‘Today’ Update

'Today' broadcasts from campus

Illustrious SUNY Oswego alumnus Al Roker brought NBC’s “Today” show and its national audience to campus Oct. 18 when he broadcast from the college’s Campus Center.

Seven short live remotes took place between 7 and 9:45 a.m., some from the student television studio in the newly opened portion of the center (formerly known as Swetman Hall) and some from the center’s main entrance and arena.

For four of the brief remotes from Oswego, Roker broadcast with fans looking on, two outdoors from the main (plaza) entrance to the Campus Center and two from the ice arena concourse between 8 and 9:40 a.m. Three earlier broadcasts took place in the new student television studio inside the center.

The first 1,000 fans to arrive received free T-shirts commemorating the occasion.

The local NBC affiliate, WSTM Channel 3, broadcast from the Campus Center from 5 to 7 a.m. Local weathercaster Chris Brandolino—also an Oswego graduate—interviewed Roker at the center’s entrance, where they reminisced about their favorite Oswego broadcasting professor, the late Lewis O’Donnell. The channel—first WSTM’s local programming and then the “Today” show—was shown on the overhead scoreboard screens in the ice arena from 5 to 10 a.m.

Also during the “Today” show in the arena, the Oswego Jazz Project performed, and members of Laker men’s and women’s ice hockey teams were on the ice.

Roker, a 1976 graduate, made a leadership gift to SUNY Oswego earlier this year to support the college’s annual media summit and the new student television studio. The summit, founded by 1977 graduate Louis A. Borrelli, was rechristened in memory of “Doc” O’Donnell at the conclusion of its third annual edition Wednesday afternoon.

“By bringing the national spotlight to our campus and our beautiful new facility, Al Roker is multiplying the impact of his generosity for the benefit of our students and our college,” said SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley. “He is indeed an engaging and tireless ambassador for Oswego.”

A TV celebrity, Roker greets more than 30 million viewers each week on “Today.” The 10-time Emmy Award winner also hosts such all-American traditions as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, is a best-selling author of books on fatherhood and food, runs the multimedia company Al Roker Productions, and entertains an online audience with his Web site, AlRoker.com.

The “Today” broadcast culminated a series of special events at SUNY Oswego that began with the grand opening and dedication of the entire Campus Center complex a week earlier, Oct. 11 and 12.

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(Posted: Oct 03, 2007)