LETTERS: Where students 'can' use computer laboratories

To the Editor: The Wharton announcement came too late for other providers to respond more than marginally for fall 1998. There are new lab seats open in some college houses and there are more computers in student rooms than ever: It's too soon to say just how large the problem is. It's also a very positive step that the School of Arts and Sciences is providing support to keep at least one college house lab open 24 hours a day. ISC coordinates and oversees public lab space at Penn, and we are reviewing options with numerous parties. I've been particularly happy with conversations with representatives of the Undergraduate Assembly, who will give us direct student input. There are no quick fixes for this, but there is a process in place that can work towards good solutions. I welcome comments and information from all interested parties: jod@isc.upenn.edu. James O'Donnell ISC Vice Provost u To the Editor, I would like to set the record straight on student access to the computer labs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The recent Daily Pennsylvanian article on this subject ("Computer lab restrictions common at U.," 9/16/98) contained several inaccuracies. There are two PC labs available for public use in the Towne building, not one as indicated in the article. A third lab, which is used for course work during the day, is also open to the public in the evenings. Thus, the total number of computers in Engineering available to all students is approximately 50, rather than 24 as stated in the article. Non-Engineering students who are taking Engineering courses, such as CSE 110 (Introduction to Computer Programming) are also given access to all Engineering PC labs. I would also like to point out that the Wharton PC labs are not the only ones equipped with an authentication system. The PC labs in Engineering have been equipped with such a system for over three years. We are proud of the fact that the original version of the authentication software that we use was written by August Wohlt, an Engineering undergraduate. Information about the Engineering school PC labs, including times of operation, can be found at http://www.seas.upenn.edu/cets/labs.html. Although we do give precedent to Engineering students using specialized software that is only available in our PC labs, all undergraduates are welcome to use the facilities mentioned above. John Vohs Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Chemical Engineering Professor