An Einstein Bros. Bagels is opening on March 3 in the back patio area of Mass Media and Technology Hall.

The hype is big, but not everyone is as excited as some students.

Some employees of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting are concerned that the trash and traffic brought by the shop might lead to equipment damage.

Some also say that the space used for the shop should be used for important fundraising functions.

“This building is for journalism and broadcasting, not bagels and coffee,” said assistant broadcasting professor James LeTourneau.

ARAMARK and Western chose to place the bagel shop in that area because Mass Media is open all day and there is high traffic of residential students and commuters, said Roy Biggers, director of the restaurant and catering group.

There were a number of meetings and discussions about where to put the shop before construction, said John Osborne, associate vice president of campus services and facilities.

“Although the input was not a 100 percent agreement, it was decided that the bagel shop would be a year-round benefit to the university,” Osborne said.

When the School of Journalism and Broadcasting moved into Mass Media five years ago, members were proud of an outside area created for its use, Director Pam Johnson said.

What faculty and staff called “the terrace” overlooked the garden area and Guthrie Tower.

There, staff hosted barbecues for alumni and spring awards luncheons for students.

Johnson called these important traditions.

Johnson said that having events for alumni can bring money into the school.

“When alumni come back to visit, they could give $6,000 to $60,000,” Johnson said.

The School of Journalism and Broadcasting won’t get any money from the bagel shop, she said.

Johnson said it’s important to have events for alumni to help journalism students in their future jobs and curriculum.

The school wasn’t told about the project until it was already finalized, Johnson said.

“I plan to boycott Einstein simply because now we have no space to use for traditions anymore,” Johnson said. “It diminishes the integrity of the school as an academic unit and as instructional technology.”

Most journalism and broadcasting faculty were also against building the shop, Johnson said.

Doug Ault, director of planning, design and construction, said Western had been looking to expand food options at south campus, but the current food area doesn’t get used that often.

Mass Media was a more efficient place for the bagel shop.

Biggers said he thinks the shop will be a great addition to food services and hopes students will enjoy it.

Villa Hills junior Amy Roberts agreed.

“I’m excited about it. I can make a stop really fast without using a vending machine,” Roberts said.

Louisville senior Brooke Winebrenner said she is concerned that the shop might hinder departmental expansions.

Masako Barnaby, coordinator of student computing, said her main concern is about equipment damage in the Mass Media computer lab.

Biggers said he hopes that students don’t make a mess.

“It is not our job to clean up other buildings, or anything outside of our own,” Biggers said.

Barnaby said she would like to maintain control of traffic in the computer lab without creating a hostile environment.

She said she isn’t against the bagel shop, but she wants people to enjoy it outside of the lab.

Reach Magen McCrarey at news@chherald.com.