Courier

Students work in a crowded computer lab in the Shatford Library.

Students needing to use the computer lab in the D Building found themselves disappointed at the Computer Learning Center when all computers were down on Monday.

The computers in the lab had gone down at around 9 a.m. and according to Robert Cody, Assistant Dean in Computing Services, technicians have been working on the network and telephone problems.

"We are in the process of installing a new network and telephone system. While we do not have the definitive answer it appears that some of the controllers for the redundant fiber backbone became out of sync," said Cody.

"We are working on it again [Tues. night] to determine if this is the cause and then to re-sync the devices," he added.

Around 4 p.m. the computers were working again and students were re-admitted into the Computer Learning Center.

"I was at a loss because I don't have a cell phone. The internet is my only connection," said biblical studies major, Gabriel McDaniel.

"I'm stuck here, it's terrible," he added as he waited for his brother to pick him up from school.

During the time that computers were down, students in D Building had to look for other resources, one being in the Shatford Library.

That afternoon, students were found forming a line trying to get a seat in the library's computer lab.

"Lately I've had to wait in line for a while," said Mya Worthy, 17.

Long lines to use the computers in the labs have become noticeable to students.

Anastasia Barmaxis, 20, explained that she stopped by the library once a week and each time she found herself waiting in line.

"It sucks that I have to stand in line three times longer than I have to use the computers," she said.

According to Leslie Tirapelle, System Librarian at PCC, the time around midterms and finals is when labs become more crowded, but other factors are the possible reasons may be at work.

"One could speculate that the labs are crowded as result of increased student enrollment, though I couldn't say for sure," said Tirapelle.

"We certainly can say that the library has been more crowded than ever since the Student Center demolition/construction began," she added.

The middle workstation of the library has 28 computers open for students when classes are being taught in other 2 labs, usually in the beginning and towards the end of the semester.

Continued...

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