November 1, 2021
Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,
I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and fun Halloween weekend and is ready for a great November. As the semester continues, so, too, does the branding and identity work that we launched during my Sept. 2nd State of the University address. You’ll recall that we launched this discussion with a series of survey questions about the WP(You) and WP(Specific) models, as well as the idea of branding the University Core Curriculum through a social justice lens. Since then, the Faculty Senate, University Council, Student Government Association and Club Council, and Cabinet have all been surveyed, and the results posted on this President’s Office webpage (WP login required). This page will be further updated as a central resource for our community’s continuing branding and identity conversation.
Tomorrow is Election Day. After casting your vote, tune in to watch Guillermo de Veyga, Ph.D., Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and University Relations, who will provide election night political analysis during news coverage by WCBS-TV News via the station’s streaming news service from 8-11 p.m. tomorrow. CBSN New York, the streaming service, can be viewed via the network’s website, mobile app, and apps for digital media player devices. Dr. de Veyga will comment on and discuss the New Jersey Gubernatorial and State legislative races, as well as the proposed State bonds and other issues. His commentary may also appear on WCBS, Channel 2 during Tuesday’s 11 p.m. news.
November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month. At William Paterson, we are committed to acknowledging the traditional land of the Lenni-Lenape people, which we currently occupy. In this commitment and our ongoing effort to decolonize the University and remain resolute in our work toward equity and justice, this month serves as a reminder of the importance of expressing our gratitude for and appreciation of the land on which we work, learn and live and its native peoples. I invite everyone to participate in the wonderful variety of events scheduled for the University’s Indigenous and Native American Cultural Celebration Week, November 9-11, sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, University Galleries, and Campus Activities Service, and Leadership to recognize the rich traditions, culture, and history of Native American people. Please click here to learn more about the programs on offer later this month. Thank you to all who are involved in helping make this month’s celebrations possible.
This week’s WP: We are Proud – Congratulations to Professor of Biology Dr. Emmanuel Onaivi, who has been awarded a three-year, $412,202 grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to study the behavioral effects associated with the modulation of CB2 cannabinoid receptors, one of two types of cannabinoid in the human body that are activated by cannabis use. The research will provide a model to screen cannabinoids and classes of drugs for conditions of neuro-immune disorders. A specific aim of the project is to provide our students with opportunities to engage directly in biomedical research.
Have a great week, and a great November.
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Sincerely,
Richard J. Helldobler, Ph.D.
President
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