Communications Dept. turns 25

by Tim Tevault
Managing Editor

The Communications Department is currently planning a 25th anniversary celebration, and has sent out invitations to virtually all alumni from the department. The event, slated for the evening of March 16, will also celebrate the opening of the new Arts and Communications building, where the department moved last fall.

According to Mike Laponis, communications professor, the festivities will be a way for alumni-some from the very beginning- to reunite.

"I've been here about 18 or 19 of those 25 years," he said. "It'll be fun to reconnect."

A ULV alumnus himself, Laponis said that opening the new building is a great way to mark this milestone. "We thought it was the perfect time to celebrate 25 years," he said. "We're all really excited about it."

The master of ceremonies for the event will be Charles Bentley, who was part of one of the earliest graduating classes of the department.

"He was one of our first students and has remained plugged in to the department," said George Keeler, department chair and ULV alumnus.

Rod Pyle, communications professor, also expressed enthusiasm over the event. "Having worked in the old building for a few years, having the opportunity to come over here it makes it easier to teach," he said. "It's a wonderful change."

Don Pollock, chairman of the festivities, elaborated on the agenda of the evening.

In addition to having different rooms in the building featuring retrospective for each of the department programs, "we'll have a reel of student work going back to the 80s," he said.

"We want to show off the new building and give people a chance to connect."

Janice Sullivan, department administrator, also feels the event will be beneficial to both students and alumni alike.

Sullivan is in charge of coordinating the work study students and getting them prepared to give alumni tours of the new building. She is also helping coordinate the food service for the event.

"All of us have a little part to try to make it a nice event for the alums," she said.

Started in 1975 by ULV professor Esther Davis, the department's first stable organization was the Campus Times, followed by La Verne Magazine in 1976, KULV in 1977 and LVTV in 1978.

Since then, the department has won a slew of awards and recognition from state and national organizations. "We win so many awards we can't even carry them away from the table," Keeler said.

"People have gone on to be very high in the profession. (It) brings prestige to ULV because communications students are the ones who get the word out," Keeler added, citing senior Ross Mathews' stint on "The Tonight Show" as a recent example.

According to Eric Borer, communications assistant, approximately 150-200 attendees are expected for the event and, to date, nearly 100 have sent back their RSVPs.

Borer also said that students, faculty and staff from any department on campus are invited, but must RSVP to him by March 11 by calling (909) 392-2712. Alumni will have special parking provided for them so they will not have to fight to find a space near the building.

Keeler, who is eagerly anticipating the event, summed up the department's sentiments best: "We're always growing towards excellence, but you know what, I think we're there now."