The campus of Harding University has grown significantly in recent years. One of the largest and most technologically advanced additions was the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication, which was opened for use last fall. The Reynolds Center was built with funds from the DonaldW. Reynolds foundation. The foundation made the largest single capital gift in University history - $5.9 million on July 1, 1996. The 53,715 square foot building houses both the music and communication departments . The Reynolds Center is the culmination of the ideas and planning of nearly all the faculty members of both the communication and music departments. The two departments share the building, which houses all of the faculty offices. "This is the first t ime all the faculty has been in one building," said Dr. Mike James, chair of the Department of Communication. The Reynolds Center is the "most technologically advanced bui lding on campus," according to Dr. Arthur Shearin, chair of the Department of Music. "This is the first time we have had an up-to-date computer lab with a sufficient number of computers to accommodate the students," he said. In addition to the computer labs, the entire building has been wired for state-of-theart audiovisual and network communication. The technology "offers us a 10-year jump start to where we thought we would be in developing programs for all of our students," said Dr. Steve Frye, associate professor of communication. Another advantage of technology is the acoustics of the rooms and practice rooms throughout the building. "One ofour goalswas to build a placewherewe could contain sound," said Dr. Warren Casey, professor ofmusic. "We were looking to improve sound quality and reduce sound transfer." Each classroom and office has been wired to the Harding network and the internet. Students and faculty can communicate with each other via e-mail and have access to educational and cofnmun ication resources on the web. "It's nice to have the hands-on ability to write [in the labsJ," said Dr. Jack Shock, associate professor of communication, "and to be able to communicate with students over e-mail. ll The two departments are already very involved with each other so one of the biggest non-technology advantages of the Reynolds Center has been having all the faculty of the music and communication departments under one roof. Members of both departments think it will make their shared projects even more outstanding. "It will he lp us accomplish great things for the University," Frye sa id. "Making new friends is an unexpected advantage," Shock said. "It's nice to share the building with the music department. " The DonaldW. Reynolds Center has many advantages that add to the Harding experience. New technology and closer relationships among faculty and students helped to make this one of the most exciting new developments on campus. "We will always be grateful to the Reynolds Foundation," Shearin said. - Remie Beaulieu Arthur Shearin, O.M.A. Prof. & Dept. Chai r/~lu s i c Jack Shock, Ed.D. Auo. ProflComm. Daniel Tullos, Ph.D. CCC-SLP ProfJComm. Sharon Pitt,l\I.Ed. InstlComm. Beckie Weaver, J'tl.C.D., CCC-SLP Asso. ProfJComm. Neva White, 1\1.1\1. Asso. ProUt-lusie Bandmembersperform at theReynolds Center dedication ceremony. Hundreds were on hand for the dedication during Homecoming weekend. Both departments took part in the ceremonies that honored the new building and those instrumental in its construction M uSIC & COMMUNICATION 169 •
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