Greeks will get tech support

The computer worries of Greeks will soon be over. The Greek Net Information Technology Assistant Program will offer 24-hour, seven-day-a-week ITA services for members of the Greek system -- whether they live on or off campus. ITAs are currently available to fix the computer problems of students in on-campus housing per residents' requests. However, they are currently limited to the College House System. The possibility of expanding the program to Greek houses has been in circulation for several years now, but it was not until last year that the initiative attracted administrative attention. "We have realized we have to be providing the same kind of technology support and assistance that the college houses have," Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Associate Director for Programming Debra Bonaminio said. Bonaminio said she hopes that the program will be up and running by the end of the semester, but added that in the worst-case scenario, Greek ITAs will not be on call until move-in next fall. Ideally, Bonaminio said, the new ITAs will be members of the Greek system. But, if the program fails to generate enough interest, Bonaminio said that she will open the selection pool up to non-Greeks. Currently, the program is still in its planning stage. "We have the model set up," Bonaminio said. "It's just now finding the people to do it." Bonaminio said that she sent an announcement to a listserv of the presidents of all Greek organizations advertising the new program and encouraging students to apply to become ITAs. So far, she said she has gotten "a few responses." "It's not superb yet," she confessed. Lambda Chi Alpha President Evan Randall is considering applying for one of the spots. Randall, who lives in the Lambda Chi Alpha house, said that the lack of access to ITAs has not been a problem for his house, being that several of the brothers are Engineering students and are computer-literate. When asked what he does when he his computer is on the fritz, he replied without hesitation. "I fix it myself," he said. However, Randall said that he sees the benefit of this new program. "I think it's definitely a good idea for people who aren't too literate with computers," the Engineering junior said. "Since it doesn't cost too much money for the University and people out there could use it, I think it's needed." Not all of the plan's logistics have been worked out. However, Bonaminio said that an ITA will likely oversee a cluster of Greek houses, as opposed to a one-to-one ratio. Chapters will be provided with the name and contact information of their ITA for "consistent assistance and contact," Bonaminio said. The Greek ITAs will be trained and paid in the same manner as the college house ITAs.