IU Student Television cuts ribbon on Read studio

IU Student TV moved into a new facility in Read Center last week. \nTuesday marked the official opening of the new area. IUSTV hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, in which Richard McKaig, vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, and Bruce Jacobs, vice chancellor for administrative affairs, were present. \nThe new facility offers a 2,000-square-foot office with a studio, control room and an editing suite. Anthony Leong, IUSTV's executive director, said the control room and studio are connected by a large window, a feature the old space did not have. The window was a good addition because now the people in the control room can see everyone in the studio, Leong said. \nIUSTV's previous workspace was located in Ashton Center. \nResidential Programs and Services custom-built the new facility for IUSTV. The staff and executive board of IUSTV met last spring and designed a floor plan for the new office and construction started late last summer. \nThe facility also offers fiber optic lines in the studio, which allows IUSTV to be broadcast throughout campus. The lines will also allow IUSTV to broadcast its shows off campus. \nIUSTV plans to connect to Bloomington Cable Access Television to broadcast off campus. IUSTV will broadcast to a local channel in Bloomington -- most likely channel three -- four or fives times a week. BCAT will reserve two- to three-hour time blocks for IUSTV's shows. Leong said he hopes to broadcast to the Bloomington community as early as next summer.\nAlthough IUSTV has a few faculty advisors, a graduate assistant is a new addition to IUSTV. Casey Cox, a law student and member of the IU board of trustees, holds the position through the Student Activities Office. \nIUSTV also plans on creating new shows to broadcast. \n"This is good for us because the new shows will open up new positions and provide an opportunity for more students to be involved," Leong said. "A lot of students are looking for the experience and this allows it"