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.”