COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Tuesday marked an exceptional morning for WRBL News 3 and Columbus State University.

Students, journalists, teachers and more gathered to cut the ribbon on the brand-new WRBL bureau in One Arsenal Place — a historic riverfront building that also houses the CSU Communications Department.

Professor & Communications Department Chair Dr. Gibson had this to say at the ceremony.

“We thank you so much,” Gibson spoke. “I also wanna thank our students. What this represents today, is what you can do tomorrow.”

WRBL anchors, reporters and meteorologists will work out of the space next to the university’s student radio station WCUG. There is an active classroom just outside the door.

Columbus State President Dr. Stuart Rayfield says the space provides CSU students with real-world experience.

“They get to see, as it happens, the news being made,” said Dr. Rayfield. “What they’re learning in a classroom on one side of a wall is actually being practiced on the other side of the wall and they get to go back and forth to be a part of that. It is a learning lab that should be an opportunity for every student in every degree. We’re so excited to have this partnership with WRBL so that our students can learn from the best.”

The full ribbon-cutting is available to watch in the video player towards the top of this story.