By Parker Dorsey

Staff Writer

May 4, 2018

 

Every college campus has at least one wacky professor who is universally loved by everyone. At Wilkes University, that professor is Bernie Kovacs. Kovacs, an English professor, is a self-avowed nerd and former DJ at the Wilkes' radio station 90.7 WCLH FM.

 

Kovacs has had just about every position to be had at Wilkes. He was an undergraduate student in the 1990s, received an MFA in Creative Writing as a graduate student, a full-time professor for two years, and is now currently an adjunct professor. He primarily teaches the introductory English composition courses and several specialized courses in medieval literature.

 

Kovacs' involvement within several extracurricular programs as an undergraduate help him relate to students. They also contained an extension of his goofball personality. For instance, during his time in yearbook, he was responsible for several hidden inside jokes. One of his favorites was the creation of a fictitious Wilkes Air Hockey team in order to fill up blank pages.

 

"My experience with Bernie was probably the best English class I've ever had to date. Everything about it was entertaining and he kept me fully involved. The conversations throughout class were excellent. I would definitely recommend anybody to take Bernie if they have the chance to," said Timothy Brown, a sophomore psychology major.

 

"I also wish I was able to take him for English 120, but sadly he was not on for this semester. I feel like I really lost out on a period of my life that could have been spent with Bernie. It's his charismatic personality and how he's the everyday man and the nerd," Brown added.

 

Andreas Boosalis, a sophomore accounting major, loves Kovacs so much that he has taken him every semester he has attended Wilkes.

 

"He's hysterical, I felt like I was watching a live comedy show every time I went to class. He wasn't just funny though, I learned a lot from him as a teacher. He has really helped me become a better writer. He made me enjoy writing," said Boosalis.

 

Kovacs' pride and joy, however, was becoming a DJ on Wilkes radio. His roommate at the time, Jim Warner, who was also one of the assistant managers, convinced him to join radio. Warner is now currently a teacher and a well-published poet, according to Kovacs.

 

"We had an RnB and blues show at the end of Metal Mondays. Jim and I had the graveyard shift from midnight until 2 or 3 in the morning. We would get calls from metalheads saying, 'WHAT THE F--- IS THIS S---? PLAY SOME PANTERA.' We actually had to tell Jason Rudolph, the guy who had a show right before us, 'Please tell them this is the end of Metal Monday before you kick it over to us. Because you're giving them whiplash.' Like it'd go from something like Anthrax or Slayer or some black metal band from Sweden, to Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes, over the course of 2 minutes," said Kovacs.

 

Kovacs also had funny stories to share about the listeners who tuned into their show.

 

"Our listening audience was either long-haul truckers on 81 who were going through the dial and finding us, and cleaning ladies. We would get calls from ladies working at the banks at all the buildings around here. We would get calls like, 'This is Ethel. I'm cleaning the PNC. Put on some Al Green!' And we would say, 'This is from Ethel cleaning the PNC who REALLY wants some Al Green,' and we've got three of them in a row because no one else was listening."

 

The blues show was not the only show Kovacs participated in while at WCLH. While the station was heavily geared toward alternative, Kovacs was able to play an old school rock 'n' roll show on Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. During his last year he and Warner had a show called the Midnight Special, where they would play an entire album as the show.

 

Much befitting his personality, he listens to a myriad of eclectic artists such as Legion of Rockstars, Wesley Willis, "Weird Al" Yankovic and Gwar. However, he has said that he always has a soft spot in his heart for classic rock and metal.

 

"I grew up on Sabbath and Zeppelin, and I cut my teeth on those records as a child. I remember when Guns N' Roses came out with their first single, Welcome to the Jungle. My dad came home with the cassette and goes, 'Just listen to the first song.' I was 12 at the time. I rewound it and put it on, and that riff hits and I went 'OOOO. What is this?' I listened to the next three tracks and he came downstairs and was like, 'Alright, give me the tape. There's f-bombs on there.'" he said.

 

On a radio station where the predominate programming is alternative music, Kovacs found a niche and managed to stick with it and stand out. His down-to-earth, eclectic and vulgar comedic personality has endeared him to many of the students that he has taught. The fact he called himself "The Reverend" and hosted a midnight blues show is about as Bernie as Bernie can get.

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