We have about 40 to 50 students who want to do sports and 15 to 20 who are interested in just news,” says Lee. “They come to us to learn how to report, but they show a deep interest in what public media is all about. They learn how to provide perspective in storytelling, balance and context.” For example, student reporters are not likely to find themselves covering car accidents or house fires, unless a single tragic event impacts the broader community in large ways or has implications for public health and safety.

City Limits is an ambitious, multi-platform civic engagement project produced by WAER Public Media that examines and explores poverty in Syracuse.

Public radio, the way Lee sees it, has always been about great storytelling. Now, it is also about public engagement, truly connecting with the community it serves. Hence, the yearlong initiative called , a multi-platform civic engagement project that examines poverty in Syracuse.��It is a mix of journalism, storytelling and community convening designed to spark a communitywide dialogue of individuals, organizations and community constituencies on issues ranging from food insecurity to economic development to affordable housing and more.

“The goal of City Limits was not only to get our community talking about these issues but to inspire our listeners to take action,” says Lee. He wanted the students to see that their reporting could be impactful, could change things, could make the community better. He points to one of many anecdotal pieces of evidence that they did just that. “Two of our listeners heard a story we did on a ride-to-work program run by Providence Services to help people get better jobs by solving their transportation problems. The listeners were so touched by the story, they purchased used cars and donated them to the individuals featured in the story.”

Contemplating next steps in the evolution of WAER programming, Lee is focused on making the community a real partner in telling important stories. He’s inspired by a model put forth by a consulting firm called (which means “listen”) generating public-powered journalism through relevant and original stories. Through resources like from the Central New York Community Foundation and other data aggregators, students can learn to identify the most important issues that will impact the region’s ability to make progress.

“We will discuss, as a staff, a range of issues we want to tackle,” says Lee. “These won’t likely turn into year-long projects, but more of a series of reports on important issues. We will start to focus our reporting on beats, like education, environment, race and culture, to name just a few.” Through a collaborative process with newsroom staff and students, Lee envisions developing series of reports that can be transformative in the community.

Joe Lee (center) with the WAER basketball team at the annual Media Cup game.

He believes this approach will also help raise philanthropic support for public media: “It’s increasingly difficult to raise money around the concept of ‘Give us your support because it helps us bring NPR content to you.’ People want to direct their philanthropy to specific areas that are meaningful to them. The City Limits project attracted significant funding from a foundation and from listeners who wanted to support that effort. We need to do more of this kind of work going forward.”

Lee also wants to ensure that students who come to WAER for experience in broadcasting and reporting understand and acquire the skills necessary to succeed in this fast-changing field. He notes that he started his career editing tape with a razor blade at his local public radio station, WEAA in his hometown of Baltimore. “Today’s broadcaster needs to be a skilled multimedia journalist,” he says. “You have to report, edit audio, understand content distribution platforms. You have to be more versatile today, and WAER has to provide an opportunity for students to acquire all those skills.”

Lee says that even though WAER will continue to change with the times in response to audience needs and wants, it will always offer an eclectic format that includes a mix of music, sports and news that will “enlight, engage and entertain.” He won’t rest on the laurels of a station that has produced famous graduates like Ted Koppel, Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, Lakshmi Singh and Scott MacFarlane. “You have to be both open to change and a change agent in an industry that is ever-changing.”

Staff Spotlight shines a light on many of Syracuse University’s most dedicated—and talented—members. Their work on campus. Their often very interesting lives away from campus. It is our pleasure to share their stories. Know someone who should be considered for an upcoming Staff Spotlight? Contact Kevin Morrow, director of internal communications in the Division of Marketing and Communications, at kdmorrow@syr.edu.

In a celebratory event held at Syracuse University’s Lubin House in New York City, both Kroft and Len Berman ’68, G’70 were inducted into the WAER Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Bob Costas ’74, Ian Eagle ’90, Lakshmi Singh ’94, Mike Tirico ’88 and several others. Both Kroft and Berman are accomplished alumni who began their long careers at SU and WAER.

John Nicholson and Steve Kroft

“Steve and Len represent the best of Syracuse University and the rich tradition of WAER,” said Joe Lee, the station’s director and general manager. “The Hall of Fame event gives us an opportunity to engage and celebrate our unequaled legacy of college broadcasting.”

Berman is an eight-time, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author with a career that spans more than 50 years. A six-time New York Sportscaster of the Year award winner, he is the creator of “Spanning the World,” a monthly collection of sports bloopers, and “Sports Fantasy,” a show that pitted regular viewers against sports stars, both of which aired on NBC.

Recalling how he got his start in broadcast journalism, Berman noted that he walked into WAER as an undergraduate wanting to be a disc jockey and ended up reading sports scores over the air on Saturday nights. He attributed his success, and the reason he was accepting an award, to what he called “The two pillars of my life”: WAER for guiding his career and his wife, Jill, and family for their unconditional support.

Kroft is widely known for his work on the nation’s most-watched television news program, “60 Minutes.” During his 28 seasons as a correspondent, he has won five Peabody Awards—two of which he earned in the same year; numerous Emmy Awards; and the DuPont Columbia University Journalism silver baton, television journalism’s highest honor, twice. Kroft has conducted interviews that are timely and widely debated, such as his exit interview with former President Barack Obama and a rare interview with Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey, during policy disagreements between the United States and Turkey.

For the WAER and Newhouse alumni in attendance, the evening was one of reconnecting and reminiscing with a room full of talent. Adam Zucker ’98 served as master of ceremonies. Zucker is a studio host for CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network, hosting “College Football Today,” “Inside College Football,” and “Inside College Basketball,” and providing in-studio updates during the NCAA Tournament.

Len Berman and Dugald Gillies

Dugald Gillies ’68 presented the award to Berman. The two had been roommates in Lawrinson Hall as undergraduates. During his career, Gillies worked in broadcasting in Buffalo and Syracuse, served as a public affairs officer in the Navy, and headed SU’s Paul Greenberg House in Washington, D.C.

Presenting to Kroft was John Nicholson ’68, who similarly to Berman and Gillies, was roommates with Kroft at Syracuse. Nicholson is a Newhouse professor emeritus who has taught and advised more than a thousand students, several hundred of whom got their start in news and sports at WAER. He is the founding director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center and has more than 50 years’ experience in news, sports, production and teaching.

Jack Myers ’69 underwrote the event. Myers is a board member emeritus of the Newhouse School, author, founder, documentary filmmaker and leading media economist. He has advised hundreds of corporations on media and technology trends and is the recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award, as well as an Academy and Emmy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature.

About WAER
WAER is a commercial free, listener-supported public media organization licensed to Syracuse University. Founded in 1947, WAER serves the greater Syracuse area with NPR and local news, eclectic music and SU sports. WAER is staffed by full-time professionals who train, educate and supervise student volunteers interested in enhancing their academic experience in broadcast journalism and sports broadcasting. WAER content is available on 88.3 FM and HD, HD2, WAER.org and via mobile app for iPhone and Android operating systems.

Katie Zilcosky

Zilcosky is passionate about public radio and journalism.�� “I’m excited to continue creating content��for the station that helped to develop my passion for public radio,” says Zilcosky.�� “I’m looking forward to helping the station advance its digital and feature content and being a part of WAER’s afternoon sound.”

In addition to hosting “All Things Considered,” Katie will be tasked with contributing new and creative elements to WAER’s daily broadcasts while also helping to mentor student volunteers. ��She will serve as the primary feature reporter for WAER, digging deep into the community to tell the stories that truly matter to the residents of Central New York.

“We are all really excited to have Katie join us full time,” says WAER Content and Operations Manager Kevin Kloss. “She has a lot of really strong ideas that are going help us utilize emerging technology to get our content in front diverse audiences.”

Zilcosky grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Syracuse University in May. She has also worked as a production intern��at Pittsburgh’s NPR station 90.5 WESA.�� Get to know Katie as a journalist by listening to her most recent contribution to the City Limits Project by clicking here:

News and Sports coverage took other honors as well, including Best Spot News Coverage, Best Human Interest Feature Story, Best Sports Story and Best Sports Show.

The “City Limits” website contains all the reporting for the year-long poverty initiative, as well as audio of panel discussions that occurred on air on poverty, how education is impacted, and poverty and the criminal justice system.

WAER’s Maura Sheridan took top honors in the Best Sports Story competition for her story “Paving the Road.”

Meredith Kava took second place in the category for “From the Marines to the Syracuse Sidelines.”

The WAER sports staff was also honored for Best Sports Show. “Countdown to Tipoff,” Syracuse v. Kansas pregame, won first place. The show included contributions from many staff members, including Sean Salisbury, Evan Stockton, Jake Marsh and Maura Sheridan.

“Countdown to Kickoff,” pregame for Syracuse v. Clemson football, took second place in the category. Again, many people contribute to the broadcasts; this one was led by Salisbury, Stockton, Noah Eagle and Tyler Aki.

WAER coverage of the Syracuse Climate March was named Best Spot News Story. The story, “Syracuse Climate March Attracts 1000 for Climate Actions & against Trump Policies” by News Director Chris Bolt, chronicled the event in April 2017, which was part of a national day of actions around the issue.

Bolt was also honored for Best Human Interest Feature, along with Tom Honan of Live Space Entertainment for “Songwriter Jimmy Webb & Glen Campbell’s Family Remember his Music & Struggle with Alzheimer’s.” The story previewed a performance by Webb in Syracuse and included interviews with Campell’s wife, Kim, and daughter Ashley.

The story “WAER Takes EV on the Road: Can Long Range All-Electric Fit Your Lifestyle?” won second place in the category. Bolt told the story of a week-long test drive in the all-electric vehicle, including the realities of driving and getting it charged.

The Black History Month Series “Central New York Unknown Underground” was named second place in the Best Radio Special Program category. The stories, about the numerous area connections to the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery movement, included: “Jerry Rescue Facts, Slaves Hidden at Restaurant, Women’s Rights Abolitionist,” “New York Abolition Efforts, Douglass, Tubman, had Key Benefactor in CNY, who Many Don’t Know (about Gerrit Smith),” and “Syracuse Street Corner Should be Monument to Prominent Abolitionist (Jermain Loguen) and Underground Railroad History.”

The spring series features an internationally known expert in aerial robotics, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist for The New York Times and a renowned evangelist for construction and operation practices of buildings that advance human health and well-being.

The first speaker is Vijay Kumar on Feb. 20, followed by Maureen Dowd on April 13 and Rick Fedrizzi on April 24. All three events are free and will take place in Hendricks Chapel. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) are available at each lecture.

The University Lectures was created through, and is supported by, the generosity of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51. The cross-disciplinary series brings to Syracuse University notable guest speakers of exceptional accomplishment who share their diverse global experiences and perspectives.

Appearing this spring

Vijay Kumar
Tuesday, Feb. 20
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

Vijay Kumar

is a renowned roboticist and the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering with appointments in the departments of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, computer and information science, and electrical and systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

His research interests are in robotics, specifically multi-robot systems, and micro aerial vehicles.

Kumar’s 2012 TED Talk, has had more than 4.3 million views; it concludes with a recorded demonstration of nine flying robots performing the James Bond theme on six different instruments. Kumar is a huge James Bond fan, and he credits the character “Q” for motivating him to pursue a career in technology.

In another TED Talk, from 2015, Kumar discusses his lab’s work creating autonomous small robots constructed with smartphones, an aerial robot with an eagle-like claw and very small aerial robots inspired by honeybees. He goes on to describe his team’s Precision Farming project, in which swarms of robots map, reconstruct and analyze every plant and piece of fruit in an orchard, providing vital information to farmers that can help improve yields and make water management smarter.

Kumar is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2003), a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (2005) and a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2013).

He is recipient of the 1991 National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator award; the 1996 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (University of Pennsylvania); the 1997 Freudenstein Award for significant accomplishments in mechanisms and robotics; the 2012 ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award; the 2012 IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Distinguished Service Award; a 2012 World Technology Network Award; a 2013 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough award; a 2014 Engelberger Robotics Award; and the 2017 IEEE Robotics and Automation Society George Saridis Leadership Award in Robotics and Automation.

Since joining the University of Pennsylvania faculty in 1987, Kumar has served Penn Engineering in many capacities, including deputy dean for research; deputy dean for education; chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics; and director of the GRASP Laboratory, a multidisciplinary robotics and perception laboratory.

In 2012-13, Kumar served as the assistant director of robotics and cyber physical systems at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Kumar’s visit is co-sponsored by the , with media sponsor WAER.

Maureen Dowd
Friday, April 13
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

Maureen Dowd

is recipient of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary and a best-selling author.

Known for her witty, incisive and often acerbic portraits of the powerful, Dowd began her journalism career in 1974 as an editorial assistant for The Washington Star, where she later became a sports columnist, metropolitan reporter and feature writer. When The Star closed, she went to TIME magazine. She joined The New York Times as a metropolitan reporter in 1983, went on to serve as a correspondent in the paper’s Washington bureau in 1986 and became a columnist on The Times Op-Ed page in 1995; her column appears Sundays. In 2014, she also became a writer for The Times Magazine.

Dowd has covered seven presidential campaigns, served as The Times’ White House correspondent and written “On Washington,” a column for The Times Magazine. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for national reporting in 1992 and was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year for 1996.

In the run-up to the 2004 presidential election, G.P. Putnam published her first book, which covered the presidency and personality of George W. Bush. After “Bushworld” quickly climbed the best-seller list, Dowd switched from presidential politics to sexual politics in another best seller, (Penguin, 2005).

In her most recent book, (Grand Central Publishing, 2016), Dowd “traces the psychologies and pathologies in one of the nastiest and most significant battles of the sexes ever,” the 2016 presidential campaign.

In addition to The New York Times, Dowd has written for GQ, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, The New Republic, Mademoiselle and Sports Illustrated, among other publications.

Dowd’s visit is co-sponsored by the Lubin Society, with media sponsor WAER.

Rick Fedrizzi
Tuesday, April 24
7:30 p.m., Hendricks Chapel

Rick Fedrizzi

G’87 joined the (IWBI) as chairman and CEO in November 2016, bringing his global environmental track record and keen business insight to IWBI’s work to advance human health through better buildings and communities.

With more than 100 million square feet registered and certified in over 30 countries, IWBI’s evidence-based is the premier system for measuring and monitoring real estate features that impact health and well-being and third-party certifying their successful achievement.

Fedrizzi is also founding chair of the (USGBC) and former CEO of both USGBC and of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), nonprofit organizations that promote high-performing buildings and communities. During his tenure, , or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, became the world’s most widely used green building rating system.

Syracuse University has several buildings that have received LEED certification: Syracuse Center of Excellence (Platinum), Ernie Davis Hall (Gold), Dineen Hall (Gold), Bowne Hall (Certified), the Carmelo K. Anthony Center (Certified) and the Green Data Center (Certified). The University is working toward certification for two other projects: (seeking Certified status) and the (seeking Gold status).

Fedrizzi co-founded USGBC while serving as the environmental marketing officer at UTC’s Carrier Corp., where he served for more than 25 years.��A Syracuse native, he received an M.B.A. from Syracuse University in 1987 and was recipient of an Arents Award for Excellence in Sustainability Innovation in 2011.

He serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; View, Inc.; and Global Green.

His book (Disruption Books, 2015) won a prestigious EPPY award for Public Affairs in 2015.

Fedrizzi’s visit is co-sponsored by the , with media sponsor WAER.

The University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the series, write to��lectures@syr.edu.

For up-to-date information on the series, visit the University Lectures and follow on .

About Syracuse University

Founded��in 1870, Syracuse University is a private international research university��dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching��excellence,��rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11��academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence��in the liberal arts, sciences and��professional disciplines that prepares��students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly��changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main��campus and��extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three��continents. Syracuse’s student body is among the most diverse for an��institution of its��kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent��all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Syracuse also has a long legacy of��supporting veterans and is home to��the nationally recognized Institute for��Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the��U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their��families.

According to the U.S. Census Report, Syracuse’s poverty rate was the 13th worst in the country in 2016, with nearly a third of the city’s population living in poverty. Although the nation’s poverty rate fell to 12.7 percent in 2016, Syracuse’s poverty rate increased from 31 percent to 32.1 percent, with its ranking of 13th nationwide up from 29th just a year ago.

“City Limits is a year-long, multi-media civic engagement project that examines poverty in Syracuse,” says Joseph Lee, WAER director and general manager. “It blends reporting, storytelling and community convening to spark a dialogue��among individuals, organizations and community constituencies to help increase understanding of the problem and explore solutions aimed at reducing poverty in our city.”

From food insecurity, to economic development to affordable housing and more, each episode aims to challenge assumptions on poverty and highlights one of the many poverty-related issues in Syracuse, according to Lee.

The podcast series is available to listen to online at .

About Syracuse University

Founded��in 1870, Syracuse University is a private international research university��dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching��excellence,��rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11��academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence��in the liberal arts, sciences and��professional disciplines that prepares��students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly��changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main��campus and��extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three��continents. Syracuse’s student body is among the most diverse for an��institution of its��kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent��all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Syracuse also has a long legacy of��supporting veterans and is home to��the nationally recognized Institute for��Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the��U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their��families.

David Greene (Photo by David Gilkey NPR)

The free event is co-sponsored by the Maxwell School, with additional support by media partner WAER.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) are available. Requests for accessibility and accommodations may be made to the Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS) office at 315.443.4018.

For two years prior to taking on his current responsibilities with NPR in 2012, Greene was an NPR foreign correspondent based in Moscow, covering the region from Ukraine and the Baltics east to Siberia. During that time, he brought listeners stories as wide ranging as Chernobyl 25 years later and Beatles-singing Russian Babushkas. He spent a month in Libya reporting riveting stories in the most difficult of circumstances as NATO bombs fell on Tripoli; he was honored with the 2011 Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize from WBUR and Boston University for that coverage of the Arab Spring.

Greene’s voice first became familiar to NPR listeners during his four years covering the White House during the Bush administration. To report on former President George W. Bush’s second term, Greene spent hours in NPR’s spacious booth in the basement of the West Wing (it’s about the size of an average broom closet). He also spent time trekking across five continents, reporting on White House visits to Afghanistan, Iraq, Mongolia, Rwanda, Uruguay and, of course, Crawford, Texas.

Greene was an integral part of NPR’s coverage of the historic 2008 election, covering Hillary Clinton’s campaign from start to finish and focusing on how racial attitudes were playing into voters’ decisions. The White House Correspondents Association took special note of Greene’s report on a speech by then-candidate Barack Obama, addressing the nation’s racial divide. Greene was presented with the association’s 2008 Merriman Smith award for deadline coverage of the presidency.

After President Obama took office, Greene kept one eye trained on the White House and the other eye on the road. He spent three months driving across America—with a recorder, camera and lots of caffeine—to learn how the recession was touching Americans during Obama’s first 100 days in office. The series was titled “100 Days: On the Road in Troubled Times.”

Before joining NPR in 2005, Greene spent nearly seven years as a newspaper reporter for the Baltimore Sun. He covered the White House during the Bush administration’s first term and wrote about an array of other topics for the paper: why Oklahomans love the sport of cockfighting, why two Amish men in Pennsylvania were caught trafficking methamphetamine and how one woman brought Christmas back to a small town in Maryland.

Greene is the second speaker in the 2017-18 University Lectures season. Award-winning journalist/documentarian/news anchor Soledad O’Brien spoke Sept. 14 in conjunction with the University’s Coming Back Together reunion of African American and Latino alumni. Also scheduled this semester is historian and The New Yorker contributor Jill Lepore, whose book “The Secret History of Wonder Woman” (Knopf, 2014) has received critical and public acclaim; Lepore will be speaking Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The spring lineup of speakers will be announced later this fall.

The University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the series, write to��lectures@syr.edu. For up-to-date information on the series, visit the University Lectures and follow on .

Along with these, magazine sophomore Taylor Watson won the Devestry-Williams Scholarship for $2,000 and spoke highly of her Newhouse School and Daily Orange experiences during her acceptance speech.

Many students were able to attend the ceremony courtesy of the Newhouse School and were recognized in person. Check out the @NewhouseBDJ and @NewhouseNOJ Twitter accounts for photos from the ceremony.

Following is the updated awards list.

College Category:

BEST RADIO SPORTS STORY
1st: NCC News, Tim Scott, “Rally Time for the National Pastime: How Declining Numbers Hurt Youth Baseball”
2nd: NCC News, Cole Zimmerman, “Breaking Barriers: How the Disabled Community Plays Hockey”

BEST RADIO FEATURE STORY
1st: NCC News, Joe Bloss, “The Lost Tapes: How the Cassette Found Its Way Back”

BEST TELEVISION SPORTS STORY
1st: NCC News, Jonathan Gordon, “Syracuse Goalie Overcomes Setback to Become a Star”

BEST TELEVISION NEWS STORY
1st: NCC News, Brooke Glatz, “Remembrance Scholar Jamie Weiss Profile”
2nd: NCC News, Nick Papantonis, “Drug ring busted”

BEST TELEVISION FEATURE STORY
1st: NCC News, Meghan Mistry, “The Bottle Man” Dedicates His Life to Breast Cancer Fundraising”
2nd: NCC News, Nick Papantonis, “Despite area trend, local manufacturer expands”

BEST MULTIMEDIA STORY
1st: The NewsHouse, The Dome 35 Team, “Dome 35: The Legend and Future of Syracuse’s Carrier Dome”
2nd: NCC News, Broadcast Journalism Masters Students 2016-17, “Syracuse Black Lives Matter Protest Stays Peaceful”

Professional Category:

SPORTS STORY
1st: WAER-FM, Dan Silverman, “Legacy of Pearl Washington & Syracuse Basketball”
2nd: WAER-FM, Jared Barton, “The Reformation of the Big East”

SPORTS SHOW
1st: WAER-FM, Marco Socci, Michael Tricarico, Jared Barton and Sean Salisbury, “Countdown to Kickoff: Syracuse vs. Virginia”
2nd: WAER-FM, William Wheeler, Chris Polera, Andrew Carter, Noah Wolfe, “WAER’s Sportsnight Reflects on the World Series”

NON-DAILY PRINT MEDIA – INVESTIGATIVE STORY / SERIES
1st: The Stand, Ashley McBride, “High utility builds”

NEWS FEATURE / SERIES
2nd: The Stand, Ashley Kang and Rachel George, “Neighborhood trauma”

“HUMAN INTEREST” FEATURE
1st: The Stand, Ryan Raigrodski and Ashley Kang, “Finding Purpose: We Rise Above the Streets distributes needed meals to homeless”

Today from2-3 p.m., the station will air “Sound Opinions: Music of the Civil Rights Movement.” Professional music critics Jim and Greg will discuss influential and game-changing music from the 1960s that provided a soundtrack to the civil rights movement. They will analyze tracks by artists like Sam Cooke, the Staple Singers, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone and more.

“Blue Note Sound” will air on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. So much of what is considered as straight ahead jazz was shaped by the Blue Note Sound. As host Jim Luce explains, in the mid-20th century producer Alfred Lyons brought a diverse group of musicians into the studio to conceive, compose and make jazz records without compromise.

From Tuesday, Feb. 7, through Thursday, Feb. 9, at 2-3 p.m., in the program “Making Oprah,” Oprah Winfrey will take WAER listeners behind the scenes of her iconic TV talk show, along with help from producers, staffers, TV executives and ratings rival Phil Donahue. The three-part series chronicles the show’s scrappy roots in Chicago, its rise to daytime dominance and the powerful sway Winfrey came to have in American life.

“Raw Truth: An MLK Tribute” will air on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. The Boston Children’s Chorus presents its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert, recorded live at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall.

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 8-9 p.m., “Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio” will examine the legacy of Black radio, focusing on the legendary WDAS in Philadelphia. The story of Black radio in Philadelphia is actually the story of Black music, of civil rights and progress in the African-American community, and of how the radio medium has changed in the last century.

“Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia” will air on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 8-9 p.m. This one-hour radio special hosted by Jeff Foxx explores the story of Philadelphia International Records, as well as its impact on the future of music through stories and music from many of its artists, as well as Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff

A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood is a musical journey in the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and will be heard on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. In this hour-long special from WQXR and WNYC, host Terrance McKnight interweaves musical examples with King’s own speeches and sermons to illustrate the powerful place that music held in his work and examines how the musical community responded to and participated in King’s cause.

From Feb. 21-23 from 2-3 p.m., WAER will air “Historically Black.” Objects hold history and evoke stories stamped in time. The Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., has opened up a world of stories that visitors are flocking to discover. To mark the September 2016 opening of the museum, The Washington Post invited people across the country to submit photographs of objects in their family that connect them personally to black history. “Historically Black” reveals intimate and surprising aspects of history through interviews, archival sound and music.

The last of WAER’s Black History Month Programming will air on Friday, Feb. 24, from 3-4 p.m. In “Black Like Me: The Michelle Obama Documentary,” Valley Fontaine explores why Michelle Obama is so important to black women around the world. Fontaine hears frank, funny and intimate insight from both men and women about the phenomenon known as “shade-ism” or “color-ism,” where people face discrimination both outside and within the Black community on the basis of their skin tone.

Dick Stockton ’60 and Beth Mowins ’94 along with WAER General Manager Joe Lee.

Dick Stockton ’60 took a few moments during his recent NFL broadcast on FOX to recognize WAER and the . Stockton was on campus last week, and along with ESPN’s Beth Mowins ’94, was inducted into the WAER Hall of Fame, joining a long list of national sports broadcasters to come from Syracuse University. It’s worth noting that WAER is in the final days of its fall campaign. to support NPR programming and student training, and to help continue the great tradition of sports broadcasting at the Original Home of the Orange.

Every Monday evening beginning on the Feb. 1, WAER will host music shows that pay tribute to African-American music pioneers. This programming will feature Texas Jazz and Blues Greats, The Nina Simone Story and a documentary on Wynton Marsalis’s pivotal recording: From the Plantation to the Penitentiary.

Additionally, every Wednesday afternoon starting on Feb. 3, WAER will present public affairs programs that focus on a range of topics from the influence of African-American art on social movements to an in-depth examination of “The Autobiography of Malcom X” to a look at the widening survival gap between black and white women diagnosed with breast cancer.

For more information and programming descriptions please visit .

Katherine “KC” Frahm-Hingtgen

Katherine Frahm-Hingtgen has been named as the new content and operations manager for�� WAER-FM. Frahm-Hingtgen comes to WAER from KMST public radio, operated by the University of Missouri-Rolla, where she most recently served as the station’s program director.

Like WAER, KMST programs a mix of NPR news and music content. As KMST Program Director, Frahm-Hingtgen managed all programming operations, including content selection of daily and special programs; monitored program and broadcast quality; supervised student participation; and hosted local “All Things Considered” segments.

“I am honored and excited to be part of the WAER team, who has a legacy of bringing great programming to Central New York for over 65 years. In the ever-changing world of public radio, my goal is to provide the best possible programming through multiple formats and platforms that will enlighten, engage and entertain the listeners of WAER,” she says.

“We will rely heavily on KC to execute our multi-platform content strategy,” says WAER Director and General Manager Joe Lee. “She brings a great deal of energy and fresh perspective that will help WAER engage new audiences.”

“I am constantly striving to adapt to the current trends and changes in public radio and encourage members and listeners to reach out to me with ideas and suggestions of how to improve our programming,” Frahm-Hingtgen says. She can be reached at kfrahmhi@syr.edu or 315-443-3538.

Frahm-Hingtgen, a native of Owensville, Mo., received a B.A. in public relations from Hawaii Pacific University. She replaces recently retired Program Director Ron Ockert, who served WAER for 20 years.

There will also be an opportunity to brainstorm on action steps the community can take on climate change. The event is taking place at the Central New York Community Foundation at 431 E. Fayette St. in Syracuse. It’s free and open to the public.

Attendees will hear from top experts in the field as well as Syracuse University professors, including:

• Peter Wilcoxen, associate professor of economics and public administration in the Maxwell School. Wilcoxen is on the EPA’s Science Advisory Board Environmental Economics Advisory Committee and also studies climate change and energy policy;
• Sarah Pralle, senior research associate Campbell Public Affairs Institute, who studies environmental politics and policy;
• *Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University Soil Scientist, who is just back from the Paris talks. He studies greenhouse gases and ways to trade carbon; and
• Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography in the Maxwell School who teaches “Environment and Society” and “American Environmental History” and studies environmental social movements.

“People will hear a lot about the Paris Climate Conference, but might not really make connections to our lives locally. Not only will people want to know what really came out of the accord in Paris, but they should hear about the consequences and policies that affect us here. Local residents might also have ideas about the actions that can and should be taken at the individual, local and state level on this issue,” says WAER News and Public Affairs Director Chris Bolt.

WAER will expand its daytime news and information offerings to include coverage of local, national and international issues. At night, Music Director Eric Cohen will provide the best in jazz music live from the WAER studios from 8-11 p.m.

Among the new programs:

: Airs weekdays 9-10 a.m. A production of BBC World Service, this hour-long show features interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.

: Airs weekdays 10 a.m.-noon. The show’s lively conversation, led by host Tom Ashbrook, covers everything from breaking news to ancient poetry, and features writers, politicians, journalists, artists, scientists and ordinary citizens from around the world.

: Airs weekdays noon-2 p.m. Hosts Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson provide coverage of the fluid world of news as it’s happening in the middle of the day, with timely, smart and in-depth reports, interviews and conversation.

: Airs weekdays 2-3 p.m. Host John Hockenberry provides a fresh alternative in news featuring critical conversations, reports from the field, and listener participation.

: Airs weekdays 3-4 p.m. Host Marco Werman and his team of producers present the world’s most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.

: Airs weeknights from 8-11 p.m. WAER’s reputation for providing quality jazz programming will continue with the premier voice in local jazz music. Cohen ’93 will lend his expert voice, programming skills and jazz knowledge to the evening airwaves beginning weeknights at 8 p.m. According to WAER Director and General Manager Joe Lee, “Eric will provide a strong local presence and stability to evening jazz with his unique blend of classic and contemporary music performed by both national and local artists.”

In a letter to WAER members, Lee expressed his reasoning and enthusiasm for the schedule improvements: “I am committed to expanding our news coverage while also maintaining our dedication to preserving jazz as an American art form,” Lee wrote.

“Over the past year, we have researched the listening needs and preferences of our audience. The results have indicated a desire for more news and information programming on WAER,” according to Lee. “The research also highlights the challenges of building a steady and consistent audience when the broadcast day features multiple formats. As a result, WAER will now feature news and information programs with a broad international and national focus from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a live-hosted jazz program weeknights from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.”

News Director Chris Bolt says he is excited about the possibility for more student involvement in news coverage and production, including news reporting, anchoring, producing and sports journalism. Currently, the station provides meaningful opportunities and broadcast experience to 80 students per semester.

WAER has launched the careers of such notable broadcasters as Ted Koppel ’60, Bob Costas ’74, Sean McDonough ’84, Mike Tirico ’88 and Ian Eagle ’90. The rich tradition of award winning sports broadcasts will continue uninterrupted, with play-by-play broadcasts of all Syracuse University basketball, football, and lacrosse, along with the “Double Overtime” postgame shows.

Mike Tirico

Award-winning journalist Ted Koppel ’60 and award-winning sports broadcaster Mike Tirico ’88 share many things in common. Both are SU alumni, and both have risen to the top of the broadcast profession. Both Koppel and Tirico also shared a common training ground in WAER-FM, and now both will share a place on the station’s Wall of Fame.

Koppel was inducted in 2012, and now Tirico will join him on the wall during a ceremony Feb. 28. WAER General Manager Joe Lee described the Wall of Fame as a “Mount Rushmore” of broadcasting greats. Already, Hank Greenwald ’57 and Andy Musser ’59 are on the wall, as is Ian Eagle ’90. Soon, Bill Roth ’87 and Sean McDonough will join them too.

As part of Tirico’s induction, Pete Gianesini ’94 (a fellow colleague at ESPN) offered the following thoughts as part of a piece that’s being distributed internally at ESPN.

“Having been born up the street in Bristol Hospital, raised a town over and now part of the ESPN Radio team for 16-plus years, Bristol and the surrounding area has been my home for all but the four years spent as a student at Syracuse University, followed by a brief stay there in local radio. This weekend I have the pleasure to return to my other ‘home’ to help WAER Radio at SU induct Mike Tirico into its Hall of Fame. WAER’s sports department is entirely student-run, and is the place where many celebrated sports broadcasters, producers and executives learned their trade. And, yes, I worked there too.

“I’m not going to take this space to detail Mike’s broadcasting accomplishments or the events he has covered, which on its own has and will make him a Hall of Famer in any of a number of areas. Why this one is so special to me and many other WAER alums and students who will be there, is to give back just a small amount of the time that Mike has at some point or another invested in all of us. My first ESPN experience was as Mike’s guest, on a tour while in town with WAER’s broadcast team covering Syracuse’s 1994 game in Hartford vs. Connecticut. I still have that SportsCenter set photo—joined by current ESPN play-by-play voice Dave Pasch, NFL Network Anchor Andrew Siciliano and Detroit Sports Radio Host Matt Dery.

“Fast forward to 2007, 10 years into my career at ESPN, where I had the pleasure to work with Mike in launching ‘The Mike Tirico Show’ that fall. Our management team identified Sept. 20 as the planned launch date, so I called Mike to run it by him. He said he had to be in Syracuse that day for the dedication of Newhouse 3, the third building comprising the , which, to come full circle, is hosting Mike’s Hall of Fame Induction this weekend. We discussed doing the debut show from WAER, where we could not only tap into the guests on hand (Bob Costas and Jim Boeheim joined us in studio) but it was very important to Mike that we would also share the event with the current crop of students, who had that same look of awe watching the show that I had on that ESPN tour in ’94 or for that pickup game in ’92.

“Skipping a dozen other stories I could tell, I’ll fast-forward to last year, when the aforementioned Matt Dery was about to be hired at our ESPN Radio affiliate to host his own show, and texted me to let me know the announcement was the next day. I simply wrote back, ‘Does Mike know?’ Matt wrote back that he did and was a huge help through the process.

“Of course he was. And is.”

Tirico will be honored during ceremonies on Friday, Feb. 28, from 5:30-9 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. Ticket information is available at