Multimillion-dollar media studies classroom

Jason Sahlani
News Reporter

Humber’s state-of-the-art newsroom will now only be accessible to those with a faculty issued swipe card; a decision that is being welcomed by both students and faculty who work in the centre.

“Even with security walking around I don’t feel safe at night,” said second-year radio broadcasting student Kattryna Partnoy. “Just last week I got a weird phone call here, and it was kind of creepy. I was told by faculty that sometimes you’ll get threatening phone calls, so sometimes it can be uncomfortable, even with security.”

The implementation of a system that restricts the access to the newsroom was scheduled for the 2008 fall start-up but was moved up to last Monday (Jan. 28) to address concerns by faculty.

“Some of the faculty in the centre have expressed concern about not recognizing some people in the newsroom,” said Jerry Chomyn, director of broadcast media. “When I confronted one young man in the centre he didn’t want to tell me what program he was associated with and I had to ask him to leave, so that concerned me.”

The security increase for the newsroom follows in the steps of the Culinary School labs, which have always had restricted access.

“We switched to a computerized card system two years ago but prior to that we had a key system in place; access to the labs has always been restricted,” said Alister Mathieson, dean of the school of hospitality, recreation and tourism. “There are essentially two reasons for keeping the labs locked up; the first is that there is valuable equipment in the labs, the second is the safety of our students since there is also dangerous equipment in the labs.”

The value of the equipment in the newsroom was also a factor in the decision to for new security measures.

“The figure I heard regarding the value of the equipment was $2.1 million so let’s face it, we are now a broadcast entity, we are now a media outlet with a state-of-the-art facility and that needs to be respected,” said Chomyn.

He added that all steps will be taken to make sure those who need to access the facility will be able to do so and those who need to be in the centre late at night will feel secure knowing no unauthorized people will get in.

“I’ve had to be here late one night and I don’t feel secure when that happens,” said Partnoy. “I get people stopping by the window at night, usually guys, and I’m a little person, so I worry if they are random guys. A locked door with pass card entry will take care of that.”