Misuse of computers inhibits academic studies in lab
ABUSE: Use of computer lab for chatting, Internet and games is unfair to students who have studying to do, but have no computers to use.
By: Cristian Vasquez
Issue date: 3/31/05 Section: News
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Chi To Yip walks into the Learning Media Technology Center in the Schauerman Library to type his English essay. He sits at a computer and begins his research. Next to him, a man watches a video while a woman to his left plays solitaire.
Yip prefers to use the LMTC early in the morning or late at night. He said any other times, students will be using the computers for leisure, which makes finding a computer a difficult task.
"I come in here about two times a week," Yip said. "I only use the computers for like an hour each time."
On average, 130 students use the Center each day, which has been open for five years.
Even though the lab is for the general use of students, those with certain academic needs to meet get priority computer use.
"If a student comes in and says they need a computer for academic use, we will make an announcement," Rebecca Stewart, computer lab specialist, said.
The announcement asks those students who are chatting, playing games, listening to music or web-surfing to give the computer to the student who needs to do school work.
However, a bigger problem is that students who do visit the lab and do not find a computer never approach the staff to ask for help; they end up leaving instead.
"If I see a person standing around, I will get up and help them find a computer," Stewart said.
There are certain rules to what students can do when using the computers.
File sharing, viewing obscene, lewd or sexually harassing material are strictly prohibited and all students violating the rules will be asked to leave the lab immediately.
Yet, the most common problem that arises in the LMTC is when students are loud or when they eat food.
"We just ask that people don't be disruptive to the other students," Wendy Haffey, student worker, said.
"It's pretty laid back in here, but we do get a group of students who are usually the loud ones," she said.
If the noise does ever get out of hand, students will be asked to leave the lab.
Yip prefers to use the LMTC early in the morning or late at night. He said any other times, students will be using the computers for leisure, which makes finding a computer a difficult task.
"I come in here about two times a week," Yip said. "I only use the computers for like an hour each time."
On average, 130 students use the Center each day, which has been open for five years.
Even though the lab is for the general use of students, those with certain academic needs to meet get priority computer use.
"If a student comes in and says they need a computer for academic use, we will make an announcement," Rebecca Stewart, computer lab specialist, said.
The announcement asks those students who are chatting, playing games, listening to music or web-surfing to give the computer to the student who needs to do school work.
However, a bigger problem is that students who do visit the lab and do not find a computer never approach the staff to ask for help; they end up leaving instead.
"If I see a person standing around, I will get up and help them find a computer," Stewart said.
There are certain rules to what students can do when using the computers.
File sharing, viewing obscene, lewd or sexually harassing material are strictly prohibited and all students violating the rules will be asked to leave the lab immediately.
Yet, the most common problem that arises in the LMTC is when students are loud or when they eat food.
"We just ask that people don't be disruptive to the other students," Wendy Haffey, student worker, said.
"It's pretty laid back in here, but we do get a group of students who are usually the loud ones," she said.
If the noise does ever get out of hand, students will be asked to leave the lab.