NYS Assembly Leader Tours Media Studios at SUNY Old Westbury

State University of New York at Old Westbury President Calvin O. Butts, III, and members of the faculty of the College’s American Studies/Media & Communications Department welcomed the Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl Heastie to campus recently to tour the College’s television and multimedia studios.

Speaker Heastie met with Dr. Butts and members of the faculty to discuss the current state and future needs of the College’s Media & Communications program. Following the meeting, the Assembly leader visited with students as he toured the College’s broadcast and editing studios. The visit took place in support of an ongoing effort by the College to secure funding to renovate the studio spaces and expand the technologies available for students.

“In a world where video, voice, audio, art and the written word are melding together into multiple channels of communication, creating flexible studios and spaces where students can learn not only innovative technologies but advanced methods of storytelling is critical to their ability to succeed once they graduate,” said Dr. Butts. “We were very pleased to have Speaker Heastie visit with our faculty and our students and to discuss the future of our program and its facility needs.”

With a current enrollment of approximately 250 students, Old Westbury’s major in Media and Communications provides students with a grounding in the economic, political, social, and intellectual history of the U.S. combined with theoretical and practical courses in journalism and production for radio, television, newspapers and interactive media.