One of the largest corporate mergers in U.S. history was announced Monday, and it is receiving mixed reactions from the ISU community.

America Online Inc., the largest Internet-service provider in the United States, purchased Time Warner Inc., the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, for $162 billion. Iowa State, along with the rest of the nation, has ambivalent feelings about the partnership.

Thomas Beell, professor of journalism and mass communication, said he can see both sides of the issue.

“Many people are concerned by the increasing consolidation of the mass media, and I am cautious when it comes to concentration of ownership,” he said.

However, Beell said there may be some advantages to the merger.

“On the other hand,” he said, “audiences are more and more concerned with computers, so I can see the advantage there, and it could even be a good thing.”

During a televised press conference on C-Span held earlier this week, Gerald Levin, the new AOL-Time Warner chief executive, said the digital transformation of Time Warner is a dream realized.

The merger is not necessarily a dream come true for some students.

“It seems like a good deal for everybody except the consumers,” said Coby Trapp, sophomore in management information systems.

“Like all mergers, it’s unfortunate for the little guy,” agreed Jon Dagnillo, sophomore in computer engineering. “It’s just a sign of the times, I guess.”

Beell said he is concerned that the media industry is becoming a monopoly.

“One nagging concern is [that a] handful of companies control all mass media,” he said. “The concept of the free press was built around individually owned voices.”

Levin said the merger is beneficial to consumers since AOL’s 22 million members and the 120 million readers of Time Inc. are now joined.

But Beell worries that media conglomerates, such as AOL-Time Warner, will be able to do what ever they want without government intervention. Media fairness and the coverage of some issues could be at risk, he said.

Marie Chase, sophomore in animal science, said as long as the merger doesn’t get even bigger, she’s not concerned.

“Well, as long as Disney doesn’t buy them out, I’m not too worried,” she said.