Rust Center for Media dedicated on Oct. 7

The Southeast Missouri State University Rust Center for Media was dedicated on Oct. 7.

The new media center serves as a joint effort between the university and rustmedia to improve the Department of Mass Media. The center is the new home for the university’s student-run news publication the Southeast Arrow, Riverfront PR and SE Creative, the department’s advertising firm.

Named for the founder of Rust Communications, Gary Rust, the center is located at 325 Broadway, next-door to the Southeast Missourian. The first floor consists of a movable classroom area and a studio space for the television and film majors who currently are located in Rose Theatre. The first floor entry gallery holds two large televisions that can be used to share projects by the mix of majors in the building and the Southeast Missourian. The basement floor is home to the Arrow, Riverfront PR and SE Creative and holds a collaboration area with three conference rooms, a main meeting place and three audio recording rooms.

During the dedication ceremony, university president Dr. Carlos Vargas thanked the Rust family for its dedication and contributions to Southeast.

“Today we are honoring a man and his family who have been instrumental in assisting the university with this collaboration,” Vargas said. “Gary Rust and his family members have given generously of their time, talents and interests over the past several decades. They have made many contributions to the university over the years and I am not sure that there is any family with greater love for the university or greater appreciation for its role for the community and the region.”

The Rust family helped in the completion of Dempster Hall and the River Campus. Gary Rust also serves on the foundation board. The Rust House adjacent to campus served as their home for many years and is now home to Vargas and his wife, Pam. The Rust family also has assisted in the shaping of the Department of Mass Media in recent years.

In 2011, the university formed a partnership with Rust Communications for management of the Arrow. The partnership with Rust Media has allowed the Arrow to collaborate with the members of the Southeast Missourian staff, providing support and mentorship to students and faculty who run the paper.

The dedication ceremony was attended by members of the Rust family, Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger, members of Southeast’s mass media department, members of the Board of Regents, inducing president Jay Knudtson and several members of the Cape Girardeau community. Attendees were given the opportunity to tour the facility following the dedication ceremony.