Submitted to The Argo Holly Morrell

Students of the Communication Studies Program are getting ready to step back in time at the highly anticipated Retro COMM Wrap Party that will take place in mid-April. Hosted by the COMM students, faculty, and staff, the upcoming event promises an evening of retro-style fun, complete with a flash mob, two keynote speeches, the COMM Awards ceremony, party food, brain-teasing trivia, a retro pop music playlist created by WLFR, and much more.

The Retro COMM Wrap Party is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, in Event Room A at the Campus Center of the Galloway Campus. The festivities start at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until 5:45 p.m. The two keynote speakers are Sierra Smith, President at Upright Labs & Neatoscan, and Dave Sholler, Chief Communications Officer at Philadelphia 76ers and HBSE. Both guest speakers are alumni of the COMM Studies Program.

“The COMM Wrap Party is an annual event that is organized to bring the COMM students together in celebration of a successful academic year,” said Professor Joe’l Ludovich, chair of the COMM Studies Program. “The theme of this year’s event, “Express Yourself-Join the Mass Media Journey through Time,” aims to create an opportunity for every participant to feel their presence at the party.”

The recently released promo video for the event has created a lot of buzz and excitement among the COMM students. Jacob Post, who filmed and co-edited the video, said the production team was given a very short amount of time to complete the assignment, so he and his film crew had to make something quick, easy, and effective.

“We wanted to do something everyone knows and loves,” said Post. “Who doesn’t love Rick and Morty? I believe the video will help bring more people to the wrap party.”

According to Professor Jeremy Newman, the Retro COMM Wrap Party promo video was produced by a group of students in Practicum, the senior seminar for production students. Three groups were provided clips of old communications technologies and footage from a vintage Hollywood sightseeing trip. The prompt was to film something original, add retro materials, and
include information about the event in one class period. The most successful video was produced by Alex Corson, Nick Kilburg, William Laubach, and Post.

“Their over-the-top comedic approach, including the use of animated characters and an enthusiastic voiceover, fits the “express yourself” aspect of this year’s COMM Wrap Party,” said Professor Newman, who will serve as the COMM Program’s new chair beginning July 1, 2024.

The Retro Comm Wrap Party promises an evening filled with nostalgia, entertainment, and celebration. Attendees are encouraged to follow the event theme and express themselves through their costumes of choice. Student photographers will take pictures for a costume competition on Instagram. Winners will receive prizes donated by the Stockton University
Bookstore. For more information about the event, contact Professor Joe’l Ludovich at joel.ludovich@stockton.edu.