NSU Hosts Event to Recognize Reggae Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary

(Photo caption: The Most Honorable Edward Seaga poses with students and attendees.)

Community collaboration took on a broader meaning when four NSU departments came together recently with VP Promotions to host a community event to recognize the world-famous Reggae Golden Jubilee 50^th Anniversary. The collaborating groups were Auxiliary Services – Business Services, Student Educational Centers (SEC), the Caribbean Student Association (CSA), and the Office of Public Affairs.

The Most Honorable Edward Seaga, mentor and record producer who set the stage for the worldwide explosion of interest in Reggae in the 1970’s and who eventually went on to become Prime Minister of Jamaica, was the honoree at the event.

The symposium, which was held in the Carl DeSantis Building on main campus, began with honors and awards being bestowed on Seaga for his contributions to the Jamaican music industry. Seaga was later interviewed by WDNA Radio host Howard “Flagga” Duperly, and discussed the evolution of the Jamaican music industry from its beginnings in 1955 to today.

The celebration was enjoyed by more than those in attendance at NSU. VP Promotions provided radio broadcasts of live interviews with CSA students which were broadcast to the home island of the students – Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, St. Croix/St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) and Tortola (British Virgin Island). The students spoke about the range of programs that NSU offers and the positive experience on being on the main campus.

The NSU representatives who collaborated on this event with Natasha Thomas of VP Promotions included Vor Akers from Business Services, Ella Gooden from the SECs, Felecia Henderson from Public Affairs and Nadira St. Hilaire who led the student group of from CSA. In addition to the symposium, Michelle Manley of the Office of Student Media and Information arranged an interview with Mr. Seaga that was broadcast on Radio X. She also arranged for news reporter Lynette Day to cover the symposium for the Current Newspaper.

Among the dignitaries who attended the event were Honorable Sandra Griffith – Consul General of Jamaica, Honorable Olivia Grange-Member of the Parliament of Jamaica, and Chris Chin – President of VP Records.