Spring Break
Bagel shop causes concerns for some journalism faculty
Magen McCrarey
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News
An Einstein Bros. Bagels is opening on March 3 in the back patio area of Mass Media and Technology Hall.
The hype is big, but not everyone is as excited as some students.
Some employees of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting are concerned that the trash and traffic brought by the shop might lead to equipment damage.
Some also say that the space used for the shop should be used for important fundraising functions.
"This building is for journalism and broadcasting, not bagels and coffee," said assistant broadcasting professor James LeTourneau.
ARAMARK and Western chose to place the bagel shop in that area because Mass Media is open all day and there is high traffic of residential students and commuters, said Roy Biggers, director of the restaurant and catering group.
There were a number of meetings and discussions about where to put the shop before construction, said John Osborne, associate vice president of campus services and facilities.
"Although the input was not a 100 percent agreement, it was decided that the bagel shop would be a year-round benefit to the university," Osborne said.
When the School of Journalism and Broadcasting moved into Mass Media five years ago, members were proud of an outside area created for its use, Director Pam Johnson said.
What faculty and staff called "the terrace" overlooked the garden area and Guthrie Tower.
There, staff hosted barbecues for alumni and spring awards luncheons for students.
Johnson called these important traditions.
Johnson said that having events for alumni can bring money into the school.
"When alumni come back to visit, they could give $6,000 to $60,000," Johnson said.
The School of Journalism and Broadcasting won't get any money from the bagel shop, she said.
Johnson said it's important to have events for alumni to help journalism students in their future jobs and curriculum.
The school wasn't told about the project until it was already finalized, Johnson said.
"I plan to boycott Einstein simply because now we have no space to use for traditions anymore," Johnson said. "It diminishes the integrity of the school as an academic unit and as instructional technology."
Most journalism and broadcasting faculty were also against building the shop, Johnson said.
Doug Ault, director of planning, design and construction, said Western had been looking to expand food options at south campus, but the current food area doesn't get used that often.
Mass Media was a more efficient place for the bagel shop.
Biggers said he thinks the shop will be a great addition to food services and hopes students will enjoy it.
Villa Hills junior Amy Roberts agreed.
"I'm excited about it. I can make a stop really fast without using a vending machine," Roberts said.
Louisville senior Brooke Winebrenner said she is concerned that the shop might hinder departmental expansions.
Masako Barnaby, coordinator of student computing, said her main concern is about equipment damage in the Mass Media computer lab.
Biggers said he hopes that students don't make a mess.
"It is not our job to clean up other buildings, or anything outside of our own," Biggers said.
Barnaby said she would like to maintain control of traffic in the computer lab without creating a hostile environment.
She said she isn't against the bagel shop, but she wants people to enjoy it outside of the lab.
Reach Magen McCrarey at news@chherald.com.
The hype is big, but not everyone is as excited as some students.
Some employees of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting are concerned that the trash and traffic brought by the shop might lead to equipment damage.
Some also say that the space used for the shop should be used for important fundraising functions.
"This building is for journalism and broadcasting, not bagels and coffee," said assistant broadcasting professor James LeTourneau.
ARAMARK and Western chose to place the bagel shop in that area because Mass Media is open all day and there is high traffic of residential students and commuters, said Roy Biggers, director of the restaurant and catering group.
There were a number of meetings and discussions about where to put the shop before construction, said John Osborne, associate vice president of campus services and facilities.
"Although the input was not a 100 percent agreement, it was decided that the bagel shop would be a year-round benefit to the university," Osborne said.
When the School of Journalism and Broadcasting moved into Mass Media five years ago, members were proud of an outside area created for its use, Director Pam Johnson said.
What faculty and staff called "the terrace" overlooked the garden area and Guthrie Tower.
There, staff hosted barbecues for alumni and spring awards luncheons for students.
Johnson called these important traditions.
Johnson said that having events for alumni can bring money into the school.
"When alumni come back to visit, they could give $6,000 to $60,000," Johnson said.
The School of Journalism and Broadcasting won't get any money from the bagel shop, she said.
Johnson said it's important to have events for alumni to help journalism students in their future jobs and curriculum.
The school wasn't told about the project until it was already finalized, Johnson said.
"I plan to boycott Einstein simply because now we have no space to use for traditions anymore," Johnson said. "It diminishes the integrity of the school as an academic unit and as instructional technology."
Most journalism and broadcasting faculty were also against building the shop, Johnson said.
Doug Ault, director of planning, design and construction, said Western had been looking to expand food options at south campus, but the current food area doesn't get used that often.
Mass Media was a more efficient place for the bagel shop.
Biggers said he thinks the shop will be a great addition to food services and hopes students will enjoy it.
Villa Hills junior Amy Roberts agreed.
"I'm excited about it. I can make a stop really fast without using a vending machine," Roberts said.
Louisville senior Brooke Winebrenner said she is concerned that the shop might hinder departmental expansions.
Masako Barnaby, coordinator of student computing, said her main concern is about equipment damage in the Mass Media computer lab.
Biggers said he hopes that students don't make a mess.
"It is not our job to clean up other buildings, or anything outside of our own," Biggers said.
Barnaby said she would like to maintain control of traffic in the computer lab without creating a hostile environment.
She said she isn't against the bagel shop, but she wants people to enjoy it outside of the lab.
Reach Magen McCrarey at news@chherald.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Jennifer
posted 2/19/08 @ 4:18 AM CST
This is insane. Doesn't the journalism faculty and students have control over what is done in its building or outside of it? The building was built to expand/help an already award-winning program. (Continued…)
Howard
posted 2/19/08 @ 8:39 AM CST
I think the bagel shop is a great idea. As far as I know Jennifer, it's not Journalism's building -- it's WKU's building. This was done to improve the whole campus, and yet some journalism faculty seem to have this "not in my back yard" mentality. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 2/19/08 @ 8:41 AM CST
blah blah blah
Brittany-Ann
posted 2/19/08 @ 11:09 AM CST
It's funny. Anytime something is done to better student life on campus, there is someone saying "Not in my building!"
I didn't realize the college of Journalism owned not only the building, but also all the land around it. (Continued…)
David
posted 2/19/08 @ 12:41 PM CST
Well, now I've heard it all.
An assistant professor for broadcast decries the yuppification of his campus? If he hasn't looked around the neighborhood recently, he may have missed that the WHOLE POINT of TV news is the elevation of yuppy gestalt. (Continued…)
Cody
posted 2/19/08 @ 1:17 PM CST
Most of the journalsim school faculty are closed minded and resistant to change.,
Captain Airwaves
posted 2/19/08 @ 1:21 PM CST
Putting the bagel shop near the journalism building is a fine idea. Because the journalism industry is imploding, many of the j-school graduates will be WORKING at the shop in a couple of years. (Continued…)
jaybob
posted 2/19/08 @ 2:27 PM CST
So answer me this: To buy a bagel, will customers walk through the computer lab, or any other room assigned to communications students?
Chelsea
posted 2/19/08 @ 3:14 PM CST
JOURNALISM TEACHERS/STUDENTS: GET OVER IT!
rn
posted 2/19/08 @ 4:20 PM CST
Don't you think this story deserves the full tabloid treatment? Give it the headline 'Schmear campaign' and go to town! Come on college journalists: have some fun! Some stories simply demand it. (Continued…)
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