Heather Madden
Published: November 8, 2006
On a visit to the Pensacola campus Student Center, you may have noticed the huge cords hanging from the ceiling. You may have also heard the rumor that televisions are coming to the student center.
The rumor was not just a rumor. Those cords are for three 50-inch plasma televisions that are scheduled to be up and running by the spring term.
“We are really trying to create the atmosphere of a student center,” said Dennis Reynolds, coordinator of student leadership and activities.
“We got a group of students together, created a list [of items to spend student activity money on], and one of the things was a TV,” Reynolds said.
Also involved in creating the list were Jacinta Strauss, Butch Branch and the PJC Student Government Association. The list was then given to Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. James Martin. Reynolds said that Martin was very instrumental in helping acquire the televisions.
“Last spring I walked into the student center and realized the student center wasn’t exactly student friendly,” Martin said.
The funding for the televisions came from student activity fee revenue. Student activity money is divided between the fine arts, athletics, student clubs and organizations, and according to Martin, the money that is left over stays in a contingency fund.
Each campus received at least one 50-inch television. Warrington received two, Pensacola three, and Milton one. Milton campus was also given four 26-inch televisions for the Wellness Center.
Martin said the televisions for the Pensacola campus were probably going to be displayed with one by the bookstore entrance, one above the snack machines, and one by the culinary arts exit. Although the televisions are not yet installed, they are already in possession.
The televisions were not cheap, priced at $2,600 for the 50-inch models and $1,000 for the smaller ones. Although programming has yet to be decided, Martin said there will be cable for sure.
Alex Newman, 20, business major, hopes to see sports channels and other things he finds interesting.
“It will probably pass time better,” Newman said.
Malcolm Baker, 20, mentioned he would like to see videos and cartoons.
But Evelyn Acoff, accounting major, had a different opinion.
“It’s not a good idea because students will be distracted and not study,” Acoff said. “If there’s television in here we’ll probably watch it more than we do our studies.”
Martin mentioned that the televisions would probably not have sound, but captions instead.
“I do not want to disturb students that are in there studying,” Martin said.
There are also plans to equip the televisions for video presentations and other educational purposes. Martin feels that the televisions should be for learning as well as entertaining.
“TV, whether we like it or not, is a part of our culture,” Martin said. “This is the best way for people to watch history in the making.”
But there is something many students are wondering.
“When are they going to be here,” asked Newman.
Mario Porterfield, 19, pre-med student, said, “let’s hope they do it soon.”