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Late Nights Lonely in the Computer Lab
by John J. Walenczyk
art by Steve Sheafffer
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It is 1:00 a.m. in Computer Lab C in Renfro Library, the usual closing time nowadays. Unlike past years, the lab is not open 24 hours a day. Instead, it is shut down when a representative of campus security enters the laboratory and locks up the facility until the daily opening time at 6 a.m.
Vandalism, pornography, and overall abuse that have taken place in the past have contributed to reasons why the Mars Hill College computer lab is no longer open 24 hours.
"I can tell you honestly that vandalism is one of the reasons why we have to close the lab now," said Gerald Ball, director of Information Technology Services. Another reason is that "people use the big screen in the smaller labs to display offensive images," he said.
But is late night really the only time when students view these images on college computers? "I see a couple of students doing it all the time" said Junior Stephen Fitzgerald.
In a survey last year of students living in residence halls, 407 of them owned a computer -- 61% of the 663 students surveyed. The percentage rose this year to 70 percent of 675 students surveyed in residence halls. But that still leaves 200 students in residence halls who don't own a computer and who may need the computer lab. Adding to these numbers are those students who live off campus but need the computer labs because they do not have their own computer at home.
The official hours for Computer Lab C in Renfro are Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-1 a.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m.-1 a.m. Computer Labs A and B can also be opened up during those hours if there is enough demand.
During several recent visits to Lab C through into the early morning throughout this semester, this reporter saw no more than half a dozen students there at any one time.
In practice, the hours can be flexible.
For example, this reporter, when typing this article at 1 a.m. on a Monday night, was present when a campus security representative came down to lock up.
The entire lab emptied except for myself. At first I thought I would be pushed out the door. However, the officer saw that I was working and not playing on the Internet or using the computer in an inappropriate way. She told me that when she sees students actually working hard, then more than likely she lets them stay to finish whatever they need to accomplish. I was in the lab until close to 3 a.m. and was not hassled in any way by campus security.
Freshman Paul Johnston said he too has been in the lab when it was about to close but was not so lucky. "When I saw the campus police come in, I just assumed I had to leave."
As for those who arrive after the doors have been locked -- they are out of luck.
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