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ATHENS, Ohio —Since the first classes were held in Schoonover Auditorium during fall semester 2015, the versatile space has hosted film screenings and guest speakers, including Tom Sly of the E.W. Scripps Company.

Schoonover Center for Communication Room 145 is equal parts universal lecture hall, auditorium and event venue with more than 270 installed seats plus ADA accessible spaces to accommodate a large audience.

“I think professors really like the space, and not only professors—we get a lot of students who want to book that room for organizational meetings,” Megan Lewis, a Scripps College of Communication ambassador said. “It seems to be a pretty popular room.”

In September, the “Creative Abundance” documentary was screened in Schoonover Auditorium to an audience that filled every seat and even spilled onto the stairs. The screening marked the official opening of the college’s newest center, the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact.

“The state of the art technology, seating, lighting and general ambiance of the auditorium was conducive for hosting a meaningful campus and community event,” Lynn Harter, co-director of the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact and professor in the School of Communication Studies said. “I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Steve Schoonover and Barbara Geralds and their family for helping the Scripps College of Communication realize what is possible when teachers, scholars, students and community members have a meaningful space in which to gather.”

Technology features like a 10,000-lumen projector, Mac-based computers and a speaker system with two 15-inch woofers make the room well-suited for presentations and guest speakers.

“It’s really nice because it amplifies people at the bottom really well, so even if you’re at the very top you can still hear what they’re saying if they’re not speaking that loud,” Sarah Arango, a sophomore studying strategic communication said.

Schoonover Auditorium’s newest addition is a branding image on the wall at the front of the room that reads: “The Scripps College of Communication is where one generation of thought leaders and storytellers opens doors for the next. Make it known.” This image is consistent with Scripps branding throughout the building that aims to unite the five schools and various centers within the Scripps College of Communication.

“Make it known is sort of our story as a college,” Christ Stewart, operations coordinator for Scripps College of Communication said. “Before you’re successful with an idea, before it can become something that everyone else runs with, you have to communicate it, you have to make it known in some way. That’s sort of the idea.”

Schoonover Auditorium is labeled as an 91̽�� “universal classroom” because it holds more than 99 installed seats. For this reason, any OHIO department or student organization can reserve and use the space.

To reserve Schoonover Auditorium, please visit and click “Request an Event.” Choose whether you’re reserving the space for a student organization or university department and fill out the event request form.