What’s Up Vol. 6, Issue 15 April 4, 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Senior Anna Miller Serves as 2 Tenth President for a Day Producer, Director Bill Duke to Points of Pride: Widener 2 Speak at Widener Commencement Receives $200,000 for Soccer for Success Program Bill Duke, the hope to instill in Widener students, and Faces of Widener: 3 African American we are very fortunate to have him as our Bernard Pinder godfather commencement speaker.” of American Sport Speaker Series The founder and chief executive 3 cinema, will Examines Legal Aspects of officer of Duke Media, formerly Yagya the Industry deliver the Productions, Duke has been producing Widener film and television for more than 30 Anthropology Students 4 University Explore Two Sides of Trinidad years. Duke Media is recognized as a commencement world-wide leader in leveraging media address and Students, Faculty Travel to via the new film industry paradigm of the 4 receive an honorary doctorate of public AWP Conference Internet. The Bill Duke Web Network has service degree on May 12 in a ceremony established an international following beginning at 9:45 a.m. on the quad that has proven viewers crave to be both Widener Celebrates its 5 behind Old Main on Widener’s Main Community Partners entertained and educated. Campus in Chester. Nearly 800 students will graduate with associate, bachelor’s, Duke formerly served on the Board of ACLU President Visits 5 master’s, and doctorate degrees. Trustees at the American Film Institute. Harrisburg Campus Former California Governor Arnold Duke recently received a Lifetime Schwarzenegger also appointed him to Achievement Tribute from the Directors McChrystal Says the California State Film Commission Understanding, Not Force is 6 Guild of America, joining the ranks of Board. Duke served as the Time Warner the Key to Winning Wars directors Stephen Spielberg, Alfred Endowed Chair in the Department of Hitchcock, and Clint Eastwood. He Radio Television and Film at Howard President Clinton Highlights is also a humanitarian and activist 6 University in Washington, D.C. He 2012-13 Philadelphia who serves on the Board of Trustees Speakers Series was also appointed to the National of Educating Young Minds, an after Endowment of the Humanities by school program that helps inner city Noteworthy 7 President Bill Clinton. youth to excel in school and life. He is also involved with the United Nations Duke’s directing credits include The Campus Snapshot: BIO 107 7 UNAIDS mission to eliminate AIDS Killing Floor, A Rage in Harlem, Sister globally. Act 2, Deep Cover, Hoodlum, The Cemetery Club, Cover and Not Easily “Bill Duke has not only been an Spotlight on Sports 7 Broken, Black Diamonds: The Evolution outstanding leader in the motion picture of Blacks in Baseball, and Dark Girls. industry, but he has also chosen to Two-Week Peek 8 give back to the community in the spirit Duke’s acting credits include Predator, of civic engagement,” said Widener American Gigolo, Car Wash, Commando, Story Idea? President James T. Harris III. “His Menace II Society, Bird on a Wire, The Send story and leadership and community service are Limey, Get Rich or Die Trying, X-Men 3, noteworthy ideas and prime examples of the qualities that we Henry’s Crime, and The Big Bang. items to Allyson Roberts, [email protected] 1 back to contents table Points of Pride… Senior Anna Miller Serves as Tenth President for a Day Widener Receives $200,000 for Soccer for Success Program Anna Miller, a senior chemistry major from East Prospect, PA, was The U.S. Soccer Foundation selected president of Widener for only one Widener University to receive a $200,000 day, but her four years at Widener grant over two years to operate Soccer as a student have transformed her for Success, the Foundation’s after- into a leader. Widener President school youth development program James T. Harris III, on the other that uses soccer as a tool to combat hand, has been working on his childhood obesity and promote healthy undergraduate degree for 10 years. lifestyles for low-income students in the Miller took the helm of the Chester Upland School District. university on March 30, serving as Widener’s tenth President for a Anna Miller poses with Chester Widener was one of 13 organizations Day, while Harris attended Miller’s Mayor John Linder during her nationwide that was awarded Social stint as Widener president classes—including chemistry and Innovation Fund Sub-Grants totaling $3.6 political science—and even sorted million to support the implementation of diapers at CityTeam International Soccer for Success. Through Soccer for in Chester where Miller serves as a Success, Widener’s Athletic Department, volunteer. the School of Nursing, and the Widener “How is that, is that better than Center for Violence Prevention will Anna?” Harris asked after sorting partner with the Philadelphia Union, and bagging diapers under the Chester Youth Collaborative, and other supervision of Wanda Dixon, local organizations to provide more coordinator of the Mother and than 700 youth with physical activity, Baby Care program at CityTeam. nutrition education, mentoring, and family engagement opportunities, according to “Well, she piles them up a little President Harris takes on Widener Athletic Director Jack Shafer. neater,” Dixon replied with a chuckle. Miller’s volunteer work at Miller used the president’s pulpit CityTeam International. “We are excited to be a recipient of a to tackle issues such as improving Soccer for Success grant so we can help Alumni Volunteer and Excellence alumni-student interaction and grow this wonderful sport and promote Weekend on April 14. broadening student participation healthy lifestyles for the children of in the university’s nationally Harris said he has been very Chester,” Shafer said. recognized civic engagement impressed with the quality of the initiatives. She held a lunch students who have filled his shoes meeting with Chester Mayor John over than last decade. Linder, university administrators “Our first President for a Day, and faculty, and Chester residents Amy Gatto, is now the youngest to share ideas on how to expand Mayor in the history of Hamilton community service opportunities Township, New Jersey,” Harris for students. said. “I think this program is just “A leadership position like this one example of how Widener gives you the opportunity to make leadership works.” decisions that make a difference, This year’s President for a and that is a really exciting Day runners up also exhibited opportunity,” Miller said. exceptional leadership qualities In recognition of the 10th and deserve recognition: Albert anniversary of the President for a Bristol, ‘12, Ashley Nilson, ‘13, Day program, Harris has invited all Rebecca Slimbok, ‘14, and Jason 10 honorees to a luncheon during Schwemer, ‘12. 2 back to contents table Faces of Widener: Bernard Pinder do,” he said. “You need to be able to and had the opportunity to sing at the calm people down, as you never know Vatican for the pope in 1995. Of all what type of mood they’ll be in when the countries he has traveled to, his they drive up.” favorite so far has been Japan. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “And the food is Pinder came to Widener from Keeler delicious.” Instruments. He’s been with the university for 11 years. A Chester, Pinder now spends his time singing PA, resident, Pinder lives only a with the choir at the Mount Airy few houses off campus and has Church of God in Christ, where he enjoyed seeing the Main Campus also directs two choirs. He will also be transformations over the years. “I’ve performing with Delores Winans, the really been able to witness all of “mom” of BeBe and CeCe Winans on Bernard Pinder, Campus Safety Officer, the great changes that have been Mother’s Day in Philadelphia. happening,” he said. Main Campus In addition to singing, Pinder enjoys Outside of Widener, Pinder is a gospel spending quality time with his family, Drive up to Old Main any weekday singer. He started singing in junior including his wife, Elizabeth, who afternoon, and you’ll be greeted with high school and has loved it ever works at the circulation desk in the a smile by Officer Bernard Pinder who since. He has traveled all over Europe Wolfgram Memorial Library, and his works the information and security and Japan to perform with various children and grandchildren. Though booth at the main entrance of the groups. One memorable experience he and Elizabeth work opposite building. In this role, Pinder welcomes for him was playing in Venice, Italy, schedules at Widener, he does see guests to campus and helps them with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in one family member around campus. find appropriate parking. He monitors 1992. “It was an amazing experience His daughter Nicole graduated with the Old Main parking lot and keeps singing behind an orchestra,” he said. her bachelor’s degree last year and a watchful eye on 14th Street. “You He was also a member of Newberry is currently working on her master’s need the right attitude to do what I Singers, named for Edward Newberry, degree at Widener. Sport Speaker Series Examines Legal Aspects of the Industry The School business. The entertainment lawyer of the Greater 69th Street Wildcats of Business may represent athletes when they Youth Football Association. “I’ve been Administration’s appear in movies or advertisements, helping children with their dreams Sport Management helping them with contracts and for the last 20 years,” Jackson said, Speaker Series protecting their publicity rights. He noting that nonprofit sports work is an has given students also finds himself immersed in the ideal way to work in the industry while deep insight into sports industry when his clients want also serving the community.