Willie Hope III
Sports & Rec Editor
Photo retrieved from messiah.edu.
In addition to the Sollenberger Sports Center renovations that will be done for the start of the fall semester, Frey Hall will also undergo renovations. The Ralph S. Larsen Finance Lab will be added to Frey 143 and the hallway to create an all new finance lab as a part of Messiah’s new finance major. The lab will also be used by the business and other related departments.
According to Dwayne Safer, assistant professor of finance, the renovations will add 26 computer workstations with dual monitors, 10 Bloomberg Professional terminals, three large-screen televisions showing CNBC, Bloomberg and other financial markets media, and a stock ticker continuously displaying market information. The Bloomberg Professional terminals will be used to research historical and real-time data on stocks, bonds, economic indicators, foreign currencies, commodities and options, according to the business department’s website.
“The new addition will benefit students by immersing them in a professional environment similar to what you would find at a Wall Street Investment Bank,” Safer says. “The teaching focus will be on the current news driving the global business and financial markets rather than following a textbook.”
The upgrade in technology has the business department professors and students excited for the real world experience. “This is another example of how Messiah College is committed to training outstanding business professionals who are able to achieve incredible success in their careers,” says Andrew Babyak, the chair of the business department.
“I’m excited to be able to experience a taste of the environment finance professionals work in every day,” junior accounting major Matthew Hess says. The state-of-the-art upgrade is an opportunity for students like Hess to get hands-on experience.
Messiah’s campus has been under construction for the past three to four years, with additions being made to Lottie Nelson Dining Hall during the 2015-2016 year. However, students and faculty shouldn’t get used to having the construction zones around for too much longer.
“Over the summer we will complete the finance lab and renovate the lower level of Mt. View into a new commuter lounge, but at this time, there are no new plans on the horizon after this summer,” Vice President for Operations Kathie Shafer adds.
For more on the finance lab construction, visit messiah.edu and search for updates on other construction around campus.