The Satellite Student Union (SSU) has completed the installation of a Hearing Loop system designed to provide a better listening experience for those who are hard of hearing. Event attendees with telecoil-enabled hearing aids and cochlear implants can switch to the telecoil or "T-coil" program and automatically receive clear sound, customized to each user’s unique hearing instrument. Guests without telecoil-enabled devices may use a receiver pack and headphones provided by the SSU to tune into the loop system at no cost.

To complement the new technology, the auditorium floor is now carpeted to reduce background noise and promote a better understanding of speech and music for all visitors to the SSU. Benefits from these updates will hopefully have a wide positive impact for students, faculty, staff and the general public. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 15.5% of adults 18 and over experience hearing difficulty.

Promoting the availability of Hearing Loop for SSU events demonstrates a broader commitment to inclusion and accessibility for our campus. Signage posted around the performance hall notes that the SSU is equipped with this technology. This project was made possible through the combined efforts of Dr. Paul Ogden, professor emeritus and founder of the Silent Garden; Debbie Adishian-Astone, vice president of administration and chief financial officer; Amy Allen, interim associate dean of Student Involvement; Mehrzad Zarrin, associate director of Student Unions; Michael Bonner, program production supervisor for the Satellite Student Union and Auxiliary Services.