The Communique

Issue date: 4/15/04 Section: Web Exclusive

Dennis Lambing: Web Editor

I spend a considerable amount of time on the Kirkwood campus and am always in need of a computer to finish and article or e-mail quick note to a friend. Over the past semester, I have noticed new computer terminals appear across the campus and not all of them allow you to edit a Word document or spreadsheet. At the Cedar Rapids campus, the computer area are split up into three categories: the Cyber Café, computer labs, and web terminals.

Cyber Café: The Cyber Café is located on the second floor of Iowa Hall, next to Sammy's Café. The computers run Windows 2000 and all have a floppy-drive, Internet access, instant messaging, CD-ROM drive, USB (Universal Serial Bus) and headphone jacks to listen to music. The atmosphere is cozy, allowing you to eat lunch while surfing the Web. Unfortunately, the noise level can be prohibitive to those looking to get actual work done. If you read the Kirkwood Message Boards online, they will give you an idea of some of the cyber cafe's biggest complaint: noise level. This place is packed over the activity hour, however, so don't expect to get seated right away. For those that perform work on Apple computers, there is an iMac in the Cyber Café.

Linn Hall Math Lab: the math lab in Linn Hall is located on the 1st floor in room 122. The Math Lab is typically used by math students, computer programmers, and occasionally by Pre-Engineering students. The lab boasts plenty of room for work. With 22 computers, they all have access to the entire Microsoft Office line, Mathcad, Autodesk Inventor, and a few C++ programming applications. As of this writing, the two printers in the lab are not working, so you'll have to go elsewhere if you want a hard copy of your term papers.

Allsop Computer Lab in Nielsen Hall

Allsop Computer Lab (Nielsen Hall, 1st floor): This lab is big and I mean "big." You may think it's a long walk from Linn Hall to Balentyne Auditorium, but that is peanuts compared to the size of the Nielsen Hall Computer Lab. Unlike the Linn Hall Math Lab, where its usage is relegated to math students, the Allsop computer lab is an "open" lab. Every student on campus can utilize its vast amenities, which are pretty impressive. They have 109 machines (5 of which are Apple Mac's), 6 printers and 1 scanner. This lab is always busy, but if you are thinking ahead of time, you can reserve a computer. Just ask the staff and they can get you started. Fortunately, this lab is open until 10:00pm (Monday through Thursday) and until 8:00pm on Sunday's.

Greenhouse Café: If you ever wonder what goes on the little greenhouse at the end of Linn Hall, you really need to come over and relax. You can surf the Web, watch TV and grab a small meal in this area. There are six computer terminals with Web access here. However, they run the Linux Operating System and are set up for Web access only, so don't expect to finish her lab report here. Oddly enough, as of now, all 6 machines in the Cafe have been unplugged. We'll see what Kirkwood's plans for this area is over the next semester.

Main Lobby of Linn Hall (2nd floor): Fourteen of these Linux machines were installed over Christmas break and they have been flooded with students ever since. Like the computers in the Greenhouse Café, they are Web access only. Unlike the Greenhouse Cafe computers, these are really speedy machines. They are especially adept at checking your email between classes and if you know anything about Linux, you can even use the its version of Instant Messaging to chat with friends.

Nielsen Hall (1st and 2nd floor): These are also Web access Linux terminals and these eight computers get tremendous use over the activity hour. Perfect for reading email and surfing, they keep you moving because none of them have chairs to lounge around in.

Jones Hall: Jones Hall does not have any "open" computer labs for use by the students. That does not mean there are no computers in the Technology Building, it just means that the computer labs are to be used by students of a particular field of study. This includes computer aided drafting, electronics, telecommunications, CNC and industrial technology students. There is talk of installing an open computer lab or web terminals in Jones Hall, but no date has been set as to when that will happen.

As a bonus, the Allsop Computer Lab and the Cyber Cafe have wireless internet access. I do not own a laptop computer, so I have never tested the wireless access or its speed on the Kirkwood Campus. If you have used the wireless capabilities of any of the labs on the Main Kirkwood Campus, let me know. I'd love to hear what you think.

When using Kirkwood's computer resources, every student needs to pay attention to a few rules:

1) no food or drinks are allowed in the computer labs. I mean, no food or drinks. While during research for this particular article, I walked into the Allsop Computer Lab in Nielsen Hall and was quickly turned away by one of the lab assistants when they noticed I had carried in a large cup of coffee. It was, however, embarrassing for me, but I applaud them for their tenacity.

2) All facilities are non-smoking.

3) Did I mention no food or drinks?

3) Copying programs from the network is illegal. We all knew this, right?

4) In the Linn Hall Math Lab, always check their schedule to make sure that there isn't a class already in process.

5) Be courteous to your fellow computer user. Use of the same attitude you would use when visitating the library. If you think you are being too loud, you probably are.

6) If necessary, you can reserve computers in the Allsop Computer Lab for up to 2 hours a day. Reservations can be made by calling the lab at 398-5606.

7) With as many computer terminals that Kirkwood has installed over the past few years, they still get a tremendous amount of use. Don't "camp out" at the computers. Leave when you are finished and clean up your area when you are done.

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