by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
Rumors suggested CIRT might begin charging for the use of printers in the computer pods around campus.
CIRT Director Bill Adkins and Associate Director Linda Miller discredited these rumors.
Both said they had not heard of a plan to begin charging for the use of printers in the computer pods.
"We do not charge, and we have no discussion or project going on right now to do that," said Miller, who thinks the rumors may have begun after the library implemented a new method of charging students for printer use.
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The library began using machines this semester that dispense cards for students to use for printing.
"The issue is brought up every once in a while," Miller said. "I can't say that would ever happen."
She said if CIRT were to institute a charging process in the computer labs it would take time and money from the University.
"We would have to implement software and hardware," she said. "It would be a huge project, not something that would happen overnight."
She wanted to assure students CIRT would not implement such a drastic change in the computer pods without the certainty it would be acceptable to the users of the facility.
"We would talk to the student government before doing something like this," she said. "Computer pods are an excellent resource of reference for the students, and we would not want to change that."
Opinions varied on whether students would continue to use the computer pods if CIRT instituted a charge for copies.
"I would hate it if every time I came in, I had to pay 50 cents or something," junior Megan Barber said. "At my last school, they just charged us $20 at the beginning of each semester and our account just kept track of it. That was nice."
Barber said even if they started charging, she would not go elsewhere to use a computer.
"I would still have to come here unless it was cheaper somewhere else," she said.
Student Donald Mack said if CIRT began charging for the use of printers, he would have no way of completing work for his classes.
"I wouldn't have my reports, because I am not going to pay for copies," he said.
Mack said he would stop using the computer lab if charging began and would be forced to find an alternate means of typing his papers.
He said he was discouraged from using the library, because the library charges for printing.
"I went to the library, walked in, saw the long line, and walked out, because the lady said, 'We charge.'"
