Montclair State’s School of Communication and Media Building’s grand opening occurred late Tuesday morning. Approximately 300 guests including faculty, staff, students, alumni, legislators and board members attended a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the school and a luncheon.
The School of Communication and Media building has numerous screens displayed on the walls. Gianna Mazzone | The Montclarion
Before the official ribbon cutting, President Susan Cole, Dean for the College of the Arts Daniel Gurskis, Sony Professional Solutions America’s President Katsunori Yamanouchi and School of Communication and Media director Keith Strudler gave speeches to a seated crowd by the main entrance of the building.
Susan Cole speaking with guests before the official ribbon cutting. Christina Urban | The Montclarion
“This building, as magnificent as it is, is just the toolbox,” said Dr. Cole. “The students and educators and practitioners who will occupy it are and will be the heart of the matter. All this is here to unleash and to enable their education and their creativity.”
The tours got to view the various new studios in the buildings Christina Urban | The Montclarion
When Strudler made his speech he used a metaphor of his new house recalling how his mother said that a home is supposed to be lived in and not looked at. He connected his metaphor to how the School of Communication and Media faculty and students are to take advantage of the state of the art building.
Susan Cole gives a speech at the beginning of the grand opening. Gianna Mazzone | The Montclarion
“We the School of Communication and Media, plan to live in our new home,” said Strudler. “We’ll use the cameras, move the furniture, change the lights, invite some friends over, maybe throw a party or two. It might get dirty and I mean that in the best sense but in that orchestrated chaos we will we will foster a learning community that won’t simply educate and graduate, but one that will truly change lives, change our industry, change our community and perhaps change our world for the better.”
Dean Daniel Gurskis speaks to the audience. Many Student Ambassadors for the School of Communication and Media line the stairs. Gianna Mazzone | The Montclarion
Event guests toured the building, guided by student ambassadors with majors in the School of Communication and Media.
The new building features a 197 seat presentation hall powered by Sony Digital Cinema Projection and Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, a state-of- the-arts radio control room, a motion picture stage, multimedia rooms and more. It is also home to WMSC Radio, the Montclarion and the Center for Cooperative Media.
Dean for the College of the Arts Daniel Gurskis, Sony Professional Solutions Americas President Katsunori Yamanouchi, President Susan Cole, and School of Communication and Media director Keith Strudler cut the ribbon after giving their speeches to guests during the grand opening. Christina Urban | The Montclarion
“[The building] is really cool,” said freshman film making major Ghillian Ferraiola. “I feel like it has a lot of things that we can utilize.”
Alumni such as Rob Bonardi, who works at ABC7 and hires interns from Montclair State, visited for the grand opening.
“The facilities here I would say are more state of the art then actually the big three networks over in New York City,” Bonardi said.
Sony Professional Solutions America’s President Katsunori Yamanouchi looks at one of the school’s new control rooms, made possible with Sony products. Christina Urban | The Montclarion
Former associate professor of ten years, Marc Rosenweig, was largely involved in the planning of the new building before his retirement. He said he intends to stay connected to the school. Rosenweig agreed with what President Cole, Dean Gurskis and Dr. Strudler said about the building only being a tool, and it’s up to those who populate the school to make this new addition an accomplishment.
Professor Anabella Poland gives guests a tour of the WMSC’s new station area in the School of Communication and Media building. Christina Urban | The Montclarion
“This is a building,” said Rosenweig. “It’s only only going to be a successful learning center thanks to the work of faculty, staff and the students who learn in it.”
After the tours, a luncheon was provided in Life Hall and President Cole thanked guests for attending the grand opening.
Guests were served at a formal luncheon in the Life Hall dance rooms. Christina Urban | The Montclarion
