pjd@cwruecmp.UUCP (dr. funk) (11/15/84)
[A warning shot across the bow ...]
I've been following the discussion about "free computing"
and the administration of educational computing machines
with some interest. Here is how we are doing things at
Case:
* A Personal Computing lab was established outside the
purview of the University computing center. This lab has
48 PRO 350's and is open to any student in the Engineering
school or taking an engineering course. No money is charged.
Western Reserve (the humanities school) is considering
a similar lab and model. As most departments have their
own computers for research work, no one is about to kick
students off the 350's.
* Students are not required to buy a personal computer.
The bookstore offers discounts on IBM, DEC and Apple
equipment if they want to buy one.
* The University computing center with three DEC-20's has
been steadily losing business (educational and research)
to personal computer users. To stay alive they are
looking into two proposals:
1. Providing a free quantum of computing resources to
every student.
2. Slowly moving their charter from computing to
communications.
Ultimately, personal computer users will be able to tie
into a communication and information utility. (I wonder,
though, if students will be "priced out" of the club.)
The fact is, universities are supposed to encourage creativity
and learning, and without "free computing" many intellectual
efforts will be stymied.
[Even Stymie couldn't believe it!?]