Fight Song

Do you have what it takes to create William Paterson University’s new fight song?  

WP is conducting a contest this spring to encourage members of our community to write a song that will inspire enthusiasm at athletic competitions and other special events, and become a part of our shared Pioneer tradition. The winning submission will receive $2,000, and will be adopted as the official University fight song.
 
Submissions must come from members of the William Paterson community (student, alum, faculty/staff member). For a multi-person writing team, at least one member must be a WP community member. Entries are due by Wednesday, April 21, 2021.  
 
GENERAL GUIDELINES 
The fight song should:

  • Have music and lyrics that are easily played, sung and understood. It should invoke spirit, pride, excitement and community, and reflect our institutional values of inclusion and diversity. 
  • Be appealing and somewhat contemporary, while at the same time having a certain timelessness that will make it just as relevant for decades to come. 
  • Include the nickname (Pioneers), but not the mascot, since WP expects to introduce a new mascot this fall.
  • Be approximately 60 seconds in length, including a 10-second lyrical portion that can be chanted (e.g., by fans after a touchdown).

    Additionally: 
  • Submissions should not include any vulgar language or inappropriate themes/messages. The song should be inclusive of all WP students, not just an individual team, organization, college, etc.
  • Submissions should not contain the name of any student or describe any individual or their likeness.
  • Submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 via the submission link at the bottom of the page. 
  • Each individual is limited to no more than two fight song submissions.

JUDGING PROCESS

  • The Fight Song Committee will review the submissions and select the finalists, based on the considerations and rules thus stated.
  • The finalists will be presented to the President and the Cabinet for review and final selection of one song.
  • Winner(s) will be notified by the Fight Song Committee.

 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting an entry into the contest:

  •  You agree that each song submitted for the Fight Song Contest is your original work and does not infringe upon the intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity.
  • You agree that if your submitted Fight Song is selected as the winner, you will relinquish all claims, rights, interests and benefits related to the display, modification, reproduction, publication, distribution, use, and other exploitations of the Fight Song, and that William Paterson University (WP) may copyright the Fight Song. 
  • You agree that WP holds all right, title and interest to the submitted Fight Song, including its lyrics, and that the University may alter or change the lyrics at any time. 
  • You agree that WP shall use the song for promotional, marketing, advertising and/or educational purposes and not for commercial purposes, and has the right to the Fight Song and may choose when to use it or not to use it at all. 
  • You agree that you have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and the Fight Song Guidelines (see above); and 
  • You agree that your failure to comply with these terms and conditions and the Fight Song Contest Guidelines will result in the disqualification of your submitted song. 

 
QUESTIONS? Send an email to fightsong@wpunj.edu. 

Submission Form for Current William Paterson Students, Faculty and Staff
Please note: if you are not logged into your campus Microsoft account, this link will take you to a Microsoft login page. Please enter your campus email address to begin the login process.

Submission Form for William Paterson Alumni