row2k Features
Interview
Ron Chen: Rowing ref, USRowing VP, and, uh, Emmy winner
April 14, 2014

Ron Chen with his Emmy (and stopwatch and megaphone of course)

Here is one from the Rowing News of the Odd department: well-known US and FISA rowing official (and former USRowing VP) Ron Chen recently won an Emmy (actually two, as he explains below) as a result of his role as a dean at the Rutgers School of Law. row2k asked Ron how he came to win an Emmy, what he is doing with it, and if he wanted to thank the members of the rowing community at all.

Can you tell me how you ended up with an Emmy?
As dean of Rutgers School of Law Newark, I am ex officio an executive producer of the TV public affairs program "Due Process," which came to Rutgers after the public TV station NJN (New Jersey Network) was closed due to the state budget crisis. As an executive producer, I was therefore among those who were awarded the NY Regional Emmy when two Due Process episodes, one on the broken bail system in New Jersey, and the other on a Good Samaritan Law that provides a way of encouraging friends, fellow users, even dealers, to call for life-saving help in the event of a drug overdose by shielding them from prosecution.

So I actually have two Emmies, but I have thus far only received the statuette for one (the other is coming). And I may receive more when the Philly area regional Emmies are awarded in September!

What will you do with the trophies - maybe store them alongside some rowing trophies?
Ah, the decisions we impressarios have to make! Since I will have two statuettes, I have a little more flexibility. Perhaps one at the office and one at home. Right now my first statuette is here in my office on top of a Rutgers banner with the words of "On the Banks . ." on it.

I have been often praised with the resounding performances I give as Starter with my mellifluous countdown “5-4-3-2-1 . .” so it has been suggested that I have a picture taken with my statuette at a suitable Starter’s Tower. Perhaps Lucerne? Or more likely Camden.

Anyone you want to thank? Maybe the referee academy?
I did dream of being one of the few law school deans (and certainly the only USRowing or FISA umpire) to utter the formulaic words “I would like to thank the Academy...," but alas I didn’t get the chance. I can say that my lifelong connection with rowing has certainly given me exposure to melodramatic situations (the 1988 Olympic Trials come to mind), and to colorful characters (too numerous to name) that have enhanced my ability to deal with the broadcast industry, so I can definitely thank all the rowing community for having gotten me to this stage.

But I am not quitting my day job yet. Aaron Sorkin needn't worry.

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