1984-March 1st, “WPKN BRIDGEPORT: Fostering Diversity” There is on the FM dial a Mason-Dixon line of sorts, which provides an alternative to commercial radio. Serving as this proud antithesis to commercial programming, is a grouping of radio stations with their call numbers less than 91, cleverly labeled non-commercial radio. Located on the University of Bridgeport campus is a station holding such a license with its credo maintaining an aversion to the banal homogeneity of sound similarity found on commercial stations.
WPKN Bridgeport 89.5 FM not only serves the campus and immediate surroundings, its 10,000 watt transmitters reach the sound sealed shores of Long Island as well as Hartford and even sections of Brooklyn. On certain unique atmospheric occasions regions of mountainous upstate New York, Woodstock and Poughkeepsie can pick up the signals of Connecticut’s most powerful non-commercial radio-waves.
But the spinning of disks is not the only musical aspect in the diverse repertoire of WPKN’s FM productions. Several starting as well as established artists seem to recognize the regional uniqueness of PKN. “it’s a perfect opportunity for expressing music that is not quite popular and yet exhibits variety and style.” From the southern down-home sound of David Bromberg, many a big name performing artist has darkened the threshold of PKN’s studios in room 202 of the Student Center.
WPKN is a station that is certainly, at the very least, worth a listen.
1996-March 7th, “UB Faces Lawsuit…and WINS” by Monalisa Basu
In a litigatious country like the United States, using the legal instrument to sound one’s grievances has become a common practice, more of a common tradition. The University of Bridgeport was caught in one such legal tussle in the court system. In July 1993, a case was brought against UB by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens. The case was finally brought to a close in December 1995.
The plaintiffs in the case were Beatrice Steeneck, an alumna of UB, a former director of the Alumni Association, a life trustee and donor to UB; John Metsopoulos, a state legislator representing the 132nd House District in Connecticut; Ruth Steinkraus Cohen, a life trustee of UB; Joel Schine and Mariam Elkin, donors to UB; Elizabeth Gara, an alumna; Brita Wittenberg, a former faculty member; April Stevens, a student; Bruce Pfeffer, an alumnus; and Lisa Broder, an alumna. The defendants were the University of Bridgeport, the Board of Trustees, the PWPA and the Board of Governors of Higher Education (BGHE).
The plaintiff’s claim was that the agreement between the University and the PWPA directly contradicted the University’s charter which mandated that the University remain non-sectarian. According to the claim, the agreement allegedly placed the University under the control of the academy (the PWPA) whose mission was to advance the goals of the Unification Church. Therefore, the plaintiffs’ demands were that the Board of Trustees should be disbanded and the State should initiate the election of a new board.
UB’s defense was that the case should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the plaintiffs failed to establish their standing to sue, being unable to demonstrate injury to themselves resulting from a violation of their rights by the University. Although the case was filed twice, it was in fact dismissed on both occasions in favor of the University owing to the plaintiffs’ lack of standing. The court held that the plaintiffs had no right to bring a claim because they failed to establish any current or potential relationship to the University.
According to Mr. George Mihalakos, the University’s legal counsel, “We were confident all along that the agreement did not violate the charter. It protected the academic freedom of the University and the faculty.” He also said that the Department of Education had looked at the agreement and agreed that it did not in any way violate the charter. However, he agreed that “the publicity was very distracting and we’re glad it’s behind us.