Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University
President Clark Offers Update on
BSU-Town of Bridgewater Relations
In the photo above, President Clark presents a check to Dr. Paul Murphy, president of the Town Council in Bridgewater, on Tuesday, evening, September 15, 2026, during a program in which the president shared with the council and those in attendance at the Town Hall a report which covered news about a variety of topics, including student enrollment, housing, and a host of projects in which BSU cooperates with the town.
To see a video of the president's report, please click on the link below:
Bridgewater State University
Police Department
Hosts 2nd Annual "National Night Out"
On Thursday evening, September 17th, Bridgewater State University Police Department's Chief - Glen Anderson (second from right above) - and members of the department hosted its 2nd annual "National Night Out" at BSU's Tinsley Center and invited hundreds of Bridgewater State students, faculty and staff, plus citizens of all ages from throughout the community to the event, which went from 4:00 p..m. to 6:30 p.m.
Joining BSU's officers and staff in welcoming what turned out to be hundreds of guests were President and Mrs. Clark (the president is seen above standing just behind the Bridgewater Bear) and police officers from a host of local, regional and state-wide communities and agencies.
"National Night Out" sponsors events across the nation to "promote community -building partnership between law enforcement personnel and the people in the towns and cities where they serve."
At Bridgewater State, that included food, demonstrations of the latest crime-fighting equipment, games for children and opportunities to meet and speak with members of a variety of police departments.
We recorded highlights of the event and you can see the video by clicking on the following link:
How BSU creates a seamless path from community college: one student's journey
We're grateful to Ms. Heather Harris Michonski, G '26, of BSU's Office of Enrollment, Marketing and Communications, for sharing this article with us about Ms. Elizabeth Pereira
When it came time to continue her education after high school, Elizabeth Pereira wasn’t sure what she wanted to study.
What she did know was that she needed an affordable option.
After doing research, she discovered CC2BSU, a program that guarantees admission at Bridgewater State University to students who earn their associate's degree at either Bristol Community College or Massasoit Community College.
The Fairhaven native, one of about 1,500 transfer students BSU welcomes each year, opted to enroll at BCC for geographical reasons.
“It was local and super affordable,” Elizabeth said.
During her time at BCC, she not only saved money, but she also found her footing academically.
As graduation approached, she learned she was in the running for valedictorian.
“I honestly thought, 'what are the chances?'” she said.
Despite her initial shock, she decided to apply for the prestigious honor.
When the announcement was made that she was BCC’s Class of 2026 valedictorian, it didn’t seem real.
“It felt very surreal and a little daunting, but I’m very proud of this achievement, as it not only reflects my own dedication, but also the unwavering support and encouragement I’ve received from my family, coworkers and teachers,” Elizabeth said.
With renewed confidence, she arrived at BSU this fall to pursue a major in business.
Just as she did at BCC, where she joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and had her artwork included in a juried art show, she plans to get involved at Bridgewater to make the most of her college experience.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people through clubs, class, and by being on campus,” she said.
To several generations of Bridgewater State students - now alumni - Dan Darcy, '88, G '90, was a walking legend.
And so was he also to so many faculty and staff and a wide range of friends and associates in higher education.
In every sense, Dan was a BSU Legend, and on Saturday, October 3, 2026, during Homecoming Weekend, a ceremony will take place in the Rondileau Student Union to honor his legacy.
The time is 8:30 a.m., in the room that will forever henceforth bear his name, The Daniel J. Darcy Council Chambers.
"Not to be Ministered Unto But to Minister"
Dr. Thomas Turner, professor emeritus of history
Every day, thousands of people pass through the Adrian Rondileau Student Union Building and probably only a handful today recognize the name.
But for those of us who knew him - and this writer spent 15 years working directly for him - he was not only intellectually brilliant but astounding in his many talents in addition to his profound scholarship.
Dr. Thomas Turner chronicled in detail Adrian's Rondileau's
story . . . his 25 years as president (third longest so far BSU's history, from 1962-1986) and the additional year he served when called out of retirement to lead then-Bridgewater State College for another year (1988-1989) after the sudden resignation of his predecessor, Dr. Gerard Indelicato, '71.
The page above from Dr. Thomas Turner's book introduces his chapter on the life and career of Dr. Adrian Rondileau.
He led Bridgewater during enormously troubling times.
By the late 1960's, the entire country was experiencing an upheavel in higher education, starting with the "Free Speech" movement at the University of California-Berkeley and moving rapidly east, with colleges and universities in every corner struggling with issues that resulted in student strikes, including a student takeover of a building at Harvard University (in 1979, Hollywood came to BSU to film a movie about that because Boyden Hall bears a striking resemblance to that Harvard Building - we'll save that for another day).
Bridgewater in 1970 had its own student strike, a week-long boycott of classes because of a favorite professor had been notified he would not return the next academic year (also, a story to be saved for another day).
Adrian Rondileau endured throughout, even, toward the end of his presidency, outwitting several members of the Board of Trustees who tried to trick him into resigning (alas, another story to come in the future).
We wish we had space to include all of Dr. Turner's commentary about Adrian Rondileau here (the whole book is available online; just search for Not to be Ministered unto Turner and you'll find it).
But there is one passage we share in this edition:
"In 1972, the Bridgewater State College Alumni Association published a pamphlet, A Salute to Adrian Rondileau, A.B., A.M., Ph.D. on the First Ten Years of his Presidency, 1962-1972, wrote Dr. Turner.
"The alumni highlighted the growth that had occurred under Rondileau not just in buildings, but also in enrollment, which had
grown from 1,000 to 3,650 day students as well as 6,000 students enrolled in continuing studies, the graduate school and the summer program.
"Future building projects included a new athletic complex, a teacher preparation facility with laboratory school, a building to house the professional education division and a new power plant," continued Dr. Turner.
"The writers of that publication also noted that President Rondileau had assumed the presidency at a time when student and even faculty involvement in administrative decisions was rare.
"However, they added, 'He has encouraged broad participation in the forming of those decisions with a network of committees, councils and student and faculty organizations through which
every voice can be heard and ideas or criticisms can
be brought to the attention of those concerned.' " he concluded.
This concludes the report for Monday, September 21, 2026
This concludes the report for September 8, 2026
Next edition: Monday, September 21, 2026