April 06, 2001

WKU Breaks Ground For
Media And Technology Hall

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University broke ground today for a state-of-the-art building that will house the School of Journalism and Broadcasting and the Division of Information Technology.

When it opens in the fall of 2002, Media and Technology Hall will become the home for two of Western's premier programs, WKU President Gary Ransdell said.

"Western has long been recognized as a leader in journalism, broadcasting and communications disciplines and our commitment to providing a strong information technology infrastructure is well-documented," Dr. Ransdell said.

"When we talk about Western's School of Journalism and Broadcasting, we're talking about the nation's finest," Dr. Ransdell said. Last year, Western won its first-ever overall title in the Hearst Journalism Awards competition ahead of Florida, Missouri, Northwestern and Syracuse.

"Western is proving that a university in Kentucky can indeed be the best in the nation in an academic program," he said.

Dr. Ransdell thanked members of the Kentucky General Assembly for providing the support and funding for Western. The facility was made possible by a $18.5 million appropriation from the General Assembly in 1998.

House Speaker Jody Richards and Senate President David Williams delivered remarks during the Friday afternoon groundbreaking ceremony.

"This is a great day for Western Kentucky University," said Williams, a Republican from Burkesville.

"It is my hope that the building that is built here, the technology and the arts that are taught here will be learned here so that people can take information, disseminate it as knowledge and that knowledge will bring a greater wisdom to our Commonwealth," Williams said.

Media and Technology Hall "will be another jewel in Western's shining crown," said Richards, a Democrat from Bowling Green and a former journalism teacher at Western.

"I am indeed delighted to be here today. It's a pleasure to be here and be part of this groundbreaking ceremony for a building that I have hoped for, yearned for and sought for more than 37 years," said Richards, who was adviser to Western's student newspaper from 1964 to 1970.

Jo-Ann Albers, director of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting, has been seeking a new building since 1987. "I'm just thrilled that our students and our faculty are going to get the kind of facility that they've earned," Albers said.

Dr. Ransdell and David Beckley, director of Network and Microcomputing Services, acknowledged Dr. Charles Anderson, former vice president for Information and Technology, for his efforts in utilizing computer technology across the campus.

"When this building is completed, Media and Technology Hall will be one of the finest and certainly the most technologically advanced buildings on Western's campus," said Beckley, who represented Vice President for Information Technology Richard Kirchmeyer at the ceremony.

Star Construction of Madisonville is building Media and Technology Hall at a contract price of just more than $10 million. The three-story, 94,400-square-foot structure will include general classrooms, electronic labs, computer labs, distance learning classrooms, a teleconferencing center, central computer lab, faculty and staff offices, a conference room and a meeting/training room.

"I have every confidence that this will be one of the best facilities of its kind in the state of Kentucky if not the entire country," Beckley said.

Media and Technology Hall will be built on Normal Drive near the Academic Complex and Tate Page Hall.

At the same time, construction will take place on the Guthrie Courtyard. The Courtyard, which will include a clock and bell tower, is made possible by a $1.1 million gift from the Lowell Guthrie family. It is named in honor of Lowell Guthrie's wife, Carolyn, and the tower will be named in memory of Sgt. 1st Class Robert Guthrie, Lowell's brother, who was killed in the Korean War.

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