Access limited to remodeled recording studio

This past summer, Seattle University spent $650,000 renovating the Fine Arts recording studio, but access to the space will be strictly limited.

The new high-end studio was constructed after requests from within the music department for an overhaul of the previous studio.

"They didn't really have the facility for the things they were teaching," said Joy Jacobson, director of Capital Construction.

The new studio was designed by architects with an expertise in acoustics and is much larger than the previous studio. The renovated space contains more quality equipment and sound gear than before, such as Pro Tools digital workstations, iMacs, professional mixing tables, stereo arrays, MIDI keyboards and numerous microphones.
The studio is available to the 16 students enrolled in the quarterly Audio Recording class who are required to use the studio for their homework. They have access to it at all times. Students unaffiliated with the class or who are not in similar music major classes are not being granted access to the space. The new policy also bars students who have taken Audio Recording in the past.

"It needs to remain available for students who are taking a class that requires that space for homework," said Steve Galatro, operations director at Fine Arts. "The equipment in there is also very expensive and extensive, so we need to control the security of that space in order to deliver those classes to students who are enrolled."

Despite the Fine Arts Department's reasoning, some students are rallying for a more inclusive policy. 
Among these students is senior philosophy major Jono Hughes, who has taken Audio Recording four times not including the two times he worked in the studio for an independent study. 
"I guess I used to see [the studio] as a cultural hearth of creativity," Hughes said. "A place where people could gather, work together, and share ideas. I think the school would want to support that." 
With 20 students backing him, Hughes has been working on creating a solution to please both faculty and students.

Before the renovations, any student who had been in the Audio Recording class and had been approved by the professor was allowed access. Students could additionally bring bands and friends into the studio under the previous policy.

"It seemed like more of a community thing back then whereas now it's more isolated and individualistic," Hughes said.

Hughes is concerned that the reasons for restricting student access are somewhat unfounded. Blocking access to other students so enrolled students will be allowed time for homework is something Hughes thinks could easily be worked around. 
"You use a calendar to sign up for the studio, and 75 percent of the time nobody is in there," he said.

Hughes has proposed that students not enrolled in the class be allowed access during off hours, since the studio is available 24 hours a day. 
In response to concerns over security, Hughes also sees problems. 
"There is a pretty extensive surveillance system set up in the studio with cameras," Hughes said.

In the eyes of Fine Arts, the policy is no different than any other across campus. 
"It's similar to any other lab," Galatro said. "Regular students probably wouldn't be allowed access to a chemistry lab, so it's pretty much in line with all the lab policies across campus."

Whether or not the policy changes, Hughes is simply hoping for a compromise.
"I just think it's a huge resource," Hughes said. "I hope more students can be granted access to it."

Kelton may be reached at ksears@su-spectator.com.