WPSU's Anne Danahy talks with John Champagne, a professor of English at Penn State Behrend, the Erie campus, chair of the Global Languages and Cultures program and this year's Penn State Laureate. They talk about politics in art, the difference between meanings and messages in art, and the role of art in fascism.

An archive recording for the WPSU Jazz show as aired on February 22, 2019 and hosted by Rana Glick. 

The first part features tracks from Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton, Hugh Laurie, Melody Gardot, Josh Groban, Santana, Sonny Rollins, Donald Harrison, Liz Wright, Thelonious Monk, and more.

In the second part, hear Tony Bennet, Al Di Meola, Wayne Shorter, Louis Armstrong, Al Cohn, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Jake Shimabukuro, and more. 

John and Karen were our downstairs neighbors in the first apartment my wife and I shared.  When John returned from some misadventure, often with me, Karen would let her feelings be known by blasting Carole King’s “It’s Too Late (Baby)” at varying volumes depending on the level of her ire. 

“Nerd Nite” has come to Central Pennsylvania! The first event in a monthly series took place last week State College.

Semih Eser, a professor of Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering, started off the evening with Turkish music on guitar. He played to a capacity crowd, gathered for the inaugural Nerd Nite at Webster’s Bookstore Café.

“I’m at Nerd Nite because I want to be surrounded by my fellow nerds,” said Bill Arden of State College, a retired college astronomy teacher. He sat at a table in the back.

What does Arden think of when he hears the word “nerd?” 

Penn State’s student-run dance marathon, or THON, revealed this weekend it raised $10.6 million dollars for pediatric cancer this year.

Thousands of students and spectators gathered in the Bryce Jordan Center for 46 hours to celebrate the fundraising efforts for families and children battling cancer.

One of those families was the Damesheks, who lost their 12-year-old daughter Emilia in 2016. Her mother Natalie gave an emotional speech during the final hours of the event.

Just over two years ago, Penn State sophomore Timothy Piazza died from injuries sustained at an alcohol-fueled bid acceptance party at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.

Penn State took swift action. It permanently banned Beta Theta Pi, halted all fraternity parties and implemented other sanctions meant to make Greek life safer.

Now two years have passed, two new classes of students have arrived, and two years’ worth of new regulations have been instituted. So, what’s changed?

Fraternity member Brannon DeWolf said there’s less partying.

This episode is the first in a series examining the state of democracy around the world. First up is Hungary, a country that's often referred to in a group of countries in central and Eastern Europe that are seeing authoritarian leaders rise to power. You might have heard of Viktor Orbán or know that the country is in some way associated with George Soros, but beyond that, it's not a place many of us spend a lot of time thinking about.

Mark Focht is the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for New York City Parks.

He previously worked in Philadelphia for more than 15 years, including serving as First Deputy Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

He talks with us about his passion for improving the quality and accessibility of urban environments and how green spaces help our health and well-being.