Editor:

Is anybody else as concerned about the recent closing of the EMCB computer lab as I am? By my estimates, EMCB had more than 170 computers before it closed in late December. The shutdown of the lab represents a loss of about one-third of student computer capacity. Queues for student computers are already too long. We need more computers, not fewer.

A total of 17,282 (full-time equivalent, 2004) undergraduates pay about $80 per semester for a computing fee. That means the U takes in about $1.4 million to operate 500 student computers. Since closing the EMCB lab, the administration takes care of a scant 330 student computers. That’s about $4,100 per computer, per semester. We’re paying serious dough for a tiny amount of computers.

Word on the street is that a new “computer lounge” will open in the basement of the Union. We don’t need funky couches, lattes and dumb-terminal Internet access. We need an ocean of boring computer desks with enough computing capacity to meet the homework demands of our classes.

There is another problem here: The Chronicle is the only place to voice concern. Labs are operated under a confusing bureaucracy. No employee could actually give me a name, address, or title of who needs to be made aware of this grievance. President Young, are you listening?

Students, gear up for long waits at the computer labs. If the first day of school was any indication of what the labs are like without homework due, then we’ll spend a lot of time standing in line.

Kyle LaMalfa

Senior, Economics