Tammy Moon (EL 227)
GREENSBURG, Penn. -- Virus alert in Lynch computer labs, with out the Information Technology (I.T.) department at Seton Hill University (S.H.U) this could end in loss of saved files and possible destruction of the computer labs themselves. To ensure such a problem does not occur, the I.T. department staff works until the crisis is no longer there.
There are 750 computers in S.H.U.’s computer labs and faculty offices. Each one has to be in excellent working condition in order to handle everyday wear and tear of regular use. Those used mainly by the student body are especially in need.
During the first weeks of November CD-Rs were sent throughout S.H.U. dormitories, loaded with anti-virus programs to ensure the up keep of the networks. These had conspiracy minded students are scared because they believe the cd's also had spy ware on them.
Patrick Hapner, a sophomore said, “I have a feeling they may have put something else on those disks. They probably want to watch our every move…it’s not right!” An opinion such as this is not common among S.H.U. students, Rachael Budah, sophomore RTA (resident teaching assistant) said, “When the disks were first brought out everyone [I game them to] was excited because they [students] wanted help keeping their computers virus free.”
Stacey Koontz, I.T. administrator, explained that the disks were merely “to ensure personal computers from viruses that the anti-viral software would not catch and keep our networks as clean as possible.” She said that a typical day for any person in this department is “hectic”, with the constant look out for viruses, daily maintenance, and student complaints.
“There is never a dull moment. I usually work the Help Desk [student/faculty online help for campus facilities] and the billing and purchasing aspect. With [only] two technicians, one Webmaster, one network administrator, and myself there is always a lot to do [and] never enough time to do it.”
Students that do little more that type out papers and check e-mail have one major complaint, “There’s never any paper. Every time I go to a lab to print there is no paper! They need to do something about it.” Andrew Axtell, freshmen. “I’ve been into about two or three computer labs and have not been able to print more that four or five sheets of my papers at one time,” John Clatty, sophomore.
The I.T. department orders “30 cases of paper” every month. They try to keep the computer labs stocked but students print out more things than just school-related. “In one day one printer in Maura [a computer lab] went through 1,062 pages. Keep the church and other organizations out of our labs,” Jocelyn Hall, I.T. intern, said.
Amanda Kreger, a freshman academic computer lab monitor, said, “Every computer lab I work in has an ample supply of paper. I check to make sure there is enough when my shift begins and at the end. If it seems like there has been a lot of printing between I check it again. So at least when I work the lab there is always paper.”
A large majority of S.H.U. students have very little knowledge about the I.T. department’s actions within the school. Christina Yezovich, a junior, has her opinion: “I didn’t know they did anything. If they are doing their job, sure I am happy they are here.” She said that she rarely uses he campus computers because she is a commuter but when she does she knows there will always be a place where her work will be safe.
Steven Temoshenka, I.T. office work-study, said, “The I.T. department does more for the student body than they know or care to find out. Its hard to be an efficient department when no one understands what we [the I.T. department] do.”
Tammy Moon is a freshman English ducation, English Literture and computer science major at Seton Hill University.
Posted by Reporter at November 21, 2003 10:30 AM