Personal Preferences

The dish on computer labs on campus

By Taryn Nesbit
Staff Writer

A substantial percentage of the students at USC do not own their own computers--or if they do, they perhaps do not have a printer or access to the Internet. USC students are fortunate to have several on-campus computer centers, where they can easily access the Internet, check e-mail, type or print a paper.
The Waite Phillips Hall computer lab, located in the basement of--what else?--Waite Phillips Hall, has over 60 PC and 30 Macintosh computers. There is also a scanning station to scan photographs and other pictures onto paper or a disc. Printed pages cost five cents each--less expensive than printing at Leavey Library.
At Leavey, printouts are now seven cents per page, plus a tax. This is because all the copying and printing services in the Leavey basement are now run by Pulse. As the newest computer lab, Leavey has reduced the traffic at other centers, especially Waite Phillips Hall.
Originally, going to use a computer at Leavey was a bit of an adventure. The computer stations are well spread out, which is pleasant; however, there was no check-out system. Students were forced to roam around the lab, pouncing on available stations in a haphazard free-for-all.
Now, Leavey has gone the way of the Waite Phillips Hall and King Hall computer centers, using a check-out system that requires computer users to have a valid USCard with a library bar code.
Leavey offers more personal services than other computer labs. There are research consultants and computer consultants on staff. The research consultants, according to signs outside the computer lab itself, "are available to assist with research, term papers, and other informational needs, including help with USCInfo, gopher and Mosaic." In addition, the computer consultants "are available to assist with Mac, DOS/Windows and UNIX operating systems and applicable software, including productivity software and network information tools."
The King Hall computer center, with 44 PCs, 83 Macs and 15 Sun workstations, shares the floor above Cafe `84 with the financial services office.
There are smaller, lesser-known and therefore less crowded computer centers in the Salvatori Computer Science Center and the Taper Hall Language Lab.
Though all these computer centers seem like they would be purely to the advantage of their users, there have been some problems as well. Students have varied responses to the labs.
Eric Simkin, an undeclared freshman, has his own computer, but he prefers using Waite Phillips Hall for "immediate hookup to the Internet," he said. "The printouts are inexpensive as well."
However, Simkin said he finds Waite Phillips too congested at times. During those times, the employees become harried and impolite, he said. He has visited Leavey, but he said he found it far too disorganized. In Simkin's opinion, the quietest center is Waite Phillips Hall, and the most comfortable chairs, unfortunately for him, are located in Leavey.
Matt Wolf, a freshman majoring in cinema-television production, uses Waite Phillips Hall to print his papers due to its proximity to North Residential College, where he lives. He is often uncomfortable in Waite Phillips Hall, though, because the computer stations are too close together for his comfort and "the lighting or maybe the ventilation makes me sick; I'm not sure why."
Wolf no longer goes to Leavey because the printing costs too much. "Leavey is designed poorly, and it was hard to find a work station," he said. Wolf was an occasional visitor to King Hall as well, but found it "crowded and loud."
Raed Hussein, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, doesn't have many complimentary things to say about the computer center systems, especially the newly implemented checkout system at Leavey. He said it is frustrating "to have to wait in line for an hour, just so I can check my e-mail." He only visits Leavey to see friends of his who are employed as consultants. For the fastest service, Hussein goes to Salvatori. He also appreciates the silence of Salvatori.
Kelly Brinker, an undeclared freshman, frequents Waite Phillips Hall for printing and "research on the Internet for comp class." She said she doesn't appreciate having to pay for printouts, especially when charged for blank sheets. Another problem specific to Waite Phillips Hall is that "the PCs are used for classes, which keeps anyone from using them and creates long lines." Brinker does prefer the organization and less expensive printing of Waite Phillips Hall, as opposed to the more "chaotic" Leavey Library. She too finds Waite Phillips Hall to be the quietest lab and the most conducive to studying and concentrating. But the best chairs are at Leavey Library, she said.
Apparently there are positive and negative aspects to all the computer centers. Despite the several often-repeated complaints, many students must admit they would be struggling if not for the computer centers. It would be much more difficult to finish papers or do research if the only means of computer usage was scrambling to find a friend's or neighbor's to borrow. While they may not be perfect, the computer centers are constantly updating systems and improving their services to students and faculty.