Winner of a 1996 Peabody Award for a documentary dealing with politics, Stekler was recently named the production area head. It was with Stekler's help that the current inventory list was scrutinzed and determined to be lacking in quantity and quality for the rtf students. Journalism students have faced similar obstacles. It was Heider who spoke to the Regents during a recent discussion about the learning equipment fee. No one five years ago could have predicted and budgeted for the digital information boom that has taken over the industry.
Students now use grease pencils and razor blades to edit tape into a final product.
New equipment is needed which will allow students to download video and audio tape onto a hard drive where non-linear, electronic editing can take place. Other goals for the journalism department are a student-produced daily TV newscast and a joint project with the rtf department which involves a computer digital video editing lab available to students of both departments. Money from the fee will buy new equipment for all departments in the College. Students will see some of the changes shortly after the '97 fall semester. Others will take place after the new year.