New University organization POP TV wants you as a member

You may have seen “POP TV” advertised on the flat screens around the University quiet recently. Pace’s Official Programming Television, (POP TV) is one of the newest additions to the student run organizations here at the University.

Co-founded by sophomores Kaitlynn Blyth, Hilda Adeniji and Ivonna Thompson, the idea for a TV station came about last year while in Maria’s Tower.

“When living in Maria’s Tower last year, we would sit in the lounge and watch TV and we realized that Pace had its own television channel,” Blyth said.

“[Channel 36] consists of a PowerPoint slideshow with Pace University information coupled with an iTunes playlist. 

“In October of 2008, Hilda found out that Jeff Blaisdell, our current advisor, controlled the channel and contacted him in regards on how to go about getting an actual channel up and running.

“We heavily researched different college television channels, equipment needed, grants, etc. and presented our ideas for POP TV in May to Jeff and Dean for students Marijo Russell-O'Grady. It’s been booming ever since.” 

With a goal to create a television station run by students and for students, the trio seeks to “integrate and include clubs and services throughout Pace University to establish a better sense of community.”

Many students, however are still unaware of a lot of the clubs and events at the University, even with the Homer system and newly installed flat screens.

“I will see club meetings and events with dates and times but not a lot about the actual event. If I knew more or if they were advertised more, I might be more inclined to go attend meetings or go to an event,” sophomore Lorraine Mundowa said.

A benefit of POP TV is that it hopes to work together with existing student organization to help one another. “This can be from POP TV filming one of their events to the club placing a commercial on the POP TV network,” Blyth said.

These possibilities will open doors to many opportunities around the University. “It would be great to have POP TV cover University events,” sophomore and POP TV member Cindy Gamboa said.

“It would feel like we as a University were really working together to help one another. A student crew would also feel more comfortable when covering events as opposed to hiring someone random.”

But establishing this organization was no stroll in the park. Rigorous work and paperwork was put into bringing this club together.

“From submitting a proposal to Dean O’Grady, an application and a constitution to SDACA, officer trainings and much more, a lot had to be accomplished before we were considered “official.” All the hard work definitely made our accomplishments more worthwhile,” Blyth said.

Fellow sophomore Eleni Efstratiades  later joined fellow POP TV founders as a Public Relations liaison.

“I got involved because Hilda and Kaitlynn were on my floor freshmen year.  I used to hear them talk about POP TV and the ideas that they had sounded really interesting and made me want to get more involved so I could help the organization grow,” Efstratiades said.

Besides promoting the organization around campus, Efstratiades also acts as a contact between the club and outside resources. From record labels to production services, Efstratiades maintains POP TV’s relationship with those sources.

Not only does Blyth hope to extend a helping hand to existing University clubs, but also help make POP TV become a highly watched channel here on campus.

Although still in its early stages, “We hope to be officially launching within the upcoming weeks, so we hope everyone will turn their televisions on to channel 36 in Maria’s Tower and Fulton Street really soon,” Blyth said.

Students interested in becoming a member of POP TV can email poptv@pace.edu or attend a meeting, which are held on Wednesdays in Room E304 during common hour.

“We are an interest group and need devoted students to keep joining and attending our meetings until we receiving funding. The more people, the more creative ideas that can be generated to make the station better,” Blyth said.

“I think POP TV can open a lot of doors for different students here at the University and has a lot of potential,” sophomore Rex Ikwueme said.

“There is so much diversity that I think everyone could find something to contribute. I’d personally love to see a student run music channel.

“From music videos to music discussion, I think that it would be a great way to bring more students together for a great overall goal.”

One can’t help but think of POP TV and wonder why the idea of a TV station has never been brought up before.

What better way to promote student unity than a project by students, for students that anyone can participate in?

There are no club fees, there is no rush process, it is simply calling for students who have a passion for their vision and goal and want to share that with others.
“There is a place for every student on POP TV,” Efstratiades said.