By LINDSAY GRIESER
J Alumni News staff
Back in Avery Hall, Room 108, the newsroom for news-editorial students doubled as a classroom and a student lounge.
The two did not always mix.
But now, thanks to The Freedom Forum, students wanting to check their e-mail will not disturb those trying to write stories.
On the south end of Andersen Hall’s first floor is an area reserved for a student commons, now known as The Freedom Forum Commons. Charles Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of The Freedom Forum, said the foundation donated $250,000 to the Andersen Hall project for the student lounge.
Will Norton, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said the lounge would include a large television, computers, couches, tables and chairs. The completion date for the commons is uncertain.
Computers will be set up on both the east and west ends of the commons at stand-up terminals for students to check their e-mail, Norton said. Quotes about free expression and free press from justices of the federal appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court will line the walls.
“It will be a place for students to sit before they go to class,” he said.
Norton is a member of The Freedom Forum board. Overby said Norton asked the foundation to donate to the Andersen Hall project a year ago.
“We wanted to make a major contribution,” Overby said. “The board has enormous respect for the University of Nebraska.”
The Freedom Forum, based in Arlington, Va., is a non-partisan, international foundation dedicated to free press and free speech. The priorities of the Forum lie in directing the Newseum and First Amendment Center, as well as promoting newspaper newsroom diversity and world press freedom.
Established in 1991, The Freedom Forum doesn’t accept financial contributions. Its income comes from an endowment now worth about $700 million in diversified assets.
After discussing the needs of the college’s new building with Norton, Overby said he decided to help fund a student commons.
“The school does such a great job of producing top-rate journalists,” Overby said. “This building is encouragement to the future of (the University of) Nebraska to continue to do well.”