The beginning of a new fall season may also mean new beginnings for the students of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication. On September 24, a crowd of over 30 students and faculty gathered outside room 238 for the grand opening of the Innovation and Collaboration Center.

Located in the same room where a previous computer lab had been, this grand opening sparked the attention of students and faculty alike because the previous computer lab had been shut down for two years.

Unaware that SGJC students had no place to print, President Dr. David Wilson guaranteed to have the problem resolved during his annual Town Hall meeting where the student body is informed on university developments and has an opportunity for feedback.

“Last year, a student complained that students didn’t have a lab where they could print,” said associate professor Jackie Jones. “Dr. Wilson promised that by this fall, the lab would be up and running.”

Apparently that student wasn’t the only one to be frustrated by the lack of a functioning computer lab.

“I transferred to Morgan in 2012 and in 2013 the lab was closed and we haven’t had anything since,” said SGJC student Shawn Massie. “So it’s about damn time.”

A picture of the old lackluster computer lab stood in front of the new and improved space. The removal of the picture would act as the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We wanted you to see what it looked like,” Dean Wickham said to the group, “some of you may recall that there were computers there but they didn’t work. So we were in the process of removing them and we said, ‘Lets capture that picture’ so you can see what that old space looked like.”

Soon the photo was removed and students, faculty, and student reporters piled into the room with excitement.

Inside the lab were brand new computers, an even distribution of PC’s and Macs equip with 4K resolution for photo and video editing and a smart board for live presentations.

The Innovation and Collaboration Center will be open to students Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The computer lab doesn’t open officially until next week, but students will have access to computers, photo and video editing programs, and most importantly, a printer.

Students and faculty were pleased with the unveiling and the updates and see it as motivation to achieve academically.

“It makes you happy when you walk in. I feel like it makes you want to do your work,” said Morgan Lingham, an SGJC student studying Multiplatform Production.

“I’m really excited about the new lab, because when I first started [working here] students were able to go there and print and I guess that’s what it was in the beginning, but then it was closed for years” Victoria Valentine, Academic and Career Advising Coordinator said. “Now, it’s a new place for students to go and I think it’s an exciting opportunity for students to learn and it makes you want to learn.”