New student media center to be dedicated

KFVS, River Radio, Codefi and the Southeast Missourian recently had new neighbors move in next door.

Many entities within Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Mass Media now reside at 325 Broadway.

This Friday, there will be a dedication ceremony for the facility, which was named the Rust Center for Media last month in honor of Gary W. Rust, chairman of the board of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian, as well as a member of the editorial board.

A seven-figure gift to the university from Gary and Wendy Rust's sons Rex, Jon and Gary Jr. and their respective spouses Sherry, Victoria and Suzuyo, enabled the naming.

A public reception and open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

The 13,000-square-foot facility underwent renovations starting in January, and has been accessible to students already this fall.

There's a 6,300 square-foot flexible learning space on the first floor where classes already are meeting. The first floor also will house video production studios next year.

The Southeast Arrow, the university's student-run newspaper, resides on the bottom floor, along with the student advertising firm SECreative and student public relations firm Riverfront PR. There are also conference rooms, a photo studio and audio recording and production rooms.

"The center is without physical or mental walls, because we have as much open space as possible while remaining productive," Karie Hollerbach, chairwoman of the department of mass media, told Southeast Missourian reporter Bridget Brown.

Hollerbach noted the ability for various organizations to collaborate easier due to the open floor plan.

We're firm believers in creative collaboration and are excited to welcome Southeast students to "media row."