Cuts Lead to Computer Lab Closure

The closing of Ehringhaus' lab this summer marked the beginning of long-term cost-cutting reforms that are in the planning stages for campus computer labs.

Last spring, the Residence Hall Association and student government met with Academic Technology & Networks officials to discuss possible lab closings as a way to trim costs on campus.

RHA President Joanna Jordan said ATN suggested closing four or five labs on campus.

Those recommended for closing were unstaffed labs on South Campus and a lab in Cobb Residence Hall, which has poor handicapped accessibility and occasionally floods.

But Jordan said students fought the loss of multiple labs. "The labs provide a great service to residence hall students," she said.

"It's very important for them to stay open."

After the meeting last spring, officials decided only to close Ehringhaus' lab. Other labs, including those at Morrison Residence Hall and Cobb, will remain under watch to judge their demand.

"We decided on this plan of action as a reasonable way to manage the existing lab structure to maximize availability and still recognize the decrease in demand in the computer labs," said Steve Fearrington, assistant director of distributed services at ATN.

Requiring students to purchase personal laptops upon enrollment as part of the Carolina Computing Initiative has greatly reduced the demand for computer lab accessibility, Fearrington said.

Tommy Mann, chairman of the student government Information and Technologies Committee, agreed that the role of computer labs is changing on campus.

"Students rarely need computers for typing papers, so we are considering other uses," Mann said.

"We will not take away free printing, but we are considering adding new software options to the labs, such as multimedia, video and music editing programs."

Labs are expensive to staff, and printing costs nearly $200,000 per year, Mann said.

There also are risks associated with unstaffed labs because some students abuse the computers and waste paper, he said.

Long-term solutions for the computer lab issue will be heavily discussed this year, Mann said.

The ITC had its first meeting Tuesday.

Some students have complained about inconveniences from the closing of the Ehringhaus lab. The most frequent complaints have been about inconveniences with printing, Jordan said.

She said RHA and student government are working with ATN to decide how to fill the gap at Ehringhaus, possibly by adding a printing station.

Other computer labs will remain open throughout campus, in both Davis and the Undergraduate libraries, as well as in the new Student Union addition and in many of the residence halls.

The computer lab in Hinton James Residence Hall is still open 24 hours a day.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.