The film cutting ceremony for the official opening of the Harrington Hub for Global Leadership in Communication and Media took place last Friday on the University of Rhode Island’s Quadrangle.
Faculty and students alike, along with many other guests, celebrated the start of a movement towards URI being an important player in communication and media. The ceremony began with on-the-scene, live-streamed interviews of arriving guests conducted by Harrington School students themselves. The speaking program began immediately after, followed by the ribbon cutting and then tours of the Hub, given by students and members of the Harrington School’s Executive Advisory Board. Also present were Media executives from well-known companies such as CBS, NBC Universal, IBM and HBO, as well as several others. Other important guests included Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline, Meredith Vieira and more.
Interim Director of the Harrington School for Communication and Media Adam Roth led the speaking program. The Harrington Hub gives students the opportunity to “learn in a state of the art facility that rivals any in the country” Roth said. This is due to key resources like brand new, state-of-the-art equipment and classrooms, as well as the phenomenal faculty and students. Roth also expressed his hopes for the Hub to be the heart of the Harrington School. A multidisciplinary setting such as this allows for both student and faculty of the Harrington School from different areas of study to converge, collaborate and form more unity than ever before.
Comfort, space and access to resources are among the most celebratory-worthy components of this new facility. Examples of these include four classrooms, walk in studios, a living/learning room and more.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Martha Waitkun, an instructor in the Harrington School. “Having a comfortable facility and new equipment for students to use.”
Waitkun stressed the point that this $6.5 million project was an investment for the students. Senior Information Technologist Tony Balko also mentioned his excitement for the Harrington students to have a home. Balko went on to explain how students can go to the Hub to get help, choose between private and collaborative workspaces, and overall have options that cater to students’ learning. These resources provide the ideal environment for Harrington students.
“No other building has the same equipment,” Balko said. The Harrington Hub gives students the tools needed to be global leaders in communication and media, which is the goal behind this exciting project.
Among the more than 500 attendees were Harrington School students who contributed by volunteering in the event. Angela McGrath and Jenna Sheridan were amongst these students, and shared their thoughts on what the Hub means to them. Both McGrath and Sheridan felt as though being part of the film cutting ceremony, where reel of film was substituted for ribbon, was being part of history here at URI.
“It’s exciting to know that future students of the Harrington School will be able to take advantage of the resources and opportunities offered at the Hub,” McGrath said. Sheridan also mentioned the importance of having a place that specifically caters to the Harrington School. As a fourth year public relations major, Sheridan said she is looking forward to “going into [her] senior year and having a new facility that contains more resources and equipment.”
There is something in the Hub for every Harrington student. When asked about his biggest interest in the Hub, film minor Shawn Antoine said that he was mostly looking forward to using the new film center that focuses in editing and design. Antoine also expressed his excitement about having a building that is specifically for Harrington students, and one that fits their needs.
“At times, communications and media majors can be overlooked in favor of the STEM majors,” Antoine said.
It is important that the Harrington school, along with its students, be recognized and acknowledged by the university. First year communications and film major Sarah Angeloni also shared her excitement for the editing suites.
“I feel really lucky and fortunate to have access to such a wide variety of equipment,” Angeloni said.
Future students of the Harrington School, much like Angeloni, will have the fortune of using the resources offered at the Hub for the entirety of their college experience here at URI. The Hub is a facility that provides the welcoming environment as well as resources for students and the University in general to be global leaders in communication and media.