Newsf New TV studio provides leverage and opportunity By Mark Ciauser You may have noticed that part of the main building’s west wing has gotten a face lift. A complete ly remodeled television studio now better serves students in terested in the growing humanities multi-media program. Eton F. Churchill, Assistant Professor of Media, says, “Every year certain monies are available which departments compete for. This year we were very fortunate. We got monies to improve the newspaper and television studio. Students enrolled in the TV production classes can sign out equipment to use on location wherever ktheir interests and a 40-pound camera take them. They can then bring their footage back into the studio to edit and assemble. Dr. John Patterson, Humanities Division Head, says the new television facilities give a lot more visibility, coherence, and added integrity to the media program. “It’s evident that people are us ing the new equipment and they’re highly visible around cam pus. I don’t think it's com parabile to past years becuase it’s an entirely new era,’’Patterson says. Patterson feels that the most gratifying thing is the sense of cohesvieness that having a more adequate facility gives the program. “You can feel the positive en thusiasm of studnets who aren’t Cha discharge petitioned “DISMISSAL,” from page 1 Before coming to Capitol, Dr. Cha received his Bachelor’s Degree from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea; a Master’s Degree at Worchester Polytechnic In stitute in Worchester Mass.; and a Doctorate from Mississippi State University. While at Capitol, Cha printed professional, papers both in Korea and the United States and, more recently, developed and taught a new course, MET 4978, Optimum Design. Cha cites evaluations from both students and administration as evidence of his competence. In general, the evaluations are favorable. Professor W.K. Aungst, also of the Engineering Division, evaluated Dr. Cha’s classroom performance on January 20 of continually frustrated by lack of equipment,”he says, adding’: “to use and make discoveries with this equipment fulfills a real need.” The new capacity gives students the tools they need to do some kthings they were not able to do before. Patterson says: “To try and develop a sophisticated studio facility at Capitol probably would be beyond the resources that are practically available.” According to Patterson, the new television studio was needed to round out the media program. “I think it’s indespensible to our credibility,’’Patterson says. “It dramatically increases our media program’s credibility.” The new television studio, ac cording to Eton Churchill,is an edge: “This new facility gives us leverage because we can apply for a grant to produce a program for outside clients.” He sees opportunities develop ing but beginning slowly, giving students academic experience but, also providing a context for real life experiences. ‘The curriculum has to move. We would have to get more advanced people for that kind of work,”Churchhill says,adding: “I think students are well serv ed by this program but, in the end, most students get what they want out of this place. The studio just provides another way to serve students.” this year. In his notes on his visit to ET 221, Prof. Aungst writes, “In general, Dr, Cha seemed much better prepared than on my previous visit to an Engineering Economics class... and seemed to be getting the material across to the class.” Professor Aungst refused to comment on any material related to Dr. Cha’s dismissal. When questioned about Cha’s evalua tions, Welsh did acknowledge that Cha made significant progress but the rate of progress did not prove sufficient to renew his contract. “All things should be con sidered, both good things and bad things I did,” Cha said. Welsh agreed and again em phasized that the decision to discharge Cha was still under in vestigation and hopefully would be resolved in the best interest of the students. Water agreement reached “WATER,” continued from page But despite this report, a May 4 sampling showed 75 parts per billion TCE in one airport well, which was taken out of service, says David Mashek, Deputy Press Secretary of DER. This level is still below the boil-water level. The source of the contamina tion has not yet been determined. “Analysis is ongoing with dif ferent interests in the airport area to determine a potential source,” says Mashek. While DER says the water from the airport is safe to drink, some DER personnel question the validity of the tests. A May 11 article in the Mid dletown Press and Journal reports Elmer C. Knaub, DER Communi ty Environmental Control’s Supervising Sanitarian, and Nor man Templin, a water quality specialist with DER, said the method used in taking samples from the first closed well at the airport may have been inadequate. After the first well was taken out of service, Knaub said, the water inside became stagnant. Because TCE and tetrachloroethylene are volatile, yPage 3 Photo by Murk Ctouger Templin told the Middletown paper, they can evaporate quick ly. Because they are heavier than water, they also sink to the bot tom of wells. To get an accurate sampling, Templin said, the well should be pumped out thoroughly, so the water source, rather than the water standing in the well can be sampled. Knaub says the water was not pumped out sufficiently. Templin says this could lead to inaccurate results, where readings could be lower than the actual levels in the well. Jeff Molnar, the geologist who ordered the sampling, contends the well was adequately pumped out, and that the test results are thus accurate. Referring to the difference of opinion among the experts within DER, in spite of DER’s reports of no contamination, Kemp says, “It kind of bothers me when I see something like that,” but he adds, “I didn’t get too concerned over that.” “Who’s the expert?” he asks. “Who are we going to accept?” “I am accepting DER’s reports I think we’re getting accurate . reports. I think we’re safe.”
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