Students can likely expect every residence computer lab with printing capabilities to continue providing printing services, Boston University Student Union members who met with administrators on April 16 said.
Though Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore made no such specific guarantee in an interview with The Daily Free Press, he said BU does not plan to eliminate print stations in ResNet labs.
‘We’re not trying to take anything away,’ Elmore said. ‘Our real goal here is to be more effective in how we provide services.’
Union President Matt Seidel said he pressed Elmore and Michael Krugman, Office of Information Technology’s interim vice president, in their recent meeting about the possibility of limiting ResNet lab services.
‘ ‘When I asked them if they are still planning on having printing available in the labs, they said yes,’ Seidel said.’
Though administrators said printing would likely still be available in all ResNet labs, Seidel said many cost-cutting changes are expected. The labs might be stripped of computers and transformed into meeting rooms, equipped with wireless Internet, remote printing stations and other amenities such as projectors.
BU would likely save money by cutting the needed number of ResNet employees because the team rooms would not need to be staffed, Seidel said.
At a town hall meeting in January to discuss how the economic downturn would affect BU, President Robert Brown said staff layoffs were imminent.’ ‘
Layoffs could also come from consolidating the computer labs on 111 Cummington St. and in Mugar Memorial Library into one centralized lab, which Seidel said Elmore and Krugman discussed at their meeting.
An IT employee, who has talked with administrators about the issue but wished to remain anonymous, said it is ‘highly likely’ that Mugar will be the site of the central lab.
According to the employee, administrators said the Mugar lab would likely be expanded to take up most of the building’s first floor. Computers would be moved from 111 and the ResNet labs into the new centralized lab.
Elmore said the changes to the ResNet services are due to a change in demand in addition to a need to cut costs.
‘Many students bring their own computers, and the use of computers has changed,’ he said.
Surveys administered by BU in 2006 revealed students relied on the labs for printing services but did not need them for basic computer and Internet access, Elmore said.
The Union chose not to voice an official opinion on the ResNet issue at its last General Assembly meeting, but is developing a list of demands.
It is seeking guaranteed availability of print stations in labs that currently have them, increased escort services in any campus locations that see print station reductions, university-provided software to students who depend on BU computer labs to use certain computer programs and 24-hour printing service on campus.
‘There will be a definitive list that will be voted on, on Monday [at the GA],’ Seidel said. ‘That will be what Union is sending as our demands to the administration.’
Staff Reporter Vivian Ho contributed reporting to this article
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