Five years in the making, the center is a state-of-the-art training complex on the third floor of the Riffe Center that brings millennium technology closer to the Tri-State, OUSC campus dean Bill Dingus said.

Wednesday, August 04, 1999

Five years in the making, the center is a state-of-the-art training complex on the third floor of the Riffe Center that brings millennium technology closer to the Tri-State, OUSC campus dean Bill Dingus said.

With 50 students already enrolled in video, audio and electronic media classes, the campus hopes to expand its enrollment to about 80 with the new center, director Don Moore said.

The center has more than TV cameras because students can learn about making their own CD-ROMs, about digital video transmission and the new HDTV format and use computers to control broadcasts, Moore said.

And Henderson, a Proctorville resident, said he is glad the technology surfaced close to home.

"It’s the best anywhere," he said. "From up there, we can send edits (of video footage) to the control room without tape and put it on the air. I’ve been looking forward to this opening for a long time because since I’ve been here, there’s really been no place for some of this equipment."

Now that there’s room for the equipment, ranging from cutting edge digital video cameras that don’t use tapes to high definition plasma screen TVs and studio control rooms mirroring NBC Studios, students have access to worldwide careers, officials said.

Guest speaker Leon Harris could not agree more.

The CNN Early Edition anchor told students and local guests Tuesday that hands-on training with equipment used by the networks of today will benefit students greatly.

"We need dedicated people like this giving students what they need," said Harris, who is also an OU alumnus.

"Success starts at places like this," he said. "If we give these talented young people hard work and things to do they’re guaranteed of having success."

Moore, who designed the telecommunications center, thanked local broadcasters and media representatives, as well as companies like JVC, Hitachi and others, for helping make the center a reality.

The staff who worked sometimes all day and night should also be commended, Dingus said.

State Rep. John Carey, on hand for tours of the new facility, said he was impressed with its capacity for learning.

"I think OU has established itself as a world leader in telecommunications," Carey said. "I’m excited to see the increased capacity at this campus for the entire Tri-State."