Volume 59, Issue 12  - November 6, 2006

Computer lab hours upset students
By Michell Godinez
Staff Writer

Students are complaining about the operating hours of a computer lab in Cardenas Hall North.

School of Education Senator Crystal Olivo told the Student Government Association on Thursday that she received a complaint that students who had class at 8 a.m. were not able to access the lab to print out or search for materials needed for class.

She spoke to Albert Tudon, a computer user services specialist, who told her that they tried to open the lab in the past at 7:30 a.m. but not enough people were using it.  He told her the computer lab in SET-B and the lab at the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Memorial Library both open at 7:30 and that she could pursue the issue by writing a petition to propose that the lab open earlier.

Olivo visited the library’s computer lab and noticed several new computers were not in use.  She was told by an assistant at the lab that the computers were unavailable because they had not yet been programmed.

The senator said she plans to contact Fitratullah Khan, director of the Infrastructure, Telecommunications and Network Department, to see whether the process can be expedited.

The Collegian spoke to Douglas Ferrier, dean of Instructional Support, who said there are computers located in the second floor computer lab at the library that are not available because they are waiting to get connected to the Internet.

“We have them ready to go,” Ferrier said. “We are just waiting on a connection, and the problem is the ITNet is a small staff and overworked. So, as soon as they get to it we’ll have them up and running.” 

In other business, Senator at Large Hector O. Zamarripa reported that he was approached by a couple of students who are considering protesting the upcoming Athletic Fee Referendum to be held Nov. 14-15.

“I think what they wanted to do was to get a bunch of signs and be in between North and South [halls],” Zamarripa said.

SGA President Abraham Ponce said there are areas on campus where protesters can assemble.

School of Business Senator Rogelio Chanes informed SGA members that early voting on campus has so far been a success. As of last Tuesday, the number of votes had reached 635.

“We will be shy of the 1,000 votes on Friday, depending on what the turnout was for Wednesday and today,” Chanes said. “I would like to thank everybody here … in bringing out the vote.”

Members absent from the meeting were Vice President of Accounting and Finance Steven Aguilar, School of Business Senator Joe Lee Rubio, School of Health Sciences Senator Oscar Lee Garza, College of Liberal Arts Senator Ana Armendariz and Freshman Senator Cristina Alaniz.